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BOSTON – Building a strong agricultural system is more important than ever. A powerful analysis service in your front office is increasingly vital. You have to make clever deals, maybe take some key pieces at the trading deadline, and a lottery ticket is always nice.
But, you know, money does not hurt.
From the first launch of each series to the last of Game 7, you can follow the full post-season MLB on ESPN Radio. Listening »
The Boston Red Sox spent $ 317 million on a party like this: David Price kicked off six solid runs and won in a World Series game, and JD Martinez delivered the base goal to two, two points and two points, in the first leg. The Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 in the second game of the World Series on Wednesday to take a 2-0 lead.
How big is it to win the first two games? Teams with a 2-0 lead in the World Series won 80.8% of the time.
How big was this win for Price? The man who started the playoffs was bombarded at Fenway Park against the New York Yankees – he only scored five withdrawals before letting himself go to a crazy chorus of local fans – won two games in a row in the playoffs and his team has won its last three starts. He has pitched six innings in the last two starts and has only three hits in both outings. Suddenly, the guy who could not win in the playoffs is the one you want on the playoff mound.
Ah, yes, October is unstable and our character missions are ephemeral and temporary.
Before the start of the World Series, Price had admitted that beating the Houston Astros in the AHL league standings was a big problem for him. "It's certain, it's a weight that has been taken away from me," he said on Tuesday. "It's not like the food tastes better or something like that, but it was the moment, and I'm really happy that the time has come and we've passed it." And I can not wait to do the same tomorrow. "
1:15
David Price explains the success of his change in the second game, the pen dealing with the post-season and the fact that the offense does not give up bats.
He did the same thing – sort of. After relying on his change to beat Houston, he relied much more on his tough fight against the Dodgers. Of 88 pitches, 63 were fastballs, turntables or cutters. He participated in 25 changes and, even though he did not record any strikeouts, the Dodgers scored only one in five goals in batting attacks. Is a change. It was a veteran performance of a guy who was one of the best players in the world at the beginning of the decade.
"It's huge," Price said of his performance Wednesday night. "It's the biggest step in baseball – there's no other step that's as important as throwing in a World Series game, unless it's the seventh game in the World Series. doing it is good, of course I am pumped for myself, pumped for all my teammates and coaches so that we have two wins. "
Dave Dombrowski took up his duties as president of the Red Sox baseball operations in August 2015, when his team was about to lose a second consecutive season for the first time since 1994. His first big signing that winter was Price . contract of $ 217 million a year. Price won 17 games in 2016 and led the league in shots, but some looked at the 3.99 ERA and a bad start against the Cleveland Indians in the division. They then decided that the contract was overpaid.
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2 related
Critics grew even more last season (that's Boston, remember) when Price faced injuries for the first time in his career, only made 11 starts and had a confrontation controversial with the Red Sox announcer, Dennis Eckersley, during a team robbery.
Now that Chris Sale is struggling to save time, Price is back in the lead of the rotation.
"He was fighting his buttocks and you have to take off your hat," Martinez said. "These past two outings, he's been amazing, and I'm so happy for him and proud of him, going through all the criticism he's received, to get back to what he's done." He is an integral part of our team and I could not be happier for him. "
Price went through three clear heats before the Dodgers scored twice in the fourth. It could have been worse because they loaded the bases without outs. Price said he had made some good shots this season, giving the Dodgers two good forwards, but he encouraged Enrique Hernandez and Austin Barnes to limit the damage.
"It was a tough run," said Price. "She could have lost control pretty quickly, and that's part of my Achilles heels, especially in playoffs and even in the regular season, it's that big round."
Instead, he settled down and participated in the fifth and sixth innings, removing the last seven batters he faced.
In the meantime, Martinez arrived at the bottom of the fifth. The Dodgers were 2-1 behind Hyun-Jin Ryu when the inning started. Ryu pulled out the first two batters, but the Red Sox then did what they did in the playoffs: doing damage with two outs. Hey, there's a reason they're wearing this post-season slogan on their T-shirts and hoodies (otherwise the necessary winter parkas at one night icy baseball at Fenway).
After Boston charged the goals against Ryu, Ryan Madson came in and led Steve Pearce to a tie. Martinez then lit a fast 1-0 ball in the right field for a mere two-point. He did not hit hard – 80.1 mph – and with Yasiel Puig playing on deep straight ground he dropped to allow the Red Sox to go up to 4-2.
1:04
Martinez reacted to the Red Sox's 2-0 win in the World Series, to David Price's performance and his single in the fifth inning.
Martinez had faced Madson in the first game and had retired. "I faced him yesterday and it was a very similar situation," Martinez said. "He was a little wild and I went there rather passive."
This time, he said to trust his eyes. "Go up there and trust your eyes and if it's a ball, it's a ball, but do not ride there being passive," he said. "It was not a bad pitch, it was a good field, I had the chance to stay inside and empty it."
Martinez, of course, was the other great free agent signed by Dombrowski with Boston. Although Martinez is clearly the best bat on the market, he lingered without a sign until February. The teams seemed to invent reasons not to sign: his defense is not good, he was 31 in August, he still signed with the Red Sox.
Maybe they were right. He signed with the Red Sox a five-year contract worth $ 110 million (he has release clauses after the 2019 and 2020 seasons). As for Price, consider it a good investment if the Red Sox win the World Series.
Part of the reason why the Red Socks were able to land Martinez is that other big spenders took the winter. The Dodgers and Yankees strove to reach the luxury tax threshold, although the Yankees traded for Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton had a solid season, but far from the season that Martinez had. The Giants needed a big hitter, but instead traded against Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen. The Mets joked Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier. The Cubs instead signed Yu Darvish. Maybe the Astros would play in the World Series if they had signed with Martinez to be their defensive player DH or left.
The great thing about the post-season is that any scenario can develop. There will be some unsung heroes – the Red Sox relievers pulled out the nine batters they faced in the second game. Brock Holt will hit for the cycle. Ryan Brasier will be the lottery ticket. Nathan Eovaldi will be this key commercial acquisition in season.
But, generally, to win a world series, your stars must be up to it. Price is now undefeated as a World Series starter. Martinez strikes .333 / .429 / .538 in the playoffs with more marches than strikeouts – a guy who hit 33 times in April and walked only eight times.
Recalling the day that Price signed with the Red Sox, he was asked about his playoff history – he was just 0-7 as a starter at that time.
"I was just saving all my playoff wins for the Red Sox," said Price with a smile. "I know that great things will happen to me in October, which just has not been the case until now, it will change, and I have worked too hard." know that I can do it. "
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