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June 11, 2006

G61: Rangers 13, Red Sox 6

Ten of the first 14 Rangers reached base against David Pauley, who still was able to gut out five innings, Rudy Seanez (in 0.2 inning) allowed one inherited runner and two of his own to score, and Keith Foulke allowed seven hits and four runs in the final two innings.

But the most annoying moment in the game -- and with Texas scoring 13 runs on 22 (!) hits, there were many of them -- came in the bottom of the seventh.

Texas was up 9-5, but Boston was rallying, and had runners at first and second with two outs. A home run would bring the Sox within one with two innings to go, a pretty nice position to be in considering the rough start.

With Mirabelli up, Francona had both Manny and Varitek on the bench -- yet he stayed with his back-up catcher. A wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third, but on a full count, Mirabelli looked at a pitch right down the middle of the plate, striking out to end the inning. The Rangers roared right back in the eighth with four against Foulke, and that was the ball game.

Without question, Manny Ramirez should have been hitting (although apparently he was going to hit for Cora if Belly got on?) in that spot. Any manager who wants to win baseball games would have sent him up. Varitek likely had been promised the nightcap off (except in an emergency), but Francona has to weigh that promise -- and the goddamn off day tomorrow! -- and ask himself if having Varitek catch two innings is worth having a legitimate shot at getting back in the game.

Tito (being Tito) felt it was more important to give the captain the entire night off. Indefensible. I probably give Tito more grief about his job performance that is warranted, but this decision is absolutely indefensible.

***

Game 2:
Crisp    CF
Loretta  2B
Ortiz    DH
Lowell   3B
Nixon    RF
Snow     1B
Mirabelli C
Cora     SS
Harris   LF
David Pauley / Way Back Wasdin, 5 PM

***

Jeter makes the final out (deja vu all over again!) of the Yankees' 6-5 loss to Oakland. Lead is up to 1.5.
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13 comments:

  1. thatdietcokegirlJune 11, 2006 at 2:35 PM

    manny needed the night off huh?

    ReplyDelete
  2. ZenslingerJune 11, 2006 at 4:02 PM

    Someone back in the comments was right about Pauley, I guess. But at least he didn't give up more runs and got through five innings, thus not entirely laying waste to the bullpen.

    ReplyDelete
  3. s1cJune 11, 2006 at 8:06 PM

    Since you asked why manny wasn't up to the plate instead of Mirabelli, Manny's numbers against the pitcher is 2 for 18, teks was 2 for 10, belli was 1 for 7. Not a lot to choose from there, numbers wise. However, I still would have sent Manny up.

    ReplyDelete
  4. allanJune 11, 2006 at 8:43 PM

    There is no situation in which I would want Mirabelli over Manny at the plate.

    It is amazing to me that Francona did.

    ReplyDelete
  5. thatdietcokegirlJune 11, 2006 at 9:22 PM

    yeah when you are reasoning why mirabelli should be at the plate over manny ramirez you are placing way too much importance on numbers.

    ReplyDelete
  6. From the Vined SmithyJune 11, 2006 at 11:27 PM

    As the bullpen goes...shhh, don't tell anyone, but Riske has his ERA (in limited innings, admittedly) below 4.

    I'm still nervous about Delcarmen, but a few more outings like that will do nicely to make me feel better about him. He's quickly becoming a better option than Seanez or Tavarez (though I gotta give Tavarez credit for a mostly-good night on the Lester start) in my mind, at least.

    Somehow, Riske and Delcarmen are who we ask to hold it down when we're losing, but Seanez and Tavarez are who we ask up there to hold the lead? Really?

    I was at Saturday night's game and the Papi game today!

    SPECTACULAR!!!

    (Though walk-off victories are difficult to deal with because your mood is not good throughout however much of the game until the very end.)

    ReplyDelete
  7. From the Vined SmithyJune 11, 2006 at 11:40 PM

    Wow...zeke, are you all right? You are aware it's cool for people to have opinions and such? That that's about as American as anything?

    Whatever, kid. Hope the poison in your system didn't burn off your enjoyment of the Papi homer.

    IF YOU DID, IN FACT, ENJOY IT! *accusing finger pointed*

    ReplyDelete
  8. Timmy MacJune 12, 2006 at 5:49 AM

    I simply don't get people who lay all the blame at the manager's feet and none at the guy who watched the third strike blow by him.

    Maybe Tito shoulda pinch hit Manny for Belli, but ol' Dougie should get some of your ire for extreme suckitude at the plate.

    ReplyDelete
  9. KyleJune 12, 2006 at 6:54 AM

    Terry's Terrific Trio - Foulk-e, Suckeanez, Tavarez. He will keep using them if they are out there and don't expect Timlin to be much use. Terry has worn out his arm the past 2.5 yrs. Foulke should be placed on the DL or released. He just doesn't have it anymore.

    Of the trio, I trust Tavarez the most. He actually has been pitching well recently and particularly in the Lester game, Terry just trotted him out there for a THIRD! inning.

    I'm not going to blame Tito for the loss yesterday but it is the manager's job to correct MANAGE the bullpen. One of the most important jobs and he's not doing it this year.

    ReplyDelete
  10. ZenslingerJune 12, 2006 at 7:45 AM

    I simply don't get people who find other people's opinions so oppressive that they lash out. Redsock's opinionated and stands his ground but I don't see disagreement as greeted with scorn. Ad hominem attacks, maybe, but differing opinions, no.

    Why do we need to have read the "other blog" to know how awful our hosts are? I haven't. Politics only enters into things here occasionally, through baseball.

    I think Redsock's too hard on Tito. There, I said it! Are ya gonna kick me off yer site, ya...ya LIBERAL!? I dare ya! I know my rights!

    ReplyDelete
  11. allanJune 12, 2006 at 9:51 AM

    Damn! Sleep in after a 14 hour workday and all hell breaks loose!

    ...

    Alright, after a little housecleaning, everything seems to be in order. Carry on with your baseball discussions. But all you fuckers better agree with me -- or else!!! :>)

    Note to one person: Who asked you to start commenting here? Any and all comments from you -- even if you just post a little tiny period like this . -- will be deleted asap.

    ReplyDelete
  12. laura kJune 12, 2006 at 10:19 AM

    Whew! Now I know why there were so many Joy Of Sox visitors to my blog this morning. Somebody give that boy his medication!

    Thanks for the nice responses, y'all. And for reaffirming that we all have the right to believe in what we want, vote for who we want, and - even! - live where we want. As long as we all love the Sox, we're all in it together.

    ReplyDelete
  13. allanJune 12, 2006 at 4:14 PM

    I have to laugh at two points the now-banned poster made:

    1. That this blog is actually a gateway portal -- like pot leads to heroin, I guess! -- to get you under the sway of my liberal "illusionary politics". Bwah bwah bwah! (Watch out, Curt!)

    2. That everyone must agree with me about all things Red Sox. This from someone who was surprised -- genuinely surprised! -- that there exists a difference of opinion among Sox fans about Roger Clemens.

    I doubt there are two Red Sox fans anywhere on Earth whose feelings about the team, its history and its players are in 100% sync. Doesn't seem possible.

    ReplyDelete