Great playoff coverage by TBS Friday night!
By: Jim Williams
The Examiner
Harold Reynolds shows why he is one of the best analysts in the business. It is great to have him back on the playoffs. He has been missed.
Here is what the TBS had to say about last nights games….
Chicago White Sox (2) @ Tampa Bay Rays (6) – The Rays lead the series 2-0.
Announcers: Don Orsillo and Harold Reynolds with Marc Fein reporting
Reynolds on Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir hitting White Sox shortstop Orlando Cabrera on the second pitch of the game: “You’ve got to wonder (whether it was intentional or not). Look how far this ball is inside, this is one of those chasers, you’re going to get a guy in the legs. If (the Rays) are sending a message, that that was a sign from yesterday. It looks like he went after him. It really does.”
Reynolds on whether Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir hit White Sox shortstop Orlando Cabrera on purpose: “This is a major league pitcher, I can’t see a guy missing by that much if (Kazmir) doesn’t hit him on purpose. This is an All-Star pitcher, this isn’t just big league pitcher, this is one of the best in the game. If you’re going to tell me that it wasn’t intentional, then I’m wrong, but I’ve been hit enough.”
Reynolds on the umpires’ management of an ongoing feud between the Rays and the White Sox: “The umpires are going to give you a little more leeway. The question is, will the White Sox go back and try to retaliate and then the umpires say that’s it and (give) no warnings. They are well aware of the situation yesterday, but you get a little more rope in the postseason than you do in the regular season.”
Reynolds on Rays pitchers Scott Kazmir not pitching as he normally does: “(Kazmir) is not overpowering guys, this is the not the Scott Kazmir that we’re accustomed to seeing. The ball is not exploding out of his hand and the hitters are not hesitant, they are not back on their heels worried about him throwing a fastball that’s going to not be able to be picked up or thrown by them.”
Reynolds on the speed of the Rays outfielders: “You’ve got a track team out there; you’ve got (Fernando) Perez is right, (B.J.) Upton in center and (Carl) Crawford in left and these guys can fly.”
Reynolds on whether it was worth it for Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir to hit White Sox shortstop Orlando Cabrera: “I guess not, when you look at the end result. Sometimes things become personal. Pitchers have their own agendas and they take care of their buddies. I’m speaking out of turn, I don’t know if he hit him on purpose, I just I believe he did. He’ll definitely tell me he didn’t, but I believe he did.”
Reynolds on White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle’s performance: “(Mark) Buehrle, he pitched a great game and he kept them in this ballgame. To give up four runs in this place in the American League with this turf field and short porches with balls flying, he’s done his job. Their offense has to wake up, that’s the problem with the White Sox, it’s not their pitching.”
Game 2: Boston Red Sox (7) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (5) – The Red Sox lead the series 2-0.
Announcers: Chip Caray, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager
Martinez on Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka being a different pitcher since coming off of the disabled list: “We heard from the catcher Jason Varitek, the two Dice-K’s; the one before the disabled list and the one after. The one after has much more confidence in his velocity and reliability of his breaking ball. Early on he was able to win games, as Varitek characterized, by finessing the hitters. He was using more splitters, more change-ups, the slow curveball because he didn’t have the strength in his shoulder to power through his slider and throw good fastballs. Now he can do that.”
TBS’ Chip Caray and Buck Martinez interviewed Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell during the game.
Farrell on Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka: “He’s been outstanding for us this year, as you mentioned on the road with a 9-0 record coming into tonight. He’s done a great job, been getting ahead of hitters particularly against this potent middle part of the line-up, and he’s kept the ball on the ground and limited them to just single base hits (early on).”
Farrell on Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka normally being a slow pitcher: “There have been some times where there have been some complaints filed by umpires, and really his rhythm has been disrupted by his own thought process out there, but if he feels he gets into a good rhythm which he’s in tonight.”
Martinez on the call by Angels third base coach Dino Ebel to send first baseman Mark Teixeira home where he narrowly beat the throw by Red Sox leftfielder Jason Bay: “What a good call by Dino Ebel, the third base coach. That move reflects the confidence his manager has in him. They got (Vladimir) Guerrero thrown out last night being overly aggressive, but that’s Mike Scioscia’s style, push the offense.”
Martinez on the ceiling being lowered on starting pitching by providing more days of rest than in the past: “We’ve really lowered the ceiling on starting pitching. We can certainly see what you can do when pushed, the starters that pitched on three days rest at the end of the season, they were pretty remarkable in their ability to crank up big games.”
Caray on the lack of scoring by the Angels: “At this point in the ballgame, the Angels and their fans have to point the finger squarely at the Angels offense tonight. You leave 11 men on base and you strand six men at second or third in a close game you’re asking for the defending champions to beat you.”
Martinez on how the Angels can recover from going down two losses in the series: “All they can do is regroup, enjoy the off day and think about getting back against (Josh) Beckett. It’s a daunting task, but they’ve got an All-Star (Joe Saunders) going to the mound Sunday night (as well).”
Post game thoughts…..
Johnson, Granderson, Eckersley and Ripken
Granderson on the Angels losing all the momentum they had going into their ALDS against the Red Sox: “(The Angels) go into (the Postseason) with all the momentum, they’re expected to win and now they just can’t seem to do it…Maybe what they need is to get out on the road and out of their home ballpark for a while.”
Eckersley on the challenge the Angels face playing in Boston down 2-0 in the series: “Anytime you go into Boston for two games and (the Red Sox) can win both games, you’re in trouble. Especially now, when (the Angels) are down two games to nothing. That’s a major task, (the Angels will) be lucky to win one (game).”
Ripken on the experience of the Red Sox playing a role in the Postseason: “(The Red Sox) have been there before, they know how to calm themselves and they are professional hitters. Getting big two-out hits requires you to calm yourself a little bit in the moment.”
Granderson on Rays utility player Willy Aybar replacing injured slugger Carlos Pena at first base: “With Carlos Pena out of the lineup, you would expect to miss some power. But you don’t necessarily need big home runs to get victories. Aybar is coming up big defensively at first base, he’s doing a lot of the little things, whether it’s a sacrifice bunt, a base hit, advancing to the next base or scoring rus. He’s doing everything to replace Carlos Pena (at first base).”
