Marty Lurie Talks San Francisco Giants Baseball
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Bullpen and Long Ball Pace Sox, Prior Up Today in Chicago


What really puzzles me about the Curse of the Bambino and the curse of the Billy Goat in Chicago, is the fact that the managers of the Cubs and Red Sox actually respond to questions as to whether the respective curses effect their teams.

Last time I checked curses don’t have any basis in reality, so it amazes me that responsible journalists actually are asking Dusty Baker to comment on the curse and he is answering, albeit denying that such a curse exists.

The drama of postseason baseball, I suppose having nothing to write about on an offday brings out this type of journalism as opposed to analyzing the game and the actual pitching matchup of Mark Prior and Carl Pavano tonight in game six.

The difference for the Red Sox is clearly in the bullpen. When this postseason began, most baseball analysts rightly underplayed the Boston chances of making it to the world series because of Boston’s ineffective bullpen.

No more!

Mike Timlin has been every bit as good as Mariano Rivera was when Rivera set up John Wettlend in the mid 90’s for NY.

If only Grady Little would go to Timlin before trouble starts, he would bypass the nailbiting the Red Sox Nation experienced last night.

Click below for more.Little didn’t realize how good Timlin was going to be when he pulled him for Byung Hyun Kim in game one of the ALDS.

Tim Wakefield gave Boston everything they could hope for in their wildest dreams with his second straight dominating performance last night. With the score 3-1 and Jason Giambi coming up to leadoff, why not let Timlin start the eighth. Instead Wakefield did, walking Giambi, then Timlin was summoned with the tying run at the plate.

Of course, Timlin did his thing and the threat ended, but not before Bernie Williams drove one to deep center field. Grady: Bring him in at the first sign of trouble like the A’s do with Chad Bradford.

Alfonso Soriano’s sorry relay throw on Jason Varitek’s one hopper to short with the bases loaded in the seventh, allowed Varitek (yes Varitek) to arrive just ahead of the throw and drive in the insurance run Boston needed to win the game.

No wonder that Soriano will not play second for NY next season and that is why the Yankees have targeted Luis Castillo to take that spot with Soriano moving to center and Bernie to left and Matsui to right in next season’s alignment.

The Red Sox are hitting clutch homers instead of putting together multi hit rallies. Still not a good sign in my book because you can’t rely on home runs every night, although they sure are doing the trick right now for Boston.

Scott Williamson is the other piece of the bullpen puzzle sizzling for the Sox. With a 95 MPH fastball, his slider is unhittable, a couple of more good outings and I think the Sox have something here with Williamson.

Derek Lowe is a sinker ball pitcher who gives up many scratch singles in the infield. If he keeps the ball in the park, then the Sox have a great chance of going up 3-2 in the series because David Wells is hittable. NY will have its hands full with Lowe today in the sunshine.

Now let’s talk about Nomar and his first pitch swinging. Sure he hits above .300 doing it, but tell me what he hits against good pitchers who can spot the ball on the first pitch. Tell me what he is hitting on the first pitch with runners on base? Point is statistics are terrific to explain a position, but they need to be broken down so specific pitchers can be factored in too. If I was Nomar’s coach I’d tell him to wait for his pitch in the postseason because both the Yankees and A’s have worked him out of the strike zone early in the count and that is why he is hitting .118 in the ALCS.

I keep waiting for Mark Prior to hit the wall after averaging 120 pitches per start for what seems like two months now. He is a unique pitcher who reminds me of Tom Seaver in his prime. The Marlins need to get him early if they can and drive his pitch count up, so Dusty has no choice, but to remove him after six or seven innings.

The Marlins counter with Carl Pavano who carried the pitching staff during its midseason lull. He pitched very well against the Giants in game two of the NLDS. Pavano, once traded for Pedro Martinez, from Boston to Montreal, had top of the rotation stuff until he hurt his arm. When Ken Macha managed in the Boston minor league system, Pavano was one of his favorites. Injuries have plagued Pavano’s career, but he is capable of a big game tonight.

Can the Marlins force a game seven. Why not? Unless Prior does it again (superior game), the Fish can hit the rest of the Cub staff.

Should be a great day of baseball in both cities if the home teams can sidestep the curses that have plagued them for the last century.

0 comments

1 Anonymous { 10.14.03 at 1:07 pm }

great analysis as usual. Timlin has been a real
performer for the Sox. I still get nervous with
Williamson pitching the 9th but he has 2 saves
so far. Wells doesn’t like to pitch in the daytime
and if his control is off it could be a long afternoon
for the Yanks. Lowe must be on his game. The Sox
win today means they have to win one out 2 in NY. Shades of 1949. If they lose,they will have to win both,a daunting task.
As for the curse. It is my opinion,that there is no such thing. Great players and not so great players perform and do what they have to do to win. The Red Sox failure and the Cubs failure
has been to players not making the plays when they had to. Fenway park gives up lots of fly ball
home runs when they would be outs elsewhere.
The Cubs have rarely put together teams with good players over the last 58 years.Don’t blame the curse. The A’s are a prime example of
3 plays in the playoffs that caused them to lose, Are they cursed. NO.

Jerry F

2 marty { 10.14.03 at 1:55 pm }

Weather in Chicago is rainy and windy. Marlins will face a tough pitcher in rough weather with the wind blowing in. Both teams should play for one run early.
Marty

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