Baseball is a game of patterns.

[Pavelb1]

And it's foolish to ignore a pattern, or just 'hope it'll get better'

Case in point: Beckett vs Kazmir. I knew we were gonna see the worst of both. Neither has had it recently, and both coachs are fools to leave them out there for so long. Fools. And please, don't bother posting about their credentials, their job vs mine..etc..etc. You know I'm right, and you know neither pitcher had it.

I'm posting this as the Sox have just tied it 5 to 5. Now Balfour will shutdown the....uhm....nevermind. Ok. But I stand by my assesment of Kaz and Beckett.

What a gunfight!

[Pavelb1]

Ahh...and the Circle of Ka closes with Timlin. Well done Padawah Francona. Why let the Byrd fly when you have ol steady Timlin.

[gRYFYN1]

I agree with your assesment, Becket was left out there too long and he started only game after sept 16th before the playoffs and looked shaky vs the Angels.

Kazmir really hasn't been bad. he had as so-so start vs Chi but his Sept Numbers weren't that bad ... other than the Game vs the Sox he made 4 starts: 23 IP 6ER (2.35 ERA), 24K/11BB, so I guess you coulda taken him out after the Pedrioa HR.

And really why is Timlin on the Roster!!! He's turned into the Human White Flag this year. they'd have been better off with Drew on the mound.

[Swampdog]

I think that Francona blew this one. Overall, I believe that Francona has proven to be a decent manager, but he had Grady Little moment in Game 2 of the ALCS....leaving Beckett in to be shellacked for 8 runs in less than 5 innings. I was watching the game with a friend, and I kept looking at him, asking....."Why is Beckett STILL in this game? Is Francona trying to lose it?"

This was a game that could have been won by Boston...a real opportunity lost.

[StreetMedic]

I think it was Tony Massarotti that pointed out a stat right after the game.

Beckett threw 93 pitches in his outing. In all those pitches, only four were met with swings-and-misses. And only one of those was on a fastball.

Ouch.

Something's still wrong with him, in spite of what he says.

Oh, wait. I found it again:

Here it is.

Short, but (as much as Tony Mazz drives me crazy, sometimes) it's pretty good.