September 8, 2007

G143: Orioles 11, Red Sox 5

Boston led 4-1 after two innings, then Dice imploded.

The first six Orioles in the third reached base -- two bases loaded walks, an RBI-single by Tejada and a grand slam from Scott Moore (I liked him better when he played guitar with Elvis) gave the Birds seven runs. Sexy Lips surrendered three more in the fourth and that was that.

Hansack pitched three good innings, allowing only two singles and a walk. No Oriole reached second base against him. Flo smacked two doubles and a home run (#28). The Sox also got doubles from Lugo (2), Drew and Ellsbury.

Other finals: Yankees 11, Royals 5 and Tigers 12, Mariners 6.

***

Daisuke Matsuzaka (4.11, 111 ERA+) / Jon Leicester (12.60, 35 ERA+)

Matsuzaka faced the Birds on August 10, allowing one run in seven innings (7-4-1-4-7). After a crazy eighth inning, Boston lost 6-5.

Leicester is making his second career start (his first one came for the Cubs in 2005). In five games out of the Baltimore pen this year -- against either Boston or Tampa Bay -- Leicester has pitched five innings.
             IP  H  R ER BB  K  BF PIT
0512 @BOS 1.2 2 4 4 3 0 11 49
0830 TBD 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 2 7
0831 @BOS 0.1 2 3 3 1 0 4 15
0902 @BOS 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 4 16
0904 @TBD 1 0 0 0 1 1 4 21

155 comments:

allan said...

MFY spinning their wheels.

Last 20 games:
Boston 13-7
New York 12-8

Last 30 games:
Boston 18-12
New York 18-12

Rob said...

David Wells has faced the minimum through 4 innings against San Francisco. 41 pitches so far.

He's on pace for around 93 pitches if he keeps this up. Unlikely, but a strong start for Boomer.

Rob said...

Make that 15 up, 15 down for Wells.

allan said...

Thanks. Going to tune in.

allan said...

.... and the first pitch I see is hit for a single.

Rob said...

.... and the first pitch I see is hit for a single.

Fun while it lasted, uh?

Rob said...

And then Wells kind of falls apart after the first hit. FC, Single/E5 (un-earned run scored), then a Triple.

Rob said...

Dodgers: 3/4/1
Giants: 2/3/0

Rob said...

Tom Glavine retired the first 15 Houston Astros he saw today.

s1c said...

Glavine was perfect in the Mets game today through five before also giving up a lead off single in the sixth.

This date in history - 1978 standings:

Bos 86-54
NYY 84-52

Lead then was 2.0 games lead now is 6.5.

Unlike Mr. Joshua though, I do not see a collapse in the future. Would be nice if the Sox could reel off four more wins in a row though!

tim said...

The dancers need a dancefloor, the swingers gotta swing!
Fashionable people doin' questionable things!

[/random (canadian) musical moment]

Let's keep this sumbitch steamrollin' tonight!

(Incredibly stoked for my trip to the Fens in t-minus 6 days)

Rob said...

Line-Ups

BOSTON
Ellsbury-LF
Pedroia-2B
Ortiz-DH
Lowell-3B
Youkilis-1B
Drew-RF
Varitek-C
Crisp-CF
Lugo-SS

BALTIMORE
Roberts-2B
Redman-CF
Markakis-RF
Tejada-SS
Millar-1B
Huff-DH
Payton-LF
Moore-3B
Molina-C

Rob said...

Now wait a second... Molina catching.

Heh. ANOTHER MOLINA! Gustavo Molina.

Rob said...

He's not related to the Molina brothers, though.

tim said...

Damn, just figured out that the game I'm going to be at is Dice-K/Pettitte.

Not feeling too good about this one, given DK's performance lately, esp. vs. MFY all year, and the way Pettitte seems to own the Sox whenever he pitches against them.

I looked at some numbers and it doesn't look like it's total domination, but I just feel like he dominates for some reason. Anyone got any proof/disproof for this?

allan said...

Tim: For all of Pettitte's starts against Boston, click here.

Rob said...

Jerry Remy during the pre-game show went off on Cabrera again

"That was the worst thing I've ever seen. This is a guy with a million-dollar arm and a nickel brain."

allan said...

Here are batting stats against Tucan Sam. We have hit him very well this year.

s1c said...

for the second game in a row I repeat:

Are you freaking kidding me? Does Francona realize that he has put the best lineup out there in weeks?

I really, really, may have to stop bashing the guy!

Rob said...

Should be an interesting game in KC tonight. Here's a game where KC may actually be having the advantage:

Pettitte (12-8, 3.82 ERA)
Bannister (12-7, 3.16 ERA)

I'll be watching that one on the back burner tonight.

allan said...

I really, really, may have to stop bashing the guy!

Don't get ahead of youself. Lugo will probably be leading off tomorrow.

tim said...

Here are batting stats against Tucan Sam. We have hit him very well this year.

Hahah! I KNEW he reminded me of some sort of cereal character but i couldnt put my finger on it. Thanks for that and the stats...I was on BR but couldn't figure out how to get that. Call it lazy or illiterate, whatever, the point is that I Daniel Cabrera'd that up.

allan said...

On his page, check out the splits pull down menu (near the game log menu), which you can do by season or for his career. I think if you do a single year, it will give you links to the individual games.

allan said...

So that will be his 6th start against us this year?!?

Other than this year, he hasn't faced the Red Sox since 2003.

tim said...

Yeah, I was in the single year, and it just had one line for each game he pitched in...I goofed around there for a bit then said screw it - redsock will do it for me :P

Interesting though, must just be a figment of my imagination (or I pulled a Joe Morgan and saw the 2-1 record and assumed he was kicking our ass)

s1c said...

Date in history lesson II:

On this date in 1966 brought to you by DesiLu studios: "space the final frontier, a five year mission..."

Maybe Shatner will show up to get a photo op with his look alike.

allan said...

Let's hope Manny is back to face Pettitte:

In 80 PA, batting .431 and slugging .708

allan said...

This Date in Baseball History:

1916: In front the smallest crowd in American League history, A's catcher/outfielder Wally Schang, with 23 fans attending the game, becomes the first switch-hitter in major league history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game. (Schang was the one of the catchers for the 1918 Red Sox.)

1935: Trailing 5-1 in the ninth against the Indians, the Red Sox rally for two runs with no outs and have the bases loaded when Joe Cronin hits a line drive to third baseman Odell Hall. The ball deflects off Hall's head to shortstop Bill Knickerbocker who catches it in the air for the first out and throws to second, doubling up Billy Werber with second baseman Roy Hughes relaying to first base tripling up Mel Almada to complete the 5-6-4-3 triple play ending the rally and the game.

1965: Against the Angels, A's Bert Campaneris becomes the first major leaguer to play all nine positions in a single game.

allan said...

Again with the fucking O's feed on MLBTV!

Rob said...

WOO!!!! BIG PAPI DONG!!

Rob said...

Good start.

allan said...

Was away from my desk and missed it. Damn.

Rob said...

The slug-fest continues in Chicago:

Bottom of the 8th
Minnesota: 7 / 14 / 1
Chicago: 8 / 15 / 1

s1c said...

Wind must be blowing out in Wrigley

Papi dong gives Matsuzaka the lead. Let us see if he can hold it!

Rob said...

Little Tike hits a big dong.

s1c said...

Daisuke's season is starting to look more and more like Beckett's season last year. Another freaking long ball given up on a fast ball just like Beckett seemed to do so many times last year.

tunameltzer said...

Settle down dice

tunameltzer said...

I like the beckett comparison. If the analogy correct, next year should be really exciting.

allan said...

Daisuke's season is starting to look more and more like Beckett's season last year.

I think you forget how shitty Josh was last year (36 HR!). ERA+ of 92.

Dice is at 111 right now. So he's 11% better than the average AL pitcher, while the '06 Beckett was 8% worse.

allan said...

dice has now allowed 22 dongs.

Rob said...

White Sox beat the twins, 8-7.

tunameltzer said...

Based on raw numbers, dice-k is better than 06 beckett. However, think of the transition in leagues and the ability to learn how to pitch in fenway, boston, with the sox offense behind you, etc. The learning curve is high for both pitchers, higher for dice k. Dice's body and mind will be better adjusted to the circumstances next year.

Rob said...

I like seeing Drew going with the pitch and driving it the other way.

allan said...

another opp field double for drew!

allan said...

SASAHE

:<(

s1c said...

I think you forget how shitty Josh was last year (36 HR!). ERA+ of 92.

No, I remember how crappy he was last year, the difference in the seasons in mho, is that the teams had a book on Beckett from day 1 last year.

Because Daisuke came from Japan he was able to get off to a better start than Beckett.

Prior to AS - Daisuke was 10-6 (12 Quality starts) with a 3.84 ERA in 18 games and 12 home runs allowed.

Since - 4-5 in 10 games (6 QS) with a 4.65 ERA and 9 hme runs allowd.

s1c said...

Slugo!!

Rob said...

Boy, Lugo hammered that one.

And heeeeere's L's Boy! Two RBI doubles in a row!

allan said...

LYNDON!!!

Rob said...

A-Rod walked in the 2nd inning and then got caught stealing. Ha ha ha.

Then Matsui whiffed.

s1c said...

LBJ

the sox are being double machines tonight.

Unitsmoke said...

Is MLB.TV premium worth the extra ten bucks? I want it for the playoffs so that I can watch games at work. Any recommendations?

allan said...

I heart doubles.

allan said...

Do you mean over the regular MLBTV picture? I don't see much of a diff at my job.

s1c said...

Is MLB.TV premium worth the extra ten bucks? I want it for the playoffs so that I can watch games at work. Any recommendations?

As long as you don't get blacked out I say yeah baby!

Unitsmoke said...

I heart LBJ...The premium claims speeds up to 700k while the normal is set at 400k.

Unitsmoke said...

Based on the way Seattle has been playing, I am not really worried about them making the playoffs.

Rob said...

I have a terrible delay on the video for the Yankees game. About a 40 second delay. :\

Rob said...

Based on the way Seattle has been playing, I am not really worried about them making the playoffs.

How about Detroit?

allan said...

I sprung for the 700 at work, but I can't see much of a difference between it and the 400. Your mileage might vary.

Maybe the gamble that it's nicer is worth 10 bucks.

allan said...

Other people at SoSH said they really notice a difference. So who knows?

Rob said...

2-run dong for Damon. 2-0 mfy

nick said...

redsock-those are great historical factoids. What would happen in a game to cause a player to play all 9 positions--particularly as late as '65?

allan said...

nick: just a stunt, i think.

it has been done a couple of times since. didn't a tiger do it within the last 10 years?

s1c said...

redsock-those are great historical factoids. What would happen in a game to cause a player to play all 9 positions--particularly as late as '65?

It was a goal of Campy's

allan said...

I found the factoids here.

laura k said...

Hi all, no game thread for me tonight, I just wanted to say hi.

Glad to see MY BOY is all over this thread. When I get home from work (around 8:30) I can see him for myself.

Enjoy and GO SOX!

nick said...

NESN is very jerky for me--freezing, digital blocking, etc. how's it for the rest of you who have it?

s1c said...

No problems here in central CT.

Rob said...

A-Rod hit #50. 4-0 mfy (and of course I commented in the wrong thread again. Sorry about that.)

First right-handed batter to hit 50 or more home runs in a season. That's what John Sterling tells me.

Rob said...

NESN is very jerky for me--freezing, digital blocking, etc. how's it for the rest of you who have it?

NESN's been fine here in So. Maine

nick said...

hmmm... we had some big storms come through earlier. also seems to have settled down..was pretty bad through the first two innings.

speaking of settle down....

Rob said...

Big jam here for the Dice man. I hope this is his bad inning. He's missing fastball locations and he's hanging some sliders. And Markakis could put the O's on top with one swing. Come on, Dice.

s1c said...

That is the first right handed yankee batter to hit 50 or more.

nick said...

I don't like to see runs walked in, but it's better than some alternatives.

Rob said...

Nick, we were surrounded by storms here today and somehow, didn't get hit.

I wonder how Dice-K would fare if the Red Sox skipped his turn next time around. Gave him some extra rest. Maybe extended his time between outings. If he gives it up tonight, he gives it up tonight. I'm just thinking of the playoffs. That's when we need some good Dice.

And now the O's are back within 1.

Rob said...

First Yankee? Who else in MLB did it righty?

nick said...

fuckaduck.

emma wants to switch off the game so we can play katamari....but I can't do that now.

Rob said...

Actually, I could tell you that. Andruw Jones hit 51 home runs in 2005. So nevermind.

Rob said...

Wow. 2 runs walked in.

allan said...

and no outs.

s1c said...

the list is here

The leader is McGwire and Sosa.

nick said...

ooooh. I can't take it. get sexy lips in.

maybe now a DP. por favor.

allan said...

K!

alright, get a dp and that'll be fine.

s1c said...

Well about freaking time you got someone out. Of course it would help if you threw strikes.

Rob said...

So basically, I wasn't exactly thinking at that point. McGwire. Duh. Sosa. Duh. That's almost embarrassing, heh. Oh well.

Rob said...

And Dice-K pays for it. 8-4.

4-2 Yankees at this moment.

s1c said...

Fragging Daisuke - Get your shit together. I don't want to see another start from you. you freaking suck right now.

Colin said...

What the hell?!?!?!? Get out Dice-K get the fuck out! Hell I'm glad Tavarez is in! You've fucked us one too many games Matsuzaka.

Colin said...

Seriously...at least it's only the 3rd inning. Hopefully our offense redeems our bullpen.

Rob said...

Location, Location, Location, Dice.

9casey said...

Wow , he has been garbage.....he looks beaten on the mound....there is a good chance he does not see the light of day in the playoffs, and if asked today ,would you want him to,........He kills the bullpen , killed them last time in the 10-0 game, and will kill them here tonight.....

allan said...

So this is what it been like rooting for the MFY pitching staff this year.

9casey said...

ish said...
Location, Location, Location, Dice

I would take somewhere in the strikezone....i would be less ticked off if he gave up 5 back to back singles and then a grand slam..rather than walking in two runs...

allan said...

4 runs down with 6 innings to go against a pen which has been worked like a mule for 3 straight days. no problemo.

Rob said...

You're right. Throw strikes and if you get hammered, it's almost understandable. I don't know what the deal with him was tonight. His fastballs....

Alberto Gonzalez has replaced Derek Jeter at shortstop in the bottom of the 5th. Hmmmmmm...

allan said...

Alberto Gonzalez has replaced Derek Jeter at shortstop in the bottom of the 5th. Hmmmmmm...

Does this mean CI will be the next Attorney General?

allan said...

Been working. Was he getting squeezed? Maybe piss poor pitch choice from the Mighty Tek? Or was nothing working for him?

Rob said...

As I was saying, his fastballs were out of the zone, obviously. When they were in the zone, they certainly weren't being thrown where Varitek wanted them. His sliders hung over the plate for the striking or floated way outside. Brian Roberts singles here off of Tavarez, but Julian looks better than Dice-K.

s1c said...

there is a good chance he does not see the light of day in the playoffs, and if asked today ,would you want him to.

I want him to get his crap together. The man can pitch but lately he has been sucking like bilge water. Give him two weeks off to figure out his crap and he will probably ok.

Rob said...

Dice-K was just missing badly on nearly all of his pitches. He had a good second inning, but that was about it.

Rob said...

E6.

Thanks, Lugo.

s1c said...

Been working. Was he getting squeezed? Maybe piss poor pitch choice from the Mighty Tek? Or was nothing working for him?

piss poor location, fast ball outside called fast ball middle of plate hit over the wall, etc.

allan said...

I think I'm glad I'm working right now.

Rob said...

Might as well make a little money when the Red Sox are losing, eh? Can't agree with you more.

Rob said...

Could it get any worse?

A-Rod hits another dong. 51.

5-2 mfy

Rob said...

Ortiz is quietly having a good night tonight.

allan said...

Could it get any worse?

We could be 6.5 GB and not 6.5 GA.

Rob said...

One Ortiz double and the fans are alive again.

allan said...

Well, I'm making the $ whether there is work or not. I'd rather do nothing for my pay.

Rob said...

We could be 6.5 GB and not 6.5 GA.

Well, yeah. I probably should have added "tonight" since that's what I meant. Could it get any worse tonight? Well, now that I think about it, let's not answer that one.

allan said...

Things can ALWAYS get worse.

allan said...

Sea: 111 11
Det: 301 10

Go Mariners -- a "1" in every inning!!!

allan said...

CI left with an injured knee.

allan said...

KC pitcher Bannister is on my All-Home team (with Matt Stairs).

allan said...

Stat I saw tonight is that Dice has allowed 39% of his runs in only 7 individual innings. Which seems very bizarre.

Now I guess it is x% of his runs in 8 innings.

Rob said...

11-2 mfy.

allan said...

VariteKKK.

Rob said...

Welp, no sombrero for 'Tek tonight. Shucks.

Jere said...

All-Home Team: Phil Roof.

And Jose Mesa, who my dad always calls "Joe Table."

Rob said...

Would J.R. House qualify?

allan said...

Your dad is Rob Neyer?

(We did the house team one night weeks ago, but I forgot most of them.)

allan said...

How about Mike Cuellar?

It's almost "cellar"!

Rob said...

How about Toby Hall?

allan said...

Toby Hall is good.

Hey -- Bobby Doerr!

allan said...

Good work from the Sack.

allan said...

Sox subs going in like it's a spring training game.

Rob said...

Add Felix Pie to your all-food team. Even though it's pronounced "pee-eh"

Rob said...

Pié

Todd Coffey

allan said...

Even though it's pronounced "pee-eh"

Yeah, and I'm Jerry Cougar Mellencamp!

allan said...

The 1918 Red Sox had a Jack Coffey for a few weeks.

Rob said...

And while you're at it, add Marcus McBeth to your all-Shakespearean team.

Okay, I'm done.

Colin said...

Well I have to say that our bullpen screwed us again, because the shoddy performance by Daisuke and Julian must've shaken our lineup something fierce. At least if we lose it'll still be 5.5 games and we'll just pick up the pieces tomorrow.

I hope Francona is taking some serious notes about the bullpen.

allan said...

This game was in the crapper before the pen came on.

nick said...

emma's asleep. we left at 8-4. welcome back nick. :-(

Rob said...

Well, I've got nothing else for your all-home team. Maybe Johnny Bench... maybe Robby Hammock (both are probably outside of the house, but could still be at home...)

laura k said...

I've been watching on MASN since I got home, and I have to say, these are the best out-of-town announcers I've heard.

I know we're not supposed to like Gary Bloodysock Thorne, but they're good.

No, really.

laura k said...

I see I missed some good teams tonight. Booby Doerr - very good!

There was some Rugge (sp?) guy a while back.

nick said...

Booby Doerr...the all body part team.

nick said...

right up there with Rollie Fingers.

Rob said...

Detroit's about to beat Seattle 12-6, and MFY is about to beat KC 11-3.

Rob said...

There should also be an all-weather team.

Josh Fogg, J.T. Snow, Demarlo Hale...

allan said...

I posted the MFY score as a final, but KC has the bases loaded with 1 out. They are down by only 8! Go KC!!

allan said...

these are the best out-of-town announcers I've heard

The bar is set so low.

(Vin doesn't count, I guess.)

Rob said...

Sweeney knocks one in with a bloop. 11-4.

nick said...

awesome! just 2 grand slams and KC'll pull it into extra innings.

Rob said...

11-5 mfy

Rob said...

2 out, though.

Rob said...

and now it's gone final. 11-5

laura k said...

Tim Raines for the weather team.

We've done weather and body parts before. Of course I can't remember most of them anymore. Gotta write them down.

laura k said...

"The bar is set so low.

(Vin doesn't count, I guess.)"

yes and yes

vin is in his own category

Jay said...

They do not look postseason ready. Luckily the postseason is still a few weeks away. Varitek is a total guess hitter at this point and Matsuzaka has to get more flexible in his approach.

laura k said...

September is never an indicator of October.

Go Detroit!

Rob said...

Today is the final game for the SEA/DET series, as well as the MFY/KC series.

Tomorrow's kind of strange, though. Toronto is at Detroit for one game (makeup) then they play a three-game series in Toronto against the Yankees. Texas will go to Detroit, and then while the Yankees play the Red Sox, the Tigers will be in Minnesota.

So, looking at schedules, it looks very possible for Detroit to catch up and maybe pass New York for the wildcard. Of course, no idea if they'll actually do it or not.

Go Detroit!
Go Toronto! (minus the game vs. DET)
Go KC!

Rob said...

The Yankees have another off-day tomorrow before the Toronto series, while the Red Sox are in Boston playing Tampa Bay. If all goes well, it'll be a gift .5 for the Sox and Tigers. But that's tomorrow. Still today to be played.