Sweet Caroline… Good times never felt so good… So Good! So Good!
[Photo: Boston.com – Click here for full World Series photo gallery at Boston.com]
It’s becoming sort of an October script for the Red Sox: sweep the division series, fall behind in the playoffs, pull off a wicked comeback and then go on to sweep the World Series. There’s very little I can say objectively about a team I’ve loved since the 1975 World Series against the Reds, but here’s my take on The Good, The Bad and The Ugly:
The Good:
- Josh Becket – pick any game.
- John Lester – first guy to win a World Series clincher on his debut.
- Dustin Pedroia’s HR and his offensive combination with Jacoby Elsbury.
- Mike Lowell – it’s gotta be hard to beat a team with both Lowell and Jason Varitek behind them.
- Terry Francona – 8 for 8 in World Series games!
- Mike Timlin – lights out relief pitching.
- John Papelbon – can you say wicked fastball? Pitched more than one inning every time.
- Coco Crip’s catch in Fenway’s Bermuda Triangle to end the ALCS.
- Julio Lugo – scooping anything around ShortStop like a Dyson.
- Manny Ramirez taking out Kenny Lofton at second base, playing the Monster-rebound.
- J.D. Drew’s Grand Slam.
- Dice-K’s 2-out, 2-RBI single. Who say’s AL pitchers can’t hit?
- Bobby Kielty’s insurance HR last night.
- David Ortiz at first base. Who say’s he’s liability playing the field?
- Kevin Youkilis – anytime he was at bat.
- Curt Schilling, Dice-K – when it mattered.
- Immediately taking back any runs the Rockies scored. That just kills a team.
- Scoring so many times with 2-outs.
The Bad:
- Manny Ramirez playing the Coors Field outfield.
- Julio Lugo’s dropped fly ball in the ALCS.
- John Lester bunting – at least he didn’t hit into a double play.
- Hitting into so many double-plays… I think it’s a new record.
The Ugly:
- Manny’s base running. Stop worrying about your fugly helmet.
- Eric Gagne coming into game 2 of the ALCS. It’s like a Dementor had entered Fenway Park. Really. I was there and the place just went quiet and the temperature dropped a few degrees (but he did pitch well in the World Series).
- Hideki Okajima in Coors Field – this guy went from being lights out in the post season to almost friggin’ killing everyone in Red Sox nation of a heart attack. Good thing the Boston bats took all those runs right back.
Congratulations to the Colorado Rockies for a wonderful season and for playing like they did to get to the World Series. I’m sure they’ll be around next year.
Question: Do you think there was a turning point in this World Series? I think it was when Matt Holliday got picked off at first base by John Papelbon. Leave a comment with your thoughts.
