Poor Boston, just can't get a break

[Rudeboyelvis]

The national media seems to all be in alignment with the notion (Harold Reynolds excluded) that if it weren't for the injuries to Beckett and Lowell, the loss of Manny and the injuries to Ortiz earlier in the year, this wouldn't be a contest. the only reason the Rays are dominating this team is because they are simply "exploiting a team ripe for the taking".

The same media that was giddy over the aquistion of Jason Bay, and how Manny would not be missed.

RE: Tom Verducci in Today's SI.com, another in the long line of the Boston apologists:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...s/?eref=sircrc

>>>>1. The Rays have embarrassed the Red Sox by pounding their starting pitchers in Games 2, 3 and 4. Boston starters gave the team a total of only 12 2/3 innings in those three games while getting hammered for 18 runs and 28 baserunners. Ouch. But let's review whom the Sox sent to the mound in those games:

Game 2: Josh Beckett. Tore his oblique muscle in his final start of the regular season. Has been flipping the ball up to the plate with no velocity or finish on his pitches ever since. Highly hittable.

Game 3: Jon Lester. The 24-year-old lefthander now has thrown a whopping 76 1/3 more innings this season than last. It's stunning that a forward-thinking organization like Boston would extend a young pitcher like that -- Lester certainly will be on my 2009 Year-After Effect watch list to have a major regression next year -- but what were they to do? Lester was pitching great and looked strong and the rest of the rotation wasn't exactly sucking up innings to allow them to shut down Lester at any point. There were no signs that Lester was throwing with diminished stuff, but he seemed to hit the wall suddenly and hard in Game 3.

Game 4: Tim Wakefield. The guy had not thrown a pitch in 16 days. He is 42 years old. Ever since he threw a pitch to Aaron Boone in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, Wakefield is 1-4 with a 10.27 ERA in eight postseason games.

Bottom line: Tampa Bay exploited a Boston staff that was ripe for the taking. But by now it also should be obvious that the Rays are the better team.<<<<

LOL. I would hope it is obvious Tom, too bad he feels he needs a half of a page of excuses to qualify this remark.

What gets lost in the mix is the fact That Ortiz, Rameriez, and Lowell accounted for 1 Run during the 7 game sweep of the Red Sox at the Trop between the 2 series' in Apr and Jun. One Run.

Beckett, in 5 HEALTHY starts against the Rays this year went 2-1 (2 no decisions) ERA 4.08 - hardly a world beater.

Lester, who has benefitted from never seeing the pitchers mound of the Trop this year, has a bit more respectable record - again all at Fenway -
3-0 ERA 3.56. Appreciable, but hardly shutdown stats

Wakefield is a mess and the Rays have owned him all year, so the fact that he got rocked early should suprise no one.

Funny how no one was complaining when Longoria and Crawford missed most of the post All Star Break push to the AL East pennant, rather they stood at the ready, shovel in hand, to throw dirt over their chances.

Simply put - The Rays top to bottom - are a better, more complete team. The additions/subtractions to the Red Sox line up would have no effect on the outcome of the series, if the 2008 stats have anything to say about it.

Suck it up Boston, you're not facing the Indians this year - The Rays are better, and they are proving it.

Damn it. Now they'll come back and win. Couldn't you contain yourself for another 36 hours?

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

Damn it. Now they'll come back and win. Couldn't you contain yourself for another 36 hours?

Exactly...Rude doesn't understand the mush power and the potential disaster that he just created

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Scav

Exactly...Rude doesn't understand the mush power and the potential disaster that he just created

Destiny can not be mushed, Scav. Plus I've got a line on possible tix for Games 6&7 here,

so it wouldn't be the end of the world if Boston manages to eke one out tomorrow (doubtful)

[Rudeboyelvis]

Actually looks like a throw away game to get Shields at home for a possible game 6:

>>>BOSTON -- The Tampa Bay Rays are making a pitching change for Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, turning to Scott Kazmir to start Thursday's game instead of James Shields<<<

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[SCUDSBROTHER]

What are the odds now that are being given if ya play the sox to comeback?

[ateamstupid]

This is exactly why I can't stand the Sawx. Somehow they manage to get all of the praise and none of the scrutiny.

[Bigsmc]

Sweet mother of God, mods, please delete this thread ASAP!

[Mortimer]

I just hope the Phillies win it all.

Charlie gets ripped all the time yet here they are again....I wish he were back in Cleveland ,but numbnuts drove him out for Wedgie.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Destiny can not be mushed, Scav. Plus I've got a line on possible tix for Games 6&7 here,

so it wouldn't be the end of the world if Boston manages to eke one out tomorrow (doubtful)

Bigs, you see this, his possible tickets are more important then team success. I can't believe I am seeing this. You told me he was a legit fan....

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Scav

Bigs, you see this, his possible tickets are more important then team success. I can't believe I am seeing this. You told me he was a legit fan....

Relax. This isn't Chicago.

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by Scav

Bigs, you see this, his possible tickets are more important then team success. I can't believe I am seeing this. You told me he was a legit fan....

Apparently oblivious to the power of the mush.....

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Relax. This isn't Chicago.

OMG, you are so screwed...I do Tampa the favor and bet $1 on Boston, and you just reversed the mush with out and out guarantees and/or thinking of yourself (OH yippee, I get to see a Game 6 or Game 7!!!) instead of getting your team home

[dalakhani]

Are the Sox and pats being the whitest teams in their respective sports coincidence?

[Rudeboyelvis]

Before this gets entirely out of hand...

For the record, I never said nor predicted that the Rays would win, only that they are a better team and most of the season stats bear that out.

So the mush factor is not even in play. Yet. Don't tempt me.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Before this gets entirely out of hand...

For the record, I never said nor predicted that the Rays would win, only that they are a better team and most of the season stats bear that out.

So the mush factor is not even in play. Yet. Don't tempt me.

OMG, BIGS, STOP HIM!!!

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Before this gets entirely out of hand...

For the record, I never said nor predicted that the Rays would win, only that they are a better team and most of the season stats bear that out.

So the mush factor is not even in play. Yet. Don't tempt me.

Forget that Elvis... go with it.

Say it after me:

The Rays will WIN THIS SERIES

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

Forget that Elvis... go with it.

Say it after me:

The Rays will WIN THIS SERIES

See "Pillow III" thread for Dala's mushing exploits...

Scav's, I can't stop a dude that doesn't even think he is doing anything wrong. He's a runaway train.

[declansharbor]

Could this be the fire Boston was looking for??

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playof...ory?id=3645258

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

See "Pillow III" thread for Dala's mushing exploits...

Scav's, I can't stop a dude that doesn't even think he is doing anything wrong. He's a runaway train.

Yeah look very closely at my exploits over there and come back and tell me what you see. A mush is when you call a winner and it loses if im not mistaken.