TODAY IN RED SOX HISTORY: OCTOBER 19th

The Red Sox had just taken game five of the 2013 ALCS on October 17th in a tight 4-3 battle at Comerica Park and were trying to close out the series in game 6, as to avoid a game 7 and all of the unpredictability that comes along with it. Game 6 was proving to be an equally hard fought battle with the sox trailing heading into the bottom of the 7th. Enter Shane Victorino with the bases loaded:

Every time I watch that highlight and see Shane beat his chest in celebration I get goosebumps. How freakin’ cool is that moment? God that playoff run was fun. Well that 4 run blast gave the Sox a lead and it was a lead they wouldn’t give up. The bullpen and Koji – the 2013 ALCS MVP – remained automatic and shut the door on the Tigers.

For the third time in less than ten years the Red Sox were going back to the World Series to face the St. Louis Cardinals.

Royals Advance To The 2014 World Series

Looks like my Royals in 6 prediction was too cautious, but at least I finally predicted the right team was going to win a series. I’m on the board! Also, categorize that title under “Things Mark never thought he would type”

Congrats to KC, although the O’s may have the last laugh by forgetting to turn up for the ALCS. I remember the 2007 Rockies coming into the world series on a really hot streak, but the ALCS went 7 games between the Red Sox and Indians, so they cooled off. Next thing you know the Rockies were swept and the Red Sox had their second World Series in three years. Fingers crossed that doesn’t happen because I think it would be great for baseball if the Royals win the World Series, but just a word of caution.

TODAY IN RED SOX HISTORY: OCTOBER 13TH, 2013

The Red Sox lost game one of the 2013 ALCS in futile fashion, striking out 17 times and being held hitless for 8 1/3 innings at Fenway. Game 2 wasn’t going much better, as the Red Sox entered the bottom of the 8th down 5-1, but the Tigers elected to take out Max Scherzer after 7 strong innings and go to their bullpen, which Jim Leyland would later regret. Big Papi was fine with it though.

I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you of how awesome Dave O’Brien’s call on WEEI was: “DAVID ORTIZ! DAVID ORTIZ! DAVID ORTIZ!”

It’s also fun watching it from the stands. Hooray for this fan not only filming the moment, but doing a damn good job tracking the ball off the bat into the pen. That is much harder than it looks!

^Start around 2:12

The Red Sox would go on to win the game 6-5 in the 9th on a single by Salty that scored Jonny Gomes.

Thus ended a wild game 2 in the 2013 ALCS, which went back to Detroit with the series tied instead of Boston being down 2 games to none facing Verlander in game 3. That Papi grand slam was absolutely pivotal. Although, I always imagine in some other parallel universe Hunter made that catch on Papi’s grand slam and the Sox went on to lose the ALCS. He was that close to ruining it for the Red Sox.

PS: My parents were at this game and ended up appearing in every replay of Papi’s homerun since Fox wanted to see all the reaction shots of him entering the dugout, which my parents were obviously seated next to. Not a bad game to be at.

 

PPS: Watching all these replays and seeing Salty, Gomes, Jacoby, Lester, etc. made me remember just how lovable and talented that team was. I really hope we can construct a team like that again next season. Get on it Ben!

2014 ALCS: Baltimore vs Kansas City. Wait, What!?

If you told me before the 2014 season started the Orioles would be playing the Royals in the 2014 ALCS I would’ve laughed until I passed out. But the Royals are pretty flippin’ good (go to 20 second mark of the Royals celebration video below, watch Dyson) and the O’s just made the Tigers and their Cy Young starters look like a joke.

As a baseball fan with no dog in this playoff race this is exactly the type of ALCS I was hoping for, even though I didn’t think it was possible. This series will thrust a lot of young talent into the spotlight, feature some amazing pitching and lets us root for two franchises that haven’t experienced much (or any) postseason success this millennium. Great story lines will not be hard to come by for sportswriters.

I’ll write a prediction post later this week, but before I pick the incorrect team (I’m like the baseball version of the Madden curse) I’m just going to enjoy the fact that the AL will be represented in the 2014 World Series by either KC or BAL. Absolutely absurd and awesome.

How casual was that flip? Oh we won? Let me just flip around like a circus performer and then just wander into the team celebration. Nbd.

No flips in the Baltimore celebration. Borrrrringgggggg

I’ll end this blog with a fun fact: The combined payroll of the Tigers and Angles is $317,920,527, which is roughly $118 million more than the combined payrolls of the O’s and Royals. Money well spent, right??