Joshua P Beckett takes no prisoners

(photos from the Boston Globe)

it's almost like it's been too easy for him. not so much from the fans' point of view as his own. pitching a complete game in the ALDS apparently bored him to the point that six innings and eighty pitches into Game One of the ALCS, he'd had enough of not being challenged. he took the ball in potential elimination Game Five, pitched eight innings, striking out eleven, to bring the Sox back home -- and still this wasn't challenge enough for Commander Kick Ass. i could just see him in my mind's eye last night, hear his long Texas drawl saying: "World Series against the team that hasn't lost in a month? Against the pitcher who handed me my first loss earlier this year? ::shrug:: Let's actually make this interesting. How 'bout I pitch it in the rain?"
Nine Ks and seven innings later, he would leave the field... probably rolling his eyes & saying "Awwww... that wasn't anything. You guys get me another Game Five & then I'll pitch blindfolded." He just looks as calm as if he's playing a game of catch with Tek out there.


i feel bad for Jeff Francis. no, *really*. i like him. i paid attention to him most of the regular season because he was one of the pitchers on my fantasy team, and as he racked up the points for me, i started to pay attention to this previously unfamiliar name. i know he came into Fenway in June, and was the first pitcher to smudge Joshy's pristine record. but these aren't the same teams they were back then. the Sox were in the middle of their annual June Swoon. October in Boston is an entirely different proposition. especially since Game Five of the ALCS when Cleveland woke "the sleeping giant" that is the Sox offense.

suddenly everyone can hit. wee Pedroia is aiming high above the Green Monster. the heart of the order is working singles & doubles, and somehow turning them into RBIs. the bottom half is being disciplined enough to earn walks in bases loaded situations. there is suddenly confidence in the swings of the Boston bats.

so much so, that i'm going to tell you: i didn't see the end of the game. it was 10-1 in the fifth inning when i dozed off for good. for me to do that during the Sox in the World Series is nothing short of... well, unheard of. but the seven-run innings are (at the moment) in the Sox favor. and the calm lulled me off to dreamland, and i didn't see Gagne come in to pitch another clean inning to end Game One.

we're down to three more wins before we can think about hoisting a trophy over our heads one more time. i am not naive enough to believe that the Rockies didn't learn something last night. when you get to this level, every night is a new game, and the night before has to be put away, no matter the outcome. Joshy's performances make this all look so deceptively easy to execute, but tonight when Schill throws his first pitch, anything can happen. and i'll be right there watching.