Never Walk a Rally Killer
Top of the 8th. 2nd and 3rd, 1 out. The Sox (currently) 2 worst hitters are due up - Jason “Rally Killer” Varitek and Wily Mo “Pedro Cerrano” Pena. Varitek can’t hit anything lately and Pedro, er, Wily, as we all know can hit straight ball very far, but no hit curve ball.
But the Orioles decide to walk Varitek (while hitting lefty, where he struggles the most) to get to Wily Mo Pena to try to induce a double play. If Dustin Pedroia were up next, maybe this makes sense, but Wily Mo is either going to strike out or crush one (430 feet against the wind maybe?) - that’s just the type of hitter he is. You’re not going to get many ground balls. And clearly, he has the potential to take a pitch up in the zone very, very deep. Everyone was thinking it as soon as he stepped in.
I suppose that if Pena had grounded into the double play, they would have been applauded, but I still say it was the wrong move. He was as due as one can be, and I for one, am glad he backed up Papelbon and Beckett and got us the win.
Stumble it!
April 27th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
After lunch at Hooters with Jonathan Papelbon and Kyle Snyder I drank a few and then made my way over to the Yard. I couple of nice Baltimore people gave me and my friends some free tickets in several sections including behind the Sox dugout 54, next to first base 18 (row aaa). I stayed in section 54 till the 6th when a got a call from I guy I met in 2003 while at the Sox playoff game in Oakland called my cell and invited me into the luxury suite. When I walked into the suite I almost collided with a little guy on his blackberry..my friend said do you know who that is? I had no idea.. Pat Sajak. How bout that, I said. Then I held my breath while watching Baltimore continue to lead the sox and we had the bases loaded with Willie up, I’m now talking to myself..please no double play…please no double play..strike out if you need to…pop up in the OF maybe. Then Willie swings the bat and I’m jumping up and down at the sound of the crack still with all the fancy people (in the luxury suite) around me, when the rest of the people in the suite see the ball carry over the wall we all celebrate together..slapping hands hugging strangers and instantly all in a great mood. Until then, I didn’t even know which one’s in the suite were cheering for the sox. I then made my way back to the AAA row by first base to watch my new friend Jonathan finish the game.