2008 MLB Playoffs thread

After what the Red Sox did last season and in 2004, i wouldn't count them dead in an ALCS until they've made their final out.

 

I'm not saying that I'm predicting this...

but Cleveland was every bit as dominant through Game 4 of last year's ALCS, including a 3-1 lead, and look what happened. Tampa is definitely the favorite, but you can't write off Boston yet. (Though with an injured Beckett, you're right, it looks really bad.)

 

beat me by like 2 seconds.

 

Cat, give me my brain back.

 

While this is true, last year they had a healthy Beckett, Manny, a contributing Ortiz, and Mike Lowell.

 

Rays.

 

this isn't the 2004 Red Sox.....

The Rays went into Boston and totally b****slapped the defending champs.

 

Man. The rays are looking pretty damn good through 4 games.

A very good point.

 

Every time I think of the Rays, I think of their team vice president of operations, Gerry Hunsicker.

Damn Drayton, shoulda never let "Hun" walk...

 

he didn't let him walk.....Gerry gave Uncle Drayton the ole double rods and split. Drayton ran him off.

I'm glad for Jim Hickey too, he was just a scapegoat for Poopura's lameness.

 

Exactly what I thought last season when the Indians were doing the same.

Look, I think the Rays win this series, too....I'm just not saying it's over yet.

 

It is hard to believe that losing Game 2 has been the turning point in the ALCS. Most of the time when you, as the road team, are able to get a split like the Red Sox did, you are in good shape for the games played at your home park. Yet, the Red Sox have absolutely gotten their asses handed to them. Having Lester lose Game 3 was sorta the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. I had little confidence that Wakefield was going to perform well - he along with Timlin are old horses that need to be shot. Francona is so loyal, that he is loyal to a fault - Paul Byrd should have started Game 4 although I doubt it would have mattered.

I do think that Dice-K wins Game 5 as the odds of the Rays winning 4 straight over Boston and 3 straight in Fenway are pretty slim. But I just don't see Beckett getting it done in Game 6. The guy has been absolutely dreadful since his oblique injury - it's obvious that he is not the same guy. So, unless he gets healing power on the level of a Wolverine, I just don't see him being the dominant post-season Beckett like he was in 2003 and 2007. And it is true that the Red Sox starting pitching outside of Dice-K has absolutely sucked in this series but the Red Sox are going to have a hard time winning anything in the postseason when Ortiz and Beckett aren't themselves. And I know that people are saying that not having Manny has hurt them but I really think that Jason Bay has done a great job in his place. It's just that Ortiz sucking along with the ineffectiveness of Ellsbury and Drew (who only has really hit the homer off K-Rod in Game 2 of the ALDS) combined with the absence of Mike Lowell has really sunk the Red Sox offense.

As a Red Sox fan, I really can't complain as 2 world series in 5 years along with 5 postseason appearances in 6 seasons would make any fan of any other team green with envy. So anything they do in the postseason is just gravy for me. I just hate it for Fox who are staring at the real possibility of a Phillies-Rays series which will give them one of the lowest rated WS in years (probably right up there with the Tigers-Cardinals one of 2006).

 

Somehow, the world and the Fox Network will survive just fine without your Red Sawks in the World Series (again). Nothing better for baseball than new blood rising to the top. The years of Red Sox-Yanks have gotten very old for those of us not located in New York or New England.

 

I don't doubt what you said, Sam - I am just predicting that is all we will hear - how terrible the ratings are. But yes it is good for baseball to see two teams that rarely (or in the Rays case have never) make it to the World Series.

 

Lidge on with the chance to send the Phillies to the World Series.

 

Lidge in to close out and send Philly to the WS.

 

^^Wow, that was weird.

 

I feel really bad for Blake Dewitt. He's my friends cousin and their whole family has been really excited, but gawd he choked.