BRUINS SEASON PREVIEW

Just because you're not hearing anything about it doesn't mean it won't happen. The Bruins start regular season play Thursday night in Denver against the Avalanche.

The B's are coming off a somewhat successful 07-08 campaign, which saw a first round playoff exit, but only after giving Montreal a run for their fake looking play money. Considering most of the season was played without star center Patrice Bergeron, it was a good year for us dozen or so Bruins fans.

The biggest off-season acquisition was signing winger Michael Ryder, formerly of the Canadiens. Not exactly like the Celtics getting KG a year ago, or the Patriots getting Moss, or the Sox getting Schilling.

HOWEVER, the Bruins will have a healthy Patrice Bergeron this season.

The Bruins lacked explosive scoring potential last year. They scored by grinding out possessions, playing good defense, forcing turnovers in the neutral zone, and cleaning up the garbage in front of the net. But Bergeron is a playmaker. He can create space and generate offensive pressure with the best of them.

I think the B's will build on their moderate success of last year's season, get a decent playoff seeding (4th or 5th), and make a deep run in the postseason. They might even make the Stanley Cup Finals. But whoever wins the East will be demolished by the monstrous Red Wings.

Here's a position-by-position preview:

GOALIES:

Tim Thomas stepped up and became the clear #1 last season when Manny Fernandez went down with an injury. Neither Thomas nor Fernandez are the kind of goalies that will stand on their heads and steal games on their own. But they don't screw up, and if the defense in front of them is solid, they'll keep the Bruins in position to win almost every game.

DEFENSE:

Captain Zdeno Chara leads a defense full of familiar faces. The Bruins didn't make any changes to their blue-liners. Chara had career highs in goals, assists, and points. He'll be paired with Dennis Wideman. The 25 year old excelled on the powerplay and was a force on the ice with Chara.

24 year old Mark Stuart will probably pair with 13 year veteran Aaron Ward. The 3rd defensive pairing of Andrew Alberts and Andrew Ference is significantly weaker than the top two, and could be a liability. But the top two groups spend enough time on the ice against the better forwards that it shouldn't be a major problem.

FORWARDS:
The Bruins will roll two very talented lines, a 3rd line with the potential to score, and a hard grinding 4th line. Marc Savard was 3rd in the NHL in assists last year. He'll team up with Michael Ryder and PJ Axelsson. Axellsson is best known for his defense. Ryder was once a legitimate scorer, but his last season with Montreal was a failure. Being with Savard should help him return to quality. But if he doesn't, Savard's passing and playmaking will be wasted.

Bergeron, Marco Sturm, and Phil Kessel will be one of the most exciting lines in the NHL. Bergeron has 90 point potential, Sturm has solidly gotten over 25 goals consistently in his career and has the potential for 30+, and 21 year old Kessel has the speed and skill sets to be a top forward in the NHL.

The Bruins power play was a disappointment last season, but it doesn't look like it will be in 08-09. Bergeron, Sturm, Savard, Ryder, and Chara can be put on the ice with a man advantage. That's a lot of firepower there.



The Bruins have a number of young forwards that showed sparks last year. Milan Lucic became a star in the postseason. He's PJ Stock only bigger, much better defensively, and a better scorer.



David Krejci came out of nowhere and amassed 27 points in 56 games.

Chuck Kobasew was 2nd on the team with 22 goals last year.

The enforcer Shawn Thornton averaged a penalty minute about every 6 minutes of ice time he got.



The important thing about this team is that it has character. We saw that in the Montreal series last year, in the overtime win, and the classic 5-4 Game 6 victory. It's not going to be pretty European style hockey like the Canadiens play. It won't be star-studded offensive onslaughts like the Red Wings. It won't be cheap shot goonery like the Flyers. It will be a healthy mix of scrappy, determined physical play with offensive firepower, and stingy defense.

I - for one - am more excited for this season than any Bruins season in recent memory.

Sources:
NHL.com
ESPN.com
BostonBruins.com
Boston.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Winslow Townson
AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez

MORE ON GAME 4

Since 2004, the Red Sox are 7-1 in series clinching games. The Sox are now 4-0 against the Angels in postseason series, with a total record of 13-4.

Jon Lester pitched 14 innings in the series, allowing 0 earned runs, 1 unearned run, 10 hits, 3 walks, and 11 strikeouts. In his last 23 innings of postseason pitching, he has not allowed an earned run. There are no series MVP awards for the Divisional Series, but if there were, Lester would have won this one.

Jason Bay was 7 for 17 in the series (.412) with 2 homers, 2 doubles, and 5 RBI. Jed Lowrie was 4 for 11 (.364). JD Drew was 4 for 14 (.286) with a double, a homer, and 3 RBI. Ellsbury was 6 for 18 (.333), with 3 doubles, 3 steals, and 6 RBI. These contributions were vital because...

The 2-3-4 combination of Pedroia-Ortiz-Youkilis was a combined 9 for 52 (.173), with 3 doubles, no homers (.231 slugging), and 3 RBI. Winning a series without these guys hitting is an impressive accomplishment. Especially since Beckett and Matsuzaka were both a little dull.

Looking ahead to the ALCS and the upstart Rays, the question of a #4 pitcher will be a hot topic the next few days. Wakefield struggled against Tampa this season (0-2, 5.87 ERA), but Byrd didn't face them at all. I'd rather see Byrd out there because of Wakefield's bad experiences earlier in the year.

Mike Lowell is most likely going to miss the ALCS due to his hip. Even if he were healthy enough to take the field, he's become a gap in the lineup and a question mark in the field because of his injury.

It should be a good series. But I think Pedroia, Youkilis, and Ortiz will get rolling, and the Sox will win in 6.

Sources:
Baseball-Reference.com
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Charles Krupa

MOVIN ON UP... TO THE ALCS

"Who was the last Red Sox manager to win two World Series?" I asked a foursome of middle-aged miserable dung beetles of men, right after they criticized and ripped apart Terry Francona for leaving Masterson in the game. Two of these scared shitless negative nancies actually wanted to fight me because I defended Tito as a manager, even though I disagreed with the decision to keep Masterson in.

"He cost us the game." These clowns argued.

"The game's nowhere near over" I drunkenly replied. And it wasn't, not until Jed Lowrie stepped to the plate in the 9th and slid a groundball into right field for the game winning hit. In celebration, I went up to my Francona hating rivals and offered my hand in a high five, a few of them begrudgingly reciprocated, but by and large, they seemed upset that the Sox won.

These losers who yearn for the Curse of the Bambino, and Grady Little leaving Pedro in, and Mike Torez on the mound; these crumb-bums drifted out of the bar before the party had really started. Their negativity made my celebration that much sweeter. The fewer people that have faith in the Sox, the greater share of glory for the rest of us.



Jed Lowrie knocking in Jason Bay... how perfect is that? The minor leaguer knocking in the man who replaced Manny Ramirez. Once again, eat it Bill Simmons, and tell us all how it tastes.

The Boston Red Sox are going to the ALCS for the 4th time in 6 years. And of course, they're facing the Tampa Bay Rays. More on all of this when I calm down, and sober up.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Elise Amendola
AP Photo/Steven Senne

MIKE LOWELL SHOULD NOT BE PLAYING

I hate saying it, because he's been such a warrior for this team, but Mike Lowell isn't contributing in the way we need him to. He's 0 for 8 in the series, and has no range at third base. It's only by the grace of questionable managing that Mike Scioscia hasn't had Erick Aybar and Chone Figgins bunt up the 3rd base line every at-bat.

Sean Casey and Mark Kotsay don't have great histories with John Lackey. Casey is 0 for 6 in his career off him, Kotsay is 9 for 34 (.265), but Lowell is only 3 for 19 (.158) off Lackey.

The reason the Sox lost last night was not Mike Lowell. But he didn't do much to help the team win. And it's not his fault. He's doing all that he can do. In the field especially, the Sox need to make a change. Another 0 for 4 night, and a slow third baseman having trouble throwing accurately may cost them Game 4.

THE BAD NEWS ISN'T THAT THE SOX LOST, IT'S THAT WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE TBS ANNOUNCERS FOR ONE MORE NIGHT

I've said it before, I'll say it again: the word luck should almost never be used in sports. Teams don't win thanks to luck, nor do they lose because of bad luck. But sometimes, especially in baseball, there is good fortune and bad fortune. To me, the Angels were blessed with a portion of fortune, while the Sox were slightly snake-bitten. But Los Angeles/Anaheim/Orange Country/California/Earth still did what they needed to do in order to win. And the Red Sox still did what they needed to do in order to lose.



Torii Hunter's 2 out single in the 1st was an example of Angelic good fortune. The ball was not hit hard, but it found a tricky place in the Sox' infield defense. Hunter reached to load the bases, Beckett walks Juan Rivera, and it's 1-0 Anaheim.

Mark Teixeira is 5 for 12 in this series. Dustin Pedroia is 0 for 8. But Pedroia's hit the ball much harder than Teixeira. He's just not finding the holes, and he's hitting it right at someone.

But good fortune/bad fortune aside, there are no real angels in the outfield helping Anaheim out. The Sox did more to help the Angels win than Lady Luck did.

Beckett looked rusty, and sluggish on defense. 5 innings, 4 earned is not typical Josh Beckett postseason stuff. Was it rust? Was it a lingering injury? Both, perhaps?



Jacoby Ellsbury deserves nothing but criticism for the way he played in the late innings. Oversliding 2nd base in the 7th, and standing up BEFORE CALLING TIMEOUT?!? That's stupid baseball! And it may have cost the Sox a scoring inning.

In the 11th, Ellsbury struck out looking. The third pitch was clearly outside, but home plate ump Kerwin Danley was itching to ring Jacoby up after he had a mini-tantrum on a close 2nd strike call at the knees. A little bit of immaturity may have cost Ellsbury a strike.

The good news the Red Sox have Jon Lester on the mound later tonight. The bad news is that it's still on TBS, and WEEI/WRKO are 4 seconds ahead of my TV. The game's also at 8:37, an hour later than Sunday's contest. Hopefully the teachers in Red Sox Nation are kind enough not to schedule tests and quizzes Tuesday.

Man of the Game:
Mike Napoli. 3 for 5, 2 homers, 3 RBI, scored game winning run in the 12th



Horrible Announcing Moments:
About Lowell being at the plate in the 10th "This is sweet symmetry." What?
"Everyone here has dry-mouth."

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Charles Krupa
AP Photo/Elise Amendola

BAY AREA BEATDOWN

It started ugly for Matt Cassell, who was intercepted on his second throw of the game. Then he did something everyone in New England has been waiting for him to do... launch a bomb for Randy Moss. Perfect pass, perfect catch, and it was a touchdown. He tried it later, with the opposite result (an INT). But he eventually settled into the game management kind of groove we saw in the Jets game.



The defense also took some time to click. 95 of San Francisco's 199 offensive yards came in the 1st quarter, and 14 of their 21 points. But in the last three frames, the Pats defense allowed a mere 104 yards, and only 7 points.

J.T. O'Sullivan (one of the Irishest names ever) was picked three times, and was consistently pressured. He was only sacked once, but frequently had to get rid of the ball early, or scramble for yardage. O'Sullivan's 23 rushing yards accounted for about a third of San Fran's total offense on the ground. Gore only ran for 54.

The Pats relied heavily on all four tailbacks. Sammy Morris was the powerback, and got 63 yards on 16 carries. Kevin Faulk had his first ever 2 TD game, and was outstanding as always. LaMont Jordan was solid, but sat out most of the game due to injury.



Laurence Maroney was disappointing. 10 carries, 26 yards. I don't know if his shoulder is bothering him, but he's bothering me. There was a 2nd and 3 play in the 3rd in which Maroney hopped out of bounds, 6 inches shy of the first down marker. Had he lowered his shoulder, he would have gotten the first. Maybe he's hurting, maybe he's not. But he's not as effective as he should be.

Cassell progressed nicely as the afternoon progressed. He started off looking scared, worried, and extremely vulnerable when pressured. He ended the day cool, confident, and comfortable when surrounded by pass-rushers. There were a few hiccups, but by and large it was a solid performance.

The Pats go down the coast to San Diego to face the 2-3 Chargers.

Horrible Announcing Moments:
Calling 2nd year DB Brandon Meriweather a rookie
The nickname "Slot Machine" for Wes Welker
"Tackle Sandwich"
"I want some bacon and eggs with all these pancakes"

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Ben Margot
AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

SOX RISE ABOVE FALLEN ANGELS

Top of the 9th, 5-5 game, the MLB record holder for saves in a season on the mount, and as a Red Sox fan, you expect to win, and win right then and there. This is the hold the Boston Red Sox have on the Anaheim Angels. Personally, I thought Ortiz was gonna hit the homerun, and he nearly did. But it was JD Drew, the much maligned, much complained about JD Drew.



The Man of the Game is JD Drew. Obviously he had the game winning blast, but he also knocked in a run in the 1st with a big 2 out double, and made a good catch to rob Garret Anderson of a homerun in the 6th.



We were all worried about how Jason Bay would react to postseason play. It's only been two games, but 5 for 9 with two homers and 5 RBI is a pretty good start. Eat that, Bill Simmons (more on that topic at a later date).



Going back to Fenway with a 2-0 lead is phenomenal. Lots of Sox fans would've been satisfied with a split. But let's not go crazy and start planning our ALCS drinking routines. There's one part of Game 2 that has me concerned...

Daisuke Matsuzaka.

5 innings, 3 runs, 108 pitches, 8 hits, 3 walks. That might do for the regular season, against Baltimore. But in the playoffs, there's no such thing as an "average" start. There's great, good, and not good enough. This start was not good enough. The Sox were put in a position of relying on that questionable bullpen for 4 innings. Papelbon had to get 6 outs.



The Angels figured Matsuzaka out. They swung at bad pitches in the first few innings, but they adjusted in the 5th. Daisuke averaged less than 6 innings per start this year, and in the postseason that weakness has been even more exposed. I'm not trying to be negative, but this is a potential problem in either a Game 5 in this series, or in any ALCS.

Francona's decisions to play Kotsay and Cora paid off. Cora was 1 for 3 with a double and a run scored. Kotsay was 2 for 5.

The Sox left a lot of men on base, but they weren't catching any breaks out there. Hard hit balls were being caught. Pedroia, Youkilis, and Ortiz all missed homeruns by inches. All those balls seemed to be gone when they came off the bat. It reminded me of last year's ALCS, the way balls found the opposing team's gloves so easily, no matter how well they were hit. And Mark Teixeira had one of the softest 3 for 3 performances I've seen in awhile.

Kevin Youkilis' defensive display in the 9th inning, to me, exemplified why he is this team's MVP. He already made a few good plays at first in Game 1. Last night, Torii Hunter bunts up the 3rd base line, Youk barehands it, and fires a bullet to 1st. Then, he grabs the foul ball that was headed for the photographer's nest. His defensive versatility and offensive production are second to none on this team, and possibly in the AL.

Nice New England sports doubleheader on Sunday. The Pats in San Francisco at 4, and the Angles at the Sox at 7:00. Joe Saunders (17-7, 3.41 ERA, no postseason experience) vs. Josh Beckett (we all know his October resumé).

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Chris Carlson
AP Photo/Mark Avery
AP Photo/Mark Terrill

SOX LINEUP TONIGHT

No Mike Lowell. Kotsay at first. No Jed Lowrie. Cora at short.

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. 2B Dustin Pedroia
3. DH David Ortiz
4. 3B Kevin Youkilis
5. RF JD Drew
6. LF Jason Bay
7. 1B Mark Kotsay
8. C Jason Varitek
9. SS Alex Cora

SP Daisuke Matsuzaka

Cora has a decent history against Ervin Santana, 2 for 3 with a double and triple. As opposed to Lowrie, who has never faced him. Also, the 9-1-2 combination of Cora-Ellsbury-Pedroia allows for some potential small ball in a close game, if necessary.

Why Mark Kotsay instead of Sean Casey? Casey is 0 for 3 against Santana. Kotsay is 7 for 18 (.389) with two doubles.