A Picture Says a Thousand Words

Yes, that's the orange blazer Craig Sager wore for Game 4 of the ALDS. Festive and AWESOME!!!

5 Postgame Thoughts

Dusty may not have been the best offensive player in the series, but he sure was steady at 2nd

1. The New Guys - All of the new guys on the team contributed in their own special way. Bay was a monster all series and had a huge, if not lucky hit in the 9th that could have ended the game on its own if it hadn't bounced into the stands. Lowrie came off an absolutely horrible September at the plate and an error early in Game 1 to have THE game winning hit in the biggest game of his career. Even Kotsay had a huge day with a single and two phenomenal Gold Glove caliber plays at 1st Base. Going into the ALDS I was calling for some Ortiz at 1st. Clearly Tito knows more than me.

2. O Captain, My Captain - The play by Varitek on the botched suicide squeeze was one of the better plays I've ever seen a catcher make. Obviously it took the go ahead and probable winning run off the bases and gave the Sox a huge shot in the arm.

3. Angels Playoff Woes Continue - Being aggressive is one thing, but I think part of the reason the Sox own these guys the way they do over the last four years specificially is that the Sox are wisely aggressive. They take calculated risks and wait to find an opening to try to take advantage. You take an extra base when you can, not when you want to. There were perfect examples of the differing philosophies. Jed Lowrie singled hard off the wall and took an aggressive turn past 1st. He could see the ball in front of him and knew there was a chance a good throw would get him so he pulled up and went back to 1st. Wise decision and he didn't run into an out. The suicide squeeze by the Angels was a joke. When you try so hard to be aggressive and force the issue, you get yourself in trouble. It was the 3rd inning of the Series the Angels had run themselves out of. It just makes no sense to me.

4. Jon Lester the Ace - Jon Lester has reached the point where you don't even hope for good starts, you just know they are coming. I very rarely find myself proud of athletes. Knowing all that Lester has been through and how hard he works, I am proud of him. It has been a pleasure to watch him grow over the past few years. I can't wait to see more.

5. I LOVE THAT DIRTY WATAH!!! OOOH OOOH BOSTON YOU'RE MY HOME!!! Friday feels like a long time from now.

ALDS GAME 4 LIVE BLOG

In Jon We Trust

Top 1st - Huge game for the Sox tonight. Info and changes coming fast and furious as I settle into the leather chair and get to typing. Lowell is out, disabled for this Series and the next. I'm not surprised and no entirely upset. I love the man for being a gamer and giving it a go, but it has been difficult to watch.
- Ron Darling joins Buck Martinez and Mr. Caray in the booth. How the heck is he going to get a word in edgewise with Martinez in the booth. For all the love I've given Martinez over the course of this Series, the man can talk.
- In the biggest news of the night, Crazy Craig Sager is wearing a pumpkin colored (very seasonal blazer) with tan slacks. Color me disappointed.
- While I type what I'm thinking Lester blows through Figgins, Anderson, and Teixeira. Just Awesome.

Bottom 1st - Sox lineup is basically what Tito lays in bed and dreams about at night. It goes Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Switch, Switch. No matchup advantages there.
- I really like the fact that we have Lester and they have Lackey tonight. Lackey has shown himself to be a mental midget and I believe he'll find a way to crack.
- Pedroia comes to the plate and is quickly out. I can't believe he doesn't have a hit, even if he's hit the ball hard a whole ton.
- Ortiz comes up, i'm calling for a weak grounder here. Wow, ridiculously predictable there Papi...elation turns to annoyance real quick.

Meanwhile, on Monday Night Football, Drew Brees tries to throw a seam route to an open Lance Moore and a Viking defender holds him and then trips him. A long TD drive for the Saints and zero points for Moore. Perfect.

Top 2nd - I talked to Fat Tony tonight and both of us agree that this Red Sox team just isn't that good. Yet, they are playing an elimination game at home against a team that has never proven themselves winners and draw a young group of Rays if they win. I've never seen a baseball team put together with more duct tape and smoke and mirrors. Amazing how a winning culture can make you better than you are just by believing it.
- The TBS guys are talking about Vladdy Daddy putting on a show in BP. I picture him playing in a slow pitch softball league in another ten years and just hitting balls over water towers and playgrounds. The man may have a bad back but he is strong.
- Lester gets two fly balls in succession from Vladdy and Hunter and we hope the Angels continue to swing so quickly at Lester's strikes.
- Fat Catcher comes up and I don't care if he hit two home runs last night or not. He's Fat Catcher and he has a bad beard.
- Lester loses him to a walk...and now a single and there's baserunners.
- The frustration continues for Howie Kendrick and Lester gets out of it.

Bottom 2nd - USE E LESS steps to the plate for the Sox. This lineup really needs someone to put them on their back for a bit with Old Man Lowell out. One thing is for certain, it won't be this fraud. The Greek God of Walks strikes out looking. Irritating.
- Now comes the enigma that is JD Drew. And the enigma singles. Don't forget in June this was the guy who put this team on his back for about three weeks. When he swings like that, I feel all warm inside.
- I'm TOTALLY GAY FOR JASON BAY!!!
- Lackey walks Bay. Scioscia complains to Ed Rapuano.
- Kotsay swings at a first pitch curveball and steam is coming out of my bleeping ears. Lackey is struggling with control, we swing at the first pitch and ground into a doubleplay.

Fantasy Update - Vikings block a Saints kick and run it back for a TD. Extra point Longwell, I lead by 10...extra needles going into my Lance Moore voodoo doll now.

Top 3rd - Lester gets a groundball out from Aybar and now the ever important Chone Figgins comes up for the Angels. He was on base a little bit last night and the Angels offense got going.
- Figgins gets a nice base hit and now the game begins. Fortunately Lester is a lefty with a good move, so he should be able to neutralize that a bit.
- Anderson looks at a nasty curveball by Lester and gets behind 0-1. The crowd is seriously way too quiet. It seems like they are too nervous, they need to be too loud.
- Kotsay makes a nice play and doesn't throw the ball around, he just gets the out. Well done Kotsay. But you still owe me for that first pitch swing.
- I seriously haven't heard Ron Darling in ten minutes. It's possible Buck has him bound and gagged in the press box bathroom.
- Did you know that Varitek doesn't give location away early. Dear God, if I hear that another time, my head may explode.
- Lester walks Teixeira and I'm not entirely upset by that. He was careful and now gets to face Vladdy with forceouts at every base.
- Lester blows a fastball by him and I'm shocked Vladdy didn't fall down there.
- Quickly 0-2. The issue is that Vladdy is nearly impossible to strike out. Wait, that's Ron Darling's voice! How did this happen? Quickly overwhelmed by Buck. That was a close one.
- Kotsay almost destroyed Kerwin Danley on that foul pop and everyone gets their funny ha ha football penalty jokes in.
- Vladdy is continuing to battle here and he is terrifying me. Come on Jonny Boy!
- In Fantasy news, Ryan Longwell drills a 53 yarder and I lead by 10. Nice.
- Wow, Pedroia may not have a hit, but he found a way to save a run with a sprawling flipping play chock full of awesomeness.

Bottom 3rd -I totally have nothing to say about that portion of the game except to say, we better do something offensively at some point. Three up, three down...back to you Jonny

Top 4th - In Fantasy Land, Chester Taylor tosses a TD to Vincente Shiancoe and I get the Extra Point to lead by 14.
- Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Torii Hunter faces Jon Lester. Lester needs a strong, efficient inning here. That strikeout against Hunter will help that along.
- I've said it once, please allow me to harp on it, John Farrell needs to be a manager in the Big Leagues and in a hurry. If you're a team looking, specifically a team with underachieving pitching, go get him.
- Fat Catcher is up. Please don't pitch around him again.
- Lester misses a broken bat by about two feet and gets Napoli. I heard Joe Castiglione say last night on the radio that he is terrified of a bat injuring someone and/or causing an issue in a major game during an important spot. Now tonight it becomes a subject du jour for these guys. Martinez talks about the olden days having heavier bats. I know from personal experience that isn't the case now. 34 inch, 32 ounces is about standard in the big leagues. At least it was in 2001.
- Sox get a bit of luck, Rivera doesn't hustle and Lester is through 4 with 67 pitches. Useful stuff, that.

Bottom 4th - If the Sox are going to get going, its going to have to be with Pedroia making plays. He hits another ball fairly hard, but gets out. Now its Papi who will weakly pop out or ground out into the shift. He so needs his off season wrist surgery.
- I love it when Ortiz proves me wrong with a laser to center.
- So now we've learned that both teams are going to have their entire bullpens available. In an elimination game. NO WAAAAAAAAY!
- Lackey is laboring a bit and goes to 3-0 on Youkilis. I'm pretty sure I'd go green light here. Fastball down the middle and Youkilis watches it go. If he sees one of those again, he better yank it to Lowell.
- On a hard hit ball, Figgins makes a bad throw and Kendrick continues his miserable series with a drop. First and second, only one out.
- Enigma, copyright Chad Finn, steps to the plate. Give us one of those sweet swings JD.
- He just misses a breaking ball and it's 2-2. Buck says his bringing the breaking ball is a luxury...it hasn't looked that good to me. 3-2 the count and the crowd finally wakes up. Come on Lackey...full meltdown here!
- Drew tags one to center, but the ball is just not carrying tonight. Ortiz to 3rd. It's time for the Bay State.
- Breaking ball for a strike, I thought that missed. You know he's going outside curve to Bay all at bat here.
- Fat Catcher fats the ball back into play, no run can score.
- He hangs one, but Lackey gets out of it. 57 pitches for him through 4.

Top 5th -Helpful Howie Kendrick out on one pitch.
- Okay, seeing the tie and pocket square on Craig Sager has me far less disappointed. Hearing him talk about forensic tests has just confused me though. The only forensic test Craig Sager knows about are rape kits.
- Lester gets behind Aybar and then gives up a single. That is not a good idea. Now Figgins has his shot to get a mini-rally going for the Angels.
- Ron Darling again, that's three times already this game. And he got a devilish cackle out of Buck.
- Damn Damn Damn. Chone Figgins singles and now its nail-biting time.
- Anderson grounds out to short and now its 1st and 3rd with Teixeira up.
- WHERE THE HELL WAS THAT PITCH????? At 9:59 p.m., I am officially irritated. That was a filthy pitch on the black.
- 2-2, same pitch and Lester gets his ass. 83 pitches through 5.

Bottom 5th - Single for Kotsay to open the inning and we're officially even.
- Will Francona try to manufacture here?
- The answer apparently is no, but maybe a little hit and run action.
- Lowrie gets a ball on the outer half, and hits a weak fly to center....grrr, I'm pretty sure a bunt was in order there.
- Don't ground into a double play here Tek...please, give Ellsbury a shot with a runner on.
- Remember what I said about hit and run? Tek works a full count and blasts one past Teixeira while Kotsay is running and we're in business.
- The best part is Ellsbury is almost impossible to double off.
- Ellsbury just misses on a fastball away.
- A bleeder to second Kendrick bobbles and freaks out...Ellsbury out at first, a run scores. WOOOOOO!
- Get your tickets to the LASER SHOW!
- And Dusty's first hit gives the Red Sox the lead....awesome. 2-0 Sox.
- Ortiz hit one right at Lackey and he makes a nice play. 2 runs for the Sox and you know Lester has to be feeling good about that.

Top 6th -In Fantasy Land, Ed Hochuli just pissed off the entire city of New Orleans on a fumble replay and Minnesota keeps the ball...driving towards a Field Goal are we Vikes?
- It feels like Vladdy has been up eight times already tonight, but it appears its only his 3rd at bat...Phenomenal diving play by Kotsay as he gets to play a bit of Center Field at 1st Base. Well done.
- Lester is up to 87 pitches. If you're a Sox fan, you're hoping he can get you at least two more. He quickly gets Hunter to 0-2. Here's a spot where you just need to get outs.
- Darling is actually contributing nicely to this broadcast.
- Youkilis reminds everyone he could be a Gold Glove 3rd Baseman with a beautiful barehanded play. Well done. Defense and Pitching as Donnie Young likes to say.
- Fat Catcher is up. Lester to 91 pitches. NASTY curveball again from Lester. Fenway is starting to get into this game as they rise as one. 1-2 count. Great pitch on the outside corner but just a bit outside.
- Great stat from Darling - Lester is 16-1 when he's given a two run lead this year.
- Fat Catcher is battling and Lester's pitch count is rising. A punchout is needed here.
- Jason Bay just looked like Rickey Henderson as he nonchalantly reached to the top of the scoreboard and takes in that fly ball. Six innings are in the books, Sox 2 - Angels 0.

Fantasy Update - Saints implode all over the field in the first half, Longwell gets me 2 field goals and 2 extra points. The Romosexuals lead Brimley's Bro-skies 142-126.

Bottom 6th - Youkilis grounds out quickly. I was really looking for the Sox to be patient and grind some at bats here against Lackey, but Drew follows with a 2 pitch ground out. It's like the Sox want Lester back out on the mound immediately.
- If you had the Bottom of the 6th inning in the When will the TBS crew spend 5 minutes talking about Manny Ramirez, you are a winner. Also, for all of you playing a drinking game to this blog at home - Totally Gay for Jason Bay!
- Aybar misplays a Bay grounder and the Sox have a baserunner for Kotsay.
- Kotsay rolls out to first, might as well get Lester back on the hill for what will surely be his last inning.

Top 7th - Rivera is kind enough to first pitch swing and he pops out to Pedroia. One away.
- So important that Lester gets these guys at the bottom of the order, you don't want to face any of 2,3,4 with runners on.
- Lester has pounded the strike zone tonight and he gets up 0-2 on Kendrick here.
- Kotsay has had two opportunities to play center field at first base tonight. Great job by Kotsay. Center Fielders everywhere! Super cool that he's the only Major League player to ever hit on Courtney Reynolds as well.
- Lester has to go after Aybar here. He gets him early enough and he may see some of the 8th inning.
- Aybar flies out. Lester = Awesome. Lets give him another one Tito.

Bottom 7th - Man, the ball is just not carrying tonight at all to centerfield.
- Wow, a Hendu highlight. We've owned the Halos ever since. To catch up, Lowrie had a nice at bat and a long single off the wall and then Tek hit a ball real hard but it was an out as it stopped carrying.
- Ellsbury is quickly in an 0-2 hole here. Good chance for the Sox to get something going. Wow...a super nice play by Aybar on a chopper right over the bag results in a double play.
- Will Lester come out for the 8th?

Top 8th - The answer to that question is no as Okajima comes out of the bullpen. I hate to second guess Tito because he has been phenomenal for the last four years, but I think I'd have brought Lester out with double barrell bullpen action here. I hope that I'm wrong.
- As Travis Bogan says, Okajima is Japanese for one year wonder.
- Picture me with my eyes covered right now.
- A generous strike helps. 1-2. Don't let Figgins get on here Okaji.
- Figgins is battling and seriously, I don't like this at all. I know the point is for him to get Figgins and then go against Anderson who he kind of owns.
- Pedroia handles a grounder and the Sox are 5 outs away.
- Anderson is due, but I'm pretty sure his numbers against Okajima are terrible. At least when he's Pink Eye Anderson they are.
- Pedroia is steady at 2nd and there is 2 away. You have to love getting to Teixeira with nobody on base. If he wants to be Wade Boggs here and single, that is just fine by me.
- Now after attacking the first 2 hitters, Okajima is nibbling and goes to 3-0 on Teixeira. Quick walk and now we have to cover our eyes as Vladdy Daddy comes to the plate. I think it might be time for the Master Lock.
- Tito takes the long walk to the mound. Master Lock will need to take down another legend for the Sox to move on.
- Huge quick two strikes from the Legend Killer. Fenway rises as one...desperate to get out of this inning.
- Nasty high fastball 96 mph but a little too high even for Vladdy to swing at it.
- Another high fastball at 95. Guerrero just holds on to check the swing.
- Grrrrrr, growl, rumble, swear. He walks Guerrero without throwing a strike. Two runners on. Torii Hunter hearing the Torii chants from the crowd. Again 0-2. Slide piece?
- Oh man. Varitek got crossed up by Master Lock and almost had his head taken off. That is inexcusable. The runners advance to second and third.
- Thought he had him with the slider but didn't. The Torii serenades continue. To be completely honest, the crowd has been below average tonight.
- A little gamesmanship from Hunter as he ties and reties his shoe. Master Lock misses again.
- Basehit to right and Hunter gets the job done. I hate to say that was predictable, but my God that was predictable.
- Fenway is DEAD SILENT right now. And now the most important thing is that Master Lock gets out of the inning without more runs.
- Man, do not want to see Fat Catcher right now. If he hits one here, I'm going to throw up all over myself.
- 0-2 again and Masterson is trying to be too cute with 2 strikes. Pound the strike zone rookie.
- He can't seem to finish anyone right now and Napoli is plugging along, waiting for a pitch to drive.
- Napoli mercifully flies to right and the Angels get back in it with one hit. Worst case scenario for a bullpen. Two walks, one hit, one wild pitch, two runs.

Fantasy Update - The clock seems to be taking forever to run down in this game. Still holding strong, need another field goal to feel better though.

Bottom 8th - Pedroia leads off the eighth against Shields. Put us on your back Pedderass.
- If you're Pedroia here you have to get on base to make them pitch to Papi.
- Pedroia doesn't of course and now they will be very careful with the Big Dominican.
- Shields is a nasty reliever and the Sox can't seem to do anything against him. He quickly gets Papi to 0-2, but Papi is 4 of his last 6 against him.
- Papi is certainly battling right now. He hasn't seemed to have been able to hit a good curveball all series and that continues now. Probably due to the wrist, Ron Darling agrees.
- Wicked curve gets Ortiz and we're in trouble here folks.
- Do you ever get the feeling that this team just doesn't have enough firepower to get us to the promised land? I certainly do and right now I'm feeling it more than ever.
- USE E LESS to the plate, warning track power expected.
- I just flashed to Dice K starting a huge Game 5 for us in Anaheim...dear Lord, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
- Shields gets USE E LESS....Fenway is a morgue.

Top 9th - Masterson comes back out for the 9th and Manny Meltdown is getting ready as well. On entirely a sidenote Reggie Bush looks like a video game player on punt returns right now.
- Kendry Morales is a fastball, dead red, Trot Nixon type hitter and we give him a fastball to hit off the wall. Yuck.
- Mark it down, the Sox are losing this one and we're going back to Anaheim.
- Kendrick finally does something right and bunts the pinch runner Willits to third.
- Here comes Manny Meltdown, why doesn't this make me feel better?
- Aybar to the plate and of course Manny leads him off with two balls. Seriously, are we going to lose on a game winning hit by Aybar again.
- I DONT BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!!!!
- Aybar misses the squeeze bunt, Varitek makes a ridiculous rundown tag on Willits...Tek is a monster...
- And Scioscia's aggressiveness gets the best of him, great play by the Captain.
- Manny gets it to 2-2...must get the out here and he does on a slow roller to first. Sox Survive!

Bottom 9th - The Enigma takes to the plate versus Scot Shields. Shields is so good I'd rather have K Rod pitching at this point. I would love to spend five minutes with Buck Martinez so he could teach me what quiet means at the plate...cause JD Drew is soooooo quiet at the plate.
- Filthy pitch by Shields, one away.
- Bay State Fireworks here? You just know he's going to see a steady diet of offspeed stuff.
- The Angels just got wonderfully lucky there as Bay hits a ball that gets by Willits and it ends up in the stands. If it doesn't, Bay is coming all the way around for an inside the park homer.
- Runner on second and one out, time to manufacture here boys. Kotsay to the plate as a guy who is good against Shields.
- Remember when I said that Reggie Bush looked like a video game on his punt returns, he just returned his second for a touchdown. Unreal.
- Teixeira is very good. Kotsay drilled a ball and Teixeira made an unreal play.
- THE ROOKIE SHALL LEAD THEM!!! FIRST PITCH SINGLE BY LOWRIE AND I LOVE THAT DIRTY WATER IS PLAYING OVER THE LOUDSPEAKERS AT FENWAY. SOX/RAYS, ALCS ON TBS!!!
- At different points in this series, every single guy who stepped onto the field for the Sox contributed. Now they advance to the American League Championship Series to play the Rays. As KG says, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLLLEEEE. They are the defending World Champions. You just never know.
- Awesome slide by Jason Bay! He looked like the Old Spice commercial where the guy is sliding all the way from third base.
- This is officially the Bay State! I'm Totally Gay for Jason Bay!
- The two newcomers are the run producers in the 9th.
- I'll say this, I've talked a lot about Craig Sager and his suits. There is no one better at a post game interview than that man. He asks thoughtful, pointed questions, just phenomenal.
- The goggles are on in the clubhouse and the Sox are going to do a little partying again.
- The sign says it all - I LIKE BASEBALL!
- You're Next Rays!!!

Errors and Omissions

That is soup...Buck Martinez is not soup

A few wrambling thoughts as we get ready for Game 4.

- Apologies to Buck Martinez who has been wonderful throughout the first three games. I totally thought he was Dave "Soup" Campbell and referred to him as such for the entirety of my first two liveblogs. Won't happen again.
- Apologies to Red Sox Nation for not liveblogging Game 3. For someone who is so ridiculously superstitious that he often wears the same outfit for entire postseasons and grows playoff facial hair, it was entirely inexcusable.
- Having said that here is my excuse...

- Apologies to anyone who doesn't care about Fantasy Football and specifically my team, the Romosexuals. I have Minnesota's kicker, Ryan Longwell going against Travis's WR Lance Moore of the Saints. I'm up by 9 and I'm praying for victory. The bottom line is if you're reading this, you're going to hear some about what's happening in the Louisiana Super Dome.Break a leg, Lance Moore. No, really - BREAK A LEG!

ALDS GAME 2 LIVE BLOG

Pre-game - Craig Sager + Mint Green Suit = falling out of my chair awesome. I must be a glutton for punishment because I promised myself I wouldn't liveblog a game with the Dice Man pitching. He frustrates me to the point of no return. I'm hoping this will be therapeutic. Saw somewhere that the Thundersticks are coming back for tonight's game. Is there a cornier group of fans than Angels fans? Also, I'd like to note that Simmons brought up the fact that the Sox sound like a New England Prep School Student Body. Kudos, Sports Guy. As for predictions, I don't think the Sox can pull two in a row off here, but I love that a hopefully healthy Beckett is looming and two games in the Friendly Confines of Fenway. As for the lineup, Cora and Kotsay are in, Lowell and Lowrie are out. Interesting.

Top 1st - Jacoby Pinkhatsbury comes to the plate and all the females of New England swoon. Santana has never done much for me, though he does get strikeouts. I think it's crucial the Sox work counts against this guy tonight, no bailing him out with impatience. Ellsbury pops out, Santana looks filthy
- Laser Show time kids...quickly 0-2
-Turbo Stuff for Santana according to Soup Campbell. Whatever that means, he showed it against Pedroia there.
- Papi up, you can count on a grounder or a lazy pop up here. Sometimes I enjoy being wrong, he hits a laser to right for a single.
- I hate to second guess my boy Tito, but I hate the fact that they won't play Ortiz at first and add the speed/bat of Coco in a series like this. You could DH Drew and keep his back out of the outfield and then you'd have an even better outfield defensively plus add a ton of pressure to the Angels.
- A bloop by USE E LESS and we're in business here a little bit. Santana has looked good, but we're making him throw pitches and getting baserunners, so that is a plus.
- Has to be extremely hard to be JD Drew facing a guy with a TURBO fastball with his timing as poor as it is.
- Well played Sir...hard hit ball up the middle and we lead 1-0. Soup Campbell threw me under the bus, mentioning timing on fastballs is easy, its the offspeed stuff that is dangerous.
- Gay for Bay...and a chance to really give us a good start here for our Canadian friend. AND he's doing a great job laying off the soft stuff away.
- I'm BEYOND GAY FOR BAY. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO I CAN DO BETTER MANNY!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
- I questioned whether this guy would be ready for the playoff atmosphere, I believe he has answered me.
- As important as the 4-0 lead is the 26 pitches they have made Santana throw, a complete turnaround from what the Sox did on Wednesday night. If Dice K wasn't taking the mound tonight, I'd call this game as over
- I think they lost the Thundersticks in Anaheim, why so serious Angels fans?
- Inning ends mercifully on a Varitek bloop...we'll take it.

Bottom 1st - Dice K doesn't get behind 3-1 and Figgins (my Series key for the Angels) gets out.
- Dice K starts 0-2 to Anderson. Ball gets hit hard, but its right to Drew and I'm excited about Dice K pounding the strike zone early. I'm thoroughly convinced with this defense, if he pounds the strike zone, we can be very tough to beat.
- He started Texeira with another strike, third guy this inning, but Texeira hits an eye high fastball to right on a line.
- Fourth first pitch strike from Dice K...I'm so thrilled with this beginning from him. Still though, Guerrero terrifies me until he's sitting on the bench. GRRRRRR...broken bat bloop single from Vladdy Daddy. Have faith in strikes DK.
- Fifth first pitch strike. Its almost like Dice K knows he'd kill me tonight by nibbling. Man, that was some seeing eye bullshit there boy...and Guerrero took another stupid chance, but Ellsbury couldn't get the ball out of his glove.
- So after a pitchers duel in Game 1, it looks like we'll have some fun here tonight. Super nice play by Cora gets us out of it. Most important in spite of the early run, Dice K only threw 16 pitches.

Top 2nd - How does Cape Cod have like 6 99 Restaurants and 0 Applebees, Chilis, or Ruby Tuesdays. I mean I know the 99 is the greatest restaurant ever created, but still. Between none of those and the absence of Arby's, the Cape is hard to deal with sometimes.
- Cora made a nice play deep in the hole to end the inning and wouldn't you know he comes up in the next half inning. Funny inbetween hop eats up Aybar...
- Have I mentioned how much I think the world of Craig Sager...who else would wear a suit like that following a Salmon suit two nights earlier. The man is a legend. Also, these are the things sideline reporters are supposed to bring to the broadcast. Sager talks about how right field is a difficult call at Angel Stadium because fans can reach over so easily. This is what fans want to know, not sound clips from managers talking about why they hit the righty against the lefty.
- Ellsbury with a classic Jacoby soft grounder that he just won't allow to be a double play.
- Can we get a Laser Show ticket please Dusty?
- Well that's about as far as you can hit one to left field in Angel Stadium. Hope that won't come back to haunt us.
- Santana has quickly gotten to 45 pitches in two innings, but he gets Ortiz on a weak grounder and the Sox can't capitalize on a couple hard hit balls and baserunners.

Bottom 2nd - Dice Man still throwing first pick strikes...still keeping me from the Angry Zone.
- This live blog thing is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. One game is easy for fresh material, but how many jokes can I make about Garrett Anderson's pinkeye from last year's playoffs without it getting stale? I'm hoping a lot.
- After a nice strikeout to Howie Kendrick, Dice K misses on his first pitch for the first time, but battles back to get ahead 1-2 and then throw a fastball by him. It is so crucial to get the bottom 3 or 4 guys of this Angels lineup out.
- I think I'm going to faint, Dice K has a clean, low pitch inning and Drew gets a great jump on a liner by Aybar. Inning over, 28 pitches through 2 innings. Who is this Dice K we're seeing so far?

Top 3rd - I have to say that playoff baseball seems to be a little more intense now than it was years ago. I think this has something to do with the disappearance of amphetamines/greenies in the game. Watching the Sox a little bit over the month of September, it seemed like the players didn't have the pep they used to have. The playoffs get that back just by being the playoffs. You don't need a greenie to get excited about a playoff game after a night off.
- Use E Less flies out, but its a typical Greek God of Walks at bat, grinding six pitches before flying out
- I totally think its a bad sign that JD Drew has had more epidurals in the month of September than most women with 3 kids have in their lifetime.
- As Drew is called out on a check swing strike, I realize that more home plate umpires are making that call on their own now. It seems odd that they have any angle to see the bat break the plane, but they seem to be making the call much more often than they ever did before.
- The Angel Killer from Canada steps in and quickly gets to 3-1 as Santana is being very careful, but they get him on a grounder to third.

Bottom 3rd - At some point Dice K throwing a first pitch strike won't be a story, but for right now its pumping me up.
- Another out for Figgins. The less he is on base, the better off we are.
- Easy play for Pedderass, two away.
- Cheapy for big Tex up the middle, clearly he's not afraid of the big stage either...somewhere in his evil lair, Scott Boras is laughing maniacally.
- Another couple of singles from Texeira and Guerrero. It struck me during that at bat that Guerrero is a miserable matchup for Dice K. DK likes to nibble and locate, Guerrero hits everything in every location.
- Great, Torii Hunter hitting one of Dice K at Fenway highlights, thanks TBS.
- Hunter has gotten a couple of good swings on Dice, but he's behind in the count 1-2.
- PHEWWWWW...and Torii Hunter just pulled the most boneheaded play of the playoffs so far as he hurts himself arguing about the call at first. He leapt in the air and obviously didn't come down right. Inning over, is Torii's night over?

Top 4th - Hunter apparently is fine as he's staying in the game and makes a play on Kotsay's liner to center.
- Varitek quickly follows up with a line shot down the line played well by Teixeria. Now Santana is trying to get out of an inning with just a few pitches.
- Man, Alex Cora is making Francona look like a genius. A nice hard hit ball up the gap for a double and red hot Jacoby will have a shot at driving him in and extending the lead.
- Jacoby hits a ball hard in the gap and its totally misplayed by Rivera. We'll take it and the 5-1 lead it represents.
- I'm officially canceling the Laser Show if Pedroia can't get an RBI single here. I know he crushed the ball last time up, but still...and he's out again. Another run for Dice K. Can he make it hold up?

Bottom 4th - UGH...a potential Bad Dice K sighting. Walking the lead off guy here. Come on Dice Man, make me wrong. Be Aces here!
- Just like that the Dice Man gets a quick strike out of Kendrick. I love the approach tonight.
- Bay can't make a great play on a blooper to left and now Dice K must find a way to get outs before the top of the order gets rolling.
- Let me also say this, if someone doesn't give John Farrell a managerial job after this season, they are completely nuts. The man dealt this year with a veteran knuckleballer, a japanese nibbler, a texan stud, a young lefty who's also a cancer survivor, a throwback veteran, a young sinkerball reliever, a veteran closer with migraines and shoulder issues, and the list goes on. He's also gotten the most you could expect out of nearly all of them. The only guy who didn't perform at a plus level was clay Bucholz and from the looks of things, his issue is in his head, not his arm.
- Dice gets the out as Aybar grounds softly to first, can we really continue to get Chone Figgins out every time he's up?
- DK is only at 61 pitches for the evening here after two outs in the fourth. He has a chance to give them 6 to 7 clean innings tonight. This would be huge.
- Dice threw a terrible fastball over the inner half on the second pitch, but Figgins swung through it and now we're at 2-2.
- A walk here would not be a good thing...
- Worse, its a line drive base hit in front of Bay and fortunately only one run comes in. Now Garret Anderson with no Pink Eye is coming up. I have a bad feeling about this.
- Nibbles McGee is back here. Got an 0-2 count on Anderson and now its quickly 2-2. I think Boras is behind home plate btw....
- Man, Bay has been so close to like five plays in the outfield the last two nights. That means he's either getting great jumps or awful ones, but who can complain about Bay right now.
- The Dice Man holds on, but he's to 71 pitches now. Great pitch.

Top 5th - It sure would be nice to get Ortiz going at some point here. Sager tells us Torii Hunter has a jammed knee, he's going to be really sore tomorrow, I promise you that.
- Hunter's injury immediately brings to mind the Frerotte head butt and the Grammatica celebration injury as great moments in sports history.
- Papi battles in this at bat, but he just doesn't seem to have the ability to turn on pitches anymore. I'm hoping that's because of the wrist, strikes out on a fastball away.
- Man, Youkilis is back to his warning track power and the Sox have officially had two balls taken off the wall tonight.
- That was way too quiet an inning for our boys, big Bottom 5th coming for the Dice Man.

Bottom 5th - Outside of a homerun, that was pretty much a worse case scenario at bat from Teixeira. An 8 pitch walk and now the Dice Man is above 80 pitches with a runner on and no one out.
- Guerrero terrifies me, I think that's a theme from the last two nights. Bad time for Bad Dice K to rear his nibbling head.
- A walk of course and the announcer just used my Bad Dice K line...no lead ever feels safe with this guy.
- Let's hope Hunter falls to the ground on that bad knee
- Man - the announcer just wants the Angels in this series so badly...due for a longball, blah blah blah
- Here's a shock...Dice K has gone to a full count.
- Growl, Snarl, remembering this is a family blog. On a side note, great slide by Teixeira.
- Trying to remember we still have a 5-3 lead...desperately trying to remember.
- This is the Dice K everyone who cheers for the Sox is terrified of. 3-1 to Rivera.
- Huge slider to get Rivera. A pretty damn good 100th pitch, but we need more.
- Ellsbury gets under a fly ball and even though Vladdy Daddy tags, the Sox get out number 2. Dice K just needs to hang on for one more out here to get us out of the 5th.
- 0-2 for Dice K. Time for him to really put this guy away.
- Dice Man pops him up, you would think his game is over, and the Sox survive the 5th inning. Bos 5 - LAA 3

Top 6th - Ervin Santana must feel like he hasn't pitched in an hour. He gets a nice pop out from Bay and there is quickly one away.
- One of the signs of the Apocalypse just occurred. Torii Hunter makes an error in Center Field and Kotsay is on with one away. Do you think the knee affected his ability to make that play on the run?
- I don't think I've ever seen a worse swing result in a hit than the one Tek just took. Santana gone, Arugulagonedomownowath will come in for the Angels.
- Hilarious. You can't tell they changed pictures. This guy looks exactly like Santana.
- Cora has worked hard to get this to 3-2. I would love to see him get a big hit here. We'll take the walk though.
- Load em up, one out, and the difficult to double Jacoby Ellsbury at the plate.
- Huge strikeout there for Arredondo. It'll be up to Pedroia to add some breathing room runs for the Sox.
- Napoli has been amazing with his ball in the dirt stops so far this inning.
- Pedroia hits the laser he needs, but right at Kendrick.

Bottom 6th - Okajima, according to Travis, is Japanese for one year wonder. I truly hope he's wrong in this case as he's in to work the 6th for the Sox.
- Huge play by Cora as he unloads a strike to first on a slow roller. When you watch the guy play, you're convinced he should be a starter in the big leagues. It seems however that this is the perfect roll for him and he always seems to take advantage of opportunities to pitch in.
- Figgins continues his woes and flies out to center.
- i would say that makes Anderson taking away Pedroia's home run even. Sox get out of the 6th...need some runs

Top 7th -Ortiz continues to just look awful at the plate. He's out on a pop up to right and as you can tell from the sporadic thoughts, I'm halfway out of this blog because of how late its getting.
- Phenomenal play by Aybar and there is quickly two away.
- Just as the announcer said earlier, Aybar makes the hard plays and boots the easy one. Drew to first on a, well we'll call it a hit, since it is by law.
- Bay singles in a great at bat and then Kotsay hits a shot to right that is tracked down by Rivera. Seventh Inning Stretch time and honestly, I may have to stand up for the rest of the game to stay awake.

Bottom 7th - Teixeira vs. Okajima. Gulp. Man, Teixeira hits another hard single. The question I have to ask though is when can this big hulking slugger hit an extra base hit. It's like walking Wade Boggs.
- Vladdy Daddy might just be ready to go long here.
- Another single and as I fade, so does the Sox's hopes for this game, someone needs to stop the bleeding.
- Master Lock comes in...Hunter immediately flies out to left and Teixeira moves up. Seems like a first pitch swing is not the best option in that situation. Now Masterson faces Rivera.
- GGGRRRRRRR. Rivera works a walk. Tying run moves to second. Masterson just has to trust his stuff and pitch to contact here. Huge strikeout from Masterlock and now he needs one more to push this game to the eighth.
- 3-1 to Napoli now...must throw a strike...must throw a strike...must....
- Walks him. A one run game now and the Sox are staggering. This all started because Francona stayed with Okajima too long. Guy never should have been able to put two people on before giving up the ball.
- STRUCK. HIM. OUT. All things considered, the Master Lock was huge there.

Top 8th -All Jason Varitek does right now is ground out to first. This time his bat explodes in the process. One away.
- Wow...that Cora at bat didn't take long at all. At this point its hard to have any analysis. Mostly I'm just exhausted and fearful. Dangerous combination.
- K ROD is in. This guy has totally underwhelmed me throughout his career against us. Reminds me of Manny's BOMB last year in a big spot. He better be careful here. Dusty has snapped off two lasers this game. One more is coming.
- Don't forget Ellsbury at first, I would definitely consider sending him here so worst case you lead off Pedroia in the ninth.
- And on cue...stolen base Jacoby. Boy oh man would a single by Pedroia be huge here.
- Damn nice play by Aybar...looks like its up to the bullpen now.

Bottom 8th - Master Lock comes back out for the 8th. Francona is really trying to piece it together here. And immediately, Figgins crushes a ball and flies to third for a leadoff triple. Welcome to the Series Mr. Figgins. Of course Masterson gets the hook now. Lady Mo has a rally monkey sitting on her shoulder.
- Papelbon gets Anderson to pop out in foul territory. Now you face two of the toughest outs in the world.
- You may want to get off the plate Mr. Teixeira. He induces the high weak pop fly to center, but it is enough to move Figgins home. Tie game, two outs.
- Paps does quick work of 2,3,4 but the run still scores. We're tied going to the 9th.

Top 9th - Huge shot by Ortiz, Willits can't reach it and the lead runner is on 2nd. Do you run for David here with Coco and sacrifice him? Tito does. Now its up to ARODs brother You Kill Us.
- In typical Use E Less fashion, he grounds to short which can advance no one, now its up to Drew to keep it going. Remember Soup says he'll have a hard time with breaking stuff.
- Coco almost got picked off and maybe he was even out. There is absolutely no excuse for that. It would have been devastating.
- Drew looks awful so far in this at bat. 2-2 count.
- WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! JD DREW has hit his second huge home run in as many postseasons. Sox lead by 2. As bad as JD can look when he misses, that sweet swing looks better on real contact.
- KROD continues to underwhelm...
- First HR from Drew since July 26th...perfect timing.
- Tek continues his double play hitting bonanza. We go to the bottom of the ninth. Sox by two.

Bottom 9th -
-For some reason Torii Hunter bunts with a bad knee. Youkilis makes a phenomenal play and there is one away.
- Gary Matthews Jr. in to hit with one down.
- Matthews is battling and he's got it to a full count after 6 pitches.
- WOW. As much as I kill USE E LESS, he is an absolutely astounding fielder. He makes a heck of a pay there leaning over the camera pit and there is two away.
- I still wonder why the Angels would have picked the 3 man rotation series in this case. You know the Sox don't like to go to Papelbon on back to back nights with a lot of pitches. Plus it would have made Byrd or Wake pitch. If the Sox close this out, you have to beat Beckett, Lester, and Dice K back to back to back with the first two at Fenway. Yikes.
- 0-2 on Kendrick.
- Papelbon makes him look silly. Sox lead 2-0 and I have a sales meeting in 7 hours. More "analysis" tomorrow.

GO SOX!!!

Five Postgame Thoughts

1. This was a huge win for the Sox because it may drive the Angels crazy. The Angels have now lost 10 straight games to the Sox in the playoffs. You know they have to be thinking about that over the next two days. Doubt is super powerful in sports.

2. Jon Lester is becoming an absolute horse. The guy is growing up into a Major League Ace before our eyes. Phenomenal stuff tonight.

3. Apparently this is how we're going to have to win games now. Pitching, Defense, and Timely Hitting. There is no more winning slugfests for these guys.

4. Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Bay were awesome tonight. I'm sure it will be two different guys on Friday.

5. I said it once, but I'll say it again. Craig Sager + Salmon Suit = Double Plus Good

ALDS GAME 1 LIVE BLOG

Sox/Angels on TBS. This might be my only chance to stay awake for the whole game.

Top 1st - I can't believe I just heard one of the announcers, Soup Campbell I believe, say that John Lackey won't get rattled because he's a veteran...ummm, Soup, just so you know the Sox kill this guy and he does get rattled against them, often! He might not tonight, but to say so succinctly he will is just nuts.
- Ellsbury hits a shot high off the wall and the ball is carrying in Anaheim, might not be a bad thing...of course my boy Pedroia grounds out weekly.
- Is there anything more aggravating than Papi hitting the ball into the shift with runners on base?
- Kevin Use- e - less rhymes with Youkilis grounds out as well. He is the only guy I have absolutely no faith in on this team in big spots. Inning over, now its time to see how Jonny Lester can do tonight.

Bottom 1st - The Gillette Fusion commercial they just showed reminds me of the fact that Fusion makes me break out so I've gone back to the Mach 3. Are we really supposed to believe that razors good enough for our fathers and grandfathers aren't good enough for us. I mean, we went from two blades to five in like six years. Its not like we moved on to lasers, just more blades. Capitalism at its finest.
- Figgins terrifies me because he gives the Sox fits on the basepaths, but he grounds out weekly. Jonny Lester basically needs to give us seven innings of two or less runs for us to stand a chance tonight. I know the Rally Monkeys and Thundersticks will scare him, but he'll have to find a way.
- Grrr...I miss the pink eye version of Garrett Anderson. This lineup is so much tougher with him in the two hole and not hitting fourth.
- Do you think Mark Texeira has already been fitted for a uniform with pinstripes?
- I'm continuing my negative slant here early in this game and this series, but that is a ball Jacoby Ellsbury has to get to in the playoffs. One of the Sox huge advantages right now is a plus fielding outfield at every position. You can't give away outs with Vladdy Daddy coming to the plate.
- Vladdy pops up quickly and JD Drew moved without his back flaring up..two birds with one stone
- Man this lineup is tooooons better this year with Hunter and Texeira. Last year I'm convinced I could have gotten outs against the Angels in the ALDS. This year, not so much.
- Seems like Jonny is getting squeezed a bit. His location isnt' great, but he's around the plate. Bad Lester is the guy who nibbles, we don't need Bad Lester tonight.
- Seriously, where was that pitch?!? Blood pressure rising.
- It seems like Lester's pitches are cutting across the plate...but the ump isn't buying it....
- Had em all the way...0-0 after one

Top 2nd - Capt Fragile is up for the Sox...I'm scared that we need a healthy Drew to even have a shot...Healthy Drew is a bit of an oxymoron isn't it.
- Now Soup admits the Sox hit Lackey hard traditionally...doubletalk...doubletalk...ground ball Drew. I'm underwhelmed!
- I am however TOTALLY GAY FOR JASON BAY!!! I love this guy. At least until he grounds out here, then he'll be moving towards the doghouse. Some guys just thrive on playoff baseball, I hope he's one of them. Hopefully that first at bat was no indication of his playoff prowess.
- Old Man Lowell is in the 7 hole, which means they are more worried about his injury than Drew's. How does this team not play Ortiz at first and DH Lowell. It just seems logical...and on a hard hit ball by Lowell Anderson makes a nice play. Inning over and I'm extremely concerned that we're not taking Lackey deep into counts.

Bottom 2nd - We desperately need Lester to settle down and throw strikes, but he's started off their fat catcher with 2 balls, then he fights back to 2-2. At least you know a guy who has beaten cancer and won a clinching game of the World Series isn't going to be afraid or nervous. Gets the K on a curveball. Nice.
- Craig Sager + Salmon Suit = Double Plus Awesome
- Tek makes a nice play on a tapper by Matthews and Boom Goes the Dynamite. Two down.
- Announcers are gushing over Lester...easy fellas, let's not jinx our boy
- Clearly the key to this lineup is holding down the bottom 3. They have guys you can get out down there and Lester does...we're cruising through a scoreless first 2 innings.

Top 3rd - Jed Lowrie figures out how to get on base without swinging the bat, which might not be the worse thing for him right now, but that just sets him up to be a part of the inevitable 4-6-3 Double Play our fearless Captain is about to hit into
- Wow...a bunt try, for a soft hitter, Varitek might be the worst bunter I've ever seen. He just doesn't get them down ever.
- Tek tried like hell to get the 1-6-3 double play, but Lackey couldn't field it clean and it turns into a Fielders Choice.
- Nice big league slide by Lowrie there
- Start swooning Pink Hats, Ellsbury is up...and he tries like hell to hit into a double play, but beats it out with his Golden Feet. I seriously feel like our whole playoff existence is going to be barely avoiding double plays.
- You want the MVP Pedroia. You prove it.
- Pitch out for Scioscia with a 1-1 count. Does he really want to see the LASER SHOW that badly. They are obsessed with Ellsbury over there. Now here's something brewing...3-1 count to Pedderass....come on big boy.
- Pedroia walks and somehow I'm disappointed by that. Ortiz just doesn't have the same feeling right now at the plate. Maybe the days off leading up to the playoffs and the rest days during will reignite him.
- See, that curveball looked like a ball, and its 0-1. So now they throw almost the same pitch....grrrrrrr, inconsistent umpiring
- Wow, Papi should be out on two checked swings, but instead he's out on a popup to the shortstop...Jonny Boy, we turn our hopes to you

Bottom 3rd - Pure filth from Lester. I like where he is at right now, but I'm still begging for strikes.
- After the 2nd hit from Anderson I'm calling for every attractive Massachusetts native living in Anaheim or LA to contract pinkeye and go hook up with this man. Do it for your nation, Red Sox Nation
- Yay, first pitch strike from Jonny.
- For my complaining about Soup Campbell early, he's doing an amazing job of analyzing pitch calling here. I remember long conversations between Pedro and Jim Rice back in the day and one of the things they were talking about it how if you get someone late on a fastball, the theories behind following with offspeed or continuing hard...never know who won that debate.
- Lester wins this one with Texeira, nasty curve. 2 away.
- Big AB for Guerrero here. Lester really has the curve working tonight. If he can mix in the cutter, we might be okay here tonight.
- Like I said earlier, you can't give teams outs in the playoffs. Jed Lowrie just gave the Angels an extra out...throwing up over here. Here comes Hunter.
- Lester is 50 pitches in. He needs to slow down on his pitch count. We need 7 from him tonight. He can't locate his fastball at all tonight it seems. 1-2 count now and Lester desperately needs to get an out here.
- I love nothing more than the gloves over the face at the mound. With HD, I promise there are guys in the clubhouse watching who would relay the info if they caught anything.
- YOU DONT GIVE EXTRA OUTS TO GOOD TEAMS. Bay and Lowrie both spit the bit in this inning. Bay has to get to that ball. Dangerous spot now.
- Great first pitch strike. Lester can't let contact happen here. He does, but its a tapper and we get out of it. Zero hard hit balls by the Angels and they get a run....1-0 after 3.

Top 4th - I just saw on Deadspin that the "girlfriend" of Hugh Hefner, Kendra, has dumped Hank Baskett, which leads me to this question. You are a quote/unquote Tomboy who posed in Playboy and is a National Celebrity, and the best athlete ass you can pull is Hank Baskett? Dude isn't even on a fantasy roster. It would be like Tony Romo dating the 8th runner up from American Idol last year. Come on Kendra. I'm thoroughly convinced you can do better.
- Youkilis with the AROD memorial meaningless single, especially knowing Drew is pretty much an out...
- Why are we not working the count against this guy? The Sox should know middle relief is their weakness, it doesn't look like the Halos will need it.
- BTW, the cultural differences between the Sox and Angels are fascinating. The Sox start 1 Dominican, a White Cuban, a Native American, a Canadian, and 5 White Guys from America. Basically thats 1 minority starter. The Angels on the other hand are almost exclusively Black and Latino. I'm a little surprised the Sox haven't dealt with any backlash about this recently. You can bet it will be brought up at some point.
- Bay looks awful, bright lights might be blinding him.
- Drew and Lowell look as bad as I was afraid they would. Mark it down...11:14 pm, Game 1. Corey is Nervous.

Bottom 4th - Terry Francona might be the person I've changed my mind about the most in sports ever. I hated him, railed against him and claimed the Sox won in spite of him in 2004. Now, I can't imagine the Red Sox without him. He has done a phenomenal job.
- Lowrie has done a nice job on a few grounders and maybe Lester can get out of this inning against the bottom 3 by throwing few pitches. We need Seven Jonny Boy!
- 0-2 to Aybar, huge pitch here....he got it. Great inning by Jon, now lets do something Sox!

Top 5th - Amelia had a Red Sox Rally at school today and was running around last night to make sure she had something Red Sox to wear. She eventually found her pink Coco Crisp t shirt and wore it to school. I figured that they'd talk about the Sox with their teacher, wear the clothes and move on. But they had a legit rally with singing, chants, teachers with megaphones, and posters to hang in the halls. Seriously, how cool is that?
- Lowrie out quickly, Tek will be sure to follow..why aren't we working the count with this guy....grrrrr, warning track power from Tek and two away quickly. I really wish I had a picture of Craig Sager for anyone reading this right now. Amazing!
- Nice job by Ellsbury with a bunt single and now its time for the LASER SHOW
- Man Jacoby is good at stealing bases...now Lackey better be real careful with Pedroia. DAMN...their outfielders are getting good jumps and we're not...this team may never score.

Bottom 5th - I called for 2 runs or under in 7 innings for Lester. I'm thinking 1 might be as high as we can afford.
- Good job so far by Lester of keeping Figgins off the basepaths. He is dangerous, but he hasn't had any chance to show it.
- Jonny Boy continues to cruise, we really need him to get into a groove here. He's thrown 74 pitches so far and if he can get Texeira here...i know, easier said than done...he'll be in a nice rhythm
- Not going to happen, Bay was playing back on the warning track and Texeira hits the ball in front of him...someone other than Lester or Ellsbury better show me something here at some point.
- Seeing eye single for Vladdy Daddy. I'm officially feeling a little pukey over here.
- Lester gets the silent fist pump from me after that grounder back to the mound...Boom Goes the Dynamite.

Top 6th - Color me Frustrated...Ortiz continues to be terrible right now. First pitch swinging? Really?
- USE E LESS walks and now I'm praying to the Gods of Back Trouble Drew can do something that doesn't involve him wincing. Soup Campbell is phenomenal. How does he not have a more national gig when Tim McCarver does?
- Drew's timing just looks awful. He's never late on pitches, he may miss some, but he's never late. Of course I'm praying for a walk here, but know that Bay is a curveball strikeout waiting to happen.
- JD Drew can do dramatic things, says Soup....how am I even supposed to respond to that.
-Bay is driving me nuts tonight, just crush one here and make it all better Jason...wow, he totally did
-I'm TOTALLY GAY FOR JASON BAY!!!!!!! WOOOOOOO!!!!!
- Eat a Thunder Stick John Lackey.
- Thats just what the Doctor ordered. Come on Jonny Boy!

Bottom 6th - Hey, a Derek Jeter in the playoffs sighting. That was nice, think I'm going to go have a Gatorade now...hahahahahahaha.
- I feel like a broken record here, but Lester has to bear down here, especially since he's not facing 3,4,5
- Howie Kendrick is totally the name of a white guy by the way, he must be adopted...or he did some Don Draper stolen identity ish while he was in the minors.
- Love the bat flick by Bay after the homer. He then put his head down like he was embarassed. Don't worry Jason, you'll figure out what you're supposed to do after a few more of those.
- BTW, here's a preview of Friday's live game blog that I won't be doing because I can't possibly deal with a Dice K start on a live blog ----> THROW A ?!!@ING STRIKE DICE K....THROW A STRIKE...DEAR GOD HELP HIM THROW A STRIKE...GRRRR
- Lester gets his second strikeout of the inning, now he can attack Matthews Jr. Lester is up to 94 pitches, so he probably needs to get this out to throw in the 7th.
- Man, that curveball is filthy...Lester clearly does a great job of disguising it. Now in 3-2, he has to get into the strike zone here....fouls it off and let's do it again....GOT HIS ASS! The 100th pitch was a monster pitch.

Top 7th - I have little to no confidence in the bottom of the lineup right now. Lowrie and Tek are pretty much outs.
- Lowrie confirms my suspicions and strikes out on a questionable call and Tek rolls out quickly and quietly. Ellsbury is coming up with no one on base and a couple of outs way too often.
- Darren Oliver is getting loose. He fascinates me because he was a throw in in a trade to the Sox back in 2001 and we all thought he was washed up then. He was old, grumpy, and was roughly on par with Frank Castillo.
- Wow, Ellsbury just hit a liner to Gary Matthews and he looked silly...HGH must hurt your eyesight longterm. Laser Show...Laser Show...Laser Show!!!
- I would be very careful with Pedroia here, you just know you can get Papi out at this point.
- Wow, Lackey just missed a spot again. He is losing his control and I'm dying for him to make a mistake to the Little Big Man here. 3-1. They are being super careful.
- Wouldn't throw him a strike...Ortiz will be up, Old Uncle Darren will be facing him.
- I wish I could make a bet here that Ortiz pops out. Ortiz is 2 for 9 lifetime against Darren.
- Great swing on a fastball, but foul.
- Followed of course by a weak swing foul ball and I'm pretty sure I'd throw all soft stuff now...1-2.
- Being a little too careful and maybe Oliver can screw up and throw a wild pitch here for Ellsbury to scamper home to. Soft stuff misses yet again and with a full count, you might have to throw a fastball. Soup says he would not. 3-2 breaking ball gets Ortiz. We go to the bottom of the 7th, 2-1 Sox.

Bottom 7th - Good to see Tito leaving Lester in for the beginning of the 7th. The kid is a horse and I have more faith in him after 100 pitches than anyone in the bullpen right now. Essential to get outs here, before the 2-3-4-5 hitters come to the plate.
- Good 1-2 start for Lester...punch him out Jonny! Not quite, but a pop out to Pedroia will work.
- Now Figgins, who terrifies me. Lester needs to grind out this at bat. 1-2 again. When you're consistently ahead in the count, good things happen.
- Absolutely fantastic f#$@ing pitch by Lester and there is two away.
- Anderson has looked great tonight and now its a super big spot to get him out. 0-2 on a great inside fastball. Lester is hitting 95 miles per hour after 110 pitches. And on that one he got up to 97. He's trying desperately to close out this inning. 1-2 now. Filthy curve buckled Anderson's knees and he didn't get the call.....ugh. Anderson thought he was out.
- Throws it again, but Anderson fights it off. I think you go one seamer in on the hands here. He almost threw the fastball by him but Anderson is battling. Lester needs to get this out here. Broken bat pop to second...and Pedroia makes the play.
- 117 phenomenal pitches by Jon Lester with absolutely zero mistakes. The run was unearned on two poor defensive plays and other than that, he went aces. Now Francona has the whole pen to get through Texeira, Hunter, etc in the bottom of the 8th.

Top 8th -USE E LESS gave one a ride, but it didn't quite get out.
- I know they want to have oliver pitch to Drew but with your whole bullpen available in the 8th, why would you let him pitch to Youkilis? Seems strange. They have too many bullets in the pen to leave them there.
- Use e less teases us with an almost bomb and then flies out...Drew follows with a weak grounder and Scioscia gets away with pitching Oliver to three batters. Darn.
- Watching this broadcast on TBS makes me wonder one thing. I agree wholeheartedly that Frank Caliendo is sometimes funny, especially when he does his John Madden, when you got Brett Favre, you have Brett Favre speal. What I can't figure out is if anyone actually finds him funny enough for him to have viewers for his TV Show, entering its 2nd year mind you. Who watches Frank TV. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
- Bay is starting to like this whole postseason thing...drills a double to right off Shields. Maybe, just maybe the Sox can push across a nice insurance run here. Old Man Lowell comes up in a fairly big spot.
- Shields throws a breaking ball that could have been drilled, Lowell takes.
- Ugh..that check swing killed Lowell...not a good thing. 3-2. Lowell can barely run. He's such a gamer, but this might not be working out for us. Bottom 8, here we come.

Bottom 8th - Masterson Time Baby. You have to wonder how hard it is to go from facing a lefty facing a sinker ball righty...Masterson looks all jacked up. wow, thunder sticks are annoying. 3-2
-Be careful here Justin...baserunners are evil.
-ELLSBURY REDEEMS...I was mad about the earlier ball that dropped in front of him, but he just made a ridonkulous play on a texeira broken bat blooper.
- Guerrero time, heart in throat. Way early on a fastball and its 1-1. These announcers are desperate to reverse jinx Guerrero btw...smoke job to the left of Lowrie...the tying run is on.
- With Hunter coming up, will they run for Guerrero? Apparently not, so at least you aren't dealing with a ton of speed at first. We'll find out a lot about Masterson here. Might as well find out what we have, right Tito?
- Masterson is Home Run prone we're hearing, I think I hear the announcers using Thundersticks
- USE E LESS made a huge play throwing out Guerrero on a bloop single...two phenomenal plays by the Sox and a great throw by Youk!!!
- See Scioscia, thats why you run for his slow, gimpy ass there.
- Also, the hit by Hunter was a pathetic swing bloop, totally shouldn't be the way they get back in this one.
- Masterson falls behind 2-0...gotta find a way to get out of this inning here.
- They're burying Vladdy Daddy for going there, honestly, the play by Youkilis was ridiculous. Very few guys make that play...like none.
- Great pitch freezies Abercrombie and Kendrick, 2-2. Masterson with a chance to pull a Houdini here and give Papelbon a chance to face the bottom 3 in the 9th. Kendrick is battling hard.
- Pitch #8 to come - heart is in throat! To short and we survive. We go to 9, leading 2-1.

Top 9th - The official first beer of the playoffs has been cracked. How sad is it that I had to wait until now to make sure I had a shot to stay awake for the full game.
- Big base knock by Lowrie, let's manufacture a run here fellas.
- TEK GOT A BUNT DOWN!!! WOOOOOOO!!! First sac bunt in two years.
- Far and away our best player of the night, Jacoby Pinkhatsbury, steps to the plate.
- It is amazing that Jacoby is a rookie...as Soup reminds us.
- You would have to expect we may see Crisp in right field in the 9th, because of Drew's back.
- Shields just tried to throw an inside fastball to Ellsbury, everyone did that early in the year, right now he's doing a much better job handling it.
- Shields just missed his spot and Jacoby didn't take advantage, darn.
- Jacoby does it again...huge base hit to right and Lowrie does a great job running the bases. 3-1 Sox. Huge.
- Now LASER SHOW POTENTIAL
- Jacoby steals another base and now a base hit from the MVP would get us a huge 3 run lead.
- Petey just killed Napoli in the nuts...laser to the nuts, laser to the nuts...oh, okay, the knee cap
- Laser foul....then a tapper back to Shields, Ellsbury to third.
- Yes...the shift taketh and the shift giveth away...it gaveth away there on an Ortiz dribbler...4-1 Sox. Papelbon must get in and out quickly so they can put fear and doubt in the hearts of the Halos.
- Nice play by Figgins ends the bleeding...will we see Papelbon or Papeldouche tonight?

Bottom 9th - We'll see if Papelbon can mix in some other pitches tonight...so guys aren't sitting dead Red. Quickly to 1-2 on Napoli. Didn't get the pitch high enough for Tek, but Napoli swings through it. One Away.
- Kendry Morales comes in to pinch hit for Matthews, obviously Matthews must have terrible numbers against Papelbon.
- You get the feeling with Papeldouche that he needs the big stage at this point to really have his best stuff. Like random games in August don't give him the thrill anymore. Or maybe Morales is just a fastball hitter like Trot Nixon, base knock to right.
- Rally Monkey is on the board...so annoying, but unfortunately somewhat effective. 0-1 to Aybar.
- Pap uses the splitter and its a good one...1-2, with Morales taking 2nd with Defensive Indifference.
- Swung through a pitch in the dirt...two away.
- The time off between games is so huge for the Sox, knowing they can use Papelbon for two on Friday if they need him, even if he throws a ton of pitches tonight...and he gets Figgins to 0-2.
- Pap gets him on a strikeout and the Sox grab Lady Mo by the hair and take her back to their hotel
- Huge win...