Location Everyone! Action!
Let me say this first. Thanks Joe Crede for not using two hands. What kind of example are you setting for the youth of America? Manny showed everyone just what happens when you negate from the basics on a routine play. Chicago has been looking for a reason to dump this guy, so just keep adding fuels to the cause Joe. Well anyway, I just wanted to point out that while Schilling blew the save last night it was made on decent pitches. He didn’t miss his spots. The batters made good hits. Both Rowand and Crede battled off several pitches before hitting doubles. For Crede’s double I would’ve thrown the slider because he was already looking for outside fastball or split finger. Schilling’s velocity was down a bit from the other night, but I don’t think that the radar gun was working well anyways. Other pitchers in the game speed were all over. You can only trust those things so much. But the Sox had to be pleased with Shilling’s location and pitch selection overall.
Now Matt Clement on the other hand, was having a little trouble. The way I see it is the score last night should have been 5-1 in favor of the Sox (Red that is). All three home runs were over the fat part of the plate on full counts, clearly missing the target set by Varitek. We all know that Clement never throws a straight pitch but you can’t miss the target by a hemisphere. Although he settled down as the game went on, I don’t think he had a great outing. Part of me is just waiting for this second half slide that has been a trend for Clement. The way he pitched against NY almost had me believing. And seeing the way he came out last night. It’s got to be right around the corner. Hopefully Vaitek can continue to keep him in shape like he did in the first half. If he continues to miss his spots like he did last night, he is going to keep giving up runs and lots of them.
S.