Tiz walked twice, doubled, and drove in both runs. Crisp walked twice and singled. And Manny made a great diving, rolling catch in short left-center off Cano in the seventh. (box)
Still 9.5 GA.
Tuesday? In Lips We Trust.
***
Lineups:
Lugo, SS Noodle, CF***
Youkilis, 1B CI, SS
Ortiz, DH Shemp, LF
Ramirez, LF Slappy, 3B
Drew, RF Dumbo, C
Lowell, 3B Abreu, RF
Crisp, CF HGH, DH
Mirabelli, C Canoe, 2B
Cora, 2B Snook, 1B
Tim Wakefield (2.41, 181 ERA+) / Chien-Ming Wang (4.54, 91 ERA+)
Kason Gabbard down, Manny Delcarmen up.
Smoltz: "People say, 'Hey, there's a lot of baseball left.' But the Red Sox pretty much have cemented themselves in a position where I don't think they can be caught."
Ortiz: "We don't have to worry about nobody right now. Everybody needs to worry about us."
199 comments:
Excuse me, I'd just like to say something.
THE RED SOX HAVE A TEN-AND-A-HALF GAME LEAD!!!!!!!!
Thank you.
Ooo-ooo, double digits... Someone more talented than me can write the song.
How about:
East standings, check 'em and see
We should win more than 103 ...
On April 28 in New York, Wakefield gave up five hits, six walks and three runs over 5.1 innings.
Holy crap, our fourth outfielder has a site dedicated to him. RSN is nuts.
and MDC is back up, woohoo.
I'm surprised every Sock doesn't have a website dedicated to them.
It's a shame they cluttered it with so many ugly commercials, though. In places, it's hard to tell what is their stuff and what are the ads.
You know it has to bug a certain unnamed Boston sportswriter when he has to write articles complaining about the Patriots because the Sox are doing so well and he can't acknowledge that sort of thing.
It's really sad when a sportswriter loses his crutches and watches his money train come to a trainwreck-sized halt.
Poor, poor CHB. You only have one team to criticize these days.
There's always the Bruins.
Here's an interesting post over at Replacement Level (aptly titled "Don't Jump Off the Ledge Just yet") discussing win-loss projections for the AL's chances at playoff spots. The rallying cry is that although the Yanks don't sport much of a chance to take the division (7.8%), they do have a good (54.4%) chance to get the wild card.
It occurred to me that if we played just a hair over .500 ball the rest of the year (60-59), we'd still have 90 wins. The projection I linked has us going 74-45 (ending 104-58).
And to think I guessed 93 wins in the pre-season poll.
Or we could all take a deep breath, knock on a big block of wood, and NOT BRING THE HAMMER OF FATE CRASHING DOWN on the Sox. I guess my superstitious side didn't go away completely in '04, cause every time I hear someone say this kind of thing I cringe. I expect this type of talk from the jinxmasters in Bristol, not from inside the Nation. Let's just appreciate how well the team is playing and not crow about insurmountable leads in a way that's just daring someone to knock us off...
not crow
CAW! CAW! CAW!
I #()*#$ing love this team. Maybe it's the return of sunlight to Boston (more aptly: the crazylands of Lowell) after too long a delay, but I love these guys.
Now that my brief bout of insanity regarding Matsuzaka is over, it's incredible to know you may see something historic and beautiful every 5 games. I still pinch myself wondering if we really do have Matsuzaka, and if Papelbon really has become a death machine out of the bullpen. It seems completely impossible.
I still can't trust Beckett, and I am still leery about JD Drew, but I can't help but think it doesn't matter.
Have you ever seen a team this good without an outfield?
Here is an interesting java applet that compares a team's current record versus the salary the team is paying its players. It's updated every day.
I'm not sure if CHB covers the Bruins or not, Phrenile. I have a feeling he doesn't, but I could be wrong.
caitlin - thank you! I was starting to feel very alone here in my "belief" that gloating about winning the division in MAY is just begging for disaster (and subsequent crow-eating).
pokerwolf...cool! Seems like that would make Cleveland the most, um, economic on a per win basis.
Jackie, no one's saying "we've won" (except for Chris Collins from NECN), we're just enjoying what's going on.
I still have Yankee fans "bragging" to me right now, saying how we'll blow the division because we "always do." (As if not winning the division, but still winning the WORLD SERIES doesn't count.) What should I say back? "You could be right..."? No way! More like "Go f--- yourself."!
The way I look at it, we absolutely have bragging rights until they win a World Series. I waited my whole life for this and I am taking advantage of it. (Note: This can be done without being a jerk. I learned a LOT from Yankee fans about the wrong way to brag: "your team has some silly curse on it", "your city/region is inferior", "you were born a loser and you love it," "you have a Calvinist attitude because you're from New England," etc. You know, BS like that.
Pokerwolf, that is cool. It's a little harsh on the top payroll teams in a way, though -- we have to be the best team in the league to be outperforming expectations. But it gives a very good idea of how the middle-of-the-pack teams are doing.
http://tinyurl.com/33wpgj
it's SFW... and it is magnificent.
my thoughts on this 10.5 game lead....soaking it up, i love it. im excited for every game in a way ive never been, RSN is taking over my life and i expect the rest of the season to continue this way.
however, on the same token i'm not getting ahead of myself and thinking that we're a lock for the division. hell, it looks awesome right now and we're definately favorites. but this is baseball and anything can happen.
we're finishing up month 2/6 - still 4 months to go. im more confident in this squad then i ever have been before, but if there's anything i've learned, its never count out the yankees. i was getting ready to write them off last season, then they rolled into boston and took 5 games.
be excited, soak it up, but don't be too cocky. after all, red sox fans should know best about coming back against all odds after being beaten down in the corner.
Thanks, Jere.
Where I might have once been waiting for the inevitable dark cloud to pass over the bright Red Sox summer, 2004 washed that completely away. This team could be 20 GB right now and I'd still think they had a shot. I saw them come back from 3 outs from a ALCS sweep. Anything is possible.
People can be cautious, I know that. But it still strikes me as too close to hearing CHB's voice warning: "Don't get too happy, because the goblins'll get ya!"
Sean:
Now that my brief bout of insanity regarding Matsuzaka is over, it's incredible to know you may see something historic and beautiful every 5 games.
I've been trying to think of a proper response to this, but I'm not doing so well.
I guess it's enough to know you now see your prior comments as insane.
It was insane, but part of me stands by it. Matsuzaka went through a stretch where he just seemed like he'd never been a pitcher in a major situation before. That 5-0 start against the Mariners the second time through took the cake, just a complete meltdown.
Plus, regardless of how well their offense was clicking, getting smushed by the Yankees is never an encouraging sign. Thank god he's back.
not sure if you saw this but Daisuke has been named player of the week. Story is here.
s1c said...
not sure if you saw this but Daisuke has been named player of the week. Story is here.
Article Headline:
Boston's Matsuzaka named Bank of America Presents the American League Player of the Week
And I thought sponsorship nowadays couldn't have gotten any worse. It's come to a point where the sentences aren't even comprehensible. I thought the peak of insanity was "Boston Globe presents the Olympia Sports Pre-game show" but I guess I was wrong.
I just read the first paragraph in that article, wow. Has nothing at all to do with the player of the week - it's just a plug for Bank of America.
Yes you have to read through to see that he beat Posada, Verlander and Ichiro. Still, he did get a nice watch!!!!
Boston's Matsuzaka named Bank of America Presents the American League Player of the Week
ugh that's terrible. its the evil sci-fi future, but it's now. *shiver*
time to form urban gorilla orders. i got dibs on codename: tania ;D
Holy crap, cursorily Sox related, but mlb.com absolutely buries Andruw Jones in this article:
http://tinyurl.com/37tyag
Just a horrible piece of yellow journalism, completely ignoring logic, history and baseball reality. The writer seems to believe that Andruw Jones just needs to listen to the hitting coach, and all of a sudden he'll be hitting .300 with less k's, and he'll still have the same OBP/SLG!
How do these people get paid to write about baseball?
This is only the 5th time in major league history that a team has led by as many as 10.5 games as early as 43 games into a season:
1902 Pittsburgh 10.5 GA thru 43 GMS June 12 34-9
1912 New York (NL) 10.5 GA thru 41 GMS June 8 34-7
1977 Los Angeles 10.5 GA thru 26 GMS May 6 22-4
2001 Seattle 11.0 GA thru 36 GMS May 12 27-9
2007 Boston 10.5 GA thru 43 GMS May 20 30-13
Will the sox be the first team to have that and win the World Series?
"Don't Jump Off the Ledge Just yet"
Yeah, wait until Thursday morning.
***
Got my computer by my chair for an active game thread, if anyone's up for it.
Will the sox be the first team to have that and win the World Series?
Why not? Haven't we all learned that just because something hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it never will?
And why confine the list to these teams, why use only the 10.5 lead? Why not use other large leads, like the team nobody wants to hear about, who our 07 team reminds me of more and more with each passing day?
* * * *
Guess what folks? There is no such thing as "the hammer of fate". Just like there's no such thing as a tooth fairy, an Easter bunny or Zeus. (I'd throw in a few others but I don't want to start a war.)
If you need to put your brakes on because you can't stand having so much fun, then you will. But I sure wish you'd stop trying to rain on our parade.
Like Jere said, no one is saying "we won".
Although I did just say the word parade. :)
redsock-
I know it's your site, but if you want to jump into fire brand's chat room, it'd be great to combine the sites.
http://mvn.com/mlb-redsox/
It was insane, but part of me stands by it.
Well, we're never gonna let you forget it. :>)
L-girl said And why confine the list to these teams, why use only the 10.5 lead? Why not use other large leads, like the team nobody wants to hear about, who our 07 team reminds me of more and more with each passing day? .
Not meant to be a rain on your parade (though with the Duck Boats does it matter?). Those teams are the only teams 10.5 ahead at 43 games (same as ours), so I went and looked at those world series in those years. Only one of those teams didn't make the world series.
So, as I go put on my "why not us" t-shirt to settle in my chair and watch the Eck explain why the Sox are so much better than the yankees. I repeat, Why not the Sox?
No series in 1902, though. So Pirates and 2001 Mariners both didn't play in World Series. And, technically, since the Pirates won the NL, that really was the best you could do.
All this talk of early leads inspired me to do some research:
I figured the 1984 Tigers, with their 35-5 start, must've had an early 10 game lead at least, but no--the Jays kept pace, even closing to within 3.5 games on June 6th. The Tigers eventually won the division by 15.
Then I checked the '87 Brewers. Despite starting 13-0, they lost first place by their 31st game.
That 84 Tigers team might have been one of the best teams ever on a day to day basis. They just kept on winning every time they needed to get a big win.
Can someone explain why Eric Hinske (10 for 19 with 4 doubles, 2 home runs and 1 walk) against Wang is not playing tonight?
Besides looking at the size of the lead, we might also look at games won/lost. We compare nicely on that basis too. (Although I will not be posting my results.)
Why not us indeed. Sunny times ahead.
Manny singles to Jeter's left, he barely makes a step, and what should have been an automatic 6-3 is a single.
Boy sure would be nice to have a left hander who was hitting over 500 against Wang up right now!
I love Red Sox chants at Mordor.
I guess all I can hope for is we don't dump Drew at the end of the year like we did Edgar. For someone who should be walking and hitting... at least he's walking. .254 BA and .357 SLG is not what we need from an outfielder.
Manny and Drew, pleaaase focus.
I actually thought shit there's the 3rd out, but then Jeter was Jeter.
Enduring ESPN here, Sut says he was playing in the hole, but when the CF camera pulled back to show the infield, CI was standing still. Wasn't in the hole.
Manny's always focused when it comes to hitting. I seriously doubt his hitting troubles are caused by lack of focus.
Yeah, it's caused more by the .264 BABIP, compared to his .348 career line. He'll get there, but it's ugly nonetheless. I'd feel better if he'd been crushing warning-track flies for the past month, but I don't even recall many well-hit balls that were snagged.
Wakes with the rough start, relatively. But he sucked in the first against the jays as well.
Nice swing, Shemp.
Who was the guy who made Matsui miss by like 8' in the ALCS 04? Was that Embree, or Myers?
Fuck. All slappy needs is a series against us to get hot again.
Myers I think. And don't forget Pedro buzzing his chin.
Curtain call???
God that annoys me--how Posada was taught by Mattingly to hit exactly like him. Reeks of Carmen (of the Bad News Bears) just blatantly imitating Luis Tiant instead of using his own style.
Just 2 runs. No need to see doom on the horizon.
Sean, don't go insane again!
That's the thing about knucklers, you can really hammer it if its up in the zone. Still, I am not worried about Wake too much. I'm worried about the offense. Would be nice if they showed up and put 5+ runs on the board for once in one of Wakes starts.
Oi.
redsock, are you watching the games on MLB-TV?
Wow, Lowell looked like crap in that AB.
I don't go insane when our #4 pitcher gives up a bomb to a future HoF. I go crazy when our $103m investment walks 4 in an inning.
Hell, I'm a Tavarez fan, so clearly I can deal with disappointment.
(Dougie's going deep tonight)
this is not starting well
No, regular TV. ESPN. With Rick Sutcliffe. Ugh.
dougie!!!! whacked that like it was a punk throwin sunflowers seeds at him.
way to look alive on that one, slappy
..deep to the SS hole, but far enough.
Seabass catches that.
sounds terrible, i should hook you up with my slingbox id
How much are slingboxes now? Im thinkin of getting one before going back to college
Sorry, I lied, I go insane when we continue to play Alex Cora over Dustin Pedroia. I know the schedule's been weird, and I know Cora's been hot, but freaking play the new kid.
As Cora singles. My point still stands, we want Dustin.
2 straight 2 out rallies, let's make this one count
Even players who have a big contract (not that Dice does, really) have bad days too.
I'll bet he never walks 4 in an inning again in his Sox career.
If he does, I'll mail you $10.
wait, $10 Canadian or American?
How much are slingboxes now? Im thinkin of getting one before going back to college
thats exactly why i got mine....i bought the older model that does both Cable and Satellite from woot.com (one deal per day site) - they had it for 70. i think they're normally about 130 new.
wait, $10 Canadian or American?
as of today, 10$ canadian = 10.80 US
;-)
hahahahahahahah way to go jeter
You can't teach classy bobbles like that.
Your choice.
jEter!!!
Sut says it should be a hit. Tough play!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Captain. Intangibles. Look at those intangibles on display. Many other players would've picked up the ball and just thrown it into the stands in frustration, but Jeter is such a great, wonderful, sensual man he just picks the ball up after his horrible fielding performance.
He is my hero.
Youk, make up for not running out the first inning ball where you thought Wang had it.
That's not a bad price at all.
Let's take advantage of that error now yook.
How does CI win three straight gold gloves?
dammit.
damn
uh yeah, that pitch was ball four. should be 2-1.
We're beating the Wang tonight.
(Optimists and pessimists can each read that in their own way.)
Yook walked, but it gets called strike. Sut calls it perfect, it ends up outside the KZone. then he whiffs.
Fuck.
Hey, I'm watching NESN. Did ESPN do a K-Zone on "strike 2" to Youk?
Even as he bobbled that routime ground ball, his eyes remained as calm as ever.
There's my answer. Thanks.
I HATE this heineken commercial. No, I don't want my girlfriend to look like a beer bottle, because that's freaking disturbing. Also, the pussycat dolls are the worst excuse for music without the last name 'Manilow' or 'G'.
We're beating the Wang tonight.
bwahahahaha, we need to hit it hard!
Gotta mute Sut.
I HATE this heineken commercial. No, I don't want my girlfriend to look like a beer bottle, because that's freaking disturbing. Also, the pussycat dolls are the worst excuse for music without the last name 'Manilow' or 'G'.
Hells yeah, that commercial is complete shit. I also hate that song, laaaaame.
I love this running commentary on all things NESN.
I don't know what to hope for here. If Giambi gets released, the Yankees save about $36m for a declining, oft-injured player. If they don't, he could be really good. Hmm.
Jesus christ, Wakefield does not have it tonight. Horrible.
That was some interesting stuff.
that's not good.
Down 3-0 to the Yanks. We'll NEVER come back...
There should be a mandatory urine test when rounding third.
Not that what he uses is detectable. Yet.
Oi.
dammit. nice play by cora tho to save a run.
I think you mean "oy."
Uh, Cora, you had Damon easily at first, despite what Remy's saying right now. Oy.
Damon's clearly been taught the art of cheap hits by Jeter.
lmao, Molson Canadian is sponsoring the NESN key matchup now. what a terrible beer.
Yeah, i was doing the punk rock "Oi!"
4-0...damn, pick it up timmy....
hmm. evry'body all got their dander up in da bronx. all i can say is time to ansa back fast.
Manny: 11-for-17 v Wang.
Time to go deep. Now.
Wang has one of the lowest K/9 rates in baseball. Yet he has 4 K in the first 8 outs. WTF
1 more k and Wang will have a new high vs the Sox.
because the momentum is with them hugely right now. its the energy and thoughts of the crowd.
lets hope for a 1-2-3 for wake here as well...
Aflac: Bill Dickey
hold them to one run this inning, tim?
nice. a K. is nice. more!!
MLB.tv = YES feed. Torture. According to these guys (one of whom is a relatively recent Yankee, I'm trying to figure out who it is), the Yanks are fully recovered and clicking on all cylinders now.
Paul O'Neill, I think?
manny didn't dive into the stands for that. not a gamer like jetes.
Flaherty, too? Weird.
probably paulie
surprised they are allowed to even hint that all has not been well.
setup for a textbook DP now....
maybe girardi, actually.
thanks slappy!!
hells yea!!!!!
whoa whoa whoa, did remy just suggest that 6-0 was out of reach?
hey jerry -- it ain't 6-0.
and we just came back from 5-0 cold with 2 outs left. even if it was 6-0, we got six innings left.
after the mother's day miracle? surely not.
it would be even better if we won after they lead 6-0. demoralization ftw.
come on now, let's go.
just get wang's pitch count up so we can get into their stellar pen...
Sock whats the record for posts? 118?
A new high for strike outs for Wang against the Sox and for the Season.
wang isn't a big strike out guy, lowell doesn't strike out much yet both just happened simultaneously.
121 -- this one ties it i think.
alright coco atta way
Michael Kay: Wang does not have the command he usually does.
Michael, you are aware he has a season high in K's?
43 strikes, 33 balls.
ESPN showing "rivalry" footage:
tek/arod fight and now boone.
did they misplace their 2004 alcs footage????
ESPN shows CI's parents in stands -- take a drink!
top of the order - time to put wang in a hole.
or at least get that friggin pitch count up.
*yoooook*
that's the way to start a rally yook. cmon boys
shemp being shemp - in left.
let's go, flo!!!
shemp needs a gps out there.
we need 1 run this inning at least.
YES commentators refuse to acknowledge the "Youk" cheer after his double.
Wang should be right at 90 pitches. Yes announcers were saying early the Yankee strategy is to face ortiz and manny with no one on base. Didn't work that time.
CI strikes again.
PAPI
gotta hold onto the ball cap'n!!!
yeeeeeeeeesh that was close
11 more pitches this inning at least would be nice...
10
way to go boys, lets knock another few in now!
OK JD... it's on you now
blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
anyone else hear the premature applause when JD's ball was in the air?
wang at 95
look, if we have to get our winning runs against rivera, we will.
Oh goodie, the Heineken commercial is on again...just wanted to bring another point to light. "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?" - sean already covered the point of his girlfriend not looking like a beer bottle, i'd just like to bring up the fact that i like a nice cold beer - not a HOT beer. that's just gross.
yes, mother's day miracle is on later tonight. ill be at my girlfriends house so thank god for the slingbox!
k 1-2-3 wake! then we can get back at babyface. soundtrack to top half of the 5th inning = gimmie shelter.
2 espn graphics show 1978 comeback and guidry's stats -- i dare you fuckets to show the STEAL. i dare you. tools.
don't spit on the ump like you've done before there, dumbo.
isn't ESPN great?
fuck. 6-1.
haha is everyone all 'fuck this shit'?
i swear romero throws like 90% balls. wtf cmon dude.
kind of, yeah.
Hello? Romero throw some strikes - would ya? could ya?
haha is everyone all 'fuck this shit'?
fuck yeah...this is pretty lame, time for a victoria day miracle (eh fellow canucks?)
pull him. 9 stikes 16 balls?
Looks like Wake was just tired of all the praise he was getting.
I'm fairly confident we can score a few off their pen, but if Romero doesn't straighten himself out it could get out of reach quickly. Ick.
his composure irritates the fuck out of me.
that inning was like drilling teeth - let's hope that our escape leads to a comeback
ok c'mon fellas. 2-3 quick runs and we got a ballgame.
So, that is twice tonight that the Yankees had 3 walks in an inning and yet they did not score in either inning.
*rewinds gimmie shelter*
yoooooooooook
go tiz
well not really rewind, just like...clicks. yeah.
C'mon Papi! We need a homer!
good enough
I feel guilty hitting home runs off of Donnie Moore in RBI Baseball.
just cuz the catcher runs away, you don't have to call it a strike.
manny. manny manny manny ;/
whoa ppl are really angrily satisfied in the crowd. settle down meatheads ;p
Assuming there is no miracle come back, the sox fall below 500 when facing a losing team as they go 7 and 8.
C'mon Trampoline, stop the hurting.
GG MANNY
has he dyed his hair blacker?
hahhaha manny. i don't think i've seen him so deshevled on a play?
web gem ;D
nice work Delcarmen!
God, Drew is worthless now. When he hell is he going to snap out of it?
with tavarez going tomorrow, this series is poised to be... not good
i'm with you Sean. I'm not impressed with Drew.
Need to score another run to make this a save situation, so that we can see Rivera.
Looking ahead to tomorrow. I hope Tito sits Varitek. Since he is like 0-for his last 50 vs Mussina.
One question:
WHO THE FUCK IS BRIAN BRUNEY???
bruni and his stupid iron cross tattoo. is he one of those neo-nazi retards?
Bruney is Not Kyle Farnsworth.
WHO THE FUCK IS BRIAN BRUNEY???
a knob. with an iron cross tattoo that looks like it was done with a sharpie during study hall.
lol assman hits cora with the first pitch.
But a knob with a sub 2.0 ERA. For the moment, anyway. *grins wickedly*
LUGO - tying run!!!
MFFFFFFAHHHHHH(((((
Thanks Lugo. 14 LOB, jesus.
How did we manage not to score a single fucking run in that inning?
yep that was a well hit ball by lugo, cano was just annoyingly there to get it.
i'm already getting fired up for tavz tommorow. honestly. i am.
Farnsworthless. Too afraid for Mo.
farnesworth's pants are like gd tights. he looks like someone from the middle ages.
Ah well.
In Lips We Trust.
^^haha yes :))
No May-Two-Four Miracle, but I like the optimism of Sock's most recent post.
Sexiest Lips = back to 10.5 tomorrow.
And yes, Manny's dyeing his hair blacker. Love it. Great catch. Tomorrow, how bout some hits.
If Tavarez gets a Quality Start today:
http://tinyurl.com/2u4nhm
I think its time for a Sexy Lips Perfect Game.
I'll settle for a complete game shutout with at least every Red Sox player 1-9 getting at least one RBI.
and no my expectations aren't high! sleep time, back to work tomorrow after an awesome four day weekend.
I know we are winning, but can we officially start hating on J.D. "sign the check here" Drew?
Hopefully there'll be no officially hating our own players at Joy Nation this year. Let's save that for our opposition.
L-girl said...
Hopefully there'll be no officially hating our own players at Joy Nation this year. Let's save that for our opposition.
I second that
True...give the guy a break, he's in a slump and cracked his back up trying to make a catch at Fenway...isnt his contract contingent on how much he plays anyway?
Post #200!
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