Highlights & Lowlights: Weird World Series Weekend

We had two World Series games this weekend and what better way to talk about them with a highlights/lowlights post including the first ever 'Not a highlight but not a lowlight' section.  

Highlights
Jonny Gomes - Many people questioned Red Sox manager John Farrell as he had Gomes hitting fifth against Lance Lynn on Sunday night. Gomes was not even supposed to be in the game as he stepped in for Shane Victorino whose back tightened up before the game. Gomes socked a three-run homer in the sixth inning putting Boston up 4-1. He also got multiple beard tugs at the end of the it which looks like it hurt pretty bad.

Matt Holiday - For my money if St. Louis were to win the series, Holiday would definitely be considered for the MVP award. He played great in the first four games of the series including a big Game 3. On Saturday, Boston tied up the game Saturday in the sixth inning and in the seventh, Holiday doubled in two runs to give this team a late two-run advantage.

David Ortiz - He is the MVP for Boston if the Red Sox end up winning this team. Ortiz is hitting .700 for the World Series meaning he has a hit every seven out of ten times he stepped up to the plate. That's insane. He went 3 for 3 last night scoring two runs as Stephen Drew and Gomes drove him in.  I realize there is a whole PED thing around him, but Ortiz is a first-ballot Hall of Famer for me. He always seems to be there in the big moment and the fact he can still play a competent first base is pretty impressive.

Xander Bogaerts - It is hard to believe this kid is only 21 years old. He is a complete beast; here to stay for quite some time. Bogaerts came up big on Saturday night by hitting a lead-off triple in the fifth helping Boston drive in their first run of the night. In the eighth, Boegarts step to the plate against one of the best pitchers in October and hit a bloop single pass the middle infielders to tie up the game. This was a major moment for this young man, and he has more moments to come.

Yadier Molina -Quietly, Yadi is having himself a pretty nice World Series. He went 3 for 4 on Saturday night driving in one of the five St. Louis runs and he hit a double on Sunday night. As always, Molina is doing a pretty solid job at calling the game as well. One thing I forgot to mention when I wrote on Friday morning after Game 2 is the job Molina is doing with all of the young talent he is managing on the mound. He deserves a ton of credit for it.

Clay Buchholz - Pretty impressed with Buchholz's effort. He was battling shoulder tightness and people were saying he did not look like himself on the mound when he threw soft toss before Game 2.  Buchholz gutted out four innings only giving up a run.  If this is a regular season game, Buchholz is not playing. If this is a division series game,  Buchholz might play but it would have to be like a Game 5. He only played because it was the World Series and that's awesome when a player does that. Interesting if he heals up how available he can be out of the bullpen.

Trevor Rosenthal - This is a dimmer highlight than any of the other ones. Rosenthal inherited Carlos Martinez's mess in the eighth inning as he came in for a five-out save. He gave up a fielders choice to allow one run in and the following batter Boegarts drove a run in as well. Rosenthal came back in the ninth to strike out two batters including a hapless Brandon Workman on the mound yet still the importance of Rosenthal being able to come back and get his shit together for the ninth.  

Felix Dubront -What an unknown bright spot for this Red Sox team. After Jake Peavy struggled on Saturday night, Dubront bridged the gap with two scoreless innings. He ended up pitching again on Sunday after Buchholz could only go four innings. Dubront pitched 2 2/3 innings allowing only one hit, one run with three strikeouts. Dubront was the fifth starter for this team and he now has become a long reliever extraordinaire. Big reason Boston won Sunday night.

Not a highlight or lowlights
Obstruction call - Obviously, we have to talk about this one.  The play was crazy to watch at a bar because I see Allen Craig get thrown out at home high-fiving my buddy Minks thinking Boston just pulled off the most unique double play of all-time. He goes 'I think they called obstruction and St. Louis win.'  Now, I am a little bit drunk and start sort of yelling at the television along with other people at the bar.  Craziest ending to a game in a long time. Pretty sure it is the right call just hate that it ended a good baseball game.

Lowlights
David Freese - Man, what a downward spiral it has been for Freese. My dad made a point about Michael Wacha's success thus far using Freese, he goes 'You never know with these young guys; one year they can be the year and two years later they can be the goat.'  Cardinals fans booing Freese is hilarious given what he did for that team in the 2011 World Series. BFIB indeed.

Craig Breslow - This guy has been great for the first two playoff series and it went to complete shit in the World Series. Breslow is horrible right now and will probably be on the bench for the rest of the postseason. It is tough to trust him even if Breslow has been one of their best pitchers this year.  He had the error in Game 2 allowing St. Louis to win, he gave up two runs on Saturday and he gave up a hit against the only batter he faced on Sunday. It is apparent Breslow is shook a bit.

Carlos Martinez - After we showered him with praise on Friday, he goes out and lays an egg on Saturday night. The young reliever had his worst outing of the playoffs since Game 2 of the Pittsburgh series. Martinez did not officially give up the runs, but he provided no relief for St. Louis. This is probably just a blip in the radar for Martinez.

Jarrod Saltamacchia - What is getting lost in all this obstruction call is Saltamacchia's throw down to third base. He had no business throwing it down to third in that situation. Could he have nailed Allen Craig? Probably, but you have to play it safe. Koji Uehara has been one of the best pitchers in all of baseball in the last couple of months and you trust he can get Pete Kozma out. I mean it is Pete Kozma for the final out.

Kolton Wong - Feel for this guy because he is a young player who probably made a wrong misstep. It is almost like he was shocked to see Uehara throw over to first base. And in Wong's defense, it is shocking as Uehara barely throws over to first base and has not had a pickoff since 2009. Crazy, crazy series man.

Charlie.