Sox-Yanks Game 7

A Good Column by Bill Simmons

The most notable thought from that column:
Unlike the other devastating losses over the years, you couldn't blame any of the Sox players for losing the series this time around (no, not even Nomar). This was a great group of guys -- a resilient, likable team that almost always came through, just like they proved in Game Six. Every time you counted them out, they came roaring back. I loved that about them. Unfortunately, they couldn't manage themselves. Switch Grady Little and Joe Torre and the Red Sox win the series. The two teams were that close.

 

Yeah, cause I am the only one criticizing Little......

And I think that we have covered the whole driving to Boston to kill him issue - Mr. the Red Sox are a .500 ballclub.

 

Simmons is great.

That line about being too depressed to sleep - that was me. I didn't get to sleep until 3. I just laid there. I hate that feeling.

 

dude, fuck it, hes a classic case of can dish it out with the best of em but whines like a bitch cause he caint take it

 

You're kidding, right? Does a genius remove a lefty and bring in a righty from the bullpen to issue an intentional walk when there's a left-handed hitter on deck. I couldn't believe my eyes when he did that with Embree and Timlin last night. Granted, Timlin got out of the inning, thanks to a pretty good play by Walker on Soriano's grounder up the middle, but Little's pitching moves in the eighth are indicative of anything but baseball genius. Fact is, Grady is known more for being a player's coach, someone who gets along well with his team and who has that ability to stroke egos. A handy attribute to have when you're a bench coach. Unfortunately, his willingness to let one of his ego-driven superstars dictate the game cost the Sox last night. Watch Torre when he comes to the mound. It's hardly ever to talk shit over with the pitcher. He leaves that to Stottlemyer. When Torre comes out of the dugout, he signals for the reliever before he crosses the baseline, every time. No asking permission from the pitcher.

 

look at Grady's managing record in the minors. Look at his two years in Boston. case closed, he can manage.

for the record, the hit that sealed Pedros fate was a shattered bat single, in other words, Pedro did his job and made an outstanding pitch and Posada got lucky that is landed where nobody could catch it. Tired pitchers don't shatter bats. The Sox weren't meant to win.

 

Maybe not, but the three hitters before him hit the shit out of the ball.

 

So now you are saying that Pedro wasn't tired? When you make up your mind what delusion you are going to use to defend Little, please let me know.

You know, the funniest thing is that if any of the involved parties had, in any way, been involved with UNC, I am betting that you would have been jumping up and down with glee and pointing out what a great day it was because someone from UNC failed.

But because you know this guy and his son he is infallable.

 

Grady Little = Steve Bartman

 

well, this thread has certainly gotten entertaining since I went to bed this morning.

Let's see....I think this is what happened (paraprased from ESPN.com).

.........."There the Red Sox were, five outs from the World Series with Pedro Martinez on the mound, five outs from beating their arch rivals with their ace in charge, five outs from finally beating the nemesis that has whipped them mercilessly since before Don Zimmer had hair.

Then Derek Jeter (who else?) doubled on Pedro's 111th pitch.

And Little left Pedro in.

Then Bernie Williams singled home Jeter on Pedro's 116th pitch to cut Boston's lead to 5-3.

And Little left Pedro in.

Then Hideki Matsui doubled on Pedro's 119th pitch to put the tying run on second.

And Little still left Pedro in.'............




Upon further review......

Grady should've pulled Pedro before the score was tied.....at least give his bullpen a chance to protect a lead (maybe not after Jeter's hit but most definately after Williams').

However, while I was disappointed (I'll let the lifelong Red Sox fans keep exclusive use of the term "pissed off") at Grady's actions last night, as they happened, I heard some comments from Rob Dibble today on the radio that made me look at last night's event in a slightly different view.

In 1990 (clearly the best team Dibs ever played on), they (in particular, the pitching staff) each had enough confidence in one another that they weren't too proud to be replaced when Pinella wanted to make a change.

Given that thought and recalling the actions of the Sox pen over the entire season, it is easier (although I still disagree) to see where both Pedro would argue to stay in AND Little would decide to keep him in.


As far as this other theme that Little doesn't know shit about baseball................I've got a little trouble with that.....and no, I'm not personal friends with Grady.

Personally, I don't like Bobby Cox and many of the decisions he's made over his career as the Braves mgr, but he's still a lot smarter about baseball than myself and most (if not all) of the people on this board.

Hell, as far as "pure baseball" knowledge, I'm willing to bet that even Alan Trammell is smarter than we are.