I find the "what if" speculation rather silly. There is no way the Sox go back-to-back on Byrd if he doesn't sit for 35 minutes and come in pitching with a 7-0 advantage.

Though, it is good to see a columnist at least acknowledge the Indians uncanny ability to capitalize on opportunities. Revealing even the smallest crack to the Indians can result in huge innings.

Quit saying the game would have been different if that double play had been turned. Maybe it would, maybe it wouldn't. Paul Byrd was breezing through that game. If he doesn't sit for 35 minutes in the bottom of the 5th, he doesn't give up back to back jacks to Youk and Ortiz. Don't ASSume.

They put a picture of Tim Mccarver on the screen so 44,000 of us could boo him, which we did!!! Happy birthday Timmy!!

I know some of the ladies who were holding that sign for McCarver, and it was FOX who gave them the sign ...

I know you likely didn't pick the title CNNSI gave this blog, but people need to quit using "bad luck" to describe "bad play". LUCK is something outside the control of the players on the field: a bizarre hop because the ball hits the lip of the grass, the ball getting stuck in the padding on the wall, an umpire calling a diving "catch" by a left fielder a catch instead of a trap, etc.

Tim Wakefield getting a glove on the ball but not making the play or Kevin Youkilis dropping a pop foul? Those are bad FIELDING, not bad luck. A ball taking a weird hop to hit Jhonny Peralta in the throat is bad luck. David Ortiz not running hard on the play allowing it to be an out anyway is bad PLAY. David Ortiz getting hit by Manny's grounder is bad baserunning, not bad luck, although a case can be made that it is good luck for Manny since it extended his hitting streak on a ball that would have been a routine grounder at worst (and likely, with Ortiz running, a fielder's choice with Ortiz out at 3rd).

Too often people use the phrase "bad luck" to explain away either poor play by one side or great ones by the other.

UNBELIEVABLE!!!! Do all of you clown journalists forget that the Indians are GOOD! They shared the best record in baseball with the Red Sox and they had to get through the TOUGHEST division in all of baseball! It is about time people respected the Indians, yeah they are a small market with a $60M payroll and have no BIG name, but they are a good TEAM and teams win games...not hot heads like Manny!

Manny deserves to be plucked with a fastball in the back with the first pitch that C.C. delivers tonight. His antics in game four was pathetic. If that home run won the game or even tied the game that is a different story. But to close the gap trailing by four runs and to show up Cleveland is inexcusable. All though Manny is a great player - I am thankful that Boston and their fans have to put up with "Manny being Manny."

If Wakefield were a better pitcher, he'd have pitched past the unlucky play and only given up 2 runs.

Hey leave McCarver alone - he's a good egg.

Everyone seems to be forgetting that if Youkilis had actually caught the foul pop up, Guttierez would have scored as he can advance if a foul ball is played successfully by the defending team, which is exactly what he did. So no, the Red Sox, would not have escaped with allowing only one run. Two would have scored at the very least.

ahh, bunch of whining Indians fans. You're getting good play out of your team and good support by the press... one writer does a "what if" column and you all read it as a slight of some sort... I guess that's the stigma of being perennial losers... even when you're receiving positive press... you whine.. I hope the Rockies sweep you to the tune of 61-5 over four games