The Sox sure don’t like making things easy. It certainly would have been nice to take at least one of those games against the other Sox this weekend. It was beyond frustrating to watch the debacle over and over. I don’t know which was worse. Seeing the Sox just not score the runs they needed despite good pitching, or watching they throw balls every which way, and drop them on the rare instances they actually reached their target. Was it the bullpen blowing every lead they saw, or the starters not giving them a lead in the first place? They certainly didn’t look like a team that deserved to be in the playoff hunt. At least many didn’t completely go off on them. I had fear of him blasting ball after ball over the wall in left. But, he was only mildly annoying. (He was actually less annoying than the fans that continue to boo him for reasons I have yet to understand.) So, the Sox ended the weekend with their heads low.
Thankfully, in baseball, momentum is the next night’s starting pitcher. Jon Lester was just great last night, as the Sox secured a game they absolutely had to win. It shaved a game off the lead, and kept them in the hunt. If it is followed by two more, the Sox could have something.
Even in the blowout, the main Sox weakness shone through. The bullpen has been horrible. All the talk about injuries to the offense have glossed over on thing. Theo assembled an absolutely terrible bullpen. He sat on his hands through the first trade deadline. He sat on his hands through the second trade deadline. Did nothing to improve the team. If the bullpen had any talent in it at all, the Sox would be a lot closer than they are now…even with half their line-up no the DL.
I often wonder if the Sox re-injuries caught Theo off guard. Did he actually think Dustin Pedroia was coming back in July? (BTW, I’m so glad Pedroia worked so hard to get himself back on the field so he could make things worse and be gone even longer. That’s better than looking soft.) Was he counting on Ellsbury and Cameron being back when they were supposed to be? Did he not make any moves just waiting for them to come back? Did he assume they would be out longer than everyone thought, so he just gave up on the season?
I’m not sure I’d be happy with either answer.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Wantlist: 1998
1998 Bowman87 John Curtice
103 Brian Rose
164 Peter Munro
165 Trot Nixon
35 Mo Vaughn
234 Pedro Martinez
254 John Valentin
313 Chris Reitsma
321 Damian Sapp
363 John Barnes
375 Joe DePastino
397 Steve Lomasney
404 Cole Liniak
415 Michael Coleman
421 Matt Kinney
1998 Bowmans Best
16 Mo Vaughn
38 Pedro Martinez
73 Nomar Garciaparra
117 Donnie Sadler
135 Brian Rose
155 Michael Coleman
197 Jim Chamblee
1998 FINEST - RED SOX
73 Scott Hatteberg
115 John Valentin
154 Pedro Martinez
205 Reggie Jefferson
1998 Stadium Club
32 Mo Vaughn
37 Reggie Jefferson
121 Scott Hatteberg
171 Nomar Garciaparra
193 John Valentin
194 Darren Bragg
280 Troy O'Leary
321 Tim Wakefield
362 Dennis Eckersley
380 Jim Leyritz3
98 Pedro Martinez
1998 Topps
#481 Chipper Jones & Nomar Garciaparra Interleague Preview Braves vs Red Sox
#485 Rookie Prospects of Cardianls Braden Looper, Cardinals Cliff Politte and Red Sox Brian Rose
#494 Rookie Draft Picks of Red sox John Curtice and Twins Mike Cuddyer
98 Topps Gallery
4 Pedro Martinez
108 John Valentin
138 Mo Vaughn
1998 Topps Gold Label
45 Pedro Martinez
78 Nomar Garciaparra
1998 Topps Opening Day
102 Tim Naehring
162 Nomar Garciaparra
1998 Topps Stars
92 John Valentin
125 Nomar Garciaparra
144 Pedro Martinez
Friday, September 3, 2010
Don’t Look Back, Tampa…
…something is gaining on you.
Ok. It’s a half a game. I get that. The Sox are still 6.5 games out. I get that too. But, you have to agree with me, 6.5 back is better than 7.5 back. Right? Last night’s game certainly could have been a loss. It was trending that way. The Sox could very easily been swept by Baltimore. But, they weren’t. They won the series, to split the road trip. That’s a much better turn of events. Can they keep it going? I sure hope so. After all, if the Sox sweep the homestand, the current 6.5 game deficit goes to no more than 3.5. Yikes!
So, what is it? Why aren’t the Sox playing out the string? They still actually think they have a shot at the postseason. Of course, they’re right. I’ve mentioned that Tampa’s seven games against New York make everything very interesting. Really, the best scenario has the Rays being crushed by the Yankees, rendering the six games the Sox have with NY meaningless in the Yankees eyes. That makes them likely rest their only pitcher, and makes the Sox task just a little bit easier. I like easy as much as the next guy.
So, bring on Manny. Again, I won’t lie to you. I prefer the other Sox had given up. I wish they were playing rookies and has-beens to play out the string. But, if the Red Sox are as good as they should be, it doesn’t matter. The Soxy battle will go just the way it’s supposed to. A series win is a must, to set up a series sweep of the Rays. After all, they were thiiiiis close to taking them all from the Rays in Tampa. At Fenway Park, I see no reason to think they can’t. The rest of the season? Looks good for the Sox. That makes this the key homestand.
This is going to be fun.
Ok. It’s a half a game. I get that. The Sox are still 6.5 games out. I get that too. But, you have to agree with me, 6.5 back is better than 7.5 back. Right? Last night’s game certainly could have been a loss. It was trending that way. The Sox could very easily been swept by Baltimore. But, they weren’t. They won the series, to split the road trip. That’s a much better turn of events. Can they keep it going? I sure hope so. After all, if the Sox sweep the homestand, the current 6.5 game deficit goes to no more than 3.5. Yikes!
So, what is it? Why aren’t the Sox playing out the string? They still actually think they have a shot at the postseason. Of course, they’re right. I’ve mentioned that Tampa’s seven games against New York make everything very interesting. Really, the best scenario has the Rays being crushed by the Yankees, rendering the six games the Sox have with NY meaningless in the Yankees eyes. That makes them likely rest their only pitcher, and makes the Sox task just a little bit easier. I like easy as much as the next guy.
So, bring on Manny. Again, I won’t lie to you. I prefer the other Sox had given up. I wish they were playing rookies and has-beens to play out the string. But, if the Red Sox are as good as they should be, it doesn’t matter. The Soxy battle will go just the way it’s supposed to. A series win is a must, to set up a series sweep of the Rays. After all, they were thiiiiis close to taking them all from the Rays in Tampa. At Fenway Park, I see no reason to think they can’t. The rest of the season? Looks good for the Sox. That makes this the key homestand.
This is going to be fun.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Do I sense a spark?
Apparently the Red Sox haven’t given up. It would have been very easy to. I know I almost did a couple times myself. The Sox though? They hung in there when it got a little dicey like great teams do.
Imagine. In the top of the very first inning, you give one of the best pitchers in the game a run. Before he even throws a pitch, he has the lead. What happens in the bottom of the inning? Jon Lester gives up four runs. If that’s not deflating, I don’t know what is. If that’s not a reason to throw in the towel and wait until next year, I don’t know what is. But, the Sox didn’t do that. They hung in there. They clawed their way back. Finally, using everyone in the batting order, they exploded. They grabbed the lead, and didn’t give it back. That’s what you need to see from a payoff team. That’s what needs to happen when the two teams you’re chasing win.
Of course, none of that matters if Dice-K doesn’t go out and do his part tonight. The gutsy effort needs to lead to something. There needs to be a string of victories. The time where the Sox can just win series is past. They need some sweeps. A lot of sweeps. How about a homestand sweep? They’ve certainly done that before. Why not now? Do that, and they’re right back in the race.
Just win.
Imagine. In the top of the very first inning, you give one of the best pitchers in the game a run. Before he even throws a pitch, he has the lead. What happens in the bottom of the inning? Jon Lester gives up four runs. If that’s not deflating, I don’t know what is. If that’s not a reason to throw in the towel and wait until next year, I don’t know what is. But, the Sox didn’t do that. They hung in there. They clawed their way back. Finally, using everyone in the batting order, they exploded. They grabbed the lead, and didn’t give it back. That’s what you need to see from a payoff team. That’s what needs to happen when the two teams you’re chasing win.
Of course, none of that matters if Dice-K doesn’t go out and do his part tonight. The gutsy effort needs to lead to something. There needs to be a string of victories. The time where the Sox can just win series is past. They need some sweeps. A lot of sweeps. How about a homestand sweep? They’ve certainly done that before. Why not now? Do that, and they’re right back in the race.
Just win.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
36 Questions: Manny Ramirez edition
Manny Ramirez was recently sent from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Chicago White Sox. Manny suited up for the first time for his new team last night, in a Chicago victory. Since Manny’s name has been in the paper this last week or so, it’s reminded me of a few questions I’ve had brewing. I figured I’d ask them here.
In a recent extra-innings game, Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies was ejected after arguing a strike call. The Phillies are in the playoff hunt, and desperately need wins. Howard is their premier slugger. By being ejected, the Phillies didn’t have enough position players left to take his place. Roy Oswalt was needed to go in and play left field. As luck would have it, Oswalt came to the plate with the tying runs on base later in the game, and didn’t produce. The Phillies lost a game they needed to win. After the game, I’ve seen reports that Howard should have been able to control his emotions better, and done whatever he could to have stayed in the game. Also recently, Adrian Beltre, of the Boston Red Sox, was ejected in the first inning of a game, after being called out on strikes. Beltre is one of the Sox’s top run producers. It was a game the Sox needed to win to stay in the playoff hunt. Beltre’s spot in the line-up later came to the plate in a key spot, but didn’t produce. After the game, I saw many stories saying the umpire made a poor ejection. The umpire needed to understand the situation better, and keep Beltre in the game. My question? Can someone send me a link to a story where either Beltre or Howard was accused of trying to get ejected to throw the game and hurt his team as Manny has been accused of after his ejection?
Another question. Let’s say The Great Derek Jeter, base runner extraordinaire, super hustler, and all-around perfect baseball player is on first base with one out. Let’s say he takes off from first on a hit and run. Let’s say the batter, instead of hitting it in the hole Jeter created, lines out to the pitcher. What does Derek Jeter now do? Does he slam on the breaks and run as fast as he can trying to beat the throw from the pitcher back to first? Or, does he frown, and coast to a stop before turning back to the dugout. I’m guessiog the answer is b. When Manny Ramirez didn’t run out of the box on a groundball to the pitcher, he was roundly criticized for his lack of hustle. But, in Jeter’s case, not only would he not hustle back to first, but he would actually get farther away from first as he coasted to a stop. The throw from the pitcher would be the same distance. And, since Jeter would be closer than Manny was…he’d have a better shot at beating it out. My Question? Can someone send me a link to a video of Jeter in the above situation stopping on a dime and sprinting back to first?
I have scored three baseball games so far this season. Looking over the books, I see eight players who struck out looking. James Loney of the LA Dodgers. Marco Scutaro of the Red Sox. Adrian Beltre of the Red Sox (twice). Elvis Andrus of the Texas Rangers. Bill Hall of the Red Sox. Kevin Cash of the Red Sox. Aaron Hill of the Toronto Blue Jays. J.D. Drew of the Red Sox. My question? Could someone send me a link to a story where any of these players were accused of trying to strike out to throw a game and hurt his team as Manny has been accused of?
Please feel free to use the comments section to provide your links.
In a recent extra-innings game, Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies was ejected after arguing a strike call. The Phillies are in the playoff hunt, and desperately need wins. Howard is their premier slugger. By being ejected, the Phillies didn’t have enough position players left to take his place. Roy Oswalt was needed to go in and play left field. As luck would have it, Oswalt came to the plate with the tying runs on base later in the game, and didn’t produce. The Phillies lost a game they needed to win. After the game, I’ve seen reports that Howard should have been able to control his emotions better, and done whatever he could to have stayed in the game. Also recently, Adrian Beltre, of the Boston Red Sox, was ejected in the first inning of a game, after being called out on strikes. Beltre is one of the Sox’s top run producers. It was a game the Sox needed to win to stay in the playoff hunt. Beltre’s spot in the line-up later came to the plate in a key spot, but didn’t produce. After the game, I saw many stories saying the umpire made a poor ejection. The umpire needed to understand the situation better, and keep Beltre in the game. My question? Can someone send me a link to a story where either Beltre or Howard was accused of trying to get ejected to throw the game and hurt his team as Manny has been accused of after his ejection?
Another question. Let’s say The Great Derek Jeter, base runner extraordinaire, super hustler, and all-around perfect baseball player is on first base with one out. Let’s say he takes off from first on a hit and run. Let’s say the batter, instead of hitting it in the hole Jeter created, lines out to the pitcher. What does Derek Jeter now do? Does he slam on the breaks and run as fast as he can trying to beat the throw from the pitcher back to first? Or, does he frown, and coast to a stop before turning back to the dugout. I’m guessiog the answer is b. When Manny Ramirez didn’t run out of the box on a groundball to the pitcher, he was roundly criticized for his lack of hustle. But, in Jeter’s case, not only would he not hustle back to first, but he would actually get farther away from first as he coasted to a stop. The throw from the pitcher would be the same distance. And, since Jeter would be closer than Manny was…he’d have a better shot at beating it out. My Question? Can someone send me a link to a video of Jeter in the above situation stopping on a dime and sprinting back to first?
I have scored three baseball games so far this season. Looking over the books, I see eight players who struck out looking. James Loney of the LA Dodgers. Marco Scutaro of the Red Sox. Adrian Beltre of the Red Sox (twice). Elvis Andrus of the Texas Rangers. Bill Hall of the Red Sox. Kevin Cash of the Red Sox. Aaron Hill of the Toronto Blue Jays. J.D. Drew of the Red Sox. My question? Could someone send me a link to a story where any of these players were accused of trying to strike out to throw a game and hurt his team as Manny has been accused of?
Please feel free to use the comments section to provide your links.
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