Arrrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhh

While in attendance last night, I was able to feel the full spectrum of emotions. Frustrated with the fact that Dice-K refuses to challenge hitters, relieved that the bull pen held the Rays in check, elated when Bay hits the go ahead homer, surprised that Papelbon threw only one pitch other than a fastball and mystified as to how the manager handled the bottom of the ninth inning.

Disclaimer: I am not playing Monday morning quarterback. My buddy who was at the game with me heard me saying these things well before they happened.

Down one run, Kotsay leads off with a walk. The struggling Varitek is up next with Ortiz (who pinch hit earlier) on deck. THIS IS NOT A BUNT SITUATION. We want Ortiz up with a chance to tie the game. By sacrificing Kotsay to second this allows the Rays to intentionally walk Ortiz and win the game by getting Crisp and Lowrie out. I do realize that Maddon would be walking the go ahead run but there is no way he would let Ortiz beat him. NO WAY.

So Francona decides to have Varitek sacrifice. If you have made up your mind that you are giving up an out, why not pinch hit Cora or someone else who is more skilled than Tek to bunt? I don't want to hear anything about hitting for a guy who you need to play defense in the top of the tenth inning. You need to get there first. Regardless ...

The baseball gods are smiling on us. Percival's first pitch is up (he is trying to get a pop up) and Tek takes it for a ball. On the pitch, the Rays show that they are playing an aggressive bunt defense by charging the corner infielders. So now Francona can have Tek take a pitch, sacrifice again, square and take the pitch, hit away or hit and run. Options 1,3,4 and 5 are all better than 2. Two falls right into what the Rays want: a chance to pitch around Ortiz. Naturally, Tek squares at a pitch headed for his abnormally sized quads and nips the ball with his bat on an attempt. Options one, three and four would have resulted in a hit batsman or ball. Option five gets you a stolen base, hit, foul ball or ground out that results in the advancing of the runner. With the corners up so far (and charging on the pitch), the call should have been for a hit and run. The shortstop would have to cover second and the second baseman would have to be shaded towards first in case of the expected bunt. All Tek needs to do is get on top of the ball and hit it on the ground. A foul ball (likely scenario) would tell the Rays the bunt is not certain and they would not be able to play so aggressively trying to cut the runner down at second base.

The one ball, one strike count goes to 1 and 2 after Tek feebly fouls his next bunt attempt back. He then takes a called third strike (how can you not attempt to put the ball in play in the situation?) on a backdoor slider. Ortiz pops up after being ahead 3-0. With two outs Ellsbury runs for Kotsay (great move, Ellsbury did not run earlier because Francona wanted to run for either Tek or more likely Ortiz -- tying run) and steals second and goes to third on an overthrow. Crisp pops out. Ballgame.

Blame may go to Papelbon, Dice-K or even Ortiz for not doing what is expected of them. My ire is reserved for the manager for not making the right moves.