Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell not alone with poor decisions
By Rick McNair
Getting ready to celebrate since the Red Sox were up 5-2 at New York in game seven of the ALCS. The 2003 season would be the partial dismantling of “The Curse” and humiliation will fall upon the Yankees at The Stadium. Perfect. What could possibly go wrong?
I’d lived through Jim Lonborg on two days rest in-game seven in 1967. Luis Aparicio tripping over third base in 1972. Jim Rice gets a broken wrist and Boston not having him in the dramatic seven games in 1975. Bucky Dent in 1978 after the team collapsed. The failure of 1986. The series of playoffs that all were one and done.
Then it happened – again.
Is it managers drinking the Charles River water? What caused a perfectly sane manager to do the wrong thing when the right thing is so clear? Why did Grady Little – who had a two-season record of 188-136 leave a tired Pedro Martinez on the mound?
"“There’s a fly ball deep to left! It’s on its way! There it goes! And the Yankees are going to the World Series!” – Charlie Steiner"
Pedro had tossed 118 pitches and was wearing out when the end was quite apparent. The eighth had started and Pedro had one out when the Yankees bundled three hits. The bullpen was all set and ready to roll. Bodies were well rested and willing to put this one away. Pedro stayed in and Jorge Posada puts a double into the score card and a new game at 5-5.The game dragged on until the last of the eleventh when Aaron Boone took Tim Wakefield deep and another dismal chapter was added to the Red Sox laundry list of being abused by the Yankees.
The fact is Pedro should have been gone the batter, BEFORE Posada – Hideki Matsui, who had already banged out a double. Alan Embree was ready. Nope. Matsui, a left-hand hitter, doubles and now it is 5-3. Pedro out? Nope.
Little was fired and rightfully so. That one move doomed him forever in Boston.