People are saying last night’s win was a gift, that we got lucky. The three errors by the Yankees opened the floodgates, and the Sox stormed through it.
True. I won’t deny that.
What I will say, however, is that this game would have been won by the Sox no matter what. It’s not the errors I like to look at.
Randy Johnson pitched 3.2 IP, walking 5, striking 3 out, giving up 5 hits, and throwing 92 pitches, 49 for strikes. Now, if A-Rod doesn’t make that costly error that enabled David Ortiz to be safe at first, a lot of the above changes, but the only thing, I think, that would have drastically changed, was the innings, and probably only one more.
Randy Johnson had no control, and he was beating himself on the mound mentally. The Sox were exhibiting astounding plate patience, watching the pitches, waiting for the right ones, to strike. Eight total walks occured in the game, with 16 hits falling in the Sox’s favor. Eight walks and 16 hits will win a ballgame every time, aided by three errors or not.
In addition, Josh Beckett walked … zero.
Let me say that again. Josh Beckett walked zero.
To continue that, no Yankee walked in this game.
Hold on, gotta say it again. No Yankee batter took a “bases on balls” this game.
Beating the masters at their own game – walking, running up the count, sweating the opposing pitcher has long been tenets of the Yankees’ success, and has been the model of winning recently. The Yankees flailed like the Royals, last night, however, playing into Beckett’s hands. Johnson threw 92 pitches in 3.2 IP last night. Beckett finished at 100 over 7. Foulke gave up a hit en route to 16 pitches, and Seanez tossed just 11 pitches. Let’s say that again. Rudy Seanez threw only 11 pitches in the ninth inning. That’s not a lot for a team like the Yankees.
I don’t want to hear that the Yankees gave up in the ninth, so Seanez was able to easily toss 11 pitches. It’s not true. The Yankees, much like the Sox, are comprised of battlers who do not concede a game until they’re forced to. Until their chance is over. It’s the beauty of baseball that no other sport has because of time limits – baseball is the one true sport where everyone has a fair and equal chance to win.
Tonight, Curt Schilling, he of pinpoint control, is going to attack the Yankees. I bet he’s noticed the same thing I have – no Yankee took a walk last night. He’s going to go right after them and cause his breaking pitches to dip out of the zone and watch the Yankees swing at them. I’m pretty certain the Yankees will walk today – the law of averages say so – but this is something Schilling is going to start out with – establishing 0-1 as quick as he can to get the hitters in a hole that they can’t dig out of. The Sox are going to have their hands full with Mike Mussina and the fits he always causes them, so Schilling’s going to do his best to keep the Yankees off-balance, and more importantly, off base.
Our offense looks better, our pitching is starting to settle out. We’ve won five straight, let’s not stop now.
