What's next, wedgies? BoSox bullies impose will on Cleveland

BOSTON -- How about next time C.C. Sabathia simply hands over his lunch money to Manny Ramirez before the trouble starts?

I mean, this passed ridiculous several exits ago. Now, it's just savage. What happened after school at the bus stop between the neighborhood bully and the neighborhood shrimp was civil in comparison.

And oh, while he's at it, Sabathia might want to just present David Ortiz with the keys to his Hummer, or whatever ride he's cruising around in now.

Don't tip your cap to them, C.C., just get 'em out in Game 5 -- if there is a Game 5. (Getty Images)

Probably, genuflecting in front of the both of them is out of the question. But it sure merits consideration.

Here we were at the much-anticipated pitching showdown between two of the top American League Cy Young candidates in Game 1 here Friday night, and a Josh Beckett hoedown broke out. Or mow down. As Beckett soared, Sabathia was gored.

Friday's final again: Boston 10 runs, Manny and Big Papi four runs, Cleveland three runs.

Combined, Boston's Dynamic Duo reached base in all 10 plate appearances -- six of the 10 against Sabathia. Not once did either one walk up to bat and return to the dugout with a frown on his face. Not once.

Or, as Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said, "You want to make sure that you still recognize the fact that even though they're great hitters, they're still going to get out seven out of 10 times."

Oh, really?

Well, Sabathia and the Indians might want to begin recognizing that fact before this American League Championship Series gets away from them.

Or before Manny and Big Papi swipe their wallets and wedding rings, too.

Meantime, pitching on eight days' rest, the only thing Beckett failed to do was chase down Whitey Ford. The 27-year-old Texas gunslinger entered the game having thrown consecutive shutouts in the postseason and blew through Cleveland as a tumbleweed through the prairie, though his run at Ford's record 32 consecutive scoreless postseason innings (over four consecutive starts in the 1960 and 1961 World Series) was halted when Travis Hafner smashed a first-inning homer.

That errant, belt-high fastball aside, Beckett is all but snaking that Mr. October thing away from Reggie Jackson. When we last saw him -- Beckett, not Reggie -- he was hanging bagels on the Los Angeles Angels in Game 1 of the divisional series in a performance Curt Schilling called as dominating as any he's ever seen.