Postseason Thus Far: A Loving Look Back

I've been pretty clear on Twitter that I really want to see a Detroit-Los Angeles World Series. I find both teams exciting to watch. They both have great pitching and have the challenge of trying to get it done with key pieces injured. 

I think Miguel Cabrera is the best hitter in the game. I think Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher. A showdown between these two would be something to see. Both of these teams have pitched incredibly well in the postseason. As a person who enjoys enjoys pitching, it's really been a feast. 

I also find both the Red Sox and the Cardinals to be sort of odious. My feelings on the Red Sox are well documented. I admire several players on that team, but I find the whole "our gritty, bearded white men, led by our saviour, genius manager John Farrell" to be a nails on chalkboard type narrative. 

I don't dislike the Cardinals as much, but I have long found the "Cardinal Way", "best fans in baseball" reputation to be a bit much to take. Plus, Colby Rasmus is my homeboy, and they still talk trash about that guy in St. Louis press. I also think that this goes for Sox fans and Cardinal fans, and it will go for Jays fans if our team ever pulls it together: just because your team is beloved locally doesn't mean that every sports fan across the continent should love that team, too.  Not everybody is going to find it's players charming or loveable.

The Cardinal-Red Sox World Series was really boring in 2004. And:

A Boston-St.Louis World Series is something only monstrous homonculi  twisted crypto pedophile tax auditor Koala killing psychos could want
— Denis McGrath (@heywriterboy) October 16, 2013

I mean, really.

I visited SOSH after the 7-3 Red Sox loss to the Tigers, hoping to find some classic SOSHian moments. I was not disappointed. 

Let's keep winning and not go back to Boston until the World Series eh?

I figured this wasn't going to happen. I will give credit to all sides in these LC series. Each team has been in every game and it really feels like it could go either way in both series. Just admit that, fans.

Fister's no hitter won't escape the first inning tonight.

This actually turned out to be true. But it really didn't end up mattering at all. 

Some Dodger fans here at the Riviera. They are vocal in their annoyance with Puig just now. Nice to see it isn't just people here who get pissed with him. 

Those Dodger fans in the Riviera (meaning either the hotel in Boston or the so called "Irish Riviera" in Mass.) need to get over themselves. Puig celebrating the triple was sort of silly, I suppose, but the fact that he still managed the celebration and then leg out a triple is amazing. That's pure talent. 

And why does it not shock me that the SOSH crowd has an issue with Puig? Button up your jersey, Beard-o and then come talk to me about "respect for the game". I'll let Yasiel take it from here:

All that fucking matters is that Doug Fister gets smoked with a fucking line drive of his fucking skull so he has to leave the game. Then the Red Sox can pummel the bullpen until the pulpy flesh of their baseball souls resemble the pus and blood filled swollen mass on Fister's head. 

Charming. I really hope these fans get another World Series.

Early in the game, they really liked Peavy.

Peavy looked GREAT that inning.

But it didn't last.

They rhymed:

Hey, Peavy, don't be sleazy and throw some strikes.

And then it got ugly:

Wow. Peavy is... Not looking good.

Peavy looks like a bag of shit right now.

Peavy looking like utter dogshit.

Fuck you, Jake

THROW STRIKES 

That is the key. Few things are more sickening for a pitcher and anyone cheering for a team than the sudden inability to throw strikes.  If you don`t throw strikes, innings tend to get a little large in a hurry. This inning turned gargantuan for the Tigers.

Does Peavy have any idea how to throw strikes right now? 

No, apparently not. 

How many BBs was it going to take to get Farrel out there to talk to the man?

It's his dream job.

Fuck you, Pedroia.

Many have been saying that for years, but I still have grudging respect for that guy. 

I'm pretty sure they just got a "in the neighborhood" call. I'll take it.

In the neighbourhood? Not even in the same area code.

Pedroia has not been good at all this postseason 

The ceremonial eating of the young has begun.

Pedey has been pretty meh all playoffs. Some really bad defensive plays. Whatever is going on with him, he needs to get his head on right.  Delicious, delicious young.

Well done Peavy, Farrell and Pedroia.

I really hope Jake Peavy dies between innings.

Yes, Peavy really has earned death for pitching a bad inning. He didn't even grow a beard!

Needed a Maddon like manager this inning.

I wonder how the guy who compared Maddon to Bobby Valentine feels about that. 

Peavy shouldn't make another pitch this season. Traded Iglesias for this bullshit?

I learned on Twitter that what happened can be translated to Spanish as: Peavy completamente descontrolado. And I love it when mid season trades come into direct contrast like this. Baseball is really fantastic.

Good job, John. Gave them the game. 

Nice to see post season Farrell

Holy fuck Farrell. This is a terrible managing job.

Farrell is an AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL in game manager.  There's no question how bad he is. 

Nice job Farrell. Lets let him put the game out of reach. 

I hate to say that but he (Farrell) has disappointed time and time again.  You got 2 guys in the pen capable of going 4+ innings, easy.  Not sure they'd be better, but would they be worse?

I just wanted to throw in as much "Farrellball" stuff as I could. Sure it's petty, but the Jays had an awful season. 

They had a long debate over who was most at fault: Peavy, for not throwing strikes, Pedroia for booting the DP and Farrell for not pulling Peavy. 

I vote none of these people. It was all pretty crappy baseball on the part of Peavy and Pedroia. But it's baseball. It happens.

I don't know if Farrell should have pulled Peavy. I see the merits of leaving Peavy in to save the bullpen and see if the bats get it going against Fister, but I also think digging a huge hole and essentially "giving away" an ALCS game, when they could've gone on up three games to one, is just bad. I don't think Farrell did that. 

I'm not going to begrudge these people Farrell frustration. This is exactly the scenario I imagined as soon as I heard the "dream job" stuff from ol' Johnny Jump Ship. Gregor Chisholm tweeted something I will quote until the end of time: Just because someone has managed good teams doesn't make them a good manager. John Farrell should get whatever credit he has earned for having a healthy, talented team in 2013. But I'm not going to buy into some "Farrell saved the Red Sox" narrative at the expense of giving the players the credit. The Red Sox played their tails off this season. It's not John Farrell who saved them or gritty bearded men. It's healthy talent.

I will, however, blame all of the SOSH commentators for this bad inning. They really do confirm the worst stereotypes about Red Sox fans.

I still dream of a Detroit-Los Angeles World Series. I think the baseball gods owe me that much.