5:30 p.m. Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees, Game #2
9:30pm. Boston Red Sox @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Game #2
TBS continues their coverage of the American League Divisional Series with the Twins and the Yankees playing the early game tonight from what will likely be a windy and rainy evening in New York.
Game two will be played in the home of the “Thunder-sticks” and the “Rally Monkey” as the Angels host the Red Sox.
Here is what the TBS crew has to say about the games thus far:
TBS MLB on Deck
Ernie Johnson, Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells
Ripken on the Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz: “I love the relationship between the catcher and the pitcher. And I’ve been very impressed with Carlos Ruiz.”
Wells on the Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee and catcher Carlos Ruiz’s relationship: “That is where you have to be in sync – catcher and pitcher. Sometimes, the catcher sees something that we don’t – moving up or moving out in the box. He might see something that we don’t know. He has an idea. You have to trust in your catcher.”
Eckersley on Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels wanting to redeem himself after a disappointing regular season: “I think with Cole Hamels he wants to make up for the season. The lack of what he really did this season. They expected much more out of him. Seeing what he did in the playoffs last year, MVP of everything. He has something to prove in these playoffs. I look for him to come up big this year.”
Ripken on Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels: “I think he throws a little bit harder than David Lowe with his sinker baller so he can rush it up there a little more. I’m interested in the match ups between the power lefties (Utley, Howard, Ibanez,) how is he going to do against those guys because if he gets it up there a little bit that could be homerun city.”
Eckersley on St. Louis Cardinals Game #2 starting pitcher Adam Wainwright: “This guy is known for his curve balls but has a lot of gas…good punch outs. He has learned a lot from (Chris) Carpenter. This guy has been nailed all year long, but they wouldn’t be there without this kid and you see those numbers – off the charts.”
Eckersley on Los Angeles Dodgers Game #2 starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw. “The Cardinals are in trouble if Kershaw goes out there and throws strikes. With him he is in trouble because he is a little wild. If he’s not wild the Cardinals are in trouble. In comparison to Sandy Koufax with that hook, this kid knows what he can do. You don’t know what his career is going to be like.”
Ripken on Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw: “(Kershaw) is a power guy, good fast ball and curve ball, but I think he only gave up almost the same amount of homeruns (Chris) Carpenter did – seven. He doesn’t give up the long ball. That shows you how good of a guy he is.”
Wells on Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols homerless performance in Game #2: “It is kind of tough to carry 23 guys on your shoulders. I would have heavy legs too. He’s not going to have any pop at the end of the season. Albert is going to find a way to battle through this and get on top of this. He is the type of guy that is not gong to jump on anything. He is a selective type hitter he’s a smart hitter and he is going to make things happen for him. But if the Dodgers keep doing what they are doing giving him (intentional walks), they are in trouble.”
Eckersley on Boston Red Sox’s John Lester’s pitching performance: “(Lester) has so many weapons to work with. He has a major fast ball, a change up and a curve ball that he uses occasionally. But he’s absolutely dominant; a dominant left-hander. After the line drive to the knee, it still remains to be seen if he has fully recovered. It remains to be seen if he is the Lester that he was before he got hit in the knee.”
Wells on Red Sox pitcher John Lester: “John Lester got lucky. He got hit right on the outside of his knee. You can’t go out there thinking you are going to get a line drive back at you. You have to just go out there and pitch your game.”
Ripken on the Angels’ overall performance for the series: “They have a little bit more power in the middle of the line up now, believe it or not. They score runs really well. They do run the bases extremely well. The problem they are going to come into is that they can’t steal first. It all hinges on (Josh) Beckett and (Jon) Lester if they have shutdown stuff. If you start peppering them a little bit and they get on base, they can score runs.”
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Game 1: Colorado Rockies (5) @ Philadelphia Phillies (4) – Series tied 1-1
Announcers: Brian Anderson and Joe Simpson with David Aldridge reporting
Simpson on the Colorado Rockies plan going into Game #2: “What the Rockies need to do today is certainly give Aaron Cook an early lead. But make (Cole) Hamels work. Run up his pitch count, get into that Phillies bullpen and then do some more damage.”
Simpson on Phillies manager Charlie Manuel: “The Phillies base runners have a green light anytime, but Charlie Manuel will put on a stop sign if he wants them to stay at first base and let someone hit.”
Simpson on Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels’ ability to pitch after no rest: “Cole Hamels was telling us he never pitched on short rest before. It worked out great how Cliff Lee pitches and put all doubters to rest for Charlie Manuel. “
Simpson on the Phillies batting order: “The bottom part of this Phillies batting order is under appreciated. You hear a lot of talk about (Chase) Utley and (Ryan) Howard. They can do a lot of damage too and they do a lot to set up the order sometimes in big innings.”
TBS’ Brian Anderson and Joe Simpson interview Colorado Rockies coach Jim Tracy during the game.
Tracy on outfielder Dexter Fowler’s playing order: “Yesterday (Fowler) Dexter showed signs of playing in his first postseason game and that is understandable considering he has played only a year at the major league level and hasn’t seen a pitch in Triple A. We just want to get him in a situation so that we can do some things with him. Just to try to relax him a bit obviously that is intended for him to get a run on the board and basically relax the group in general.”
Tracy on pitcher Aaron Cook: “You watch for signs with Aaron Cook and the first few innings he tells you an awful lot about himself. Early on the ball has been on the ground quite a bit. As we go on, we will try to create some situational bats for ourselves.”
Brian Anderson and Joe Simpson interview Phillies hitting coach Milt Thompson.
Thompson on approach against Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook: “I told the guys to make (Cook) bring the ball up so we can hit some line drives.”
Thompson on first baseman Ryan Howard: “(Howard’s) strength is hitting the ball the other way. When he’s got it going where he can hit the ball out of the ball park, anyplace, it is a great thing.”
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Game 2: St. Louis Cardinals (2) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (3) – Dodgers lead the series 2-0
Announcers: Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly with Tom Verducci reporting
Brenly on Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright using his experience as a reliever to his benefit: “(Wainwright) speaks highly of the experience he had closing for the Cardinals. He said that he takes the same mentality to his starts. Early in his career, he tried to pace himself too much and work deep into ballgames. But with his experience he had in the bullpen where you go after every hitter and every out is huge. He’s taken that mentality out to the mound as a starting pitcher.”
Brenly on Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw ability to keep runners close: “For a young pitcher, Kershaw has a pretty good feel for keeping runners close to the base.”
Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly interviewed Cardinals manager Tony La Russa.
La Russa on dealing with the shadows on the field: “I think (the pitcher) has to mix it up (his pitches). In this league, you can’t go out there pounding fastballs, I don’t care where the shadows are, if the hitters get a glimpse of (the ball), they can time it. If you mix it up, it’ll work to the pitchers advantage.”
Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly interviewed Dodgers manager Joe Torre:
Torre on which former player Clayton Kershaw reminds him of: “I’ve been trying to figure it out and I don’t really know. I’ve said (Sandy) Koufax before, but I bit my tongue after I did it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that look in a pitcher’s eyes like that. He gets beat around and has some bad outings but his next time out, he’s not hoping things get better, he works at getting better. He’s pretty unique.”
Brenly on the Cardinals keeping their options open in sacrifice bunt situations: “The Cardinals like to show bunt early and bring the bat back as the pitcher gets into his set position. (That allows them) to bring the bat back around to bunt or swing away depending on what (Cardinals manager) Tony La Russa wants to do offensively.”
Brenly on Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright throwing an inside pitch to Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp and jamming him: “Ballplayers have a saying that when a pitcher gets in on your hands, ‘they got in your kitchen.’ Not only did Wainwright get into Matt Kemp’s kitchen, he had a sandwich, a glass of milk and slammed the back door on the way out.”
Stockton on the Cardinals blowing Game #2 in the bottom of the ninth: “There are a lot of crushing defeats that teams experience and this has to be at the top of the list.”
TBS’ Tom Verducci interviewed Dodgers third baseman Mark Loretta, who had the game-winning single, following the game.
Loretta on the Dodgers ability to come from behind to win in the ninth inning: “I think it’s just the confidence we have in the ninth inning. (Andre) Ethier has had six walk-off hits (during the regular season) and my hit was just the last one, but Ronnie Belliard had a big hit. The bullpen was great and (Clayton) Kershaw really gave us a lift. It was exciting.”
Loretta on the remainder of their LDS against the Cardinals: “This series is far from over. You see clubs come back and St. Louis is a very talented club. We’re going to have to keep battling as hard as we can and hopefully get a win.”
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Game break presented by Chase
Johnson, Eckersley, Ripken and Wells
Wells on if the Cardinals should have kept pitcher Adam Wainwright in the game: “It’s easy to second guess now (after the game) but when you’ve got a guy (Adam Wainwright) pitching lights out and just beating up that (Dodgers) lineup, you’ve got to give that guy the opportunity (to finish the game). In my opinion, when you have your best pitcher out there at that point in the game, you have to give him that opportunity.”
Eckersley on Adam Wainwright’s curveball: “(Adam Wainwright has) the best curveball I have seen in the game today.”
Ripken on what he would say to Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday, whose ninth inning error contributed to the Dodgers walk-off win: “You don’t know if (Matt Holliday) lost it in the lights, but you just feel bad for him. I don’t think you say anything to him right away. You let him settle in, put your arm around him and say, ‘No big deal, let’s go, we’ve won three games (in a row) before.’ We’ve all been there. That’s all I can say. He needs to be alone with his thoughts.”
Eckersley on Holliday’s ninth inning error: “It’s hard to come back in a five game series (after losing) a game that you had to have. (With a win, the series would have been tied) one-to-one headed back to St. Louis, you’re feeling good about yourself. That’s devastating and I feel terrible for (Matt) Holliday.”
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Game 3: Boston Red Sox (0) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (5) – Angels lead series 1-0
Announcers: Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez with Marc Fein reporting
Martinez on Red Sox centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury: “(Jacoby Ellsbury) really puts pressure on the defense when he gets on bases.”
Martinez on the importance of defense in a five-game series: “Defense is going to a key to this series. Anytime you have a five game series, you don’t want to make mistakes.”
TBS’ Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez interviewed Red Sox manager Terry Francona during the game
Francona on the decision to start Jon Lester in Game #1 instead of Josh Beckett: “The way we were sitting, in order to have (Josh) Beckett go first, we would have had to really be little creative. There’s a chance they can both pitch anyway. One would’ve gone on regular rest and one would’ve gone on really long rest. It just didn’t make a lot of sense to us.”
Martinez on the balance throughout the Angels lineup: “This lineup might not be as potent as the Red Sox as far as knocking the ball out of the ballpark, but there’s balance up and down the order. That’s what makes them so tough, there’s no real soft spots in this lineup. They won’t knock it out of the ballpark, but they’ll get a base hit, steal a base and go first to third. They can knock in key runs up and down the order.”
Martinez on Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu’s ability to getting on base influencing his teammates: “When you’re a young hitter and people are telling you that you need to get on base to set up your teammates, that rings kind of hollow until you see a guy like Bobby Abreu with his approach and ability to get on base.”
Martinez on the versatility of Angels reliever Darren Oliver: “Darren Oliver is a very versatile pitcher for Mick Scoscia. He’s able to come into late-inning situations against a left-handed batter and come to them. He can pitch the middle innings, he can go long and he’s been very valuable to the Angels.”
Angels outfielder Torii Hunter talked to TBS prior to the game.
Hunter on the Angels postseason struggles against the Red Sox: “Most of the players don’t think about that. This is for the fans and the media (to think about). When you’re a player and a competitor, it doesn’t matter at all what happened in the past. You just go out there and worry about the task at hand. We got to the playoffs and now we have to play Boston. We just want to go out there and win. We’re not even thinking about the past. The only time we think about it is when (the media) brings it up.”
TBS’ Marc Fein interviewed Torii Hunter after the game.
Hunter on the positive energy around the Angels team: “I definitely think the chemistry we have here and all the obstacles we had to overcome earlier in the season, I think it brought us closer. We have a lot of fun in the clubhouse and in the dugout. We try to push each other and give each other positive feedback. We have a lot of fun.”
Hunter previews Game #2’s pitching matchup of Boston’s Josh Beckett vs. Jered Weaver of the Angels: “(Josh) Beckett is a bulldog and in the postseason, he really shows up. (Jered) Weaver is one of our best starters and he’s a bulldog. I definitely feel that it’s going to be a pitcher’s dual tomorrow (in Game #2) and it’s going to come down to one run.”
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Inside MLB presented by Captain Morgan
Johnson, Ripken, Eckersley and Wells
Eckersley on Angels pitcher John Lackey’s performance against the Red Sox in Game #1: “You think about a lot of off-seasons (Lackey) spent thinking about the Boston Red Sox, the last two years the kind of failure that came across in the playoffs. But tonight he knows he is going to have to be tough in the four or five innings. He pitched into the eighth inning, and he pitched (well) when he got the lead.”
Wells on Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester’s Game #1 performance: “What I like about John Lester is he’s got an amazing cutter. But he elevated a few today, and he paid the price for it; doubles down the lines”
Eckersley on pitching to Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero: “The problem here is (Guerrero) can get to absolutely everything so you don’t want to throw him a strike. But if he can get to a pitch, any kind of pitch, you say, ‘well where can I throw it where he can’t touch it?'”
Wells on the impact of a St. Louis’ tough loss in Game #2 on the remainder of the series: “It’s a big let down to be honest with you, but you can’t let that get you down. You have to come back fighting – the positive note for St. Louis is you’re going back home. They’re a no-quit team; that’s definitely for sure. Anything can happen in these short series.”
Eckersley on Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday being the goat in Game #2 of the LDS: “I can feel for (Matt) Holliday. This is a superstar-type player. He’s done so much since coming over to St. Louis. You’re a goat in your life at some point. Luckily this series is not over, they have to move on. St. Louis can redeem themselves. I’ve been on the other end of this thing and if you’re a big Major League player you’ve had a lot of failure. This happens to be on the big stage in front of everybody. But I’ve got a feeling that everybody is going to pick him up. This is a learning experience for him; he’ll never forget what happened today.”
