Benitendi having to navigate that stupid irregular outfield to go around the box to catch the last out, is underrated. Kimbrell was having mini a meltdown and that play was far harder than he made it look.
One I haven't seen mentioned yet that instantly came to my mind was JBJ's bases loaded, bases clearing double in Game 2 of the ALCS.
Sox are down 1-0 in the ALCS. They're down 4-2 in the game. Bottom of the third, so still early. But Gerrit Cole, Houston's Ace 1B, is on the mound. David Price, at this point still "the guy who can't get it done in the playoffs," is on the mound for the Sox, and off to a rough start.
Sox had gotten off to an early 2-0 lead. The Astros tied it on a 2 run, 2 out double, then took the lead on a 2 run, 2 out HR. This is basically a must win game for the Sox (not really) because heading back to Houston for 3 games facing an 0-2 deficit is.... not a good situation.
JD starts the inning with a K. Then it goes: Xander single, Steve Pearce double, Devers walk. Bases loaded, one out.
Kinsler strikes out. Because of course he does. (No hard feelings!)
JBJ up. Last hope of the inning. He went 1 for 17 with the bases loaded during the 2018 season, a stat mentioned at the time by the TV announcers. At this point, he was 2 for 16 in the playoffs, with 4 walks and 0 RBI. Hadn't done any damage.
Then he does this:
Slices a wall ball double that, somehow, manages to bounce up onto the left field padding and then bounce again along the top of the padding, enabling Devers to score from first. I can't recall ever seeing a ball bounce twice on that padding. The slow-mo replay is almost comical as Marwin Gonzalez waits twice for the ball bounce off into his glove, only to see it bounce a foot in front of him. Sox take the lead 5-4.
That felt like a big turning point.
Yeah, it's still way early in the game. It's still early in the series. But if JBJ makes an out there and Cole gets out of the jam, maybe doubts start to creep in. Cole retired the next 10 Red Sox he faced, with the Sox not scoring again until the Astros bullpen came in.
Instead, with one swing, the Sox took the lead in the game, ended up tying the series, and never really looked back.
Ah yes, the first leg of the JBJ trifecta in the ALCS. That ball dancing on top of the padding was one of those moments, like the Will Myers hears ghost in the outfield moment in 2013 when you just knew there was some extra special sauce mixed in with the amazing talent on this team. It was there all season really, but to have it show up in that spot was pretty magical. 3 runs to take the lead and I don't ever remember a ball bouncing on the padding like that. I am still waiting for a ball to slip into the camera hole on the Monster, though.One I haven't seen mentioned yet that instantly came to my mind was JBJ's bases loaded, bases clearing double in Game 2 of the ALCS.
Sox are down 1-0 in the ALCS. They're down 4-2 in the game. Bottom of the third, so still early. But Gerrit Cole, Houston's Ace 1B, is on the mound. David Price, at this point still "the guy who can't get it done in the playoffs," is on the mound for the Sox, and off to a rough start.
Sox had gotten off to an early 2-0 lead. The Astros tied it on a 2 run, 2 out double, then took the lead on a 2 run, 2 out HR. This is basically a must win game for the Sox (not really) because heading back to Houston for 3 games facing an 0-2 deficit is.... not a good situation.
JD starts the inning with a K. Then it goes: Xander single, Steve Pearce double, Devers walk. Bases loaded, one out.
Kinsler strikes out. Because of course he does. (No hard feelings!)
JBJ up. Last hope of the inning. He went 1 for 17 with the bases loaded during the 2018 season, a stat mentioned at the time by the TV announcers. At this point, he was 2 for 16 in the playoffs, with 4 walks and 0 RBI. Hadn't done any damage.
Then he does this:
Slices a wall ball double that, somehow, manages to bounce up onto the left field padding and then bounce again along the top of the padding, enabling Devers to score from first. I can't recall ever seeing a ball bounce twice on that padding. The slow-mo replay is almost comical as Marwin Gonzalez waits twice for the ball bounce off into his glove, only to see it bounce a foot in front of him. Sox take the lead 5-4.
That felt like a big turning point.
Yeah, it's still way early in the game. It's still early in the series. But if JBJ makes an out there and Cole gets out of the jam, maybe doubts start to creep in. Cole retired the next 10 Red Sox he faced, with the Sox not scoring again until the Astros bullpen came in.
Instead, with one swing, the Sox took the lead in the game, ended up tying the series, and never really looked back.
At this point, the TBS crew of Anderson and Darling were openly discussing Houston as one of the all time great teams and marveling at their plailyoff dominance. It's amazing how that script was flipped on its head over the next few days.
- The more I think of it this was it. Like a turning point. When they were down 4-2 I thought this isn't good. We're in trouble. Plus they were the 103 win defending world champs. JBJ gave them life as did this win.
Any particular highlights to look out for?Fellas a wonder through NYYFANS is pretty sweet.
Yeah you're right he did hit it and devers was stealing and avoided the DP. He struggled catching and cost us some strikes by either getting crossed up or just being rusty catching Kimbrel. I'm not trying to be hard on him. Tough spot to finally get a moment in the WS. It's amazing that everyone that got a in the game made some positive contribution. Blake was the only name that I thought didn't contribute. Sure it was small but you're right it was positive. Even Workman or Hembree got in and got someone out.Except that, by having a third catcher on the roster, they were able to pinch hit Devers for Leon in game 4. That pinch hit ended up being the 9th inning go-ahead RBI. Also, Swihart avoided the DP in his ensuing AB, which moved Devers up and forced the IBB of Mookie, keeping the chain moving for more runs down the order. Swihart then survived his one critical inning behind the plate. Not a "heroic" moment, but a pivotal contribution.
Also, all kinds of awesome in that the Sox engaged in roster gymnastics all year to keep Swihart around, played him just enough to be sure he could be trusted in a pinch, and ended up needing him for exactly one critical double switch.
It was already mentioned, but the Vazquez HR off Britton didn't seem big at the time in game 4 of ALDS. It put them up 4-0 and Porcello was still cruising.Ah yes, the first leg of the JBJ trifecta in the ALCS. That ball dancing on top of the padding was one of those moments, like the Will Myers hears ghost in the outfield moment in 2013 when you just knew there was some extra special sauce mixed in with the amazing talent on this team. It was there all season really, but to have it show up in that spot was pretty magical. 3 runs to take the lead and I don't ever remember a ball bouncing on the padding like that. I am still waiting for a ball to slip into the camera hole on the Monster, though.
And speaking of the JBJ MVP trifecta I have to mention how Vazquez set him up in game 4. 1 run down, Vaz crushed a 2 out double that Springer could not handle and then Jackie brought him home with the go-ahead HR. Houston never lead after that in the series.. Vaz really had some big hits this PS.
They are getting good at thisThe Masslive article said that the Dodgers did it last year also. I was curious if any other losing WS series have done that.
There were so many Red Sox moments that were mentioned in this thread, but I wanted to put up a few names and achievements from the opposition that will help highlight the competition the Sox had to overcome to win this title:Watching some of the highlights on YouTube and there are many things I forgot about. The most glaring one is Cora getting tossed In ALCS game 1. Protected Beni from getting tossed and let loose some steam at the inconsistent zone.
This is gold! These are perfect for rewatching, compared to the DVD sets which are a pretty big time commitment. Do any of these exist for 2013 (or, less likely, 2007/2004)?Too many incredible moments to count. I may have to spend the day watching every condensed game.
Edit: here are all the links —
DS Game 1 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2514202483
DS Game 2 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2514580683
DS Game 3 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2515225783
DS Game 4 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2515373983
LCS Game 1 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2515973283
LCS Game 2 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2516106483
LCS Game 3 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2516418583
LCS Game 4 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2516847783
LCS Game 5 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2517001583
WS Game 1 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2517576683
WS Game 2 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2517707083
WS Game 3 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2518020883
WS Game 4 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2518268783
WS Game 5 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2518406483
True, but there's no way a true Sox fan would ever vilify Dave Roberts. He got a hero's welcome in Boston, and for me the only downside to the way the Sox won is that I hope it doesn't cost Roberts his jobSeems very impressive given the climate of vilification-of-enemies atmosphere we live in today.
MLBN did a silly on what baseball people might have dressed up as for Halloween. They showed Roberts as a mummy with his hands and arms all bound up. His hands were tied! I have no idea how people decide what managers do get directions from the GM or other about lineups, when to pull pitchers, etc. Why decide that about Roberts? He errs on the side of too early when it comes to pulling pitchers.True, but there's no way a true Sox fan would ever vilify Dave Roberts. He got a hero's welcome in Boston, and for me the only downside to the way the Sox won is that I hope it doesn't cost Roberts his job
65% on a bill of 300K is one hell of a tip.The afterparty in LA was a total rager.
"We knew the total bill was around $300,000 -- but now we've seen the itemized receipt and confirmed it's legit.
The rundown ...
48 bottles of Dom. 43 bottles of Ace of Spades. 60 bottles of Moet. 5 bottles of Veuve. 12 bottles of Perrier-Jouet. And, a bottle of Cristal for good measure.
On top of that, the guys also got bottles of Don Julio, Belvedere vodka, 11 bottles of Jameson and 17 bottles of Jack Daniels.
All of the booze plus the tax and other fees added up to around $300k. The tip was around $195k ... totaling an even $500,000 final bill."
http://www.tmz.com/2018/11/02/boston-red-sox-tip-world-series-party/
Of course they paid the bills. And I hope to hell that last question was a joke.The article says that the team handled the bill. Thank you, John Henry. Does some of all of that count towards the luxury tax? Sounds pretty luxurious to me.
I just watched all of these consecutively while tidying my apartment and making dinner — it was fascinating viewing and I recommend it to everyone who has ~2 hours to kill. Thanks for collecting them.Too many incredible moments to count. I may have to spend the day watching every condensed game.
Edit: here are all the links —
DS Game 1 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2514202483
DS Game 2 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2514580683
DS Game 3 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2515225783
DS Game 4 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2515373983
LCS Game 1 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2515973283
LCS Game 2 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2516106483
LCS Game 3 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2516418583
LCS Game 4 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2516847783
LCS Game 5 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2517001583
WS Game 1 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2517576683
WS Game 2 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2517707083
WS Game 3 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2518020883
WS Game 4 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2518268783
WS Game 5 https://www.mlb.com/video/c-2518406483
while most of us are holding out to win the Allan Craig contract, you are playing chess while we are playing checkersI'm sure this has been said -- either in here, or in some other thread -- but Joe Kelly's postseason finally proves the Red Sox won the Allen Craig trade
Clubs generally make their money on the bottles (that’s why a $35 bottle of Jack costs you $400) with a minimum for table service and private area. If it was left as a gratuity (and not a service charge or ‘room fee’; the article says ‘drinks, taxes and other fees’ so I’d imagine it was straight on the tip line) it’s illegal in almost any state for the club to take any of it. Given California has some of the most hospitality friendly laws (unions, minimum wages, etc) I’d imagine the servers got it.You know a big chunk of that went to the club, as service and bottle fees.
But the servers hopefully made out well, too