ALDS Notes: Beckett's gem continues to impress a day later

One day after one of the most impressive postseason performances in Red Sox history, the accolades keep pouring in for the new Mr. October.

Don't believe me? here's a small sample:

"No one was quite sure who would emerge as Boston's ace entering the season. It's no longer up for debate. {Beckett} moved the ball inside and out, up and down. He located his fastball and didn't leave anything over the plate. Mike Scioscia's club had no clue what was coming."--Jeff Goodman, FOXSports Net

"Beckett was undoubtedly the last person many Red Sox fans mentioned before going to sleep Wednesday night and the first they will mention when they wake up. That kind of adoration happens when a pitcher dominates in the postseason the way Beckett dominated the Angels."--Jack Curry, NY Times

"We've seen the miracle of Curt Schilling's bloody sock in 2004. We've seen Pedro Martinez climb out of the bullpen with a strained muscle under his right shoulder blade in 1999 and pitch six innings of no-hit ball. We've seen Luis Tiant grunt, groan and sweat his mustache off on his way to a 163-pitch night in the 1975 World Series."

"Yes, there may have been more dramatic pitching performances in Red Sox postseason history. But there have been no more authoritative than Josh Beckett's four-hit shutout of the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park."--Jeff Jacobs, Hartford Courant

See what I mean.

But no matter how many writers have tried, there really aren't enough words to describe the masterful effort Beckett turned in last night at Fenway. it was a performance for the ages, a dominating, devastating, demoralizing evisceration of a talented playoff team, one that had it taken place in Game 7 of the World series a la Beckett's last postseason start would be considered one of the greatest postseason performances of all time.

But the way you hear the man himself talk about it, it was just another day at the office.

Among the certain Cy Young winner's attention-deflecting remarks, Josh downplayed the comparisons to that 2003 win over the Stanks in the Bronx, saying the only thing similar are the results, and the humble-yet-fiery Texan refused to accept the fact that he now will likely now be included in the group of the best playoff pitchers in the history of the game.

"I think those are all things that you should worry about when you retire."

Josh, dude, you've thrown two consecutive postseason masterpieces and are one of only three men to own three career playoff shutouts, you're about to win your fist Cy Young, were the majors only 20-game winner this season, and have just put your team on your back and said "hop on boys, I;m gonna be the horse that takes us to the promised land."

Do yourself a favor, okay: enjoy it a little.

You deserve to.

Other Game 1 Notes:

-Although I was thrilled to learn that my local cable company added TBS HD just in time for the play-in game Monday night, I must say the new MLB playoff network has not impressed.

Poor sound quality has been voiced by a number of viewers, and some of that must have to do with the terrible announcers. How we got saddled with Ted who the hell are you? Robinson and Steve Stone Age I'll never understand, but Dry & Dryer had me pining for the ear-bleeding tones of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver.

Oh and they were late coming back from commercial break a couple of times. Look, I know it's your first time, and you gotta pimp your products, but don't pull that shit in the playoffs, guys.

-Don't forget about that other postseason hero: when David Ortiz hit his 9th postseason home run in the third off of John Lacking, it gave him at least one hit in 16 of the 18 postseason games he's played in since the start of the 2004 playoffs. Boston is 7-2 in the postseason when the big fella goes yard, and his longball matched Cap'n Tek's club record for playoff homers.

Oh, and the last time Papi faced the Halos in the postseason? His 10th-inning homer sent them packing in the 2004 ALDS and proved to be the springboard for the championship run.

-Manny Ramirez' first inning single gave him at least one hit in 21 of his last 22 playoff games. Since his return from the oblique injury, ManRam is batting .380 (8-21), but seven of those hits have been singles

-Jacoby Ellsbury got his first taste of the postseason when he replaced Manny in left field for the 9th. And in true phenom style, he made a fantastic sliding catch of a Chone Figgins liner leading off the inning just a few minutes later

-Youk joined a select group when he homered for his first postseason hit, and the slumping first baseman added a double and scored two runs. Ironically Youk's first career hit was also a homer.

-Anyone ever wonder how in the heck Reggie Willits is white and Howie Kendrick is black? We need someone to investigate this odd phenomenon.

UP NEXT: GM 2 Fri 8:37 @ Fenway
Escobar (18-7) vs. Matsuzaka (15-12) (no pressure, Diceman!)