Sox: 4 Those Dang Rays: 5
They came oh-so-close in the 9th, but left the tying run on third. That was one weird inning! First, Mossy skies a ball that would have been a sure fly ball out if not for the catwalk deflecting it to a gap in shallow right, in fair territory. Moss ended up with an RBI double. Then, Tek followed up with a sac fly. Rays closer Troy Percival injured himself trying to make a play at third and had to come out of the game. The Sox had Casey ready to pinch-hit for Lugo, but once lefty J.P. Howell was called upon to replace Percival, the Sox decided to stick with the northpaw Lugo. Lugo, whose numbers aren't too good with RISP, lines out to short to end the game.
Mikey Lowell got himself 3 hits tonight at The Trop and JD homered for the 16th time this season, after thinking he had struck out on a ball that should have been a called third strike. Fortunately for the Sox, the ump didn't see it that way and Drew got another chance, of which he took full advantage. Glad to see JD keep hitting those long balls, even if his overall average has cooled off.
The young pitcher I dubbed the Whiz Kid has been a little less...whizzy of late. He's been struggling with his command, but he's a rookie who started the season in AA and he was bound to start scuffling sooner or later. Chris Smith also scuffled in relief of Masterson, walking the bases loaded in the 7th.
Tomorrow, it's Wake vs. Garza. My fingers are crossed that Wake can reclaim the dominance he once enjoyed at The Trop, but it will be a tall order, with this new, improved, and no longer bedeviled team.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Fever Pitch
No, not the movie, but the anticipated intensity of this coming week for the Red Sox. July has yet to begin, but the fireworks already have, with Manny involved in an altercation with the Sox traveling secretary over ticket allotment and some racist nutjob mailing a threat aimed at black and latino Red Sox players headed for Tampa for the Rays series. Security has been beefed up in St. Pete and the players named in the threat have been warned.
Aside from all this pre-series drama, the action on the field tonight between the Sox and the Rays is bound to heat up big-time, especially since the fracas maximus that occurred the last time the two teams met up. Coco won't be around for this series, but you can bet the umps are going to be on high alert, especially if any batters are hit. The stakes for these three games: First place in the division. If the Red Sox sweep, they will gain a two and a half game lead over the Rays and reclaim first place. If the Rays take it all, the Sox remain in second, three and a half games behind. The Rays have their best three pitchers lined up to face the Sox, who have struggled offensively on the road. Let's hope the Sox can get the better of these pitchers and go into the Big Apple atop the division. It's going to be a tough road, though, and the Sox need to bring their A game. The pitchers need to go at least 7 innings and the relievers need to be effective. The bats need to wear the Rays pitchers down.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Aside from all this pre-series drama, the action on the field tonight between the Sox and the Rays is bound to heat up big-time, especially since the fracas maximus that occurred the last time the two teams met up. Coco won't be around for this series, but you can bet the umps are going to be on high alert, especially if any batters are hit. The stakes for these three games: First place in the division. If the Red Sox sweep, they will gain a two and a half game lead over the Rays and reclaim first place. If the Rays take it all, the Sox remain in second, three and a half games behind. The Rays have their best three pitchers lined up to face the Sox, who have struggled offensively on the road. Let's hope the Sox can get the better of these pitchers and go into the Big Apple atop the division. It's going to be a tough road, though, and the Sox need to bring their A game. The pitchers need to go at least 7 innings and the relievers need to be effective. The bats need to wear the Rays pitchers down.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Bad Day for the Red Sox. Just Plain Bad.
Sox: 2 'Stros: 3
My TiVo messed up so I missed most of the game, but from what I read, it was another one-run loss in a game the Sox should have won. According to the team site's recap, Oki allowed another inherited runner to score, breaking a 2-all tie. I have a lot of respect for Tito and the Sox coaching staff and usually they have good reasons for the decisions they make, but this loss has me screaming "WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!?!" They know Oki is struggling, especially with the inherited runners, and they trot him out in the eighth after Aardsma allows a single and then Mark Loretta strikes again with an RBI single. Inherited runner scores on Oki's watch. All too familiar story this season. The Sox lose the game, the series, and the first place berth in the A.L. East. The offense, which was the silver lining in last night's loss, went cold again and the Sox are in for some tough competition in the Rays and Yanks this week. They're going to have to play like the World-Championship caliber team we know they are, because this year, with the division tougher, coasting is not an option.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!! MAKE 'EM LOOK LIKE THE DEVIL RAYS AGAIN!
My TiVo messed up so I missed most of the game, but from what I read, it was another one-run loss in a game the Sox should have won. According to the team site's recap, Oki allowed another inherited runner to score, breaking a 2-all tie. I have a lot of respect for Tito and the Sox coaching staff and usually they have good reasons for the decisions they make, but this loss has me screaming "WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!?!" They know Oki is struggling, especially with the inherited runners, and they trot him out in the eighth after Aardsma allows a single and then Mark Loretta strikes again with an RBI single. Inherited runner scores on Oki's watch. All too familiar story this season. The Sox lose the game, the series, and the first place berth in the A.L. East. The offense, which was the silver lining in last night's loss, went cold again and the Sox are in for some tough competition in the Rays and Yanks this week. They're going to have to play like the World-Championship caliber team we know they are, because this year, with the division tougher, coasting is not an option.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!! MAKE 'EM LOOK LIKE THE DEVIL RAYS AGAIN!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Houston, We Had a Problem...
Sox: 10 Stros: 11
For the Red Sox tonight, that problem was pitching. Rarely do the Sox score 10 runs in a game, but come away with the loss. The bats were hot, but the arms were not. Lester, in a departure from his stellar record this month, struggled tonight as he let a 4 run lead slip away in the 3rd inning. The Sox came back with 5 runs in the 6th, but that lead also got away, courtesy of a series of messy innings from the 'pen. Mikey L. hit a long one in the top of the 9th, but all it ended up doing for the Sox is giving them a double-digit score, one run short of the 'Stros, who were much fiestier at the plate tonight than last night. Four-baggers by the Houston team were the Achilles heel of the Sox pitching staff all night long. First, Pedey's predecessor at second base, Mark Loretta, hurt his old team with a 3-run shot in the 3rd off a sore-ankled Lester. Then, Carlos Lee added insult to injury with a solo dinger in the 5th. In the 8th, off MDC, Ty Wigginton launched another long ball. To state the obvious, pitching took a holiday.
As bad as the pitching was tonight, the bright spot in the game was the Sox offense. Pedey has been one extremely tough out these past two games. He went 4 for 5 tonight after going 3 for 4 last night. Mikey Lowell matched Pedey's four hits with four of his own, including that 9th inning homer. Youk, who hit four last night, added two more tonight. It's a great time to have Pedey and Mikey getting hot, with JD cooling off a bit and Manny in a dry spell (even though both JD and Manny got hits tonight). Youk's been pretty steady throughout the first half of the season. The .300 club now includes Pedey, JD, and Youk, with Mikey just shy of the mark at .297. Casey's in there as well, at .358, but he has had far fewer at-bats than the others.
Tomorrow, Beckett takes the mound to try to get the team's pitching back on track.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
For the Red Sox tonight, that problem was pitching. Rarely do the Sox score 10 runs in a game, but come away with the loss. The bats were hot, but the arms were not. Lester, in a departure from his stellar record this month, struggled tonight as he let a 4 run lead slip away in the 3rd inning. The Sox came back with 5 runs in the 6th, but that lead also got away, courtesy of a series of messy innings from the 'pen. Mikey L. hit a long one in the top of the 9th, but all it ended up doing for the Sox is giving them a double-digit score, one run short of the 'Stros, who were much fiestier at the plate tonight than last night. Four-baggers by the Houston team were the Achilles heel of the Sox pitching staff all night long. First, Pedey's predecessor at second base, Mark Loretta, hurt his old team with a 3-run shot in the 3rd off a sore-ankled Lester. Then, Carlos Lee added insult to injury with a solo dinger in the 5th. In the 8th, off MDC, Ty Wigginton launched another long ball. To state the obvious, pitching took a holiday.
As bad as the pitching was tonight, the bright spot in the game was the Sox offense. Pedey has been one extremely tough out these past two games. He went 4 for 5 tonight after going 3 for 4 last night. Mikey Lowell matched Pedey's four hits with four of his own, including that 9th inning homer. Youk, who hit four last night, added two more tonight. It's a great time to have Pedey and Mikey getting hot, with JD cooling off a bit and Manny in a dry spell (even though both JD and Manny got hits tonight). Youk's been pretty steady throughout the first half of the season. The .300 club now includes Pedey, JD, and Youk, with Mikey just shy of the mark at .297. Casey's in there as well, at .358, but he has had far fewer at-bats than the others.
Tomorrow, Beckett takes the mound to try to get the team's pitching back on track.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Dice will be O.K.
Sox: 6 'Stros: 1
Dice-K had a nice bounce-back outing and picked up victory #9, while hurling 5 shutout innings in last night's game. His striking out the side in order in the 1st was a good sign that all was well with his arm. He threw 87 pitches, with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts, showing some signs of fatigue in the 5th, when he allowed two of his three walks, plus a hit, loading the bases. He got out of the jam with no harm done and left the 'Stros with a goose egg on the scoreboard. Hansen and Delcarmen kept the shutout going in the 6th and 7th, but, with two outs in the 8th, Oki threw what Dennis Eckersley calls a "cookie" out over the plate and pinch hitter Abercrombie ate it right up to make the score 4-1 at the time. Paps came to the rescue once again and got the save, but not before two more runs were put on the board, courtesy of Mikey Lowell.
At the plate, it was the JD, Youk & Pedey Show for the most part (with the aforementioned cameo by Mikey in the 9th). JD showed he still has fire in the stick by putting up a 3-spot in the 3rd, while Pedey and Youk combined for 7 of the team's 12 hits. JD, by the way, now has as many homers on the season as Manny, with just one fewer RBI. If Manny doesn't perk up at the plate soon, JD will slug right past him.
Tonight, the team leader in ERA, Jon Lester, will take the hill to try to keep the Sox momentum going.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Dice-K had a nice bounce-back outing and picked up victory #9, while hurling 5 shutout innings in last night's game. His striking out the side in order in the 1st was a good sign that all was well with his arm. He threw 87 pitches, with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts, showing some signs of fatigue in the 5th, when he allowed two of his three walks, plus a hit, loading the bases. He got out of the jam with no harm done and left the 'Stros with a goose egg on the scoreboard. Hansen and Delcarmen kept the shutout going in the 6th and 7th, but, with two outs in the 8th, Oki threw what Dennis Eckersley calls a "cookie" out over the plate and pinch hitter Abercrombie ate it right up to make the score 4-1 at the time. Paps came to the rescue once again and got the save, but not before two more runs were put on the board, courtesy of Mikey Lowell.
At the plate, it was the JD, Youk & Pedey Show for the most part (with the aforementioned cameo by Mikey in the 9th). JD showed he still has fire in the stick by putting up a 3-spot in the 3rd, while Pedey and Youk combined for 7 of the team's 12 hits. JD, by the way, now has as many homers on the season as Manny, with just one fewer RBI. If Manny doesn't perk up at the plate soon, JD will slug right past him.
Tonight, the team leader in ERA, Jon Lester, will take the hill to try to keep the Sox momentum going.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Off-Day Blog: The Halftime Show
81 of the 162 games of the 2008 season have been played. The 13-mile mark of the marathon has just passed and if the season were a typical, 9-inning ball game, it is now the middle of the fifth. Here is a recap of the Red Sox storylines from the first half:
Storyline #1: Bright and Early on the Other Side of the World
The Sox start their season ahead of schedule, playing the first two games of the season in late March in Japan. This is only the beginning of an exhausting road trip to kick off their World Champion title defense. At the end of the trip, in Toronto, they run out of steam and get swept.
Storyline #2: Papi's got no Pop
Big Papi starts the season mired in a terrible slump, batting below .100.
Storyline #3: Spring Feverishness
The flu makes its way through the clubhouse, hitting Tek, Dice-K, MDC, among others.
Storyline #4: Ow! That Hurts!
The DL is hoppin' with injured players. Mikey Lowell has a bum thumb, Casey tweaks his hip, Cora hurts his arm, Clay breaks a nail, Dice-K gets the cold shoulder, Papi's painful wrist clicking, Bartolo's back's whack due to swinging for the moon, and Schill had season-ending surgery.
Storyline #5: Manny's 500
Manny starts the season 10 homers shy of 500. After weeks with special numbered baseballs, #24 reaches the milestone in Baltimore on May 31. Now, with a balky hammie, Manny is limited to DH-ing and extra precautions on the basepaths.
Storyline #6: Bumpy Road
The Sox do amazingly well at home, but once they leave Fenway for other cities and ballparks, the bats get lost with the luggage.
Storyline #7: Lester Comes Into His Own
Lefty cancer-surviving starter Jon Lester emerges as an up-and-coming ace, throwing a no-hitter on May 19 and following up with some very strong outings
Storyline #8: The Returning Vet and the Exciting Newbie
Bartolo Colon, a low-risk signee during the off-season gives the Sox some strong outings in the absence of injured starters and Justin Masterson, who started the season in AA impresses the Sox and the fans alike with his poise, maturity, and a nasty sinker.
Storyline #9: J.D. Who Knew?
After a frustrating and disappointing 2007 season, JD Drew lights it up in the 3-hole after Papi goes down with his wrist injury.
Storyline #10: Uh-Oh-kajima
First, Oki struggles with inherited runners, then he gets into trouble all on his own, especially with teams of the avian persuasion.
Storyline #11: No Rays of Sunshine
Those dang Rays! Suddenly they're not so easy to beat anymore and they're making for a tight race for the top of the AL East. While the Sox are still sitting in first, the lead is not nearly as comfortable as it was last year and tensions between the two teams are rising. They drive Coco loco!
Storyline #12: A Travesty of Errors
It sure isn't easy being Julio Lugo this season. Having made 16 errors so far, he's an adventure on the field, to put it mildly. On the upside, his batting average has improved. Now if only the could grab some more RBIs to go along with it.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Storyline #1: Bright and Early on the Other Side of the World
The Sox start their season ahead of schedule, playing the first two games of the season in late March in Japan. This is only the beginning of an exhausting road trip to kick off their World Champion title defense. At the end of the trip, in Toronto, they run out of steam and get swept.
Storyline #2: Papi's got no Pop
Big Papi starts the season mired in a terrible slump, batting below .100.
Storyline #3: Spring Feverishness
The flu makes its way through the clubhouse, hitting Tek, Dice-K, MDC, among others.
Storyline #4: Ow! That Hurts!
The DL is hoppin' with injured players. Mikey Lowell has a bum thumb, Casey tweaks his hip, Cora hurts his arm, Clay breaks a nail, Dice-K gets the cold shoulder, Papi's painful wrist clicking, Bartolo's back's whack due to swinging for the moon, and Schill had season-ending surgery.
Storyline #5: Manny's 500
Manny starts the season 10 homers shy of 500. After weeks with special numbered baseballs, #24 reaches the milestone in Baltimore on May 31. Now, with a balky hammie, Manny is limited to DH-ing and extra precautions on the basepaths.
Storyline #6: Bumpy Road
The Sox do amazingly well at home, but once they leave Fenway for other cities and ballparks, the bats get lost with the luggage.
Storyline #7: Lester Comes Into His Own
Lefty cancer-surviving starter Jon Lester emerges as an up-and-coming ace, throwing a no-hitter on May 19 and following up with some very strong outings
Storyline #8: The Returning Vet and the Exciting Newbie
Bartolo Colon, a low-risk signee during the off-season gives the Sox some strong outings in the absence of injured starters and Justin Masterson, who started the season in AA impresses the Sox and the fans alike with his poise, maturity, and a nasty sinker.
Storyline #9: J.D. Who Knew?
After a frustrating and disappointing 2007 season, JD Drew lights it up in the 3-hole after Papi goes down with his wrist injury.
Storyline #10: Uh-Oh-kajima
First, Oki struggles with inherited runners, then he gets into trouble all on his own, especially with teams of the avian persuasion.
Storyline #11: No Rays of Sunshine
Those dang Rays! Suddenly they're not so easy to beat anymore and they're making for a tight race for the top of the AL East. While the Sox are still sitting in first, the lead is not nearly as comfortable as it was last year and tensions between the two teams are rising. They drive Coco loco!
Storyline #12: A Travesty of Errors
It sure isn't easy being Julio Lugo this season. Having made 16 errors so far, he's an adventure on the field, to put it mildly. On the upside, his batting average has improved. Now if only the could grab some more RBIs to go along with it.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Cash Makes a Splash!
Sox: 5 Snakes: 0
Wake took the bite out of the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight, holding them to two hits in his 7 shutout innings. The Big Unit did a pretty good job himself, but Brandon Moss was his bugaboo as he drove in the two runs the Sox would score off the legendary hurler. Mossy drove in those 2 RBI without the benefit of a hit, but two highly productive outs.
Coco gave the Snakes pitching staff some "double trouble", scoring not one, not two, but THREE doubles and each inning when Coco doubled, the Sox scored. It was Wake's knuckle catcher Cash who was the biggest story of the game. First, he's intentionally walked in the 6th so that The Unit could induce a double play off the bat of Mossy (who hits a sac fly with the bases loaded to grab his second ribbie of the night). Later, in the 8th, an inning that has been magic for the Sox the past two nights, Cashy escorts a hanging slider over the monster and into the parking lot across the street for a 3-run sayonara. Sox on top 5 to nada! Hansen comes in to finish it off and gets himself into a bases-loaded pickle and it's Pap to the Rescue! The recent music video sensation of Fenway Park (whose partner in crime mowed the D-Backs down in order in the 8th) punched out the last batter to give the Sox the series victory.
Next up: Dice-K looks to bounce back from last Saturday's horror show when he takes the mound in Houston. The Sox are back on the road and face the 'Stros, the Rays, and the Yanks.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Wake took the bite out of the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight, holding them to two hits in his 7 shutout innings. The Big Unit did a pretty good job himself, but Brandon Moss was his bugaboo as he drove in the two runs the Sox would score off the legendary hurler. Mossy drove in those 2 RBI without the benefit of a hit, but two highly productive outs.
Coco gave the Snakes pitching staff some "double trouble", scoring not one, not two, but THREE doubles and each inning when Coco doubled, the Sox scored. It was Wake's knuckle catcher Cash who was the biggest story of the game. First, he's intentionally walked in the 6th so that The Unit could induce a double play off the bat of Mossy (who hits a sac fly with the bases loaded to grab his second ribbie of the night). Later, in the 8th, an inning that has been magic for the Sox the past two nights, Cashy escorts a hanging slider over the monster and into the parking lot across the street for a 3-run sayonara. Sox on top 5 to nada! Hansen comes in to finish it off and gets himself into a bases-loaded pickle and it's Pap to the Rescue! The recent music video sensation of Fenway Park (whose partner in crime mowed the D-Backs down in order in the 8th) punched out the last batter to give the Sox the series victory.
Next up: Dice-K looks to bounce back from last Saturday's horror show when he takes the mound in Houston. The Sox are back on the road and face the 'Stros, the Rays, and the Yanks.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Sox Bite Back!
Sox: 5 Snakes: 4
Hallelujah! The Red Sox bats are alive! After 7 teeth-gnashing, nail spitting, wanting-to-throw-something-at-the-TV innings, the Sox finally broke through their offensive stupor and started stringing some hits together. Lugo got it started with a leadoff base hit in the bottom of the 8th, followed by Jake's single, then Pedey's RBI single (Pedey also homered in the 1st) made the score 4-2. Drew whiffs and Manny grounds out, but moves Jake to third and Pedey to second. With two outs in the inning, Mikey Lowell doubles off the monster to tie the score. Then, Tek, who has been in a megaslump, strokes the game-winning RBI. Mossy singles for good measure, but Coco gets the final out of the 4-run comeback inning.
Whiz Kid Masterson wasn't as sharp as usual, but still pitched a decent 6 innings, giving up 4 earned runs and taking a no-decision. Chris Smith, dubbed by Tito as Smitty, throws two shutout innings in the 7th and 8th, setting the stage for Paps in the 9th after the awesome comeback 8th. Paps bounced back from Sunday's outing with the save and the Sox win it for the RemDawg on his special day.
Tomorrow, Wake takes the mound against the Big Unit.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Hallelujah! The Red Sox bats are alive! After 7 teeth-gnashing, nail spitting, wanting-to-throw-something-at-the-TV innings, the Sox finally broke through their offensive stupor and started stringing some hits together. Lugo got it started with a leadoff base hit in the bottom of the 8th, followed by Jake's single, then Pedey's RBI single (Pedey also homered in the 1st) made the score 4-2. Drew whiffs and Manny grounds out, but moves Jake to third and Pedey to second. With two outs in the inning, Mikey Lowell doubles off the monster to tie the score. Then, Tek, who has been in a megaslump, strokes the game-winning RBI. Mossy singles for good measure, but Coco gets the final out of the 4-run comeback inning.
Whiz Kid Masterson wasn't as sharp as usual, but still pitched a decent 6 innings, giving up 4 earned runs and taking a no-decision. Chris Smith, dubbed by Tito as Smitty, throws two shutout innings in the 7th and 8th, setting the stage for Paps in the 9th after the awesome comeback 8th. Paps bounced back from Sunday's outing with the save and the Sox win it for the RemDawg on his special day.
Tomorrow, Wake takes the mound against the Big Unit.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Wanted: Clutch hitting
Sox: 1 Snakes: 2
These past few games for the Red Sox, Fenway has been the land of lost opportunities. There are so many guys being stranded that it's looking like an episode of "Lost". The team has been in a RISP slump since returning from their (very successful) road trip and this homestand has looked more like a typical Sox road trip.
Beckett had a strong outing, running into trouble only in the 7th inning, which led to the D-Backs' two runs scoring. The Sox had chances in three innings where guys got on base, but only made good once, with JD lofting a sac fly with the bases loaded in the 8th. Even JD, however, who has been a rock star this month in the absence of Big Papi, has been struggling at the plate since coming home. He did, however, go yard in Saturday's game and he was responsible for the only run in today's game, so maybe there's still some fuel in his fire.
Poor Youk! He got a black eye in a freak accident during between-inning warmups and had to come out of the game. With Case serving his suspension, that left Moss to play first for the first time in his major league career. Take care of that eye, Youk, and come back soon!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!! GET SOME FRIGGIN' HITS!!! AND SCORE SOME FRIGGIN' RUNS!!!!
These past few games for the Red Sox, Fenway has been the land of lost opportunities. There are so many guys being stranded that it's looking like an episode of "Lost". The team has been in a RISP slump since returning from their (very successful) road trip and this homestand has looked more like a typical Sox road trip.
Beckett had a strong outing, running into trouble only in the 7th inning, which led to the D-Backs' two runs scoring. The Sox had chances in three innings where guys got on base, but only made good once, with JD lofting a sac fly with the bases loaded in the 8th. Even JD, however, who has been a rock star this month in the absence of Big Papi, has been struggling at the plate since coming home. He did, however, go yard in Saturday's game and he was responsible for the only run in today's game, so maybe there's still some fuel in his fire.
Poor Youk! He got a black eye in a freak accident during between-inning warmups and had to come out of the game. With Case serving his suspension, that left Moss to play first for the first time in his major league career. Take care of that eye, Youk, and come back soon!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!! GET SOME FRIGGIN' HITS!!! AND SCORE SOME FRIGGIN' RUNS!!!!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
YOUUUUUUUUK Saves the Day
Sox: 5 Cards: 3
On the verge of being swept by the Cards, the Red Sox pull out a win thanks to a two-run shot by Youk in the 13th inning, his second homer of the day. Former Sox reliever turned Cards starter Joel Pineiro took the mound against emerging ace Jon Lester. Both pitched very well, but in the end were erased from the decision as Paps surrendered the tying run (on a fly ball that eluded Coco) in the 9th. It was a long battle of a game, to say the least. Props to Pedey for a 4-hit game! He and Youk led the Sox offense today.
The Sox have seen enough of the St. Louis club (and Oki has seen enough birds, period!) and for the next three games, the Snakes will be in town. The Arizona Diamondbacks, including JD's little bro Stephen, face the Sox beginning tomorrow with Beckett vs. former Oakland A Dan Haren.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
On the verge of being swept by the Cards, the Red Sox pull out a win thanks to a two-run shot by Youk in the 13th inning, his second homer of the day. Former Sox reliever turned Cards starter Joel Pineiro took the mound against emerging ace Jon Lester. Both pitched very well, but in the end were erased from the decision as Paps surrendered the tying run (on a fly ball that eluded Coco) in the 9th. It was a long battle of a game, to say the least. Props to Pedey for a 4-hit game! He and Youk led the Sox offense today.
The Sox have seen enough of the St. Louis club (and Oki has seen enough birds, period!) and for the next three games, the Snakes will be in town. The Arizona Diamondbacks, including JD's little bro Stephen, face the Sox beginning tomorrow with Beckett vs. former Oakland A Dan Haren.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Reversal of Fortunes: Sox lose two at home
Sox: 3 Cards: 9
I can't remember the last time the Sox lost two in a row at home. I literally can't remember! After that successful road trip, the first above .500 road trip of the season, I believe, the Sox seem to have their home play and their road play mixed up. It's all backwards! Up is down, down is up, good is bad, bad is good, Sox win on the road, Sox lose at home...What's going on here?
Dice-K was dicey from the get-go, struggling mightily just to get through the first inning, giving up four runs before the Sox had their first at-bats. Then, in the second inning, he couldn't record a single out and loaded the bases. Reliever Chris Smith made his major league debut with the bases loaded and no one out. He whiffed the first batter he faced, but the second one took him deep. Way deep. Grand salami deep. But you can hardly blame it on the young righty, who was put in the worst jam a pitcher can inherit. He got out of that inning and had back-to back 1-2-3's while the Sox avoided a shutout by scoring two runs on a Cora double. The only other run the home boys would score was this month's home run king, JD Drew, who now has one less homer on the season than Manny, going deep in the 6th. The Cards added another run in the 7th, by pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel to make it 9-3. The Sox got in a huge hole early on and I think that demoralized them at the plate. Let's hope their power lefty Lester can right the ship tomorrow.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
I can't remember the last time the Sox lost two in a row at home. I literally can't remember! After that successful road trip, the first above .500 road trip of the season, I believe, the Sox seem to have their home play and their road play mixed up. It's all backwards! Up is down, down is up, good is bad, bad is good, Sox win on the road, Sox lose at home...What's going on here?
Dice-K was dicey from the get-go, struggling mightily just to get through the first inning, giving up four runs before the Sox had their first at-bats. Then, in the second inning, he couldn't record a single out and loaded the bases. Reliever Chris Smith made his major league debut with the bases loaded and no one out. He whiffed the first batter he faced, but the second one took him deep. Way deep. Grand salami deep. But you can hardly blame it on the young righty, who was put in the worst jam a pitcher can inherit. He got out of that inning and had back-to back 1-2-3's while the Sox avoided a shutout by scoring two runs on a Cora double. The only other run the home boys would score was this month's home run king, JD Drew, who now has one less homer on the season than Manny, going deep in the 6th. The Cards added another run in the 7th, by pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel to make it 9-3. The Sox got in a huge hole early on and I think that demoralized them at the plate. Let's hope their power lefty Lester can right the ship tomorrow.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Close, but the Cigar was Never Lit...
Sox: 4 Cards: 5
Oh, it was there, and ready to be lit, but tonight, it just wasn't meant to be. With the tying run at third in the bottom of the 9th, Youk flew out to right to end the game. They made that closer/setup guy throw a LOT of pitches, though. Alas, errors were made earlier in the game that cost the Sox runs. Lugo added two more to his total in the top of the sixth inning and in the bottom half, cranks his first homer of the season. Dude had one helluva strange game tonight, with a two-error inning and having driven in half of the game's runs.
From the mound, Wake had a rough night, giving up two long balls and throwing a lot more pitches than his past few outings. Of course, he wasn't helped by the errors in a very ugly sixth inning. Oki continues to have trouble with "bird teams", having surrendered a home run in the 8th. Aards was impressive in the 9th, with a filthy fastball that ruffled many a Cardinal feather.
Perhaps the Sox hitters have to do a little readjusting to Fenway's dimensions, having played their last six games in bandbox parks. Some of the fly balls hit tonight might have gone yard in Cincy or Philly. Tomorrow, Dice-K makes his return to the rubber to try to continue his undefeated record.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Oh, it was there, and ready to be lit, but tonight, it just wasn't meant to be. With the tying run at third in the bottom of the 9th, Youk flew out to right to end the game. They made that closer/setup guy throw a LOT of pitches, though. Alas, errors were made earlier in the game that cost the Sox runs. Lugo added two more to his total in the top of the sixth inning and in the bottom half, cranks his first homer of the season. Dude had one helluva strange game tonight, with a two-error inning and having driven in half of the game's runs.
From the mound, Wake had a rough night, giving up two long balls and throwing a lot more pitches than his past few outings. Of course, he wasn't helped by the errors in a very ugly sixth inning. Oki continues to have trouble with "bird teams", having surrendered a home run in the 8th. Aards was impressive in the 9th, with a filthy fastball that ruffled many a Cardinal feather.
Perhaps the Sox hitters have to do a little readjusting to Fenway's dimensions, having played their last six games in bandbox parks. Some of the fly balls hit tonight might have gone yard in Cincy or Philly. Tomorrow, Dice-K makes his return to the rubber to try to continue his undefeated record.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Curt Schilling, The Gamer
It was announced this morning that Schill will undergo season-ending and possibly career-ending surgery on his shoulder this coming Monday. Although this is hardly surprising news, given that his doctor wanted him to have surgery in the off-season (but the Sox wanted him to try to rehab before going under the knife), it is sad news for a team that saw him power through two post-seasons that ended with world championships. We all know the lengths he went for the team in 2004, pitching through excruicating pain in his ankle (and a bloody sock) in both the ALCS and the World Series, earning victories in both games. Being one of the aces of the 2004 Red Sox team, he helped them end an 86-year world championship drought. He came within one out of a no-hitter in 2007 and later that year helped the Sox to a second WS win in 4 years. Big Schill was what they call a "money pitcher" and his presence in the Red Sox clubhouse will be sorely missed.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Off-Day Blog: The Red Sox Personality Parade
Part of what makes the Red Sox so enjoyable to watch is the different personalities on the team:
The Gritty, Intense Dirt Dogs: Youk, Pedey
The Clubhouse Leaders and Communicators: Tek, Mikey L.
The Entertainers: Manny, Paps, Casey and sometimes Coco
The "Aw, shucks!" guys: Jon Lester, JD Drew
The Fiery Ace: Beckett
The Perfectionist on the Mound: Dice-K
The Rookie Heartthrob: Jake
The Great Big Teddy Bear: Big Papi
The Whiz Kid: Masterson
The Underdog: Lugo
The Seasoned Veterans: Wake, Schill, Timlin
As for the rest of the team, it's not like they don't HAVE a personality, it's just that they're a little harder to pin down. After all, besides Paps, you don't hear a lot of interviews with the bullpen guys.
Tomorrow night, the Sox are back in Boston, with Wake on the mound to face the Cards. Will they don the green jerseys to honor the new NBA Champ C's? We shall see!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!
The Gritty, Intense Dirt Dogs: Youk, Pedey
The Clubhouse Leaders and Communicators: Tek, Mikey L.
The Entertainers: Manny, Paps, Casey and sometimes Coco
The "Aw, shucks!" guys: Jon Lester, JD Drew
The Fiery Ace: Beckett
The Perfectionist on the Mound: Dice-K
The Rookie Heartthrob: Jake
The Great Big Teddy Bear: Big Papi
The Whiz Kid: Masterson
The Underdog: Lugo
The Seasoned Veterans: Wake, Schill, Timlin
As for the rest of the team, it's not like they don't HAVE a personality, it's just that they're a little harder to pin down. After all, besides Paps, you don't hear a lot of interviews with the bullpen guys.
Tomorrow night, the Sox are back in Boston, with Wake on the mound to face the Cards. Will they don the green jerseys to honor the new NBA Champ C's? We shall see!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Now remind me who used to be in the 3-hole...
Sox: 7 Phils: 4
Okay, so Big Papi is irreplaceable, but JD Drew is showing that he really, REALLY likes batting third. To the tune of routine home runs and a batting average of .327 and climbing. He's matched Papi in the long ball count and the ribbie race and is tied for 6th in the majors in batting average. Even on days where he has an 0-fer, he comes back the next day with a couple of hits (today 4 for 5)
Whiz Kid ran into a little trouble this outing, but picked up his 4th major league win. He certainly outpitched the other young'un on the mound, Kyle Kendrick. After today's outing, Kendrick, who was "punk'd" by his teammates into thinking he was traded to Japan, might have wished the trade were for real. Especially since he also bunted into a double play, a great defensive move by Casey.
The Sox bullpen had a little hiccup in the form of Hansen's 7th inning mess, but MDC picked up the mop and cleaned it right up, pitching a shutout 8th to boot. The Phils paraded out two former Sox relievers in Rudy Seanez and J.C. Romero. The 9th inning was the battle of the closers: Brad Lidge, pitching in a non-save situation and Paps, nailing down the win for the Sox. In winning this game, the Sox, wonder of wonders, come home from the road trip with a winning record! Their Interleague Play record improves to 7-2 and they take on a Pujols-less Cards lineup upon shipping back up to Boston.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!!
Okay, so Big Papi is irreplaceable, but JD Drew is showing that he really, REALLY likes batting third. To the tune of routine home runs and a batting average of .327 and climbing. He's matched Papi in the long ball count and the ribbie race and is tied for 6th in the majors in batting average. Even on days where he has an 0-fer, he comes back the next day with a couple of hits (today 4 for 5)
Whiz Kid ran into a little trouble this outing, but picked up his 4th major league win. He certainly outpitched the other young'un on the mound, Kyle Kendrick. After today's outing, Kendrick, who was "punk'd" by his teammates into thinking he was traded to Japan, might have wished the trade were for real. Especially since he also bunted into a double play, a great defensive move by Casey.
The Sox bullpen had a little hiccup in the form of Hansen's 7th inning mess, but MDC picked up the mop and cleaned it right up, pitching a shutout 8th to boot. The Phils paraded out two former Sox relievers in Rudy Seanez and J.C. Romero. The 9th inning was the battle of the closers: Brad Lidge, pitching in a non-save situation and Paps, nailing down the win for the Sox. In winning this game, the Sox, wonder of wonders, come home from the road trip with a winning record! Their Interleague Play record improves to 7-2 and they take on a Pujols-less Cards lineup upon shipping back up to Boston.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Taming of the Phillies
Sox: 3 Phils: 0
Not a lot of offense tonight, but what offense the Sox did get came from some surprising sources, namely Julio Lugo and Coco Crisp. That long ball by Crisp I totally called in my last entry. Lugi picked himself another ribbie with none other than Coco scoring the Sox' third run. I have to give ol' Loogs props for being so patient at the plate tonight. He got himself on base three times, two via the walk and the third on his RBI double.
Lester continues to impress tonight with his 7 shutout innings against a heavy-duty offense. He struck out sluggers Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell multiple times and K-ed reigning homer king Utley once. He limited the Phils to 5 hits and gave one free pass.
I'll be the first to admit, I had...ahem...*reservations* about Oki taking the mound for the 8th in a 3-run game. But Oki, save for one double by Jimmy Rollins, kept the Phillie bats in check, while Paps slammed the door by striking out the side in the 9th. Awesome pitching tonight by the Boston boys!
By the way, in picking up the win tonight, the Sox will come away from this road trip having gone at least .500, which is a huge victory considering their road woes so far this season. Oh, and Jake, having filled in for Manny after the 7th, stole his 34th base, but got thrown out trying for #35.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!! Beat 'em again tomorrow!
Not a lot of offense tonight, but what offense the Sox did get came from some surprising sources, namely Julio Lugo and Coco Crisp. That long ball by Crisp I totally called in my last entry. Lugi picked himself another ribbie with none other than Coco scoring the Sox' third run. I have to give ol' Loogs props for being so patient at the plate tonight. He got himself on base three times, two via the walk and the third on his RBI double.
Lester continues to impress tonight with his 7 shutout innings against a heavy-duty offense. He struck out sluggers Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell multiple times and K-ed reigning homer king Utley once. He limited the Phils to 5 hits and gave one free pass.
I'll be the first to admit, I had...ahem...*reservations* about Oki taking the mound for the 8th in a 3-run game. But Oki, save for one double by Jimmy Rollins, kept the Phillie bats in check, while Paps slammed the door by striking out the side in the 9th. Awesome pitching tonight by the Boston boys!
By the way, in picking up the win tonight, the Sox will come away from this road trip having gone at least .500, which is a huge victory considering their road woes so far this season. Oh, and Jake, having filled in for Manny after the 7th, stole his 34th base, but got thrown out trying for #35.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!! Beat 'em again tomorrow!
Danger, AL Pitchers! Interleague Play Frought With Peril!
At least for Chien Ming Wang of the Yanks and Bartolo Colon! Wang's out for more than two months after taking an ill-fated trip around the basepaths and Colon just swung himself onto the 15-day DL with back stiffness. Whiz Kid Masterson just might be sticking around for some more starts, which is certainly not a bad thing.
Lugi's leading off tonight, which begs the question, where's Jake? Is he hurt, sick, or is he just getting a post-0fer holiday? Youk's back's still bugging him so Case is at first. Coco's in center. Maybe he can pop some more homers in this small ballpark like he did in Cincy.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Lugi's leading off tonight, which begs the question, where's Jake? Is he hurt, sick, or is he just getting a post-0fer holiday? Youk's back's still bugging him so Case is at first. Coco's in center. Maybe he can pop some more homers in this small ballpark like he did in Cincy.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Big Man, GINORMOUS swing!
Sox: 2 Phils: 8
So, the Sox were bested by the Phils tonight, despite the return of Manny, but did you SEE the hacks taken by Bartolo Colon at the plate? As they say in Spanish, ay caramba! Being a fan of an American League team, seeing pitchers at bat during interleague play is cause for a giggle or two, but this went way beyond the giggle to just short of hysterical laughter. Until Bart came out of the game after the 4th with back spasms. Could his titanic swings have thrown his back out? Or were these spasms a result of something he did on the mound in the 4th? Now it's not so funny. Hope he's okay and doesn't have to go on the D.L. If he is D.L. bound, however, we have plenty of starting pitching depth. I, for one, am going to miss Justin "whiz kid" Masterson when Dice-K comes back up this weekend. He's been doing awesome work in the absence of Mr. 8-0, but, alas, he's still young and needs to log some time with the PawSox until a spot opens up in the rotation.
JD continues to produce Papi-esque numbers in the 3-hole while the Bedazzled One (as of today, the De-casted One) rests his wrist. He now has more homers (12) than he had ALL SEASON last year (11). I'm happy for JD, who got a lot of flak last year for his underwhelming performance in the plate most of the season, but he stepped it up at the right time with a great September and the unforgettable Grand Salami in ALCS Game 6. He's stepping it up again this year in the absence of Big Papi. Now that he feels more comfortable in Boston and in the American League, I predict that even after he cools down a bit, he will still have a much better 2008 than 2007.
Good to see Pedey come out of his slump with 3 hits tonight, including a long ball.
Tomorrow night on the mound: The increasingly impressive Jon Lester versus MLB's elder statesman Jamie Moyer. LET'S GO RED SOX!!! Beat those Phillies!!!
So, the Sox were bested by the Phils tonight, despite the return of Manny, but did you SEE the hacks taken by Bartolo Colon at the plate? As they say in Spanish, ay caramba! Being a fan of an American League team, seeing pitchers at bat during interleague play is cause for a giggle or two, but this went way beyond the giggle to just short of hysterical laughter. Until Bart came out of the game after the 4th with back spasms. Could his titanic swings have thrown his back out? Or were these spasms a result of something he did on the mound in the 4th? Now it's not so funny. Hope he's okay and doesn't have to go on the D.L. If he is D.L. bound, however, we have plenty of starting pitching depth. I, for one, am going to miss Justin "whiz kid" Masterson when Dice-K comes back up this weekend. He's been doing awesome work in the absence of Mr. 8-0, but, alas, he's still young and needs to log some time with the PawSox until a spot opens up in the rotation.
JD continues to produce Papi-esque numbers in the 3-hole while the Bedazzled One (as of today, the De-casted One) rests his wrist. He now has more homers (12) than he had ALL SEASON last year (11). I'm happy for JD, who got a lot of flak last year for his underwhelming performance in the plate most of the season, but he stepped it up at the right time with a great September and the unforgettable Grand Salami in ALCS Game 6. He's stepping it up again this year in the absence of Big Papi. Now that he feels more comfortable in Boston and in the American League, I predict that even after he cools down a bit, he will still have a much better 2008 than 2007.
Good to see Pedey come out of his slump with 3 hits tonight, including a long ball.
Tomorrow night on the mound: The increasingly impressive Jon Lester versus MLB's elder statesman Jamie Moyer. LET'S GO RED SOX!!! Beat those Phillies!!!
How did I come to be a Red Sox fan?
I don't live in Boston, or even in New England, yet I follow the Boston Red Sox year-round, from the first day of spring training to the "hot stove" season, when the ballpark is empty, but the rumors of trades, free agent signings, and expectations for the new season keep the flames of Sox fandom going. My dad was born in Taunton, MA and grew up as a Red Sox fan, going to games at The Fens with his grandfather, also a fan. It took a long time, but he passed his love of the Boston nine to his firstborn daughter (me!). I was not a sports fan growing up in Northern Virginia and before satellite TV and the existence of the MLB Extra Innings package, following the Red Sox meant looking at the box scores in the paper. When we did get DirecTV and soon after, the MLB package, I would walk in the room and find my dad watching a Sox game and would watch for an inning or so. I thought that three hours was a long time to sit and watch a game I knew very little about.
My baseball interest kind of came and went for several years until last year, when I was having some medical issues and needed something to take my mind off my worries. I started watching the Red Sox games more regularly and it was then that I started to pay closer attention to what was happening on the field. I started to appreciate the complexity of the game and the strategies behind pitching, hitting, and running the bases. The characters that made up the team intrigued me as well, from the feel-good energy of Big Papi to the plucky determination of Dustin Pedroia, to the quirkiness of "Manny Being Manny" to the quiet leadership of guys like Jason Varitek and Mike Lowell. I fell in love with the Red Sox and, yes, they happened to be doing ridiculously awesome at the time with a huge lead in the A.L. East, but before anyone calls me a bandwagon fan, I have never rooted for another team other than the Red Sox and don't see myself ever doing so in the future.
I watched the Sox win the World Series in 2004, but I felt that that victory, as epic as it was, was for my dad and all the other long-suffering Red Sox fans who waited decades to see the team win it all. I didn't have a true appreciation of the heartbreak of all the "almosts" in their 86-year World Championship drought. Some might say that that doesn't make me a "true" Red Sox fan or whatever. But, think about it, if that's the case, then no one who has become a Red Sox fan from 2004 on into the future (not to mention kids today who were born after 2004) is a "true" fan. Better new Red Sox fans than new Yankee fans, right? ;-)
That's enough rambling for now. LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
My baseball interest kind of came and went for several years until last year, when I was having some medical issues and needed something to take my mind off my worries. I started watching the Red Sox games more regularly and it was then that I started to pay closer attention to what was happening on the field. I started to appreciate the complexity of the game and the strategies behind pitching, hitting, and running the bases. The characters that made up the team intrigued me as well, from the feel-good energy of Big Papi to the plucky determination of Dustin Pedroia, to the quirkiness of "Manny Being Manny" to the quiet leadership of guys like Jason Varitek and Mike Lowell. I fell in love with the Red Sox and, yes, they happened to be doing ridiculously awesome at the time with a huge lead in the A.L. East, but before anyone calls me a bandwagon fan, I have never rooted for another team other than the Red Sox and don't see myself ever doing so in the future.
I watched the Sox win the World Series in 2004, but I felt that that victory, as epic as it was, was for my dad and all the other long-suffering Red Sox fans who waited decades to see the team win it all. I didn't have a true appreciation of the heartbreak of all the "almosts" in their 86-year World Championship drought. Some might say that that doesn't make me a "true" Red Sox fan or whatever. But, think about it, if that's the case, then no one who has become a Red Sox fan from 2004 on into the future (not to mention kids today who were born after 2004) is a "true" fan. Better new Red Sox fans than new Yankee fans, right? ;-)
That's enough rambling for now. LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
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