September 13, 2005

G143: Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 5 (11)

... and that is why you never pinch-run for David Ortiz in the ninth inning of a tie game.

Long home runs by Ortiz and Manny Ramirez (off the roof of the restaurant in center field!) helped give Boston a 5-0 lead. Then Terry Francona fell asleep in the seventh inning, woke up groggy and confused, and fucked it all up.

In short: Bronson Arroyo should not have started the seventh. In the sixth, up by three, Arroyo allowed a full-count double to Frank Catalanotto and an eight-pitch walk to Vernon Wells. When he fell behind tying-run-at-the-plate Corey Koskie 3-1, he had thrown 89 pitches -- and Tito had a crowded, fully-rested bullpen.

Arroyo got a double play and another ground out to escape trouble, and Boston tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh. Arroyo, if he was out there at all, should have been on a short leash. But Francona apparently didn't even have anyone warming up to start the inning.

Arroyo walked Eric Hinske. Then Gregg Zaun singled over Trot Nixon's head in right. Only then did Keith Foulke, who probably should have started the inning, begin warming up. Arroyo got ahead of Aaron Hill 0-2, but lost him on another eight-pitch walk. Bases loaded. Tito went with Foulke, not the best choice for a getting a much-needed ground ball (where was Bradford?). Foulke allowed a single to right and a sacrifice fly, then got a strikeout. It was 5-2, there were runners at first and third, and nine of Foulke's pitches had been strikes.

Francona came out and replaced him with Mike Timlin -- one righty with another. I started bitching immediately -- thinking both of Timlin's Inherited Runners problem and his gopher-ball tendencies (which has actually not been much of an issue this season). Foulke should have been allowed to face Wells. ... Timlin's third pitch -- after two balls, Varitek set up outside, but the pitch hung up inside -- was belted to left for a game-tying home run.

A loss in this game would have been a huge kick in the guts. But Jonathan Papelbon pitched three no-hit innings (only one walk in 10 batters) and Ortiz hit his 40th home run of the season in the 11th -- the inning began with a huge "Let's Go, Red Sox!" chant -- to give Papelbon his first major league victory.

Jays Announcer Notes: Fairly innocuous, if somewhat misinformed. They said the versatile Tony Graffanino can play first base and outfield for Boston, although he has played only five innings in left field and a similar amount at first in his entire career. ... Their stats when the pitcher begins his appearance include WHIP! ... On Manny in Boston: "They either love him, hate him, or a little of both."

All their silliness was wiped away when they were discussing Timlin in the eighth. They began by noting that Timlin and George W. Bush are both from Midland, Texas (though born there, Bush actually grew up in Connecticut). Anyway, one of the guys (I think it was Jamie Campbell and not Pat Tabler) said, "One guy has three rings -- two here in Toronto and one in Boston. The other guy has an unpopular war going on and gas prices through the roof."

Agree with that statement or not, it is something you would NEVER hear from an American sports announcer during a baseball game. Amazing.

The lead increases to 3.5 games and the magic number dips to 17. New York is in Florida dealing with their Tampa Daddies, while I head off to the Rogers Centre for tonight's game. I'll be in Aisle 116, Row 38 -- wearing my Godpapi shirt... Damon was sent back to Boston for an MRI. Not good.

Clement / Downs at 7:00.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love what you do, and laughed out loud at that announcer comment about Bush, but PLEASE - you can't say Timlin has a gopher ball problem - he'd allowed precisely ONE homer all year in like two thousand and fifty apperances. He has his probs, but you cannot claim that giving up the HR was the most likely outcome last night.

Anonymous said...

"... and that is why you never pinch-run for David Ortiz in the ninth inning of a tie game."

Great, Great, Great Point.

- Digital-Derek
(sawxblog)

From the Vined Smithy said...

Interesting as always, sir. I'm a little panicked by the prospect of losing Johnny "having the free-agent season of his life" Damon, but the offense is still capable (albeit a lot less) of generating without him.

I cannot comprehend why he pulled Foulke. All things considered, coming in to a bases loaded situation, he was doing well. We won; I guess that's what matters.

Minor quibble: the game went 11, and not the parenthetical "(10)" you have in the entry's title.

Anonymous said...

I'll be sitting here in Columbus listening to the game on XM wearing my GodPapi shirt as well... Skydome is actually a pretty cool place to watch a game... So enjoy and get a "Let's Go, Red Sox!" chant going.. :)

Anonymous said...

actually, George W. Bush was born in New Haven, CT. so he was neither born nor really raised in Texas.

Anonymous said...

You said that American announcers would not make political comments in a sports game. NOR SHOULD THEY. We don't listen to sports announcers to hear their political opinions. In fact, I watch sports to find some refuge from the constant fighting about politics going on everywhere else. NO POLITICS IN BASEBALL, PLEASE.

In fact, I applaud you for separating your baseball blog from your political one. I really enjoy your comments on baseball, but frankly I would not read your blog if you had continued with the political commentary (see above). Thank you for such a great site!

Another point: it seems like Canadians love to tell Americans about their opinions about our politics. We don't wanna hear about it (see above).

Anonymous said...

Actually, I disagree. Arroyo was pitching very well through 6 innings - no runs on 2 hits? There was no reason to think that Francona should pull him. Tito could only get someone warmed up so fast when Bronson self-destructed.

Unknown said...

I have a feeling he didn't go for Bradford because of Bradford's problems the other day in New York. What I don't get about Tito is that he does seem to forget he's got the highly stocked bullpen available. Sometimes it seems to work, like with Papelbon last night (although I noticed he was smart enough to keep Papelbon on a short leash), sometimes it really doesn't.

From the Vined Smithy said...

I, on the other hand, LOVE your political commentary and think all the Bushes can "eat a loaf of shit", so there's that. Also, I think it's your blog and I would stop reading it if I didn't appreciate some of it (like I eventually did with Dirt Dogs).

GOOD! I'm GLAD the announcers ripped Bush. Fuck 'im. Economy, war, health care, response to Katrina, inheritance tax repeal not going to plan, lowest approval rating yet. Tell me which battle he's winning. Dick.

I thought that Bronson struggled in the sixth and got a lucky escape with the double play and that someone clearly should have been warming at the start of the bottom of the seventh inning.

Road win over Toronto--both categories (road, Toronto) have been tough to get this year, so I'll just be happy with how it turned out. Win tonight again, Sox!

And: Go Waechter!

allan said...

I was somewhat surprised Papelbon came out for the 11th. I think I saw Perisho warming, so it was likely the right move.

We don't listen to sports announcers to hear their political opinions.

True enough. I barely listen to them for their baseball opinions. But said it he did -- and I merely made the comment that I've never heard anything like that in the US. (Though this was a comment on another country's leader; perhaps US announcers have done that for other countries.)

... it seems like Canadians love to tell Americans about their opinions about our politics.

As someone who lived in the US for almost 42 years and have resided in Canada for a mere 13 days, this statement is a riot.

If there is any group of people on Earth who are determined to let anyone and everyone know what they think about anything and everything (whether they know what they are talking about or not), it's Americans.

Thanks for sticking with JoS!

Kyle said...

War? Needed
Economy? What's wrong with the economy? Honestly, that's the weakest argument from the Left.
Healthcare? This isn't a communist country.
Katrina response? Bush himself offered assistance PRIOR to local or state request and it was refused.

Leave the President alone. Let's just talk baseball from now on.

allan said...

Let's just talk baseball from now on.

... after I've expressed my own opinions, that is.

***

Hmmmm.

Anonymous said...

NO POLITICS IN BASEBALL, PLEASE

Does someone want to tell Schill that?

From the Vined Smithy said...

Communist? I HATE that argument! Who said having universal health care makes a country Communist? Is Canada, for instance, a Communist nation? That's ignorance--a whole ton of poor and old people (stereotypically) could use the help.

War needed? Wasn't the whole WMD thing the reason? Or was it the al Qaeda thing I was supposed to swallow? And don't start saying it's unpatriotic to not support it. If you ask me, it's patriotic to want the soldiers of your country alive instead of dead. It's certainly patriotism to question your government's motives--this country started with that.

What's wrong with the economy? Thousands upon thousands of lost jobs, to start.

Oh, but wait, why don't we just talk about baseball?

Anonymous said...

Re: the Jays announcers - I liked them a great deal. They were uncommonly fair, nice, friendly, and generally fun to listen to, and Jamie Campbell has an almost childlike quality to him, as he's kind of still learning the game. But the ignorance can get a little annoying at times, and I found myself yelling at the TV on more than one occasion when I was up there, informing them, for example, that free-agency did not begin "in the mid-1980's".

Anonymous said...

Also, I always find it amusing when the term 'political comments' only applies to comments one does not agree with. When Fox Sports waxes poetic about soldiers in the War on Terror and provides only tenuous connection to the sporting event of choice, however, that's... human interest. Or common sense. or anything other than a political comment.

Kyle said...

Well, I have no its weak to say "lets just talk baseball" but I need to respond to the political stuff.

Sure, I want our soliders alive too. But do you want more citizens dead because of another terrorist attack?Think about that. Plus, its fairly evident that WMD's did exist and an evil, evil man was killing his own people. That is reason enough for me.

I agree, we need to find a better way to provide healthcare for those that need it and I did stretch it a little by using the "communist" comment. Just don't want our society to have the "handout" mentality that the govt owes them something.

Not sure how you can still use the lost jobs argument for a poor economy. Its clear that this just isn't happening. "The US unemployment rate dipped to a four-year low of 4.9 per cent in August 2005." Thousands and thousands of jobs lost? Maybe. BUT, people are finding new jobs and this is the United States, no excuse not to find a job.

allan said...

My blog, My last word:

Kyle: There is no connection between Iraq and any terror attacks (real or imagined) in the US. None. Zip. Zero. Nada. Not one frigging shred of an iota of a speck of a connection. ... Even Dear Leader has been forced to admit that.

Plus, its fairly evident that WMD's did exist

Could you call the Cheney Administration ASAP? You clearly have better info than they do.

And if you support the invasion so much, they could really use your help over there.

And that's the last word on this discussion.

laura k said...

Yay Devine, yay Stankyfish, yay Andrew.

And thanks to Kyle for giving me the laugh of the day. Communist country!! What a riot.

Uh-oh, the discussion's over, will this be deleted, or do I have privileges... :)

Kyle said...

Too bad I don't watch FOX news or any major news network.

So, you really think Saddam should still be in power? Seriously. If you do, there is something seriously wrong with your humanitarian ethic.

Kyle said...

Also, I'm confused as to why so many Americans believe they are entitled to super cheap or even free healthcare?

Jack said...

Just don't want our society to have the "handout" mentality that the govt owes them something.

The government doesn't owe it's citizens something? What the hell is it for otherwise? The notion that government isn't specifically for it's own citizens is so backwards and insane that it boggles the mind.

As for saying people want Saddam in power, given the alternative (ie, current reality) hell yes I want him in power. He was contained and no threat to us. The man who did attack us, and who is likely still a threat, remains free.

And why are we entitled to super cheap or even free healthcare? Because we're the richest nation in the history of the world - WE CAN AFFORD IT!

Kyle said...

Government is of the people, by the people and FOR the people. So, yes the govt is for us. But not for handing out free healthcare unless you want your taxes to be even higher.

That part of the govt being FOR the people means they are for the protection of the people. Protecting our freedoms, protecting our economy, etc. We live in a nation where an atmosphere is created for us to work, earn a living, save money and take care of ourselves. We should not rely upon the govt to do this for us.

We are just at different crossroads in our definition of what govt is.

Saddam was NO threat to the US? Not quite sure how ANY person can still believe that. And, current reality is a result of the terrorists continue attempts at thwarting freedom in Iraq. Current reality is what it will take to catch Osama. Might want to do a reality check regarding Saddam not being dangerous to the US.

allan said...

Cable was out for about seven hours today -- and I return to see the thread has continued ... sigh. Fine. Have at it.

Kyle: We live in a nation where an atmosphere is created for us to work, earn a living, save money and take care of ourselves. We should not rely upon the govt to do this for us.

Sounds real nice, until reality intrudes. I guess it's sink or swim .. kinda what the gov't let so many people do in New Orleans.

That attitude is one reason I'm living in Canada.

laura k said...

Government is of the people, by the people and FOR the people. So, yes the govt is for us. But not for handing out free healthcare unless you want your taxes to be even higher.

The taxes you pay now could easily cover universal health insurance, if corporations paid taxes and the US military wasn't giving away bazillions of tax dollars to KBR, Halliburton, etc. Handing out?? We pay those taxes, why shouldn't it come back to us?

Saddam was NO threat to the US? Not quite sure how ANY person can still believe that.

No threat. No threat whatsoever. Had no capability to attack the US and no plans to do so. Everyone on earth knows this except for a few million goose-stepping Americans.

We live in a nation where an atmosphere is created for us to work, earn a living, save money and take care of ourselves.

You'd better hope you're always on the right side of that atmosphere. Once the air gets thin - as it can for anyone, at any time - wrapping yourself in the flag won't save you.

Kyle said...

It's not even worth arguing anymore. It's a losing battle with folks who just don't see reality.

From the Vined Smithy said...

I really don't understand how anyone can argue about Iraq's danger to America. No proven terror connections as far as any attack on America is concerned, and no weapons capable of attacking us (they searched the WHOLE GODDAMN country). If he was so dangerous, why did it take so little time and effort to "defeat" him? Of course, "defeat" and "victory" are rather strong terms to use in association with the fucked-up nature of things in that nation just now.

And Kyle, just how can you justify attacking Iraq when clearly there are other nations with just as sadistic dictators who are equally (i.e. not at all) or more (i.e. nuclear capability) dangerous to us (as Varmintcong has also pointed out)? Plus, pre-emptive strike is a terrible precedent to set for WARFARE (that thing where you kill another nation's citizens)!

Anonymous said...

l-girl: You'd better hope you're always on the right side of that atmosphere. Once the air gets thin - as it can for anyone, at any time - wrapping yourself in the flag won't save you.

Can you hear me applauding from here?

Why are so many people so angered at the thought of some social responsibility?

Anonymous said...

I was the anonymous one that posted originally about leaving politics out of the baseball discussion. I came back a few days later to check, and of course now there are 31 posts by everyone arguing about politics. This was the point of my post -- don't we have enough political arguing going on out there that we don't need to do it here? Is there no refuge from it?

I am not telling people to forfeit their First Amendment rights or anything like that, I would just like some kind of "politics free zone" where I could just come and read about the Red Sox. Is that so hard?

Let's agree to disagree and focus on what is really important: getting the Red Sox another ring.