As Yaz-Tex notes in comments, how long can Francona "trot a tomato can out to the bump every fifth day" before moving Pap and his now-shaved head into the rotation? In a related note, reliever Craig Hansen -- just promoted from Portland -- pitched 2.1 hitless innings in his AAA debut on Friday.
A new x-ray shows that Coco Crisp´s fractured left index finger has improved significantly and Terry Francona reports that a mid-May return to the lineup is possible.
0429 7:10 PM -- Hello from Aguas Calientes, a small village down the road from Machu Picchu. We spent about 6 hours at the ancient Inca site today -- it is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen -- and we are going back at 6 AM tomorrow morning.
Clearly, I am not missing much Sox fun while on vacation (although I would like it if you guys left more comments about the games/team that I may not see when I skim the papers).
Noodle Bats: Last night's loss to Tampa Bay was the 10th time this season that the Red Sox scored three or fewer runs. ... Over the last 13 games, the Red Sox are hitting .243. ... In the first seven games of the current road trip, the hitters are 12-for-75 (.160) with runners in scoring position and the starting pitchers have a 8.36 ERA.
Other things I read this evening: If Lenny DiNardo is replaced in the rotation, it will likely be with righty Matt Ginter. ... Josh Bard will catch Tim Wakefield on Monday against New York. ... Coco Crisp is looking at a mid-May return.
Back in 2004, Dodger Alex Cora had an 18-pitch at-bat against Cub Matt Clement. He ended the 13:56 AB with a two-run home run. On Thursday night, Cora worked a 15-pitch walk against Paul Byrd: called strike, ball, called strike, ball, foul, ball, foul, foul, foul, foul, foul, foul, foul, foul, ball.
Arrggh: The Yankees scored in every inning (8) -- one of my favourite things in baseball -- beating Toronto 17-5 this afternoon. 412 231 31x. Bastards. At least they didn't score in all nine. (The Tigers missed it by one inning, as many teams do: 324 204 21x)
Probables:
Friday, April 28: Devil Rays 5, Red Sox 2
Saturday, April 29: Red Sox 9, Devil Rays 6
Sunday, April 30: Schilling / Kazmir
There's always this point at which the season curdles a bit and last night was it. 0 for their first 12 with runners in scoring position? 29 team LOB rivalling the Yanks of a couple nights ago?
ReplyDeleteWhen Varitek leads off with a triple and you can't score him, you don't deserve to win games. Even with a pitcher pitching well, you have to be able to do that.
and that triple was a gift triple as well. that was the high point of the game..seeing jonny gomes just standing there, looking up into the rafters like 'wtf, where is the ball?'
ReplyDeletehaha. the reason we didn't win last night was clearly because that dude who always yells wasn't yelling.
and uh, cause we suck right now. ALL SYSTEMS FAILING!@
lol. at least it's only april. lots of time to sort things out.
Thanks a lot, Jack and Y-T. Good stuff. Nice to hear Pena has been okay in CF.
ReplyDeleteNot surprised about the Rays announcers ragging on Manny. I recall the Oakland guys bringing up his 2003 ALDS HR pointing in 2005, for christs sake.