He doesn’t put up the most spectacular stats. But J.D. Drew just happens to come thru at the right time. Bad back or no bad back. His grand slam in Game 6 of the ALCS last year. His key home run against the Angels this year. His power surge while Big Papi was on the DL this year.
Last night was just unbelievable. I was getting ready to turn off the game and hit the hay. I was going to give the Red Sox one last half inning. After a whole series of utter futility with RISP, Pedroia came up with an RBI hit that opened the floodgates. Papi cleared the bases with a long overdue home run.
In the 8th it was Crisp’s lengthy at bat, fouling off pitch after pitch, that finally resulted in an RBI single to tie the game.
In between Papi and Coco, you had Drew driving a rocket into the right field seats to drive in 2. Then, after walking Bay to get to Drew (and the lefty on lefty match up) Drew got his 5th hit in 8 tries (if I remember right) off Howell to win the game.
He gets paid a good chunk of money. He’s not flashy, but he plays great defense in right field. And he gets important hits (leading the Sox in game winning hits this season). Here’s hoping that Drew and Papi have rediscovered their swing, and that last night was not a fluke.
I’m sure the 2003 A’s, 2004 Yankees and 2007 Indians all thought the same thing. They all thought there was no way the Red Sox could beat them. This is not any of those teams. No Damon, Pedro, Schilling, Manny etc. Now there is no Lowell, and Beckett is hurt too. I can understand their confidence- they are a good team and the Red Sox are a damaged team. Sometimes things happen like we think they will, and sometimes strange things happen. I’m hoping for the strange things.
Cavman Considers 