"Lack" as his teammates call tonight's starting pitcher, was out of whack. Fortunately for the Red Sox, Jays starter Brandon Morrow was about to walk the whole lineup in one bizarre inning that erased the damage Lackey did in the top half of the frame. The Sox won a weird one, for sure, but a win's a win and they all count the same, no matter when or how you win them.
Out-of-whack Lack gave up 6 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings pitched, walking 3, and striking out 6. His second inning resembled Dice-K's first inning last week against the Halos. He struggled mightily to get that first out. In the bottom of the second, the Sox got all those runs back by waiting for Morrow to throw strikes and taking advantage when he did throw them. Instead of grounding into a double play, V-Mart grounded into a fielder's choice when Aaron Hill tossed a rainbow to Lyle Overbay and two runs scored. Papi added another run with a single that chased Morrow from the game with the Sox up 6-4. They'd add another run, the one that ended up winning the game for them, in the third, Pedey knocked in Van Every, who had singled, then took two bases on an Alex Gonzalez throwing error.
The final two Jays runs were scored when Bautista took Lackey deep with Gonzalez on. The Sox pen held down the slim lead as Oki, Bard, and Pap each pitched a scoreless inning. With this win, the Sox are 17 and 16 and a game and a half behind the Jays in the division. Tomorrow night, Dice-K tries to avoid a nuclear inning and the Sox hope they can continue their success against Dana Eveland. Wake makes a start on Wednesday. Beckett was originally pushed back to Friday to work on a few things and to avoid facing a team that knocks him around just as much, if not more, than the Yankees do. His Friday start against the Tigers in Detroit is now in question, as he tweaked his back in pitcher's batting practice today (preparing for interleague play).
The jury's still out on the 2010 Red Sox. They won today despite a poor start by Lackey, but the team ERA, already third from the bottom in the AL took another hit and concerns about the starting rotation continue. There's too much talent in this rotation to be so inconsistent. After a typically awful April, Lester seems to have gotten into a groove. Buchholz was cruising along, for the most part, until his last two starts. Beckett has been an enigma, as has Dice-K, though Dice-K hasn't had a chance to put it together yet, having spent the first month on the DL. As for Wake, he is what he is. If the knuckler's cooperating, he can spin a gem, but if it gets flat, look out!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Hey New York, No Sweep For You!
Please help me--I'm a confused Red Sox fan. The team that inspired me to write my "Really?" rant last night, the one who got shredded by the Yanks two games in a row, who looked like a group of 8-year-old little leaguers playing a top-seeded college team, disappeared and the real Red Sox came to play. At least we hope these are the real Red Sox. The distinction is a little murky this season. Tonight, it was the Yanks' A.J. Burnett who looked like Charlie Brown on the mound, especially in the five-run third inning.
Lester proved to be the stopper the Sox needed with his 7-inning, 2-run, 7-strikeout performance. The two runs came on two solo homers in the 4th inning, a strange inning where he struck out the side, but left two pitches out over the plate for Swisher and A-Rod. The rest of his outing continued his dominant streak that started at the end of last month.
Pedey's walk and Youk's double combined to score a run in the fourth. Two more runs are tacked on in the fifth, with a swing of Hermida's bat with Beltre on second. Burnett was yanked (pun intended) after Hermida's dinger. Sox up 9-2
Delcarmen reverted to shaky city in his inning of relief, allowing three hits and a run, but the run was harmless given the Sox' large lead. Wake mopped up the ninth with a 1-2-3 and the Sox kept the Bronx brooms in the closet.
Elsewhere in the baseball world, Dallas Braden, a.k.a. He Whose Mound A-Rod Invaded, of the Oakland A's tossed a perfect game against, of all teams, the Tampa Bay Rays. Yes, the 22-8--no make that 22-9 Tampa Bay Rays who--well we know what they did to the Red Sox last month. His stuff must have been insanely nasty to stop a seemingly unstoppable lineup. Add him to my Red Sox covet list. His grandmother was at the game for mother's day--Braden lost his mother to cancer when he was in high school--and she had some choice words for A-Rod after the game. How does "Stick it!" sound? You go, grandma!
Back to the Red Sox. Tomorrow, that team from north of the border--and unfortunately also north in the AL East standings--comes to town. Last time the Sox and Jays met, the Sox swept 'em up at the Rogers Centre, despite a nuclear outing by Beckett in the first game. Alas, Beckett is facing the Jays once again this week, on Wednesday afternoon. Lackey goes tomorrow night, followed by Dice-K on Tuesday.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!! GREAT JOB STOPPING THE SWEEP!!
Lester proved to be the stopper the Sox needed with his 7-inning, 2-run, 7-strikeout performance. The two runs came on two solo homers in the 4th inning, a strange inning where he struck out the side, but left two pitches out over the plate for Swisher and A-Rod. The rest of his outing continued his dominant streak that started at the end of last month.
Pedey's walk and Youk's double combined to score a run in the fourth. Two more runs are tacked on in the fifth, with a swing of Hermida's bat with Beltre on second. Burnett was yanked (pun intended) after Hermida's dinger. Sox up 9-2
Delcarmen reverted to shaky city in his inning of relief, allowing three hits and a run, but the run was harmless given the Sox' large lead. Wake mopped up the ninth with a 1-2-3 and the Sox kept the Bronx brooms in the closet.
Elsewhere in the baseball world, Dallas Braden, a.k.a. He Whose Mound A-Rod Invaded, of the Oakland A's tossed a perfect game against, of all teams, the Tampa Bay Rays. Yes, the 22-8--no make that 22-9 Tampa Bay Rays who--well we know what they did to the Red Sox last month. His stuff must have been insanely nasty to stop a seemingly unstoppable lineup. Add him to my Red Sox covet list. His grandmother was at the game for mother's day--Braden lost his mother to cancer when he was in high school--and she had some choice words for A-Rod after the game. How does "Stick it!" sound? You go, grandma!
Back to the Red Sox. Tomorrow, that team from north of the border--and unfortunately also north in the AL East standings--comes to town. Last time the Sox and Jays met, the Sox swept 'em up at the Rogers Centre, despite a nuclear outing by Beckett in the first game. Alas, Beckett is facing the Jays once again this week, on Wednesday afternoon. Lackey goes tomorrow night, followed by Dice-K on Tuesday.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!! GREAT JOB STOPPING THE SWEEP!!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Really?? Red Sox 2010 Edition
With apologies to SNL:
After an October where the Angels squashed them like a bug in the ALDS, the Red Sox brass decided to work on "pitching and defense" and "run prevention". Fast forward to now, when their pitchers get shelled against the big boys of the league and the new "defensive whiz" third baseman is doing his best Julio Lugo impersonation.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
The Sox go and sign so-called ace Josh Beckett to a 4-year extension before the season begins, knowing full well that 2007 was a career year and he hasn't been consistent ever since and the Yankees tee off on him.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
A week into the season, the "defensive whiz" third baseman and the speedy displaced left fielder collide, breaking said left fielder's ribs and slowing the team's baserunning to a snail's pace.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
Every so often, the team teases the fans and media by playing decent ball, like their three-game sweep against the Toronto Blue Jays and the four-game sweep against the Angels, then gets swept by the likes of the Baltimore Orioles and pulverized by the Yankees two games in a row.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
A $24 million DH platoon.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
A $170 million payroll and not third but FOURTH place in the AL East.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
A "bridge year" with the highest ticket prices in the game. And that's before the legalized scalpers known as Ace Ticket get a hold of their share
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
Atchison, Schoenweiss, and Bonser.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
A third base coach mistaking Varitek for Ellsbury.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
Oh, it's only May, they can turn it around. Look at last year's Yankees.
REALLY???????
After an October where the Angels squashed them like a bug in the ALDS, the Red Sox brass decided to work on "pitching and defense" and "run prevention". Fast forward to now, when their pitchers get shelled against the big boys of the league and the new "defensive whiz" third baseman is doing his best Julio Lugo impersonation.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
The Sox go and sign so-called ace Josh Beckett to a 4-year extension before the season begins, knowing full well that 2007 was a career year and he hasn't been consistent ever since and the Yankees tee off on him.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
A week into the season, the "defensive whiz" third baseman and the speedy displaced left fielder collide, breaking said left fielder's ribs and slowing the team's baserunning to a snail's pace.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
Every so often, the team teases the fans and media by playing decent ball, like their three-game sweep against the Toronto Blue Jays and the four-game sweep against the Angels, then gets swept by the likes of the Baltimore Orioles and pulverized by the Yankees two games in a row.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
A $24 million DH platoon.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
A $170 million payroll and not third but FOURTH place in the AL East.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
A "bridge year" with the highest ticket prices in the game. And that's before the legalized scalpers known as Ace Ticket get a hold of their share
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
Atchison, Schoenweiss, and Bonser.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
A third base coach mistaking Varitek for Ellsbury.
Really, Red Sox?? Really???
Oh, it's only May, they can turn it around. Look at last year's Yankees.
REALLY???????
Friday, May 7, 2010
Jekyll and Hyde
The title of this blog summarizes Josh Beckett's outing tonight. Dr. Jekyll, a.k.a. Commander Kick-Ass was pitching the first three innings. Mr. Hyde peeked out in the fourth, with a hit, a walk, and then a 3-run jack. Jekyll came back out for the fifth, but he gave way to Hyde once again in the sixth and this time, Hyde was there to stay. He was atrociously wild with his pitches and plunked at least two batters and his own catcher. Beckett-as-Hyde effectively flushed the game down the toilet for the Red Sox, who could only manage two runs off of Hughes. It was a hot mess of an inning that killed any momentum the Sox had coming into the game from sweeping the Angels this week. This time, the Sox were looking an awful lot like the team they just swept as they went down quietly to their archrivals in a 10-3 blowout.
The silver lining in this debacle was the second consecutive strong showing at the plate for Big Papi. He knocked in 2 of the 3 runs the Sox scored (with Beltre tacking one on later in the game) via a sac fly and an RBI single. This is a very good sign for Papi, stringing together two good games. He'll likely sit tomorrow against Sabathia, and play in Sunday night's finale. Seeing that Saturday and Sunday's games are on FOX and ESPN, the mute button will be put to good use. The national broadcasters' fawning over the Yankees is too much to stomach.
It's up to Buchholz and Lester to pitch this weekend like they have been pitching lately (or in the case of Buch, all season) and the bats to give them whatever run support they need. It would be awesome if the Sox could win both weekend games, but with the way they've been stacking up against the Yanks, I'll take just one. As long as they don't get swept!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!! SHAKE OFF TONIGHT AND WIN TOMORROW!!!!
The silver lining in this debacle was the second consecutive strong showing at the plate for Big Papi. He knocked in 2 of the 3 runs the Sox scored (with Beltre tacking one on later in the game) via a sac fly and an RBI single. This is a very good sign for Papi, stringing together two good games. He'll likely sit tomorrow against Sabathia, and play in Sunday night's finale. Seeing that Saturday and Sunday's games are on FOX and ESPN, the mute button will be put to good use. The national broadcasters' fawning over the Yankees is too much to stomach.
It's up to Buchholz and Lester to pitch this weekend like they have been pitching lately (or in the case of Buch, all season) and the bats to give them whatever run support they need. It would be awesome if the Sox could win both weekend games, but with the way they've been stacking up against the Yanks, I'll take just one. As long as they don't get swept!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!! SHAKE OFF TONIGHT AND WIN TOMORROW!!!!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Papi Turning A Corner?
On a night where his presence in the lineup frustrated a large segment of Red Sox Nation, myself included, Big Papi delivered. Tito saw Papi's numbers against Angels starter (and ex-Sox reliever) Joel Piniero and the opportunity this gave the struggling slugger to break through. It wasn't as if everyone else was teeing off against Piniero--he held the Sox to a mere two runs, one of his better starts this season. Papi connected with a change-up and send it over the Monster for an opposite-field big fly. He had singled earlier in the game, so the dinger was the second hit of the night for him.
Lackey, in the meantime, showed the Angels just how much they miss him, holding them to one run over 7 innings. Like Lester, he has lowered his ERA to below 4. The only really bad outing Lackey has had so far in a Red Sox uniform was the shelling by the Rays last month. Given how the Rays are playing, there's not a whole lot of shame in getting trampled by them. The starting pitching, for the most part, seems to be settling in and putting quality starts together. Beckett, even though the Sox lost the last game he pitched, had a solid start after two poor ones. Lester has had one decent start followed by two outstanding ones. Buchholz has been the most consistently good so far this season. His last start wasn't one of his best, but it's not every day he gets drilled in the ankle twice by the same batter.
Last night's game was also a good one for Adrian Beltre. He went two for three with two RBI and a homer, his second so far this week. He also made a stellar defensive play with broken bat pieces flying in his face. Methinks that four-bagger on Monday night took a monkey off of his back and now he can relax a bit and trust his natural ability. As of today, he's 8th in the league in batting average, hitting .340 and finding his home run stroke at Fenway makes his offensive contribution all the better.
So, the Sox are now back at .500. However, they have one more game against the Angels and then the Evil Empire comes to town for the weekend. The Sox need to keep their momentum going by completing a sweep of the Halos today and winning at least two of three against the Yankees. That means Dice-K needs to improve on his last outing when he takes the mound tonight. Winning a series against the Yanks will be challenging, but not impossible. Especially if they keep playing the good baseball they've been playing since returning home.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!! BRING ON THE BROOMS!!!!
Lackey, in the meantime, showed the Angels just how much they miss him, holding them to one run over 7 innings. Like Lester, he has lowered his ERA to below 4. The only really bad outing Lackey has had so far in a Red Sox uniform was the shelling by the Rays last month. Given how the Rays are playing, there's not a whole lot of shame in getting trampled by them. The starting pitching, for the most part, seems to be settling in and putting quality starts together. Beckett, even though the Sox lost the last game he pitched, had a solid start after two poor ones. Lester has had one decent start followed by two outstanding ones. Buchholz has been the most consistently good so far this season. His last start wasn't one of his best, but it's not every day he gets drilled in the ankle twice by the same batter.
Last night's game was also a good one for Adrian Beltre. He went two for three with two RBI and a homer, his second so far this week. He also made a stellar defensive play with broken bat pieces flying in his face. Methinks that four-bagger on Monday night took a monkey off of his back and now he can relax a bit and trust his natural ability. As of today, he's 8th in the league in batting average, hitting .340 and finding his home run stroke at Fenway makes his offensive contribution all the better.
So, the Sox are now back at .500. However, they have one more game against the Angels and then the Evil Empire comes to town for the weekend. The Sox need to keep their momentum going by completing a sweep of the Halos today and winning at least two of three against the Yankees. That means Dice-K needs to improve on his last outing when he takes the mound tonight. Winning a series against the Yanks will be challenging, but not impossible. Especially if they keep playing the good baseball they've been playing since returning home.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!! BRING ON THE BROOMS!!!!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Bats Gone Bananas
A pre-game team meeting courtesy of the skipper. An inverted Wally in the NESN booth. Heidi Watney's return from the sports reporter DL. All these things preceded a Sox schooling of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. A sweep at the hands of the cellar-dwelling O's had the team and the fans reeling, with much of Red Sox Nation fearing an impending Soxmageddon. The Sox themselves were fed up with losing and a bunch of pissed-off ballplayers wielding bats put up a colossal 17-run attack on the Halos, who were just a half-game better than them record-wise, but in a considerably weaker division. Everyone in the starting lineup had at least one hit, with multi-hit nights for V-Mart (2 for 6), Youk (2 for 3, HR, RBI, 2 BB, HBP), Drew (4 for 5, 3 RBI), Lowell (4 for 4, 4 RBI, BB), Beltre (2 for 5, HR, 3 RBI), Hall (2 for 4, HR, 2 RBI, BB), and McDonald (2 for 4, RBI, BB). Youk, Hall, Beltre, and Pedey all went yard. For Beltre, it was his first dinger in a Red Sox uniform.
Buchholz had a rocky outing, but pitched well enough to win, thanks to his guts and determination as well as the deluge of run support he got from his teammates. Kendry Morales had made Buch's ankle his personal bullseye as he hit two balls right up the middle, one hitting said ankle and another one grazing it. Buch shook the first drilling off fairly easily, but got a little more rattled by the second one, which came in the fourth inning, where he gave up 3 runs. The ankle tightened up on him and his command suffered in the sixth, when recorded two outs, gave up a run, then handed it over to Manny Delcarmen. MDC promptly struck out the first batter he faced and retired the side in order the following inning. RamRam pitched a clean 8th, and Schoenweiss allowed the Angels to double their score in the ninth, prompting us to wonder why he was the better choice over Alan Embree.
Besides the offense, another positive thing in tonight's game was V-Mart throwing out a baserunner. Both he and Tek have showed improvement in their throws to second base lately, even in the debacle of a weekend series with the O's.
Tomorrow night, Lester faces Ervin Santana and he can only hope the offense has enough gas left in the tank after tonight's onslaught. You can be sure of one thing: Wally will be standing on his head in the booth!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!! AWESOME GAME TONIGHT!!!!!
Buchholz had a rocky outing, but pitched well enough to win, thanks to his guts and determination as well as the deluge of run support he got from his teammates. Kendry Morales had made Buch's ankle his personal bullseye as he hit two balls right up the middle, one hitting said ankle and another one grazing it. Buch shook the first drilling off fairly easily, but got a little more rattled by the second one, which came in the fourth inning, where he gave up 3 runs. The ankle tightened up on him and his command suffered in the sixth, when recorded two outs, gave up a run, then handed it over to Manny Delcarmen. MDC promptly struck out the first batter he faced and retired the side in order the following inning. RamRam pitched a clean 8th, and Schoenweiss allowed the Angels to double their score in the ninth, prompting us to wonder why he was the better choice over Alan Embree.
Besides the offense, another positive thing in tonight's game was V-Mart throwing out a baserunner. Both he and Tek have showed improvement in their throws to second base lately, even in the debacle of a weekend series with the O's.
Tomorrow night, Lester faces Ervin Santana and he can only hope the offense has enough gas left in the tank after tonight's onslaught. You can be sure of one thing: Wally will be standing on his head in the booth!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!! AWESOME GAME TONIGHT!!!!!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
No Easy Answers
This season hasn't been for the faint of heart. After a glimmer of hope in the sweep of Toronto, the Sox returned to their hapless ways in Baltimore, dropping the first two games to the worst team in baseball and in danger of being swept by said team. One small step forward, two giant steps back. For a team that plays in one of the largest markets in a town that's crazy for sports, especially baseball, the struggles of the 2010 Red Sox are a huge deal. Having their two chief divisional rivals playing so well only makes it worse. Sox fans, especially newer ones accustomed to a team in perennial playoff contention, are in for a long, possibly very depressing, summer of baseball.
Injuries have hurt the team, but that's only part of the picture. The starting rotation is in disarray, despite two gems last week from Buchholz and Lester, and the bullpen is overworked. The hitting is about as streaky as it comes and even the games the Sox have won haven't been easy. I don't believe they've won one yet by more than two runs. The new acquisitions, especially Beltre, have been underperforming. Beltre's average is great, but no power and loads of errors in the field--alarming for a former Gold Glover. Not to mention, he's put the dynamic Ellsbury out of commission indefinitely. The DH, even with the two dingers in last night's game, has a lower batting average than most NL pitchers. It's been a Murphy's Law season for the Red Sox so far. It sure goes to show why baseball games aren't played on paper!
Can this season be salvaged? Do the Sox have any hope of competing with the Yanks and the Rays? It's still only the beginning of May, but I just don't know. I'd like to have faith, but I'm not blind either. I know what's going on on the field and it ain't pretty! The Sox getting schooled by the Orioles of all teams, now that's embarrassing. Right now, there is no guy in the minors or no one available in a trade that can easily slide into this team and make an impact. The Padres are leading their division, so that effectively takes Adrian Gonzalez off the table. As for the unsigned free agents waiting for work...well, there's a reason they're still not signed. The highly-touted prospects in the minors are still a year or two away from being ready to play at the major-league level. No lights-out pitcher is waiting in the wings either. The team right now has to go with who they've got--the question is, will they be digging themselves out of the hole this month, or further into it?
LET'S GO RED SOX!!! PLEASE DON'T GET SWEPT!!!
Injuries have hurt the team, but that's only part of the picture. The starting rotation is in disarray, despite two gems last week from Buchholz and Lester, and the bullpen is overworked. The hitting is about as streaky as it comes and even the games the Sox have won haven't been easy. I don't believe they've won one yet by more than two runs. The new acquisitions, especially Beltre, have been underperforming. Beltre's average is great, but no power and loads of errors in the field--alarming for a former Gold Glover. Not to mention, he's put the dynamic Ellsbury out of commission indefinitely. The DH, even with the two dingers in last night's game, has a lower batting average than most NL pitchers. It's been a Murphy's Law season for the Red Sox so far. It sure goes to show why baseball games aren't played on paper!
Can this season be salvaged? Do the Sox have any hope of competing with the Yanks and the Rays? It's still only the beginning of May, but I just don't know. I'd like to have faith, but I'm not blind either. I know what's going on on the field and it ain't pretty! The Sox getting schooled by the Orioles of all teams, now that's embarrassing. Right now, there is no guy in the minors or no one available in a trade that can easily slide into this team and make an impact. The Padres are leading their division, so that effectively takes Adrian Gonzalez off the table. As for the unsigned free agents waiting for work...well, there's a reason they're still not signed. The highly-touted prospects in the minors are still a year or two away from being ready to play at the major-league level. No lights-out pitcher is waiting in the wings either. The team right now has to go with who they've got--the question is, will they be digging themselves out of the hole this month, or further into it?
LET'S GO RED SOX!!! PLEASE DON'T GET SWEPT!!!
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