Tactic: an action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end.
Strategy: a plan of action or policy designed to achieve a major or overall aim.
It was too late for the St. Louis Cardinals to employ “strategy” against the Boston Red Sox, so they tried a “tactic” in game six. The tactic was to walk slugger David Ortiz intentionally, three times. Don’t give him a pitch he can swing at. After all, the big guy, batting third this time, was batting .688 in the series, with two homers (and one that he was robbed of by a great catch). Bad mistake! At least in the World Series. You don’t “chicken out” and walk a big hitter, you face him and try to strike him out, at least for morale. I’m sure that is what the pitcher Michael Wacha wanted to do. Well, Mike Matheny, manager of the Cards thought it would be “safer” to just let Big Papi pass. What did that strategy do? I think it spurred on all the batters, especially Shane Victorino, batting sixth, to blow open the game with a three-run double and a single, later in the game, that drove in another run. David Ortiz was honored with the MVP trophy for the series and (according to my confidential source) gave thanks to God first, and then the fans, for the victory. I wish I could find the exact quote from Ortiz but my source assured me that it was a fact. If I am wrong, I will re-post a recantation. For now, I am trusting my anonymous source.
USA Today; It is 3 in the morning Thursday at Fenway Park, and hundreds of Boston Red Sox fans are still on on the field, savoring every last moment of their World Series championship.
Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster, wearing street clothes, is actually on the mound, pitching to his family and friends.
It is 2:57 a.m.
Yes, this night – beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-1 to win the series in six games – meant that much to the Red Sox organization and its legion of fans. Read full article here.
