Game 2 Let’s Get Even

This is what I was thinking as Game 1 approached.

 

The game we have been waiting for since November 1, 2017 and the opportunity to wipe away all the anguish of a 30-year drought. I have had a busy day and have discovered I am not as nervous about this series as I was the one with the Brew Crew. I don’t think it is because I feel the Red Sox are an easier target than Milwaukee. They most definitely are not. If I may be a homer, I think it because we have made it to the big stage again. I am hopeful for a World Series ring but I do disagree with Tommy. Something has been done just making it there again. It is better to have made it there and lost than not to have made it there at all. Just ask the 28 other teams or 700 other players who are not there.

 

As I await the first pitch I expect a long hard fought series and I do expect the unexpected to happen. That way it won’t be unexpected.

 

On another blog, after the Dodgers lost Game 6 of the previous series, the claim was made that the game was being run by the puppeteers, namely FAZ. I do think they pull some strings, and they should, but I also think Dave Roberts makes some good decisions within those parameters. How many teams this year are making a second consecutive appearance in the World Series?  Sure, we can question some decisions, but we have the luxury of a second guess. He’s a genius if thing work, but not so much if they don’t. Here’s hoping for some genius.

 

During the series I hope David Freese gets ample play time. He has demonstrated he can get the job done on the world stage.

 

I expect Matt Kemp to make something happen in perhaps his last games with the Dodgers. Perhaps a pinch hit home run.

 

Justin Turner at one time was ranked right up there with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig with his postseason statistics, especially with OBP.  Time for Justin to return to that lofty company.

 

The Red Sox have a reputation for success with two out and RISP. There is a solution to that. It’s that good pitching beats good hitting thing. This staff will do a better job than the Astros’ staff did.

 

Perhaps a stolen base will become all important. Dave Roberts knows all about that. Thus far in postseason play the Dodgers stole 12 bases in 11 games while the Red Sox swiped five in nine games. Dodgers catchers threw out three of six potential base stealers while Red Sox catchers caught two of four.

 

I wait for a significant bunt such as Machado’s in game seven of the previous series. I know the bunt has fallen into disfavor but it is one of my favorite weapons in all its diverse forms. I much prefer it to a strikeout.

 

It has been pointed out that Red Sox pitchers statistically were at a disadvantage with the Dodger pitchers because they have had to face a DH in each game and pitch in hitter friendly American League East Division parks. The corollary to that is that the Dodger hitters haven’t had the protection of a DH and have had to hit in the pitcher friendly Western Division of the National League.

 

Yasiel Puig may well play a key role not only with his play in the field and at bat but in distracting the faithful at Fenway Park who have been known to be a bit obnoxious at times. He may well give them a target that thrives on the attention.

 

I’m hoping we can cut down on our strikeouts. Just put the ball in play. Gravity, friction, elastic force etc. will do the rest. Make them throw strikes.

 

This is how the game went as I saw it ending at 1:00 A.M. my time.

 

Here we go. First pitch. First two hitters – two K’s. Oh well – the night is still young. Time for Clayton to follow suit.  Missed pop up. Is that a harbinger of things to come? Spotted the Red Sox two. Not the best plan but did limit the damage to two. Now is the time to demonstrate what the team is made of and see if Clayton can settle in for a few more innings.

 

Hopefully the Dodger second inning may be a sign of things to come. Matt hit a home run on a two-strike pitch and the five hitters in the inning made Sale throw 30 pitches with 51 over two innings.

 

Then the game turned into “almost “ and “expect the expected”. The Dodgers almost getting inning ending double plays and catching a Benintendi flare double and the Red Sox spraying the ball around as expected with a couple of two out and two strike hits.

 

Offensively, the Dodgers scored four runs which could and perhaps should be enough to win a World Series game. It wasn’t. Besides Matt’s home run, three of the runs came in Red Sox style with singles, walks, a wild pitch, sac fly and an infield out. It was nice to see three singles strung together. David Freese had two hits, Justin Turner three and Manny Machado drove in three. Kike Hernandez and Chris Taylor continue to strike out.

 

Defensively the team did not shine. It was not that they committed recorded errors but missing a pop up, a cut off man, and not looking particularly sharp in the outfield. Perhaps the confines of Fenway were a bit daunting for them.

 

The game was forfeited by the pitching staff. Clayton was not able to get an out in the fifth inning and before it was over he was charged with five earned runs. He threw 79 pitches, 52 for strikes. Ryan Madson looked like he was going to get out of the fifth inning unscathed and almost did when the team missed a double play by  a nanosecond.

 

I am not one to really question the calls a manager makes but I groaned when Dave Roberts chose to remove Pedro Baez after he recorded two unhittable strikeouts. The rest is history.

 

We did learn a lot from Game 1. It is not wise to give the Red Sox second chances. We also learned that at least at Fenway, the Sox bullpen appears to be as strong as that of the Brewers. The Dodger pen simply has to be as good or better than Boston’s.

 

So it is on to another game trailing by one as we did in the NLCS. This is the make or break game in the series. David Freese summed it up.

 

“You’ve got to show up, Game 1, World Series, at Fenway,” said Freese. “Double-play balls, popups drop. Just can’t let that happen. You’ve just got to get it done. You’ve got to play really good baseball in the World Series. Plays that we could have stepped up and gotten guys in or defensively make the plays — the popup, I just got turned around. The ball’s got to be caught, bottom line.”

 

I watched the game on Sportsnet and appreciated the commentary by Matt Vasgersian and Buck Martinez. Vasgersian sounds a lot like Bob Costas but both he and Martinez gave objective coverage to both teams. That was indeed refreshing after the series with the Brewers.