The Morning After

All us Red Sox fans must admit: It was a disheartening game. Soulless. Blood-sucking. Lifeless. Losing on a walk-off at least gets the fire stoked. Rubs you the wrong way. Makes you passionate because you have that "Only If" clause. In a game like last night, there is nothing to inspire that passion. So I remain catatonic this AM.

But here's the thing about baseball. I (usually) don't have to wait a week for the next opportunity. We've got tonight. So, slowly, the blood is rushing back into my heart. Slowly, the fire is kindling and there is a passion rising. We've got tonight.

As for the success of live-blogging last night's game. All in all it went well. I re-read the post this morning. Funny at times. Repetitive at times. Seemed a little too much at others. Though I liked the chihuahua bit. The main contention I have with it is it seemed like it kept me from the game at hand. Like it handicapped my ability to watch a Red Sox game. Which is the whole point of this endeavor. Can't translate the excitement that comes in watching the game if I'm not watching it. For example, I didn't know Tek's HR was a 2-run shot.

I'll certainly be back tonight, though I think it won't be as often. And when I do post, I might try and be a little less trite and a little more insightful (if that's at all possible from a reeling Red Sox fan). We'll see. But tune back in here for Game 4 around 8pm or so.

As for our chances... if it rains, Wakefield has got a good shot at taking care of the Indians lineup. And for the most part, aside from that 11th inning of Game 2, our pitching has been good. It's our hitting that has faltered -- and to the likes of Jake Westbrook? Bottom-line is we need to hit better than we pitch tonight. I know that sounds a little like a McCarverism. It is. But if we can get to Byrd early, and wait on pitches, we've got a better shot at winning even if Wakefield stumbles. Of course, Mirabelli's in the line-up tonight and I'm not that confident in his bat so that hurts us. We'll see.

And I'd rather take Beckett on Thursday than on short-rest tonight so he can pitch a Game 7 if there is one. No pitcher does well in the postseason on short rest. The stats are there... well... no one but Josh Beckett (Game 6, 2003). Give me Beckett in Game 5. Regardless of tonight's outcome, that's the bigger game. If we lose tonight, it's a win or go home atmosphere. If we win tonight, we've got Beckett on the mound, a chance to go up 3-2 and back to Boston.

And Wakefield's got post-season magic on his side. A sense of entitlement. He's been with the team the longest. I love Wakefield. He's going to be magic tonight.