Games 3 and 4-Random Thoughts

Some random thoughts on the World Series while waiting for someone to say something nice about umpires.

-Game Three had an ending never before experienced in a Major League Baseball game- a walk off obstruction call.  It was a heck of a situation to have to make that call, but it was correctly made.  If you're thinking about the manager, when has an umpire cared about what a manager thought of his call?  More interesting is the tweet from Peter Gammons, who sent a picture of Jim Joyce looking at the ball while the obstruction was happening in front of him.  Peter is a tremendous reporter, a respected analyst, but this was a very poor choice on his part.  A couple of frames later would show him doing his job.  Shame on you, Peter Gammons.  Way to add a grain of salt to anything you say.  Hope it was worth it.

-I understand keeping the runner off third base in a key situation, but why throw that ball?  While you probably weren't turning the double play at first with the speedy John Jay, it is still a tag play, and as youth coaches will tell you, throwing the ball always puts it at peril of disappearing beyond the intended fielder.  One out, first and third is better than game over.  A double play could be turned on Pete Kozma, who was on deck, who could be walked to get to Kolten Wong.  Wong had singled in his last at bat, but had played sparingly throughout the postseason.  Patience, usually a Red Sox trait, could have really paid off here.

-Kolten Wong was picked off to end Game Four.  He was thinking about getting into scoring position, and got caught in a hop toward second.  Jonny Gomes wasn't supposed to play, pressed into service when Shane Victorino's back prevented his participation.  Teams that got here by solid play have been less than solid.  It's a sign that this has been a truly strange World Series.

-Game Five is back to the Game One starters, Jon Lester vs. Adam Wainwright.  Wainwright faces the biggest job, straightening the Cardinals' ship.  Momentum has been important and very elusive, probably due to a poor level of play.  My hope is that we have a well played game for a change.

-Understand why the 2-3-2 format is used, but it makes the two most pivotal games, three and five, played at the team without home field advantage.  Maybe this is an equalizer, but it seems these games should be split to maintain home field advantage.

So...am I off base?