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10/17/2003 Archived Entry: "MLB News: Wait Till Next Year!"
MLB News by Eric Gartman
Next year was almost here for both the Cubs and Red Sox, the two long-suffering yet lovable teams. Now they will have to wait until spring yet again. It is interesting to note the similiarities in the way both teams lost their series. First, both managers left their starters in too long in pivotal moments. In game 6 of the NLCS, Mark Prior was pitching in the eighth with one out when he gave up a double to Juan Pierre. That was followed by the already-infamous fan intereference in left field, but when Prior walked Castillo, it should have been clear that he was out of gas. But Baker left him, and he promptly gave up a double. By the time Baker lifted him, it was too late. In game 7 of the ALCS, Pedro also had one out in the eighth when Derek Jeter hit a double. That was followed by an RBI single by Bernie Williams. Pedro convinced Grady Little to let him stay in the game, and a double by Hideki Matsui and a single by Jorge Posada tied the game before Little took out Pedro. Interestingly enough, the Red Sox opponents in the ALDS made the same mistake. Barry Zito, pitching game 5 for the A's on three days rest, looked great for the first five innings. He ran into trouble in the sixth, and with two runners on base, Ken Macha left him in against Manny Ramirez. It was very clear by that point that Zito had nothing left. Macha should have been thrilled to get five great innings from him on short rest. But he pushed his luck, and Manny put one out of the park. All three incidents are the same: A stud pitcher, who had been looking untouchable, finally running into trouble due to high pitch counts, and the manager leaving him in, only to have him lose it. As great as Prior, Pedro, and Zito are, they are not superhuman. Everyone has his limit, and it was clear to everyone watching that all three should have been taken out earlier.
Another similiarity was the way that neither team was able to rebound after blowing big leads. The Cubs blew a three-run lead in game six, and were unable to win Game 7. It seems like every time a team blows a huge game six lead in an improbable fashion, they are unable to win the tiebreaker. In 1985, umpire Don Denkinger's infamous blown call at first in Game 6 led to a late Royals rally to win the game. The Cards were so flabbergasted that they lost game 7, 11-1 with their best pitcher on the mound. The next year, the Red Sox, after Bill Buckner's passed ball, were unable to pull out game 7, even though they were leading for most of the game. And last year, the Giants blew a 5-0 game 6 lead and were never close in game 7. Its a small sample size, certainly. But the fact that no team has been able to rebound from such a devastating loss seems to prove that its not mere coincidence. It may just be too much of an emotional blow. And the Red Sox, after blowing a three run lead in eighth, also were unable to come back.
