Red Sox are worth the sleep deprivation

Yup. ALCS game four was an instant classic. Man, it had everything!

A controversial call by an umpire. Check.

A dramatic JBJ blast. Yup.

Another shaky performance from the closer. Becoming the norm.

An unsung pitching hero who looks like he’s suffering from a case of whiplash? You bet.

One of the most clutch game saving diving catches you’ll ever see. Sure.

All played in just over four and a half hours, wrapping up after 1am EST. Zzzzzz.

And now the Sox are one win away from the World Series.

Ok fellow old Red Sox fans. Pre 2004 you know the Sox would have lost that game, right?

Seriously.

That Joe West call of fan interference would have gone against us.

Craig Kimbrel would have become the modern day Calvin Shiraldi.

And while Buckner couldn’t grab a slow roller, Benny made one of the best catches of the season with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the bases loaded in Houston.

The story lines of this series are so freakin’ compelling.

Jackie Bradley Jr, known for swinging a wet noodle for much of his career, is making this post season his b*#@h!

JBJ now has 9 RBI in the series. Only Big Papi with 11 and Manny with 10 have more in an ALCS. And Jackie has at least one more game to go.

Guys like Nathan Eovaldi and Steven Pearce weren’t even part of the highest payroll in baseball three months ago. But they sure are now.

And how about Ryan Brasier? The guy looks like Adam Sandler’s caddy from Happy Gilmore!

He pitches with his head cocked to the side like he doesn’t want to put down his old Razor cellphone while washing his hands.

He has the ultimate dad bod yet has been as clutch as any reliever in Sox history. He’s never pitched in the postseason before. He only appeared in seven MLB games total before this season. Heck he was in Japan pitching last year.

But now this guy should never have to buy a drink in Boston again. And not just because he’ll probably be working at an Uno next year at this time.

Houston was 10-1 at home the last two years in the playoffs. They are 0-2 this series.

Can David “The Gremlin” Price wrap this up Thursday? As we know he can only pitch when the conditions are just right. Maybe Mr. Tingly Fingers will become the next surprise hero and send the Sox back to The Series.

With the craziness and drama we have seen so far this series, anything is possible.

Jeff Solari

About Jeff Solari

Jeff Solari is the president and founder of the Sports Chowdah, Maine’s only free, weekly sports e mail newsletter. Recently, the Mount Desert Island native was the co-host of "The Drive" on 92.9 FM in Bangor.