Scott Petrak: Relax, this Tribe team won’t fail
Scott Petrak
CLEVELAND — Take a deep breath and relax.
Yes, the Indians lost Game 5 7-1 Thursday night.
Yes, the ALCS is headed back to Boston.
Yes, the Indians failed to clinch at home.
Yes, ace C.C. Sabathia fell to 0-2 in the series.
No, it’s not time to panic.
No, this won’t be a repeat of 2004 when the Red Sox became the only team in postseason history to rally from a 3-0 deficit to oust the Yankees and win their first World Series since 1918.
No, Northeast Ohio won’t add The Collapse to The Drive, The Fumble and The Shot.
This Indians team is better than the Red Sox and will prove it once and for all in cramped Fenway Park. Sure, a home-field celebration would’ve been nice, but silencing Red Sox Nation in its house will be just as sweet.
“The champagne tastes just as good on the road as it does at home,” first baseman Ryan Garko said.
It’s understandable to worry — you are a Cleveland sports fan. It’s not OK to doubt — this team has given you no reason.
Game 5 was a tough one to lose, especially after two days of anticipation. But it’s easily explainable.
First, it’s hard to beat a good team — the Red Sox won 96 regular-season games for a reason — four straight times. Secondly, Josh Beckett is about as clutch as clutch gets in October.
With his ex-girlfriend, country singer Danielle Peck, on the field twice to belt out the national anthem and “God Bless America,” Beckett wasn’t the least bit affected. He must have won the breakup.
He pitched eight innings, allowing just a run on five hits and a walk. He struck out 11 by mixing a 97 mph fastball with a wicked curveball. If Manny Ramirez is Cleveland’s public enemy No. 1, Beckett has made himself 1A.
“Obviously Beckett was sticking it to us,” manager Eric Wedge said.
Beckett’s stuck it to a lot of teams. In eight postseason starts (5-2, 1.78), he has never gone fewer than six innings, while allowing more than two runs just once.
Here’s the good news for Tribe fans: Beckett, who has both Boston victories, won’t start another game in this series.
Fausto Carmona will for the Indians, and that’s some more good news. Carmona will get the ball in Game 6 on Saturday.
Although he wasn’t his sharpest in Game 2 — four runs in four innings — he was the Tribe’s best starter in the second half of the season, and he didn’t allow more than three runs in back-to-back starts all year.
Carmona went 9-4 with a 2.26 ERA in the second half. He was 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA for the year. If on, his heavy sinker will make the Green Monster a non-factor, and his overall stuff is good enough to handle Ramirez, David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis — the threesome carrying the Red Sox lineup.
“He just needs to be aggressive and pitch his game,” Wedge said of Carmona. “He needs to focus on his strengths and go after it. If he does that, I think we’ll be in pretty good shape.”
The Red Sox will counter with Curt Schilling in Game 6 and Daisuke Matsuzaka if there is a Game 7. The Tribe knocked both of them out after 42/3 innings earlier in the series.
Looking for more reason for optimism? The Indians care. They run out balls off the wall, unlike Ramirez. They dive for fly balls, unlike Ramirez. They slide into home plate, unlike Ramirez.
Sometimes they care too much. Sabathia overthrew in his first two postseason starts, and designated hitter Travis Hafner looks like he’s about to turn the bat handle into sawdust. He struck out twice Thursday, which gives him six strikeouts in his last eight at-bats.
“We need him to get it going,” Wedge said. “He’s getting in his own way a little bit.”
One win is all that blocks the Indians’ way to the World Series. They have everything they need to get it done.
As Journey wailed on the stadium speakers before the game Thursday: Don’t stop believin’.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7135 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.
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Filed by Scott Petrak October 19th, 2007 in Sports.
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Yes, Cleveland might run out balls and slide at home unlike Manny but Boston played with Heart, unlike Clevland!
Use those towels to wipe your *ss!
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“By the way Boston fans, what are you doing reading a Cleveland newspaper article anyway? Don’t you have an LL Bean catalog to read or some Dunkin Donuts to eat? Go watch your Tom Brady choke against Peyton again and stick some clam chowder up your a..”
wow. to the dude who wrote that:
wait a minute.. wait.. wait.. who won last night? did the Red Sox win? I think they did. is every “Boston fan” laughing in your face? I think they are. were Cleveland players crying while Red Sox nation was being the opposite of silent in our house? yep. did the Indians LOSE THREE STRAIGHT GAMES after having that CRAZY 3-1 advantage with their alleged ACES starting games 5 & 6? you betcha.
i hope you are sick to your stomach re: that cocky comment. i hope you’ve learned your lesson. consider yourself put in your teeny tiny place. a place of shame, where the tears flow like champagne. a place called Cleveland. put that in your straw and suck it.
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Yeah, it’s ALL about Manny, isn’t it, Scott? You wish. While you all were wringing your hands about what Manny did or didn’t do, Dustin pedroia and J.D. Drew pulled the rug out from underneath you.
And Manny shows up to play when it counts, unlike your Cy Young favorite and his little tagalong, unlike your DH.
Leave your arrogance and jealousy at the door. It doesn’t become any of you.
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. What a joke you and the Indians are. Next time don’t mess with the playoff Gods. The Red Sox proved to be the more dominant team both during the regular season head-to-head and in the playoffs. End of story.
-Curses be with you
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It’s Tribe Time alright… tribe time to go home!!!!!
That’s what ya get for being cocky bastages…. The Yankees aren’t even that stupid to say such things like “The Champagne tastes just as good on the road”… Well you were wrong, and I’m glad the Sox shut you all up in Cleveland. Who’s the loser now? Cleveland Indians, Petrak, Garko, and all the fans who now look bad because of their team talking trash before it was over…. The Cleveland team awoke the sleeping giant on it’s own volition!! How stupid is that!?!?!?
Remember this … don’t mess with the best….remember this the next time you play a great team like the Sox…
GO SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I heard Garko put away the champagne and he’s now drinking WHINE!
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Cleveland Fans-
From one baseball fan to another, it was a great series to watch. Having seen the Bosox collapse in spectacular fashion for the last 40 years, I feel your pain. You put together a great team and they gave it a great run.
This team reminds me of the 2003 Red Sox- young and fired up, with just a couple pieces missing. The youth got them there but I think they lacked a little of the postseason polish that many of Boston’s older players brought to the table.
Not all Boston fans are interested in gloating, taunting, or trying to rub it in. Some of us still appreciate quality baseball. Thanks for supporting your team with pride. You guys made this series as interesting as they players.
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Hmmm…sounds like you’re right…wait, NO! GO SOX, BRING ON THE ROCKS
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Wow, not one word of rebuttal on here. Jeez, I would’ve thought at least an apology for beings such Dumb-#*s!!! What can I possibly add that hasn’t already been posted? Thank you Red Sox Nation!
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BOSTON ROCKS BOSTON ROCKS BOSTON ROCKS BOSTON ROCKS
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Good Series…We’ll be back..Our teams young and not going anywhere. Hopefully Theo has enough money to keep your team together…for a few months…To All of the crap talkers on this post: You might be in the series but you’re all still New Yorks little BIACH!!! Yes…Northeast Ohio rocks!!!!
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I’m a Boston fan and would be lying if I pretended not to enjoy my brethren’s talkbacking… First of all, I’ve never read anything else by Scott Whatever, because he’s never been picked up by the AP before (shocker!) - but if this is the kind of crap he usually writes, he should be ashamed, then fired. It’s fine to root for the home team. Expected even. But there’s such a thing as truth in reporting, and the appearance of balance. If you are REPORTING the news, report the facts and leave the fluff to the feature writers. If you ARE a features writer, don’t throw stones in your glass house. Don’t talk a big game if you don’t have the stones to play it. Being a TOTAL HOMER as Scott was is embarrassing. But, second of all, MORE embarrassing than the collapse of the Indians, MORE embarrassing than this reporter’s ugly and inaccurate biases, is the UTTER *DISAPPEARANCE of Cleveland’s alleged diehard. How dare those jerks call Boston fans fair weather bandwagoners only to VANISH upon their team’s failure. NOW is the time when they should be vocal in their commitment. Every team loses. Every team disappoints. Did Boston fans become ghosts in ‘03? I don’t know about you guys, but walking around Boston the day after Game 7 in ‘03 I saw at least a dozen Boston caps on every street. If Cleveland fans were true, they’d be on every site, in every talkback, supporting and defending the Indians. Why do I find this Scott Petrak so disgusting? He was all talk four days ago, when the odds were still in his team’s favor. Now, when he should be representing the Indians with pride that ONLY A TRUE FAN can muster after defeat? He and every last Cleveland fan are nowhere to be found. Pathetic isn’t a strong enough word. I would be ashamed and mortified today if I called myself a Cleveland fan. Boston fans know what it’s like to remain faithful in times of deep dark despair. All Cleveland fans know how to do is disappear.
p.s. I feel sorry for Trot Nixon. He deserves better than a disloyal, fair weather Cleveland fanbase.
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I was all ready to root for Cleveland if they beat the Red Sox until the crap posted on this happened, until they sold shirts before the series was over and before Garko ran his mouth and then tried to back track the comments that were printed in a CLEVELAND newspaper where he blamed Boston and said they twisted the words.
Act like you have been there. The fates were lined up for Cleveland and someone saw how they acted and took away the world series.
You got what you deserved Cleveland fans especially those chanting rice - K at Dice - K
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Hey…. too bad you still have to wait another year to at least try to go to the WS….Sorry kid… but this year is RED SOX!
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booyah
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It’s choke time now.
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Garko learned his lesson, “Dont count your chickens before they hatch”.
Cleveland fans: As a Boston Fan we are talking trash because of what was said. Garko Acting all high and Mighty, lol. Then passing out hankies with W.S. 2007 printed on them? OMG, you got Cursed!
Talking Budgets: The Red Sox can Afford a good team because people have always showed up even on losing years. I was reading Garko’s BLOG and on how Cleveland Fans have become to like baseball again. I see something wrong with that.
Go Red Sox and I know Cleveland will be watching Rooting for the Rockies? LOL, Make up your mind on what team you like.
Enjoy
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…and I quote “This Indians team is better than the Red Sox and will prove it once and for all in cramped Fenway Park. Sure, a home-field celebration would’ve been nice, but silencing Red Sox Nation in its house will be just as sweet.
“The champagne tastes just as good on the road as it does at home,†first baseman Ryan Garko said”
Wine goes better with crow anyway!
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OK, OK, we don’t need to act like arrogent Yankee scum fans. This writer deserves getting beat up(what the hell were you thinking?), but the Indians are a very good team and gave us a good run. Just remember how we felt before 2004.
That being said, the towels are so retarded(as are the Indian beat writers apearently), and I HAVE enjoyed all the smack talking here. Maybe Trot will stay and throw out the 1st pitch on wed., he has earned our undying respect(unlike Kenny Stop Sign).
BTW, I do feel bad for the 3rd base coach but like they used to tell us… Indian fans, there’s always next year ;D
Go Sox!!!!
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This was great I wish I could have seen hos face Scott that is when he watched the indians crumbling to the Sox!! Scotty never doubt that sox I’m sure you were around in 04. big mistake with the article but I’m confident that you will learn.
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Hey Katie Deets,
Awesome Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady reference. Why not a, “The Pats couldn’t even beat the Browns by more than 17, lolz!!!11″ reference? When your town can manage to hang on to an NFL franchise consinstently, then you can comment on ours.
Regarding this article, it was picked up by the AP and the absolutely insane quotes of Ryan Garko were used (rather effectively, mind you) as rallying bulletin board material throughout Red Sox Nation.
Your Indians are a great team and there is lots to admire about them. I’d be shocked if they aren’t back playing for the pennant again next year. But if there’s one lesson learned for their clubhouse, it’s that you shut your mouth until you’ve nailed it all down.
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looks like you’re eating your words now, buddy. don’t get me wrong. I sorta feel bad for the Indians if only for the reason that the red sox went through the very same run of bad luck. But it is clear that there is such a difference of class here. Sox players and fans don’t have to trash talk to make themselves feel better and more secure. They reflect on their own shortcomings and analyze how to overcome them.
They don’t make stupid statements like Garko. Like my mother always said, “Don’t count your chickens.” and then to have Beckett’s ex sing the national anthem. How low can you be? Seriously.
I only hope that one day the Indians can experience a comeback like this one and maybe they will think twice before they count their chickens.
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One question Indian fans….where did you put your liitle white towels during the last game?……I bet I know
oh, and I heard “Gagne is one pitch away from baggin groceries” I thought that was really funny….sad but true
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That team you’re better than just won the World Series in 4 straight games! How’s that taste?
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2007 WORLD SERIES CHAMPS- TAKE THAT!!
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