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September 23, 2007

G156: Devil Rays 5, Red Sox 4

Down 4-0 after five, the Red Sox scored three times in the sixth, fell back 5-3, got within one on Cora's eighth inning dong, then went meekly in the ninth against Gas Can Reyes.

New York beat Toronto 7-5, so the East lead is back to 1.5. The Jays and Chokers play tomorrow afternoon while the Sox head back to Fenway. (Tigers also won today, so NY's magic number to eliminate them is 2.)

***

Tim Wakefield (4.73, 96 ERA+) / Edwin Jackson (5.99, 77 ERA+)

This is Wakefield's sixth start against Tampa Bay this year. In 30.1 innings, he's allowed 29 hits, 8 walks (against 24 strikeouts), a 3.56 ERA and a .643 OPS. He's made two starts at the Trop this year (13 IP, 0.69 ERA).

Blue Jays/MFY (McGowan/Mussina) at 1 PM.

323 comments:

  1. Wow, I get to post first. My hopes/predictions for today: Mussina chokes because the rotation got changed on him and disturbed his sensitive soul; Wake's knuckler bounces like crazy in the Trop, causing its usual effect on the Rays, and maybe, just maybe, Tek again gets on base a gazillion times and drives in several runs. I'm already too psyched to sit still and read the Sunday paper!

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  2. On my way to the Trop...expecting to come home with a 3.5 game lead!

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  3. I like those odds--especially now that we have some momentum going our way and the Yankees have played two extra inning games, depleting their bull pen.

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  4. Yeah 10 pitchers used yesterday for the MFY. How many did they have left?
    Not to mention the toll the long games are taking on the legs of the starting fielders. I really got to hand it to Toronto. They kicked our ass and now they are really pummeling the Yankees.

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  5. I had the pleasure of standing outside the Trop in February on my road trip round Florida (when I got to go to a training session at Fort Myers).

    I was not impressed...

    The photos can be found on my blog. If anyone cares.....

    Let us hope for an implosion at Yankee land. I once saw Carl Pavano pitch for the Yankees against the Jays. Unlike most Yankee fans, I've seen Pavano pitch. They lost!

    Hallelujah. A day game.

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  6. Let's hope Wake, like Stella, got his groove back against the Rays. Also for any New Englanders out there, let's also root for the Pats, who I'm sure will be great against Buffalo.

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  7. Red Sox
    Ellsbury-LF
    Cora-2B
    Ortiz-DH
    Lowell-3B
    Drew-RF
    Crisp-CF
    Hinske-1B
    Mirabelli-C
    Lugo-SS

    D-Rays
    Iwamura-3B
    Velandia-2B
    Pena-1B
    Upton-CF
    Young-RF
    Casanova-C
    Homes-LF
    Guzman-DH
    Wilson-SS

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  8. why is cora batting 2nd?

    I was going to post the same thing, then figured why bother? Maybe Tito doesn't want to lineup too top heavy. Or Cora made out the lineup.

    OBP

    Cora - .288
    Lugo - .295
    Crisp - .332

    Who do you want up before Tiz and the Dr.?

    What the hell ... Mirabelli - .299.

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  9. Yes, the Stud has a better OBP than Slugo this year. Sigh.

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  10. I think he just doesnt mind wasting a Cora at-bat sac'ing Ellsbury over to 2nd or 3rd.

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  11. It's more than just the fact that slugo, ocoC and belli having higher obp's. How many times over the last three years have we heard Francona talk about not wanting two LH bats in a row, and here he has three. I would have ocoC hitting second here today.

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  12. Well I also figured Dusty looks a bit tired as of late and not hitting nearly as much as he did, so maybe a day off might strain things offensively but I'm confident the rest of the lineup can pick up the slack.

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  13. I'm gonna give a nice, hardy, GO DETROIT! right about now.

    It's now OK for you guys to win again.

    Now do it!
    (fleeting effort? probably. does it make me feel better rooting for the tigers again? yep.)

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  14. Well Pedroia really needs a rest, I think. And remember, tomorrow's an off-day. So it's doubley effective for him.

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  15. yankees magic number for the wildcard is 3.

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  16. never thought about it but I think Chad Finn is correct this is who Orsillo resembles.

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  17. This is the final road game of the season. Current road record: 45-35

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  18. I was checking the W-L contest and have whittled down the possible winners.

    The Sox will win between 92 and 99 games. Dice's ERA will be much higher than almost everyone predicted (a nine inning shutout, which he will not achieve, in his final start will = 4.21) so I took the highest guess in each win total category:

    99 - Tom Greff
    98 - Thomas Chan
    97 - Jeff Davis
    96 - Paul H.
    95 - Franco Baseggio
    94 - Chris Jones
    93 - Matt B.
    92 - Matt Meltzer

    (Actually, I have the highest ERA guess at 98 wins, but I'm not really a contestant.)

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  19. Rays had 5 outfielders but could not defend against a walk to Big Papi. Ortiz walks down to first with a huge smile and puts his arm around Carlos Peña.

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  20. hey everybody!
    dammit i have FSN too, todat. ugh.
    im liking what i see in the bronx.
    make that magic # MOVE!

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  21. OAK 0, CLE 2, BOT 3rd.

    KC 1, DET 4, Mid 2nd

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  22. Tor 2nd

    Stairs single
    Hill double
    Zaun 1-3
    Lind double, 2-0
    Thigpen single, 3-0
    McDonald L6
    Johnson P4

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  23. Mets 0, FLA 0, TOP 3rd
    PHI 1, WSH 1, BOT 5th

    CAT-LIKE REFLEXES.

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  24. Hi, all. Just sent the family back to NY so got here just in time to see Wake's nice grab of that ball.

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  25. 1-2-3 first is a-ok with me, now its time for ON FIRE etal to score some runs.

    why I will always like Bill Lee - "Our pain isn't as bad as you might think. Dead bodies don't suffer." - Bill Lee, Red Sox pitcher, after Boston lost a one-game playoff to the Yankees, 1978

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  26. Anyone else hate seeing Belly hold his mask while he catches popups one-handed?

    One day, he's gonna drop one that would be an easy two-hand grab. It better not be in an important game.

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  27. One day, he's gonna drop one that would be an easy two-hand grab. It better not be in an important game

    Well counting today I really think that will only be for three maybe four more games in his career so the chances are probably small.

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  28. Anyone else hate seeing Belly hold his mask while he catches popups one-handed?

    Yeah, that's kind of annoying, but I'll live.

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  29. ish said...
    Anyone else hate seeing Belly hold his mask while he catches popups one-handed?

    Yeah, that's kind of annoying, but I'll live.


    also that funky glove he uses to catch wake is a like a vaccuum.

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  30. I like Lee because he called Billy Martin a "Nazi" and the Yankees "Brownshirts".

    Plus he hates the Gerbil as much as we do, probably more.

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  31. i cant stand that jose molina gets a lot of clutch hits in a yankee uniform.

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  32. Amy said...
    at least MFY also are trailing

    not for long 3-2 now...

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  33. well since I forgot to check yesterday before 8 p.m. there is no beer in the house. Looks like its margaritaville for me today.

    3-2 in dah bronx and McGowan at 50+ pitches in the bottom of the 2nd.

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  34. i cant stand that jose molina gets a lot of clutch hits in a yankee uniform

    that's the aura of the uniform. it makes even crappy players hit like hall of famers.

    (some nyy fans actually believe this)

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  35. Down 0-2?

    1. It is early.

    2. These are the Devil Rays.

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  36. johnson could make the dicing catch tied up in the bronx. 1st and 3rd two outs.

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  37. Plus he hates the Gerbil as much as we do, probably more.

    He loathes the Gerbil.

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  38. LOOK EVERYBODY -- EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER!!!
    LOOK EVERYBODY -- EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER!!!
    LOOK EVERYBODY -- EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER!!!
    LOOK EVERYBODY -- EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER!!!
    LOOK EVERYBODY -- EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER!!!
    LOOK EVERYBODY -- EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER!!!

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  39. Arrgghh, I have to go out for a while. Hope things improve on both fronts. Keep the faith.

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  40. Great...MFY just don't know when to quit. Now it's tied. Pray to God Toronto does what it did the last two games and strike right back.

    Come on Jays bullpen and come on Sox offense...get to it!

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  41. is young trying to steal away the rookie of the year award from pedroia?

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  42. since this seemed to work yesterday, will try it again today.

    Dear Devil Rays -

    You suck, now roll over and play dead.

    thanks,
    RSN

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  43. Goddam COGECO blows off Red Sox in progress for a junior hockey game. Only 4 MLB games, rest of channels choked with NFL, NASCAR and Junior hockey. BLAME CANADA!

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  44. Thank you God...Abreu strikes out.

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  45. Lyndon gets the 1st hit.

    No bunting, Einstein.

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  46. That is so like Willie Wilson. He beat a freaking pitch out.

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  47. Goddam COGECO blows off Red Sox in progress for a junior hockey game.

    OMG

    Busy at work, so I'm just checking in.

    I see it's tied in NY. Go Jays!

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  48. Rays TV sponsored quote:

    Francona says Tek "wills himself to be a winner".

    Not often enough, Terry.

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  49. LOOK EVERYBODY -- EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER!!!

    I said that about Jesse Litsch the other day. Next batter, he gave up a hit.

    *HITTING MOJO*

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  50. Oh, good idea, Ish. Allan: you're on.

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  51. Wake gets Pain-Yer and the one-out double is wasted.

    You're on

    On what?

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  52. Dear Devil Rays -

    You suck, now roll over and play dead.

    thanks,
    RSN


    My thoughts exactly. And Young, just give the RotY award to Pedroia. You're good but he's done more to contribute.

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  53. Wow...Godzilla strikes out and Slappy caught stealing 2nd. Mad love Jays.

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  54. who was the last team to be the first team to clinch a playoff spot and then go on to win the world series?

    trivia

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  55. From Chad Finn again in his 26 reasons to strongly dislike the Yankees.
    2. Derek Jeter's casual awareness of the camera, especially his "signature" fist pump. I'm not saying I hope he drowns in a vat of Driven, but I might do a celebratory fist-pump myself if he did.

    10. Don Zimmer, the cherubic, Pedro-chargin', steel-skulled baseball lifer who contributed to several Yankee pennants, most notably 1978


    still 3-3 in dah bronx though A-rod did get caught stealing.

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  56. Come on, Sox, this guy's got a 77 ERA+ and a 6.00 ERA.

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  57. Dear Sox offense,

    WTF?

    Sincerely,
    Red Sox Nation

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  58. too much "private partying" last night?

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  59. i saw that finn piece -- some good ones, some stupid ones. lots of mfy fans commenting too.

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  60. I am really, really, starting to hate delmon young.

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  61. i didnt realize the scouting report on jacoby was "HE HAS NO FUCKING ARM"

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  62. Sorry Tim, time to leave, and possibly not return until you're out of your funk.

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  63. some updates scores for you:
    OAK 0, CLE 6, TOP 5th
    KC 1, DET 6, TOP 5th
    TOR 3, MFY 3, TOP 4th
    -----------
    PHI 2, WSH 3, TOP 7th
    MIL 2, ATL 1, TOP 6th
    NYM 2, FLA 2, BOT 5th
    PIT 0, CHC 0, TOP 2nd


    The last play showed how important it is for the pitcher to backup plays at the plate. When people finish chastising Ellsbury, Mirabelli, and Lowell (no idea who chastises who), but give Wakey Wakey some props.

    Good throw from Belly.

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  64. my turn:

    EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A NO-HITTER.
    EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A NO-HITTER.
    EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A NO-HITTER.
    EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A NO-HITTER.
    EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A NO-HITTER.
    EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A NO-HITTER.
    EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A NO-HITTER.

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  65. Oh, wait.

    They have a hit.

    My bad.

    EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A ONE HITTER!

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  66. I was just making sure you were paying attention, RS. :P

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  67. No no no, son, you're doin' it all wrong (/foghorn)

    EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!
    EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!
    EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!
    EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!
    EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!
    EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!

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  68. Sterling: Melky Cabrera is a defensive weapon.

    milk dud cut down zaun trying to score on a mcdonald single, end of the inning.

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  69. zaun gets thrown out at the plate.
    HEY JAYS DONT RUN ON THE YANKS OUTFIELD ARMS (except damon/matsui)
    christ

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  70. is dougie goin' deep today?

    i guess so... it'd be nice, if he's gonna jack one like that, to hit it to left field or right field. i hear it's closer to the wall those ways.

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  71. bullshit. molina never tagged him.

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  72. apparently the replays showed molina never was close to tagging zaun at home plate. waldman: molina must have been two feet away from zaun with his glove.

    apparently if the ball beats the runner these days, you're out.

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  73. Sterling: Melky Cabrera is a defensive weapon.

    Of course he is.

    Maybe the MFY will sign him to a huge-ass deal and have him in CF for the next decade. That would be nice.

    He has a .738 career OPS.

    Hinske's OPS this year is .742.

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  74. Umm, ish, LBJ got a hit

    You can't really blame ish, that was probably during a Geffner inning so, if he blinked he missed it.

    Yankees got a break a as Molina missed a tag on zaun at home but the umpire called him out. Unbelievable.

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  75. Hmmmm...I certainly hope we can prey on reliever meat like we always have fun doing.

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  76. Jays just got robbed at home. Zaun was safe. Molina missed the tag. But WTF are they doing sending these slow buggers on Milk Dud's arm? Have they not learned anything over the last 2 days?

    Before the cable guy blew off the Sox game, I caught the Tampa graphic on their "Scouting Report" of Jackson. #1 was "Stay Tall", right beside his 4-15 record and .599 ERA. You don't want this guy to "STAY" on anything.

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  77. You can't really blame ish, that was probably during a Geffner inning so, if he blinked he missed it.

    This is true. I actually hadn't switched the radio back to the tv yet, because I was cooking a couple of chicken quesadillas.

    As Mirabelli has a passedballa moment, Jose Molina bunts with Minky at first and pops it up.

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  78. don't worry, we'll win the division despite the umps in the bronx.

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  79. Yep...leave Tim. We love you and all, but it's for the greater good.

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  80. Hmmmmm .....

    steaming spinach: good

    cooking chicken quesadillas: bad

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  81. the one thing i don't like about wakefield, is while chien-ming wang is always "one pitch away from a double play", wakefield is always one pitch away from a gofer ball.

    can't really blame him. it's the way of the knuckleball.

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  82. cooking chicken quesadillas: bad

    well i'm done cooking them, thank god.

    but they were tasty.

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  83. sucky thing is wakefield DID have a double play in this inning.

    then BB, SB, 1B, BB, PB, BB ...

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  84. laz diaz had himself a phil rizutto moment. wasn't watching.

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  85. 9-1-2 this inning

    gotta break thru now ...

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  86. Dear Devil Rays,

    Here's the thing, if you are going to refuse to roll over and die. Do us a favor and a refuse to quit this coming tue-thu.

    That is all,
    RSN

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  87. lugo line single to left to start it.

    NO BUNTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  88. notice that borderline pitch? looks like it should have been strike three. laz diaz might have called that one a ball as a make-up call, perhaps.

    or maybe not.

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  89. I am back. Two on, no outs...let's go, goddammit

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  90. will tito have einstein bunt here?

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  91. Francona - Do not bunt with Cora here, would like to see ORTIZ actually bat.

    that is all!

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  92. Cora has some very interesting swings. Quick, compact swing to get that low and inside pitch.

    DUCKS ON THE POND for the big man!

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  93. Juiced for Tiz. Lets do some damage.

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  94. INFIELD HIT FOR PAPI! Must be a first. Love it!

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  95. Juiced for mikey!

    keep the line moving here boys.

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  96. At least drive in ONE run with a sac fly!

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  97. Full count...come on, at least WALK one in.

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  98. OK, at least he did the least he could do.

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  99. WHAT an at-bat by Drew! He was down 0-2 and walks!

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  100. YEEEEAAAHHHH!
    JD "I LOVE YOU DREW" WITH THE GOOD EYE!

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  101. 23rd run walked in for the Red Sox this season.

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  102. damn, i'm sorry i'm missing this game! and no game tomorrow. but i won't be selfish, all that matters is the W.

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  103. ocoC! DO IT PLEASE. This guy has exceeded his average pitch count---let's take advantage.

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  104. OCOCOCOCOCOCOCOC. My man with the FRO ACTION.

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  105. Can I get a little FUCK YEAH from the congregation?

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  106. Gee, one of my posts didn't make it---the one where I told Drew I loved him and called him Mr. On Fire. Guess it got lost, but I did want you all to notice my changed attitude.

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  107. Hinske just above the Mendoza line....

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  108. DAMN. He stays below the Mendoza line.

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  109. 8.04 ERA?

    .333 opp bat avg

    cool.

    go eric.

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  110. ugh. oh well good rally..but still fuck. and the yanks take the lead while all this is happening

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  111. 1st and 3rd, 1 out, 1 in. Make that 2 outs. Milk dud K's against the Pitcher Formally Known as Chops (Brian Tallet), relieving Chops.

    4-3 Yankees with Minky batting.

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  112. LL says "Hinske. Poor Show Old bean."

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  113. little dribbler by minky, cued to third, adams fumbles it, it's called a hit. a-rod scores, it's 5-3

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  114. I see a Border Patrol ad behind the plate.

    NOW HIRING!

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  115. molina... more clutch hitting action. RBI single, 6-3 mfy

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  116. hey whattaya know, another clutch 2 out hit for molina, 6-3 yanks

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  117. Damn, Ish, you are a bearer of bad news.

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  118. At least hinske is consistent. .211 ba vs righties, .211 vs lefties.

    Need SL to be quick and get the O going again.

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  119. outta town:
    OAK 2, CLE 6, TOP 8th
    KC 2, DET 6, TOP 8th
    ---------------
    PHI 2, WSH 5, TOP 9th
    MIL 4, ATL 1, BOT 7th
    NYM 2, FLA 3, BOT 7th
    PIT 0, CHC 1, BOT 4th

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  120. The bottom of our order is hardly murderer's row. More like Suicide Street.

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  121. Yankees finally out. Thanks, Damon.

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  122. Damn, Ish, you are a bearer of bad news.

    :(

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  123. so as per the other two games, jays will come right back with at least 2, right?

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  124. come on mets -- the times had a graphic comparing you to the 64 phils. start winning!!!!

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  125. Lord Lynch said...
    The bottom of our order is hardly murderer's row. More like Suicide Street.


    hahahaha

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  126. DAMN. I don't think Tavarez has it today. Can we get him out of there? We aren't trying to build his confidence, are we?

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  127. So RS, you rooting for the Mets? My son in law is an avid Mets fan, so I am also.

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  128. We aren't trying to build his confidence, are we?

    Yeah, that's like Steibrenner's old "I have faith in x" bit. Manager usually fired within 2 weeks.

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  129. dip me in butter and call me biscuit. Damn it Sl, that really, really sucked.

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  130. Phillies are rallying in the 9th. 2 on, 2 out, a run in. 5-3 Nats. Can they do it?

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  131. OK, at least he is yanking him now.

    (BTW, I think my swearing has definitely gotten much worse since finding this blog. Or perhaps it's more due to the series of bad games the Sox had in the last week or so.)

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  132. Nothing like handing back any momentum you've created.

    Getting rapidly fed up with Sundays.

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  133. yeah. the pedro factor. plus if the mets do well, mfy fans get annoyed.

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  134. he defense he did show bunt on the first pitch, ya know

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  135. Gameday says "sac bunt"

    no hit, no fielder's choice, no error -- WTF?

    but an rbi??

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  136. safety squeeze, tavarez fielded it, threw home not in time. so everyone was safe.

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  137. Phew, got them. Now let's score three runs at least.

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  138. HEADS UP PLAY TO END THE INNING.

    And look at Bryan Corey! Getting us out of the inning without further damage!

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  139. what a freaking wierd dp. now score some fragging runs.

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  140. there's a dp -- that's why you practice those plays in spring training.

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  141. Without tempting fate, with a current ERA of 0.00 in 6.1 innings pitched, can we go overboard on Corey like another team might with JtC?

    No. Because sense prevails.

    Bottom of the order. Unleash Futility.

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  142. Down 5-3 in the 7th ain't shit.

    Let's go Lugo.

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  143. That looked bad - even on gameday.

    Do we have an allergy to sweeping series?

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  144. Why not have Tek bat for Belly with Wake gone? And then Tek can will himself to be a winner?

    Nah, better to have Belly whiff.

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  145. Abreu caught stealing. No more scoring in NY at least. Go, Jays.

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  146. i want to see pedroia lead off next inning.

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  147. Wright BB
    Anderson single
    Alou single, 3-3
    Delgado DONG, 6-3

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  148. Hell, why not have Tek bat and put Cash in if the captain needs the day off?

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