Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

No flaming. Gracious Professionalism.

But Boston's going down. Game 5 was just a minor fluke. Although Beckett had shown some awesome pitching tonight, especially the change-up. We just wanted to go to Boston and win the last game on their soil, just like we did with the Yankees.

IT'S TRIBE TIME NOW!!!

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

I'm a die hard Yankee fan and i have to say the Indians are gonna take the series in game 6.

Game 5 was no fluke, Josh Beckett is a twenty game winner for a reason and C.C. Sabathia is not. I was very surprised to read that Beckett will be asked to pitch in relief of Dice-k in game 7, if it gets that far. I definitely think the Carmona is much better pitcher than Schilling and he should be able to wrap up the Sox.

As for the World Series I think the Indians are a better team but the Rockies just cant seem to lose, so the momentum they have will definetly be a factor. if the rockies win it will be in five.

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

I'm on the Sox side, but I wouldn't mind seeing Cleveland win for the first time since 1948(am I right?).

It seems that Cleveland has more well-rounded batters so they tend to get on base more often as long as Beckett isn't pitching...

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

As much as I want to see the sox pull it off, I have to say i think indians have us beaten.

The rockies will most likely win the series either way though.

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Nothing would make me happier than to see both of the AL East tyrants' seasons end without championships. Especially when it leads to Joe Torre leaving New York (and A-Rod, Rivera, Posada, and company to follow). :D

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

None of you are very familiar with the manner in which Cleveland sports teams typically fail in the playoffs, are you? Being inches close to achieving the prize and then having it yanked right out from under their noses at the last possible moment is a hallmark of Cleveland sports franchises. Never count their opponent out. NEEEEEEEEEVERRRRRRRRR.

It's all about Game 6. Carmona has to get them to swing at his sinker and put the ball in play, and the Indians' bats have to get to Old Man Schilling again. If there's a Game 7, it's over. Sox win. The Red Sox will NOT let Dice-K get out of hand, and Beckett will pitch them to a victory if he falters. Nothing the Indians have done has indicated they have the ability to string together a decent inning against him. The closest they came was in the first inning last night (right after Beckett's former gf sang the national anthem - hmm - they should make her their traveling bat girl), and Travis Hafner made sure that didn't go anywhere.

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

I am a huge Sox fan! Game 5 was no fluke. Beckett is the Sox best starting pitcher. He's doing great, and has had a great season all year long. Behind his outstanding pitches the offense really came through when they needed to! Boston is capable of anything; (just look at the '04 series w/ the yankees.) Best of luck to either team who goes on to play Colorado. That'll be a series to watch. But just had to put out there that last night was not a fluke!

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Yes we did choke as a team in Game 5. CC was on fire and was pitching a VERY GOOD game when he was taken out. I personally think that they should have left him in!!! But maybe him being my cousin and all is clouding my judgment.

I guess all that is left to say is.... its TRIBE TIME BABY! Carmona is going to bring home game six, and then we're gonna stick it to the Rockies. They better enjoy that nice long rest. Getting beat in the series is gonna take alot out of them.

~ej sabathia

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Travis, as one who spent his entire life in Cleveland, I know first hand about the Cleveland "Curse". This is not just about beating the Yankees or Sox, we seem to be playing our game better than usual, especially after the All-Star game. Most seasons we just drop off after that, but everyone here was holding hope after we started playing for real.

Yeah, Beckett was no joke. Sabathia IMHO wasn't doing so hot last night at all. Actually, our entire pitching was so-so, especially that nice little bit where Boston had bases loaded and we kept walking 'em in. They may not blow the Rockies out of the water (see Cavaliers Finals) but Cleveland is in need of something else to celebrate as far as sports goes. Boost our moral and what-not.

The Browns, well....

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Tyrants?!? The Red Sox are a nation. We even have a president!

Oh, and Game 5 was most definitely not a fluke; the Indians got pwned, plain and simple. Heck, I'm more inclined to pitch the idea that the 11th inning of Game 2 was a fluke. Now, the Indians played very well in Games 3 & 4, but Fenway Park is a much more difficult place to play as the visiting team than Yankee Stadium. This series is far from over.

Also, the Sox have come back from worse. Just saying. :D

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Yeah, I know it wasn't a fluke. I just don't want to admit that we lost because we didn't play well.

Sidenote: What are your thoughts on Ramirez' little wall incident that happened? (With the yellow line and stuff)

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

I personally feel that a: there needs to be one universal MLB rule that covers yellow lines and situations like that (as it is now, the parks' individual ground rules cover that), b: ballparks need to be better able to tell when a ball has left the park (IMO, the only good thing about Wrigley Field is that you never have home run controversies because you can tell when the ball is gone), and c: there needs to be instant replay for home run balls (let the replay powers be solely in the hands of the umps so they can make sure that their call is correct; I've seen way too many legitimate home runs taken away).

I know, probably not the answer you were looking for, but those are my thoughts. :)

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Actually, that's exactly what I was looking for. For the instant replay, I know one of the commentators were saying the officials are talking about implementing instant replays soon. Personally, I agree. Not just home runs, but also base running and strikes/balls. Only negative point I see is teams might try to start relying on it, though football doesn't do it so I shouldn't see too much of a problem with it. Anyway, first pitch, so I'll see ya'll after the game!

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Bottom of first inning and Boston is already up 4-0?

I haven't been watching, I just checked. Can anyone fill me in on what happened?

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Well yes, Drew comes out of no where (he's been quite useless all season long) an finally hits a grand slam. Well top of the 2nd Indians came back for a solo homer now 4-1.

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Drew just hit another ball to center field brining in another run! 5-1 Sox! :D

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

8-1 Sox, still 1 out.

EDIT: Youkilis hits to centerfield, bounces off the wall. One run. A throw to first base hits Youkilis in the helmet allowing another run. 10-1 Sox.

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

ZZZZZZZZZZ....told you. Now I'm sure the biased "national" media can sleep better tonight.

Wedge gave up on this one in just like he did Game 5. Perez had no business being in any game the rest of the playoffs.

People never learn. An optimistic Cleveland fan is only asking for heartbreak. Go read a book.

Regardless of outcome, Indians are still the best team for the money in baseball and showed the bloated payrolls of the East how it can be done. They also liberated Joe Torre from his torturous role as Steinbrenner's scapegoat. Good luck, Joe.

Red Sox do lead the league in outfielders who shrink home runs into singles though....

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

I'm not on here to rub anything in to those Cleveland fans, but honestly i've heard a lot of crap today (at school in pa; not many sox fans) about how they're going to loose. I keep my faith, because as we all know with the Yankees they came back when they needed it! Now tonights game is a hell of a game with Schilling pitching pretty phenomenal, and the offense pulling together..especially J.D. Drew. God Bless you all Indian fans, but the Sox are here to play, and we're not giving up without a fight. So as a friendly Sox fan i'd just like to say never underestimate them, and be wise when you tell us you think were going to loose.

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

No Comment. :rolleyes:

*sigh* There's always tommorrow. It looked like Boston figured out how we play and drew on that the last couple of games. Typical of a Cleveland sports team to almost make it then have it pulled from under our feet. Schilling lasted much longer than I would've expected, and Boston's offense was powerful with much help from our defense.

Edit: Travis, I might just read a book next game. Seems every time I watch, we lost. All three games. I wonder if there's any relation...

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Professional Sports is not GP. My commentary on stated topic, therefore, does not have to be entirely GP either. Let's get down and dirty.

Want an example of media bias? Some "reporter" with the San Fran Chronicle (pinnacle of journalistic grand jury testimony leaking integrity) selectively chooses to release a report of Paul Byrd having purchased some HGH (back when it wasn't banned by baseball). I wouldn't put it past some Red Sox worshipping buddy buddy writer of theirs in Boston to encourage them to release this "story" conveniently the day before ALCS game 7. And they conveniently try to smear the name of one of the nicest people and best success stories in all the AL playoffs ("Indians Face Game 7, HGH Scandal" ESPN.com professes. Morons).

There are undoubtedly hundreds of athletes spread out across ALL baseball teams who are guilty of using HGH (although again, it wasn't banned until 2005) and more damaging banned substances like steroids. The media controls which names are leaked (or fabricated) purely to affect sporting outcomes, sell papers, and get ratings. I wonder why we haven't heard of any Red Sox or Yankee players named. God knows they are the central repository for over the hill 800-year old players who may think they need a little HGH kick to further their careers. I'd venture to guess this substance problem affects at least one player on every team in baseball (the Mitchell investigation promises to shed a lot of light on that area), yet we selectively hear of only a few being reported.

Oh yes (I'm not making this up) - Be sure not to miss this morning's Outside the Lines story on Paul Byrd's evil ways. How in the heck does E$PN put together a story in less than a day based upon a report that was posted at midnight last night? YOU THINK THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS COMING? It's one big Red Sox Yankees rump-kissing conspiracy.

What a sick, twisted, sports world we live in. If it's that important your beloved Red Sox and Yankees win every championship there is in the universe, well keep throwing money and manipulating media resources to suit your greedy gains, baseball and journalistic integrity be darned.

This is why I do not buy newspapers or believe a word of what I see on TV. It's all a big fixed sham.

BOYCOTT ESPN FOREVER. Read this sarcastic, disrespectful, biased garbage from one of the many supposedly "neutral" columnists on ESPN's website: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playof...jim&id=3072472

What a HACK. It's ok to claim the Indians are playing scared, but try to stick to the facts instead of sticking your tongue out and going nanna nanna boo boo (Noooo time for looooooooosers cuz we are the cham.....wait, that's another thread :-P) to the Indians and their fans. Where's Albert Belle when you need him? ;)

Thank goodness for the (relatively) pure world of FIRST, because the professional sports world is a corrupt, biased farce, where evil empires truly DO exist.

Now back to your regularly scheduled graciously professional programming. I'm done with this thread. Go Indians - you do it the RIGHT way.

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

ROFL! Nice rant, Travis. That's fine that you didn't use GP, I just didn't want flaming wars to get out of hand. But you're right about the media. I wouldn't put anything past them.

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

I do agree with you on the media part, they put some weird things in when they shouldnt, because they dont have all the facts. But as far as i'm aware of our teammates have not been questioned on using anything illegal this season.

More importantly i wasnt rubbing anything in, i was just simply saying, going to a school where there is mostly Philly fans, gets old after they bash a team thats popular where i'm from. I mean their Phillys didnt make it far themselves, so they have no right saying what they do to me or others. I'm just here watching the team i grew up with in hopes of another win. Good Luck tonight to both teams! :rolleyes:

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Personally, we might choke. I don't want them to, but it's in Cleveland's blood. Boston has been playing like no tommorrow the last couple of games, and if they make it, they sure do deserve it!

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Don't get me wrong, Cleveland deserves to win just as much, if not more than the Red Sox with their fat salaries.

Even if they don't win, they forced the Red Sox, who's players get paid much more, to a 7th game. They beat the Yankees, the highest payed team in MLB, in four games out of 5 games. That's impressive!

Tonight's game can go either way. Daisuke didn't get past the 5th inning in Game 3 and now they are relying on him to put a strong start to Game 7. However, if things get too rough, the Sox have the opportunity to put Beckett back in.

Despite how much the Rockies steamrolled the other teams in the post-season, I think whichever team wins tonight will go on to win the World Series. It really can go either way.

Cleveland's offense is strong, their pitchers need to get back in the game (much like Paul Byrd was in Game 4).

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Hmmm... for someone who claims that he wants the thread to be no flaming you toe the line very close

o well...

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

As much as it pains me, I am rooting for the Indians, but it looks like they are done now. They played the two best teams money can buy, and that is exactly the problem with major league baseball, it is an uneven playing field. Teams like the A's, Pirates, Twins, Marlins and Devil Rays can't compete with the elite teams in terms of payroll. The Yankees and Red Sox can just throw a pile of money at a player that is more than the entire payroll of most teams i.e. Dice-K. I commend the Indians for getting it done the old fashioned way of building prospects and making smart trades.

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Dice-K only gets $ 6.3 million a year

HAHA!!! what about the $250 million paid to A-Rod by the rangers? ($25 million a year)

Tampa Bay Pays an outfield (Carl Crawford) 4.1million a year. and they are the lowest payroll in MLB.

Arizona pays Randy Johnson 9 million a year.

Phillies have 7 players paid more than 6.5million

Jamie Moyer
Jimmy Rollins
Jon Lieber
Tim Gordon
Freddy Garcia
Adam Eaton
Pat Burrel (13+ million)

Cleveland:

Paul Byrd (7 million)
C.C. Sabathia (8.5 million)
Jake Westbrook (6.1 million)

So yes the Red Sox and yankees can throw money at people, but every team does it when they REALLY want someone...

And if you honestly believe that ANY TEAM can't just throw money at a player then you are completely wrong.

So please stop whining about this team or that team spends more money that the team i like. Believe me if they wanted to they could.

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Have the Yankees been getting their money's worth out of him? I haven't seen anything spectacular yet.

By the way.... Jacoby Ellsbury is the man.

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

SOX WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Yup. Wasn't even a contest. Congrats!

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

OK I lied.

2007 MLB Payrolls - http://blog.sportscolumn.com/story/2007/4/9/1367/60158

What about the 50 million dollars the Red Sox paid just for the rights to negotiate with Matsusaka hmm???? That amount exceeds the payrolls of four different major league teams! And that amount isn't even factored into the Red Sox' #2 payroll of $143.5 million.

Many teams are able to spend a decent amount of money to secure 1-2 top notch players. Very few can throw ungodly sums at most of their entire roster.

Like I said before, the Indians are the best team for the money in baseball (the Rockies are also right there, but the Indians' team has had more prolonged success - 93 wins in 2005, when the payroll was even lower). Find out how much a team spends per regular season win and the Indians blow the Yankees and Red Sox OUT OF THE WATER:

Indians: $642,430 per win (96)
Rockies: $604,711 per win (90)

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Yankees: $2,076,905 per win (94)
Red Sox: $1,495,065 per win (96) - add in the negotiating fee for Matsusaka and they're in Yankees territory

As you can clearly see, the Yankees and Red Sox spent 2-3 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF MONEY the Indians and Rockies did to achieve their special brand of "success" - just deal with it and enjoy the fruits of your "labor". Don't try to burn the candle at both ends. If you want to be a Red Sox or Yankees fan, you better be prepared to deal with the very justifiable criticisms regarding payrolls from those who aren't part of your collective. Your teams may also develop their own talent, but BY FAR, they throw more monetary resources at the free agents and foreign players in order to hoard enough talent to ensure victory (well maybe not the Yankees - maybe $500 million will do it next year, eh, George? How about a billion?).

I'm perfectly happy with the fact the Indians do it efficiently, purely. They used to spend far more money (around $100 million) when John Hart was around, and it never got them anywhere except to destroy the farm system which started their 90's run, which Mark Shapiro has since rebuilt with great success. It's far more enjoyable to watch the kids play. There's no shiny award for this type of team victory, but much like in FIRST, the pursuit isn't always about winning worthless pieces of metal. Often, teams and fans must take pleasure in and celebrate accomplishments less recognized by those greedy, arrogant, misguided types in the media and elsewhere. This is one such accomplishment. Congratulations, Indians. Don't change a thing (except to find a non heart attack inducing closer, and a better defensive shortstop, and....:) ).

And one final thing - goooooooooooooooo Rockies. You represent the same ideals as the Indians. Go get 'em.

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

You've made a pretty deep argument! Must've been itching to write this one out.

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Travis,

Its not that every team can't spend as much as the Yankees and the Redsox... its just they don't care to spend that much. Ball clubs are owned by either one owner who has billions or by a group of people who together have billions. Add on top of that the profit from the ball parks (ok some ball parks make almost no if any profit. but there owners are still very wealthy)

So to say that teams can't afford to pay players a lot of money is completely wrong. The owners decide not to (this is in most cases to maximize the profits they can get)

Also to take away what the Redsox were able to do shows you how much you disregard hard work. Who exactly are you talking about here. The fans of those greedy and over paid teams? the players? the managers? the owners? The people who have hope in a team?

We know you don't pay very much attention to sports. If you did you would know that George no longer is running the show for the yankees. His 2 sons are. So it will be there decision not his.

Anyways enough arguing with people on a very useless topic.

Re: Indians [vs] Red Sox (GP, Please)
 

Continued via PM. Case closed!