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!!!!
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