Uehara is Human and Other Observations from Red Sox Loss in Game 3 of the ALDS

Photo from TheBleacherReport.com

Let's face it- we were all hoping for a Red Sox win last night.  We thought they were going to win when they had a 3-0 advantage in the 5th inning.  We thought they were going to come back and win in the 9th inning.  We thought they would win in extra innings when Uehara was brought in for the bottom of the 9th inning.

We were wrong.

The Red Sox lost 5-4 last night as the Rays battled from behind.  The Rays battled the entire game.  They were battling through everything, including their own defensive woes.  They wound up on top in the end.

In the bottom of the 9th inning with the game tied 4-4 and 2 outs, Uehara gave up a walk-off home run to Rays' catcher Lobaton.

The Red Sox fans and players alike were crushed as they watched the Rays celebrate at home plate, but I don't think anyone was as crushed as Koji Uehara.  Until last night, Uehara hadn't given up a home run since June 30th, more than 3 months prior.  I think what's even more amazing is Uehara looked like he was throwing fireballs last night, considering he only pitched 5 pitches the entire inning, and was able to get the first two batters out with ease.

Uehara posted on his Twitter page (in Japanese): I've thrown.  I got a walk-off loss. (Tears.)

Along these lines, Ortiz said in a postgame interview with The Boston Globe: That was a good pitch... It happens.  He's a pitcher.  He's human.  He's not from another planet.

Could have fooled us during the season.

The Red Sox will now try and finish off the Rays tonight at 8:30 Eastern on TBS behind Jake Peavy.  The Rays will be have native-Iowan Jeremy Hellickson pitching.

In other observations from the game:

• Jacoby Ellsbury is raking this postseason.  He's 8-for-14.  He's scored 7 runs, has 2 RBIs, and 3 stolen bases.  I think it's safe to say that if Ellsbury gets on base, there's a good chance he'll score.  
• Even though Buchholz only gave up the 3 runs on a home run to Evan Longoria in the 5th inning, he did not look good.  He walked 3 and gave up 7 hits, while throwing 104 pitches.  He looked shaky and uneasy, and continuously threw to first base if there was a runner, essentially buying himself more time.
• Did it appear to anyone else that Pedroia was playing out of position in the 8th inning, when the Rays went ahead?  For me, it seemed like he was trying to do too much.  I recall one play when Napoli went to field a ball along with the pitcher (I can't remember if Morales or Workman was in at that point), and no one was there to cover first base.  
• Nava was 0-for-3 while leaving 4 on base last night.  Have to wonder if Gomes, who pitch his for Nava late in the game and was intentionally walked, gets the start tonight.
• Salty looked shaky at the plate last night as well.  Though he did manage to get a hit, he struck out 3 times and left 4 on base.
• As I'm going down the list, Drew was also terrible at the plate.  0-for-4 leaving 5 on base.  Does Farrell do something drastic and put in Xander Bogaerts in tonight?  I'm thinking Drew will start, but we'll see Bogaerts in tonight's game at some point.

Well, that's what I have today.  Depending on how the day goes, I may do another post.  As of right now, however, this is what I have for today.  Thanks for the glance, and feel free to leave any comments below.

Random Thoughts Before the Start of the ALDS

I've been waiting for the game to start today and started to think about the some different random thoughts I had regarding the season, the postseason, and all things MLB.  So, I'm doing what I do best and posting them on the blog.

Photo from The Boston Herald

• Jon Lester has been pretty incredible of late, and we fans hope he can continue his dominance today.  But, I think another important thing to point out is the Rays will be having Matt Moore start for them today.  Moore may be 17-4 with a 3.29 ERA this season, but he was on the disabled list all of August.  Since coming back on September 3rd, he has yet to go more than 6.1 innings.  If the red Sox can chase Moore out of the game early, they'll have a good chance against the Rays bullpen.

• It's pretty fair to point out that if the Rays are able to get Lester out of the game early, they could also have an advantage against the Red Sox bullpen.  Aside from Uehara and Breslow, the bullpen has a lot of question marks.  Doubront made the roster, and Thornton did not.  The fact that we need to bring up the fact that Doubront made the roster over Thornton tells you something about the bullpen.

• The tarp is currently down at Fenway Park because of showers and batting practice for both the Red Sox and Rays has been cancelled.  I live in Connecticut, and I can't remember the last time it rained.  Sort of ironic that it should rain the first day of the ALDS.  Hopefully, the showers clear away before the game.

• Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reported that John Farrell arrived at Fenway Park at 7:45 this morning, and Salty was there too.  Does that mean Pedroia wasn't the first player at the park?

• NESN reported that Dustin Pedroia called the Red Sox "2013 World Series Champs" as early as the Marathon Bombings.  I know it would mean a lot to Boston if the Red Sox were able to win the World Series.  A lot of emotions there.

• Reds Manager Dusty Baker was fired this morning.  Now, I'm not a big Dusty Baker fan or even a Reds fan (though, I've remained an Arroyo fan over the years), and I don't know the circumstances.  However, I would think if your manager could get your team to the playoffs, even the Wild Card playoff game, they deserve to keep their job.  Same can be said with the speculation that Ron Washington would be fired (which they have now said he won't be).  Don't get it.

• Alex Rodriguez has filed a lawsuit against MLB and Bud Selig are trying to "smear his character and cost him his livelihood." If you recall, Rodriguez is currently appealing his 211-game ban because of his involvement with Biogenesis.  Personally, I would think that someone in Rodriguez's many, many attorneys would advise Rodriguez that he's making matters worse.  Adding fuel to the fire.  Of course, A-Rod's attorneys want to get paid, and A-Rod wants to stay in the public eye.  The fact that A-Rod feels the need to file his lawsuit on such an important day for the postseason (four games today) shows his need to stay in the spotlight.  Really showing his "character" and "livelihood."

That's all I have for today.  I would love a Red Sox sweep of the Rays!  Again, I'll be going to the game tomorrow, and I'll be sure to share pictures from the game on Monday.  Here's one last photo I found to put you all in the mood for the playoffs:

Photo from www.timesunion.com

Red Sox To Face Rays In ALDS

Well, my hope for a Red Sox-Indians ALDS ended last night, and the Rays will be heading back into the postseason to play the Red Sox.  I was actually rooting for Swisher last night, which is something I don't think I've ever done in my life.  I know a lot of other people were hoping for the Indians to make it in as well.  Not only would Francona returning to Fenway be a huge story, but the Indians making the postseason is a good story.

Of course, the Red Sox and Rays have a rivalry that has gone back years.  The Rays were always pesky against the Red Sox, even when they were still the Devil Rays.  When they were losing more games than their winning now, the Rays would find a way to beat the Red Sox.  Over the last 5 or so seasons, things have become even more competitive against the two teams.

The Red Sox set their rotations as Lester (Game 1), Lackey (Game 2), Buchholz (Game 3), and Peavy (Game 4- if needed).  The Rays are said to have Moore pitch Game 1 and Price Game 2.

The Rays strength is and pretty much always has been their pitching.  Moore ended the season with a 17-4 record and a 3.29 ERA, and Price was 10-8 with a 3.33 ERA.  After Moore and Price, the Rays have Cobb with a 11-3 record and a 2.76 ERA and Archer with a 9-7 record and a 3.22 ERA.

During the season, the Red Sox were 12-7 against the Rays, but the Red Sox only hit .209 against the Rays pitching.  The Red Sox average 3.7 runs against the Rays, and the run differential was only +14 in favor of the Red Sox.

On the other side, the Rays have won 10 of their last 12 games, and they've basically been in do-or-die mode for the last month.  However, Price also just pitched a complete game on Monday during the run-off game against the Rangers, so there may (hopefully) be some fatigue.

Outside of the pitching, the Red Sox will have to deal with Wil Myers, James Loney, and Evan Longoria at the plate.  Surprisingly, Loney lead the Rays with a .299 batting average.  Lonoria lead the team with 88 RBIs and a .498 slugging percentage.  Myers is the young superstar of the team that was traded from the Royals midseason.

As I updated yesterday, Farrell announced he would go with 11 pitchers for the ALDS roster, which means Thornton or Doubront will probably be on the roster.  It's not that I don't trust Farrell and his decision making, but I don't trust Thornton and/or Doubront's abilities.  Hopefully, I get proved wrong.Doubront pitched in the intrasquad game yesterday, so that may indicate he has the roster spot.

In other news, the Red Sox announced that approximately 3,900 fans showed up to the open practice/intersquad game.  The "Blue Shirts" won the game 1-0.  Saltalamacchia and Ross didn't catch but DH'd, and Salty hit an RBI double in the first inning.  Here's a picture from the game:

Photo from The Boston Globe

Well, that's it for me today.  I'll be writing a post before the 3:00 game tomorrow.  Thank you for everyone who has checked out the blog this week; it's been the best week I have ever had.