An Unfamiliar Position

Here we are, in a position we don't know much about. First, losing two in a row. It's been long enough since we last did that the guys probably had forgotten what it felt like. Also, being behind in a series, and two games behind at that. What do we do now. Well, for starters we have to hope that Fogg has his best stuff on Saturday and can baffle some Boston hitters that are not so easily baffled. Second, we have to hope that the Rockies offense can recapture a spark at Coors Field and put some hits together.

One thing that was apparent Wednesday night and was reinforced Thursday night is that the Red Sox batters are collectively a very patient and disciplined bunch. You wouldn't need more than two hands to count the number of swings they've had on bad pitches. They rarely swing at pitchers' pitches and don't miss very often with pitches they like. This is the opposite of what we experienced with both Philadelphia and Arizona. Both of those teams swung at a lot of pitches that were out of the strike zone. Not Boston. Fifteen walks in two games is evidence of their discipline. Throwing more and better strikes will be the cornerstone if we are to turn this series around.

Apparently it's too much to ask, but it would be real nice if announcers, commentators, etc. would get the basic facts correct. On Wednesday night, Ken Rosenthal said the Rockies played the Cubs in the NLDS. Last night Tim McCarver referred to the Rockies' home park as Mile High Stadium. I didn't hear it, but my wife said that Joe Buck called Boston the White Sox. My ears may have been playing tricks on me, but I thought I heard Joe Buck call Justin Pedroia Justin Timberlake during the ALCS. We're all human and we all make mistakes, but errors like this can be avoided by simply thinking before blurting out the words. Teams that get this far in the season are usually solid in the fundamentals of the game. Why shouldn't we expect the same out of the broadcasting crew?

Is it just me, or is anyone else already tired of the Red Sox bullpens' whole "Stomp" routine. The announcers said it was a ritual when there was an offensive rally in the works. Since when is a runner on first with two outs a rally? It's like the Braves' tomahawk chop, it loses it's appeal when overused and becomes annoying. At least we won't have to witness it for the next two games and hopefully three.