TheSportsNotebook’s MLB coverage is set to go into the offseason, and take a break until March when the time will come again for spring training team previews. We’ve recapped the specifics of Game 6 of the World Series, the Boston Red Sox’ clinching 6-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Let’s close out the year with some thoughts on the World Series as a whole…
A World Series–indeed, an entire postseason that has been marked by tense pitching battles–had a finish on Wednesday night that for baseball fans was anticlimactic, but for the city of Boston was one long night of letting off steam, tension and ultimately celebrating its third championship in ten years. The Boston Red Sox used three-run outbursts in both the third and fourth innings to easily dispatch the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 in Game 6 and win the 2013 World Series.
Red Sox manager John Farrell made a lot of pitching decisions last night that were unorthodox and please note that is neither criticism nor compliment. It’s simply a statement of fact. Farrell pulled Clay Bucholz when the starter had pitched four effective innings. Farrell pulled Felix Doubront after the latter had retired eight straight hitters and then given up one hit. Farrell brought in presumed Game 6 starter John Lackey to pitch the eighth inning.
If St. Louis did all the little things wrong in Game 1, they did them right–or at least enough of them, especially in the seventh–to get themselves a victory. Let’s start in that crucial frame…
Jon Lester was brilliant, Mike Napoli was clutch and David Ortiz was locked in at the plate. These three heroes led the way in the Boston Red Sox’ 8-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of the 2013 World Series, but the enduring image of the Series opener are the uncharacteristic mistakes made in the field by St. Louis.