From GOATs to goats: Three Sox to blame for Game 4

Ah, so many things wrong with Game 4 of the ALCS, where do we begin? I for one think there’s some blame to place. So let’s place it.

Jake Peavy
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
I normally stick up for Peavy, but I can’t stick up for last night. His ALDS performace led everyone to believe that he showed up for the postseason. But it’s pretty hard to watch a pitcher walk in a run in the ALCS and feel good about anything else that he could have done. I don’t know if something was wrong with his contact lenses or what, but he just couldn’t see what Saltalamacchia was trying to communicate to him. Plain and simple, he just didn’t have it last night, and that ended up putting a lot of pressure on the offense. Quite frankly I’d like to erase that performance from my memory, so let’s move on.

Dustin Pedroia
This one was surprising. He bobbled a ball that could have been a double play, and let a run score. He missed a stop - albeit a difficult one, but one that someone who is arguably the best second baseman in the league could have made - that let another run score. He also left three on base. Pedroia is just the type of player who is so good, that you need him to be at his best every game in the playoffs, or else it will cost you (which it did). Luckily, he’s the type of guy that usually bounces back from that and plays even better, so let’s hope that’s the case for Game 5.

David Ortiz
Really, Papi? You’re the designated hitter. That means you’re designated to hit the ball, not go 0-for-5 and strand five (five!!) runners when your team is trying to get seven runs. Yes, your starter didn’t strike a very good deal for you, but the postseason is your jam, man! Everyone knows that. I know you’ll be swinging for the fences in Game 5, so how about we reach them this time, okay?