Boston paper pans Maddon's decision

Joe Maddon has offered the Boston Red Sox a path to victory in the American League Championship Series by changing his pitching rotation, according to a story in today's Boston Herald.

In a story titled "Joe Maddon's logic inviting,'' Sean McAdam makes the case that Maddon's decision to start struggling Scott Kazmir in Game 5 tonight in Boston and save staff ace James Shields for a potential Game 6 on Saturday in St. Petersburg plays right into the Red Sox's hands.

"In rearranging his rotation with an apparent eye toward a worst-case scenario, Maddon is holding the door wide open for the Red Sox, taking their coats and directing them to make themselves comfortable,'' McAdam writes.

With the Rays leading the series 3-1 and needing just one win to advance to the World Series, McAdam calls the decision 'backward thinking.''

"Somewhere along the way, Maddon forgot the most salient point: His Rays, not the Red Sox, control the series,'' McAdam writes. "His team has outscored the Sox, 22-5, in the past two games. His club, not the Red Sox, can wrap up the series tonight.

''For some reason, Maddon is exuding a whiff of panic. Why worry about the weekend when you can put the Sox away now? The Red Sox haven’t won a game since last Friday and the momentum is all on the side of Tampa Bay.

''Imagine an NBA coach taking a timeout with his team in the middle of a 17-2 run. That’s what Maddon has done here.''

(Photo: Boston Herald)

*

Comments

[we crush you like bugs]

final score:

World Champions: 8
Lowly Bugs: 7

BANDWAGONS FULL TIME TO JUMP OFF SOX IN 7

[Kyle]

Sorry.... here it is, front page...

www.Boston.com

www,bostonherald.com

[Kyle]

I'm watching ESPN. They are laughing at us and our cowbells... "how do you blow a SEVEN run lead with 2 outs in the 7th?"

Did you see the 2 major Boston newspapers? Embarrassing, I wish we could go back on this blog and erase it...

Boston.com & BostonHerald.com

[Kill Them.]

Don't let this happen again ever.

[Bad LT]

Yes, Rays fans Maddon was correct. Save Shields for Game 6 because the Rays are now proud owners of the worst single game collapse in modern playoff history. Sure, the Rays can still win the series but it does not take a genius to figure out that the Sox have the will and talent to win the next two.

[Shawn]

Questioning Kaz's start? He shut down the Bosux all nite. The BP screwed the pooch, not Kaz.

This is just a roadbump and the Sox know it deep down.

[Kyle]

Oh man, Boston was right. This sux guys!!!! We are not going to come back, this was the biggest comeback in ALCS history!!! F'n Boston... they are going to take a $#%& on us! When is the south ever going to get out of the shadow of our loser status? UGH! Only 200 people showed to the 'rally' at the pier? Awful. I hate saying it... but they are right. They are historic and good. We play on a rug and don't even have bullpens. :(

[Mike]

Hmmm, i loved reading all these comments prior to midnight and then the game ended, with Boston on top. and suddenly everyone realizes maybe this reporter wasnt as crazy as you all thought...

[Jon]

the mistake was taking kazmir out when he was pitching the best he has since may.

then, another mistake was not replacing gross with perez, who likely wouldve made one of two potential outs.

ultimately, it's on longo's bad throw.

disgusting, I feel the need to destroy something.

[SoxoninNH]

Yup, it looks like all you Tampa Bay "fans" were wrong. How many of you were fans last year? Now all of a sudden everyone is a fan. A little nervous now, aren't you? How do you know Shields is a big game pitcher. The Rays never played in a big game until tonight and the pitching disintegrated.

[Johnny]

Joe, you finally made a bad decision after all these games, but man it was reeeeaal bad. Wheeler should never get near the mound with the game on the line. You had JP warming up the whole time, you had shut down arms in the pen, and you bring in that arsonist, Wheeler?

Shame...Shame.

[Sinfonian]

Hmmm. I guess the Herald might have been right after all ...

[Mike]

Madden a DOPE????? NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GIZMO]

5-0 so much for dice k saving the red-sox!lol philly is next!

[coley]

so much for backward thinking sean,not knowing a good decision from a bad one is why you guys didn't make it

[Jeb]

Anthony, we all know Kevin is gay, but you aren't his type.

[raymond]

Way to represent FL, tough guy. Take your schooling like a man.

[Anthony]

I'm tired of you Rays fans. Tonight I'll be thinking about my lover, Kevin Youkilis. I've asked him to shake his lil tushy at me when he gets in the batter's box. After the game we'll sing YMCA together. Oh how I love the lil dance he does. I'm so glad we can get legally married in this state!

[Thomas]

I think Kaz will be fine against the Phillies as Howard and Utley are both Lefties and Scott dominates LH hitters.

I do like the idea of having Shields/Garza at home to take on Hamels and Myers.

[joeknowsbaseball]

Another New York Times owned paper.
Congress has offered a bailout of 100 Billion to Boston to buy back Manny Ramirez.

MANNY SAID NO WAY...NO SORRY RED SOX!

Red Sox fans must really be wishing they had not made that BONEHEAD move with Manny, now!!!

The real headline is:

"Man Ran is NO DOPE, Red Sox are ON DOPE!"

Go Rays!

[LarryS]

Also, if Kaz pitches well tonight then this could help him in the World Series by boosting his confidence. If he bombs out there then Joe may want to consider a change in the rotation for the Series.

[Tuck]

It's conceivable that Maddon pulls Shields in Game 6 with a huge lead after 6 innings and only 50-60 pitches. Shields could then start on Wednesday.

It's also conceivable that Dice-K gets lit up tonight and the Rays win the series.

I'm starting to get antsy for the game to start. Go Rays!!!

[LarryS]

I agree with the decision as both pitchers are now set up to pitch where they do best. And IF Kaz has a rough outing then we'll have the full bullpen to use and they'll have a day off tommorrow. And Kaz can avoid the umpire he had a problem with previously.

[Thomas]

* I would have preferred to see Shields tonight so the Rays can wrap up the series and then Shields would have 5 days off before he started Game One on Wednesday.

[Thomas]

Tuck - Starting pitchers normal "rest" is 4 days between starts. You would only start a guy on 3 days rest if you were desperate, and usually that has poor results.

If Kaz wins tonight, it's Shields v Hamels on Wednesday. If Boston wins it's Garza v Hamels - which is not a bad fall back option at all.

[Anthony]

Nice to see that in the excitement of postseason success, Fake Anthony hasn't forgotten what makes Florida Florida - homophobia.

[Patrick]

Maddon has a great feel for maintaining confidence in his players. He takes the ball out of pitchers hands before they fail.(It helps to have a good bullpen) As they walk to the bench they are saying I could have done it myself. Just think if Kaz does come through, Boston is further embarrassed and Kaz has grown confidence
for the World series
Manager of the decade!!!

[Tuck]

Thomas - I love the idea of Shields pitching the WS opener too. But why couldn't he still do that if he pitches on Saturday? The WS wouldn't start until Wednesday.

[Payback is a Palin]

The Boston Herald is the Weekly World News of New England.

[Thomas]

The only problem I have with the move is that if Boston somehow manages to win today - which I dont think they will - but if they do win Game 5, then Shields won't be able to pitch Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday.

I would have preferred to have Shields start tonight and be on track to start Game 1 of the Series.

Now we need Kaz to put the Sox away so Shields doesn't have to burn a start on Saturday.

[Tuck]

What's the Boston Globe gonna write about? How the Red Sox have been blown out the past two nights? How "die hard" Red Sox fans left Fenway in the 6th inning? How the home fans booed Ortiz? How the Rays are a younger, better team in the same division. How the Rays have all of their young talent locked up for years to come?

[lb]

Madden made a good chose in Kaz. He has the choice to replace him if need be.
REMEMBER THIS - IT TOOK THE RED SOX 86 YEARS TO GET TO THE WORLD SERIES!! THE RAYS ONLY 10..... IS THAT WHY THE RED SOX NATION ARE SO HATEFUL TO REVERONE ELSE??

GO RAYS!!!

[LarryS]

Being that the Rays already beat the Sox IN Fenway with their #3 and #4 pitchers it doesn't seem significant swithing their #1 with their #2. We could beat them with the #5 (Jackson) also. Or the #6, David Price who has more talent than any of the others. The Herald reporter was just grasping as something to write about.

[Anthony]

YEAH!! Take a hike. Oh wait.......

[Mike / Denver]

What is the big deal with switching #1 and #2 in the rotation??? I am struggling with why this is so huge??? The Red Sox are done. They've benched Ellsbury. A side story ... Varitek's last game in Fenway? Why would that even be a story in Boston if the Red Sox think they can win? They have revamped their lineup. Beckett is done. He's the one hurt and burned out.
"Beckett did, after all, get an injection of a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory the last weekend of the regular season."

Source: By Amalie Benjamin
Globe Staff / October 13, 2008

Where is Lowell? Gone. The Globe is printing anything anyone from the Rays has to say. ??? Francona says tonight is a must win game ... ya think being down 3-1.

All sounds like desperation on their part to mess with the Rays. Whether it's game 5,6, or 7 the Rays will win.

[LarryS]

Anthony, You seem to have multiple personalities. Unfortunately, none of them are very pleasant. Why don't you do something for the benefit of the community and take a hike.

[Mike]

I think Cliff Lee will pick up the Cy Young

[Anthony]

Oh, and I like to smell other people's fingers.

[Anthony]

Again, MikeD, I answered your one question correctly. If you have others, feel free to share. Or just keep whining about "ad hominem attacks" on a baseball blog.

[Anthony]

One more point I must make... I am a doorknob, and my opinion is worth less than the number of wins the Red Sox have in this series... I also wear womens under garments.

[MikeD]

Amanda had my back on that, and I appreciate that, Amanda. I realize, Anthony, that you have a lot of self worth invested in always being right, most especially when you are wrong. Still with the ad hominem attacks, nothing at all from you about the shellacking(s) the Sox have taken from the Rays in the last two games. Nothing about the loyal Sox fans streaming out of the stadium starting during around the fifth inning Monday and Tuesday. Nothing at all about what has happened on the field, where it counts.

[Anthony]

"there are some points I have to address."

Do tell!

You inadvertently said that the Rays "shelled" two Boston aces in Game 2, then asked what was incorrect about that, so I told you. Sorry it upset you so much. If you have any other questions for me about the ALCS feel free to ask.

[rocky]

Much better to have Kaz match up with Dice K since they both struggle with the strike zone...Kaz is due for a strong game and this is his chance to shine...expect a close one tonight as Boston will not go down without a fight...Go Rays...Maddon has made all the right moves all year...he knows his players..

[LarryS]

Good one Anthony.......gonna have to bump you up to a B+

[Anthony]

You guys are such fans, talking about me instead of "your" team that's up 3-1 in the ALCS. No wonder Sternberg can't wait to get out of that hellhole

"We're better than you. We've been better all year and the Sox are finished."

Who's "we," you and your neighbors in the trailer park? What does that have to do with the Sox?

[Wayne]

"Who's Anthony??? Who's Anthony???"

"My drumma..."

[Dave]

The Red Sox are a team in disarray. They surprised me by getting this far. The Rays are solid through their lineup and have the best pitching staff whereas the Sox now have weak pitching and weak hitting and the bullpen is a shambles. They also have a manager who counts pitches instead of runs scored - when he's watching the game and not spitting.
Kazmir will be in form tonight.
And I'm a Red Sox fan in Maine.

[Dom]

Tonight's game is all about Boston's pitcher. If he pitches again as well as the 1st time, a pitching machine couldn't win. Kaz is going up against 2008's Cy Young winner. The Rays have to jump on him in the 1st inning again. It almost happened the 1st time. Don't let him find his grove.

[harold]

By the way Anthony
it hard for us to tell the difference between the "real" Anthony and the "fake" Anthony(s). They seem so similar