Down But Not Out by Jared Carrabis
Sox Ready To Start ALCS Comeback Part II

This is it, this is where we separate the diehards from the bandwagon fans. Many of you when you saw the final score go up got a sickening feeling in your stomach that the October Magic has run dry and that you beloved Boston Red Sox have failed you. I would just like to remind you that this series is a best of seven, not five. Each team has to win four games before the other does. Little did some of you out there know, that is doesn’t matter what order you win your games in, all that matters is that you win four games before they do. That’s ALL that matters.


Don’t count these guys out, all of the past three losses are very winnable games. The Cleveland Indians are not beating the Red Sox, the Red Sox are beating themselves. Eliminate that atrocious bottom of the fifth inning and the Red Sox have themselves a tie series. It is truly a game of inches when Tim Wakefield sticks his glove out and deflects a ball that was lined up to be a perfect inning ending double play and instead the Sox get nothing and the inning continues.


Of course this miscue sparked a seven run inning in which the Tribe batted around. The back-to-back-to-back home runs were great, it was a League Championship Series record but for some reason they weren’t enjoyable to watch for me. After that big seven run inning that Cleveland piled on, in your head everyone is wishing that every Boston batter that came up in the top half of the inning would hit a home run. Well, that certainly did happen for the first three batters but unfortunately the next four didn’t join in on the party.


Watching Manny put his hands up after he belted the third of three consecutive home runs was almost embarrassing to me. I’m sure it was exciting to be a part of history, but do you think he even knew it was history? My guess is probably not and your team is still down by four runs in a playoff game and you are acting like you just hit the go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth.


Sure the Red Sox dug themselves into a hole, but do you think they grinded out a 162 game season to call it quits when the big prize was dangling right in their face? I think not. Do you think that David Ortiz has knocked the ball all around the yard with a busted knee that is swollen to the size of A-Rod’s ego just so that he can roll over when his team is in a tough spot? Wake up “Red Sox Nation”, these players want to win.


It may not seem like this thing is over, but believe me, this team will battle until the last out of the last inning until they can battle no longer. You think a workhorse like Mike Timlin thinks this team is done? Not a chance. Game 5 of this series will feature a well rested Josh Beckett who you all know is a big game pitcher and will stop at nothing until he is 100% satisfied that he gave his team all that he had and if you know Josh Beckett, you know that he is never satisfied. This should give you all an optimistic feeling going into Game 5.


Game 6 will be the night that Curt Schilling will take the ball for the rebounding Sox. Remember him? Ever since Josh Beckett started dominating the American League opposition, many have forgot what this guy can do when his team is in trouble and they need a win. I’ve heard dozens of times that regardless if players can’t stand this guy, if they need a win in a big game the ball would go in the hands of Curt Schilling. He was one of three consecutive Boston starters that failed to make it past the fifth inning during this three game postseason skid. Trust me, in a season that could be his last in Boston, Curt Schilling wants to go out on top with the team he helped vaporize an 86-year-old World Series drought.


As for Game 7, you know the deal. Yeah sure Daisuke Matsuzaka is penciled in to start Game 7 but if you know how crazy Game 7’s can get, you know that everyone is rearing to go in Game 7. A team is not built on just one guy, these are 25 men that are willing to sacrifice their bodies to bring a World Championship back to Boston. 2004 was great and all, but enough with the comparisons. The 2007 Boston Red Sox is an entirely different team with a whole new core of talent and ambition to win.


It’s time to let go of 2004, the celebration is over, the champagne bottles have long been empty. We will never forget 2004, but it is time to move on and be hungry for another one. This is October baseball folks, anything and everything can happen. This series is all but over so all that I ask is that no one throws in the towel and no one count these guys out.


ALCS Game 4: Red Sox 3, Indians 7

Published on October 16, 2007

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