Jon Lester or Josh Beckett?

This is not a new topic here. Prior to the series, I wrote a discourse about how I would approach the Red Sox pitching rotation for the ALCS. My choice for the first four games matched Terry Francona's. For the final 3 games, I indicated that I would use the results, the series standing, and pitching performances of the first 4 games to guide the choices for the last three games.

I intended to use Josh Beckett in game 5, if he was sharp in game 2 and not in need of extra rest, otherwise I would go with Dice-K. Tito went with Dice-K.

For game 6, I wrote that I would use "Lester (if this is a Sox elimination game) / Dice-K (if this is a Sox clinching game)". Guess what? It is an elimination game. I stick by that. But, what I am missing is the inside, up close contact with the guys that Tito has. My thought is that pitching Lester today puts him on normal rest. The last game he pitched with extra rest, he was less sharp and lost (game 3). Beckett, on the other hand, is clearly not himself, and likely trying to fully heal that oblique pull (or the elbow is nagging him again). Either way, give him the extra day of rest to be ready for a game 7 showdown.

In the end, I have to say that I trust Francona. He wants to win more than you or I. If putting Beckett out there today and not tomorrow would hinder their chances, I don't believe he would do it. I have to conclude that the coaching staff feels Beckett is ready to go, and able to perform well. If they manage to win, we all will appreciate having Lester in game 7!

But, my only concern is that, IF Beckett is not truly ready, then he will have to come out early, and then we throw everybody and anybody out there. That's fine, but I'd rather do that in a final game 7, not having to worry about staffing one more game the very next day!

So, Tito, I'm trusting you here. Let's get this done.

Rays Live True Cinderella Story in Dramatic Game 5 Loss

Yes, this is truly a Cinderella story. The King, Bud Selig, was throwing a huge party at Fenway Park, called the ALCS. The Rays wanted to go, but they had no superstars and no confidence that they should be there. So, their Fairy Godmother, played by Joe Maddon, showed up, and pulled out his magic wand. Joe convinced them they belonged there, and he cast a spell to make sure it stuck. He took a flopping Devil Ray out of the tank in Tropicana Field, and turned it into a plane to take them to Boston. Then, he cast spells on all of them.

He took Evan Longoria and Gabe Gross and turned them from mice into horses to pull the Rays on their journey. He took lizards named Dan Wheeler and J.P. Howell and turned them onto footmen to guide and care for the Rays during the journey. Finally, he found a rat named Grant Balfour, and turned him into a coachman to lead the charge through the late innings.

As all Fairy Godmothers will tell you, these spells only last until (roughly) midnight, eastern standard time. Joe warned them of this, and they all promised they would remember.

But, at the party, they were having so much fun. They met an opposing starting pitcher named Dice-K Matsuzaka, who was famous and exotic. Everyone wanted to meet Dice-K, but under the Fairy Godmother's spell, Dice-K only had eyes for the Rays. They danced with Dice-k and had so much fun that they hit home runs and jumped out to a 5-0 lead after only 3 innings. Later, they met Manny Delcarmen and Jonathan Papelbon and enjoyed playing with them too, scoring 2 more runs. They became so elated with their great fortune, that they lost all track of time.

The clock began chiming, the midnight warning blaring out. But, the Rays could not get out of Fenway yet, it was only the bottom of the 7th inning. Grant Balfour, as the coachman, grabbed the reins of the Rays' horse-drawn carraige and snapped them to lead the charge through the late innings and out of the ballpark. Suddenly, Balfour was surrounded by swirling sparkles and right before our eyes, he changed back into a rat. Dustin Pedroia smashed the rat with an RBI single to score Jed Lowrie from third base. Then, Big Papi clobbered the rat with a three run home run.

The score was now 7-4, and Joe Maddon knew he could not win with a rat, so he sent the footmen, Wheeler and Howell in to help. Wheeler was barely starting when the swirly sparkles swirled around him, transforming him back into a lizard. As a lizard, there was not much he could do when JD Drew crushed his offering for a two run home run and the score was now 7-6. He gave it one more try, only to watch as Mark Kotsay doubled and Coco Crisp toyed with him for 9 pitches before lacing a single to tie the game at 7!

Godmother Joe had one idea left before it was too late. The clock had chimed 11 times, but maybe he could still escape. Joe sent Howell in to save them, but Howell was already turning back into a lizard. Kevin Youkilis ripped a ball to third, and Evan Longoria tried to field it and throw to first, but in mid throw, he suddenly transformed back into a mouse. This horse was gone, and the ball sailed away from Carlos Pena at first base and Youk ended up on second. Then JD Drew stepped up and smashed a line drive to right field. Gabe Gross raced back to make the catch, but half way there, he too changed back from a horse into a mouse, and a mouse will never catch a JD Drew line drive. Nor can a mouse throw out Youkilis steaming home from second base.

Youkilis scored, and the Cinderella story was over. They forgot to watch the time, and the clock ran out. Their juggernaut turned back into a flopping Devil Ray, which is what is was all along.

Fenway Park's Very Own Kazoo Guy

Anyone who has ever visited Fenway Park has come away with lasting memories of sight, smell, and sound. These sensations become an indelible part of the experience for us, and each one is unique to the individual who owns the memory. Who doesn't remember the awe they felt the first time they walked up that ramp and gazed out on the glorious green expanse of the infield, the light towers turning night into day, the electricity of the crowd filing in to their seats? Regulars to Fenway hold on tight to their favorite recollections; the announcer blaring out "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to Fenway Park", the vendors shouting as they weave through the aisles, the smell of steamed hot dogs, singing 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the 7th inning stretch, and of course, listening to "Dirty Water" play after each Red Sox victory.

If you have been fortunate enough to sit near the right field bleachers, near section 43, hopefully you have been lucky enough to experience a unique character who makes each visit to the ball park just a little more special and interesting. This is not a staged actor sent out by Larry Lucchino. This is not a marketing gimmick. No, this is a regular Red Sox fan, just like you and me (well, almost). This is, Kazoo Guy!

The first time I saw Kazoo Guy was in the spring of 2004. The Red Sox had just scored a run, the crowd was on their feet cheering, and music was blaring from the speakers across Fenway Park. As the next batter began his walk out to the batter's box, the music ended and the crowd quieted and settled into their seats. Suddenly, off to our right, I heard a funny sound. I glanced over to see what it was. The sight came as a bit of a surprise.

Standing on his seat with his back to right field, was a man, looking about 50 years old, with greying hair and wearing a Red Sox shirt and hat. His hat was adorned with two actual red socks pinned to either side and hanging down to his shoulders, reminding me of a basset hound's ears. He had a kazoo that he was using to play a rally song and at each of three pauses in the song, the crowd around him followed his lead by pumping a fist into the air and yelling "HEY". After the third fist pump, he simply sat back down and went back to watching the game.


(Photo Courtesy of Boston.Com)

My friends and I glanced at each other with smiles and shrugged our shoulders as if to say, "did you just see what I think I saw?". Later in the game the guy with the kazoo repeated his performance. We were already getting caught up in it and joined in the cheer this time. As the game went on, the pattern slowly became clear. Every time the Red Sox scored, this kazoo guy would lead us in a cheer. Everyone within ear shot loved it. This was immediately recorded in my memory as a favorite thing at Fenway Park. Over the next 5 years, we would see kazoo guy at nearly every game. In fact, as we would settle into our regular seats, it became a habit to glance over and confirm that Kazoo Guy was there.

Kazoo Guy became synonymous with Red Sox success. If the Red Sox were getting shut out, we might say to each other, "this is terrible, we haven't heard Kazoo Guy once all night". That's right, if the Sox don't score - no kazoo cheer. Rules are rules. But, who is this "Kazoo Guy"? What is his story? I had the pleasure of speaking with Kazoo Guy himself, and here's what I found out.

Kazoo Guy's real name is Bobby, and he just turned 53 this September. He grew up nearby, in South Boston, where he lives to this day. Like most of us, he grew up a big fan of the Red Sox and has been going to Fenway as often as possible since he was a kid. Bobby recalls how times were different years ago. In 1967, the challenge for kids was to try to sneak into Fenway Park and rush the gates when cops weren't looking. This might sound crazy today, but the technique got Bobby in to see game 7 of the 1967 World Series (among a few others). Yes, times were different back then. You were not allowed to bring your own cooler into the park, which is also true today, but there were ways around that then. In the seventies, Bobby recalls sneaking ropes into the park, then lowering the ropes down to the street from the bleacher seats where friends would be waiting to tie the ropes to coolers to be hauled up. Try that after 9/11!

Okay, Bobby is a true life-long Red Sox fan and the Red Sox are in his blood. But how did this whole kazoo thing start?

Let's start with the hat, which is simple enough. He invented the hat in the 90's as a sort of rally hat and would wear it primarily just to big games to show support for the hometown team. Once he added in the kazoo cheer, the hat became a permanent part of the show. For the kazoo cheer, we can thank Gary Glitter, and a little bit of fate.

Gary Glitter? That's right. The song that Bobby plays on the kazoo comes from Gary Glitter's classic song, "Rock & Roll, Part 2", sometimes referred to as "The Hey Song". (You can click the link to hear a clip, or better yet, you can hear the clip in the red Sox Songs widget on the right - don't worry - it's free and not a trick to get you to click on ads). Here's the story.

In the late 90's, Bobby had attended a parade, and at the parade, a float was tossing out kazoos. Bobby grabbed a couple, and stuck them in his jacket pocket. That was step one on the road to Kazoo Guy. The next aspect to the story, was that Gary Glitter was arrested and convicted of child pornography. Prior to this arrest, the "Hey Song" was a very popular rally cry played at sports arenas across the country, and a regular song at Fenway Park. But after the arrest, many venues, Fenway Park among them, ceased playing the song for understandable reasons. However, the fans missed the inspiring song that they had come to love.

Now, the picture should becoming more clear. One day, in the late 90's, Bobby is sitting in the bleachers, and the Red Sox score. Bobby is frustrated that they don't play "Rock & Roll Part 2" anymore, and notices the kazoo from the parade is still in his pocket. On a whim, he pulls out the kazoo, and while sitting in his seat, blares out his own rendition of the rally song, and continues to do so at big moments in the game. It turns out, the people around him like it! They encourage him to stand up on the chair and blare it out for everyone. He did, and Kazoo Guy was born.

In 2003, Bobby purchased 10th Man Plan tickets (like myself), and as a result, sits with the same people around him, and they've all come to love Kazoo Guy. Kids love him too, and he is often asked to pose for a photo or sign an autograph, which he always enjoys doing.

Kazoo Guy is now a permanent fixture for the regulars in section 43. A few years ago, a couple actually got married just prior to a game in section 43. Bobby was asked to play the wedding march for them on the kazoo. How perfect is that?


(Photo by Jere at A Red Sox Fan From Pinstripe Territory)

The Fenway Park ushers have come to accept him as part of the ball park as well. But, there was one time when a novice usher did not like the act, and started giving him a hard time. His posse was behind him and the section gave the usher a piece of their mind with a rousing boo. Luckily, before things got out of hand, the more experienced ushers pulled the new guy aside and straightened him out. Bobby has not been harassed by the ushers since.

It can be awkward when he sits away from his usual crowd though. You see, we all know what Kazoo Guy is all about. But, if he happens to sit in a different area, he's never quite sure what the new folks will make of him. Generally, he will feel out the crowd, and it usually does not take them long to catch on and join right in.

How much do we love Kazoo Guy? At a game this past September, Bobby got up on his seat to kick off another cheer following a Red Sox run. As the cheer was nearing the end, he saw a fan holding up something that said Kazoo on it. He thought to himself, "wow, now they're holding up a banner for me?". As the song ended, he saw that the person was Kelly, a section 43 regular, and the item she was holding up was not a banner. Kelly walked up to Bobby and presented him with a brand new white Red Sox home jersey. On the back is the number 43, representing their section, and above that, the word "Kazoo" is emblazoned where a player's last name would normally be.

That completes the journey. Bobby is now the un-official Kazoo Guy of Fenway Park. If you see Bobby, give him a wave, and let him know you appreciate what he has done to make Fenway Park an even better place to watch a game. Bobby wants to do one more thing for you too. Dennis Eckersley wore number 43 during the 8 years he played with the Red Sox. Bobby wants to convince the Eck to make a visit to section 43, and join in with the new #43, Kazoo Guy, in a Rock and Roll Part 2 cheer for the enjoyment of his Red Sox bleacher family. Eck, if you are listening, what do you say?

(Click on the photos to view them in larger size)

News Flash - Tampa Bay is for Real!

I have been hearing the moaning, complaining, and second guessing from Red Sox fans growing louder and louder. You are frustrated, angry, and gnashing your teeth grasping for reasons why the Red Sox are ruining your October. I can answer that question pretty easily. The Rays are better than the Red Sox right now, at this moment in time, which is the only thing that matters. Did you ever notice how when one of your batters strikes out, it is his fault - he is a bum. It's not the pitcher who was masterful. When your guy hits a home run, he's a great hitter, but when they other guy hits a homer, it's because your pitcher stinks. In this case, you need to starting thinking the other way. We don't stink, they are just playing better.

As far as the Rays go, we are so used to them being a meaningless team that this transformation is difficult to embrace. But, you know the saying, "if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck"? That is what we are dealing with here. The Rays took over first place in the AL East midway through the season. We all wondered when they would collapse, but they never did. They had injuries and kept winning. They never let go of first place. They faced off against the Red Sox, their only true threat this season, in Fenway Park in September, and they survived and held on to first place. They survived a temporary losing streak in early September, and retained first place. They ended the season in first place with most home wins of any team. They passed their first post-season test by walking over the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS.

This team is for real, get used to it. Their pitching is running on all cylinders right now. They are hitting well, running well, and playing excellent defense. They are good. They are better than the Red Sox right now. That's what we are seeing. All those strategies you are juggling in your mind won't help. Batting Papi 6th, sitting Varitek, pulling Beckett sooner, mixing things up, are all interesting, but futile.

So, you admit the Rays are a good team playing great ball right now, right? But, aren't the Red Sox a great team? Aren't they the defending World Champions? Technically, yes, but practically speaking, no.

This is not last year's Red Sox team. Last year's team had Manny Ramirez batting 4th and Mike Lowell batting 5th. Last year's Red Sox had Jacoby Ellsbury creating all kinds of problems for the opposition, this year he can't get on base. Last year's team had one of the best post-season starters in history (Curt Schilling) on the roster, and Josh Beckett pitching the best games of his career. This year is different. Schilling is not available, Beckett is obviously not 100% healed from an oblique strain, and that takes a huge 1-2 punch out of the starting rotation. Big Papi is struggling to hit, and from watching his swing, I am certain his wrist does not feel 100%.

So where does that leave us? Is it all over? Not yet. The Sox came back from an 0-3 deficit against the Yankees in '04, and came back from a 1-3 deficit against the Indians last year. This is not over, and they won't give up. I think their chances are bleak, given everything described above, but they can still make this interesting. Here's why...

Daisuke Matsuzaka pitches tomorrow night. He had a terrific outing in Game 1. The Sox are due to break out the bats, and they are at home, and don't like losing there. I think we can all envision this game being a tough battle, but the Sox could pull out a win. That would make it 2-3 in the series. So, we head back to Tampa Bay for Game 6. Personally, I'd be inclined to pitch Lester in Game 6. He has been brilliant up until his last game, during which he was good, but gave up 2 fatal home runs. Erase those home runs and it was a good outing. So, if Lester bears down and returns to ALDS form, they could win Game 6.

That would set up a Game 7 showdown, which is all we can ask for at this point. Beckett takes the mound, pops a few aspirin, and who knows? So, don't give up yet, but do know you are simply getting outplayed by a very good team right now. Give them some credit for that, as we regroup to take the battle back to them on Thursday. Time to get hot, and go on our own little 7 game winning streak!

Did Anyone Predict That One?

This is why they actually play the games on the field and not just in the newspapers. The Rays playing against the Red Sox in Fenway Park with Jon Lester on the mound? Who wouldn't predict a win for the Sox in that game. Unfortunately, two things went wrong. First, Lester had a bad third inning giving up two home runs accounting for all the runs Tampa Bay would need. The second thing that went wrong is that the Red Sox could not score. The result was a 9-1 loss allowing the Rays to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

If you are a Rays fan, that has to feel good. You know that the series will be returning to Tampa for game 6. You know that the Sox are sending out Tim Wakefield tonight and Wakefield has not pitched in a while, and has been knocked around by the Rays recently. A win tonight by the Rays would put the Sox down 3-1. No team could possibly come back from that, could they? Well, I suppose they could actually.

But, the loss last night certainly was not the plan for the Sox. The plan was to win that game, go up 2-1, and put some pressure on the Rays. Lester kept them in the game. When he left in the 6th inning the Sox were losing 5-0. At the time, it seemed like the Sox might have a chance to close that gap. Up until that point, the Sox had at least one runner on base in every inning and runners in scoring position twice. It seemed that it was just a matter of time until they plated a few runs.

The Sox, however, could not put together the hits in the right order to score. Early in the game, Pedroia, Kotsay, and Bay were getting hits, but no one was driving them in. Later in the game, the bottom of the order was getting on base, but the top was not hitting. The result was that only one run was scored, on a sacrifice fly by Jacoby Ellsbury.

The Sox need a big rally tonight. David Ortiz, Jed Lowrie, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Varitek are all hitless in this series. Tonight, that needs to change. Papi has to cause some damage and bring some power back to the meat of the order. Ellsbury has to get on base and create problems for the defense. Lowrie needs to drive in runs, like he has done so well in the regular season. Varitek needs a rest, and will get one tonight as Wakefield is pitching. he has looked rather inept at the plate, and I think a night or two off to clear his head is in order. Not sure what to do about Papi, but we sure need that bat to come to life.

Sox and Rays Empty All Barrels

Sox fans are feeling a bit queasy as they disembark the roller coaster ride that was game two of the ALCS. The night started when all of us Sox fans wearing our best red shirts with the blue "B"'s on them them boarded the roller coaster car. The ride started out fun as we climbed high up that first hill, lifted by a Jason Bay two run double. But the hill did not last long as we came soaring back down the other side when Josh Beckett gave up a two run, game tying home run to Evan Longoria.

Back up in the third on a Dustin Pedroia solo home run, and back down again when BJ Upton matched the feat and Carl Crawford singled to score Longoria and give the Rays a 4-3 lead. This ride was a real thriller. When Cliff Floyd homered to extend the Rays' lead to 5-3, we thought the ride might be over. But three home runs by the Red Sox in the 5th inning, by Pedroia, Youkilis, and Bay, shot the Red Sox back into the lead.

The thrill was short lived when the Rays scored 3 run of their own in the bottom of the 5th to regain a 2 run lead. We were dizzy, stressed, and begging for the ride attendant to stop the thing. The Sox came back, tied the game, and the end was no where in sight. Into the wee hours of the morning we flew up the hills, down the slopes, around the bends.

Then came the 11th inning. The ride attendant decided to end it for us and sent Mike Timlin in, the final reliever on the roster. Timlin walked the first two batters he faced, and we saw the final bend in the ride approaching. A ground out sent the runners to second and third and Iwamura was intentionally walked as we felt the brakes on the roller coaster car begin to engage. Finally the car pulled up to the exit platform and BJ Upton himself escorted us off the car with a soft sacrifice fly.

Off to bed we all went, the Dramamine long ago worn off. As we slept we could still feel our bodies flying up the hills and soaring back down. It was a restless sleep, and during the night I had a terrible nightmare. I dreamed that the Red Sox were in the ALCS on the brink of a potential second straight World Series appearance. But in the dream, the Sox had lost last year's ALCS MVP. Josh Beckett, in the dream, was ineffective, lacked confidence in his fastball, and got burned with home runs whenever he went after a batter.

Then I woke up, and the dream had come true.

Who Wins the Battle of the Fans, Red Sox or Rays?

Anyone who has watched (or attended) Red Sox games hosted in Tampa Bay has been shocked, awed, and even overwhelmed by the huge amount of Red Sox support in "enemy territory". It is a similar situation in Baltimore, but not to the level that it is in Tampa.

You've all read various articles about the lack of enthusiasm of the Rays fan base, and their late arrival to the show. According to Ballparks of Baseball, Tropicana Field has a seating capacity of 43,772. If that is true, get this. The publicized attendance for the first two ALDS playoff games in Tropicana Field were 35,041 and 35,257. More people attended a mid-September game against the Red Sox (September 17 - attended by 36,048). That means the first two playoff games ever for the Rays had approximately 8,000 empty seats!!!

2008 is the very first season that the Rays have made the playoffs, and did it as AL East Champions. I for one, and very impressed, and if I were in Florida, I'd be incredibly excited about playoff baseball meaning something in my own home town. Where are all the Rays fans? Perhaps there are only 35,000 fans in total, who knows?

Anyway, what I am curious to see tonight, is whether or not the influx of Red Sox fans to the game fills the park, and what the ratio of Red Sox to Rays fans is. Don't you think it would be incredibly embarrassing to get overwhelming cheering and support for the Red Sox that drowns out the local support for the Rays in their own park?

To be honest, I wish that would not happen. It's just not right. The Rays have done something incredible this year, and deserve strong home crowd support. They should not have to suffer through an enormous cheer going up when a Sox player (JD Drew tonight?) hits a home run, or when a Rays player strikes out to end an inning. Not on their own field. Until the Rays fans can muster enough support to sell out a home playoff game, they do not deserve the title.

I know there are good Rays fans out there (at least 30,000 or so). Get out there and support your team!

That all said, a brief moment of business. I'm looking forward to these first two games. Dice-K is strong, healthy and rested. No excuses. He needs to pitch well, keep them in the game, and hopefully get through at least 6 innings, if not 7. Then, the big question will be how Josh Beckett looks in game 2. If we see the Beckett of last year's playoffs, we'll be in good shape. If he pitches like he did in the ALDS, I'm worried. We need to win at least one of those two games, and then return to Boston for 3 straight. We've played the Rays well in Boston, and we would have a chance to turn up the pressure. Losing both in Florida would not be fatal, but would turn this into a slow tug of war as they even it up back at home.

Let's get it on!