Another ALCS

Another late night and another thrilling victory for the Red Sox. This series was not for the feint of heart. 4-1, 7-5, 5-4, and 3-2. Every game was close and every game saw runs scored in the final inning with three of them being decided by those runs. There were base runners all over the place and neither team seemed to want to bring them in to open games up. The Angels felt like they were the better team and just couldn't get it done. And now the Sox head to Tampa Bay (am I the only one who finds it incredibly strange to write the rest of this sentence) to start the 2008 ALCS.

The faith that Terry Francona puts into Justin Masterson has not cost them quite yet but it might. In game 2, Masterson allowed the tying runs that made the game 5-5 in the 8th inning. J.D. Drew made the point moot however with a clutch 2-run homer in the 9th. He was sharp in game 3 but last night once again was victimized and allowed the game tying hit as well as a lead off double in the 9th. If not for some questionable play calling by Mike Scioscia (a squeeze?? really?? with the season on the line??), there's no telling how last evening might have ended because a 3-2 lead for Anaheim means bringing in the pitcher with the record for saves in a season. That makes two blown leads by Justin Masterson in 4 games (and an interesting outing in game 1 thrown in).

Don't get me wrong, I like the kid and think that he is a great pitcher with a lot of promise. But Friday night he walked in the game tying run. That's the pressure getting to him. Last night, he came in to face the hottest hitter in the Anaheim line-up who accounted for 5 of the 8 hits the Angels got with runners in scoring position in the whole series. He failed to come through and had to be lifted in the 9th with the game on the line after allowing the lead off double. I'm just not convinced this kid is ready of the pressure. He was pitching AA earlier this year. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. As those who have watched the Sox playoff runs of the past know, Francona tends to ride a couple guys throughout the playoffs (see Alan Embree & Mike Timlin). For Red Sox fans, I hope he doesn't trot Masterson out there one too many times.