October 12, 2003 [LINK]
Cubs and Yanks pull ahead
All those 65,000 fans in Pro Player Stadium didn't end up making such a big difference after all. Kerry Wood couldn't quite live up to his sky-high expectations on Friday night, so the Marlins caught up to the Cubs and put the game into extra innings. Two lesser-known players, Randall Simon and Doug Glanville, got the key clutch hits for the Cubs in yet another heart-stopper. The Cubs got all the runs they needed in the first inning Saturday night, when Aramis Ramirez hit a grand slam. Josh Beckett's two-hitter against the Cubs today was astonishing; he's one of those top-rank players who often get overlooked until they make it to the postseason. I was kind of hoping the Marlins would win today so that the Cubs could win the series at home in Wrigley... I don't really mind when hotshots like Manny Ramirez show off a little bit, but his overreaction to the high and (slightly) inside pitch by Roger Clemens yesterday was totally uncalled for. True, Yankee coach Don Zimmer may have overreacted in turn, but I don't think Pedro Martinez was justified in throwing the 72-year old to the ground. I would be perfectly content if the long-suffering Red Sox beat the Yankees in a good, clean game, but if they can't rise above their old grudges and act like professionals, they're probably not going to win. Rain in Fenway means I'm going to miss the makeup game on Tuesday. Arghhh!