So, what was the most bizarre part of Saturday’s game in Boston?

No surprise in the way Pedro Martinez pitched, basically the same game he threw at the A’s in games one and five of the ALDS. Struggling to keep his head above water every inning.

Pedro is a very frustrated pitcher, knowing that he no longer can just go to the hill and blow the opposition away with 95 MPH fastballs followed by 78 MPH changeups.

It leads him to do strange things like throwing behind the back of Karim Garcia with first base open and a righthanded swinger (Soriano) on deck. What is amazing about Pedro is when he decides to hit someone it is so obvious. He has impeccacble control, probably ranking with the best pitchers over the last fifty years. So, when he goes up and in, it isn’t with a pitch that suddenly got away, but with a toss that is intended to knock someone down or hit them and he doesn’t miss with the knockdown either.

Funny, but Roger Clemens, one of the all time hot heads, turned out to be the calm one in the whole fiasco Saturday.

Click below for more!Unfortunately, Yankee coach Don Zimmer got into the fray. Zimmer, who was hit in the head by beanballs many times while a shortstop for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the fifties, decided to charge at Pedro while the benches emptied after Manny Ramiez freaked out about a Clemens pitch that missed his head by five feet (a large amount in baseball).

Pedro sidestepped Zimmer tossing him to the ground as Zimmer flailed at the pitcher wildly. What the heck was Don Zimmer thinking? What was he going to do if Pedro merely held his ground? Was Zimmer going to tackle Pedro? Zimmer should have been thrown out of the game immediately and frankly should be suspended for his ridiculous attempted assault at Martinez. Age is no excuse in this case, merely mitigation on the penalty that should be forthcoming.

More importantly, Pedro can’t beat the Yankees and the Red Sox bats are still in hibernation.

Mariano Rivera showed why he is one of the top relievers of all time as he blew the Sox away in the last two innings.

Just think of the relievers we have seen in the postseason and compare them to Rivera. How about Keith Foulke in game four? Tim Worrell? Byung Hyun Kim? Scott Williamson? A less than 100% John Smoltz? Mark Guthrie? LaTroy Hawkins? Eddie Guardado? Rivera is simply the best in the game when the money is on the line in October and for that he is a hall of famer in my book. It is tough enough to detrmine regular hall of famers, relievers really have no uniform standards, but if you know baseball, you know Rivera belongs there, if just for his work in the playoffs. Clutch and cool during the most difficult time of any game.

Are the Red Sox dead in the series? They will be if they don’t hit any better. Frankly, I’ve been saying this for the last five games they have played, and they still don’t like they are ready to bust out.

John Burkett and David Wells tonight. This one is for keeps because one more win for the Yankees (tonight) and the Sox will fold the tent in NY, at best.

By the way, the groundskeeper who roots for the Red Sox while working (I’m assuming in the Yankee bullpen) should have used some discretion since he is there as an employee, not a fan, and his proximity to the Yankee players is only due to his employment and he should not have taken advantage of that placement to annoy the players. Poor judgment on his part and also on the players part who should have ignored him or called the police before beating him up.

What an ugly game in Boston!

The Cubs are pounding the Marlins pitchers with the righthanded bats as I pointed out before game three. Lefties are at a distinct disadvantage against this Cubs lineup which isn’t that good anyway. The Marlins have hit the wall and frankly can’t catch up to the power of the young Cubs twirlers right now. It wouldn’t surprise me to see this series end today in South Florida.

Josh Beckett has pitched much better than Carlos Zambrano, but you get the feeling the end is in sight for the Fish.

Billy Beane to LA? The rumors are out there again this fall and gaining momentum as the deal to sell the Dodgers is taking shape. I get the feeling that the A’s won’t stand in his way again if he wants to go. Will he pull the trigger this time? Yes, if the opportunity is a reality, because I think he is tired of working with Steve Schott and vice versa.

Looks like Rick Peterson will interview with the Mets according to the NY papers who always seem to be ahead of everyone else who covers this stuff (remember the waiver deals last week). Will the A’s miss Peterson if he leaves? Absolutely, but they have learned their lessons well and will survive without him if his rumored departure is true. His game plans were excellent and, but for the inside fastballs Zito could not deliver, usually right on the money.

If the Mets are interested in Tejada, then Jose Reyes will move to second base for the next five years or so. Not impossible because Reyes is only 20 and can take over as a shortstop at age 25 with no problem.

I still have a feeling that Tejada will stay on the west coast and play in the American League.

Which free agent should the Giants sign? Sidney Ponson without a doubt. Ponson has a strong arm, will be effective in Pac Bell, and pitchers at his age and with his experience who can throw strikes and sink the ball, don’t grow on trees.

Ponson is no longer a .500 pitcher, but has turned the corner as a man who knows how to win and pitch in the big leagues effectively.

I wouldn’t let him go.

Can the Cubs get to the world series? One more win and they will for he first time since 1945. What a job Dusty Baker has done bringing this club in. Dusty has accomplished so much as a manager and as a human being that I think he is the most influential Afro American in the game since Jackie Robinson.

And folks, that is saying something about the man and manager, Dusty Baker.

I hope the Sox can pull one out tonight and make this series one to rememebr because after the game yesterday, it is quickly turning into one to forget.