Boston Red Sox Versus Tampa Bay Rays Game 7 ALCS Live Thread [2008 MLB Playoffs] | MLB | Boston Red Sox

0	I wonder how many Tampa residents choose the Buccaneers over the Rays.

10/19/08

Michael G

1	GO SOX!!

10/19/08

1	Why do the pick-ems still favor Tampa? FanIQ must have a lot of: Mis-clickers, clicked on the wrong team. People who haven't been paying attention to this series. Too many Red Sox haters, and Too many people thinking the Rays will somehow cut off this momentum. How can a brickwall stop a wrecking ball swinging at it at 50 MPH? Correct answer. IT CAN'T. Boston wins tonight.

10/19/08

0	Annnnndd Here We.............Go!

10/19/08

9	C'mon Rays. Save us all.

10/19/08

3	Does Craig Sager own a NORMAL suit?

10/19/08

0	Here we go. Let's see how Garza handles the pressure.

10/19/08

0	Crap Crap Crap

10/19/08

0	HOME RUN DUSTIN!

10/19/08

0	(Edited by ThaChad) Dustin Just Smacked That One Outta Here

10/19/08

1	Wham! A Homah!

10/19/08

2	MrNFL wrote: Does Craig Sager own a NORMAL suit? Normal? He's just the toned-down/American poser of Don Cherry...

10/19/08

1	Jesus F'ing Christ not again.

10/19/08

0	BOSTON 1 TAMPA BAY 0

10/19/08

0	(Edited by Chief_aka_James) ThaChad wrote: Dustin Just Smacked That One Outta Here umm, are you like 5 min in front of me? Or did I miss something...? EDIT:: edit is not fair.

10/19/08

0	MrNFL wrote: Wham! A Homah! you got it man, NE accent+homer= homah!

10/19/08

0	David on board.

10/19/08

0	HEY! Almost hit him... better watch out, Garza.

10/19/08

0	Dang!!!!! A little more air.... almost Youk

10/19/08

0	Chief_aka_James wrote: umm, are you like 5 min in front of me? Or did I miss something...? EDIT:: edit is not fair. Sorry I made a mistake hope everyone can forgive me

10/19/08

1	Argh... Garza 20 pitches, 1H, 1ER so far... but those numbers will all go up

10/19/08

0	Lester's got a strong fastball... that whizzed right by him! both of them! lol

10/19/08

1	ThaChad wrote: Sorry I made a mistake hope everyone can forgive me nah, lol. i was just confused as hell; I'm seein Dustin hit a HR, and a Sox fan is screamin Youlk...

10/19/08

0	Woo... close one...2 outs.

10/19/08

0	Chief_aka_James wrote: nah, lol. i was just confused as hell; I'm seein Dustin hit a HR, and a Sox fan is screamin Youlk... i was just over excited and wrote to fast lol

10/19/08

Michael G

0	3 UP 3 DOWN...GREAT JOB BY LESTER

10/19/08

0	Good first inning.

10/19/08

0	Great inning there by lester

10/19/08

0	Keep digging into that chalk, Garza.

10/19/08

0	We need more confidence in the bats, don't let Garza raise his one eyebrow like his stupid year photo and make him crack that nasty smile of his...

10/19/08

0	Nice play by Bartlett.

10/19/08

0	Crap... not a good 2nd for Boston. Argh

10/19/08

0	C'mon Lester... [3-0]

10/19/08

0	NICE throw by Alex Cora!

10/19/08

0	K #2

10/19/08

0	6 up and 6 down lester looking strong

10/19/08

0	End 2nd! Lester lookin good!

10/19/08

0	Oh come on, you guys are making the Rays fan get in it...

10/19/08

0	he hit him!! Jerk!

10/19/08

0	common Big Papi bring him home

10/19/08

0	oh, David... gosh darn it....

10/19/08

2	Rays you're not gonna let this happen are you? Someone needs to jack one real quick.

10/19/08

0	Ball.

10/19/08

0	They called that a ball? That was Lester's 3rd K!

10/19/08

0	Phew... got him. Another K for Lester... now lets get a DP ball...

10/19/08

0	The Rays are getting Molestered.

10/19/08

0	What a nail-biter so far... ugh i hate these type of games...!

10/19/08

0	Fortunate play right there...

10/19/08

0	Time for Longoria to do some damage.

10/19/08

0	TIE GAME!!!

10/19/08

0	tie game! nice hit there by Evan

10/19/08

0	WHAT????? VARITEK GOT HIM!!!!!!!! BULLCRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10/19/08

0	Safe.

10/19/08

0	Argh... stupid replay...

10/19/08

1	Chris wrote: WHAT????? VARITEK GOT HIM!!!!!!!! BULLCRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Care to withdraw that statement upon further review?

10/19/08

0	Ha the ump got in Youkilis' way.

10/19/08

1	Base hit gives Tampa the lead.

10/19/08

0	This is a tough matchup for Crawford.

10/19/08

0	Got him!!!! Now lets get some hits going, cripe freaking sakes! Don't let Garza get off clean!!!!!

10/19/08

0	Common red sox lets get some more runs!

10/19/08

0	Why can't this be a blowout for Boston and get this over with???

10/19/08

0	wasted a pitch. Stale bats. C'mon, geez...

10/19/08

1	Man... we got some delusional fans on both sides, I see. Good to see that Lester is pitching well. The Sox are going to blow this one open any minute now.

10/19/08

0	(Edited by Chris) Freaking Rays fans... sit down...

10/19/08

1	Pat wrote: Man... we got some delusional fans on both sides, I see. Good to see that Lester is pitching well. The Sox are going to blow this one open any minute now. Funny you should use the word delusional then say that the Sox are about to blow the game wide open. I'd be surprised if there were a total of 6 runs scored in this game.

10/19/08

3	Pat wrote: Man... we got some delusional fans on both sides, I see. Good to see that Lester is pitching well. The Sox are going to blow this one open any minute now. Speaking of delusional... Garza has given up a total of one hit, that being Dustin's solo HR in the 1st, how can you possibly determine there's an offensive explosion in the works for the BoSox?

10/19/08

0	thank god that stayed in... either way... we're in a SERIOUS jam here...

10/19/08

1	Blow the game, yes. Blow the game wide open, no. Fraid not. See you next year.

10/19/08

0	Good eye, that a kid.

10/19/08

0	Heres where Madden gets all bloodthirsty and crazy again.

10/19/08

1	Madden has two philosophies... Swing and swing for the fences. The take sign is for cowards.

10/19/08

0	Watch Madden put on a double steal right here.

10/19/08

0	omg... we need a double play and fast before we start falling behind... Garza is not allowing us to get hits.

10/19/08

0	My brother is yelling "BUNT!!!!"

10/19/08

0	Joe Madman

10/19/08

0	If the Rays lose this series it won't be because they were outplayed. They were way outmanaged.

10/19/08

0	Rays lead!!!!

10/19/08

0	Rays lead.

10/19/08

0	Base hit.

10/19/08

0	(Edited by Chris) Time for Lester to go. He's not pitching well anymore. Time to pull that plug.... we're the ones about to be clobbered. This may be his last inning.

10/19/08

0	LOL Dickie V is going crazy.

10/19/08

0	Now to figure a plan to hit off of Garza... he's only at 75 pitches so we need to make it a loooong top of the 6th to try and get him out of the game.

10/19/08

0	finally an out... phew...

10/19/08

1	Gotta get more than just one out of this.

10/19/08

0	need to get Sox-killer out...

10/19/08

0	That's almost a victory for the Red Sox only giving up 1 in that situation.

10/19/08

0	Thats weak, start off the inning with 3 straight hits and only get 1 run. Garza better hold em off.

10/19/08

0	ok... now we have to find a way to break down Garza, and fast.

10/19/08

0	Ok now we need the boston bats to wake up and smack home a few runs

10/19/08

0	Wow. Only getting on there is going to haunt them....

10/19/08

0	Nice job by Garza to just fliznip it like a giznip instead of clizznipping it like a hizznip.

10/19/08

0	what will wake us up??

10/19/08

0	If Im in the Red Sox dugout I start insulting peoples families, wives, whatever to get these fools blood boiling.

10/19/08

0	Good fight by Pedroia, make his count go up. no hits or walks, yet Garza up to 14 pitches this inning.

10/19/08

0	10th pitch of the at-bat coming up.

10/19/08

2	These guys really need to shut up about the pitch count. Its Game 7 of the ALCS, do you really think they are just going to shut Garza down once he hits 100? All that pitch count crap is for the regular season to make sure they have enough for these moments/games. Even then I couldn't care less about it..

10/19/08

0	PERFECT FIGHT FOR PEDROIA! 11 PITCHES AND A WALK!

10/19/08

0	Great At Bat There By Pedroia

10/19/08

0

Chief_aka_James wrote:

These guys really need to shut up about the pitch count. Its Game 7 of the ALCS, do you really think they are just going to shut Garza down once he hits 100? All that pitch count crap is for the regular season to make sure they have enough for these moments/games. Even then I couldn't care less about it..

uh, if Garza ends up throwing 120-130 pitches, and the Rays DO go to the series, that's going to be one sore arm for a few days. Will he be 100%?

10/19/08

0	Papi wants a homer, and he's missing his spots... argh

10/19/08

0	I want to hate Dustin Pedroia, but its nice to see a short white guy actually earn his reputation for once.

10/19/08

0	worst end to an inning... got to be kidding me....

10/19/08

4

Chris wrote:

uh, if Garza ends up throwing 120-130 pitches, and the Rays DO go to the series, that's going to be one sore arm for a few days. Will he be 100%?

120-130 pitches, on at least 5 days rest, for a 24 year old kid? Please.

Pitchers for 100 years could go forever without constant watch of number of pitches they threw, and every 3 days they were just fine going out over and over again.

Yea, I get it, it's a different game now, where teams invest so much in guys and they want to protect them. But to say that a guy is not able to throw it 150 times in the most important game of his life because his arm might be a little tired by the end of it is absolutely ridiculous.

10/19/08

0

Chief_aka_James wrote:

120-130 pitches, on at least 5 days rest, for a 24 year old kid? Please.

Pitchers for 100 years could go forever without constant watch of number of pitches they threw, and every 3 days they were just fine going out over and over again.

Yea, I get it, it's a different game now, where teams invest so much in guys and they want to protect them. But to say that a guy is not able to throw it 150 times in the most important game of his life because his arm might be a little tired by the end of it is absolutely ridiculous.

Well said. Guys used to put up 300 plus innings in a season no problem.

10/19/08

0	keep it going, make this fast so we can keep weakening Garza...

10/19/08

0	VERY fast 1-2-3! Nice.

10/19/08

0	Nice quick inning for Lester. Time to get the bats going.

10/19/08

0	ok, we have 9 outs to get 1+ runs in.

10/19/08

0	dangggg it Youk

10/19/08

1	Bring in Balfour!

10/19/08

0	4 pitch walk. EXCELLENT.

10/19/08

0	Allright Bay Show Us What You Can do

10/19/08

0	See why the pitch count is important? The more you keep him in at 100+ his strikezone will weaken. More balls being thrown last 2 innings. Fatigue kicking in.

10/19/08

0	YES!!! JASON BAY!

10/19/08

0	Time for the rally caps

10/19/08

2	2 on now! come on, lets get a big hit here! Home Run would be devastating to Tampa!

10/19/08

0	don't blow it Kotsay! Walk or hit it LONG!

10/19/08

0	base hit is all we need.... please.......

10/19/08

0	Kotsay's pretty mad, and i think he should be.

10/19/08

0	ugh.... so nervous right now

10/19/08

2	This is playoff baseball at it's best!

10/19/08

2

(Edited by Chief_aka_James)
Chris wrote:

See why the pitch count is important? The more you keep him in at 100+ his strikezone will weaken. More balls being thrown last 2 innings. Fatigue kicking in.

No, I don't.

Who's to say nerves is not as much of a factor as fatigue is? You're not Matt Garza to know how he's feeling or what he's feeling...it could be multiple factors, not solely fatigue.

Yea, pitchers now don't go 100+ as often anymore, but to say once he's over 100, his arm just suddenly doesn't want to work anymore, is a ridiculous claim. He's still getting outs, and still in the lead as I type this. He's doing his job.

10/19/08

0	Got out of it!!!

10/19/08

1	NO! VARITEK!!!!!!!

10/19/08

0	Holy smokes. I thought the Sox were gonna get one over there.

10/19/08

0	We need Wheeler to come in during the 8th... crap, we are really on the walls here... at least we have the heart of the order coming up. We need a long ball.

10/19/08

2	Pat, if you'd like I can start editing the blog post......that might get it done.

10/19/08

0	Ryan wrote: Pat, if you'd like I can start editing the blog post......that might get it done. Do it. Now.

10/19/08

2	Chris wrote: We need Wheeler to come in during the 8th... crap, we are really on the walls here... at least we have the heart of the order coming up. We need a long ball. Oh no... the Sox have NEVER had their backs to the wall before... Come on, man... chill out. It will be fine.

10/19/08

0

Chief_aka_James wrote:

No, I don't.

Who's to say nerves is not as much of a factor as fatigue is? You're not Matt Garza to know how he's feeling or what he's feeling...it could be multiple factors, not solely fatigue.

Yea, pitchers now don't go 100+ as often anymore, but to say once he's over 100, his arm just suddenly doesn't want to work anymore, is a ridiculous claim. He's still getting outs, and still in the lead as I type this. He's doing his job.

did i ever say his arm will not work anymore? I said his K-Zone will weaken. He threw a snot-load more balls. More batters have been getting on base. Sure, his nerves might be tweaking, but to also say someone won't get tired throwing 110+ pitches, plus throws to the bases, and running around to get the ball won't make you tired is also ridiculous.

10/19/08

0	Pat wrote: Oh no... the Sox have NEVER had their backs to the wall before... Come on, man... chill out. It will be fine. i hope so.

10/19/08

0	WHAM!!! A HOMER!!!!

10/19/08

0	............

10/19/08

1	Yes. That is all.

10/19/08

0

Chris wrote:

did i ever say his arm will not work anymore? I said his K-Zone will weaken. He threw a snot-load more balls. More batters have been getting on base. Sure, his nerves might be tweaking, but to also say someone won't get tired throwing 110+ pitches, plus throws to the bases, and running around to get the ball won't make you tired is also ridiculous.

Sorry, defending a similar argument with a friend also, got the claims mixed up.

Obviously; the man is tired. But again, biggest game of his life, I'm sure he, and the pitching coach, along with Maddon can agree that if he can still get the outs, even less than 100%, he should not be taken out just because his pitch count his higher than normal.

Along with the Aybar cushion - hopefully it can buy Garza atleast a start in the next inning.

10/19/08

0	kantwistaye wrote: Yes. That is all. Normally I'd say "yep". But.....if they're not intimidated with seven runs in their face then I doubt two runs is gonna bother them. Still a long way to go.

10/19/08

0

Chief_aka_James wrote:

Sorry, defending a similar argument with a friend also, got the claims mixed up.

Obviously; the man is tired. But again, biggest game of his life, I'm sure he, and the pitching coach, along with Maddon can agree that if he can still get the outs, even less than 100%, he should not be taken out just because his pitch count his higher than normal.

Along with the Aybar cushion - hopefully it can buy Garza atleast a start in the next inning.

true, why fix something that isn't broken. The Rays have room to take risks here.

10/19/08

0	Ryan wrote: Normally I'd say "yep". But.....if they're not intimidated with seven runs in their face then I doubt two runs is gonna bother them. Still a long way to go. No kidding. Apparently the Sox are pretty good at this comeback thing.

10/19/08

0	ok... one more out, come on Lester. I think everyone needs to lift each others' heads in the Boston dugout. All we need is to work Garza and hit at pitches that look good to plaster over the wall... or a base hit.

10/19/08

0	Come on Shields, you know you want some more, get your ash on the mound! LOL

10/19/08

0	Eww; my tv just changed it to NBC for no reason...and I had to watch 5 seconds of that "football" game.

10/19/08

0	UH-OH!!! THE FAMOUS ERROR!!!! LOL

10/19/08

0	Tying run at the plate.

10/19/08

2	Errors....the downfall of teams...

10/19/08

0	(Edited by ThaChad) Haha this is where the tampa errors come in to give us the game!

10/19/08

0	****. I understand the move; but c'mon, give Garza one more guy, he had Cora out, just the defense failed on him..

10/19/08

0	ok, we're into the bullpen!! time to get the hits going!

10/19/08

0	YES! MY FAVORITE PITCHER!! Bring up Ortiz, he will CRUSH Wheeler!

10/19/08

0	Dan Wheeler, please do not fail.

10/19/08

0	Take the pitches, Coco!!

10/19/08

1	Thats not a good call to have Crisp bunting right now. WRONG ANSWER FRANCONA

10/19/08

0	YES!!! 2 ON!!! NO OUT!!!

10/19/08

0	Wow....nice hit! This isn't a good sign for TB

10/19/08

1	Lucky for Francona Crisp bailed him out.

10/19/08

0	COME ON DUSTIN!!!!

10/19/08

0	(Edited by bayareabeast21) This guy needs a ground ball in the worst way... now hes bouncing shit in the dirt. Wow this doesn't look pretty for Tampa at all.

10/19/08

0	adrenaline going up again like game 5!

10/19/08

0	Thats a big pitch that 1-0 strike right there.

10/19/08

0	(Edited by bayareabeast21) And he gets him to pop up.... nice.

10/19/08

1	That was big. Now just need a double play.

10/19/08

0	crap..... one out..... Up to Big Papi... we can't blow this inning... it may end our season!

10/19/08

0	You got the guy you want up there in this situation.

10/19/08

0	Get a ground ball.

10/19/08

0	Intense moment here...

10/19/08

0	Tough at-bat by Ortiz!

10/19/08

0	(Edited by bayareabeast21) What the hell kind of slide was that? Nice going costing your city a world championship by sliding like a moron.

10/19/08

0	no........ Ortiz!!

10/19/08

0	Boy, that was risky. I would've taken the out at first, they BARELY got him. One more out and they're out of it.

10/19/08

0	If Crisp didn't suck at sliding, he's safe. He went to take out Bartlett and not get to the base.

10/19/08

0	Wow - I thought he was safe until I saw the replay. Could've been safe if he had gone in straight.

10/19/08

1	If Crisp slides normal its bases loaded with one out.

10/19/08

0	Crisp easily would've been safe had he gone for the bag.

10/19/08

0	base hit, come on Youk

10/19/08

2

(Edited by Ryan)
bayareabeast21 wrote:

What the hell kind of slide was that? Nice going costing your city a world championship by sliding like a moron.

In all fairness, I can understand the slide to take out the SS. With Ortiz running at first, you have to do your job to give the next batter an at-bat.

He should have realized he was closer to the bag than normal, though. You've got to take a quick peek back to see where the ball is played to know whether you need to take out the SS or not.

Gotta give the next batter a chance, though - and that happens by doing whatever you can to get a slow-running Ortiz to first.

10/19/08

PresEmart

0	score ?

10/19/08

0	Bradford throwing caca! YES!

10/19/08

0	Swung at ball 4.... geez

10/19/08

1	loaded!

10/19/08

0	Wow. Surely this has to be "the chance" for the Sox.

10/19/08

1	Bases loaded, two outs. This is a fantastic game. Enjoy it regardless of who you want to win, because the World Series won't be this good.

10/19/08

0	Ryan wrote: Wow. Surely this has to be "the chance" for the Sox. if they blow this they might start planning a vacation.

10/19/08

0	Walk Drew, hit Drew, base hit, wild pitch/passed ball, balk, or a Grand Slam-- thats our options.

10/19/08

3	For anyone who cares (Not likely anyone) Bucs over Seahawks 20-10

10/19/08

0	No pressure, kid.

10/19/08

0	this could be our season on Drew's bat

10/19/08

0	0-2 count!

10/19/08