October 30th, 2007
Credit where credit’s due
Out of all players to have moved through Yawkey Way over the past four years, I’ve probably been hardest on Mike Timlin. It was exactly one year ago today that I bemoaned the Sox resigning the aged righthander; that came several months after I eviscerated Timlin for his performance in the ‘06 Boston Massacre; then, just for good measure, I tried to bury the guy last May.
He came up big in the Series; in fact, despite playing a negligible role in Sox victories before Sunday night’s clincher, Timlin was, arguably, the Sox’s most reliable postseason reliever who’s not know for dancing around in his jock. He pitched a perfect 8th in Game 2 of the ALCS (otherwise known as the Gagne debacle) and added on another 1.1 perfect innings (with 2 Ks) in Game 3. That was it until Game 3 of the Series, when he finished up the sixth for Dice-K before giving up a pair of singles to start the seventh; “Darkman” proved his mortality by allowing those two to score when Holliday smacked his first pitch into dead center.
Then there was game 4. In the bottom of the seventh, the Sox were cruising—at least to the extent that a three-run lead can be considered cruising in Denver. After Mini Manny gave up a four-bagger and a single (sandwiched around a walk), the towel-waving Rockies fans had gotten back into the game…and then Timlin came in and notched two quick punchouts to end the inning. Okajima made things interesting in the eighth, but I’m half convinced that was just so Papelbon could have his moment in the spotlight…
So a tip of the cap, Mike. To borrow an overused phrase, you were a true pro. This fall, we were lucky to have you on the team.
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[…] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptOut of all players to have moved through Yawkey Way over the past four years, I’ve probably been hardest on Mike Timlin. It was exactly one year ago today that I bemoaned the Sox resigning the aged righthander; that came several months … […]
Pingback by My Ghillie » Credit where credit’s due — October 30, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Well, in reality Timlin was hit hard in game 3. His two outs were a shot to the warning track and the ripped liner to Lugo. He was not good, and I was worried about him in game 4. But in game 4 he shined no doubt. I didn’t think he had it in him. Great performance.
Comment by gary — October 30, 2007 @ 10:57 am
Mad props on the respect given to Timlin. I’m not sure if we should sign him for next year if it costs more than a coupla hungy grand, but I thought his stuff in the postseason was delicious. Hell, his speech about Wakefield on TV got me straight emotional, and you hate to lose folks like those two old buggahs.
Comment by kinshane — October 31, 2007 @ 4:08 am
Timlin came back effectively from last year’s injury, and given the incredibly disappointing series of performances by Gagne, proved to be a valuable bridge from the starters to Papelbon. It was especially helpful considering the “Jeckyl and Hyde” performances provided by Manny Delcarmen. He doesn’t make waves, and he does his job.
Comment by Reggieiv — November 5, 2007 @ 4:57 pm