Roche: A Few Red Sox Thoughts Ahead Of ALCS Game 3
BOSTON (CBS) - Here are a few Red Sox thoughts as they get ready for Game 3 here in Detroit later this afternoon.
--It was interesting to watch how ho-hum David Ortiz has been about his grand slam in Game Two. His manager and teammates seem to be in awe of what David does. David Ross was saying on Monday that it's something he can tell his kids years from now that he was a part of. Other players feel the same way.
Yet David just keeps cranking along at the age of 37 (soon to be 38). Deep down he has to be thrilled that he was able to add to his resume for the postseason. You also have to wonder if he'll ever be seriously considered for the Hall of Fame because of his heroics.
-- By the way, Ortiz will set a Red Sox record Tuesday when he plays in his 64th postseason game.
-- File it under the "only in Boston" category, where a police officer gets as much attention as the player did for raising his arms as a home lands right near him.
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-- I will always remember the walk that Jacoby Ellsbury drew prior to Ortiz's slam. He got Drew Smyly out of the game, continued the rally, and allowed Ortiz to face Joaquin Beniot.
-- It took hours and hours for Sox players to fall asleep after Game 2 thanks to the adrenaline rush that comes with a walkoff win.
-- Brandon Workman and Felix Doubront combined for 2-1/3rd scoreless innings Sunday. Huge.
-- I'm curious to see if the Red Sox have any success against Justin Verlander in Game 3. The Detroit ace is back to his dominant self this postseason and the Sox have been lunging and swinging at a lot of bad pitches against Detroit starters. It started in the Tampa series and has continued here. Now, a lot of it has to do with how good Anibal Sanchez and Max Scherzer were. Scherzer was just nasty on Sunday.
-- It's scary how everyone around baseball and the Tigers is saying that Miguel Cabrera is starting to look as healthy as he's been in months. He's also holding on to the bat with both hands through his swing, which is something new, and is starting to drive the ball again. That doesn't bode well.
READ: Red Sox-Tigers Game 3 Preview
--John Lackey thinks he may be sharper in Game 3 in this series than he was when he got the win in Game 2 of the ALDS (5.1 IP 4 R on 7H). Lackey went 11 days in between starts from the end of the regular season to Game 2. This time it's 10 days, but Lackey threw a few simulated innings last week.
-- I'm curious to see if John Farrell sticks with Jonny Gomes in left field over Daniel Nava, who had the lone Sox hit in Game 1. Farrell seems to be wondering if Gomes needs to be playing in order for the team to get the full effect of the bulldog mentality he brings. I think it's an interesting question because Kevin Millar was the same type of player. His 1-for-4's are different than other player's because of the relentless, grinding attitude he brings with it. It doesn't translate as well when they were on the bench.
-- I can only imagine how far Alex Avila's hone run in Game 2 would have gone on a warm summer night at Fenway.
Dan Roche Previews Game 3 On The Adam Jones Show:
Dan Roche Previews ALCS Game 3
-- I see a lot of Mark Bellhorn in Stephen Drew.
-- Victor Martinez is absolutely locked in at the plate right now.
-- Justin Verlander said Shane Victorino gets hit by a lot of pitches that he thinks are strikes. Was that for the umpires to hear for future reference? We'll find out later this afternoon.
Follow WBZ-TV's Dan Roche on Twitter @RochieWBZ.
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