Igawa Saved Snorre's Ass

There is no doubt in my mind that if Boston had swept this series, Snorre would have been a goner. Instead of the 6.5 games they're behind now, they'd be eight and a half, and George would not be able to contain himself.

Instead, the Sox take two of three, which is not good for the Junkees, but not as horrible as two consecutive sweeps to the Red Sox. It also would have meant nine losses in a row, and I see no way Snorre would have gotten out alive.

The problem is that the Junkees treat every game with Boston as if it's Game 7 of the World Series. Francona didn't do that. In the first game of the series last week, he did not bring Papelbon into a save situation because the closer had pitched two nights in a row. Now what if the Sox would have blown that game? Francona would have heard about it, and I'm sure he knew darn well that that was the case, but too bad. It's just one game out of 162, and he's not going to blow out his closer's arm in mid-April. But Snorre had to bring in Charlie Brown in the eighth inning, and bring in twenty different pitchers every night.

Snorre knows how seriously George takes these games, so he manages accordingly.

That's why Snorre owes a ton to Igawa, who pitched the game of his life on Saturday and spared the Junkee skipper from hearing those famous words, YOU'RE FIRED!