Rays 3 Red Sox 1

Oh heck, you guys all know what happened, that was a great game and a fun series. Matt Garza pitched the way he pitched against the Blue Jays 4 times this season, 7 innings 2 hits, 1 earned off a solo homer in the first and 9 strikeouts. Jon Lester was almost as good, he seemed to tired in the middle there in the middle of the game for a bit, but he gutted out 7 strong innings, his team just didn't get the big hit at the right moment. The comeback came just that short this year for the Sox.

Canadians and former Jays in the game: Jason Bay was 1 for 3 with a walk, considering the Sox only had 3 hits that's pretty good. Gabe Gross got in the game as a defensive replacement, the way he's been swinging the bat, that's likely his role for the World Series. Eric Hinske still hasn't appeared in the playoffs.

Rays of the Day: Garza (.263 WPA), David Price (.204, 1.1 innings of no hit ball for the save), Willy Aybar (.169, 2 for 3, a homer, 2 runs and an RBI), and Evan Longoria (.111, 1 for 3 and an RBI). Suckage Ray B.J. Upton (-.122 and no home runs for a change).

Red Sox of the Day: Jason Bay (.113). Suckage Sox: Mark Kotsay (-.182, 0 for 4), Jason Varitek (-.177, 0 for 4, looking terrible at the plate), Ortiz (-.131, 0 for 3) and JD Drew (-.119, 0 for 3). Special Suckage Sox award to Coco Crisp who had he slid straight to the bag in the 8th would have been safe and who knows what would have happened after that. Crisp totally misread the play, thinking he had to take out Bartlett to break up a double play, when there was no chance at a double play. He should have gone straight for the bag. They could have been down by 1 with runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out.

Jason Varitek sure didn't raise his value going into free agency, striking out 3 times and hitting .050 with the 1 homer for the series. I wonder if he'll be retiring rather than becoming a backup somewhere.

Congratulations to the Rays. The World Series starts Wednesday in (I wonder what the Vegas odds were before the start of the season) Tampa Bay. I think our Jays should take some credit for this, if we hadn't played so crappy against the Ray none of this would have happened.

Boston 4 Tampa Bay 2

Do you get the feeling the Sox don't start getting interested in a playoff series until they are a loss away from from being eliminated? They were terrible this series until the 7th inning of game 5 when they seems to decide "ok we are down by 7 with 3 innings to go, it is time to start playing".

Today, Beckett still didn't look right but worked his way thru 5 innings and only gave up the 2 runs on solo homers. Okajima, Masterson and Papelbon pitched the last 4 innings and didn't give up a hit.

Offensively Youk drove in 2 with a solo homer and a ground out with runners on 2nd and 3rd. Varitek came out of a deep slump (season long) long enough to hit a solo homer and Ortiz drove home 1 with a 2 out single. Crisp went 3 for 4 with a walk and was picked off once. Ortiz and Drew each went 2 for 4 with a walk.

For the Rays James Shields fought thru 5.2 innings with poor control, gave up 9 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned and 3 walks. The Ray's pen shut down the Sox for 3.1 inning, but by then it was too late. Offensively, other than Upton (man is he amazing or what) and Bartlett's (??) solo homers they did nothing.

Canadians and former Jays: Bay went 0 for 3 with a walk and looked bad at the plate. Gross was 0 for 1 with a strike out, looked awful in the field and was removed for a pinch hitter his second time up. He has been terrible this series, I very much doubt we'll see him tomorrow. Trever Miller, who pitched for the Jays a few years, back got the final out for the Rays. Hinske still hasn't appeared in a game.

Sox of the Day: Ortiz (.178 WPA), Okajima (.097) and Masterson (.093). Suckage Sox (Sock?) Lowrie (-.090). Ray of the Day: Bartlett (.265). Suckage Rays: Iwamura (-.143), JP Howell (-.098) and Longoria (-.096).

Tomorrow night, Game 7, has Jon Lester, who was thumped in game 3, against Matt Garza, who was great in the same game and who we saw way too much of against the Jays this season. It should be a great game.

Rays 9 Red Sox 1

Well that didn't go the way the Red Sox planned. Their 'best starter' Jon Lester gave up 8 hits, 4 earned runs, walked 2 and struck out 7 in 5.2 innings. Paul Byrd in relief didn't do any better 3.1 innings and 4 earned. They each gave up 2 homers.

Matt Garza went 6 innings, gave up 6 hits, walked 3, struck out 5 and only gave up 1 run. I thought he could have gone longer, I was surprised when Maddon gave him the quick hook, but J.P. Howell and Edwin Jackson finished up with 3 shut out innings.

For the Rays Upton, Longoria, Baldelli and Pena went deep. Canadians and Jays in the Game: Gabe Gross went in as a defensive replacement in RF late in the game. Eric Hinske still didn't play, I wonder if he is hurt. Jason Bay went 1 for 3 with a walk for the Sox.

Rays of the Day: Garza (.159 WPA), Longoria (.120) and Upton (.098). No suckage Rays. No Red Sox of the Day. Suckage Sox Jon Lester (-.236).

The Rays are up 2 games to 1, which if you look at recent Red Sox post-season history might mean that the Sox have them just where they want them. But this year seems different, Boston's starters have been.....inconsistant I guess is the nice way to say it. Terrible might be more accurate. Tonight, Tim Wakefield goes up against Andy Sonnanstine for the Rays. Wakefield's knuckball better be dancing tonight.

Phillies 7 Dodgers 5

Former Jay and Canadian Matt Stairs plays the hero role, hitting a 2 run, pinch hit homer to put the Phillies ahead in the 8th. You have to feel good for the guy.

Other offensive stars: Chase Utley went 3 for 4, Victorino hit a 2 run homer to tie the game in the 8th and catcher Carlos Ruiz went 2 for 3 with a walk, talk about your surprise offensive stars, Ruiz hit .218 on the season but is .417 so far this series. The Phillies other former Jay, Jayson Werth played Rf and went 1 for 5.

Dodger offensive stars: Rafael Furcal went 1 for 2 with 2 walks and 2 runs in the lead off spot. Manny went 2 for 2 with 3 walks. Loney went 2 for 4, Casey Blake went 2 for 5 with a homer and Juan Pierre, making his first start in CF for the playoffs went 2 for 3. Canadian Russell Martin had a tough day batting behind Manny, 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts, driving home 1 but leaving 7 on base.

Pitching: Joe Blanton went 5 innings, gave up 7 hits, 4 walks but got out of trouble a bunch, only allowing 3 runs. Chad Durbin gave up 2 hits, a walk and a homer without getting an out to give the Dodgers the lead. But former Jay Scott Eyre, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge pitched the last 3.2 scoreless endings to give Stairs the chance to be the hero.

Derek Lowe went 5 innings on short rest, giving up 6 hits and 2 runs. After that, well Joe Torre got everyone into the game. Clayton Kershaw gave up a hit, a walk and a run in his third of an inning. Chan Ho Park got 1 out and walked 1. Joe Beimel got an out. Hong-Chih Kuo pitched an inning and gave up a run. Cory Wade got 2 outs but gave up Victorino's home run to tie the game and Jonathan Broxton pitched the final 1.1 innings giving up Stairs game winner.  

Phillies of the Day: Stairs (.418 WPA), Ryan Howard (.249), Victorino (.224) and Utley (.114). Suckage Phillies: Durbin (-.261), Blanton (-.179) and Pedro Feliz  (-.163). Dodgers of the Day: Manny (.278), Furcal (.250), Blake (.122) and Loney (.112). Suckage Dodgers Broxton (-.400), Wade (-.268), Kershaw (-.157), Blake Dewitt (-.189) Martin (-.131) and Andre Ethier (-.118).

The teams get a day off then tomorrow Cole Hamels starts for the Phillies against Chad Billingsley.

Reminder....it is election day in Canada....Vote Early, Vote Often.

Tampa Bay 6 White Sox 2

So the Rays are the most successful playoff team in history....they've won 100% of their playoff series. And they won it on merit, they were by far the better team. Today, Andy Sonnastine had a nice start going 5.2, allowing only 3 hits (2 of which were solo homers) and 1 walk. Their bullpen has been amazing all season and were no different today, J.P. Howell and Grant Balfour pitched the last 3.1 innnigs only allowing 1 hit and 1 walk.

Offensively BJ Upton hit 2 solo homers and he, Iwamura and Pena, the top of the Ray's batting order were 7 for 14 with 3 runs and 4 RBI. Former Jay Gabe Gross went 0 for 3 with a walk. Eric Hinske spent the game on the bench again.

For the Sox, Gavin Floyd, had a rough start, 3 innings and 4 earned runs, giving up both of Upton's home runs. Clayton Richard, for the second time in this short playoff round, did a good job in long relief, going 3 innings allowing only 1 run. I'd have to think that Richard will get a shot at the Sox' starting rotation next year.

Offensively the Sox again didn't do near enough, only getting 4 hits, with Konerko and Dye hitting solo shots in a losing cause. Griffey had a poor series and poor game, striking out 3 times today to give him 5 strike outs in 10 at bats with only 2 hits. Orlando Cabrera and Jim Thome each went 0 for 4 today and hit just .125 for the series. Former Jay Dwayne Wise went 0 for 2 before being pinch hit for, he had 2 hits ( a double and a homer) in 7 at bats.

Red Sox 3 Angels 2

A much more exciting game, so of course I had to be out tonight and didn't get to watch it. Jon Lester was terrific pitching 7 shut out innings and giving up just 4 hits, 2 walks and 4 strike outs. But Hideki Okajima and Justin Masterson combined to give up the 2 tying runs in the 8th. Fortunately the for the Sox the Angels blew a suicide squeeze in the top of the 9th.  Perhaps a moment of over managing, with a runner on third and 1 out Willie Aybar missed the ball on a bunt attempt and Varitek ran down Willits trying to get back to third. Tek dropped the ball after diving to make the tag, but watching the replay it was obvious that he didn't drop the ball entil he hit the ground after the tag. But it did bring Sciosia out of the dugout to argue.

In the bottom of the 9th the Sox got the winning run when Lowrie singled home Jason Bay from second with 2 out. Bay had a great series in his first chance in the postseason, he hit .412 in the 4 games with 2 homers.

John Lackey had a good start for the Angels pitching 7 innings, with 7 hits and 2 earned runs. Scot Shields pitched a quick 8th but gave up the winning run in the 9th, but considering he pitched 2 innings yesterday he must have been tiring.

So the next round of the playoffs is all set, Red Sox and Rays in what should be a heck of a series. The Sox will be without Lowell and they must be wondering what they will get from Josh Becket too. In the NL it is  Phillies and Dodgers which could be a lot of fun too. I'll post the winner of the first round playoff pool tomorrow and get a pool up for the next round of the playoffs.

For someone like me that loves watching baseball, today was heaven, three great games. Thought I'd put up short recaps of the games so we have a place to talk about them.

First Game: Brewers 1 Phillies 3

Great game, I haven't seen many Philly games this season and didn't realize what a great pitcher Cole Hamels has become. 8 innings of 2 hit ball, 1 walk and 9 strikeouts against a strong Brewers team. A two run double by Utley was all the offense the Phillies needed. Victorino drove in the other run with a bases loaded walk.

Yovani Gallardo (who?) started for the Brewers, he only gave up 3 hits but walked 5 in his 4 innings and gave up the 3 Philly runs. Offensively the Brewers didn't get anything going till the 9th when the very shaky Brad Lidge gave up 2 hits and a walk but managed to get out of it with the save. It reminded me of one of BJ's saves. He had to let the winning run come to bat before getting the third out.The Phillie's fans can't feel very confident with Lidge in the closing role.

Former Jay Matt Stairs didn't get into the game today. I wouldn't count the Brewers out yet, CC Sabathia is starting tomorrow and he has been amazing since the trade. Then Saturday former Jay Dave Bush starts.

Second Game: Dodgers 7 Cubs 2

Canadian Ryan Dempster did not do well, 4.2 innings, 4 hits, 7 (!) walks and 4 earned. But the other Canadian in the game Russell Martin hit one out. As well for the Dodgers James Loney hit a grand slam and Manny hit a homer on a pitch that couldn't have been more than 3 inches off the ground, how he could be strong enough to hit that out with that swing I'll never know.

Derek Lowe pitched well enough for the win, 6 innings, 7 hits, 1 homer, and 6 strikeouts. Greg Maddux pitched the 9th with the 5 run lead. The Cubs sitll have a good shot at the series with Zambrano and Canadian Rich Harden going in the next two games.

Third Game: Red Sox 4 Angels 1

Lester fought it some tonight but got thru 7 innings giving up only an unearned run, on 6 hits and 7 strikeouts. Canadian Jason Bay had two hits, a homer and 2 RBI. Ellsbury had 3 hits and 2 stolen bases.

Vlady Guerrero had the brain cramp of brain cramps, being thrown out trying to go from first to third on a pop up that Youk just barely missed catching. Youk popped up after missing a diving catch and made a nice throw to third to get Vlady by 10 or 15 feet. With the Angels only down by 1 in the bottom of the 8th, had he not been so bloody stupid the Angels would have had the tying run on second and the go ahead run on first with one out and a very shaky Justin Masterson on the mound.

I think the Angels needed that game but it should, if Beckett is able to pitch game three it will be tough for the Angels to get back into it.

I hope tomorrow's games are as good as today's.

As always, a win is a good thing. Doc get's his 19th win with 6 decent innings. Cy, League and Ryan shut the Sox down for the last three. Ryan pitches a 1, 2, 3 inning? Is nice to see and makes you think things will be good next year for the closer.

Offensively the top three in our order Scoot, Bautista and Rios went 6 for 11, scored two and drove in 5. Rolen went 2 for 4 and hit home run number 10. What every he is doing different with his swing seems to be working. Thigpen went 1 for 3, nice to see him get a hit. Beating Jon Lester is not an easy thing to do. Getting 5 runs in 7 innings is great.

Jays of the Day: Rios (158 WPA), Doc (.149) and Scoot (.128). Honorable mention to League and Cy. No Suckage Jays, though Wells and Overbay deserve honorable mention (dishonorable mention?) going 0 for 7 between them.

Tomorrow we have Richmond (0-2, 5.06) starting for us, not really fair to judge him on it since he hasn't pitched since Aug. 29, but he's one of the names in the hat for a possible starting job next season at least till McGowan is back. Dicek (17-2, 2.93) goes for the Sox. I guess the game is on TBS on the other side of the border. I think we have to suffer thru CBC. Jesse Barfield is not my favorite color analyst.  

The title comes from 'Tomorrow Never Knows' another George song off the Beatles Revolver, since Hugo and I have been talking about him. I have know idea what the line means but I always thought it was cool.