Angelstruck Part Deux

One more and the real games begin: Contract negotiations!
(espn.com)

Now more than ever I am waiting for my birthday. Not because the Sox are going to be in the World Series (big chuckle), which is less and less of a certainty at this point after that loss. That is because it's the day when the Celtics begin their quest for their 18th banner against LeBron's Cavaliers. Boston trotted out their highly revered 1-2 punch, and each got punched down by the Halos. Lester was a victim of a Hunter, and Beckett by an Izturis and an Aybar, which had to have been a family of Yankee fans in the Dominican Republic because they (includes brother Willy) just destroy the Sox in big moments. Meanwhile, Lackey and Weaver mowed us down like the modern incarnation of Koufax and Drysdale, and it leaves no choice but to think whoever else we have pitching in this series has to be no less than perfect. Which leads me to Clay Buchholz and whether he can hose down the inferno known as the Angels momentum. Having to depend on a guy who needed his psyche checked by a sports psychologist last year to extend your season doesn't exactly have me giddy with optimism. Especially when he is up against a guy in Kazmir, who has recorded a 2.35 ERA with 46 Ks in 46 IP at Fenway Park since 2007 including the playoffs. Again, crazier things have happened, but the Angels are playing like the better team right now, and you can't ignore that. Not because they are bashing the opponent around mercilessly, but they are exploiting the core weaknesses of the opponent. When Angel manager Mike Scioscia pinch ran Vlad for Howie Kendrick in the 7th, even Jessica Simpson knew that the Angels would run, and the Red Sox weren't gonna stop them. That was easily the clutch move of the game. A stolen base and a couple well placed hits later, the Angels were up 4-1 with the Sox dugout silenced and looking for answers in the midst of the Southern Californian roar. You could just see the energy vapors fly out of that visiting bullpen. The players seem as lifeless as Lenin's waxed corpse or like they are trying to find their rhythm in the first games of Spring Training. They're a team just going through the motions, playing as if they expect their ship to come in just because they made it to MLB's Final 8. No intensity, no pizazz, no indication that they know these games are important. I miss having that energetic team, like this year's Yankees who are just propelled by pure energy and excitement to be in the show. Even when they were behind 3-1 in the 9th, you knew they would at least have enough moxie to man up an put on a fight. The celebrations, the walk-offs and the shaving cream pies are only a part of it. The other "suit and tie" Yankee teams of this decade would have folded in last night's Game 2 against the Twins, especially in that bases loaded, no out 11th inning situation that the Twins set up. Nowadays, A-Rod (Yes, A-ROD!!) is a clutch performer because of this vibrant energy that has overtaken that once corporate feel in the Yankee clubhouse. It only means one thing: Kate Hudson is the Bizarro Jessica Simpson, and we need somebody like her to be dating one of our players. I'll even drive her to the park on Sunday! At times I feel chemistry is overrated, but when I compare the attitudes and results of the Red Sox to that of the Angels and Yankees this postseason, you wonder if it actually makes a difference when you're going for all the marbles. Only 4 teams have came back from an 0-2 deficit, a list which includes the '99 and '03 Sox teams. However, it doesn't take a Gammons to tell you that a pace of 1 run every two games isn't gonna complete a comeback. So it's off to Fenway, where the Sox have pulled off many magical postseason moments with their backs to the wall. History tells me to believe, but the lack of energy and fight shown by this ball club tells me to start buying Celtics tickets.