2004 ALCS Thoughts - Game 2
0-2 (Gulp). And like that, it was over.
Going in to this ALCS, Red Sox Nation had to feel like the favorites. Vegas even said we were the better team. Then Curt’s ankle popped, Pedro’s fastball flattened, and the Sox’s bats were silenced. 0-2, heading to Boston.
There’s no excuse for this. This team outscored New York by 52 runs over the course of the season, and allowed almost 30 fewer runs (1st and 3rd in the AL in those categories, respectively). Hell, Boston almost outscored St. Louis by 100, and the Cardinals’ offense is being called the best in the majors! So how, exactly, does Jon Lieber shut down this team?
I don’t know. I don’t profess to know. I don’t think that any of us know. Well, Tim McCarver is convinced it has to be that Boston hitters aren’t “centering the ball”, which is ridiculous. Even balls that are in on the hands or out on the end of the bat can drop for bloop singles. There is no reason that the Yankees should be up 0-2. 1-1 would have been acceptable, especially with the news of Schilling’s torn ankle tendon. The only way to describe the difference between these teams is this:
Focus.
New York is focused on winning this thing, proving that they are the better team (which, if Jon Lieber is 1-hitting anybody, makes me think that maybe the Yankees are the better team…). Boston is relaxed, cool under pressure. The same style that endeared them to Boston fans all year long is now looking like it is their greatest weakness. They chase pitches. They play sloppy defense (Manny misplays 2 balls in Game 1, leading to 4 runs, and no one makes a sound). They sit in the dugout and joke around trailing by 8 runs. They look like they either don’t want it enough or maybe they’re pressing so hard that they can’t get out of their own way to get back on track.
If Boston somehow finds a way to climb out of this 0-2 hole (which I don’t see happening, not if you’re relying on Tim Wakefield and Bronson Arroyo to win 3 out of 4 starts, and either Pedro on short rest or Derek Lowe at all to pitch in another), then it would rank as probably the greatest comeback in baseball for at least the last fifteen years, if not ever. Better than the ’78 Yanks? Probably. Better than the ’86 Mets? Yeah, I think so. Better than the ’99 ALDS Sox? Absolutely. In fact, if Boston and Houston somehow turn around their postseason fates and meet for the title, the World Series would undoubtedly produce one of the best “feel-good” baseball stories of the past 20 years, along with one of the worst “tough-luck” stories to boot.
But I don’t want to talk baseball anymore. And yes, it’s a direct result of the 0-2 ALCS. But it’s my column and I choose what I write about. I want to shift focus to a team that is actually winning, a team that has also endeared themselves to New Englander’s hearts with their style of play, a team that (gulp) is just as focused and business-like as those damned Yankees.
The Patriots last week picked up their 19th consecutive win (just in case you missed all of the media hype), with 12 regular season wins and 3 postseason wins last year, and the first four games of this year. This week, they play a tough, mentally wounded team in the Seattle Seahawks, and they play for a record that the NFL actually recognizes – 17 straight regular-season wins. The NFL doesn’t like to merge regular and post season statistics or records, so this week it actually counts.
Last week, I picked against the Patriots with the spread (I picked them to win, just not by 13 or more. Oops.) I couldn’t be happier that I was wrong with the pick, because the fact that the team was able to drop 24 on a Miami defense that is still one of the best in the league really showed me something.
But this team is about more than individual games and winning streaks. This team just gets it done, week in and week out. They find a way to make something happen, they find a way to win. And in doing so, they lift their fans to a higher plane, taking us somewhere we’ve never been, or at least not for a long time.
Back in mid-January, I asked if this incarnation of the New England Patriots could be considered a true dynasty. The resounding answer from most of the people who decided to respond (most of who are either Jets or Giants fans, by the way) was no – two Super Bowls in three years isn’t enough. You have to absolutely dominate for a sustained period of time, without a lapse in the middle.
Well, it’s now been nearly 380 days since the Patriots last lost (September 28th, 2003). The last coach to beat them was Steve Spurrier, and he’s not even in the league anymore. John Mayer had the #1 album on Billboard. Saddam Hussein was still a fugitive from justice. The Red Sox still stood a chance in the postseason. Only a select few people had ever seen Janet Jackson’s right breast. I’d say that’s a sustained period of time, no?
It’s time to start calling this team what it is – The Best Team of This Decade, to date. Until someone can claim that title (and I don’t mean by knocking them off for one week), they will continue to be the reigning champs, the kings, the team you have to go through to prove you’re the best around.
Two Super Bowl titles in three years, winning streaks of 12 and now 19 (and counting) games during that period, two Coach of the Year honors, and what is looking like a third playoff trip this season. There’s no reason for this team not to get the respect they deserve anymore.
Onto this week’s picks. Last week was once again unkind (6-8), though I did get better from the previous week. My personal dream of being plus-100 games in the win column looks shot, but I’ve got 12 weeks to recover. Right now, I’m 39-33-2 after a 2-week run of 11-17. Somehow I managed to win my office pool in a tiebreaker this week with a record of 9-5, putting me squarely in third place, three games back. Amazing; I’ve won three of five weeks outright, and yet I’m in third place… I know, I know, you don’t care.
J-E-T-S (-10) over Niners: It’s the return of the 10-point spread! Yay! Seriously though, this game isn’t even going to be close. The Niners offense hasn’t been good all year, and their defense, well their defense hasn’t been good for the better part of this decade. The Jets have one of the best run defenses in the league, and San Fran’s only offensive weapon is Kevin Barlow, a runningback. Good luck there boys…
EAGLES (-9) over Panthers: Good God, another big spread to open. And another game in which I’m taking the favorite?! Well, the Eagles have dominated all year, winning each of their games by 10 or more points. And they’re coming off of a bye. It’s like Vegas made this a 9-point line just to test Philly and see if they can make it five straight double-digit wins. Plus, the Eagles have that whole “NFC Championship Game” revenge thing going for them…
Chiefs (-2) over JAGUARS: Did I jump the Jags’ bandwagon a bit early? Maybe having me on board slowed those horses down a bit. Suddenly their defense can’t stop a running game, so of course they will have to deal with Priest Holmes this week. The Chiefs haven’t played in two weeks since their big win over Baltimore, so expect them to be fired up to make it back-to-back wins.
Chargers (+4.5) over FALCONS: The Falcons don’t look like a 4-1 team right now. They look like a 2-3 team that got lucky a couple of times. Let’s just say I won’t be starting Mike Vick in my fantasy league this week. Or for awhile. And the Chargers, well they’ve been surprisingly adequate this year, actually not in the AFC West basement (yet).
BILLS (Even) over Dolphins: This game is an even spread, and I have no idea why. The Bills have been one or two plays away from winning three of their four games, while the Dolphins have never really been in any of theirs. Plus this game is in Buffalo in October. Plus Miami is starting Sage Rosenfels, who has thrown exactly nine NFL passes in his career. Plus Buffalo is sporting a great defense this year. In a battle of great defense and ZERO offense, this game goes to the Bills, 3-2
Redskins (Even) over BEARS: Another “pick-‘em”? Hmm. I seriously considered giving the Bears the dreaded “BYE (-13) over Chicago” joke last week, and this week they’re playing an actual team? And I don’t even have to give up any points to bet against them? Gee, lemme think about this one for a second…
BROWNS (-2.5) over Bengals: Cincy just doesn’t have it this year. Period. They’re quickly reverting to the Bungles we’ve all known and loved for the better part of the last twenty years. As for the Browns, well, they’re playing over their heads right now, but in that division, a couple more wins and they’re the playoff favorites. (I can’t believe I just wrote that last line.)
PATRIOTS (-4) over Seahawks: See, once again, this game bothers me. It’s a road game for Seattle, which is never a good thing for them. But they’re also coming off of a tough defeat at home in a game that never should have been close. The Patriots are on a bit of an emotional letdown week after all the hype about getting to 19 wins in a row (again, just in case you missed it.) But if there’s one thing Bill Belichick can do, it’s convince his guys that this is just another game on the schedule, and that history only remembers the winners.
LIONS (-2.5) over Packers: Boy, those Lions sure shut me up last week. And so did the Packers. In fact, that large wind you might feel coming from the west is the rush of air induced by all of the yelling from the Green Bay area after yet another home loss. Like I said in August, this team got old fast, and they didn’t do anything to get better.
Texans (+6.5) over TITANS: No way this line should read like this. If the Titans hold on in this game, it will be by 3 or fewer. IF. Although I do think Steve McNair will have an absolutely explosive game; after watching Daunte Culpepper last week, this Houston secondary looks bad. Quick side note: I’m ecstatic that I started David Carr over Tom Brady or Ben Roethlisberger (spelled it right on the first try, but my spellchecker just exploded, so who knows…) this past week. His 33 points helped secure the Kids Table its first win of the season, although we were robbed on Monday Night two weeks ago by Rod Gardner, and almost again this week by Chris Brown.
Broncos (-2) over RAIDERS: Personally, I think this should get moved to Monday Night. C’mon, what could be better TV than 70,000 screaming idiots in Oakland, all dressed up like it’s Halloween on a pirate ship, watching Kerry Collins throw perfect spirals to Denver DB’s while Jerry Rice pouts on the sideline and calls his agent to tell him to demand a trade? That’s great TV baby! Throw in Al Davis and whichever jumpsuit he decides to wear, and it’s ratings heaven!
Steelers (+3) over COWBOYS: Again, I see absolutely no reason for this line to be this way. Maybe the oddsmakers put the –3 in the wrong column. Just because Dallas is the home team does not change the fact that they are starting a 40-something QB and an 80-something RB against a young team with nothing to lose. Pittsburgh - outright, and by a lot.
Vikings (-3.5) over SAINTS: Someday, you’ll believe me when I say the Saints are that bad. Or when I say that Jim Haslet should be gone by the end of this year (he MUST have pictures of the Saints owner, or maybe a little voodoo doll or something). Culpepper will TORCH this N’Awlins secondary, even with newly added Mike McKenzie and his dreads. If you have Moss or Daunte, I’d recommend starting them. Hell, if you have both, you could probably start ONLY them and still win this week.
RAMS (-6) over Bucs: The Rams comeback last week was just what this team needed to get over the hump and get back on top of the NFC West. Just like I said before, St. Louis is still the team to beat in that division, and if Seattle wants to take that title, they’re going to have to go through the Rams to do it. As for the Bucs - nice win last week. Don’t get used to it.
Recap: JETS / EAGLES / Chiefs / Chargers / BILLS / Redskins / BROWNS / PATRIOTS / LIONS / Texans / Broncos / Steelers / Vikings / RAMS
And, to quote the famous Joe Buck, I will sign off with my newly decided-upon (and licensed) catch phrase, “Slam-a-lamma – Ding Dong!”
Yeah, I hate that too…
posted by Big D @ 12:00 AM
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