2 Down, 9 to go
One of my keys for game 2 was for White Sox hitters to use the opposite field against David Wells. -- They didn't. -- In fact, it was the Boston hitters who used all fields, specifically with two strikes, to build a 4-0 lead against Mark Buehrle.
Mark was shaky for the first few innings. He seems to just play catch sometimes, and gets a little too nonchalant with his pitch location. He left a few 0-2 pitches in far too hittable locations, and it cost him. I have to give him credit though, he was able to settle down and really silence the Boston bats. He allowed just 2 baserunners after the 3rd inning.
The White Sox entire offensive attack was confined to one frame. Not surprisingly, it was started on the Sox first opposite field hit of the game, a single off the bat of Carl Everett. Aaron Rowand would double down the left field line to put the Sox on the board, and Joe Crede singled him home to put the Sox back in the game.
The game would swing on the next two batters. Juan Uribe hit what appeared to be a routine groundball (a double play ball, even) to ex-White Sox Tony Graffanino, but the ball Bucknered right through his legs an into left field. The Sox had the go-ahead run at the plate in the form of Tadahito Iguchi.
After taking the first pitch for a ball off the outside corner, Iguchi watched as Wells dropped a nasty hook right on the inside corner to run the count to 1-1. Iguchi made an exaggerated reaction to the pitch that may have been misinterpreted by Wells. Iguchi turned away from it, failing to watch it all the way, and looked surprised when it was called a strike. He has on more than one occasion this season looked very bad on big breaking balls like that. I'm sure Wells knew this, and thought Iguchi was having trouble picking up his breaking ball, so he threw it again. Mistake.
It was the worst curveball he had thrown all night. It was up a little bit and out over the heart of the plate. -- Iguchi didn't miss it. -- 5-4 White Sox in the blink of an eye.
Bobby Jenks came in to face Manny Ramirez to start the 8th inning -- I love this move. With the BoSox bringing up their 4-5-6 hitters in the 8th inning, you bring in your best guy out of the pen to put it away against their best. It also gives you the option of going to Hermanson, or playing lefty-righty matchups in the ninth as the bottom of the order is due up. -- He was able to shut the door in the ninth after Graffanino almost redeemed himself with a 1-out double.
Boston Dirt Dogs | Chicago Tribune | Boston Globe | Fire Brand of the AL
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Last Night...
Thank you Gooch!
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 6, 2005 8:13 AM CDT reply actions
oh...
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 6, 2005 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions
what team is this?
the first game showcased a team that was an offensive juggernaut. probably the best performance we've seen all season.
the second game had us coming back from a 4 run defecit. we can count on one hand the number of times the sox came back after being down 2 or more on one hand in the second half.
does anyone else remember this?
I'm glad those days are behind us. (By the way...that was July 30th until September 20th for those who DON'T remember)
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 6, 2005 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions
I wonder ...
All year I have figured that we just lacked the top shelf hitting to go too far in the playoffs.
But here we have an entire lineup of guys who can and have won big games.
I wonder if that isn't an advantage in a way. I mean, what's your game plan against the Sox? Who do you gear up to stop?
I think it was the night before game 1, I saw some ESPN show discussing the Sox series. Some expert says, "If I am the Red Sox, I don't let Everett or Konerko beat me." That is, they are the only 2 real threats.
Well, 2 games in, Konerko and Everett haven't really beaten the Red Hose, but guys like Iguchi and Piersinski have.
The White Sox lineup is not really scary. But then every single hitter can win games and you don't know who will pick it up on a given night.
And with the pitching keeping it close almost every time, well, ...
These guys are tough to beat!
I guess a little part of me is starting to believe.
Kinda scary.
by HFSox on Oct 6, 2005 11:43 AM CDT reply actions
Ticket Woes
TM System
Ridiculous that TM's systems can't handle this and spit out errors of all sorts. People got plenty of errors the first round too.
yeah...
www.stubhub.com if you want to buy tix off people.
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 6, 2005 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions
I started refreshing my browser at 11:58
I got 2 for game 4
by kjk on Oct 6, 2005 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions
For next time
I'm a Sox fan in Miami and we all did that down here when the Marlins went to the World Series in 03. It worked out great. The Internet was jammed and so were all the FL phone numbers. Ticketmasters in other states have access to the same tickets, but those numbers aren't as busy.
Another thought
a great gritty performance
not to get too far ahead...
ESPN "Expert" Picks
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2005/series?series=boschw
Olney's coverage was excellent
Olney...
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 6, 2005 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions

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