There's been a great deal of criticism heaped at the TBS crew during the ALCS, and that really reached a crescendo during last night's Atlanta power outage snafu that cost the TV audience viewership of the first inning or so of the game. With that in mind, here are some collected comments from the TBS crew for public consumption and...well...perhaps some mockery too.


Frank TV, Viagra Ads and Sagers Electric Blue Jacket, oh my...



TBS MLB on Deck presented by Sprint

Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Harold Reynolds, Dennis Eckersley and Cal Ripken

Eckersley on what stood out in the Game #5 comeback by the Boston Red Sox: "(The Red Sox) are thrilled.  (The Rays) absolutely pulverized the Red Sox, three games in a row, leaving Earth, 10 homeruns, incredible. The thing that can't get forgotten, Tampa Bay fans are saying, 'how are we going to close this game out?' That to me is what highlighted that comeback in Game #5.  (Reliever Dan) Wheeler, you expect him to go seven outs, it's not his fault but that game got away from them."

Eckersley comparing the start of Josh Beckett in Game #6 to the infamous start by Curt Schilling in 2004 where he pitched with a foot injury:  "You're hoping for six or seven innings of goose eggs (from Josh Beckett).  This game reminds (kind of reminds me of) the bloody Sox game of 2004 with (Curt) Schilling.  You don't know what to expect from him and Schilling went out and gave the six or seven innings.  (Beckett) doesn't have his 95 mile an hour fastball, but he doesn't need it.  I expect him to hit spots a lot more and maybe work in that breaking ball earlier. He's capable of doing anything."

Ripken on Rays starter James Shields' nickname 'Big Game James:' "I think (James Shields is) a little embarrassed by that nickname ('Big Game James').  If you think about (Josh) Beckett's pedigree that seems to be more big game, he's done it in the big leagues and he's done it in the Postseason.  (With) James they are referring to his poise, he's a very poised pitcher, he's under control and you expect him to pitch well here at home."

Boston Red Sox (4) @ Tampa Bay Rays (2) - The series is tied 3-3.

Announcers: Chip Caray, Ron Darling and Buck Martinez; Craig Sager and Tom Verducci reporting

Darling on Rays pitcher James Shields being in good physical shape:  "(James Shields') cousin is Aaron Rowand, center fielder for San Francisco Giants, about as tough nosed a player as you're going to get.  He implored James to come work out with him in Vegas, get in perfect shape and that's the reason why (Shields) has been able to go deep into the games because he's taken care of his physical part of his game as well as the mental now."

Martinez on the distraction a base runner creates when trying to steal a base:  "That's the beauty of a stolen base, it creates so many distractions.  The catcher is distracted, the pitcher's distracted and the infielders have to peek at the base runner to see if he's breaking for second, so they too are districted. When a pitcher is distracted a hitter has a chance to hurt him."

Darling on how the delay in the game caused by home-plate umpire Derryl Cousins getting injured by a pitch will affect starting pitchers Josh Beckett and James Shields:  "It's easier said than done (to get back in the flow of the game).  Starting pitchers are creatures of habit, they are used to having those eight warm-up pitches between innings.  This is going to affect both (James Shields) and (Josh) Beckett and it will be interesting to see which one, the veteran Beckett or the younger Shields, does better."

Darling on the demeanor of the Red Sox before the start of Game #6: "(The Red Sox) were all looking at each other with those half crazy smiles, eyeing each other saying, 'You ready? Because I'm ready, I'm ready to go.' Watching them stretch, you see a lot of teams, they are festive when they stretch, they have a lot of back and forth.  None of that for the Red Sox today, (they were) all business."

TBS' Chip Caray, Buck Martinez and Ron Darling spoke to Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell during the game.

Farrell on the impact of a home-plate umpire change during the game:  "This is an uncommon situation.  As focused and together as Josh is on the mound, it won't matter that Tim McClelland replaced Derryl Cousins behind the plate.  It's a matter of executing pitches."

Darling on a one-run homerun by Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek in the sixth inning: "Can you imagine in a season that (Jason) Varitek did not have a good offensive season, a big hit like that in the Postseason almost makes up for it."

Martinez on the homerun by Red Sox captain Jason Varitek:  "You pull a little harder for your captain when you know he's been struggling, and Jason Varitek is the epitome of what this team is all about, he comes to work everyday with a big lunch bucket and straps it on and does whatever he can to help his team win.  Everybody, I don't care who you are, everybody wants to contribute offensively."

Martinez on Rays catcher Dioner Navarro:  "Here's the big improvement behind the plate for Tampa Bay, (Dioner) Navvaro's maturation as a leader.  Going out to the mound at a pivotal point in the ball game, a 2-2 pitch to (Kevin) Youkilis and just clearing the mind of his pitcher J.P. Howell."

Caray on the Rays being on the ropes for Game #6, down two runs to the Red Sox:  "It's hard to believe that the Rays were just seven outs away from a World Series berth when we last met at Fenway Park.  How quickly it has changed."

TBS' Craig Sager interviewed Red Sox catcher Jason Varikek and first baseman Kevin Youkilis after the Red Sox tied the series to advance to Game #7.

Varitek on advancing to Game #7:  "The important thing is that we found a way to win this game and this gives us another chance tomorrow. Our bench has been great and we've been really pushing each other.  It's a big win for us."

Youkilis on how he approaches the game:  "We told ourselves after that one game to come out and battle, every inning you've just got to win that inning.  That's been my motto for years now, try to win the inning, go out and have fun. It's been exciting, it's been great to get to Game #7 and battle like this, it's an unbelievable feeling."

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Johnson, Reynolds, Eckersley and Ripken

Reynolds on bullpen management being the difference maker in the series:  "This is the difference in the series, Terry (Francona) has handled his bullpen and the Rays have not.  The way (Francona) has handled it, he's managed them.  We saw (Jonathan) Papelbon come in early the other night when he needed to shut it down and tonight he closed the game out. I think that's been the biggest difference in the whole series, how Francona's managed to how (Joe) Maddon's managed."

Eckersley on Game #6 being a must-win for the Rays:  "(The Rays) are letting this series get away from them, this is the game they had to have. I thought that (James) Shields almost got away with it for a little while, but then you saw the homerun that bit him."

Reynolds on the seven-game series revealing the depth of teams:  "What I love about a seven-game series is you see the full strength of a club and the weaknesses.  You clearly see the depth of the Red Sox when you can put (center fielder) Jacoby Ellsbury on the bench.  (It's) amazing what happens in a year, they flip flopped Ellsbuy and (Coco) Crisp and they were able to pull it through.  But (Jonathan) Papelbon has been the difference, they don't have a closer in Tampa to go back to.  You see the difference in the bullpen, Boston has been able to set their bullpen because they've got Papelbon down there to pick everyone back up."

Ripken on the Rays trying to do too much to win the game:  "You saw signs of some of the early mistakes (the Rays) made when they fell behind.  Then they tried to get it all back with one swing. Your swing gets long, you start popping the ball up, they've got to go back to playing their brand of ball, somehow find a way to relax, get on to the next guy and then see what happens."

Reynolds on the Rays needing to get back to the basics in Game #7: "It's hard to say that (the Rays) are struggling, but they are. They got comfortable with the homerun, they got away from stealing and they are forcing hit and runs in bad situations. They've got to get back to little things that they do, running the bases, getting the man over and trying to score in every inning that they possibly can."

TBS' Tom Verducci interviewed Rays manager Joe Maddon after the game.

Maddon on losing to the Red Sox to force Game #7 of the ALCS: "It was not good walking upstairs but I think we're still in the 30 minute realm right now so we'll come back.  Listen, we're in a great position right now playing the seventh game of the American League Championship Series. As of the first day of Spring Training this past year, I'd take it. I would absolutely take it."

Reynolds on Rays manager Joe Maddon putting their loss in perspective:  "I think (Joe Maddon) is a guy to put it in perspective, the pressure is more on the Red Sox than it is on the Rays. The Red Sox are expected to be here, they are expected to be in World Series."

Eckersley on the Rays giving away Game #5 to the Red Sox:  "(The Red Sox) are happy their here after that game they stole in Boston, they are thrilled that they're here. They might be able to skate out of here with an American League pennant!"