OK, so this isn't like exactly Grady Little keeping a clearly tired Pedro Martinez in the game after 100+ pitches. But somebody explain to me why Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona had ace Josh Beckett go out in the 7th AND 8th innings of last night's ball game to pitch?
The scuttlebutt prior to the Cleveland/Boston series is that Beckett would pitch Games 1 and 4, and possibly 7, if needed. After throwing a 109 pitches last night, and on what will be just 2 days' rest, Beckett seems to be an unlikely candidate to pitch any length of time in Game 7. Couple that with Beckett pitching last night on just 3 days' rest, it seems even more unlikely that Beckett will see any action in Game 7, other than an inning or two.
This, to me, is a potentially big screw-up by Francona. With the way Beckett has positively dominated Indian hitters in Games 1 and 4, Boston might really need Beckett to go 3-4 innings in Game 7 should Daisuke "Dice-K" Matsuzaka run into trouble early. And let's be frank, Dice K didn't exactly baffle Cleveland hitters in Game 3.
With last night's game firmly in hand in the bottom of the 7th inning, there's simply no reason to send Beckett back out there. Not when they need him to have a little gas left in the tank and potentially save the season.
The explanation? Francona listened to Manny "Who Cares About Winning" Ramirez just a little too closely.
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Comments (3)
I agree Terry Francona almo... (Below threshold)1. Posted by bostonredsox | October 19, 2007 3:21 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I agree Terry Francona almost did the same thing that Grady Little did in 2003. However, it did not turn out that way because Beckett was in good control of his pitches. The Red Sox most likely would have been better off starting Beckett on only 3 days rest in Game 4 and then Game 7 but there is nothing to do about it now. I agree with your opinion on Game 7 with Beckett coming in if Daisuke has any trouble in the early innings. My opinion on last night's game is that Francona did not want to take Beckett out because he did not want to use the bullpen excessively and deplete it for the last couple games.
1. Posted by bostonredsox | October 19, 2007 3:21 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 19, 2007 15:21
2. Posted by Peter F. | October 19, 2007 3:41 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
bostonredsox:
I forgot to mention the bullpen aspect in all this. I honestly don't think Boston's pen has been so taxed that it couldn't have come in and thrown three innings. And bringing Papelbon in with a 6-run lead is just completely unnecessary unless he needed the work. To counter that idea, I would say "No, you need Papelbon as fresh as fresh can be for Games 6 and 7; he might have to get a 2 inning or 1 2/3 inning save. Know what I mean?
Second point: Relievers are used to coming in 2-3, sometimes 4 days in a row; they're ready to go. PLUS, with a day off today, they get a little rest, so I don't see using the pen as unnecessarily taxing it. Beckett threw 29 pitches in the 7th and 8th innings, not a lot, BUT that's almost 30 potentially important pitches that won't be available to the Sox on Sunday, if necessary.
Like my headline says, it's not a Grady Little strikeout with Pedro; but it is a foul ball by Francona.
2. Posted by Peter F. | October 19, 2007 3:41 PM |
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Posted on October 19, 2007 15:41
3. Posted by M | October 25, 2007 3:02 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
a href="http://www.faithhill.com/go/?E_Mjk4Mw">
3. Posted by M | October 25, 2007 3:02 AM |
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Posted on October 25, 2007 03:02