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!!!!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
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!!!!
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