Of All the Storylines

I can't believe the prevailing media winds were complaints about Francona bringing in Pedro. I too questioned the decision, but all-in-all, I think there are plenty of other topics that resound with a little more positive tone. My opinion on the Pedro outing is just this: Since game four, it was very obvious to me that Francona had a pitching plan going into each game (barring the idea of back-toback extra inning affairs). I think that he already had in mind the idea to throw D-Lowe six if he could do it, use Pedro for the seventh, Timlin in the eighth, and Foulke if needed in the ninth. I've mentioned previously, I thought he made some very gutsy calls in this series that had they gone the wrong way for him may have cost him his job. Just getting to the point that how many good decisions do you have to make to even out the bad mistakes? I guess that's a tough question for a Sox manager, eh?

First positive storyline: This team went to work. Down by three games, and absolutely run out on a rail in game three at Fenway, this team got down to business. They focused on the game at hand, and each day they were only concerned with the game they were playing. The Yankees on the other hand appeared to be playing like "there's always tomorrow".

Second positive storyline: David Oritz. It's not like he was an annonymous player like last year. Everyone who pays attention to baseball knew who he was by the end of the All-Star game. When it seemed like no one could get a key hit for the Sox, he picked this entire team up by their bootstraps, threw them on his back and got it done night after night. It's really too bad that the playoffs don't count for the regular season MVP award, because he would be the hands down winner now.

Third positive storyline: Derek Lowe. Given up for dead (arm that is - sorry) by everyone including myself, he came out with something to prove. I think maybe not only to the team, the Sox management, and the fans, but to himself as well. He admitted that even though he had complained about being left out of the rotation in the playoffs that is was the right decision based on the way he pitched down the stretch. But yet from somewhere down inside, he sucked it up and pitched two incredible games.

Fourth positive storyline: This is a TEAM. Call them idiots, unkempt, hairy, whatever. These guys play together, plain and simple. From the role players like Doug Mirabelli, to the defensive replacements like Minky and Pokey, to the designated pinch-runner Dave Roberts, each and everyone of these guys felt like they contributed.

Looks like the Cards are going to take care of the Astros. Too bad, I was hoping to see the Sox take on the paper thin Astros pitching staff. Still hope though, Isringhausen coming on...