I don't know if you remember the last time that Denis Leary and Lenny Clark took a spin in the NESN booth, but it was epic. They went on a rant about Youklis being a jewish first baseman, and after a great play by Youk, Leary yelled, "Where's Mel Gibson now?!" It was truly amazing. Well the two were back in the booth last night, and while the two weren't nearly as wild, they were certainly entertaining. They even took on Jerry Remy's replacement, Dennis Eckersley, at one point. Via Sox & Dawgs....

Denis Leary & Lenny Clarke Return To NESN Booth Together For First Time Since Mel Gibson Rant (Sox & Dawgs)

The Red Sox have owned the Yankees this year, so it came as no surprise that they shut the team out for their sixth win in the season series. The game was well in hand by the seventh inning, so much so in fact, that Jonathan Papelbon decided to take a cat nap. Via Sox & Dawgs....

Too funny. They should really just have a bed out in the bullpen anyway. It's not fair that players in the dugout have a whole clubhouse at their disposal, and relievers have to basically sit in the stands.

Papelbon Is Bored By The Yankees (Sox and Dawgs)

Man, talk about a downer to start your Thursday. NESN's Jerry Remy has told the masses that he's taking a leave of absence because of a recurring problem, which was at one point cancerous. Here is his statement in full, via Sawx Heads....

In November I had a very small, low-grade cancerous area removed from my lung. I was fortunate that it was discovered at an early stage. Except for the surgery, I required no additional treatments. I left the hospital with a clean bill of health.

Unfortunately, following the surgery, I developed a bad infection further compounded by a case of pneumonia. It was the pneumonia and the infection that set me back. This all happened just as I was leaving for spring training.

In hindsight, it was a mistake to go and I am paying the price for it now. As NESN announced, I am taking a leave of absence so that I can fully recover.

First of all, I would like to thank all of you for the outpouring of concern you have given me recently. I honestly appreciate it. Secondly, I want to emphasize that I am in good shape now.

While physically I have no issues, the past few months have been emotionally draining, and exhausting for both my family and I. Along those lines, I would like to thank NESN and the Red Sox for allowing me to take as much time as I need. I am not certain exactly when I will return, but I will keep you posted. I want to make sure that when I do return I can be with the team all the way to the 2009 World Series!

I hope that by stating all this publicly it will emphasize the dangers of smoking to everyone, especially children. So, once again, I appreciate all your support and I would like to emphasize – if you don’t smoke, don’t start, and if you do smoke, try to quit! I don’t say that lightly because I know how difficult it can be.

Thanks,
Jerry

Man, well hopefully those of you who smoke can head his words, and hopefully Jerry gets better....and back in full on crazy action....real, real soon.

Personal Update from The RemDawg (Sawx Heads)

As Sox and Dawgs points out, I thought gambling was illegal in Baseball. Nomar Garciaparra has always been a first ball swinger, even back when he was on the Red Sox, so in the fifth inning Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo decided to place a little bet if he would swing away. Here's the clip....

Those two are borderline insane, so this doesn't surprise me, but I wonder if the whole gambling thing extends to the announcing booth? Guess not.

Isn’t Gambling Illegal In Baseball? (Sox and Dawgs)

It's no secret that ESPN covers certain teams more than others, but it's always fun when a player calls them out. Heath Bell, the Padres' closer, took offense to a recent John Kruk comment about his team, and decided to say what everyone is already thinking. From R&R via Sign On San Diego....

“I saw John Kruk on “Baseball Tonight” and he said, ‘They’re playing really well, but I don’t believe in them,’” Bell said before Monday’s game. “And I saw ESPN’s promo for tonight’s game. They mention the Mets are opening Citi Field, they mentioned the starting time, but nowhere did they mention the Padres. That gave me the (expletive).”

Bell was just getting warmed up in his pregame commentary.

“I truly believe ESPN only cares about promoting the Red Sox and Yankees and Mets - and nobody else,” said the closer, a former Met. “That’s why I like the MLB Network, because they promote everybody. I’m really turned off by ESPN and ‘Baseball Tonight.’ When Jake Peavy threw 8 1/3 innings on Saturday, they showed one pitch in the third inning and that was it. It’s all about the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets.”

Now if this comment was directed at say Sports Center, I wouldn't even pause, but calling out Baseball Tonight is something different. I think the show has been losing fans for years now, and unlike NFL Live or NBA Fastbreak, it's apparent that they don't give equal coverage to all teams. However, in Baseball it has been proven that certain teams draw better ratings, and you can't entirely blame the "Leader" for their biases.

But lucky for us, and Heath Bell, the MLB Network is currently putting the once "go to" show, to shame.

Heath Bell Does Not Care For Your Coverage, ESPN (Rumors and Rants)

These economic times are tough on everyone, and while some people are hoping for a bailout, others are coming up with new ideas on how to make money. One of those people is the "Voice of the Red Sox", Carl Beane. Carl will not only make money as the public address announcer for Boston this year, but he will also be pulling in funds as a eugoogalizer eulogist. Via Red Sox Monster....

Red Sox Monster: Does anything come to mind as one of the more strange events that you've been asked to do? Some sort of event you wouldn't typically expect to be asked to do, or something like that?

Carl Beane: Well, I guess maybe the one that was a little bit different is that for people who are Red Sox fans and I've gotten to know them some, their family at times has asked me to do a eulogy because they were such a Red Sox fan, [and they've asked] "Would you do that?" And I have.

Red Sox Monster: I imagine that takes some homework in terms of learning about the person and talking about what the family asks you to cover and that sort of thing?

Carl Beane: Yep. I talk to them, find out what they want me to do, how they want me to approach it. The wedding thing is a little different and lots of fun. First of all, they have to be big-time Red Sox fans in the wedding party. Many weddings do have a Red Sox theme to them. ... Someone from the family contacts me to do this, we get all the particulars straightened out, and then what I do is I usually stay hidden because I'm usually a surprise to somebody, and then I'll come out and I'll introduce in the wedding party like a batting order.

It sounds cheesy on the surface, but that's actually a great idea. I would love it if following my service, my friends and family played a clip of late O's PA man Chuck Thompson, saying "Ain't the beer cold, baby!?", and then everyone goes to a bar and gets hammered. Great idea, Carl....more power to you.

Broadcasting, wedding appearances and Red Sox ghosts (RSM)

NESN's Heidi Watney has taken the Internet by storm, so much so that a video of her chronicling her gator problem at her home in Ft. Myers, Florida, has been making the rounds as of late. Here is said clip....

Obviously, it's an entertaining yet somewhat ominous clip, but there's a bigger problem that Watney has overlooked. While that gator is certainly not something to be ignored, she might not want to be telling message boarders, internet surfers, and men in general, where she lives.

Heidi Watney Has Gator Troubles (With Dramatic Video) (Deadspin)

The MLB Network has been receiving great praise for its recent launch, and those individuals they've brought in, and tomorrow they will announce the edition of another big name to the network. Veteran First Baseman, Sean Casey, will be hanging up the spikes and will join the MLB-N tomorrow. Via MLB PR....

Red Sox first baseman Sean Casey is officially retiring, according to a report by WEEI.com in Boston.

The report said Casey, nicknamed "The Mayor" for his friendly personality, has signed on with the MLB Network for role that has not been defined yet.

Casey, 34, hit .322 in 199 at-bats for the Red Sox last season. He also played in Detroit, Pittsburgh and Cleveland, but spent eight of his 12 big league seasons with the Reds.

A three-time All-Star, Casey had a .302 career average with 130 homers and 735 RBIs.

The MLB Network launched on Jan. 1 in approximately 50 million homes, the largest network debut in cable history. Casey would join former Major Leaguers Harold Reynolds, Al Leiter, Barry Larkin, Joe Magrane, Mitch Williams and Dan Plesac to offer insight on the Network.

Yet another great hire for the channel, and one that should pay off right away considering the great relationships that Casey has with both players and various teams throughout the league.

I have no idea why (or where for that matter) Jerry Remy is singing Christmas carols, but according to Red Sox Monster (via Sawx Heads) he really loves Christmas music and was also not under the influence of alcohol when recording this clip of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer". Take it away Jerr!

I would love to provide you with more context and background, or perhaps even more wonderful clips like the one above, but apparently it's nowhere to be found as of today. If anyone knows where to pick up the whole album, or has more info to share, please do so in the comments. If not....we'll just continue to enjoy it on its own.

Jerry Remy enjoys Christmas carols, officially out of his tree (Red Sox Monster)
Remy Sings (Sawx Heads)

We all know that the Red Sox bring ratings, and I honestly thought that FOX would be crying after their loss Sunday night, but the network is surprisingly upbeat given the uphill ratings climb in front of them. According to President of Fox Sports, Ed Goren, the secret to their success lies not in the actual teams playing, but rather the length of said series. From Globe and Mail via SBD....

"It's not just about the matchup," Goren said. "As important as anything else is the number of games, the volume of games. If we get six or seven games in this matchup, we will out-rate last year's Red Sox World Series."

The longer it goes, the larger the numbers get. If a network is fortunate enough to televise a seven-game series, the ratings for the latter games will pull up the overall average.

"These things build," Goren said. "It's water-cooler talk. It becomes must-see TV."

Still, if this Series is over in four games and the average rating dips to historic lows, Fox will be required to reimburse advertisers with additional ad spots on other shows.

Fox's advertising revenue won't be affected, because the commercial time was bought before the World Series teams were decided. A ratings decline this year, however, would affect 2009 prices.

The network is reportedly charging $475,000 (U.S.) for a 30-second spot.

While the talk of a longer series equaling better ratings isn't necessarily groundbreaking, it's still interesting to hear Fox flat out admit that's what they're hoping for. While I obviously want to see the most competitive World Series possible, there's a small part of me that wants to see Fox tank in the ratings. You know....just to see how bad it is.

Networks made their Red Sox-Yankees bed along time ago, and now they have to lie in it.

Mis-Matched? (Sports Business Daily - $)
Fox bullish despite weak matchup (Globe and Mail)

I can appreciate Curt Schilling's honesty, but count me as one of the many people that just can't stand the guy. Whether you like him or not, this story is actually pretty funny. Red Sox Monster caught an item on a WEEI blog during Game Seven the other night, and apparently Schilling had nothing better to do, but join in during a live-blog on Sunday night. Not only that but he had some "strong" words for TBS announcer Ron Darling (Schilling is commenter, "gehrig38")...

9:44- Rob Bradford: Curt, would you agree that inside fastball to Coco, in my estimation, was a big pitch for Garza
9:44 - gehrig38: i dont see big inning tonight, unless someone mismanages
9:44- [Comment From FenwayWest.com] how many pitches for Lester and how long do they let him go tonight?
9:44- [Comment From ML] 97 was a pretty damn good game, but I have to go with 01
9:44- gehrig38: that wasnt a fastball, it was an 89 mph cutter or slider
9:44- alexspeier: If it's to the bullpens, then this man is the pivotal one...
9:44- [Comment From Jon Eisenberg] The hook seems to be working for Garza tonight. Would you tell the hitters to be more assertive and not wait on the pitch?
9:44- gehrig38: Darlings a doofus not seeing that

Ohhhhhhh snap! A doofus? Did poopie head or numskull pop into your first??? Someone needs to tell Curt that cursing is allowed on the Internet and that "douchebag" is our insult of choice. I like that Schilling takes the time to chat up the fans, but I can't wait for him to retire and be out of the news. Actually, with my luck.....he'll be hired by ESPN.

Curt Schilling ends season live-blogging, plugging gamer stuff (Red Sox Monster)
ALCS Game 7 (WEEI)

We all know that ratings for game sevens are always through the roof, but as it turns out, last night's Sox-Rays game is now the most watched MLB game on cable, of all times. Over 13 million people turned into TBS for the contest and the network pulled a 7.9 rating. Via Turner Sports....

TBS wrapped up its 2008 MLB Postseason coverage with a classic. The seventh and deciding game of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays delivered a 7.9 US HH Rating, making it the most-watched MLB game on all of television for the 2008 regular season and postseason, according to preliminary data from Nielsen Media Research. The series-clinching game, which propelled the Rays into their first World Series, garnered 13,357,000 total viewers, making it the most-watched game in the history of cable. The game eclipsed the 1998 ESPN Chicago Cubs-St. Louis Cardinals game that featured Mark McGwire hitting his 61st homerun (which tied what was then an MLB single-season home run record).

“Record-breaking performances, extraordinary viewership and tremendous growth across all key demos added up to a winning formula for our coverage of the ALCS,” said David Levy, president of Turner Sports. “The Red Sox and Rays treated baseball fans to a classic ALCS and viewers made it a point to tune in to watch this tremendous series. The sports television landscape continues to evolve and what we witnessed during our ALCS coverage is that on any given night cable programming outdelivers programming on broadcast networks."

Not a bad showing for a single Baseball game, but the totals definitely speak to shrunken ratings on a whole for the Sport over the past couple of years. Still though, TBS destroyed it's ratings from the NLCS last year, and in fact....they almost doubled it. For both the Division Series and ALCS, TBS averaged a 4.6 US Household Rating, and almost 7.5 million total viewers per game.

Other highlights from Game Seven on TBS include:

- Game 7 was the top-rated telecast in the history of TBS
- It Ranks among the top 10 sports most-watched cable telecasts all-time
- The game was the second most-watched telecast on cable this year.
- Game 7 was also the top-rated regular season and postseason MLB game on all of television this year (the MLB All-Star game was the top overall baseball telecast in 2008).

I know most of you were around for S2N's live-blog, but in case you missed it, here's how things went down last night. The Rays took charge in the middle innings, and after an amazing 8th from David Price, took the ALCS....

The World Series gets underway on Wednesday, and it should be a good one. Who cares if the ratings are bad, good Baseball is good Baseball....and we'll all be watching.

Hidy folks. I'll be better tonight, and we're all set for the do-or-die game. Who gets to host the Phillies on Wednesday? I'd say most of you armchair analysts are going for the Red Sox, given the events of the last couple games. First off, let's thank Ian from Sox and Dawgs for passing along Dennis Eckersley taking it on the chin from Ernie Johnson last night:

AA passes along the statement from TBS, explaining last night's outage:

STATEMENT FROM TBS REGARDING ALCS GAME 6

Two circuit breakers in our Atlanta transmission operations tripped causing the master router and its backup – which are necessary to transmit any incoming feed outbound – to shut down. This impacted our live feed from being distributed to any of the other networks in the Turner portfolio and caused the delay in our coverage. Both our primary and backup routers were impacted by this problem. We apologize to baseball fans for this mishap that caused a delay in our coverage.

It's a valid explanation, but not one that inspires any confidence in Turner Networks in general. But at least we're starting on time tonight!

Craig Sager looks rather subdued for him. Outlandish jacket and tie choice, but not horrific like his sea foam green and yellow tie with pink flowers from a couple weeks back.

Matt Garza is pitching for the Rays; he faces Coco Crisp first. Crisp lays down the bunt towards Garza, and he throws to Carlos Pena for the out. Dustin Pedroia waves at a 95 mph fastball for strike one. 2nd pitch is high. Third pitch is BELTED to left field for a homer, Sox take a 1-0 lead.

Gee, that was quick. Ortiz up and he's now dealing with a 2-1 count. Garza works in a fastball for strike 2, and the cowbells are LOUD tonight. Full count after one misses away, and it's ball 4. Ortiz on first with Kevin Youkilis coming up. Youk's feet are so damn close together when he bats, he looks like a gimp. First pitch is a brush back, 1-0. Next one gets fouled back, as does the one after that. Rocco Baldelli makes a nice play in right with the ball going towards the line, and Ortiz gets back to first. Two out. J.D. Drew up.

Matt Garza looks like John Turturro in the Big Lebowski. "Nobody fucks with the Jesus!" Jesus Quintana rolls a nice slider and it's 1-2, he gets Drew on a check-swing, and Navarro throws him out at first after dropping the ball.

Soul Men looks horrifically bad. This is not the last role we should be seeing Bernie Mac in, dammit.

"Garza allows the Pedroia homer but that is all in the first" - Chip Caray, who appearently forgot about the walk to Ortiz (via JFein)

Bottom 1st

Jon Lester starts with a strike to Akinori Iwamura. Quickly 0-2 with a breaking ball. Ron Darling just corrected himself after saying Lester pitched game 7 of the World Series last year, which of course, only went four games. Iwamura grounds out to Pedroia. Bossman Junior is up and takes a ball to start. Lester gets one over and Upton is knocking fouls back. 2-2, now 3-2 after a high fastball. Upton rockets a pitch to right, but right at Drew.

Carlos Pena whiffs at strike one, followed by ball one in the dirt. Pena chases strike two low.

"It's got a lot more finish on it." - Buck Martinez, on Lester's pitches. 2-2 count after a ball outside. Lester looks like a babyfaced assassin, and he gets Pena to go down swinging on another breaking ball.

Top 2nd inning

Jason Bay fouls off the first pitch from the Jesus. They replay Darrell Cousins' injury from last night, and that still looks like it hurt like a mofo. It's 2-2 to Bay now. "He's taken the earplugs out," says Buck, and Bay learns that this creep can hurl, man. Garza gets him on a check-swing.

Mark Kotsay takes strike one, knocks strike two up the middle and is robbed of a single by Jason Bartlett, who goes far to his left, crosses second, and throws Kotsay out.

Varitek's up. First ball's low, Tek fouls the next one, and the one after that. 1-2. Couple balls from the Jesus and we got a full count.

"If you want to end a conversation with Jason Varitek, talk about his impending free agency." - Buck. Tek fouls another ball on the full count. Dirty, nasty, filthy breaking ball gets Tek looking. Nice pitch, Jesus.

"He affects the game defensefully." - Ron Darling, channeling his inner Emmitt.

Bottom 2nd Inning

The Volcano Taco still looks foul weeks later. I've not tried one and plan not to.

Evan Longoria up, takes a ball, takes two others, and gets nailed with a strike that really wasn't. Longoria grounds in the hole to Alex Cora, who gets him by four steps.

Carl Crawford comes up to M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes." Still like that song even though it's been everywhere now. 1-1 count, then strike two, and a high fastball gets Crawford swinging.

Willy Aybar is DH'ing tonight, and takes a strike. Next breaker is low from Lester. Aybar smacks an easy grounder to Youkilis, slugs it to Kotsay. Six up, six down.

Top 3rd Inning

Frank Caliendo pushing Dish TV is just as annoying as Frank TV ads. The Jesus faces Alex Cora to start the 3rd. The shortstop flies out to Carl Crawford in left.

Crisp comes in for his second at-bat. He fouls off strike one, and this gives Chip Caray room to work in stuff about him replacing Jacoby Ellsbury. Garza buzzes him to make it a 2-2 count.

"If you're gonna buzz somebody, you better check his background. Coco's father was a profesional boxer in Los Angeles." - Buck

Crisp fouls another one back, and chops another foul at the plate. "He's tracking the ball very well right now," says Buck, and now I think Buck is talking too much already. The Jesus gets Covelli for his fourth strikeout on a curve. 2 down.

Garza gets Pedroia for strike one, and swinging for an 0-2 count. Stays alive by fouling it off.

That doesn't make him any good. Chip Carey's father was a professional broadcaster. - Rick James Bible Owner, referring to Buck's statement about Crisp's boxing background.

Pedroia gets popped hard and takes his base. Ortiz comes to the plate, takes strike one, leans back as the next pitch is high and inside. A very low strike 2, and Ortiz didn't much care for that call. Pedroia steals second on the next pitch without a throw, but Garza gets Ortiz for strikeout #5 with a high fastball.

Bottom 3rd Inning

"Pedroia is a guy that can hit anybody's fastball. It doesn't matter how hard it is, where it is..." - Buck Martinez (via JFein)

Even if it's 10 feet outside the zone, he'll get a bat on it somehow. He's just that clutch.

I hate those Bud Light drinkability ads. Of course it's easy to drink, because there's no weight to it. Whether it tastes good is another matter.

Dioner Navarro takes strike one, then takes a ball way inside. Lester lost control of that last one; it was really high, over his head. Inside strike, 2-2, Rocco's not swung the bat yet. Next one's fouled out of play behind the plate. Full count after a backdoor curveball, which Lester wanted badly. Navarro whiffs for Lester's third K of the night.

Rocco Baldelli's up, and down 1-2 quickly. Lester gets him looking for the fourth K, and he's got the first eight down.

"When you're catching a guy like this, you feel like a catching genius. I can call any pitch I want." - Buck.

Jason Bartlett pops up to Pedroia, and Lester's gone through the line-up once in order.

"If Lester is going to settle in, this is where he normally does so" - Chip Caray (via JFein, who's right to wonder if he isn't settled in already)

Top 4th Inning

What's with the off-center behind the pitcher camera angle? Hard to tell balls and strikes. - Mal

This is a frequent thing with TV shots behind the pitching mound, it's just more pronounced with lefties and more so with TBS' shot. It is really confusing, though. Anon does have an explanation for us: "I remember watching games on YES and ESPN, same place. The Trop is a circus tent, not ideal for camera placements."

Youkilis stands in, and is quickly down 0-2.

"He's carrying more than a chip on his shoulder, he's carrying his whole team." - Buck. Youk hits one down the line to Longoria, who throws it and is saved as Pena scoops it out of the dirt for the out.

Drew drills a high pop up to Pena for out #2.

"Garza learned you can't throw angry pitches." - Chip

If he can strike out a few more batters he'll be in his happy place. He's got Jason Bay on a 1-2 count now -- and he gets Bay again.

"They've got plenty of cowbell, now they need some runs!" - Chip, after Garza's sixth K.

Bottom 4th Inning

Iwamura starts the top of the 4th with a single to left -- first hit off Lester tonight.

Bossman Junior takes ball one inside, followed by strike two off the plate away. After fouling off a couple, Upton goes down swinging for Lester's fifth K.

Lester hits Pena with strike one inside, after Chip Caray repeats the most tired of cliches, "One swing could turn this game around." The shift works as Pena hits one to Pedroia, who tosses to Youkilis, who covers second and forces out Iwamura.

Longoria comes up with 2 outs and takes a strike. He belts it into the right field corner, the third base coach is waving Pena all the way....relay throw is close, Pena beats the tag! It's all tied up at 1-1 now.

Very bang-bang, nice play, good aggressiveness. Longoria's at 2nd, Crawford is down 0-2 now after swinging at a bad ball out of the zone. Youkilis tries to go for a foul ball, but it lands out of play.

"If he sees it, he thinks he can catch it." - Buck, on Youk.

Crawford goes down swinging on a high fastball, but it's knotted now.

Top 5th Inning

Just watch. We've got ourselves a pitcher's duel now.

Kotsay takes two straight balls from the Jesus. He gets to a 3-1 count, then pops up to Iwamura at 2nd base.

Varitek gets ready to take his second hack, struck out the first time.

"Garza's thrown 71 pitches. In Game 7, that's about 40 pitches." - Buck
"Spoken like a true manager." - Ron

Garza gets Tek to ground out on the first pitch, and now it's Cora's 2nd time up. Strike one in a good location. Strike two is FILTHY. Nice breaking ball from Garza, and another nasty one for strike three. Sit down, Alex.

"Any manager will tell you that the hitters tell you when a pitcher doesn't have his stuff any more." - Buck

Bottom 5th Inning

Willy Aybar takes strike one as Lester keeps attacking inside to the righties. Strike 2 is in about the same place. Ball 1 in the dirt. Aybar leans out and digs for the ball, driving it into the left field corner and missing a homer by feet. Nice piece of hitting.

Navarro up takes a ball inside.

"You can see John Madden...pfft...Joe Maddon sizing up whether to bunt." - Buck, who was looking forward to meeting the Turducken King until he heard he was going to take the week off. Navarro's working the count well, it's 3-0 and the crowd and the bells are getting louder. Maybe it's the dome, but this is the loudest baseball game I've heard in some time. Lester hits the inside corner for a 3-1 count. Navarro pops it out of play, full count. Ground ball to short, Cora doesn't have a play after Aybar holds. 1st and 2nd, no outs.

Rocco Baldelli gets strike one. He nails the ball, but just a bit late, and it's a 400-foot towering foul ball. Base hit in to left, Aybar scores, it's 2-1, Tampa! 1st and 2nd again, with Navarro leading and Baldelli coming through.

"And how big are two out hits in the post-season?" - Chip, forgetting that there are no outs.

Garza v. Cora to end top of 5th: Fastball 94 mph, Curveball 75 mph, Slider 86 mph (per mlb.com). All for strikes. That is amazing control of 3 pitches and changing speeds. - Mal

That is insanely good stuff.

Did you see the shot of Vitale going nuts after Baldelli's RBI single? - Mal

Dammit! No, I missed that. I was rushing to type. Awesome with a capital A, baby!

Bartlett's got an 0-2 count on him, and Lester gets him to strike out for out #1. Iwamura grounds out to Lester, runners move to 2nd and 3rd with two outs for Bossman Junior.

Upton strokes a golf shot foul down the left field line to start. He lines out to short to end the inning, but Garza gets a one-run lead to go back to the mound with.

Top 6th Inning

Crisp up to face Garza for the third time. Garza gets him to 0-2 on a nasty breaking ball. The Jesus throws three straight balls to get to a full count. Crisp hits a tapper back to Garza, who fields it well and shovels it to Pena for the out.

"Six leadoff batters in a row." - Ron
"That's the Jon Lester formula." - Chip

Pedroia takes a fastball down the middle for strike one. Next pitch misses. Another fast one away for a 1-2 count, and the cowbells are going gangbusters with the thought of another K. THE COWBELLS WANT BLOOD. That one just missed (but it looked way wide from the proper angle.) Pedroia bats the next one foul past third base, fouls another one -- and a few more. Full count after a ball outside. Pedroia takes ball four low and away.

Garza gets Ortiz to wave at strike one. Takes a look at a ball, Ortiz then swings and misses down in the inner half. 2-2 after a ball in the dirt.

"That's fisted over to the Red Sox dug out" - Chip Caray as a fly ball lands in the fourth row...(via JFein)

Full count after a fastball away. Fastball inside, Pedroia goes...Ortiz misses, and Pedroia is NAILED at second!

What awful camera work on the DP - Bazooka Jones

TBS, the Versus of baseball.

Those Volkswagen ads with the talking Beetle used to be funny until Brooke Shields got involved. Funny how that works, huh?

Bottom 6th Inning

Carlos Pena up to start. Lester gets him to pop out to third for the first out.

Longoria hits a towering fly ball, but Jason Bay has it easily.

Crawford hits a fly fairly deep to center, Crisp gets a beat on it and Lester is done in short order with the sixth inning.

Top 7th Inning

How much longer can Garza go? He's at 100 pitches, probably one more inning if he doesn't have to work too hard. Then again, I'm not a major league manager. When to pull Garza will be an important call for Joe Maddon.

Youkilis up. Low and inside, ball one. Bartlett moves in behind Iwamura, takes the pop up for the first out.

"After the first pitch, Garza looked down at the bullpen, saw two guys getting warmed up, and got more focused. 'This is my game, boys.'" - Buck

Drew gets a 2-0 count, and gets a 3-0 on the next pitch. Drew takes a walk on four pitches. Navarro and Garza talk it over as Jason Bay comes to the plate. Strike one on the inside breaking ball. Bay then knocks a single into left. 1st and 2nd, one out. Maddon makes his first trip to the mound.

Mark Kotsay's got a chance to knock one. Strike one on a pop foul. Ball one in the dirt. Ball two is high. Kotsay flies out to left; Drew tags and heads to third.

Varitek fouls the first pitch to right field; he then holds up his swing on a pitch in the dirt. Another pop foul for a 1-2 count. Garza gets him swinging! Navarro throws him out at first, with the ball in the dirt, and the Jesus wriggles off the hook!

I HAVE A FEVER AND THE ONLY PRESCRIPTION IS MORE COWBELL! - James Craven

Don't we all?

Bottom 7th Inning

Willy Aybar's up against Jon Lester, taking strike one and fouling off the next for a second strike. He takes two straight balls. Very close on that 3-2, right off the corner. AYBAR TATTOOED THAT MOFO OUT. 3-1, RAYS.

Day-um.

Navarro pops to right on a 1-2 count. J.D. Drew has it.

Baldelli comes up for his third time at the plate. He strikes out, making the 8th for Lester. (Garza's gotten nine on strikes.)

Bartlett fouls off three straight pitches, then flies out to Crisp in center.

"Baldelli's a young man that was compared to Joe DiMaggio" - Chip
"Yeah, you just have to look at his number." - Ron [The 5 on the back of his jersey.]

If TB wasn't leading, Yankee fans may find yet another reason to throw something at their TV's... - Anon

Top 8th Inning

Six outs to go for Tampa. Matt Garza's still pitching. Maddon doesn't want to yank him until he absolutely has to. Alex Cora fouls off the first pitch, and a ground ball eats up Bartlett at short. Cora on with the error, and Maddon's going to the bullpen.

Garza gets a massive ovation, well deserved. Dan Wheeler comes in. He throws two balls, gets Crisp to foul one off. Coco fouls a bunt attempt, he got antsy. Crisp hits one through the right side, 1st and 2nd, nobody out.

"You give the Red Sox life. They take the life away from you." - Chip

Pedroia up, takes a strike. Wheeler gets him to fly out to Crawford, runners stay put. Wheeler's night is done, as Maddon calls for J.P. Howell.

Howell's on to face David Ortiz. Throws a breaker on the inside for strike one. Ortiz fouls a grounder for an 0-2 count. High fastball for ball 1, sinker low and away for ball 2. After fouling out numerous pitches, Ortiz grounds to Iwamura, who throws a force to Bartlett to take Crisp out -- and Crisp would have beaten it if he'd gone for the bag. Another pitching change.

Chad Bradford, the submariner, is throwing. Youkilis up. Inside near his legs, ball one. 2-0 on the next pitch. 3-0, inside again. Finally, a strike. Fouled off, 3-2. Youk holds up, ball 4. Bases loaded for J.D. Drew, and David Price is coming in to face him.

First pitch slider in for a strike from Price. 87 mph breaker for strike 2. Fastball, 96 mph, away for ball 1. FROZE HIM ON THE OUTSIDE CORNER. Nasty, nasty, nasty. Nice job, David.

Bottom 8th Inning

97 mph on the outside corner. Which Vandy grad has a stronger arm? Price or Cutler? - Mal

Good question.

On the David Price strikeout:

Chip:

Best thing he's said all night. - Rick James Bible Owner

Iwamura up against Hideki Okajima. Grounds out to Pedroia, who has to rush the throw, but gets him.

Bossman Junior comes up now. He tags one into shallow center and Coco Crisp makes a nice sliding catch for the second out.

Pena busts one off foul for strike one.

"There might be mutiny if Price doesn't go out to start the 9th." - Buck

"A high strike evens, or makes it 0-2 to Pena, beg your pardon." - Chip

Pena takes ball one in the dirt, and then takes strike three high. Three outs to go for the Rays and an American League pennant.

Top 9th Inning

"He has a chance to pick up a win and a save in the postseason before he's had either in the regular season." - Buck on David Price (via Mal)

It's Bay, Kotsay, and Varitek. Price nails strike one, then throws a sinker low to even it out. Ball two is way inside, getting Bay to go down to the dirt. Fouled back out of play. 2-2. Fouled off again. Bay just holds off his swing on the high heat. He fouls off the next one. Bay takes a walk.

Kotsay comes to the plate. He bunts foul for strike one, fouls the next one for strike two. High cheese for ball one. 2-2 after a 95-mph fastball just off the corner. STRIKE THREE ON THE OUTSIDE CORNER. Again, filthy, filthy, filthy.

Ball one to Varitek. Tek then swings and misses a fastball. Next pitch is fouled back for strike two. Super-high and outside for ball two. TEK GOES DOWN SWINGING. One more out to go, and David Price is just ringing it up.

JED LOWRIE GROUNDS OUT TO IWAMURA FOR THE FORCE, AND THE RAYS ARE YOUR AL CHAMPIONS!!!!!

Man, what a game!

they should have sent a poet.

/contact'd - Dan

FOX's nightmare comes true! - Luis

"From 9 equals 8 to 9 equals 2, Joe Maddon and his Tampa Bay Rays will face the Phillies in the World Series." - Chip

Thanks for joining me, everybody. We'll have World Series live blogs next weekend, I'm sure. Have fun and see you next weekend!

First off: I'd like to apologize again to you all for having to step out in the middle of last night's live blog. I've been fighting the office cold, and when it makes your head heavy and you fall asleep for the fifth and sixth innings, that's a sign that it's time to back away from the TV, read, and get some rest.

I listened to the rest of it on the radio, and I'm pissed because I missed blogging one heck of a Sox takeover of this series. When Jason Varitek, who hasn't hit for balls this season, is hitting the go-ahead homer in the sixth inning and Coco Crisp scores an insurance run that both Josh Beckett and the Boston bullpen hold up in hostile territory (Hideki Okajima, Justin Masterson, and Jonathan Papelbon threw hitless relief), it's clear the ALCS has swung hard, and that I (and many others) are guilty of violating the Golden Rule of the Sawx in the Playoffs: Never say they're done until someone's taken four games from them.

Tonight brings us Game 7, with Jon Lester on the bump for the Sox and Matt Garza dealing for the Rays, and yes, this will be live-blogged rather than Seahawks-Bucs.

(There will be an open thread for the Sunday night NFL game, because Cris Collinsworth is filling in for Madden and there should be some good cracks from that.)

Josh Beckett, man of few words, pitching tonight in Tampa. (Video courtesy of Texas Gal @ Center Field.)

Did TBS' signal take a schvitz? For some reason I have Dick Clark showing news bloopers instead of the pre-game show. And now, Steve Harvey? Eff this. Back to football.

Hey, MLB: why not award the broadcast rights to a real station with a back-up plan if its signal takes a complete dump? Just a thought.'

I don't have the heart to follow the game on radio, not when there's football on. Feel free to follow the action here and talk amongst yourselves while I remain pissed off.

OK, the signal exists.....so we'll do this now. 2nd inning, Youkilis up against Shields....and he just crushed one to tie the game. at 1. If you missed it, B.J. Upton jacked one off Beckett in the first inning, while the rest of us were watching Steve Harvey and bitching.

And J.D. Drew missed back-to-back jacks by inches. He knocks a 2-2 pitch through the right side of the infield for a single. Jason Bay is up -- and Evan Longoria makes a great pick on a grounder on the left side to force Drew out at 2nd. WOW. Throwing that off balance is impressive.

Kotsay up. Shields gets him to whiff on a fastball, but knocks the next pitch past Carlos Pena at first base. 1st and 2nd, one out.

"We're back, and you haven't missed much." - Chip Caray. I'd say a home run is a lot, asshat. (via Anon)

Fly out for the 2nd out by Jed Lowrie, as Upton tracks it down, and now we're watching Jason Varitek hit in the 9 hole with 2 outs, and we learn that James Shields is Aaron Rowand's cousin. 1-1 after an inside fastball. 1-2 pitch goes off the umpire's mask. Popped to left, Crawford's got it.

1-1 game in the middle of the 2nd.

"Chip Caray, nepotism at its finest." - Vegas Cabbie
"TBS wins the Rudy Martzke Memorial Dreaded Glitch Award." - James Craven

Carl Crawford grounds out on the first pitch to Pedroia. Cliff Floyd takes a strike. He's got an 0-2 count, and Buck Martinez made a good point about Beckett trying to off-speed his way out of this start. Another breaking ball gets Floyd looking for the second out. Dioner Navarro flies out to Drew in right. Still tied after 2 innings.

Crisp is up with a 1-1 count right now, takes a ball high. 2-2 after he pops another one back; he then flies out to Upton. There's enough cowbell to satiate Christopher Walken's fever in St. Pete. Two close pitches called balls by the umpire against Pedroia. 3-0 count now. Pedroia draws a walk on what looked like strike 2, but it missed on the tracker. Big Papi is up, ball one is low. Ortiz knocks one down the first base line for a double, and Pedroia stops at third. That's one way to beat the shift. Youkilis drives in Pedroia with a ground out to short. Boston takes a 2-1 lead. 2 outs for J.D. Drew, whom Shields walks to get to Jason Bay.

Shields throws a nice slider to get a 1-2 count on Bay. Next one's in the dirt and Navarro blocks it. Next pitch is a ball, full count. Fouled back. Bay draws a walk with a change-up outside. Bases loaded for Mark Kotsay.

Shields throws 2 straight balls to the first baseman, make that 3.

"You gotta wonder if this isn't a result of the long rest, he hasn't pitched in 8 days." - Buck Martinez

Kotsay flies a long way out to Upton in center; middle of three and the Sawx are up by one.

Beckett gets Gabe Gross looking to open the bottom of the inning, and we go to Craig Sager, who has a wild design on his tie, but at least it matches the jacket tonight. He plunks Bartlett on an 0-2 count, and Beckett's griping about him leaning into it. Iwamura comes up for the second time tonight. He's drawn a 2-0 count, as Beckett and Varitek pay attention to Barlett at first. 3-0 after another high pitch.

"And the problem is, Babe Ruth's on deck." - Buck Martinez, referring to B.J. Upton with the 3-1 count now. Iwamura pops up to Pedroia, and up comes Bossman Junior.

"That pitch humped up to 93." - Chip Caray, earlier (from JFein)

0-2 on Upton after he swung for the fences again. Pitch is just outside, 1-2. Next one's down and fouled off. 2-2 after another one outside. Upton hits it back to the mound, and Beckett's out of the inning.

So, we're back for the 4th inning, and the home plate ump is coming out because of that ball he got nicked on when Varitek was at the plate last. This means we're going to have some variance again as pitchers get used to the strike zone of whomever will be handling balls and strikes.

Oof, feeling lousy...will have to call this off. Keep watching and have fun. See you later.

If you asked me before the Playoffs started, who I'd like to see in the World Series, I honestly would have said the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies. Not because of any affiliation or anything, but I genuinely like it when the same teams don't get in year after year. I've actually enjoyed the past few World Series because of that fact.

Well the same cannot be said about FOX, who is of course in the business of making money. The odd thing about the potential matchups for the W.S. is just the sheer difference of the best and worst result for the network could be. A Dogders, with Torre and Manny, Red Sox Series would put ratings through the roof. A Phillies-Rays Series, however, could possibly top the Cardinals-Tigers in 2006 as the lowest rated MLB championship ever.

Here's what some quotes collected by SBD about the dreaded Phils-Rays Series....

ESPN's Tim Kurkjian on PTI: “It would be a ratings disaster. Even though the Rays are the best story to me as a team since the ’69 Mets, that one doesn’t translate nearly as well as the Red Sox against the Dodgers with Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez coming back to Fenway Park. That was a story made for everybody. The other one isn’t going to nearly get the ratings as Boston-L.A. would”

ESPN's Mike Greenberg: “That sound you hear is the sound of executives at Fox crying right now over the possibility of a Rays-Phillies World Series."

SI's Tom Verducci: "But adding to the low profile problem of both teams is the playoff schedule with the extra off-days. We might be looking at as many as five straight days with no baseball by the time we get to World Series Game 1. By then, with any momentum killed, people will be out of the habit of tuning in to baseball and any of its storylines. In any case, what baseball really needs is an exciting seven-game series to develop a national narrative to draw in viewers."

LA Radio Host, Roger Lodge: “Television executives are about to jump off buildings in New York with that World Series”

While I wouldn't go that far, it actually might be time for say FOX to tell Joe Buck to stop going gah-gah over Manny, and actually give some background and storylines on the Phils. TBS has been trying to do that with the Rays all ALCS, and while it's occasionally been over-the-top, they've kept people interested in both teams. If you add in the fact that the Sox have a penchant for coming back from three games down, they're setting themselves up nicely.

I would personally be extremely interested, but the Rays magic just might not be enough to bring in the casual Baseball fan. Plus, FOX's ratings for the NLCS are already down 22.6% from the ALCS that they aired last year, isn't helping. We shall see though.

Ratings Disaster Waiting To Happen? (Sports Business Daily - $)

Joe Maddon seems pretty focused in the dugout, but there's only one force of nature that can distract him. That would a gust mismatched wind created by one Craig Sager when he walks by between innings. From HR Derby via Sox & Dawgs, comes this clip played on Inside MLB following the game. Watch closely on the replay as Joe Maddon seems to blow a kiss in the general direction of the sideline reporter....

How could you not like Maddon? I guess it helps that your team is up ten runs, but the guy just doesn't ever seem to not be enjoying the game.

Even Joe Maddon Doesn’t Like Craig Sager’s Outfits (Sox & Dawgs)
Joe Maddon has the hots for Craig Sager (Homerun Derby)

There's throwing people under the bus, and then there's this. Following last night's Rays win, Ernie Johnson decided to pose a question to the rest of the crew about where Fenway got it's name. He of course went to the only former Red Sock on the set, Dennis Eckersley, and just watch the look on his face. Via Sox & Dawgs....

Now that is funny. EJ's Neato Stat of the Night also brought us the Kenny Smith car jumping moment, so it's pretty much a must watch at this point.

Ernie Johnson Throws Eck Under The Bus (Sox & Dawgs)

Thanks to Ian from Sox and Dawgs for sending these videos along, as they show the hard-hitting work that TBS is doing with the ALCS. First, a Craig Sager sideline report on what really matters in the game: how much gum Terry Francona chews.

There may actually be a reason he goes through that much, but it requires a bit more inquiry: did Tito chew tobacco back in the day?

And second, this Bon Jovi theme they're using has gone way too far now.



The Be Flats, everybody!