...but not in their house either

I wasn't sure that I'd feel this bad. After all, it's been nice just riding the wind of change that has made the Red Sox two-time World Champions and a serious threat over the past four seasons. But alas, I am heartbroken.

El Caballito and Crisp look dismayed in the 9th as Casey and Drew begin to pack up

Lester delivered a strong performance in Game 7, allowing three runs and retiring the first nine batters he faced.

Okajima pitched in his third consecutive game on Sunday, and just like in Games 5 and 6, Okajima didn't allow a run. In 7 1/3 innings during the ALCS, Okajima didn't allowed a hit or a run, striking out five. (Mark Remme / MLB.com)

As if it wasn't bad enough watching Garza expectorate a moat of saliva around the mound for 8 innings, Lester's three earned runs were more than enough for the Rays as they advance to the World Series after tonight. Fer those of you brave enough to watch (though I'd prefer to pretend it isn't happening), the coverage will begin Wednesday on Fox.

xxxx

On the horizon:

• October 28th - Celtics Opening Night
• Februarrry 14th - Pitchers & Catchers report to Spring Training
• April 6th - We open our season and seek revenge against the Rays

A silver lining:

• At least Manny didn't make it either...

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[Photo Credit: Boston Globe]

NOT IN OUR HOUSE!

"Swing! Line-drive, right field . . . "

. . . "We're going to Tampa!" -- Chip Caray, TBS's play-by-play voice, 12:16 a.m., Oct. 17, 2008

Last night the Red Sox made history in Game 5 of the ALCS, overcoming a 7-0 deficit in the 7th to beat the Tampa Bay Rays and keep the series alive for (at least) one more game. The comeback was the biggest in the postseason since 1929, and the Fenway Faithful (yours truly among them) were duly rewarded.

A total game wrap-up complete with me thoughts, fears, and excitement will follow suit, but for now, let me congratulate young Justin Masterson and the rest of the Bullpen Brethren for an outstanding performance throughout the night.

Okajima, Papelbon and Masterson all pitched scoreless baseball. Manny Delcarmen was the lone member of the 'pen touched up, charged with two runs after walking a pair of runners in the seventh inning. (Mark Remme / MLB.com)

One of my favorite signs of the night was a "THANK YOU, TIMLIN" tribute, which will hopefully prove preemptive as The Admiral now has yet another chance to return to Fenway.

[Photo Credit: Boston Globe]

Long Live The Admiral

According to redsox.com, although the official paperwork isn't due until Friday morning, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said today that the team's roster for the ALCS is pretty much set.

"We'll go with an 11-man staff," Tito said during a press conference on the eve of the series, "Timlin's added..."

He also said of the 42-year-old veteran reliever, "He's very deserving, he's been doing this for a long time."

Watch the rest of the press conference.

Long live The Admiral! Rum all around!

ARRRNOUNCEMENTS

The ALCS starrrrrting rotation is released!

Game 1: BOS @ TB Fri, Oct 10th 8:37 PM
Game 2: BOS @ TB Sat, Oct 11th 8:07 PM
Game 3: TB @ BOS Mon, Oct 13th 4:37 PM
Game 4: TB @ BOS Tue, Oct 14th 8:07 PM

All games will be broadcast on TBS.

xxxx

Former Black Pearl Captain will sail again...and plunder the world's largest bounty!

The UK's Daily Mail reports that Johnny Depp will receive $55.8 million upfront from Disney to reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the fourth installment of Pirates of Caribbean.

The biggest known upfront payout was formerly the $50 million landlubber Tom Hanks was given to come back for the sequel to the Da Vinci Code.

"It's a lot of swag but there's only one Johnny Depp," one insider said. "They simply cannot make another 'Pirates' movie without Jack Sparrow."

However, insiders also speculated that it is unlikely that shipmates Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightly) will go on account with Sparrow.

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[Photo Credit: Boston Globe, FilmEdge.net]

Manny Who?

Delcarmen, that's who! The only Manny we need here in Boston.

To recap: The Eastern Wizard (Okajima) was the first to provide relief to superstar starter Jon Lester, who pitched 8 scoreless innings. Oki faced 3 batters, had 2 outs, but left 1 man on when he turned the mound over to Masterson. The Young Gun* let the inherited runner score, gave up one more run, and Fenway fell silent with anticipation.

With 2 on and 2 outs in the top of the 9th, it was the Captain (literally, Varitek) who made the play of the game when, "Erick Aybar couldn't make contact with winning pitcher Manny Delcarmen's pitch and Varitek aggressively pinned Willits into no-man's land, chasing him down the line and ultimately tagging Willits just before he could retreat to third base." (Ian Browne / MLB.com)

If yer one of the bildgerats who's complainin' that this should've played out differently (with a lobbed toss to Youk, fer example), I suggest you be on yer way...
No one questions the Cap'n!

To finish the night (which is a blur in my mem'ry): Drew struck out; Bay blasted one back for a ground-rule double; Kotsay lined out; and rookie Jed Lowrie contributed the walk-off RBI single that sent the Angels to Davy Jones' locker.

Champagne showers ensued, and ye Black Pearl Girls were on site to experience all the excitement of the Sox clinching a spot in the upcoming AL Championship Series!

Lopez, Masterson, and Delcarmen doused Officer Dunn with champagne, but he retaliated with a hose!

xxxx

Even before any real action got underway baseball-wise, we were spotted by Boston Globe reporter Steve Silva, and want to thank him and welcome any new readers who followed the link from The Scene at Fenway page posted this mornin'.

Stay tuned for more swashbuckling tales surrounding Boston's Black Pearl...

xxxx

*As far as I know, Masterson has not officially been dubbed "The Young Gun" by any members of the Black Pearl; I simply find it a more palatable way to refer to the rookie

[Photo Credit: Boston Globe]

Shipping up to Boston

I think me first mate and I were some of the only scallywags in Massachusetts who still had something to smile about after last night's extra-inning fall to the Angels. Delcarmen, Oki-Doki, and Masterson all provided relief to the Game 3 starter and ace of '07, Josh Beckett.

As always, Wild Thing made our hearts sing by powering through 2 edge-of-your-seat-riding innings, holding the score at 4-4 after the 11th. Pap's fist pumps proved pre-emptive, however, because...

In the 12th inning, a bloop RBI single by No. 9 hitter Erick Aybar against Red Sox lefty reliever Javy Lopez snapped a 4-4 tie that had been in place since an RBI double by Kevin Youkilis in the bottom of the fifth. Mike Napoli, who belted two homers earlier in the game, set the stage with a leadoff single to left. Howie Kendrick, playing Angels baseball, sacrificed Napoli to second. Aybar got an 0-2 pitch that he liked from Lopez for what proved to be the game-winner. (Ian Browne / MLB.com)

Prior witnesses of faith rewarded, the Black Pearl Girls are confident that with Lester on the mound tonight and a full bullpen (Pap remains questionable depending on how much grog he consumes before called upon), we'll be dancing an Irish jig with our fellow Bleacher Creatures sometime before 2 am!

HE DON'T KNOW HOW HE DO...

PAP GETS THE WIN IN GAME 2!!!

"Drink up, me hearties!"

...HE JUST DO!

[Photo Credit: Boston.com]

As cool as a gale wind

Now that I've acknowledged the crowning moment in me history as a Sox fan, and those who made it possible, it's time to move on to the heart of the matter: Today be game day. And not just any game day, but a post season game day.

With Dice-K on the mound for Game 2 tonight, we can look forward to the Eastern Wizard (Okajima) coming in for relief, and potential appearances by Javier Lopez or Manny Delcarmen.

During Game 1, rookie sinkerballer Justin Masterson came in in the eighth and did an outstanding job protecting the Sox one-run lead. The team is relying heavily this post season on five players who are 25 years or younger (and have been in the majors for 2 seasons or less), and Masterson considers this a compliment.

"It's just a testament to the organization in many respects," said rookie reliever Justin Masterson. "And to the faith of [manager Terry Francona] and the coaching staff, who continue to grind and make us who we are and help us to contribute and help us stay calm, cool and collected while we're doing it." (Ian Browne / MLB.com)

Remaining calm proves a running theme this Soxtober, as our resident Wild Thing attributes the unflappable attitude of Jason Bay to the newcomer's ability to produce under pressure.

"Because, man, he's cool as a cucumber," said Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, who nailed down the save in the ninth. "He's got ice in his veins. In this game, the coolest cat always wins. It's that simple."

And what does Pap think about tonight's game? "[We've] got to come here and keep applying the pressure as an entire ballclub. Regardless of what happened in Game 1, if we can keep doing that and take it back to Fenway [2-0], I like our chances." (Ian Browne / MLB.com)

So do I, matey, so do I...