Pedro vs. Clemens - What Could Be Better?

By Adam J. Ulrey

Todd Walker

After the first two games, with each team winning a game, they now head to Boston for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups in post-season play. In game one Tim Wakefield and his knuckleball had the Yankees baffled. He kept the batters off balance and stayed ahead in the count for most of the night. Then the much-maligned bullpen came out and pitched three shutout innings to extend their streak to 12 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings. With three homers from David Ortiz, Todd Walker and Manny Ramirez it was more than enough to give the Red Sox the win.

Game two was a game of missed opportunities for the Bosox, who had Andy Pettitte on the ropes only to let him escape with minimal damage. The Red Sox loaded the bases in the first and yet they couldn't push across a run. In the second they started the inning off with three straight hits. That pushed one run across, and they had nobody out and the top of their order coming up. That's when manager Grady Little might have made a tactical error. First off, with Johnny Damon out with a concussion, he started Gabe Kapler in center, which is the correct move, but batting him lead off is stupid. There are a number of players that would be better at the top of the order. So with runners on first and second you would think that Kapler should bunt the runners over to stay out a double play and put two runners in scoring position. One problem with that is that the last time Little asked Kapler to sacrifice a runner over he failed miserably. So unable to bunt, Kapler hit into the double play and then Bill Mueller grounded out to end the inning. Pettitte lived to pitch another inning. He would go on to throw very well, after barely surviving the first two to get the win and even the series at 1-1. Boston missed a golden opportunity to knock Pettitte out of the game early and possibly take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. Against the mighty Yankees you just can't let those type of opportunities slip away.

Pedro

Now both teams head back for the game everybody has been waiting for - Clemens vs. Pedro. These two hooked up for a memorable game last year in a 2-1 Boston win, where both pitchers were dominating. This has ten times more meaning. Whichever team comes away with the win and the upper hand, knowing that they beat the other team's best pitcher. Clemens in my mind is one of the top five pitchers to ever play, going against Pedro, the best pitcher in today's game. This should be a classic. Just sit back in your favorite chair or at your favorite pub and pour yourself a cold one, because this is one you simply can't afford not to watch.