Of course we’ve been on the other end. Donnie Moore was one strike away too.Yup. “One strike away” conjures up very vivid memories. The worst. [shudder]
Of course we’ve been on the other end. Donnie Moore was one strike away too.Yup. “One strike away” conjures up very vivid memories. The worst. [shudder]
I was reminded of '04 ALCS game 6. Among my many vivid memories of that series was the last out of Game 6. I remembered standing there (I stood through most of the last 4 games) saying over and over "I can't believe Tony F'n Clark is going to beat us. After all this, Tony Clark is going to hit a three run homer to win this game and send us home. Tony Clark!" I just rewatched the at bat and it gave me chills. Foulke: "I had to make it interesting!"
To this day, that is the most excruciating playoff win I remember, but this one is a very close second.
This book is a great recounting of both LCS and the WS in 1986Of course we’ve been on the other end. Donnie Moore was one strike away too.
Was that the same game that Wakefield pitched in relief and Varitek could barely handle his knuckles? IIRC, that was a bases loaded full count situation also... I remember having nauseous feelings during that inning.100% the same for me. With Kimbrel floundering I could only think of foulke trying to put away Tony the Tiger, running on fumes.
No. You're thinking of game 5 at Fenway in extra innings. I think Wakefield struck out Sierra with runners on 2nd and 3rd to end the inning after he had already thrown two passed balls/WPs.Was that the same game that Wakefield pitched in relief and Varitek could barely handle his knuckles? IIRC, that was a bases loaded full count situation also... I remember having nauseous feelings during that inning.
I’m beginning to think that this a contract worth surrendering. Despite SSS Brasier might be a better solution going forward.I had both of these same thoughts. 1986 was really traumatic for me - my school was 50/50 Boston vs New Yorkers in 1986, and I actually left for 6 months after the WS. Escaped for a semester to DC for my sanity.
Watching Kimbrel nearly disintegrate yesterday was... ....not fun.
That was the "check the heart attack symptoms on the fridge magnet" game for me. Partly because it was the 2nd incredibly long game in row and it was late. And the rainout meant they played 5 days in a row. I was probably already catatonic by game 6, so the Foulke-Clark matchup wasn't as excruciating.Yup. Wake pitching to varitek in extras in game 5 was also terrifying though.
I think that ball hit the top of the wall too before getting into the stands. It almost "climbed" the railing there if memory serves correctly. Talk about a game of fractions of an inch.Game 5 also featured Tony Clark's automatic double to RF in the 9th that hopped just over the fence, if it had stayed in the park, Ruben Sierra surely would have scored the tying run. There were a lot of white-knuckle moments in that game.
This is a worthy conversation...but let's wait to have it until the season is over. For now, Kimbrel is the closer.I’m beginning to think that this a contract worth surrendering. Despite SSS Brasier might be a better solution going forward.
Vivid image of Kapler throwing his hands up in the air. Games 4 and 5 were heavyweight title fights, nothing less.I think that ball hit the top of the wall too before getting into the stands. It almost "climbed" the railing there if memory serves correctly. Talk about a game of fractions of an inch.
Kimbrel's near-meltdown ranks pretty high on the list, but probably a notch below the '04 ALCS moments given the historical context.
I think that ball hit the top of the wall too before getting into the stands. It almost "climbed" the railing there if memory serves correctly. Talk about a game of fractions of an inch.
Kimbrel's near-meltdown ranks pretty high on the list, but probably a notch below the '04 ALCS moments given the historical context.
He was. And maybe.Did anyone notice if Pearce was holding Judge at first in the ninth? And if he wasn't, does he get to Gregorius's ground ball single?
Small correction 3 passed balls.No. You're thinking of game 5 at Fenway in extra innings. I think Wakefield struck out Sierra with runners on 2nd and 3rd to end the inning after he had already thrown two passed balls/WPs.
Based on the angle that that ball came down, I would guess it would have been a home run in Fenway. It certainly had the distance.I've seen multiple mentions about the impact of the New Toilet dimensions on Vasquez's cheapie HR and the Sanchez would-be grand slam that died at the track. Wouldn't Sanchez's hit have been off the wall at Fenway, and not a home run? If Beni played the carom correctly, it may have still only been one run in, and possibly the end of the game if Hechavarria got waved in and then thrown out at the plate.
(Of course, if the game were at Fenway, Kinsler would have had a wall ball double in the first instead of a fly out, with the possibility of multiple runs in if Gardner doesn't play it correctly).
I agree that it was a risky situation.There were these possible outcomes:
1. Torres out a 1B. Game over.
2. Torres safe at 1B. Game tied. Top of the Yankee order due in the 10th against Kelly.
3. Ball skips by Pearce. Game over.
.
I think the ball was hit high enough that it would have landed in the Monster seats. It wasn't a line drive, it was a moon shot fly ball that definitely carried well past where the wall would have been.I've seen multiple mentions about the impact of the New Toilet dimensions on Vasquez's cheapie HR and the Sanchez would-be grand slam that died at the track. Wouldn't Sanchez's hit have been off the wall at Fenway, and not a home run? If Beni played the carom correctly, it may have still only been one run in, and possibly the end of the game if Hechavarria got waved in and then thrown out at the plate.
(Of course, if the game were at Fenway, Kinsler would have had a wall ball double in the first instead of a fly out, with the possibility of multiple runs in if Gardner doesn't play it correctly).
To be fair to Nunez, his priority is to get the ball, and instinctively he's going to throw it to first unless it's obvious he has no play. The general rule there is that if there's a chance for a play at first, you make the throw, especially with 2 outs.So, I think what's lost in all the euphoria was how risky and probably unnecessary that Nunez play was.
There were these possible outcomes:
1. Torres out a 1B. Game over.
2. Torres safe at 1B. Game tied. Top of the Yankee order due in the 10th against Kelly.
3. Ball skips by Pearce. Game over.
And the 4th (which is what should have happened)
Nunez holds ball. Bases loaded. McCutchen due up.
Sometimes I get a whiff of Pabelbon's last season with the Sox off of Kimbrel, and it scares me just how much money he might make. But really I'd like to have as many good relievers as possible on the team (especially with DD's weakness in the area), so I guess it comes down to the $. I can wait for the offseason to figure it out, though...I’m beginning to think that this a contract worth surrendering. Despite SSS Brasier might be a better solution going forward.
I seem to recall the “what if the game had been played at the other stadium” for the 78 play-in game. Dent’s HR is a fly out; some line drive that Pinella snared despite being blinded by the sun would have been a HR.I've seen multiple mentions about the impact of the New Toilet dimensions on Vasquez's cheapie HR and the Sanchez would-be grand slam that died at the track. Wouldn't Sanchez's hit have been off the wall at Fenway, and not a home run? If Beni played the carom correctly, it may have still only been one run in, and possibly the end of the game if Hechavarria got waved in and then thrown out at the plate.
(Of course, if the game were at Fenway, Kinsler would have had a wall ball double in the first instead of a fly out, with the possibility of multiple runs in if Gardner doesn't play it correctly).
Hubby and I had the same conversation at the time. We have wonderful memories of '04 but of course, the stress was immense and still makes me quiver.100% the same for me. With Kimbrel floundering I could only think of foulke trying to put away Tony the Tiger, running on fumes.
Agree RE: Sanchez. The only reason it wasn't out at Yankee stadium was because he got under it too much. I think someone in the game thread posted it had an exit velocity of 107mph. That was the exact type of fly ball that the monster makes a HR more likely, unlike many other flyballs that are hurt by the height of the monster.I think the ball was hit high enough that it would have landed in the Monster seats. It wasn't a line drive, it was a moon shot fly ball that definitely carried well past where the wall would have been.
And savage362 has the graphic to back that up.
Think of how boring it would be if every baseball field, like most sports, had exactly the same dimensions.Agree RE: Sanchez. The only reason it wasn't out at Yankee stadium was because he got under it too much. I think someone in the game thread posted it had an exit velocity of 107mph. That was the exact type of fly ball that the monster makes a HR more likely, unlike many other flyballs that are hurt by the height of the monster.
It is the reverse of the '78 "different stadium" conundrum posted earlier...Vazquez's ball is a can of corn in Fenway. Though the only objection one might make is that I suppose the Red Sox may have broken the game wide open earlier because Kinsler's ball in the 1st is probably a 3 run double with 2 outs at Fenway versus an inning-ending fly out.
Baseball's rules uniquely allow it to have different field dimensions. Whereas changing the length of a football field would be akin to changing the distance between bases.Think of how boring it would be if every baseball field, like most sports, had exactly the same dimensions.
Or conversely, think of the fun if football fields and basketball courts varied in shape and size.
the Yankees had a huge weapon on the bench, Andujar, that may have come up then.Nunez holds ball. Bases loaded. McCutchen due up.
I think they would have stuck with the more patient McCutchen due to Kimbrel's wildness.the Yankees had a huge weapon on the bench, Andujar, that may have come up then.
Wait, Beni caught the ball on the warning track, which supposed to be 15 feet wide. He was closer to the grass than the wall when he caught it, so 8 - 9 feet short of the wall. Yankee Stadium is 316 down the line, Fenway 310, so how could it have gone out at Fenway? It wasn't right down the line, so it depends on how quickly the wall gets deeper. Fenway doesn't get much deeper in left for a while, so I don't know. What was the distance of Sanchez's flyball?Based on the angle that that ball came down, I would guess it would have been a home run in Fenway. It certainly had the distance.
344 ftWait, Beni caught the ball on the warning track, which supposed to be 15 feet wide. He was closer to the grass than the wall when he caught it, so 8 - 9 feet short of the wall. Yankee Stadium is 316 down the line, Fenway 310, so how could it have gone out at Fenway? It wasn't right down the line, so it depends on how quickly the wall gets deeper. Fenway doesn't get much deeper in left for a while, so I don't know. What was the distance of Sanchez's flyball?
The thought crossed my mind too; but when I saw that pitch heading to the plate, I felt it was a beauty and "he ain't hittin' that"... and he didn't!100% the same for me. With Kimbrel floundering I could only think of foulke trying to put away Tony the Tiger, running on fumes.
In game 3 when it was 1-0 or 0-0, Judge hit a ball to right that I figured was gone into the first row or two. Somehow it wasn't down the line as much and Betts caught it in front of the scoreboard. Thought maybe luck was turning at that point.344 ft
14 years ago I was 43. You'll be fine.If '04 happened now, I am not sure I survive those types of games again. 14 years ago, I was 29. At 43 I am not sure the heart makes it. I definitely don't bounce back the same after nervous drinking that is for sure.
I pulled my 12 y/o from his scout meeting and we listened to Joe while pacing in the parking lot. People kept trying to talk to us and we kept avoiding eye contact and muttering stuff like "COME ON Craig!" . Good memories. even if they are only a couple days old.14 years ago I was 43. You'll be fine.
(I switched to the radio after the first two guys got on base against Kimbrel. Pacing is easier when only listening is involved.)
Truly, we are in the Optimistic Red Sox Fan era, where all is roses, everything is getting better, and all the kids are above average.Nope. If the ball had skipped past, Mookie would have corralled it (showing Perfect Fundamentals) and gunned out the runner at the plate. Not just adding a nut-punch to the gut-punch but forever replacing Captain Jetes’ play to cut down Jeremy Giambi in all the highlights from years gone by.
</fan fiction >
I know. It’d still be funny. I’ve heard stories about a high school in Detroit with a 90-yard field. The architects forgot to plan for end zones.Baseball's rules uniquely allow it to have different field dimensions. Whereas changing the length of a football field would be akin to changing the distance between bases.
I remember those. They all had turf too. Couldn’t tell some of them apart.As to your first sentence, how quickly we forget the infamous cookie cutter parks that populated the National League in the 1970s.