The Good News: The overblown, Bora$$$$$-driven Teixeira drama is over. The Bad News: The Red Sox' worst-case scenario came true and Teix is spending the next 8 years in pinstripes. More Bad News: The Sox still don't have a legitimate power threat in their lineup. Papi has been battling one injury after another lately and Lowell and Drew are DL stints waiting to happen as well. Bay has pop, but some holes in his swing. Youk's probably the best, most consistent power hitter on the team and he's a 5-hole hitter at best. I don't believe there's anyone on the team now that can hit 40 or more home runs in a season. Papi, legend that he is, is no longer a #3 or #4 hitter, even though it's a safe bet that Francona will let him keep the #3 spot as long as he's on the team. As it is now, the lineup really doesn't scare any halfway decent AL pitcher. There are guys on this team who have done great things for the team in the past, but they need to think a little more about the present and the future. Lars Anderson is a promising power-hitting first baseman, but he's still in AA and is a September call-up at the very soonest. If the Sox don't want a 2009 that is reminiscent of 2006, then it's time for them to find somebody who can send a chill up a pitcher's spine. If they aren't willing to pony up the $$$ on the free agent market, they're going to have to give up some talent in a trade. They say pitching wins championships, but no team won anything without scoring some runs.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
All I Want for Christmas is Teixeira in a Sox Uniform
Long time, no blog. Lots of stuff happened since I last blogged. Pedey won a slew of hardware, including the coveted A.L. MVP and a Gold Glove, Youk tied the knot, the Sox inked a deal with another pitcher from The Land of the Rising Sun, 'Tek declined arb and hit the open market, Coco gets shipped to Kansas City for reliever Ramon Ramirez, and Julio Lugo, Big Papi, J.D. Drew, rental player Mark Kotsay, and yours truly all turned 33. Gotta love it when they talk about baseball players my age as OLD... Ok, well it's sort of true for ballplayers that performance peaks in the late 20s to around 30 or 31, so by 33 some guys are beginning the south end of their career, but last year's World Series MVP, Mikey Lowell had a career year at 33.
Now I'm gonna sound like a big ol' hypocrite for advocating the Sox' shipping Lowell to make room for one of the most complete players in baseball, Mark Teixeira, but come on, it's Mark frickin' Teixiera! Do we really want to see this power hitting switch-hitter with a Gold Glove to boot in pinstripes, facing him 18 times a year? Sure, he's only one player, and the Sox now have Gold Glovers at three out of four infield positions, but the Sox offense could use that powerful bat when we don't know how Papi or Lowell will do next year on the staying healthy front. Both had injury-ridden seasons this year and Papi had offensive struggles both before and after his wrist injury. Bay and Youk have pop, but they're not quite to the level of a healthy Papi, Teixeira, and, yes, Manny in his eight years as a Red Sox. Teixeira hits for both power and average and he's in the prime of his career at 28.
There are other issues the Sox need to address this off-season. Most importantly, a starting catcher. If 'Tek walks, the Sox need to find his replacement and fast. Even if 'Tek stays on, it would be in the team's best interest to find a young catcher for him to mentor. Then there's starting pitching. Buchholz and Bowden are question marks, at least for the start of the 2009 season, so a solid #4 (with Wake being the #5) is needed. If it so happens that filling these other holes precludes the Sox from shelling out the dough for Tex, then I hope the Nationals find a way to sign him. Though I'm a Sox fan through and through, the Nats are actually my hometown team and they could really use a player like Tex to build their young, struggling team around. Maybe he can help turn things around for them. Plus, it keeps him out of the A.L. and, most importantly, not in pinstripes.
Unless there's any earth-shattering Sox news (like, if the Sox actually ink Teixeira) I probably won't be blogging until the start of Spring Training, so Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Go Red Sox in 2009!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Now I'm gonna sound like a big ol' hypocrite for advocating the Sox' shipping Lowell to make room for one of the most complete players in baseball, Mark Teixeira, but come on, it's Mark frickin' Teixiera! Do we really want to see this power hitting switch-hitter with a Gold Glove to boot in pinstripes, facing him 18 times a year? Sure, he's only one player, and the Sox now have Gold Glovers at three out of four infield positions, but the Sox offense could use that powerful bat when we don't know how Papi or Lowell will do next year on the staying healthy front. Both had injury-ridden seasons this year and Papi had offensive struggles both before and after his wrist injury. Bay and Youk have pop, but they're not quite to the level of a healthy Papi, Teixeira, and, yes, Manny in his eight years as a Red Sox. Teixeira hits for both power and average and he's in the prime of his career at 28.
There are other issues the Sox need to address this off-season. Most importantly, a starting catcher. If 'Tek walks, the Sox need to find his replacement and fast. Even if 'Tek stays on, it would be in the team's best interest to find a young catcher for him to mentor. Then there's starting pitching. Buchholz and Bowden are question marks, at least for the start of the 2009 season, so a solid #4 (with Wake being the #5) is needed. If it so happens that filling these other holes precludes the Sox from shelling out the dough for Tex, then I hope the Nationals find a way to sign him. Though I'm a Sox fan through and through, the Nats are actually my hometown team and they could really use a player like Tex to build their young, struggling team around. Maybe he can help turn things around for them. Plus, it keeps him out of the A.L. and, most importantly, not in pinstripes.
Unless there's any earth-shattering Sox news (like, if the Sox actually ink Teixeira) I probably won't be blogging until the start of Spring Training, so Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Go Red Sox in 2009!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Youk wins Hank Aaron Award
Last night, Youk made an appearance in Philly to receive the Hank Aaron Award for best offensive player of the season in the AL. With a .312 average, 29 homers and 115 RBI, he is very much deserving of this prize. Congrats, Youk! I hope the next award you win is the AL MVP!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Filling In The Blanks: What do the Sox need in 2009?
The Red Sox' 2008 season was long and arduous and it pointed to some areas where they need to improve in the offseason to remain competitive in what has to be the toughest division in all of MLB:
1. Catcher: This is 'Tek's walk year and to say the Sox have a huge decision to make would be an understatement. The stats back up his value behind the plate, particularly with the pitching staff, but offensively he's just plain out of gas, especially from the left side. Seeing as the majority of his at-bats are from that side, that's trouble. An automatic out's worth of trouble, sadly. The Sox are hurting for a catcher with some pop in his bat who can also call a good game and throw runners out. The best prospect they have at this position, Mark Wagner, is at least a year away from being ready for the majors. If they let 'Tek walk, they're going to need a catcher who can step in and be effective right away. Even if 'Tek re-signs, they'll need to bring on a new catcher to learn the ropes from 'Tek and relieve him of some starts.
2. Wake: Tim Wakefield is a class act and he has given so much to the Red Sox in his 13 years on the team. That said, his effectiveness is declining and he requires a personal catcher to handle the knuckler. Given the situation the Sox are in with catchers (see #1), they really can't afford to carry Wake and Cash, especially if 'Tek stays on and mentors a new, young catcher. Also, if the Sox add another starter via free agency or trade and they also want to bring either Buchholz or Bowden into the rotation, there wouldn't be enough room for Wake in the rotation. The catcher situation makes moving him to the bullpen an undesirable option. The Sox need to have four pitchers that can perform well in the post-season and, unfortunately Wake has not been able to do that in the past two years.
3. Starting Rotation: It looks like the Sox could use a fourth (or better) starter and rumors are flying about Peavy, Sabathia, Burnett, etc. Each of those options have their pros and cons, but that's another blog entirely. Assuming Beckett comes to spring training in better shape than he did this year (API calling!) and is able to remain healthy and regain his 2007 form, he's the #1. Lester is a solid #2 A 2007-ish Beckett and a 2008-ish Lester would be a formidable 1-2 righty-lefty punch. Dice-K and possible trade/FA acquisition can duke it out for #3 and #4 and either Wake (see #2) or Buchholz/Bowden/Masterson for #5.
4. Bullpen: If Masterson remains a reliever, he and Oki can share set-up duty for Paps. That leaves us with Lopez, Delcarmen and Aardsma. I'm not sure how long Aardsma's contract is but if it was only for a year, the Sox will hopefully let him walk, since he never could establish location, though he had good velocity. One possibility to explore in spring training is Hunter Jones, currently with the Pawsox. Finding good relievers via trade or FA can be tricky, so if they can get a bullpen arm or two internally, a la Masterson, that would help them a lot.
5. Offense: Game 7 of the ALCS was lost by lack of offense, plain and simple. Getting rid of the distraction that was Manny was a very good thing, absolutely the right thing to do for the team, but the offense did take a loss when it comes to a bat that sends a chill up a pitcher's spine. Bay, Youk, and, when they weren't injured, Lowell and Drew are all great hitters with power, but the Sox could use that awe-inspiring bat, especially with a diminished Papi who has been fighting more than his share of injuries lately. Teixeira would be that kind of bat, but acquiring him would take some maneuvering of the Sox infield. Teix is a first baseman and I don't believe he'd want to come to a new team and have to play a new position. That would mean moving Youk to third and Lowell's the odd man out. Lowell is another class act and great team player that the Sox would be loath to lose. Since he only plays one position and is still a starter-quality player, the bench doesn't seem like a good option.
Holliday is another possibility, especially if either Coco or Ells get moved. Move Bay to center and have Holliday play left. Coco/Ells (whoever stays) is the fourth outfielder. Of course, you sacrifice a little speed on the base paths, especially if it's Ellsbury who stays. Holliday would require giving up a good bit, especially in terms of prospects. Let's just say I don't envy Theo's position. There will be a lot of tough choices to make this off-season, but if they make the team more competitive, especially against the young, healthy, and powerful Rays, then so be it.
LET'S GO 2009 RED SOX!!!
1. Catcher: This is 'Tek's walk year and to say the Sox have a huge decision to make would be an understatement. The stats back up his value behind the plate, particularly with the pitching staff, but offensively he's just plain out of gas, especially from the left side. Seeing as the majority of his at-bats are from that side, that's trouble. An automatic out's worth of trouble, sadly. The Sox are hurting for a catcher with some pop in his bat who can also call a good game and throw runners out. The best prospect they have at this position, Mark Wagner, is at least a year away from being ready for the majors. If they let 'Tek walk, they're going to need a catcher who can step in and be effective right away. Even if 'Tek re-signs, they'll need to bring on a new catcher to learn the ropes from 'Tek and relieve him of some starts.
2. Wake: Tim Wakefield is a class act and he has given so much to the Red Sox in his 13 years on the team. That said, his effectiveness is declining and he requires a personal catcher to handle the knuckler. Given the situation the Sox are in with catchers (see #1), they really can't afford to carry Wake and Cash, especially if 'Tek stays on and mentors a new, young catcher. Also, if the Sox add another starter via free agency or trade and they also want to bring either Buchholz or Bowden into the rotation, there wouldn't be enough room for Wake in the rotation. The catcher situation makes moving him to the bullpen an undesirable option. The Sox need to have four pitchers that can perform well in the post-season and, unfortunately Wake has not been able to do that in the past two years.
3. Starting Rotation: It looks like the Sox could use a fourth (or better) starter and rumors are flying about Peavy, Sabathia, Burnett, etc. Each of those options have their pros and cons, but that's another blog entirely. Assuming Beckett comes to spring training in better shape than he did this year (API calling!) and is able to remain healthy and regain his 2007 form, he's the #1. Lester is a solid #2 A 2007-ish Beckett and a 2008-ish Lester would be a formidable 1-2 righty-lefty punch. Dice-K and possible trade/FA acquisition can duke it out for #3 and #4 and either Wake (see #2) or Buchholz/Bowden/Masterson for #5.
4. Bullpen: If Masterson remains a reliever, he and Oki can share set-up duty for Paps. That leaves us with Lopez, Delcarmen and Aardsma. I'm not sure how long Aardsma's contract is but if it was only for a year, the Sox will hopefully let him walk, since he never could establish location, though he had good velocity. One possibility to explore in spring training is Hunter Jones, currently with the Pawsox. Finding good relievers via trade or FA can be tricky, so if they can get a bullpen arm or two internally, a la Masterson, that would help them a lot.
5. Offense: Game 7 of the ALCS was lost by lack of offense, plain and simple. Getting rid of the distraction that was Manny was a very good thing, absolutely the right thing to do for the team, but the offense did take a loss when it comes to a bat that sends a chill up a pitcher's spine. Bay, Youk, and, when they weren't injured, Lowell and Drew are all great hitters with power, but the Sox could use that awe-inspiring bat, especially with a diminished Papi who has been fighting more than his share of injuries lately. Teixeira would be that kind of bat, but acquiring him would take some maneuvering of the Sox infield. Teix is a first baseman and I don't believe he'd want to come to a new team and have to play a new position. That would mean moving Youk to third and Lowell's the odd man out. Lowell is another class act and great team player that the Sox would be loath to lose. Since he only plays one position and is still a starter-quality player, the bench doesn't seem like a good option.
Holliday is another possibility, especially if either Coco or Ells get moved. Move Bay to center and have Holliday play left. Coco/Ells (whoever stays) is the fourth outfielder. Of course, you sacrifice a little speed on the base paths, especially if it's Ellsbury who stays. Holliday would require giving up a good bit, especially in terms of prospects. Let's just say I don't envy Theo's position. There will be a lot of tough choices to make this off-season, but if they make the team more competitive, especially against the young, healthy, and powerful Rays, then so be it.
LET'S GO 2009 RED SOX!!!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
ALCS Game 7: That's A Wrap
Sox: 1 Rays: 3
The 2008 Boston Red Sox ended their season tonight at Tropicana Field, after falling 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 7. It's disappointing to fall short of the World Series berth, that's for sure, but when all is said and done, they had a great season and battled impressively through the adversity that dogged them from the very beginning, with the trip across the world that shortened their Spring Training and lengthened their season by a week. They battled illnesses, lots of injuries, a certain petulant former left-fielder who disrupted the team's chemistry when he didn't get his way with his contract. They had trouble winning on the road, especially in the first half. Coming into Game 7, they had a starter with an enormous innings load, an exhausted closer, an injured gold-glove first baseman, and hitters who ran hot and cold. They had an amazing comeback in Game 5, hung on in Game 6, but just didn't have enough gas to maintain their early hold on Game 7.
So the season had its share of disappointments and adversity, but there were some good stories as well. The emergence of Jon Lester as a force to be reckoned with on the mound. He may have ran into a little trouble in the middle innings tonight and in Game 3 (and didn't get much help from the offense in either game), but overall his 2008 was a dramatic improvement over his 2006 and 2007. He has come into his own and took on a monster workload, with well over 200 innings pitched. He became the first Red Sox lefty to throw a no-hitter in over 50 years.
Another great story for the Sox this season has been Justin Masterson. He started the year in AA Portland and was called up for a spot start in April. He pitched very well, though he didn't get the win due to the bullpen surrendering the lead. With various illnesses and injuries to the pitching staff, Masterson became a fill-in starter during the first half. Once he was no longer needed as a starter, he was sent to Pawtucket to learn how to pitch out of the 'pen. His success as a reliever has solidified a shaky bullpen and he's earned the trust of Tito in important game situations.
Jed Lowrie, although he has struggled at times offensively, has also been a good story for the Red Sox. He took over for the error-prone Lugo, who went down with a quad injury just before the All-Star Break, and his play at short has been solid and steady. He's been a major improvement over Lugo defensively and he's also able to play well at third. When he first came on, he racked up the ribbies at an astonishing rate, pounding hit after hit with runners in scoring position. As the league caught up to him, however, he struggled to make adjustments and started accumulating the K's instead. He has been able to break out of his late season slump somewhat in the post-season, with some key hits (see ALDS Game 4 9th inning) and, with a little more work on his hitting, will be a fine shortstop for the Sox in the coming years.
I have to tip my hat to the Rays. This season, they were the better team. They had an amazing, worst-to-first season and they're full of young talent due to high draft picks. They will be competition for the Red Sox and the Yankees next year and for a few more years to come, until their young talent seeks big free agent $$ and their success keeps them out of the first draft picks. But they've earned their World Series berth this year with consistent, high level play. They have a young, very talented starting rotation and a very solid bullpen. They have some power bats in the lineup and a lot of speed. They've gotten the timely hits necessary to win games. Since they, like the Red Sox, represent the American League, I will root for them to win the World Series. Of course I wish it were the Red Sox playing in the Fall Classic, but it wasn't meant to be this year.
LET'S GO RED SOX 2009! CONGRATULATIONS, RAYS!
The 2008 Boston Red Sox ended their season tonight at Tropicana Field, after falling 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 7. It's disappointing to fall short of the World Series berth, that's for sure, but when all is said and done, they had a great season and battled impressively through the adversity that dogged them from the very beginning, with the trip across the world that shortened their Spring Training and lengthened their season by a week. They battled illnesses, lots of injuries, a certain petulant former left-fielder who disrupted the team's chemistry when he didn't get his way with his contract. They had trouble winning on the road, especially in the first half. Coming into Game 7, they had a starter with an enormous innings load, an exhausted closer, an injured gold-glove first baseman, and hitters who ran hot and cold. They had an amazing comeback in Game 5, hung on in Game 6, but just didn't have enough gas to maintain their early hold on Game 7.
So the season had its share of disappointments and adversity, but there were some good stories as well. The emergence of Jon Lester as a force to be reckoned with on the mound. He may have ran into a little trouble in the middle innings tonight and in Game 3 (and didn't get much help from the offense in either game), but overall his 2008 was a dramatic improvement over his 2006 and 2007. He has come into his own and took on a monster workload, with well over 200 innings pitched. He became the first Red Sox lefty to throw a no-hitter in over 50 years.
Another great story for the Sox this season has been Justin Masterson. He started the year in AA Portland and was called up for a spot start in April. He pitched very well, though he didn't get the win due to the bullpen surrendering the lead. With various illnesses and injuries to the pitching staff, Masterson became a fill-in starter during the first half. Once he was no longer needed as a starter, he was sent to Pawtucket to learn how to pitch out of the 'pen. His success as a reliever has solidified a shaky bullpen and he's earned the trust of Tito in important game situations.
Jed Lowrie, although he has struggled at times offensively, has also been a good story for the Red Sox. He took over for the error-prone Lugo, who went down with a quad injury just before the All-Star Break, and his play at short has been solid and steady. He's been a major improvement over Lugo defensively and he's also able to play well at third. When he first came on, he racked up the ribbies at an astonishing rate, pounding hit after hit with runners in scoring position. As the league caught up to him, however, he struggled to make adjustments and started accumulating the K's instead. He has been able to break out of his late season slump somewhat in the post-season, with some key hits (see ALDS Game 4 9th inning) and, with a little more work on his hitting, will be a fine shortstop for the Sox in the coming years.
I have to tip my hat to the Rays. This season, they were the better team. They had an amazing, worst-to-first season and they're full of young talent due to high draft picks. They will be competition for the Red Sox and the Yankees next year and for a few more years to come, until their young talent seeks big free agent $$ and their success keeps them out of the first draft picks. But they've earned their World Series berth this year with consistent, high level play. They have a young, very talented starting rotation and a very solid bullpen. They have some power bats in the lineup and a lot of speed. They've gotten the timely hits necessary to win games. Since they, like the Red Sox, represent the American League, I will root for them to win the World Series. Of course I wish it were the Red Sox playing in the Fall Classic, but it wasn't meant to be this year.
LET'S GO RED SOX 2009! CONGRATULATIONS, RAYS!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
ALCS Game 6: Stayin' Alive!
Sox: 4 Rays: 2
The Sox have forced another Game 7! Beckett was just Beckett enough to win this game for the Sox, with the help of four kick-ass innings from the 'pen (Oki for 2, then Masterson, then Paps). His velocity was down, but he was able to gut it out and locate his pitches well, with two exceptions leading to homers by Upton and Bartlett. The latter was a very unlikely source, having a grand total of ONE home run for the entire regular season. A disruption of routine between the third and fourth innings when the home plate ump came out of the game due to being injured at the top of the third on a foul tip by Tek ultimately lead to Beckett coming out after five. Tito took him out just to be on the safe side in this do-or-die game and the move paid off with the 'pen shutting the Rays down for the last four.
Youk started the Sox scoring off in the second with a solo shot to left center, answering Upton's homer in the first and tying the score. He drives in the second run an inning later with a ground out to short, scoring Pedey. Tek finally breaks his 0-for-the-ALCS by going yard in the sixth and breaks another tie (the Bartlett homer in the fifth). Papi singles to right center and knocks in Coco, who hit his third single of the game two batters ago. Pedey had reached on an errant throw by Bartlett and tripped over the bag, preventing him from taking second on the error. Coco, Drew, & Papi each had multiple hits in the game and Youk was responsible for the first two runs. A lot of guys were stranded on base, but enough scored to win the game, thanks to an improved outing by Beckett and stellar work by Oki, Masterson, & Paps.
TBS goofed big-time when technical difficulties kept most of the first inning off the air. I turned the TV on a few minutes after eight to see some sitcom instead of the game, which made me none too pleased, but at least I didn't miss the Sox scoring any runs. First the endless Frank TV ads, now this?
Tomorrow night...another year, another Game 7. Lester takes the mound, hoping for a better outing than Monday night at Fenway. He's in a rematch with Matt Garza and both teams have their backs against the wall. The prize: A date with the Phillies in the Fall Classic. Can the Sox do it again? Let's hope TBS doesn't pull any more technical difficulties stunts because it's gonna be a good one...
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
The Sox have forced another Game 7! Beckett was just Beckett enough to win this game for the Sox, with the help of four kick-ass innings from the 'pen (Oki for 2, then Masterson, then Paps). His velocity was down, but he was able to gut it out and locate his pitches well, with two exceptions leading to homers by Upton and Bartlett. The latter was a very unlikely source, having a grand total of ONE home run for the entire regular season. A disruption of routine between the third and fourth innings when the home plate ump came out of the game due to being injured at the top of the third on a foul tip by Tek ultimately lead to Beckett coming out after five. Tito took him out just to be on the safe side in this do-or-die game and the move paid off with the 'pen shutting the Rays down for the last four.
Youk started the Sox scoring off in the second with a solo shot to left center, answering Upton's homer in the first and tying the score. He drives in the second run an inning later with a ground out to short, scoring Pedey. Tek finally breaks his 0-for-the-ALCS by going yard in the sixth and breaks another tie (the Bartlett homer in the fifth). Papi singles to right center and knocks in Coco, who hit his third single of the game two batters ago. Pedey had reached on an errant throw by Bartlett and tripped over the bag, preventing him from taking second on the error. Coco, Drew, & Papi each had multiple hits in the game and Youk was responsible for the first two runs. A lot of guys were stranded on base, but enough scored to win the game, thanks to an improved outing by Beckett and stellar work by Oki, Masterson, & Paps.
TBS goofed big-time when technical difficulties kept most of the first inning off the air. I turned the TV on a few minutes after eight to see some sitcom instead of the game, which made me none too pleased, but at least I didn't miss the Sox scoring any runs. First the endless Frank TV ads, now this?
Tomorrow night...another year, another Game 7. Lester takes the mound, hoping for a better outing than Monday night at Fenway. He's in a rematch with Matt Garza and both teams have their backs against the wall. The prize: A date with the Phillies in the Fall Classic. Can the Sox do it again? Let's hope TBS doesn't pull any more technical difficulties stunts because it's gonna be a good one...
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Friday, October 17, 2008
JD Drew: The Latest Mr. October?
No matter what happens tomorrow night or however long this series may last, there is one certain Red Sox right fielder who is building his own reputation as a post-season superstar--the guy who wears Trot Nixon's old number--and his name is JD Drew. He's had his struggles and he's dealt with nagging injuries and a medical drama with his young son. People have bemoaned his large and lucrative contract, especially during his first season in Boston when he struggled to adjust to the American League. All that said, he is the author of four ginormous clutch hits in October. The first was his grand slam in Game 6 of last year's ALCS, off Fausto Carmona, in a must-win game for the Sox. Huge Hit #2 came in this year's ALDS, a two-run dinger off K-Rod to break a 5-all tie. Numbers 3 and 4 both came in last night's miracle comeback, in two consecutive at-bats, no less: #3 being his two-run homer in the eighth off Dan Wheeler to bring the Sox within one run and #4 the walk-off double in the ninth off of JP Howell that kept the Sox' season alive, forcing a Game 6 in Tampa Bay. Whether this against-all-odds win will carry momentum over into tomorrow night's game remains to be seen, but by winning that game and coming back on the Rays the way they did, the Sox showed that they will not go down without a fight.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
ALCS Game 5: Not so fast, Tampa Bay!
Sox: 8 Rays: 7
Wowza! What a comeback! Things looked downright funereal for the Sox until that 7th inning, when the lights came back on after a two-and-a-half game blackout. Down 7-0, the Sox offense came out of their coma with a Lowrie double, a Coco single, and an RBI single by Pedey (so long shutout). Then up to the plate strode Big Papi. Any other October, Sox fans would have been banking on a huge hit with Mr. Clutch up with two men on. This year, it didn't look so promising, as Papi had been 1 for 17. Well, shut my mouth! Papi takes Balfour deep and closes the gap to 7-4! The Fenway crowd springs to their feet and starts making some long overdue noise! There's life in them bats after all!
Fast forward to the bottom of the 8th, after Paps shuts down the Rays in the top of the inning. Bay walks and Drew takes Wheeler yard to make it a one-run game. Wheeler gets Lowrie out and then Casey pinch-hits for Tek. Wheeler whiffs Casey, but Kotsay lines a double off of him. Coco comes up with two outs and drives Wheeler berserk by fouling off pitch after pitch before lining one into right. Coco rounds first and heads for second as Kotsay scores the tying run. He gets thrown out at second, but the damage is done. Three more Sox runs in the 8th with a chance to win the game and stay alive in the series.
Top of the 9th, Masterson has come on in relief of Paps. He gives up a single to Bartlett and gets Aki to fly out, but not deep enough to advance Bartlett. He pitches carefully around Upton, trying to keep Bartlett close, and Upton works the walk. Now the young rookie is in a jam that has Sox Nation wondering why Pap wasn't brought out for another inning. Lest we forget, however, that this kid has a knack for getting the double play ball and that he does. Pena hits a grounder to second. Pedey flips to Lowrie, who throws to Kotsay and the threat is erased, paving the way for a truly Red Soxian bottom of the 9th.
After two quick outs retiring Pedey and Papi, J.P. Howell (now does that name sound like a banker or what?) has a tough time with Youk, who studied Coco's 8th inning at-bat intently and keeps fouling off pitches. He hits one to third and Longoria, who is a pet of Chip & Buck, makes a long throw to first, where Pena can't get a grip on the ball. It bounces into the stands as Youk takes second. Howell pitches around Bay to take his chances with Drew, favoring the lefty-lefty matchup. Dangerous move, young banker! J.D. makes J.P. pay dearly as he lines the 3-1 offering into right, plating the winning run! Deja 2004, anyone? It had a bit more of a 2004 feeling than a 2007 feeling, given the long odds of such a comeback against a team that has been raking for the better part of the series. Game 5 in 2007 had Beckett dominating and the offense producing from the beginning of the game. This Game 5 looked like a miserable end to a depressing series up until the last three innings, when the fortunes reversed dramatically. I'll even admit that I stopped watching for about an inning and a half because I couldn't bear to see it end the way it looked like it would in the fifth--a humiliating shutout at home and a third consecutive thrashing by a younger and playoff-inexperienced team, no matter how talented they may be. I came back in the bottom of the 7th, right after Lowrie's double, just to check on the game. Good thing I did!
So, now that they've managed to stay alive, they still have a lot of work to do. Beckett must return to form for Game 6 if they're to have a chance to force a Game 7. While it's tempting to think of Lester pitching on Saturday instead, the Sox are in a position where they're going to have to either live by Beckett or die by Beckett. I previously blogged about wanting Byrd to pitch Game 6, but his Game 3 outing made me think better of it. They can't pull another pitcher out of thin air. Beckett it is. Let's hope for the best!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!! CONGRATS ON AN AMAZING COMEBACK!!!
Wowza! What a comeback! Things looked downright funereal for the Sox until that 7th inning, when the lights came back on after a two-and-a-half game blackout. Down 7-0, the Sox offense came out of their coma with a Lowrie double, a Coco single, and an RBI single by Pedey (so long shutout). Then up to the plate strode Big Papi. Any other October, Sox fans would have been banking on a huge hit with Mr. Clutch up with two men on. This year, it didn't look so promising, as Papi had been 1 for 17. Well, shut my mouth! Papi takes Balfour deep and closes the gap to 7-4! The Fenway crowd springs to their feet and starts making some long overdue noise! There's life in them bats after all!
Fast forward to the bottom of the 8th, after Paps shuts down the Rays in the top of the inning. Bay walks and Drew takes Wheeler yard to make it a one-run game. Wheeler gets Lowrie out and then Casey pinch-hits for Tek. Wheeler whiffs Casey, but Kotsay lines a double off of him. Coco comes up with two outs and drives Wheeler berserk by fouling off pitch after pitch before lining one into right. Coco rounds first and heads for second as Kotsay scores the tying run. He gets thrown out at second, but the damage is done. Three more Sox runs in the 8th with a chance to win the game and stay alive in the series.
Top of the 9th, Masterson has come on in relief of Paps. He gives up a single to Bartlett and gets Aki to fly out, but not deep enough to advance Bartlett. He pitches carefully around Upton, trying to keep Bartlett close, and Upton works the walk. Now the young rookie is in a jam that has Sox Nation wondering why Pap wasn't brought out for another inning. Lest we forget, however, that this kid has a knack for getting the double play ball and that he does. Pena hits a grounder to second. Pedey flips to Lowrie, who throws to Kotsay and the threat is erased, paving the way for a truly Red Soxian bottom of the 9th.
After two quick outs retiring Pedey and Papi, J.P. Howell (now does that name sound like a banker or what?) has a tough time with Youk, who studied Coco's 8th inning at-bat intently and keeps fouling off pitches. He hits one to third and Longoria, who is a pet of Chip & Buck, makes a long throw to first, where Pena can't get a grip on the ball. It bounces into the stands as Youk takes second. Howell pitches around Bay to take his chances with Drew, favoring the lefty-lefty matchup. Dangerous move, young banker! J.D. makes J.P. pay dearly as he lines the 3-1 offering into right, plating the winning run! Deja 2004, anyone? It had a bit more of a 2004 feeling than a 2007 feeling, given the long odds of such a comeback against a team that has been raking for the better part of the series. Game 5 in 2007 had Beckett dominating and the offense producing from the beginning of the game. This Game 5 looked like a miserable end to a depressing series up until the last three innings, when the fortunes reversed dramatically. I'll even admit that I stopped watching for about an inning and a half because I couldn't bear to see it end the way it looked like it would in the fifth--a humiliating shutout at home and a third consecutive thrashing by a younger and playoff-inexperienced team, no matter how talented they may be. I came back in the bottom of the 7th, right after Lowrie's double, just to check on the game. Good thing I did!
So, now that they've managed to stay alive, they still have a lot of work to do. Beckett must return to form for Game 6 if they're to have a chance to force a Game 7. While it's tempting to think of Lester pitching on Saturday instead, the Sox are in a position where they're going to have to either live by Beckett or die by Beckett. I previously blogged about wanting Byrd to pitch Game 6, but his Game 3 outing made me think better of it. They can't pull another pitcher out of thin air. Beckett it is. Let's hope for the best!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!! CONGRATS ON AN AMAZING COMEBACK!!!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Wanted: New ALCS Announcers
Is any Red Sox fan out there not way beyond annoyed with the Tampa Bay cheerleaders calling the ALCS games on TBS? I'd rather press the mute button and watch the games in total silence than listen to those biased buffoons bite their tongues trying not to yell "Go Rays" as they ooh and aah over the young upstarts' every move. They're *supposed* to be professionals--can't they tone their bias down a few notches? They're worse than Fox and Yankee-lovin' ESPN. On that note, what did the Red Sox do to piss off all national TV announcers? Maybe we Sox fans are spoiled by Remy and Orsillo, who at least make an effort to be evenhanded.
Which one of them can't pronounce Big Papi's last name? It's David Or-TIZ, not David OR-tiz. Just because Papi forgot how to hit doesn't mean the announcers have to butcher his name every time he comes up.
Which one of them can't pronounce Big Papi's last name? It's David Or-TIZ, not David OR-tiz. Just because Papi forgot how to hit doesn't mean the announcers have to butcher his name every time he comes up.
ALCS Game 3: Not A Pretty Picture
Sox: 1 Rays: 9
Lester got shelled.
Byrd got shelled.
Sox bats in the sub-zero.
Swiss Cheese lineup.
Young Upstarts demoralize the Fenway crowd.
Crappy poem for a crappy game.
'Nuff Said
Lester got shelled.
Byrd got shelled.
Sox bats in the sub-zero.
Swiss Cheese lineup.
Young Upstarts demoralize the Fenway crowd.
Crappy poem for a crappy game.
'Nuff Said
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Please Let Byrd Pitch Game 6
If there's to be a game 6, I hope the Red Sox management considers letting Paul Byrd pitch that game instead of throwing an injured and ineffective Beckett (who looked like Buchholz out there last night) out to get lit up again. I know Byrd hasn't pitched in, like, 2 weeks, but at this point, can he be any worse than Beckett? Hard to believe I'm saying this, given how awesome Beckett was last year at this time. What a difference a year makes! This October, it's Lester (so far...knock on wood) who has been golden and Dice-K came up pretty clutch on Friday night himself. Of course, Lester, and, despite the walks and high pitch counts, Dice-K have been the top two Sox pitchers all season. Wake has been Jekyll/Hyde-ish as usual and Beckett has been just as inconsistent. I'm hoping Wake can be Jekyll in Game 4 at Fenway (where he has fared better this season than on the road) and Dice-K can come up big again in Game 5.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
ALCS Game 2: Oh Gee, Another Five Hour Loss
Sox: 8 Rays: 9
I feel sad for Josh Beckett. He clearly does not have it this October and I think that, like Mike Lowell, he is too injured to help the team. In his past two starts he looked like Sabathia from last year's ALCS. Fortunately for the Sox (at least early in the game), Kazmir didn't have it either. The Sox batters (well, Youk, Pedey, and Bay, mainly) scratched and clawed their way back into the game and tied it in the 8th on a wild pitch by Dan Wheeler. Unfortunately, after the 8th, the bats packed it in and forced an unsavory situation for the Sox: Timlin on the mound in the bottom of the 11th. I knew when I saw that Timlin had come in the game (after hoping against hope that it would be Byrd instead) it was going to be over. To be fair, the ump squeezed him big-time (after cheating Kotsay on a called third "strike" way out of the zone at the top of the inning).
Timlin's presence on the roster is the result of not having enough reliable bullpen arms for a longer playoff series. The minor leaguers Smith, Pauley, and Hansack don't really cut it and neither does Aardsma, who lost any effectiveness he had once he went on the DL. That leaves Timlin, who throws glorified batting practice, but his post-season experience gives him the razor's edge over the rest of the pack. Teams like the Rays, however, exploit pitchers' weaknesses and gobble up Timlin like a tankful of piranhas. One thing for the Sox organization to work on in the off-season is strengthening the bullpen.
Now for the holes in the Sox lineup: Ellsbury, Papi, and Tek. Ells started off like a rocket, but flamed out quickly. Did he catch "no-hit-itis" from Pedey (who has, thankfully, made a full recovery)? Papi, as a DH, all he has to do is hit. He started to get hot again in late September, but he's back to the freezer in October. Is the wrist bothering him that much? Did he re-injure it at some point between the end of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs? Tek's been an offensive liability all season. He's essential to the pitching staff, but do you think he could stop trying to switch hit? He's a natural righty, so maybe he should just bat from the right side where he can still hit for a decent average.
With the discouraging performance from Beckett tonight, I'm left with doubt as to how much further the Sox can go with only two reliable starters. Even if they somehow manage to win the ALCS, what happens in the World Series? Would they run a compromised Beckett out there to get shelled again? Would they go with both Wake and Byrd as starters? Let's be realistic: The Sox really are in a pickle if Beckett is unable to pitch effectively for the rest of the post-season, however long that may be.
I feel sad for Josh Beckett. He clearly does not have it this October and I think that, like Mike Lowell, he is too injured to help the team. In his past two starts he looked like Sabathia from last year's ALCS. Fortunately for the Sox (at least early in the game), Kazmir didn't have it either. The Sox batters (well, Youk, Pedey, and Bay, mainly) scratched and clawed their way back into the game and tied it in the 8th on a wild pitch by Dan Wheeler. Unfortunately, after the 8th, the bats packed it in and forced an unsavory situation for the Sox: Timlin on the mound in the bottom of the 11th. I knew when I saw that Timlin had come in the game (after hoping against hope that it would be Byrd instead) it was going to be over. To be fair, the ump squeezed him big-time (after cheating Kotsay on a called third "strike" way out of the zone at the top of the inning).
Timlin's presence on the roster is the result of not having enough reliable bullpen arms for a longer playoff series. The minor leaguers Smith, Pauley, and Hansack don't really cut it and neither does Aardsma, who lost any effectiveness he had once he went on the DL. That leaves Timlin, who throws glorified batting practice, but his post-season experience gives him the razor's edge over the rest of the pack. Teams like the Rays, however, exploit pitchers' weaknesses and gobble up Timlin like a tankful of piranhas. One thing for the Sox organization to work on in the off-season is strengthening the bullpen.
Now for the holes in the Sox lineup: Ellsbury, Papi, and Tek. Ells started off like a rocket, but flamed out quickly. Did he catch "no-hit-itis" from Pedey (who has, thankfully, made a full recovery)? Papi, as a DH, all he has to do is hit. He started to get hot again in late September, but he's back to the freezer in October. Is the wrist bothering him that much? Did he re-injure it at some point between the end of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs? Tek's been an offensive liability all season. He's essential to the pitching staff, but do you think he could stop trying to switch hit? He's a natural righty, so maybe he should just bat from the right side where he can still hit for a decent average.
With the discouraging performance from Beckett tonight, I'm left with doubt as to how much further the Sox can go with only two reliable starters. Even if they somehow manage to win the ALCS, what happens in the World Series? Would they run a compromised Beckett out there to get shelled again? Would they go with both Wake and Byrd as starters? Let's be realistic: The Sox really are in a pickle if Beckett is unable to pitch effectively for the rest of the post-season, however long that may be.
Friday, October 10, 2008
ALCS Game 1: Dice-K Being Lester
Sox: 2 Rays: 0
How about this, a close game at The Trop won by the Red Sox! Too often in the regular season, those close games went the Rays' way. Tonight, thanks to 7+ shutout innings by Dice-K and 2 by the 'pen, the nailbiter went in favor of the Sox.
The first inning had me thinking this will be a typical 5-inning affair for The Diceman. He loaded the bases via the walk, then Houdinied his way out as only he can. However, after that 30+ pitch inning, it was as if Jon Lester was pitching from within Dice-K's body. Or, perhaps, it was Dice-K indeed, pretending he was pitching to the White Sox (against whom he threw two gems this year). He took a no-hitter through the sixth, gave up two hits apiece in the seventh and eighth, and not a single Ray managed to cross the plate. Oki, Masterson, and Paps combined to preserve the shutout.
For the Sox bats, runs were not easy to come by. It turned out, all they needed was one and they ended up with two. The first came in the fifth on a sac fly by Jed Lowrie. Bay had walked to lead off the inning. Kotsay's check-swing double put Bay at third and Lowrie did what he does best, lifted the ball into the outfield to bring Bay home. The second run came in the eighth, on Youk's third hit of the night. Youk plated Pedey, who singled, then stole second. They got the better of the Rays' tough bullpen and grabbed a win that will shift the home field advantage into their favor.
Game 2 tomorrow night, Beckett's on the mound against Kazmir. If Beckett bounces back from his tough ALDS outing, the Rays will have their work cut out for them.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
How about this, a close game at The Trop won by the Red Sox! Too often in the regular season, those close games went the Rays' way. Tonight, thanks to 7+ shutout innings by Dice-K and 2 by the 'pen, the nailbiter went in favor of the Sox.
The first inning had me thinking this will be a typical 5-inning affair for The Diceman. He loaded the bases via the walk, then Houdinied his way out as only he can. However, after that 30+ pitch inning, it was as if Jon Lester was pitching from within Dice-K's body. Or, perhaps, it was Dice-K indeed, pretending he was pitching to the White Sox (against whom he threw two gems this year). He took a no-hitter through the sixth, gave up two hits apiece in the seventh and eighth, and not a single Ray managed to cross the plate. Oki, Masterson, and Paps combined to preserve the shutout.
For the Sox bats, runs were not easy to come by. It turned out, all they needed was one and they ended up with two. The first came in the fifth on a sac fly by Jed Lowrie. Bay had walked to lead off the inning. Kotsay's check-swing double put Bay at third and Lowrie did what he does best, lifted the ball into the outfield to bring Bay home. The second run came in the eighth, on Youk's third hit of the night. Youk plated Pedey, who singled, then stole second. They got the better of the Rays' tough bullpen and grabbed a win that will shift the home field advantage into their favor.
Game 2 tomorrow night, Beckett's on the mound against Kazmir. If Beckett bounces back from his tough ALDS outing, the Rays will have their work cut out for them.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
My ALCS Prediction
Sox in 7. While the Rays look like the team the Baseball Gods are smiling on this year and they are full of talented young players, I'm picking playoff experience to win out in the end. The Red Sox, in all their Red Soxishness, will find a way to win in the post-season, quite possibly with their backs against the wall as they did last year against The Tribe. That said, I won't be shocked if the Rays pull it out. We've waited all season for them to pumpkin, but it hasn't happened yet.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
My ALCS Rotation
The fact is, in 2008, the Red Sox ace is Jon Lester. He's shown it since May and so far in two post-season starts. Unfortunately, since the Angels forced Game 4 last night, Lester will not be available on full rest until Game 2 on Saturday. Having pitched 107 pitches in last night's outing, it's probably better not to pitch him on short rest Friday night. That said, here is how I hope the ALCS rotation shakes out:
Game 1: Dice-K. It's his turn to pitch and he has been better on the road than at home. I hope he can go deeper into the game than his last start.
Game 2: Lester. Lester needs to be able to pitch twice in this series. Pitching him in Game 2 will have him on normal rest as early as Game 5, which is on Thursday, Oct. 16. Also, it puts the best pitcher on the mound in a game they really should try to win, to give them a chance at the very least to split.
Game 3: Beckett. Beckett is a question mark right now, with his recent oblique strain and his less-than-stellar start on Saturday. Pitching Beckett in Game 3 gives the bullpen some rest from Friday, when they will undoubtedly have to go several innings in relief of Dice-K.
Game 4: Byrd. This was a tough one. Wake in relief does give rise to a catcher dilemma, but he is no longer dominant over the Rays. They've given him trouble all year. Byrd pitched a very good Game 4 of last year's ALCS, albeit for the opposing team. I think Byrd just might have a slight post-season edge over Wake.
Game 5: Lester or Dice-K. If the team is behind and needs a clutch outing from the ace, pitch Lester in Game 5 at home. If the team is ahead or tied, pitch Dice-K and save Lester for Game 7
Game 6: Dice-K or Beckett. If Dice-K doesn't pitch in Game 5, pitch him in Game 6. If Dice-K does pitch Game 5, pitch Beckett in Game 6
Game 7: Beckett or Lester. If Lester was not used in Game 5, he pitches Game 7. If Lester is used in Game 5 and Dice-K in Game 6, then Beckett goes in Game 7.
As you can see, the rotation for 5-7 is situational. If I had to commit to one for each of the last three games, I would go with Lester in Game 5, Dice-K in Game 6 and Beckett in Game 7 (with fingers crossed that he can be dominant in a deciding game).
With four starters used in the ALCS, they will probably need an extra bullpen arm. Since neither of our "left over" arms (Aardsma and Timlin) are reliable in any sense of the word, it's like choosing the lesser of the two evils. Both drive me nuts when they're on the mound, but I'd have to go with Timlin over Aarsdma because Timlin has more post-season experience. I can't remember when Aardsma had a decent outing. Timlin will surprise me once in a while, but Aardsma's gone downhill since his first DL stint. He's also young and more likely to crumble under pressure. So, I shudder to say this, but if the alternative is Aardsma, bring on Timlin.
Game 1: Dice-K. It's his turn to pitch and he has been better on the road than at home. I hope he can go deeper into the game than his last start.
Game 2: Lester. Lester needs to be able to pitch twice in this series. Pitching him in Game 2 will have him on normal rest as early as Game 5, which is on Thursday, Oct. 16. Also, it puts the best pitcher on the mound in a game they really should try to win, to give them a chance at the very least to split.
Game 3: Beckett. Beckett is a question mark right now, with his recent oblique strain and his less-than-stellar start on Saturday. Pitching Beckett in Game 3 gives the bullpen some rest from Friday, when they will undoubtedly have to go several innings in relief of Dice-K.
Game 4: Byrd. This was a tough one. Wake in relief does give rise to a catcher dilemma, but he is no longer dominant over the Rays. They've given him trouble all year. Byrd pitched a very good Game 4 of last year's ALCS, albeit for the opposing team. I think Byrd just might have a slight post-season edge over Wake.
Game 5: Lester or Dice-K. If the team is behind and needs a clutch outing from the ace, pitch Lester in Game 5 at home. If the team is ahead or tied, pitch Dice-K and save Lester for Game 7
Game 6: Dice-K or Beckett. If Dice-K doesn't pitch in Game 5, pitch him in Game 6. If Dice-K does pitch Game 5, pitch Beckett in Game 6
Game 7: Beckett or Lester. If Lester was not used in Game 5, he pitches Game 7. If Lester is used in Game 5 and Dice-K in Game 6, then Beckett goes in Game 7.
As you can see, the rotation for 5-7 is situational. If I had to commit to one for each of the last three games, I would go with Lester in Game 5, Dice-K in Game 6 and Beckett in Game 7 (with fingers crossed that he can be dominant in a deciding game).
With four starters used in the ALCS, they will probably need an extra bullpen arm. Since neither of our "left over" arms (Aardsma and Timlin) are reliable in any sense of the word, it's like choosing the lesser of the two evils. Both drive me nuts when they're on the mound, but I'd have to go with Timlin over Aarsdma because Timlin has more post-season experience. I can't remember when Aardsma had a decent outing. Timlin will surprise me once in a while, but Aardsma's gone downhill since his first DL stint. He's also young and more likely to crumble under pressure. So, I shudder to say this, but if the alternative is Aardsma, bring on Timlin.
Monday, October 6, 2008
They Did It!!!! Now Can They Pumpkin Cinderella?
Sox: 3 Angels: 2
After Lester had thrown his seven shutout innings, given the lead after Sox scrapped together two runs off of Lackey in the fifth, things were looking pretty good for the Sox wrapping up this series at home. Then the bullpen happened. Oki retired the first two Angels batters he faced, but couldn't put the third one away, walking him and bringing Francona to the mound to make the change. Masterson, who the Angels have seen a lot of this series, proceeded to follow Oki's walk of Teixeira with a walk of his own to Vladi Guerrero. Up to the plate came the most clutch hitter of the Halos lineup, Torii Hunter. Masterson had him down 0-2, but then tried to get him to chase a pitch out of the zone. The next pitch he threw was a wild one and the runners advanced. Hunter roped Masterson's 2-2 offering into right field and the two-run advantage the Sox held went "poof", along with Lester's chance to pick up the win. Momentum appeared to swing in the Angels' favor and it looked like a long trip back to Anaheim for the Sox.
Then came the top of the ninth. With pinch-runner Reggie Willits at third, Scioscia tried the old Suicide Squeeze with Aybar at the plate. Aybar missed on his first attempt to bunt as Willits broke for home. Tek caught up with him and tagged him out before he could make it back to third and the play backfired. With two down in the inning, Manny Delcarmen got the third out quickly and it was on to the bottom of the ninth.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Jason Bay lined a ball into right field that bounced into the seats. Ground rule double. That was a tough break for the Sox because he could have made it to third and possibly all the way home had the ball not taken that bounce. Kotsay hit a hard line drive that was caught by Teixeira. Two out. Lowrie is up, batting left-handed, where he has struggled the most (though he did hit a long single off the wall earlier in the game). In a hitter's count, the rookie found the gap and Bay hustled around from second to plate the winning run. No return trip to Anaheim for the Red Sox. They clinched a spot in the ALCS at home, beating the team with the best record in baseball this year, the team with 100 regular season wins. The Angels of 2008, unlike the banged-up squad from last year, put up a fight to the very end. They were a very tough team to beat and deserve props for giving it their all. That said, it's very gratifying to know that the Red Sox were the ones to come up victorious once again in the post-season, over a team that has had their number during the regular season.
Now it's on to the Tampa Bay Rays. This team appears to have had a date with destiny since the very beginning of this season. They've made a meteoric rise in the ranks of the AL East and they've given the Sox a hell of a time in the process. Simply put, they know how to win games. The Red Sox know how to win games too, but the Rays have been doing it just a tad bit more consistently in 2008. Both teams have dealt with injuries to key players. They've also each won a whole slew of games in their home ballpark. With home field advantage having been earned by the Rays, that could play a key part in this series. The Sox will have their work cut out for them, and there are questions about how their pitching will match up to the Rays' rotation, but the Sox can win this series, just as they won the division series against the 100-win Angels. It will take everyone on the team stepping up and bringing their A-game. It will be an exciting series, that's for sure. That said, I may need to work on some Zen meditation between now and Friday...
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
After Lester had thrown his seven shutout innings, given the lead after Sox scrapped together two runs off of Lackey in the fifth, things were looking pretty good for the Sox wrapping up this series at home. Then the bullpen happened. Oki retired the first two Angels batters he faced, but couldn't put the third one away, walking him and bringing Francona to the mound to make the change. Masterson, who the Angels have seen a lot of this series, proceeded to follow Oki's walk of Teixeira with a walk of his own to Vladi Guerrero. Up to the plate came the most clutch hitter of the Halos lineup, Torii Hunter. Masterson had him down 0-2, but then tried to get him to chase a pitch out of the zone. The next pitch he threw was a wild one and the runners advanced. Hunter roped Masterson's 2-2 offering into right field and the two-run advantage the Sox held went "poof", along with Lester's chance to pick up the win. Momentum appeared to swing in the Angels' favor and it looked like a long trip back to Anaheim for the Sox.
Then came the top of the ninth. With pinch-runner Reggie Willits at third, Scioscia tried the old Suicide Squeeze with Aybar at the plate. Aybar missed on his first attempt to bunt as Willits broke for home. Tek caught up with him and tagged him out before he could make it back to third and the play backfired. With two down in the inning, Manny Delcarmen got the third out quickly and it was on to the bottom of the ninth.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Jason Bay lined a ball into right field that bounced into the seats. Ground rule double. That was a tough break for the Sox because he could have made it to third and possibly all the way home had the ball not taken that bounce. Kotsay hit a hard line drive that was caught by Teixeira. Two out. Lowrie is up, batting left-handed, where he has struggled the most (though he did hit a long single off the wall earlier in the game). In a hitter's count, the rookie found the gap and Bay hustled around from second to plate the winning run. No return trip to Anaheim for the Red Sox. They clinched a spot in the ALCS at home, beating the team with the best record in baseball this year, the team with 100 regular season wins. The Angels of 2008, unlike the banged-up squad from last year, put up a fight to the very end. They were a very tough team to beat and deserve props for giving it their all. That said, it's very gratifying to know that the Red Sox were the ones to come up victorious once again in the post-season, over a team that has had their number during the regular season.
Now it's on to the Tampa Bay Rays. This team appears to have had a date with destiny since the very beginning of this season. They've made a meteoric rise in the ranks of the AL East and they've given the Sox a hell of a time in the process. Simply put, they know how to win games. The Red Sox know how to win games too, but the Rays have been doing it just a tad bit more consistently in 2008. Both teams have dealt with injuries to key players. They've also each won a whole slew of games in their home ballpark. With home field advantage having been earned by the Rays, that could play a key part in this series. The Sox will have their work cut out for them, and there are questions about how their pitching will match up to the Rays' rotation, but the Sox can win this series, just as they won the division series against the 100-win Angels. It will take everyone on the team stepping up and bringing their A-game. It will be an exciting series, that's for sure. That said, I may need to work on some Zen meditation between now and Friday...
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
I need a Xanax to get through these damn games!
Sox: 4 Halos: 5
Well, that was five-plus hours of agony. Let me just say that post-season Beckett was AWOL tonight and '06/08 Regular Season Just Plain Average Edition Beckett took his place. Yeah, the ill-fated injured oblique might have played a role, but command eluded Josh tonight. Angels were all over the bases the five innings he pitched. There was no settling in after the first inning or so and the Halos backstop made him pay twice for poor location. Then there were the two non-plays at first. With this kind of start from the guy the Sox call their ace, I knew they were in for a long night.
As if the starting pitching wasn't enough of a momentum-killer, the offense flipped the OFF switch after Ellsbury's bizarre bloop bases-clearing single and Youk's RBI in the fifth. Just seven hits over 12 innings. SEVEN. The Halos had, what, SIXTEEN??? The Sox 'pen did all they could to keep the team in the game until the 12th, when Lopez couldn't fool the Angel bats and the blasted Rally Monkey any longer (Jeez, and I thought JD took care of that simpering simian on Friday night...). The Sox bats couldn't buy a clutch hit, especially o-fer-Pedey. What's up with Mr. Batting Title Runner-Up this series? Cat got his bat? Bay forgot to homer in tonight's game; instead he went hitless, taking a gander at strike three in the bottom of the 12th, leaving the game, the sweep, and the Red Sox' momentum in the hands of Alex Cora. Cora, as predicted, went down quietly and the Angels pulled off the upset, ending a streak of 11 straight post-season victories of the Sox over the Angels. The Halos are going to be fired up tomorrow. They've seized the momentum in a huge way and it's going to take something even huger from Lester to stop them from stealing the entire series. That and the Sox bats have to, for crying out loud, WAKE UP!!!! Have they forgotten they are at Fenway? Oh, and if I see one more Frank TV ad, I will run screaming out of the room.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!! WAKE THE BATS AND KEEP YOUR SEASON ALIVE!!!!
Well, that was five-plus hours of agony. Let me just say that post-season Beckett was AWOL tonight and '06/08 Regular Season Just Plain Average Edition Beckett took his place. Yeah, the ill-fated injured oblique might have played a role, but command eluded Josh tonight. Angels were all over the bases the five innings he pitched. There was no settling in after the first inning or so and the Halos backstop made him pay twice for poor location. Then there were the two non-plays at first. With this kind of start from the guy the Sox call their ace, I knew they were in for a long night.
As if the starting pitching wasn't enough of a momentum-killer, the offense flipped the OFF switch after Ellsbury's bizarre bloop bases-clearing single and Youk's RBI in the fifth. Just seven hits over 12 innings. SEVEN. The Halos had, what, SIXTEEN??? The Sox 'pen did all they could to keep the team in the game until the 12th, when Lopez couldn't fool the Angel bats and the blasted Rally Monkey any longer (Jeez, and I thought JD took care of that simpering simian on Friday night...). The Sox bats couldn't buy a clutch hit, especially o-fer-Pedey. What's up with Mr. Batting Title Runner-Up this series? Cat got his bat? Bay forgot to homer in tonight's game; instead he went hitless, taking a gander at strike three in the bottom of the 12th, leaving the game, the sweep, and the Red Sox' momentum in the hands of Alex Cora. Cora, as predicted, went down quietly and the Angels pulled off the upset, ending a streak of 11 straight post-season victories of the Sox over the Angels. The Halos are going to be fired up tomorrow. They've seized the momentum in a huge way and it's going to take something even huger from Lester to stop them from stealing the entire series. That and the Sox bats have to, for crying out loud, WAKE UP!!!! Have they forgotten they are at Fenway? Oh, and if I see one more Frank TV ad, I will run screaming out of the room.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!! WAKE THE BATS AND KEEP YOUR SEASON ALIVE!!!!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
JD Kills The Rally Monkey
Sox: 7 Angels: 5
The poor primate didn't stand a chance. With two strikes on him in the top of the ninth, JD Drew, man of huge post-season four-baggers, took K-Rod deep with Coco at second, running for Big Papi, who doubled to lead off the inning. This ginormous clutch hit capped off a night of drama for the Sox and Halos, who were tied going into the ninth. The Sox touched "the other Santana" for four runs in the first, thanks to Drew's RBI double (scoring Big Papi, who also doubled, starting the hitting with two outs in the inning) and Jason Bay's second homer of the series, a three-run job with Youk and Drew on. Dice-K took the mound and--quel surprise!--threw first-pitch strikes to the first seven batters he faced. Still, the middle of the order gave him some trouble as they produced the first Angels run. The Sox answered in the third with back-to-back doubles by Cora and Ells, making the score 5-1. The Angels, however, slowly chipped away at that lead, their big three, Teixiera, Guerrerro and Hunter, were hitting and getting on base like it was going out of style. The trademark Dice-K walks began in the fourth, and that walk came around to score the Halos' second run. The fifth was when the wheels came loose for Dice. He issues back-to-back freebies to lead off the inning and needs three dozen pitches to finally escape with only one run scored.
After five, Dice-K was done and the 'pen took over. Oki pitched the sixth 1-2-3, but couldn't extend his dominance into the seventh. He let two runners on and Masterson was summoned to put out the fire. The rookie did, but not before walking in Angels run #4. When Masterson came out for the eighth, the Rally Monkey was doing his thing and Chone Figgins roped a triple. Like the rest of us Sox fans, Tito had seen enough of the Rally Monkey and summoned Paps for a two-inning save. The relentless middle of the lineup managed to sac-fly in Figgins to tie the game and Paps was tagged with a blown save. He took care of the rest of the lineup, thanks to a highlight-reel catch by Youk, who snagged a fly ball in foul territory by the cameras.
That brings us to the top of the ninth, where this blog began. K-Rod got the last out of the eighth and was back on the mound to try to finish off the save. Try he did, but JD got the better of him. With the lead once again, Pap took care of the rest and, four hours after the game began, the Sox took their second victory in Anaheim. They go back to Fenway with a commanding lead in the series and Beckett takes the mound on Sunday night. Even if Beckett isn't in his '07 post-season form, Lester is waiting in the wings for Game 4.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!!
The poor primate didn't stand a chance. With two strikes on him in the top of the ninth, JD Drew, man of huge post-season four-baggers, took K-Rod deep with Coco at second, running for Big Papi, who doubled to lead off the inning. This ginormous clutch hit capped off a night of drama for the Sox and Halos, who were tied going into the ninth. The Sox touched "the other Santana" for four runs in the first, thanks to Drew's RBI double (scoring Big Papi, who also doubled, starting the hitting with two outs in the inning) and Jason Bay's second homer of the series, a three-run job with Youk and Drew on. Dice-K took the mound and--quel surprise!--threw first-pitch strikes to the first seven batters he faced. Still, the middle of the order gave him some trouble as they produced the first Angels run. The Sox answered in the third with back-to-back doubles by Cora and Ells, making the score 5-1. The Angels, however, slowly chipped away at that lead, their big three, Teixiera, Guerrerro and Hunter, were hitting and getting on base like it was going out of style. The trademark Dice-K walks began in the fourth, and that walk came around to score the Halos' second run. The fifth was when the wheels came loose for Dice. He issues back-to-back freebies to lead off the inning and needs three dozen pitches to finally escape with only one run scored.
After five, Dice-K was done and the 'pen took over. Oki pitched the sixth 1-2-3, but couldn't extend his dominance into the seventh. He let two runners on and Masterson was summoned to put out the fire. The rookie did, but not before walking in Angels run #4. When Masterson came out for the eighth, the Rally Monkey was doing his thing and Chone Figgins roped a triple. Like the rest of us Sox fans, Tito had seen enough of the Rally Monkey and summoned Paps for a two-inning save. The relentless middle of the lineup managed to sac-fly in Figgins to tie the game and Paps was tagged with a blown save. He took care of the rest of the lineup, thanks to a highlight-reel catch by Youk, who snagged a fly ball in foul territory by the cameras.
That brings us to the top of the ninth, where this blog began. K-Rod got the last out of the eighth and was back on the mound to try to finish off the save. Try he did, but JD got the better of him. With the lead once again, Pap took care of the rest and, four hours after the game began, the Sox took their second victory in Anaheim. They go back to Fenway with a commanding lead in the series and Beckett takes the mound on Sunday night. Even if Beckett isn't in his '07 post-season form, Lester is waiting in the wings for Game 4.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
The Ace Has Arrived and New Guy Comes Up Big
Sox: 4 Halos: 1
I called it! Jon Lester kept the Angels guessing last night in Anaheim. After a first inning where he struggled a bit with command, Lester settled down and limited the Halos to one unearned run over seven innings, fanning seven. He got stronger as he went deeper into the game, striking out the side in order in the sixth. The Angels touched him for some hits, but only one of their men would cross the plate, due to an error by Jed Lowrie at short in the third inning. Masterson took over in the eighth and had a scare that was put to rest by Youk throwing Vladi Guerrero out at third. Paps gave up one hit, but otherwise made quick work of the home team, sewing up the 4-1 Sox victory.
The Sox offense struggled to put a run across early in the game and it looked like it was going to be one of those gut-wrenchingly futile outings for the seemingly frozen bats. Until, with two outs in the sixth, Jason Bay, in his first post-season hit after whiffing twice before, stroked a two-run dinger that put the Sox ahead of the Angels 2-1. Two more insurance runs were added in the ninth, off the bats of Jacoby "3-for-5 with 2 SB" Ellsbury and a previously thwarted Big Papi. Jake resembled the Jake of last post-season, getting on base and keeping the Angels pitching and defense on their toes. His three hits and two snagged bags showed that he has caught fire at the right time again, in effect continuing the hitting streak he had amassed during the last weeks of the regular season (18 games). Jacoby's presence on the basepaths is key to the Sox' success in the post-season, so here's hoping he keeps it up.
Friday night is Game 2 with Dice-K on the mound. Key for him will be going deep into the game and saving the bullpen. His road record this year has been dominant, so let's hope he continues this trend into the post-season.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
I called it! Jon Lester kept the Angels guessing last night in Anaheim. After a first inning where he struggled a bit with command, Lester settled down and limited the Halos to one unearned run over seven innings, fanning seven. He got stronger as he went deeper into the game, striking out the side in order in the sixth. The Angels touched him for some hits, but only one of their men would cross the plate, due to an error by Jed Lowrie at short in the third inning. Masterson took over in the eighth and had a scare that was put to rest by Youk throwing Vladi Guerrero out at third. Paps gave up one hit, but otherwise made quick work of the home team, sewing up the 4-1 Sox victory.
The Sox offense struggled to put a run across early in the game and it looked like it was going to be one of those gut-wrenchingly futile outings for the seemingly frozen bats. Until, with two outs in the sixth, Jason Bay, in his first post-season hit after whiffing twice before, stroked a two-run dinger that put the Sox ahead of the Angels 2-1. Two more insurance runs were added in the ninth, off the bats of Jacoby "3-for-5 with 2 SB" Ellsbury and a previously thwarted Big Papi. Jake resembled the Jake of last post-season, getting on base and keeping the Angels pitching and defense on their toes. His three hits and two snagged bags showed that he has caught fire at the right time again, in effect continuing the hitting streak he had amassed during the last weeks of the regular season (18 games). Jacoby's presence on the basepaths is key to the Sox' success in the post-season, so here's hoping he keeps it up.
Friday night is Game 2 with Dice-K on the mound. Key for him will be going deep into the game and saving the bullpen. His road record this year has been dominant, so let's hope he continues this trend into the post-season.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
My End of Season Red Sox Awards
Here we are on Soxtober first, with Game 1 of the ALDS less than twelve hours away. It's time for the 2008 InSOXicated Awards. For the purpose of getting the "bad news" out of the way first, here are the more dubious honors (hey, at least they got recognized!)
The Dr. Strangeglove Award, in honor of the original "Dr. Strangeglove," the former Red Sox first baseman Dick Stuart goes to Julio Lugo
The Cardiac Warning Label Award for most stress-inducing bullpen pitcher goes to David Aardsma. Dubiously Honorable Mentions: Mike Timlin and former blood-pressure raiser Craig Hansen, now with Pittsburgh.
The Captain K Award for most whiffs at the plate, well I hate to have to give this to the team captain since he's so vital to the success of the team's pitching staff, but it goes to Jason Varitek. Sorry, Captain.
And now for the "good news"...
The King of the Hill Award goes to Jon Lester, for his ace-like performances on the mound this season. Honorable Mention: Justin Masterson, for coming up from AA Portland to contribute both as a starter and as a reliever at the major league level.
The Flashin' The Leather Award for best defensive player goes to Jacoby Ellsbury for his stellar defense in all three outfield positions. Honorable Mention: Dustin Pedroia
The Teddy Yaz Award for best offensive player goes to Kevin Youkilis. With Papi having a down year and You-Know-Who getting traded, Youk really stepped it up and produced in a big way throughout the season. Honorable Mention: Dustin Pedroia
The Dirt Doggery Award for the grittiest player who isn't afraid to get the uniform dirty goes to Dustin Pedroia. Honorable Mention: Kevin Youkilis
The Golden Welcome Mat Award for best newbie goes to Jason Bay, who made a smooth transition to big-time Boston baseball from his very first game on August 1. Honorable Mention: Jed Lowrie
The Harry Houdini Award for escaping pitching jams goes to Daisuke Matsuzaka
The You've Come A Long Way, Baby Award for most improved player is Jon Lester. Honorable Mention: Kevin Youkilis
The Greased Lightning Award for biggest basepath threat goes to Jacoby Ellsbury. Honorable Mentions: Coco Crisp and Dustin Pedroia.
And finally...drumroll please...my vote for the 2008 Red Sox MVP...
KEVIN YOUKILIS!!!!
While Pedroia may be the leading candidate to most of Red Sox Nation, I'm more sold on Youk. He has 29 home runs and 115 RBI, meaning he is a serious power threat and he drives in the runs. He has stepped up admirably into the cleanup spot behind Big Papi and his defense is Gold Glove caliber just as it was last year. He can play two positions very well. There was no second-half fade for him this year and I believe, at 29 he is entering his prime as a baseball player. Pedroia has been magnificent as well and he gets my honorable mention here. I will be happy if either Red Sox player were to win the AL MVP, but if I had to choose between two supremely qualified candidates, my vote would be with Youk.
The Dr. Strangeglove Award, in honor of the original "Dr. Strangeglove," the former Red Sox first baseman Dick Stuart goes to Julio Lugo
The Cardiac Warning Label Award for most stress-inducing bullpen pitcher goes to David Aardsma. Dubiously Honorable Mentions: Mike Timlin and former blood-pressure raiser Craig Hansen, now with Pittsburgh.
The Captain K Award for most whiffs at the plate, well I hate to have to give this to the team captain since he's so vital to the success of the team's pitching staff, but it goes to Jason Varitek. Sorry, Captain.
And now for the "good news"...
The King of the Hill Award goes to Jon Lester, for his ace-like performances on the mound this season. Honorable Mention: Justin Masterson, for coming up from AA Portland to contribute both as a starter and as a reliever at the major league level.
The Flashin' The Leather Award for best defensive player goes to Jacoby Ellsbury for his stellar defense in all three outfield positions. Honorable Mention: Dustin Pedroia
The Teddy Yaz Award for best offensive player goes to Kevin Youkilis. With Papi having a down year and You-Know-Who getting traded, Youk really stepped it up and produced in a big way throughout the season. Honorable Mention: Dustin Pedroia
The Dirt Doggery Award for the grittiest player who isn't afraid to get the uniform dirty goes to Dustin Pedroia. Honorable Mention: Kevin Youkilis
The Golden Welcome Mat Award for best newbie goes to Jason Bay, who made a smooth transition to big-time Boston baseball from his very first game on August 1. Honorable Mention: Jed Lowrie
The Harry Houdini Award for escaping pitching jams goes to Daisuke Matsuzaka
The You've Come A Long Way, Baby Award for most improved player is Jon Lester. Honorable Mention: Kevin Youkilis
The Greased Lightning Award for biggest basepath threat goes to Jacoby Ellsbury. Honorable Mentions: Coco Crisp and Dustin Pedroia.
And finally...drumroll please...my vote for the 2008 Red Sox MVP...
KEVIN YOUKILIS!!!!
While Pedroia may be the leading candidate to most of Red Sox Nation, I'm more sold on Youk. He has 29 home runs and 115 RBI, meaning he is a serious power threat and he drives in the runs. He has stepped up admirably into the cleanup spot behind Big Papi and his defense is Gold Glove caliber just as it was last year. He can play two positions very well. There was no second-half fade for him this year and I believe, at 29 he is entering his prime as a baseball player. Pedroia has been magnificent as well and he gets my honorable mention here. I will be happy if either Red Sox player were to win the AL MVP, but if I had to choose between two supremely qualified candidates, my vote would be with Youk.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
In Lester I Trust
Hearing that Beckett is injured and there's a possibility he may not pitch in the ALDS is never good news. As of now, he's lined up for Game 3 on Sunday, October 5 at Fenway instead of Game 1 on Wednesday the 1st at Anaheim. That said, I can't help but be optimistic about the new Game 1 starter, Jon Lester. After a somewhat rocky start in the early weeks, Lester has emerged as an ace this season. Although his win-loss record is second to Dice-K's, he goes seven to eight innings a lot more often and avoids putting a strain on the bullpen. His no-hitter in May, along with his shutout at Yankee stadium are just two of the gems he has thrown in this tumultuous 2008 season. Amid all the adversity the Sox have had to deal with, such as overseas travel, road skids, and injuries, Lester has quietly become one of the elite pitchers in the game, especially among the lefties. Last year, he was coming back from his battle with cancer and rebuilding his stamina. His starts in '07 were somewhat tentative, with lots of pitches thrown early and getting into jams via the walk. The beginning of this year, some tentativeness remained, but a gem against Halladay and the May 19th no-hitter were the beginnings of a new, more confident Lester. He pitched aggressively in the zone, trusted his stuff, and baffled the batters who had the misfortune of facing him. As Beckett struggled with inconsistency after starting the season on the DL and missing almost all of Spring Training, it was Lester who stepped up and provided the team with a pitcher they could count on, especially when it came to stopping a losing streak. Lester in '08 is pretty darn close to Beckett in '07. I wouldn't be surprised if that carried into the post-season as well. I have the feeling that this is his year.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!! CONGRATS TO LESTER FOR HIS SECOND AL PITCHER OF THE MONTH FOR THIS SEASON!!! GO OUT AND DE-HALO THOSE ANGELS!!!!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!! CONGRATS TO LESTER FOR HIS SECOND AL PITCHER OF THE MONTH FOR THIS SEASON!!! GO OUT AND DE-HALO THOSE ANGELS!!!!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Pep Rally Minus the Pep: Rally Monday 2008 falls far short of 2007 Version
I hope today's somnolent Rally Monday isn't an indication of the post-season to come because, compared to last year, it fizzled big-time. The '07 rally, held in Town Square Plaza, had a lot more music, including the Red Sox' "adopted" band, the awesome Dropkick Murphys, some retro music from Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon and The Cowsills, more Sox players, and what seemed like a LOT more cheering. Ok, so the players had to board buses today to go to the airport, while last year they opened at home. But "Quest," the band playing at today's rally? Nothing to write home about. Couldn't hold a candle to the Dropkicks. And, boy was I bugged to see those annoying rally towels I had always associated with "the other teams". They look like a bunch of white flags being waved in surrender. I was really looking forward to this year's Rally Monday after last year's show of Red Sox pride. '07 was a blast, but '08 was a yawner. The only thing that could somewhat be construed as a highlight were the recycled "Beat LA" signs that have found new meaning. It's hard to live up to the 2007 season and their rally, but could there be a little more excitement than an 8 am algebra class?
Sunday, September 28, 2008
What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been: Season in Review
It was a long season, that's for sure, extended in days by the trip to Japan, which pushed the Red Sox and A's season opener up to March 25 in the Tokyo Dome, while the rest of the teams were still in Spring Training. The Sox started off with a win, lost the second one, and then had to travel to L.A. to face the Dodgers in three exhibition games. Then, it was up to Oakland to resume the regular season and the series with the A's. Capping off the road trip was a series in Toronto, where they were tired, spent, and swept by the Jays. Here's a recap of the major storylines of the rest of the season, month by month:
April: Opening Day at Fenway on April 8, Sox received their World Series rings.
Sickness made its way through the clubhouse, hitting Tek, Beckett, Dice-K,
and a few others
Lowell to the DL with a bum thumb. Cora and Casey join him.
Lowrie makes his major league debut.
Lugo starts racking up errors at shortstop. Three in one game in Toronto.
Masterson makes his major league debut as a starter. Bullpen prevents him from
picking up the win.
May: Road trip malaise...did the exhausting Japan-California-Toronto tour make them
road-weary early on?
Pap blows two straight saves. Lugo makes costly errors in Detroit.
Buchholz to DL with broken nail. That had to hurt his pride more than anything
else.
Oki + inherited runners = TROUBLE!
Lester no-hits the Royals.
Colon makes his Red Sox debut.
Sox win seven straight at Fenway by sweeping the Brew Crew and the Royals.
Dice-K goes down in Seattle, makes his DL debut.
Manny hits his 500th career home run
June: Papi goes on the DL with wrist injury. Sox Nation in a panic, fearing he's gone for the
season.
J.D. Drew steps up in Papi's #3 spot in the order and comes up huge, hitting homers
like it's going out of style and picking up his team in Papi's absence.
Interleague Play makes the road a bit easier.
Colon swings and flails his way onto the DL.
Dice gets rolled over by Cards in his return from the DL
More Trop Trouble for Sox
July: Lester, continuing his newfound dominance, shuts out the Yanks in their own stadium
Youk hits ball. Damon misses ball. Ball stays on wall. Youk has a triple. Damon to DL
Buchholz back, but his nasty stuff stays in Pawtucket.
Youk hits his first career grand salami.
Lugo down, Lowrie back.
J.D. Drew is MVP of a marathon 15-inning All-Star game.
Sox break even on west coast swing by sweeping M's after being swept by Halos.
Papi returns, Manny begs out.
Manny histrionics come to a head as Sox nearly get no-hit and the Angels sweep them
at home.
Buh-bye Manny...don't let the door hit you in the hindquarters on your way out.
Oh, and bye to Hansen and Moss too. Pittsburgh beckons.
Hello, Jason Bay!
August: Bay makes himself very welcome in his first game as a Red Sox. Scores both of
the team's runs in an extra innings battle against A's.
Lowrie racks up the ribbies and his solid defense is a welcome change from shaky
Lugo.
A slugfest as big as Texas at Fenway Park. Sox: 19 Rangers: 17
Lowell to DL again, this time with the oblique.
Byrd flies in to face Jays.
Beckett bombed by Jays, pitched with tingling in his elbow. Drew throws out
his back, big-time.
Plug mercifully pulled on Buchholz's '08 major league season. To Portland he goes.
Make way for Kotsay. He likes to hit doubles.
A Yankee-whoopin' in the Bronx. Sox take 2 of 3 in last matchup at the stadium.
Beckett sees arm doc and gets the all-clear.
Pedey kills White Sox pitching. Reaches base in 11 straight plate appearances with
9 straight hits.
September: Beckett's back. Lowell's back. Both come up big against the Rangers
The Texas Wakefield Massacre
Sox can't do much tampering with Tampa. Pap and Timlin let 'em fly.
The doubles machine and RBI machine are on the fritz. Neither Kotsay
nor Lowrie can buy a hit.
Hot Coco, anyone? Centerfielder is extra crispy.
Way Back night at the Trop. 9 homers in one game, 6 by Sox.
Sox bats in the subzero and Rays take another series.
Byrd's sick of Jays, so he beats them for good measure.
Lester's sick of them too, or more like he's sick of their ballpark.
Sox clinch playoff berth against the Tribe. Wake picks up the win.
No Division for You! Sox white-flag AL East to rest players. Batting
practice-level pitchers all wet as it rains both water and Yanks runs.
Sox take final game in 10th on Van Every's walkoff hit.
What will Soxtober bring? Good things, I hope! If Drew and Lowell can play through their discomfort and Beckett's oblique doesn't keep him from taking the mound in Game 3, the Sox are in good shape. If the injuries keep those three out of it, things could get dicey.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
April: Opening Day at Fenway on April 8, Sox received their World Series rings.
Sickness made its way through the clubhouse, hitting Tek, Beckett, Dice-K,
and a few others
Lowell to the DL with a bum thumb. Cora and Casey join him.
Lowrie makes his major league debut.
Lugo starts racking up errors at shortstop. Three in one game in Toronto.
Masterson makes his major league debut as a starter. Bullpen prevents him from
picking up the win.
May: Road trip malaise...did the exhausting Japan-California-Toronto tour make them
road-weary early on?
Pap blows two straight saves. Lugo makes costly errors in Detroit.
Buchholz to DL with broken nail. That had to hurt his pride more than anything
else.
Oki + inherited runners = TROUBLE!
Lester no-hits the Royals.
Colon makes his Red Sox debut.
Sox win seven straight at Fenway by sweeping the Brew Crew and the Royals.
Dice-K goes down in Seattle, makes his DL debut.
Manny hits his 500th career home run
June: Papi goes on the DL with wrist injury. Sox Nation in a panic, fearing he's gone for the
season.
J.D. Drew steps up in Papi's #3 spot in the order and comes up huge, hitting homers
like it's going out of style and picking up his team in Papi's absence.
Interleague Play makes the road a bit easier.
Colon swings and flails his way onto the DL.
Dice gets rolled over by Cards in his return from the DL
More Trop Trouble for Sox
July: Lester, continuing his newfound dominance, shuts out the Yanks in their own stadium
Youk hits ball. Damon misses ball. Ball stays on wall. Youk has a triple. Damon to DL
Buchholz back, but his nasty stuff stays in Pawtucket.
Youk hits his first career grand salami.
Lugo down, Lowrie back.
J.D. Drew is MVP of a marathon 15-inning All-Star game.
Sox break even on west coast swing by sweeping M's after being swept by Halos.
Papi returns, Manny begs out.
Manny histrionics come to a head as Sox nearly get no-hit and the Angels sweep them
at home.
Buh-bye Manny...don't let the door hit you in the hindquarters on your way out.
Oh, and bye to Hansen and Moss too. Pittsburgh beckons.
Hello, Jason Bay!
August: Bay makes himself very welcome in his first game as a Red Sox. Scores both of
the team's runs in an extra innings battle against A's.
Lowrie racks up the ribbies and his solid defense is a welcome change from shaky
Lugo.
A slugfest as big as Texas at Fenway Park. Sox: 19 Rangers: 17
Lowell to DL again, this time with the oblique.
Byrd flies in to face Jays.
Beckett bombed by Jays, pitched with tingling in his elbow. Drew throws out
his back, big-time.
Plug mercifully pulled on Buchholz's '08 major league season. To Portland he goes.
Make way for Kotsay. He likes to hit doubles.
A Yankee-whoopin' in the Bronx. Sox take 2 of 3 in last matchup at the stadium.
Beckett sees arm doc and gets the all-clear.
Pedey kills White Sox pitching. Reaches base in 11 straight plate appearances with
9 straight hits.
September: Beckett's back. Lowell's back. Both come up big against the Rangers
The Texas Wakefield Massacre
Sox can't do much tampering with Tampa. Pap and Timlin let 'em fly.
The doubles machine and RBI machine are on the fritz. Neither Kotsay
nor Lowrie can buy a hit.
Hot Coco, anyone? Centerfielder is extra crispy.
Way Back night at the Trop. 9 homers in one game, 6 by Sox.
Sox bats in the subzero and Rays take another series.
Byrd's sick of Jays, so he beats them for good measure.
Lester's sick of them too, or more like he's sick of their ballpark.
Sox clinch playoff berth against the Tribe. Wake picks up the win.
No Division for You! Sox white-flag AL East to rest players. Batting
practice-level pitchers all wet as it rains both water and Yanks runs.
Sox take final game in 10th on Van Every's walkoff hit.
What will Soxtober bring? Good things, I hope! If Drew and Lowell can play through their discomfort and Beckett's oblique doesn't keep him from taking the mound in Game 3, the Sox are in good shape. If the injuries keep those three out of it, things could get dicey.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
THEY DID IT!!!!!!
Sox: 5 Tribe: 4
It's official: The Sox will be playing baseball in October! They beat the ace of the Tribe staff (and the best pitcher in the AL) to clinch a spot in the playoffs and shut the Yanks out after thirteen consecutive years. Youk came up big with a two run homer in the fourth. Pedey picked up two RBI of his own in the fifth, while Bay drove in the go-ahead run. Congratulations, Red Sox!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
It's official: The Sox will be playing baseball in October! They beat the ace of the Tribe staff (and the best pitcher in the AL) to clinch a spot in the playoffs and shut the Yanks out after thirteen consecutive years. Youk came up big with a two run homer in the fourth. Pedey picked up two RBI of his own in the fifth, while Bay drove in the go-ahead run. Congratulations, Red Sox!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Big, Huge Gigantic Gaping Hole
Sox: 3 Tribe: 4
On paper, tonight looked like a pretty sure win for the Boston nine. Well, scrunch that paper up in a ball and toss it because the Sox were beaten by Zach "6.48 ERA" Jackson as the 6-9 hitters bumbled and stumbled at the plate. The one hit the Big Huge Gigantic Gaping Hole (the BHGGH for short) got ricocheted off the third base ump and caught Jason Bay between third and home, in a rally-killing third-out rundown. The Sox got 12 hits, but they stranded just as many on base. Any hits the 1-5 guys got were squandered by the BHGGH at the bottom of the lineup. They combined for 5 K's, with the hat trick going to Jed Lowrie, playing Julio Lugo at the plate. Kotsay has fizzled quickly after a hot start and has yet to go deep in a Sox uniform. Tek has reverted back to slumpdom and Bailey is a career minor leaguer, but the only one of the BHGGH to get a hit (the one that hit the ump and killed the rally).
Props to Big Papi for finally getting his home run swing back. Ellsbury, though he grounded into a rally-killing double play, is also getting his stroke back at the plate. Youk's still getting some pretty good hits. Bay K's a lot, but he has the most homers this season among the entire team. They're really missing Drew and Lowell. No playoff spot is clinched yet and the Sox bats are going to need to show some life with RISP, even without their injured run-producers. Sorry to be so gloom and doom, but there are concerns for this team in this last week of the regular season and possibly the playoffs. Whether they make it or not, they will still be my team and I will root for them regardless, but it would be nice to see the offense come out of their slump and finish the season on a high note.
On paper, tonight looked like a pretty sure win for the Boston nine. Well, scrunch that paper up in a ball and toss it because the Sox were beaten by Zach "6.48 ERA" Jackson as the 6-9 hitters bumbled and stumbled at the plate. The one hit the Big Huge Gigantic Gaping Hole (the BHGGH for short) got ricocheted off the third base ump and caught Jason Bay between third and home, in a rally-killing third-out rundown. The Sox got 12 hits, but they stranded just as many on base. Any hits the 1-5 guys got were squandered by the BHGGH at the bottom of the lineup. They combined for 5 K's, with the hat trick going to Jed Lowrie, playing Julio Lugo at the plate. Kotsay has fizzled quickly after a hot start and has yet to go deep in a Sox uniform. Tek has reverted back to slumpdom and Bailey is a career minor leaguer, but the only one of the BHGGH to get a hit (the one that hit the ump and killed the rally).
Props to Big Papi for finally getting his home run swing back. Ellsbury, though he grounded into a rally-killing double play, is also getting his stroke back at the plate. Youk's still getting some pretty good hits. Bay K's a lot, but he has the most homers this season among the entire team. They're really missing Drew and Lowell. No playoff spot is clinched yet and the Sox bats are going to need to show some life with RISP, even without their injured run-producers. Sorry to be so gloom and doom, but there are concerns for this team in this last week of the regular season and possibly the playoffs. Whether they make it or not, they will still be my team and I will root for them regardless, but it would be nice to see the offense come out of their slump and finish the season on a high note.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Off-Day Blog: This Sox Fan Gives Rays Props
I want the Sox to win the division. It will give them home field advantage, at least in the ALDS. The team that is standing in their way: The Tampa Bay Rays. That said, as a baseball fan, I can't help but admire how the Rays have played this season. When they were sitting on top of the division at the beginning of the season, I got a pretty good laugh out of it. It's only April, I thought, they'll take their place down near the bottom soon enough. As the months went by, however, the Rays still stayed on or near the top. Predictions of a second-half fade came and went. Now it's September and they have taken four out of the six games against the Sox in head-to-head competition. They have an excellent chance of not only having their first winning season, but their first division title and post-season appearance as well. After the Sox came charging at them with bomb after bomb on Monday night, making mincemeat out of their ace Scott Kazmir, they didn't bow out meekly and concede the division to the Sox. Instead, Sonnanstine and the Rays' bullpen outdueled Beckett and the Sox bullpen to win game two in the last at-bat. On Wednesday night, they vanquished the Sox in a dominating 10-3 win and claimed the season series. The Rays are a tenacious team, as Sox fans have learned this season. These aren't the Devil Rays of seasons past. If anything, exorcising the "Devil" from their name won them major points with the baseball gods. This season, they finally have the pieces they need to win: A strong, young rotation, a very solid and often shut-down bullpen, and even if their offense does not rank near the top, they have some very good hitters in Carlos Pena, Dioner Navarro, and rookie Evan Longoria, among others, and a strong defense. The very young team has survived the rigors of a long season and they show no signs of falling on their faces at the eleventh hour. The Sox are a great team too, but they can no longer afford to take the Rays for granted. They will have an uphill battle ahead of them in the final week of the season to wrest the division away from the rolling Rays. However, the Sox have to play like they want that division title badly. That means solid pitching, timely hitting, and sharp defense. With many of their power hitters hurting, they need major contributions from the rest of the team.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Papi Can't Do It All...
Sox: 3 Rays: 10
The good news: Big Papi's hitting homers again. He homered in two consecutive at-bats tonight off Matt Garza. Also, Jake's swinging the stick better and getting on base more. The bad news: The offense tonight was pretty much limited to Papi and Jake. Oh, and Wake imploded. Hansack and Lopez weren't much better. The Rays trampled the Sox in pretty much the same way the Sox trampled the Rays on Monday night. The division is a longshot right now, as the Sox would have to be one game better than the Rays in order to win. If they tie, it comes down to the head-to-head record and that goes to the Rays. The Sox had a chance to leave the Trop once again tied for first, but it wasn't to be. Lack of power in the lineup didn't help. Lowell's hurt, Bay has a new baby, and who knows when or if Drew will be able to play in this calendar year. Kotsay being in a slump doesn't help much either. He started off hot, but really fizzled after a few games. The Wild Card is still theirs for the taking, but it would put them in Anaheim facing the Angels to start the post-season.
Friday night in Toronto, Paul Byrd once again has to pitch to the Blue Jays. If he can beat them after they've seen him for the fifth time since the All-Star Break, then he should be their #4 starter should they need one in the postseason.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
The good news: Big Papi's hitting homers again. He homered in two consecutive at-bats tonight off Matt Garza. Also, Jake's swinging the stick better and getting on base more. The bad news: The offense tonight was pretty much limited to Papi and Jake. Oh, and Wake imploded. Hansack and Lopez weren't much better. The Rays trampled the Sox in pretty much the same way the Sox trampled the Rays on Monday night. The division is a longshot right now, as the Sox would have to be one game better than the Rays in order to win. If they tie, it comes down to the head-to-head record and that goes to the Rays. The Sox had a chance to leave the Trop once again tied for first, but it wasn't to be. Lack of power in the lineup didn't help. Lowell's hurt, Bay has a new baby, and who knows when or if Drew will be able to play in this calendar year. Kotsay being in a slump doesn't help much either. He started off hot, but really fizzled after a few games. The Wild Card is still theirs for the taking, but it would put them in Anaheim facing the Angels to start the post-season.
Friday night in Toronto, Paul Byrd once again has to pitch to the Blue Jays. If he can beat them after they've seen him for the fifth time since the All-Star Break, then he should be their #4 starter should they need one in the postseason.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A Turning of Tables at The Trop
Sox: 13 Rays: 5
Question: What do Big Papi, Mikey Lowell, Jason Bay, Youk, Tek, and Jake have in common? Answer: They all homered in last night's thrashing of the Rays at their home sweet dome (you can all groan now...). Kazmir was PWB (read: Pitching While Blindfolded) and the Sox got on him from the get-go. Coco and Pedey both drew four-pitch walks and the second strike Kaz threw, to Big Papi, was taken deep for a three-run round-tripper. It was, in Eckersley-speak, a piece of cheese, thrown right down the middle of the plate and Papi, clicking wrist and all, gobbled it up. Two batters later, Lowell followed suit with a dong of his own. Dice-K's 17th win was sealed up in the fourth, when the Sox scored seven runs and chased Kazmir from the game. Dice-K had a solid outing, giving up one run and fanning seven, even though he only went five innings due to a high pitch count and the score of the game had Tito and Farrell wanting to give the pen some work.
The win, of course, puts the Sox back up top in the divsion, albeit in a tie with the Rays. Tonight, they have a chance to take sole possession of that lead with another show of force at The Trop. Just as the Rays did last week winning two at Fenway, the Sox have shown that they can win in Tampa after losing the first six games of the season there. Beckett takes the hill against Sonnanstine and we hope this game doesn't go 14 innings. Let's hope the Sox bats stay hot and they can steal the series, and the division lead, from the Rays once and for all.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Question: What do Big Papi, Mikey Lowell, Jason Bay, Youk, Tek, and Jake have in common? Answer: They all homered in last night's thrashing of the Rays at their home sweet dome (you can all groan now...). Kazmir was PWB (read: Pitching While Blindfolded) and the Sox got on him from the get-go. Coco and Pedey both drew four-pitch walks and the second strike Kaz threw, to Big Papi, was taken deep for a three-run round-tripper. It was, in Eckersley-speak, a piece of cheese, thrown right down the middle of the plate and Papi, clicking wrist and all, gobbled it up. Two batters later, Lowell followed suit with a dong of his own. Dice-K's 17th win was sealed up in the fourth, when the Sox scored seven runs and chased Kazmir from the game. Dice-K had a solid outing, giving up one run and fanning seven, even though he only went five innings due to a high pitch count and the score of the game had Tito and Farrell wanting to give the pen some work.
The win, of course, puts the Sox back up top in the divsion, albeit in a tie with the Rays. Tonight, they have a chance to take sole possession of that lead with another show of force at The Trop. Just as the Rays did last week winning two at Fenway, the Sox have shown that they can win in Tampa after losing the first six games of the season there. Beckett takes the hill against Sonnanstine and we hope this game doesn't go 14 innings. Let's hope the Sox bats stay hot and they can steal the series, and the division lead, from the Rays once and for all.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Extra Crispy, Baby!
Sox: 3 Rays: 0
Has Pedey passed the fire baton to Coco Crisp? Sure seems like it, with Coco's average soaring to near .300 (.291 to be exact) and his hitting streak in the double digits (10 games, thank you very much). There were no haymakers thrown in this edition of Coco vs. The Rays, just the ball off his bat sailing past the infield an finding the gap at each of his three at bats. Coco hadn't faced the Rays since that "fightful" game in early June, having served his suspension while the Sox were at the Trop in July. After the first inning, he and Jason Bay were the only Sox batters giving Edwin Jackson any trouble. Jackson, who appears to have gotten over his Fenway allergy a la John Lackey, gave up three runs in the first, including a Bay homer, but settled down big-time for the remaining six innings he pitched.
Now we've gotta talk about Jon Lester. Another title for this blog could have been "Lest is Best!" Just when you thought his innings load is catching up to him, Lester blanked the Rays for 7 2/3 innings, with 6 hits and 9 Ks, and Paps completed the shutout. As of now, the lead the Rays have over the Red Sox stands at a miniscule half game. Lester's record is now 14-5 with a 3.23 ERA tying him for fifth in the league.
The Angels just clobbered the Yanks 12-1, but this isn't the cause for celebration we'd like it to be, seeing that the Halos have the best record in the league and home field advantage in October. The Sox are presently two games back from that record. 'Nuff said there.
Tomorrow night, it's Dice-K vs. Kazmir. Dice ought to pretend the Rays are the White Sox since his best outings this season have come against that AL Central-leading team from the Windy City.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!!
Has Pedey passed the fire baton to Coco Crisp? Sure seems like it, with Coco's average soaring to near .300 (.291 to be exact) and his hitting streak in the double digits (10 games, thank you very much). There were no haymakers thrown in this edition of Coco vs. The Rays, just the ball off his bat sailing past the infield an finding the gap at each of his three at bats. Coco hadn't faced the Rays since that "fightful" game in early June, having served his suspension while the Sox were at the Trop in July. After the first inning, he and Jason Bay were the only Sox batters giving Edwin Jackson any trouble. Jackson, who appears to have gotten over his Fenway allergy a la John Lackey, gave up three runs in the first, including a Bay homer, but settled down big-time for the remaining six innings he pitched.
Now we've gotta talk about Jon Lester. Another title for this blog could have been "Lest is Best!" Just when you thought his innings load is catching up to him, Lester blanked the Rays for 7 2/3 innings, with 6 hits and 9 Ks, and Paps completed the shutout. As of now, the lead the Rays have over the Red Sox stands at a miniscule half game. Lester's record is now 14-5 with a 3.23 ERA tying him for fifth in the league.
The Angels just clobbered the Yanks 12-1, but this isn't the cause for celebration we'd like it to be, seeing that the Halos have the best record in the league and home field advantage in October. The Sox are presently two games back from that record. 'Nuff said there.
Tomorrow night, it's Dice-K vs. Kazmir. Dice ought to pretend the Rays are the White Sox since his best outings this season have come against that AL Central-leading team from the Windy City.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!!
Friday, September 5, 2008
DL??? What DL???
Sox: 8 Rangers: 1
The former fish are back! Teammates since their days on the Florida Marlins, Lowell and Beckett returned from the DL as if they had never been there at all. Lowell went 3 for 5 with 4 RBI, knocking a homer in his first at bat (You can see how badly he was itching to play again!) and driving in half of the Sox' runs. Beckett hurled five shutout innings, throwing 80 pitches, allowing four hits and fanning seven as Red Sox Nation, out in force in Arlington, TX, breathed a huge sigh of relief. As any Sox fan will tell you, Beckett is key to the team's success in October. Having him on the mound in top form would bode very well for the Sox' chances to repeat.
Pedey had what for him is considered a quiet night at the plate, going 1 for 4 with a walk. However, all it takes is one hit to keep his hitting streak alive. Tek punished Texas starter Kevin Millwood with two hits and a recently hot Coco got to Rangers pitching for three, including a triple. Bay stroked a 2-RBI double and Jake hit an RBI triple. Manny Delcarmen threw two flawless innings in relief of Beckett. Masterson got out of a jam in the 8th caused by walking two straight batters and Oki, poor Oki Version '08, had a tough time closing out the game, surrendering the shutout with two outs in the ninth. But, hey, a win's a win and since the Rays got Halladayed in Toronto, their AL East lead has shrunken to a slim 2.5 games. Hear any crimson-hosed footsteps yet, Tampa Bay?
Paying homage to Coco's recent success at the plate, there is new feature on this blog: The Coco Crispometer. Tonight's reading: EXTRA CRISPY!!!!!! 3 for 5 with a triple and 3 RBI!!!!
Tomorrow, Wake takes the mound to try to get the Texas bats to knuckle under. His opponent sports an ERA in the upper fives, so anything could happen.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
The former fish are back! Teammates since their days on the Florida Marlins, Lowell and Beckett returned from the DL as if they had never been there at all. Lowell went 3 for 5 with 4 RBI, knocking a homer in his first at bat (You can see how badly he was itching to play again!) and driving in half of the Sox' runs. Beckett hurled five shutout innings, throwing 80 pitches, allowing four hits and fanning seven as Red Sox Nation, out in force in Arlington, TX, breathed a huge sigh of relief. As any Sox fan will tell you, Beckett is key to the team's success in October. Having him on the mound in top form would bode very well for the Sox' chances to repeat.
Pedey had what for him is considered a quiet night at the plate, going 1 for 4 with a walk. However, all it takes is one hit to keep his hitting streak alive. Tek punished Texas starter Kevin Millwood with two hits and a recently hot Coco got to Rangers pitching for three, including a triple. Bay stroked a 2-RBI double and Jake hit an RBI triple. Manny Delcarmen threw two flawless innings in relief of Beckett. Masterson got out of a jam in the 8th caused by walking two straight batters and Oki, poor Oki Version '08, had a tough time closing out the game, surrendering the shutout with two outs in the ninth. But, hey, a win's a win and since the Rays got Halladayed in Toronto, their AL East lead has shrunken to a slim 2.5 games. Hear any crimson-hosed footsteps yet, Tampa Bay?
Paying homage to Coco's recent success at the plate, there is new feature on this blog: The Coco Crispometer. Tonight's reading: EXTRA CRISPY!!!!!! 3 for 5 with a triple and 3 RBI!!!!
Tomorrow, Wake takes the mound to try to get the Texas bats to knuckle under. His opponent sports an ERA in the upper fives, so anything could happen.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Offensive Hangover
Red Sox: 2 White Sox: 4
Nothing lasts forever, especially not in the game of baseball. The bats had partied too hard on Friday and Saturday night, knocking in 8 runs each night, and this afternoon, they were worshiping the porcelain deity and popping pills for the headache from hell. Pedey's fire was put out by the likes of Gavin Floyd. The party was over, but the series wasn't. Runners were either left stranded on base, waiting for Jacoby to drive them in (since he was the only one whose bat showed signs of life) or they didn't even make it to the basepaths, with batted balls finding gloves as if they had little GPS chips implanted in them.
Wake did alright on the mound, limiting the vaunted White Sox offense to three runs, but as is often the case, he was the victim of poor run support. The 'pen gave up one run, but the game was still well within reach. The bottom of the ninth inning tells the story of the whole game. Runners on second and third with two outs and a de-mojoed Pedey hit a liner to left that was destined to find the glove of Carlos Quentin. It was a sign of the tables turning in the battle of the Sox. Quentin today was more of a pest to the Red Sox than Pedey was (today) to the White Sox.
Not that we Red Sox fans can complain too much about today's loss since the team has won their last four series, but it would sure be nice for them to SWEEP the O's when they come to town this week.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!!
Nothing lasts forever, especially not in the game of baseball. The bats had partied too hard on Friday and Saturday night, knocking in 8 runs each night, and this afternoon, they were worshiping the porcelain deity and popping pills for the headache from hell. Pedey's fire was put out by the likes of Gavin Floyd. The party was over, but the series wasn't. Runners were either left stranded on base, waiting for Jacoby to drive them in (since he was the only one whose bat showed signs of life) or they didn't even make it to the basepaths, with batted balls finding gloves as if they had little GPS chips implanted in them.
Wake did alright on the mound, limiting the vaunted White Sox offense to three runs, but as is often the case, he was the victim of poor run support. The 'pen gave up one run, but the game was still well within reach. The bottom of the ninth inning tells the story of the whole game. Runners on second and third with two outs and a de-mojoed Pedey hit a liner to left that was destined to find the glove of Carlos Quentin. It was a sign of the tables turning in the battle of the Sox. Quentin today was more of a pest to the Red Sox than Pedey was (today) to the White Sox.
Not that we Red Sox fans can complain too much about today's loss since the team has won their last four series, but it would sure be nice for them to SWEEP the O's when they come to town this week.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
It's Pedey's World, The Rest of Them Just Play In It
Red Sox: 8 Palehose: 2
Oh, and the kid won in his major league debut. Michael Bowden went five innings, giving up two runs and striking out three. The pen came through and held those other Sox to those two runs while giving up only two hits.
Pedey was unretirable for the second straight game, going 4 for 4 and intentionally walked in the eighth because the White Sox pitching staff was tired of trying to find ways to get him out. Jake and Kotsay had three hits apiece with the latter collecting 3 RBI to go along with those hits. Jeff Bailey went deep in the second inning for his second career homer in the majors. The RBI machine who goes by the name of Jason Bay picked up two more tonight and the one called Jed Lowrie picked up two as well. They may have been silenced by Buehrle in Chicago, but the Sox offense lit him up for seven runs tonight at Fenway.
Tomorrow, the Sox go for the sweep with Wake on the mound pitching against Gavin Floyd. If MVPedey keeps tearing it up, the White Sox will have a battle on their hands.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!! LET'S GO PEDEY!!!!!
Oh, and the kid won in his major league debut. Michael Bowden went five innings, giving up two runs and striking out three. The pen came through and held those other Sox to those two runs while giving up only two hits.
Pedey was unretirable for the second straight game, going 4 for 4 and intentionally walked in the eighth because the White Sox pitching staff was tired of trying to find ways to get him out. Jake and Kotsay had three hits apiece with the latter collecting 3 RBI to go along with those hits. Jeff Bailey went deep in the second inning for his second career homer in the majors. The RBI machine who goes by the name of Jason Bay picked up two more tonight and the one called Jed Lowrie picked up two as well. They may have been silenced by Buehrle in Chicago, but the Sox offense lit him up for seven runs tonight at Fenway.
Tomorrow, the Sox go for the sweep with Wake on the mound pitching against Gavin Floyd. If MVPedey keeps tearing it up, the White Sox will have a battle on their hands.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!! LET'S GO PEDEY!!!!!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sweet Sixteen for Two-Hit Dice-K
Red Sox: 8 Those Other Sox: 0
Dice-K pitched a gem tonight at Fenway against a slugger-heavy White Sox lineup, holding them to a mere two hits and grabbing win #16 for the season. He had an awesome start against the White Sox in Chicago a few weeks ago, which as to make him a feared pitcher among the palehose. Both starts he went eight innings, giving the pen much needed rest. Timlin, the designated mop-up man, pitched a flawless ninth, preserving the two-hitter. Dice-K K'ed seven in his dominating start.
At the plate, Pedey was relentless, going 4 for 5 with a walk. He stole second twice and scored three runs. White Sox pitching just couldn't get him out tonight. Jason Bay busted the game open in the sixth with a bases-clearing double, giving him a total of 27 RBI in the short time he's been in a Red Sox uni. Kotsay stroked another double, this time picking up a ribbie to go with it. Papi had a three-hit night with an RBI, while Youk had two hits and three RBI, one of which came in a rather painful way, when he was hit by a pitch in the fifth. Jake went hitless, but made a spectacular catch in the first inning, robbing OCab of extra bases.
Tomorrow night, Sox prospect Michael Bowden makes his major league debut. Buehrle goes for the ChiSox.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Dice-K pitched a gem tonight at Fenway against a slugger-heavy White Sox lineup, holding them to a mere two hits and grabbing win #16 for the season. He had an awesome start against the White Sox in Chicago a few weeks ago, which as to make him a feared pitcher among the palehose. Both starts he went eight innings, giving the pen much needed rest. Timlin, the designated mop-up man, pitched a flawless ninth, preserving the two-hitter. Dice-K K'ed seven in his dominating start.
At the plate, Pedey was relentless, going 4 for 5 with a walk. He stole second twice and scored three runs. White Sox pitching just couldn't get him out tonight. Jason Bay busted the game open in the sixth with a bases-clearing double, giving him a total of 27 RBI in the short time he's been in a Red Sox uni. Kotsay stroked another double, this time picking up a ribbie to go with it. Papi had a three-hit night with an RBI, while Youk had two hits and three RBI, one of which came in a rather painful way, when he was hit by a pitch in the fifth. Jake went hitless, but made a spectacular catch in the first inning, robbing OCab of extra bases.
Tomorrow night, Sox prospect Michael Bowden makes his major league debut. Buehrle goes for the ChiSox.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Sox Bullpen Thwarts Sweep
Sox: 2 Yanks: 3
What could have been another shutout at Yankee Stadium for Jon Lester turned into a disappointing loss for the Sox, thanks to the pen and Jason Giambi. The pen was very kind to Giambi today, with Oki tossing him a cookie, which he launched out of the park, to Paps giving him a pitch to single up the middle to bring home the game-winning run. When all was said and done, Lester had a fine bounce-back outing, going 6 2/3 allowing one run and striking out eight. He out-dueled Mussina, who allowed two Sox runs in the fifth. However, today it was the Sox bullpen's turn to fold. Granted it wasn't a full-scale implosion like what happened with the Yanks' pen last night.
The new guy on the block (or, rather, in the dugout), Mark Kotsay doubled in his first at-bat and was the first to get a hit against The Moose today. Jake ran out a ground ball and foiled a double play while driving in a run. Tek drove in the other run. After last night's offensive tour de force, the Sox were limited to five hits by Yankee pitching today.
All in all, the Sox had a very successful road trip, winning all three of their series. A sweep of the Yanks would have been nice, but considering the troubles the Sox have had on the road this season, going 6-3 is a good sign.
Beckett has once again been scratched from a start. He will not pitch tomorrow, but will head down to Alabama to see a specialist about his elbow. Dice-K will start instead, with Pauley a possibility for Saturday. I hope Beckett will be able to pitch again this season. The Sox will need him, especially if they make it to the post-season.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!
What could have been another shutout at Yankee Stadium for Jon Lester turned into a disappointing loss for the Sox, thanks to the pen and Jason Giambi. The pen was very kind to Giambi today, with Oki tossing him a cookie, which he launched out of the park, to Paps giving him a pitch to single up the middle to bring home the game-winning run. When all was said and done, Lester had a fine bounce-back outing, going 6 2/3 allowing one run and striking out eight. He out-dueled Mussina, who allowed two Sox runs in the fifth. However, today it was the Sox bullpen's turn to fold. Granted it wasn't a full-scale implosion like what happened with the Yanks' pen last night.
The new guy on the block (or, rather, in the dugout), Mark Kotsay doubled in his first at-bat and was the first to get a hit against The Moose today. Jake ran out a ground ball and foiled a double play while driving in a run. Tek drove in the other run. After last night's offensive tour de force, the Sox were limited to five hits by Yankee pitching today.
All in all, the Sox had a very successful road trip, winning all three of their series. A sweep of the Yanks would have been nice, but considering the troubles the Sox have had on the road this season, going 6-3 is a good sign.
Beckett has once again been scratched from a start. He will not pitch tomorrow, but will head down to Alabama to see a specialist about his elbow. Dice-K will start instead, with Pauley a possibility for Saturday. I hope Beckett will be able to pitch again this season. The Sox will need him, especially if they make it to the post-season.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Pedey's Grand and Bay Collects 4 More
Sox: 11 Spanked Yanks: 3
Picture 30-40 years from now, Pedey's bouncing his grandkids on his knees and regaling them with the story of his first career grand slam, in the last weeks of what will then be called the "Old Yankee Stadium". It was an awesome moment for last year's Rookie of The Year, who has long since proven that his '07 season was no fluke. Although it wasn't a game-winning grand slam, as the Sox were already ahead by five runs at the time, puts the game further out of reach for the reeling Yanks and gives Pedey a night to remember for the rest of his life (as if winning the World Series his rookie year wasn't enough!).
If Pedey put the final nail in the Yanks' coffin for tonight's game, Bay is the one who built the coffin. He drove in 4 RBIs of his own, on two hits and a sac fly. Byrd lent a hammer to the cause by keeping the Yanks to two runs over six innings and the pen, with the exception of Timlin who gave up a solo homer to Giambi, kept the door shut. He picks up his second win in a Sox uniform and finally faces a non-Toronto team.
Tomorrow, Lester aims for redemption after his disastrous last start. He faces The Moose, who has been pitching pretty darn well this season. This has the makings of a pitcher's duel, but we shall see tomorrow afternoon.
By the way, welcome to the Red Sox, Mark Kotsay. The former Braves outfielder is the latest waiver wire acquisition to add insurance to the Sox outfield, with Drew on the DL. Kotsay happens to have the exact same birthday as me, month, day and year.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!! BROOM 'EM AT THEIR HALLOWED STADIUM!
Picture 30-40 years from now, Pedey's bouncing his grandkids on his knees and regaling them with the story of his first career grand slam, in the last weeks of what will then be called the "Old Yankee Stadium". It was an awesome moment for last year's Rookie of The Year, who has long since proven that his '07 season was no fluke. Although it wasn't a game-winning grand slam, as the Sox were already ahead by five runs at the time, puts the game further out of reach for the reeling Yanks and gives Pedey a night to remember for the rest of his life (as if winning the World Series his rookie year wasn't enough!).
If Pedey put the final nail in the Yanks' coffin for tonight's game, Bay is the one who built the coffin. He drove in 4 RBIs of his own, on two hits and a sac fly. Byrd lent a hammer to the cause by keeping the Yanks to two runs over six innings and the pen, with the exception of Timlin who gave up a solo homer to Giambi, kept the door shut. He picks up his second win in a Sox uniform and finally faces a non-Toronto team.
Tomorrow, Lester aims for redemption after his disastrous last start. He faces The Moose, who has been pitching pretty darn well this season. This has the makings of a pitcher's duel, but we shall see tomorrow afternoon.
By the way, welcome to the Red Sox, Mark Kotsay. The former Braves outfielder is the latest waiver wire acquisition to add insurance to the Sox outfield, with Drew on the DL. Kotsay happens to have the exact same birthday as me, month, day and year.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!! BROOM 'EM AT THEIR HALLOWED STADIUM!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Black Hole Has Gone Missing...
Sox: 7 Yanks: 3
When I saw the lineup for tonight's game, I anticipated some serious black hole-ishness from 7-9, especially 8 and 9, but I will happily eat crow over that prediction. Number 7, Coco, had three hits while Bailey and Cash had two apiece, Bailey collecting two RBI on a single in the fifth. Coco also had an RBI. Jason Bay showed the Yanks that, although they rejoiced at the Manny trade, they might have jumped from the frying pan into the fire. He had two RBIs on the night. Big Papi also had a good night at the plate, with two doubles. The only guy in the lineup not to have a hit was Pedey, who had a bit of an off night, going 0-5 with an error, though he drew a walk and scored. Lowrie was charged with an error as well, when he was playing third later in the game. It was his first error with the big club.
As the Sox were putting runs up on the board, A-Rod was having a choke-tacular night, striking out twice, grounding into two double plays, making an error, and being a lightning rod for the boo-birds.
Wake had a nice comeback outing, doing better than I had expected, considering his record against the Yanks and his just coming off the DL. He allowed three runs over five innings, two of those runs coming off solo dingers by Damon, in almost exactly the same place. He picked up his 8th win of the season, improving to 8-8. Lopez pitched a flawless 6th. Delcarmen, coming off a clutch save on Sunday, was a miss tonight, recording only one out, walking one, and allowing a hit. Masterson came in and got A-Rod to ground into his second double-play of the night. He ran into a little trouble in the eighth after an error by Pedey allowed Giambi to reach and Nady singled. Oki came on, struck out Matsui, got Cano out, and then Paps took it from there.
Tomorrow, Byrd starts against a team that is not the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yanks have Ponson on the mound. With tonight's win, they already have a winning road trip, but another win or two in the stadium would be some nice icing on the cake.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
When I saw the lineup for tonight's game, I anticipated some serious black hole-ishness from 7-9, especially 8 and 9, but I will happily eat crow over that prediction. Number 7, Coco, had three hits while Bailey and Cash had two apiece, Bailey collecting two RBI on a single in the fifth. Coco also had an RBI. Jason Bay showed the Yanks that, although they rejoiced at the Manny trade, they might have jumped from the frying pan into the fire. He had two RBIs on the night. Big Papi also had a good night at the plate, with two doubles. The only guy in the lineup not to have a hit was Pedey, who had a bit of an off night, going 0-5 with an error, though he drew a walk and scored. Lowrie was charged with an error as well, when he was playing third later in the game. It was his first error with the big club.
As the Sox were putting runs up on the board, A-Rod was having a choke-tacular night, striking out twice, grounding into two double plays, making an error, and being a lightning rod for the boo-birds.
Wake had a nice comeback outing, doing better than I had expected, considering his record against the Yanks and his just coming off the DL. He allowed three runs over five innings, two of those runs coming off solo dingers by Damon, in almost exactly the same place. He picked up his 8th win of the season, improving to 8-8. Lopez pitched a flawless 6th. Delcarmen, coming off a clutch save on Sunday, was a miss tonight, recording only one out, walking one, and allowing a hit. Masterson came in and got A-Rod to ground into his second double-play of the night. He ran into a little trouble in the eighth after an error by Pedey allowed Giambi to reach and Nady singled. Oki came on, struck out Matsui, got Cano out, and then Paps took it from there.
Tomorrow, Byrd starts against a team that is not the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yanks have Ponson on the mound. With tonight's win, they already have a winning road trip, but another win or two in the stadium would be some nice icing on the cake.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Lowrie Being Papi
Sox: 6 Jays: 5
It wasn't a walk-off because they're on the road, but Lowrie bangs a clutch homer in the top of the 11th to put the Sox on top of the Blue Jays for a final time in this see-saw of a game. It was his second homer in his young major-league career and the first since his July call-up. Lowrie had been in a bit of a mini-slump at the plate this series and had gone 0-for-4 going into that last at-bat, but all it takes is a good pitch to hit and the ability to hit it long and high enough to clear the outfield fence to turn things around. It was a good day for the "little guys"--the under-200-pounders--at the plate. Besides The Jedster, Coco and Pedey hit some clutch homers of their own. Pedey hit a 3-run shot in the third to get the Sox on the board and Coco tied the game at 5-5 with his solo dinger in the seventh.
Dice-K had an uncharacteristic high-hit, low-walk outing, giving up 5 runs and not factoring into the decision. In fact, the king of base on balls' only walk was an intentional one. The Jays swung early and connected! Dice-K had to be thinking "What the &*!? Guys NEVER do that when I'm on the mound!" He was dealing for awhile, retiring five straight batters when Jake made a Dinn Trophy-worthy catch in fourth, but face-planted against the right field wall in the process, scratching his eye with his sunglasses and losing a contact lens. He held on, recording the out, but some commotion ensued when Tito and the trainer came out and had to search the bullpen behind the wall for the lens. They found it, but trying to put it in Jake's eye was easier said than done. After four or five tries, Jacoby was like "Enough is enough! I'll put it in my own eye, thank you very much!" Much to the relief of the Red Sox, he stayed in the game. However, the episode disrupted Dice-K's momentum and he ended up surrendering the Jays' third run before the inning was over--a solo homer by Lyle Overbay.
The game went up and down from there, with the Jays tying, then taking over the lead in the sixth. In the seventh, the Coco homer tied it up again and it remained tied, forcing extra innings. Both closers entered the game, doing their job and holding the tie. Paps threw a mere 16 pitches over two innings! Bay made an awesome game-saving catch against the left field wall in the 10th. Lowrie pulled off his heroics in the top of the 11th and in the bottom of the inning, Manny Delcarmen came in to pitch in relief of Paps. Fans, like myself, were groaning "uh oh!" when we saw him warming in the pen in the top of the inning, but after walking the leadoff batter, he settled down and grabbed the save, but not before Cora landed on top of Vernon Wells to record the first out of the inning. The last two outs were more routine and the game ended with a strikeout of Jays newbie Jose Bautista.
What a great moral victory for the Sox, who have been dogged by the Jays the entire season. Winning this series in Toronto is huge for them. It puts them at 4-2 so far on the road trip with two series wins and sends them to the Bronx on a high note.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!
It wasn't a walk-off because they're on the road, but Lowrie bangs a clutch homer in the top of the 11th to put the Sox on top of the Blue Jays for a final time in this see-saw of a game. It was his second homer in his young major-league career and the first since his July call-up. Lowrie had been in a bit of a mini-slump at the plate this series and had gone 0-for-4 going into that last at-bat, but all it takes is a good pitch to hit and the ability to hit it long and high enough to clear the outfield fence to turn things around. It was a good day for the "little guys"--the under-200-pounders--at the plate. Besides The Jedster, Coco and Pedey hit some clutch homers of their own. Pedey hit a 3-run shot in the third to get the Sox on the board and Coco tied the game at 5-5 with his solo dinger in the seventh.
Dice-K had an uncharacteristic high-hit, low-walk outing, giving up 5 runs and not factoring into the decision. In fact, the king of base on balls' only walk was an intentional one. The Jays swung early and connected! Dice-K had to be thinking "What the &*!? Guys NEVER do that when I'm on the mound!" He was dealing for awhile, retiring five straight batters when Jake made a Dinn Trophy-worthy catch in fourth, but face-planted against the right field wall in the process, scratching his eye with his sunglasses and losing a contact lens. He held on, recording the out, but some commotion ensued when Tito and the trainer came out and had to search the bullpen behind the wall for the lens. They found it, but trying to put it in Jake's eye was easier said than done. After four or five tries, Jacoby was like "Enough is enough! I'll put it in my own eye, thank you very much!" Much to the relief of the Red Sox, he stayed in the game. However, the episode disrupted Dice-K's momentum and he ended up surrendering the Jays' third run before the inning was over--a solo homer by Lyle Overbay.
The game went up and down from there, with the Jays tying, then taking over the lead in the sixth. In the seventh, the Coco homer tied it up again and it remained tied, forcing extra innings. Both closers entered the game, doing their job and holding the tie. Paps threw a mere 16 pitches over two innings! Bay made an awesome game-saving catch against the left field wall in the 10th. Lowrie pulled off his heroics in the top of the 11th and in the bottom of the inning, Manny Delcarmen came in to pitch in relief of Paps. Fans, like myself, were groaning "uh oh!" when we saw him warming in the pen in the top of the inning, but after walking the leadoff batter, he settled down and grabbed the save, but not before Cora landed on top of Vernon Wells to record the first out of the inning. The last two outs were more routine and the game ended with a strikeout of Jays newbie Jose Bautista.
What a great moral victory for the Sox, who have been dogged by the Jays the entire season. Winning this series in Toronto is huge for them. It puts them at 4-2 so far on the road trip with two series wins and sends them to the Bronx on a high note.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!
Friday, August 22, 2008
The Byrdman Giveth and The Byrdman Taketh Away
Sox: 8 Jays: 4
Before tonight, when was the last time the Sox won a game in the Rogers Center in Toronto? Probably sometime last season. The Sox have had trouble with these darn Jays all season, having been swept by them twice and winning a grand total of two games against them (those two coming at Fenway) before tonight's win. Thanks to a solid 6-inning start by Byrd, who just won his first game as a Red Sox, and a strong offensive showing, things went the Sox way this time. Jays starter Shawn Marcum, whom the Sox just saw last Sunday, was chased in the fourth inning with five runs charged to him.
Byrd has won two of his three straight games against Toronto, one as a member of the Tribe and another as a Red Sox. He may have "giveth" the game to the Jays last Saturday, and "giveth" two long balls tonight , but in the end, he "taketh away" the victory from the Jays. It was nice to see the momentum quickly turn around after Wednesday night's mess in Baltimore. It's also great to see Tek getting some of his power back, homering in three straight games and collecting a few hits to boot. It's gotta be a great feeling for the Captain, to see his bat begin to come alive again after an extended slumber.
Looks like JD Drew might be DL-bound after MRIs showed a herniated disc in his back. Though his bat had significantly cooled down since the All-Star break, he was still getting on base a lot via the walk, so he will definitely be missed. With both he and Lowell out of the lineup, the Sox are having to rely on guys like Cora, Crisp, and Casey to step up and keep the offense going, as well as Lowrie, Bay, Youk, Pedey, Papi, and Jake. Tonight and in the Baltimore series, they have been doing just that. Let's hope it continues.
Tomorrow afternoon, the Sox have on the mound the guy who has become their most reliable pitcher this season, Jon Lester. He faces Jesse Litch, who is 8-7 with a 4.20 ERA.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Before tonight, when was the last time the Sox won a game in the Rogers Center in Toronto? Probably sometime last season. The Sox have had trouble with these darn Jays all season, having been swept by them twice and winning a grand total of two games against them (those two coming at Fenway) before tonight's win. Thanks to a solid 6-inning start by Byrd, who just won his first game as a Red Sox, and a strong offensive showing, things went the Sox way this time. Jays starter Shawn Marcum, whom the Sox just saw last Sunday, was chased in the fourth inning with five runs charged to him.
Byrd has won two of his three straight games against Toronto, one as a member of the Tribe and another as a Red Sox. He may have "giveth" the game to the Jays last Saturday, and "giveth" two long balls tonight , but in the end, he "taketh away" the victory from the Jays. It was nice to see the momentum quickly turn around after Wednesday night's mess in Baltimore. It's also great to see Tek getting some of his power back, homering in three straight games and collecting a few hits to boot. It's gotta be a great feeling for the Captain, to see his bat begin to come alive again after an extended slumber.
Looks like JD Drew might be DL-bound after MRIs showed a herniated disc in his back. Though his bat had significantly cooled down since the All-Star break, he was still getting on base a lot via the walk, so he will definitely be missed. With both he and Lowell out of the lineup, the Sox are having to rely on guys like Cora, Crisp, and Casey to step up and keep the offense going, as well as Lowrie, Bay, Youk, Pedey, Papi, and Jake. Tonight and in the Baltimore series, they have been doing just that. Let's hope it continues.
Tomorrow afternoon, the Sox have on the mound the guy who has become their most reliable pitcher this season, Jon Lester. He faces Jesse Litch, who is 8-7 with a 4.20 ERA.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Now That's More Like It, Boys!
Sox: 6 O's: 3
After yesterday's debacle, tonight's game was a breath of fresh air. The Sox bats were hitting good pitching (Guthrie with an ERA of 3.18 going into the game) and Lester was continuing his role as stopper. He limited the Baltimore bats to one run, an Aubrey Huff homer, through seven innings. When two more O's runs scored in the eighth, courtesy of the bullpen, the Sox answered in the top of the ninth with two runs of their own, restoring the 3-run cushion for Paps in the bottom of the inning.
For the Sox, it was a good night for the long ball if your first name is Jason. Bay hit two homers and Tek hit one. It was a very welcome homer for the struggling Tek and for Bay, the two he knocked out of the park, plus an additional RBI in the ninth, continue the hot streak he's been on since becoming a Red Sox. I hope there will be more games like tonight, when both the offense and the pitching (save for a bullpen hiccup) were clicking, especially when the team is on the road.
Tomorrow night, it's Dice-K vs. Cabrera. Dice will go for his 15th win!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
After yesterday's debacle, tonight's game was a breath of fresh air. The Sox bats were hitting good pitching (Guthrie with an ERA of 3.18 going into the game) and Lester was continuing his role as stopper. He limited the Baltimore bats to one run, an Aubrey Huff homer, through seven innings. When two more O's runs scored in the eighth, courtesy of the bullpen, the Sox answered in the top of the ninth with two runs of their own, restoring the 3-run cushion for Paps in the bottom of the inning.
For the Sox, it was a good night for the long ball if your first name is Jason. Bay hit two homers and Tek hit one. It was a very welcome homer for the struggling Tek and for Bay, the two he knocked out of the park, plus an additional RBI in the ninth, continue the hot streak he's been on since becoming a Red Sox. I hope there will be more games like tonight, when both the offense and the pitching (save for a bullpen hiccup) were clicking, especially when the team is on the road.
Tomorrow night, it's Dice-K vs. Cabrera. Dice will go for his 15th win!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The Pitching Misadventures of PodBeckett & Company
Sox: 4 Jays' Oh-So-Incredible-Offense: 15
When a team with a self-proclaimed weak offense pounds the Sox 15-4, something ain't right at Fenway. I missed most of the game, but when the pitcher formerly known as the team's ace gets whacked around for 6 runs in the first inning, one begins to wonder if he was taking pitching lessons from the Texas Rangers' staff. The line score shows that the Jays knocked 22 hits off of Sox pitching. This wasn't a game; it was game-time batting practice for Toronto. Ack! Ugh! Enough about this debacle!
Lester can show he's the true ace of the staff by dominating the O's tomorrow night in Baltimore.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!! SHAKE OFF THIS WEEKEND AND BEAT THE O'S TOMORROW!!!
When a team with a self-proclaimed weak offense pounds the Sox 15-4, something ain't right at Fenway. I missed most of the game, but when the pitcher formerly known as the team's ace gets whacked around for 6 runs in the first inning, one begins to wonder if he was taking pitching lessons from the Texas Rangers' staff. The line score shows that the Jays knocked 22 hits off of Sox pitching. This wasn't a game; it was game-time batting practice for Toronto. Ack! Ugh! Enough about this debacle!
Lester can show he's the true ace of the staff by dominating the O's tomorrow night in Baltimore.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!! SHAKE OFF THIS WEEKEND AND BEAT THE O'S TOMORROW!!!
Boy, Do I Miss That Texas Pitching!
Sox: 1 Jays: 4
I predicted this would happen. The Sox have been tearing it up at the plate against the laughable Texas pitchers, but once a pitcher like Halladay took the mound, it would be an entirely different story. Granted, Halladay is one of the best pitchers in the league, with a compact 2.72 ERA and a penchant for hurling complete games. Byrd didn't do too badly himself, allowing 4 runs in 7 1/3 innings, but his teammates couldn't back him up. It didn't help the newest Sox pitcher's cause that the Blue Jays had just seen him about a week before, in his last start with The Tribe. He will do fine as a #4 or #5 starter. The Sox bats do need to give him some run support, though. Pedey prevented the shutout by homering in the bottom of then ninth.
This afternoon, Beckett takes the mound. If he can keep the home runs down and pitch like he has pitched for the last two starts, the Sox will be in good shape, as long as they can score at least a couple of runs. Marcum won't make it easy, with an ERA in the mid 3s.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!! HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY, PEDEY!!!!!
I predicted this would happen. The Sox have been tearing it up at the plate against the laughable Texas pitchers, but once a pitcher like Halladay took the mound, it would be an entirely different story. Granted, Halladay is one of the best pitchers in the league, with a compact 2.72 ERA and a penchant for hurling complete games. Byrd didn't do too badly himself, allowing 4 runs in 7 1/3 innings, but his teammates couldn't back him up. It didn't help the newest Sox pitcher's cause that the Blue Jays had just seen him about a week before, in his last start with The Tribe. He will do fine as a #4 or #5 starter. The Sox bats do need to give him some run support, though. Pedey prevented the shutout by homering in the bottom of then ninth.
This afternoon, Beckett takes the mound. If he can keep the home runs down and pitch like he has pitched for the last two starts, the Sox will be in good shape, as long as they can score at least a couple of runs. Marcum won't make it easy, with an ERA in the mid 3s.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!! HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY, PEDEY!!!!!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Post-Rainout Blog: Random Sox thoughts
Random Thought #1: Is it just me or has JD Drew changed his plate approach in this series against the Rangers? One of the things that made him valuable in the leadoff spot was his patience at the plate and ability to get on base. The past two or three games, however, he has been less patient, swinging earlier in the count at pitches that would probably have been called balls. Result: more strikeouts, groundouts, and fly-outs and less hits and walks.
Random Thought #2: According to Boston.com, Buchholz's start, originally scheduled for tomorrow, has been rescheduled for Wendesday. Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't they be in Baltimore on Wednesday, for a ROAD game? Given Buch's abysmal ERA on the road, it doesn't bode well for a win that day. That can't be good for the already fragile psyche of Young Buch. The 0's may be in last place in the AL East, but they're no slouches in the offense department. They will capitalize on Buch's command problems with his fastball and will sit on the breaking ball. It's too bad neither Wake nor Colon will be ready to pitch on Wednesday. Buch needs to be sent down to AAA for his own good.
Random Thought #3: What's in the orange juice down in Tampa Bay? Now they're mowing down teams on the road too. Granted, they're not top-notch teams, but with two of their main bats on the DL, how is it that they can't seem to lose?
Random Thought #4: I'm glad to see Jake back in the lineup and I hope he continues to hit like he did in Kansas City and Chicago. Coco has been lauded for his defense, but his throwing arm leaves a lot to be desired. Jacoby has a better throwing arm and his defense is getting better as well. Not to mention, he can play all three outfield positions while Coco seems limited to center.
Random Thought #5: Lugo seems to be making progress toward coming off the DL and while this is good for Lugo, it could be trouble for the Sox. Lowrie has done an outstanding job at short, both offensively and defensively. He's come through countless times with the bases loaded. I'd hate to see such talent have to ride pine while Lugo, who bats below the Mendoza Line with RISP and has 16 errors on the season so far, plays. Lugo is the veteran, but Lowrie is the hotter bat right now (and the surer hand in the infield). If Lowrie cools off significantly, maybe putting Lugo back in wouldn't be such a bad idea, but until then, Lowrie gives the Sox a better chance to win.
Random Thought #2: According to Boston.com, Buchholz's start, originally scheduled for tomorrow, has been rescheduled for Wendesday. Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't they be in Baltimore on Wednesday, for a ROAD game? Given Buch's abysmal ERA on the road, it doesn't bode well for a win that day. That can't be good for the already fragile psyche of Young Buch. The 0's may be in last place in the AL East, but they're no slouches in the offense department. They will capitalize on Buch's command problems with his fastball and will sit on the breaking ball. It's too bad neither Wake nor Colon will be ready to pitch on Wednesday. Buch needs to be sent down to AAA for his own good.
Random Thought #3: What's in the orange juice down in Tampa Bay? Now they're mowing down teams on the road too. Granted, they're not top-notch teams, but with two of their main bats on the DL, how is it that they can't seem to lose?
Random Thought #4: I'm glad to see Jake back in the lineup and I hope he continues to hit like he did in Kansas City and Chicago. Coco has been lauded for his defense, but his throwing arm leaves a lot to be desired. Jacoby has a better throwing arm and his defense is getting better as well. Not to mention, he can play all three outfield positions while Coco seems limited to center.
Random Thought #5: Lugo seems to be making progress toward coming off the DL and while this is good for Lugo, it could be trouble for the Sox. Lowrie has done an outstanding job at short, both offensively and defensively. He's come through countless times with the bases loaded. I'd hate to see such talent have to ride pine while Lugo, who bats below the Mendoza Line with RISP and has 16 errors on the season so far, plays. Lugo is the veteran, but Lowrie is the hotter bat right now (and the surer hand in the infield). If Lowrie cools off significantly, maybe putting Lugo back in wouldn't be such a bad idea, but until then, Lowrie gives the Sox a better chance to win.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Sweep-K
Sox: 10 Rangers: Nada
The Texas-sized offense who drove Sox pitchers bananas on Tuesday was shut out by Dice-K & Company tonight, completing a sweep of the Ranger crew. Pitching is a non-entity with this team and the Sox took full advantage of the game situation batting practice. Big Papi hit his third three-run homer as part of the nine-run second inning. Lowrie racked up another RBI, making the statement as clear as day that he should be the starting shortstop even after Lugo is healthy enough to play. Youk and Pedey are in the thick of the batting title race, along with Ian Kinsler, Milton Bradley, and Johnny Come Yankee Damon. The scrappy, dirt-dog duo had three hits apiece and they are two of the most consistent offensive and defensive producers on the team.
Dice-K picked up his 14th win and is now one win shy of his 15 from last season. He was his usual adventurous self on the mound, loading the bases in the second, but escaping the jam in a way only he seems to be able to do. RemDawg suggested that maybe Dice-K likes having runners on base, that he may get bored with the bases empty. He said that maybe pitching coach John Farrell should tell Dice-K to imagine that the bases are loaded with each batter he faces. I don't know...that might require some hypnosis.
Tomorrow, the newest Red Sox, Paul Byrd, tries to continue his hot streak with a dose of deja vu. He faces the Blue Jays for the second time in a week. The Sox have to face Roy "Doc" Halladay, he of the multitude of complete games. Having been spoiled by the Texas hurlers with massive ERAs, I'm predicting the sharp Toronto pitching staff might require some adjustment on the part of the Sox bats.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
The Texas-sized offense who drove Sox pitchers bananas on Tuesday was shut out by Dice-K & Company tonight, completing a sweep of the Ranger crew. Pitching is a non-entity with this team and the Sox took full advantage of the game situation batting practice. Big Papi hit his third three-run homer as part of the nine-run second inning. Lowrie racked up another RBI, making the statement as clear as day that he should be the starting shortstop even after Lugo is healthy enough to play. Youk and Pedey are in the thick of the batting title race, along with Ian Kinsler, Milton Bradley, and Johnny Come Yankee Damon. The scrappy, dirt-dog duo had three hits apiece and they are two of the most consistent offensive and defensive producers on the team.
Dice-K picked up his 14th win and is now one win shy of his 15 from last season. He was his usual adventurous self on the mound, loading the bases in the second, but escaping the jam in a way only he seems to be able to do. RemDawg suggested that maybe Dice-K likes having runners on base, that he may get bored with the bases empty. He said that maybe pitching coach John Farrell should tell Dice-K to imagine that the bases are loaded with each batter he faces. I don't know...that might require some hypnosis.
Tomorrow, the newest Red Sox, Paul Byrd, tries to continue his hot streak with a dose of deja vu. He faces the Blue Jays for the second time in a week. The Sox have to face Roy "Doc" Halladay, he of the multitude of complete games. Having been spoiled by the Texas hurlers with massive ERAs, I'm predicting the sharp Toronto pitching staff might require some adjustment on the part of the Sox bats.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
A Score in the Single Digits: Who'd a Thunk It?
Sox: 8 Rangers: 4
After last night's run-scoring extravaganza, the two hottest offenses in the American League returned to earth tonight, scoring a mere third of the runs that were scored last night. For seven innings, Jon Lester had held the Texas bats scoreless. That effort must have taken a lot out of him because he struggled in the eighth, allowing a solo homer and two more hits. Timlin took over and promptly allowed two inherited runners to score on a three-run homer, cutting the Sox lead over the Rangers in half. Lopez got the last out of the eight on one pitch. Masterson pitched a scoreless ninth and Lester picked up the win, his eleventh on the season.
Youk has another hot night at the plate, with three doubles and two RBI. Lowrie added two more RBI with a bases-loaded double and his average is heading toward .300 Bay also had a two-RBI day.
Tomorrow, Dice-K looks for win number 14. For the Rangers, Padilla was scratched in favor of Tommy Hunter, who has only pitched 9.1 innings with the team, so he must be a recent AAA call-up. Speaking of call-ups, Jeff Bailey was recalled from the PawSox and Pauley was sent back down.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
After last night's run-scoring extravaganza, the two hottest offenses in the American League returned to earth tonight, scoring a mere third of the runs that were scored last night. For seven innings, Jon Lester had held the Texas bats scoreless. That effort must have taken a lot out of him because he struggled in the eighth, allowing a solo homer and two more hits. Timlin took over and promptly allowed two inherited runners to score on a three-run homer, cutting the Sox lead over the Rangers in half. Lopez got the last out of the eight on one pitch. Masterson pitched a scoreless ninth and Lester picked up the win, his eleventh on the season.
Youk has another hot night at the plate, with three doubles and two RBI. Lowrie added two more RBI with a bases-loaded double and his average is heading toward .300 Bay also had a two-RBI day.
Tomorrow, Dice-K looks for win number 14. For the Rangers, Padilla was scratched in favor of Tommy Hunter, who has only pitched 9.1 innings with the team, so he must be a recent AAA call-up. Speaking of call-ups, Jeff Bailey was recalled from the PawSox and Pauley was sent back down.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Batting Practice Night at The Fens
Sox: 19 Rangers: 17
What happens when two of the most potent offenses in the league go head to head in the hitter's park known as Fenway? Answer: Tonight's 4-hour slugfest of a game. Both teams beat the tar out of the ball in a game that looked from the early innings to be a Red Sox blowout. The Sox put up ten, yes TEN runs in the first inning, with Big Papi coming up big twice, with six RBI in two three-run dingers. Just when I was thinking this game was going to be a laugher, the Sox having buried the Rangers in one monstrous inning, the Rangers did the unthinkable. They came back. All the way back. And then some. Poor Charlie Zink had his hands full with this lot. What an offense to have to face in his major league debut. He lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up 8 earned runs. The bullpens on both sides were mostly (save for Oki and Paps) ineffective in stopping the offensive monsoon wrought by both Boston and Texas bats. In the end, thanks to Youk's second homer onf the night, a three-run shot in the bottom of the 8th, the Sox prevailed. The come-from-behind wins that were so hard to come by before last night have now happened two nights in a row.
Let's talk about Youk and Papi. Two homers apiece for these two begs the question: Manny who? Youk and Papi are the new 3-4 combo in my book. I've said before that Youk's power numbers are up this year and, at 29, he's entering his prime as a hitter. Bay will be a good offensive producer with power as well, but for now, the Papi-Youk combo is looking pretty good. Gotta love how Youk made the Rangers pay for walking Papi in the eighth. It was so good to see Papi getting those two (almost three had it not been for some dumb fan interfering in the fifth) homers, given his struggles of late.
About Mikey Lowell: Boy is he banged up! Unfortunately this time I see a trip to the DL. Who they bring up in his place, I don't know. Hopefully it will be someone who will help the team.
Tomorrow night, Lester gets a chance to try to bring the Rangers' bats back down to earth. Tall order for sure, but with all Lester has done this season, I have confidence that he can put a lasso around the sluggin' Texas crew as the Sox bats face a pitcher with an ERA north of 7.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
What happens when two of the most potent offenses in the league go head to head in the hitter's park known as Fenway? Answer: Tonight's 4-hour slugfest of a game. Both teams beat the tar out of the ball in a game that looked from the early innings to be a Red Sox blowout. The Sox put up ten, yes TEN runs in the first inning, with Big Papi coming up big twice, with six RBI in two three-run dingers. Just when I was thinking this game was going to be a laugher, the Sox having buried the Rangers in one monstrous inning, the Rangers did the unthinkable. They came back. All the way back. And then some. Poor Charlie Zink had his hands full with this lot. What an offense to have to face in his major league debut. He lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up 8 earned runs. The bullpens on both sides were mostly (save for Oki and Paps) ineffective in stopping the offensive monsoon wrought by both Boston and Texas bats. In the end, thanks to Youk's second homer onf the night, a three-run shot in the bottom of the 8th, the Sox prevailed. The come-from-behind wins that were so hard to come by before last night have now happened two nights in a row.
Let's talk about Youk and Papi. Two homers apiece for these two begs the question: Manny who? Youk and Papi are the new 3-4 combo in my book. I've said before that Youk's power numbers are up this year and, at 29, he's entering his prime as a hitter. Bay will be a good offensive producer with power as well, but for now, the Papi-Youk combo is looking pretty good. Gotta love how Youk made the Rangers pay for walking Papi in the eighth. It was so good to see Papi getting those two (almost three had it not been for some dumb fan interfering in the fifth) homers, given his struggles of late.
About Mikey Lowell: Boy is he banged up! Unfortunately this time I see a trip to the DL. Who they bring up in his place, I don't know. Hopefully it will be someone who will help the team.
Tomorrow night, Lester gets a chance to try to bring the Rangers' bats back down to earth. Tall order for sure, but with all Lester has done this season, I have confidence that he can put a lasso around the sluggin' Texas crew as the Sox bats face a pitcher with an ERA north of 7.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Breaking Sox News: Veteran Pitcher Byrd lands in Boston
Just heard that the Tribe gave the Sox Paul Byrd for either cash or a player to be named later. According to mlb.com, Byrd has been awesome since the All Star Break with an ERA of 1.24. With the Tribe out of playoff contention this year, however, they needed to unload his salary and the Red Sox, who could use a #4 or #5 starter with Wake injured and Buchholz struggling mightily. Charlie Zink is plugging the Wake hole, at least for tonight and Byrd would fit nicely at #5 while Young Buch can work out some of his pitching troubles in Pawtucket. His career ERA of 4.37 will do fine as a fifth starter and it would certainly be an improvement over Buchholz's 6 +. This could be a very good late-season pickup for the Sox.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Better Late Than Never
Sox: 5 Those Other Sox: 1
I'm back from vacation and so are the Red Sox bats. After six hitless innings, the offense flipped the "on" switch in the seventh and started getting hits and scoring runs. Tonight's RBI heroes: JD Drew and Jed Lowrie (2 apiece) with an honorable mention to Jacoby Ellsbury (1). Let me tell you, that kid Lowrie can HIT with the bases loaded. He almost had another bases-clearing double, but JD got thrown out at the plate. Kudos to Youk for breaking up the no-hitter.
Beckett gets win #11, going 8 innings, giving up 1 run and 7 hits. Coco makes a bid for a trip to Beijing for the Olympic gymnastics competition by turning a catch in centerfield into a somersault. Since boxing didn't work out, why not?
By winning this game, the Sox have their first winning road trip (4-3) since Interleague play in June. For a game that looked pretty pitiful for the Red Sox for the first two thirds, they sure turned it around.
Tomorrow, with Wake DL-ing it for at least two starts with a bum shoulder, PawSox knuckleballer Charlie Zink makes his major league debut. He's the best choice to fill in for Wake and hopefully he will be successful on "The Big Stage" at Fenway.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
I'm back from vacation and so are the Red Sox bats. After six hitless innings, the offense flipped the "on" switch in the seventh and started getting hits and scoring runs. Tonight's RBI heroes: JD Drew and Jed Lowrie (2 apiece) with an honorable mention to Jacoby Ellsbury (1). Let me tell you, that kid Lowrie can HIT with the bases loaded. He almost had another bases-clearing double, but JD got thrown out at the plate. Kudos to Youk for breaking up the no-hitter.
Beckett gets win #11, going 8 innings, giving up 1 run and 7 hits. Coco makes a bid for a trip to Beijing for the Olympic gymnastics competition by turning a catch in centerfield into a somersault. Since boxing didn't work out, why not?
By winning this game, the Sox have their first winning road trip (4-3) since Interleague play in June. For a game that looked pretty pitiful for the Red Sox for the first two thirds, they sure turned it around.
Tomorrow, with Wake DL-ing it for at least two starts with a bum shoulder, PawSox knuckleballer Charlie Zink makes his major league debut. He's the best choice to fill in for Wake and hopefully he will be successful on "The Big Stage" at Fenway.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
A Royal Butt-Kicking...By the Red Sox
Sox: 8 Victims of Said Butt-Kicking: 2
Bay rakes with four hits, a ball rolls along a wall, Papi finds a gap, Jake finally steals another base...make that two...Lowrie hits another RBI triple, Youk and Pedey continue their hitting streaks, Drew keeps getting on base, Tek plays hit and run, Beckett pulls an '07 start, am I leaving anything out? After taking last night off, the Boston bats were back tonight against Bannister and the KC bullpen. Beckett reminded us all of the pitcher he was last year and could be again this year with more starts like these. Granted, the Royals aren't exactly leading the league in offense, but you've gotta start somewhere.
Great stuff tonight from the Sox. Now they need to carry that momentum into tomorrow night and then into Chicago, where the pitching and offense is going to be better from the White Sox. Some pitchers will shut them down, but it would be nice for the Red Sox to get a win out of a pitcher with a sub-4 ERA. Doing so will give them a confidence boost when it comes to hitting good pitching on the road.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Bay rakes with four hits, a ball rolls along a wall, Papi finds a gap, Jake finally steals another base...make that two...Lowrie hits another RBI triple, Youk and Pedey continue their hitting streaks, Drew keeps getting on base, Tek plays hit and run, Beckett pulls an '07 start, am I leaving anything out? After taking last night off, the Boston bats were back tonight against Bannister and the KC bullpen. Beckett reminded us all of the pitcher he was last year and could be again this year with more starts like these. Granted, the Royals aren't exactly leading the league in offense, but you've gotta start somewhere.
Great stuff tonight from the Sox. Now they need to carry that momentum into tomorrow night and then into Chicago, where the pitching and offense is going to be better from the White Sox. Some pitchers will shut them down, but it would be nice for the Red Sox to get a win out of a pitcher with a sub-4 ERA. Doing so will give them a confidence boost when it comes to hitting good pitching on the road.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Monday, August 4, 2008
At Least The Rays and Yanks lost too...
Sox: 3 Royal Pains in The You-Know-Where: 4
Ugh, ugh, ugh! They came so close in the 9th, but Casey flied out to right with the bases loaded. How I wish it could have been Lowrie at bat instead. That kid's been golden with runners on, at least these past few days. I'm glad Bay got himself an infield hit, driving in the third run, however. This is yet another frustrating one-run loss on the road, but the pitching matchup tonight was not in the Sox' favor. One of the Royals' best starters, Meche, was up against the Red Sox' fifth starter, who once again struggled. He got through the first and second innings without much trouble, except for Sox nemesis Alex Gordon's homer, but the third is where things got hairy. A series of hits and a hit batter allowed three Royals to cross home plate, erasing the Sox' lead. Kudos to the Sox bullpen, however, for keeping the game within reach.
The Sox bats were alive in the first inning, getting to Meche early for two runs on a walk and two hits, but Meche settled down and the Sox bats went into Pitiful Road Mode until the eighth and ninth innings, but sadly they weren't able to catch up in the end.
Tomorrow night, it's Beckett against Bannister. Beckett has the ERA advantage, but his teammates need to score some runs for him.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Ugh, ugh, ugh! They came so close in the 9th, but Casey flied out to right with the bases loaded. How I wish it could have been Lowrie at bat instead. That kid's been golden with runners on, at least these past few days. I'm glad Bay got himself an infield hit, driving in the third run, however. This is yet another frustrating one-run loss on the road, but the pitching matchup tonight was not in the Sox' favor. One of the Royals' best starters, Meche, was up against the Red Sox' fifth starter, who once again struggled. He got through the first and second innings without much trouble, except for Sox nemesis Alex Gordon's homer, but the third is where things got hairy. A series of hits and a hit batter allowed three Royals to cross home plate, erasing the Sox' lead. Kudos to the Sox bullpen, however, for keeping the game within reach.
The Sox bats were alive in the first inning, getting to Meche early for two runs on a walk and two hits, but Meche settled down and the Sox bats went into Pitiful Road Mode until the eighth and ninth innings, but sadly they weren't able to catch up in the end.
Tomorrow night, it's Beckett against Bannister. Beckett has the ERA advantage, but his teammates need to score some runs for him.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
On the Right Side of the Broom Again
Sox: 5 A's: 2
The Sox come back from being swept by the Halos with a sweep of the other American League team in The Golden State. Dice-K throws a lot of pitches (as usual) but picks up win #12. Bay keeps the hits coming, going 2 for 4, and makes the plays in the outfield, like throwing Ellis out at second. Lowrie adds two more ribbies, tripling in the 4th with two men on. So young, yet so clutch! Papi continues to struggle at the plate, getting his timing back after nearly 2 months on the DL, but his teammates are taking up the slack, especially Youk, whose power numbers are up this year and could end up with close to 30 homers by season's end.
Tomorrow the Sox head out to Kansas City to play the Royals, who they no-hit and swept in May. The KC crew won't have to face Lester this time and I'm sure they're thanking their lucky stars about that. Then it's on to Chicago where they play those other Sox.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!! WAY TO COUNTER-SWEEP THE A'S!!!!
The Sox come back from being swept by the Halos with a sweep of the other American League team in The Golden State. Dice-K throws a lot of pitches (as usual) but picks up win #12. Bay keeps the hits coming, going 2 for 4, and makes the plays in the outfield, like throwing Ellis out at second. Lowrie adds two more ribbies, tripling in the 4th with two men on. So young, yet so clutch! Papi continues to struggle at the plate, getting his timing back after nearly 2 months on the DL, but his teammates are taking up the slack, especially Youk, whose power numbers are up this year and could end up with close to 30 homers by season's end.
Tomorrow the Sox head out to Kansas City to play the Royals, who they no-hit and swept in May. The KC crew won't have to face Lester this time and I'm sure they're thanking their lucky stars about that. Then it's on to Chicago where they play those other Sox.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!! WAY TO COUNTER-SWEEP THE A'S!!!!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Do Two Two-Run Homers Equal a Grand Slam?
Sox: 12 A's: 2
Ok, I know the answer to that is no, but Youk still got 4 RBI's worth out of them. Jason Bay hit his first long ball as a Red Sox, stroking a 3-run shot in the 5-run first inning. In that inning, A's starter Dana Eveland allowed five straight hits. In the third inning, Lowrie came up big with the bases juiced by hitting a bases-clearing double. Lowrie's become quite the clutch hitter at the major league level. His fielding is very solid as well, both at short and at 3rd. I believe he can play 2nd as well. Everyone, save for defensive replacement Ellsbury, got a hit. It's looking like the Sox are getting some of their Fenway mojo back. Losing the distraction of the Manny Circus, plus the solid play of Bay, has helped. Bay is fitting in with the Sox nicely. His plate discipline has Red Sox written all over. He's working the at-bats with the best of them!
Lester continues to be the most consistent Sox starter this year, as he picks up his 10th win of the season. He ran into a little bit of trouble in the first inning, when he allowed a two-run homer off the bat of Emil Brown. He got out of the inning with only those two runs, however, when he induced an inning-ending double play. The two runs in the first would be all the A's would score tonight. From the bottom of the first on, it was all Red Sox.
The last time the Sox played the A's, in Oakland, they were swept. Tomorrow, they have the chance to complete a revenge sweep of the A's at Fenway. Dice-K is on the mound, looking for win #12 on the season. Dallas Braden, another A's lefty is his opponent.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Ok, I know the answer to that is no, but Youk still got 4 RBI's worth out of them. Jason Bay hit his first long ball as a Red Sox, stroking a 3-run shot in the 5-run first inning. In that inning, A's starter Dana Eveland allowed five straight hits. In the third inning, Lowrie came up big with the bases juiced by hitting a bases-clearing double. Lowrie's become quite the clutch hitter at the major league level. His fielding is very solid as well, both at short and at 3rd. I believe he can play 2nd as well. Everyone, save for defensive replacement Ellsbury, got a hit. It's looking like the Sox are getting some of their Fenway mojo back. Losing the distraction of the Manny Circus, plus the solid play of Bay, has helped. Bay is fitting in with the Sox nicely. His plate discipline has Red Sox written all over. He's working the at-bats with the best of them!
Lester continues to be the most consistent Sox starter this year, as he picks up his 10th win of the season. He ran into a little bit of trouble in the first inning, when he allowed a two-run homer off the bat of Emil Brown. He got out of the inning with only those two runs, however, when he induced an inning-ending double play. The two runs in the first would be all the A's would score tonight. From the bottom of the first on, it was all Red Sox.
The last time the Sox played the A's, in Oakland, they were swept. Tomorrow, they have the chance to complete a revenge sweep of the A's at Fenway. Dice-K is on the mound, looking for win #12 on the season. Dallas Braden, another A's lefty is his opponent.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
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