Let the Head Games Begin

by Spidey on Oct 20, 2007 11:47 AM EDT

Until the game begins we have no idea what to expect out of Schilling and Carmona tonight. Fans of each team can look back on past performance, excluding Game 2, and pull out examples for why they think each pitcher will deliver their teams the victory. Fausto had that 3-hit performance against the Yankees (albeit, he faced the choking Yankees and the game was at Jacobs Field) and Schilling has some of the greatest post-season performances in the past 15 years (albeit, he is a vastly different pitcher today than any of those instances).

But, we do have the ability to look at how the "head" game has started, and at this time neither has struck me as winning, yet. Schilling stands out as saying some strange things and appears to be reaching when he says he is a better pitcher than the Bloody Sock Game. In fact, he says he is "scared to death" - whoa!

Failure too scary for Curt to consider in postseason

Still, this is Schilling and if he wasn't a dumb kid during his first several seasons, we would be talking about Carmona going up against a Hall of Fame pitcher, and that certainly scares me... but not to death.

Fausto rehashed his pitching coach's remarks ("I was trying to be a little too fine") and saying that he put the last game behind him. Typical comments, and the safe comments for a young pitcher who does not speak English. I would have liked to hear Fausto say something a little different, but I can't put words in his mouth.

Carmona set for fresh start

I hope that Carmona really has put the game behind him. Fenway Park has a lot of ghosts for him and since I have not seen him vanquish them (including the Game 2 start), I cannot go into this game with much confidence. I'm certainly hopeful - very hopeful - but not overly confident.

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Re: Let the Head Games Begin

I'm glad Fausto has already pitched postseason ball in Fenway. That has to be a plus for tonight.

by DixonCayne on Oct 20, 2007 11:51 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Let the Head Games Begin

Spidey,

My expectation is that Fausto is too good to get thrown off with any head games. I'm obstinately holding to the belief that his game two start was different from the wildness we've seen from CC.

Sabathia's fastball is nearly straight, so if he can't hit spots with it -- especially after painting like a Sherwin Williams employee all year long -- there's something wrong mentally. In contrast, Fausto throws nearly as hard with some seriously ill movement. I imagine that it can, at times, get a little difficult to pinpoint. Hence game two.

I might very well be approaching this game with rose-colored glasses, but I think it's a fair analysis. Go Fausto.

by tabler84 on Oct 20, 2007 4:04 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Let the Head Games Begin

Let's hope this is the case. You may very wel be right. Case-in-point: People are talking about Beckett as one of the greatest post-season pitchers ever, but his story can make us (maybe it's only me) feel a little better about Carmona. In his first post-season, Beckett had a stellar first game in 2003 (giving up 1 run against the Giants), then came back and had an awful start against the Cubs in Wrigley (giving up 6 runs in 6 innings). He got back on track in his next start (a 2-hit shut-out in game 5), before building the foundation of his legend in the World Series against the Yankees.

So far, the first two games are strikingly similar. Another reason I am hopeful (but still not allowing myself to be confident).

by Spidey on Oct 20, 2007 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Let the Head Games Begin

Well, perhaps this will inspire some confidence: I had soup for lunch, and I will be watching tonight's game from the exact same spot that I watched another Cleveland team win a game six to head to the finals of their sport (that would be the Cavs, but I dare not say a certain player's name!)

I'm not superstitious -- not even a little bit stitious, heh -- but I'm trying to engender good will from the game thread posters. ;)

by tabler84 on Oct 20, 2007 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Let the Head Games Begin

Same here. Soup for lunch and I forced the 21-month old and 9-month old to eat the same.

As another funny twist - Fatal Attraction was on one of the HBO channels last night. As expected, Michael Douglas did not finish off Glenn Close. But Anne Archer nailed her with a bullet through the heart. Is it coincidence that I should see that movie last night? Or a message.

by Spidey on Oct 20, 2007 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions