April 2, 2008

G4: Red Sox 5, Athletics 0

Red Sox   - 000 000 221 - 5 13  0
Athletics - 000 000 000 - 0 4 0
Strange game. Wasted scoring opportunities by the bushel full for both teams through six innings.

Lester (6-2.-3-0-3-3, 94) turned in a nice performance, much improved from last week. There were some rough patches -- he issued his three walks on four pitches each -- but Houdini was helped by three double plays -- in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings. Oakland got three hits and three walks off Lester, but got only one runner past first base.

After allowing a two-out single in the seventh, Bryan Corey came in to get the third out. Corey allowed a leadoff single in the 8th, but retired the next three A's, two by strikeout. Manny Delcarmen pitched a perfect 9th: 6-3, F7, 3U.

Harden struggled in the first, allowing a single to Pedroia and walking Yook and Tizzle. But he stopped the rally, fanning Manny and Lowell and getting Drew to ground to first. Once he was gone (5-4-0-4-6, 86), the Sox pounced.

The Sox left the bases loaded in the 6th, but finally scored in the 7th. Yook doubled to left center and Ortiz crushed a home run to right. Five straight singles to start the 8th (four of them to the exact same spot in left field off Lenny DiNardo) made it 4-0. Tek donged in the 9th for the final run.

In the 18 innings in Oakland, the A's scored only one run on seven hits.

***

Jon Lester (44 ERA+) / Rich Harden (233 ERA+)
Pedroia, 2B
Youkilis, 1B
Ortiz, DH
Ramirez, LF
Lowell, 3B
Drew, RF
Varitek, C
Crisp, CF
Cora, SS
Einstein gives the Red Sox an extra LH bat against Haren.

514 comments:

1 – 200 of 514   Newer›   Newest»
Benjamin said...

Gotta hope both those ERA+ numbers regress a little to the mean. Small sample size and all that.

laura k said...

Hi. Have a good gamethread, everyone. I'll be back for Friday's game.

allan said...

Small pre-lineup news:

Drew RF
Cora SS
Crisp CF

Patrick said...

This Crisp/Ellsbury thing is getting weird. I don't understand it.

I'm thinking we get 6 from Lester with 2 runs and 5 hits. I'm looking for Manny to go yard.

Rob said...

With a few walks from Lester as well. Hopefully he'll be able to put some guys away quickly. No more nibbling.

Jere said...

The video that pops up on redsox.com shows last night's controversial near-dong--from the A's channel. The A's announcer calls it a homer immediately. Finally the color guys chimes in with 'I think this ball's in play.' Then they go on acting like it looked like a dong.

Edes: Tito says Coco's a fastball hitter so he's in vs. fastball pitcher. I mean, my initial reaction is always gonna be 'how could Jacoby not be in there?' but as it currently stands, we've got a great fourth outfielder who would be a starter on most teams, so it's good to platoon as long as A. when Ellsbury's in, you LEAD HIM OFF, and B. always get the sitting guy into the game late.

Pokerwolf said...

This Crisp/Ellsbury thing is getting weird. I don't understand it.

1. Tacoby might still have some shoulder stiffness or twinges from banging into the wall.

2. The Sox want Ococ to show off his skills so that he'll be good trade bait.

3. Tacoby is not a "sure thing" at the plate even though he had a great couple of months last year.

4. Having Ococ gives Tito more lineup options to throw at opposing pitchers.

5. Platooning Tacoby/Ococ keeps both of them rested.

The only possible negative I can see at this point is that Tito might not let one or the other get into a rhythm which could hurt their offensive numbers.

allan said...

3. Tacoby is not a "sure thing" at the plate even though he had a great couple of months last year.

Right. Pedoria hit like crap in September 2006 and April 2007, but that small sample size was not a measure of his true ability.

Going in the other direction, Ellsbury is unlikely to sustain his September and October 2007 performance level.

Rob said...

TC and Eck spent a couple of minutes on Joba's uh, celebration in the eighth inning.

Eck: "I can understand why you'd celebrate like Papelbon does at the end of the game, because there's so much pressure and suddenly it's all lifted. But, not in the eighth inning."

Patriots Film said...

Until Jacoby proves he can get on base at at least a .380 rate, I think you have to go with pedroia and youks at the top. A reasonable projection for Jacoby in his first season in the majors would be .360, and his speed is just not enough of a factor to make up for that. What good is stealing second so they can walk Papi?

Of course, the dynamics change a little if Manny puts up 1.000 OPS and Drew puts up .900 in the 5 spot, making walking Papi quite harder. Still, OBP > speed.

On the other hand, I know Tito will do whatever he feels helps the guys the most mentally, and if that means Jacoby bats leadoff, I don't have an issue at all as long as he's somewhere above .350 obp. Below that, he's basically Coco Crisp.

Rob said...

Larry Bowa got ejected from the Dodgers game last night for standing outside of the 3rd base coach's box after "repeated warnings."

I think that rule will be fought over all season. A year-long campaign to get rid of the helmets and being stapled to the coach's box.

Jere said...

"3. Tacoby is not a "sure thing" at the plate even though he had a great couple of months last year."

Still, if I had to bet money on one guy on the team to get on base in any given game, I'd probably choose Jacoby.

allan said...

Royals set to take a second straight game from the mighty Tigers. KC 4-0 in the 9th.

allan said...

Ahhh - NESN

AFT.

Jere said...

"What good is stealing second so they can walk Papi?"

So if Youk or Pedroia hits a ball of the wall should they hold at first? Ellsbury could steal second, third, and home all while Papi's up. I'm not gonna keep a guy out of the leadoff spot because he has too MUCH talent.

"as long as he's somewhere above .350 obp. Below that, he's basically Coco Crisp."

If Jacoby's OBP is .350 that's 20 points higher than Coco last year and Coco overall in his career. But it's gonna a lot higher than that, I'd say.

Jere said...

FY, single

allan said...

fuck yeah.

lots of hits, please, gentlemen.

Jere said...

Yeah! Dick Harden looks like Dick Soften so far today.

Rob said...

- Uncle Joe is doing this game all by himself today. Dave O'Brien is in Yankeeland, and even though there are two other guys (Dale Arnold and studio man John Rish), Joe's doing this game alone.

- One thing that's amazing about the Red Sox is how they have five guys who can and have hit lead-off. Youk, Lyndon, oCoC, Lugo, and Pedroia. Great way to start things up. Maybe Ortiz can put a quick three-spot on the board.

- There seem to be approximately 47 fans at the game today.

allan said...

flo 4-for-6 with 2 dongs against harden.

Rob said...

Radar gun showed 98 on that last pitch.

allan said...

it is time for grand slam #21, mbm.

Rob said...

Oh man. Bases juiced for Manny.

Confucius say Manny hits grand dong.

allan said...

manny 3-for-6 v harden - 3 dongs

Jere said...

needed a fly ball there Manny

Rob said...

I blame online translators. Apparently "dong" and "strikeout" are similar words.

allan said...

come on doc -- give us some Rx

Jere said...

same deal as ALCS game 6. loaded, next two get out, Drew comes up...

allan said...

lowell fooled on the change.

drew --- ah FUCKING A

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Jere said...

that is absolutely shitty. goddamn it. Wait, was there just a big Canadian flag up? Oh for Harden, that's right.

s1c said...

You have to be kidding me

Jere said...

all these empty seats. Go watch a baseball game!! How many people live in the Bay Area, like a billion?

Jere said...

please stop the incessant banging

tim said...

just poppin in from work to say hey all!

following on GDGD, shitty first but at least hardens thrown 25 pitches. we'll have to get him out of there and knock around their pen.

allan said...

lester -- 15 pitches to the first 2 hitters

Jere said...

you tellin' me Papi nor Manny could hit a lazy fly ball of Rich Harden? Did that just happen? Wasn't that an issue last year, where those two wouldn't hit when everyone else was?

le ster - noun (Fr.) a methodical or deliberate pitcher

Jere said...

Cora in Cora's hubby's position. Of you know what I mean you win an invisible prize.

Jere said...

Oui le ster!

allan said...

brown, like o'neill, "plays it on a hop"

Jere said...

cust me!

Jere said...

Cora's hubby: Phil Rizzuto, who played shortstop.

Lord Lynch said...

Good day all - nice to have a game on at a reasonable hour! And nice for us Brits to get MLB TV too!

Jere said...

Looks like Floyd Bannister's kid shut out the wealthy Tigers.

Jere said...

Only the 2nd, and already DOn and Jerry mocking fans.

allan said...

that woman did not look pleased.

i miss sean mcdonough ragging on fat kids stuffing food in their faces.

Jere said...

DP! AC to DP aka FY to KY

Jere said...

YOOO-- awww.

Benjamin said...

Keeping tabs on this one at work -- everything's blocked, so I'm watching the line score on fangraphs.com.

Jere said...

3-0 on Manny...and ball 4.

Jere said...

a grasscutter to short but mik3 lol still out easily

allan said...

mike slowell

Jere said...

get another DP, Wicked Lester

Jere said...

there it is! DP

allan said...

could someone get that guy with the horn ejected?

Jere said...

mark ellis burks up, as a horn and drums play from the stands. NESN should just turn off the mic that's picking that up. 4 pitch walk to Delta Burke.

Jere said...

Barton finks out on a pop to Slowell, inning over

allan said...

i love guys who hack after a 4-pitch BB.

Jere said...

yeah that's a no-no. Kangaroo court will fine his finky ass.

Hillel Greene said...

I'm following the game at work off of MLB Gameday, but it is pretty slow. Any alternate suggestions?

allan said...

i forgot to tell you that the day after you came up with the wicked lester name, one of the sites i download toons from had a set wicked lester demos from 74 or so. i got them for the hell of it -- maybe i'll up them on an off-day.

Rob said...

Welcome back, Mr. Drew.

Jere said...

solid single by Bible Diet boy.

allan said...

I'm using CBS when I miss pitches.

DREW -- ON FIRE !!!!!

Rob said...

Tough luck DP.

allan said...

poop.

Jere said...

Drew doubled up at first --took one extra pause and was screwed.

Jere said...

and coco pops out to left. 0-0 through 3.5

Jere said...

nice job on the Wicked Lester score. I don't think I've ever actually heard WL.

Rob said...

I like CBS' scoreboard. Interesting considering CBS itself doesn't cover baseball at all.

allan said...

PC:

Harden: 25-13-18 7 = 63
Lester: 23-10-10 = 43

Patrick said...

Hey guys. Joinin' the fun.

I'm calling for a 1-2-3 inning for lester here.

Hillel Greene said...

Thanks for the tip.

allan said...

remy should be forced to buy commercial time on nesn or stfu.

Jere said...

Remy again does the "I Want You" line. I still say the Uncle Sam of RSN should be saying that.

Mike Sweeney--hey they've got Barton Fink and Sweeney Todd. Anyway, Sweeney walks. Call him "Todd walker."

allan said...

Walked Lester

allan said...

dp pls.

Jere said...

patrick wrong

Patrick said...

so much for that....

Patriots Film said...

"Still, if I had to bet money on one guy on the team to get on base in any given game, I'd probably choose Jacoby."

???

even with his ridiculous hot streak last season, Papi was on base far more.

"If Jacoby's OBP is .350 that's 20 points higher than Coco last year and Coco overall in his career. But it's gonna a lot higher than that, I'd say."

Yes, which is why I said if his OBP is below .350, he's basically Coco- a little more OBP, a little less SLG, a little less defense. Neither are guys you want up top of the order, anyway.

Ellsbury's minor league career is .390 OBP. To suggest he'll vault above that to be the best on this team is not a bet I'd make. Even Youk lost a significant amount of OBP in the majors vs. minors.

Besides, if you accept that Tito is going to alternate Coco and Jacoby, and you surely don't want Coco up top, perhaps it would be better to keep Pedroia up top, where he is proven and comfortable, at least until the choice between Coco and Jacoby is made. By that time, we'll have a slightly better idea of what Jacoby is capable of, and then we can make the switch if necessary. But to suggest Tito's hurting the team by putting two .390 OBP men in front of Papi and Manny is silly.

This is quite out of place now, but I was watching the game. I won't respond any more- the only point I wanted to make was that we need to temper our expectations of Jacoby. Hard to do with the Sox, but he's a rookie. Let him develop, see what happens.

Jere said...

walk-ed lester, nice

Rob said...

Bob Lobel is leaving WBZ. That's rather surprising news.

allan said...

after the kust K,

lester with
27 balls
26 strikes

Patrick said...

Patriot, I hope we don't regret not getting Santana for Jacoby and Lester.

Please prove us right, Lester!

Jere said...

I said, if I had to choose a guy who I think will get on base. Not, "If I looked at last year's stats."

Patrick said...

YA DREW!!!!

Jere said...

Orsillo didn't even realize the guy was gonna get doubled off...

Patrick said...

There was your double play, what was that, 7-3?

s1c said...

Sweeney has been hanging around emil Brown too much. Could do with out the pitching duel though.

Patriots Film said...

patrick- believe it or not, I'm definitely cool with not making that trade. I'm not down on Lester or Ellsbury at all. I love watching homegrown kids win World Series games :)

Santana would've been nice...If we could've made a trade with the quality of prospects the Mets sent over, well hell yeah, I would've done it in a heartbeat.

allan said...

9-3.

Jere said...

Just meant Jacoby's a guy I'd like to see up there. Of course, there are a lot of guys in this lineup I like to see up there.

I wanna see the replay of this throw "to" first by Drew. That play was like the Evans play in the '75 Series on drugs.

Patrick said...

Hoping Papi busts out in style next inning.

Jere said...

9-3

Patriots Film said...

Jere- there's the replay. Hey, at least it made JD laugh!!!1

Come on bats!

Jere said...

no bunt.

allan said...

NO -- No bunting in the 5th. Jesus.

Jere said...

I know, that was a huge laugh for Drew.

allan said...

remy: take your unenlightened bunting ideas back to the dark ages of the 1970s. we use brains now.

s1c said...

Maybe JD is tired of the "no emotion tag", a fist pump in the ALCS last year and now we get laughter.

C'mon Youk.

Patriots Film said...

This game is actually turning out to be a great reminder of the vagaries of baseball. Inconsistent offense, getting out of jams, bad baserunning...it's training for not having heart attacks in a mid-August bat-drought!

Jere said...

Youk Ks swinging

allan said...

Lester at 58 thru 4 -- he should be able to go 7 if he doesn't implode.

We saw Jeemer and Bot last night -- will Tito go with MDC today? (Wouldn't mind seeing some Aaaaardsman also.)

Jere said...

Papi Jeter's on into the opposite field for a 1B

Jere said...

Manny Ks swinging. 3 pitch K.

Rob said...

Hard to believe this game is still scoreless.

Patrick said...

Sigh, we need the heart of the order to be mean. It's early yet.

allan said...

5 PM -- time for a beer.

Jere said...

Time for a Cherry-flavored soft drink...and Newman-O's with a hint o' mint.

Drew makes the catch, one out.

allan said...

OAK - 2 hits and 3 walks, yet only one guy has made it to second base.

allan said...

Got a couple of cans of Asahi, the Japanese beer Dice did a commercial for last year. Worked last night -- we'll see how it does today.

Rob said...

I'd have a beer at 4:59, just to be rebellious.

Jere said...

Can o' Corn for C o C o.

allan said...

the time of the comment was 4:58.

i'm a bad man.

s1c said...

Ish - did Uncle Joe say why he is doing this game solo?

Jere said...

Lowell gets glove on foul pop. No catch. Kathleen Hanna-han stays at plate.

Rob said...

Speaking of bad men. Lester K's another one.

Jere said...

foul tip in to mitt. Tek intangibly holds on. 0-0 thru 5.

Benjamin said...

I'd pick Papi to get on base, but I'd pick Jacoby to do something once he gets there. (Banal enough?)

Jere said...

I assume O'Brien is doing another game (in NY I guess?) and Rish nor Arnold won't go out to Cali for one game.....

allan said...

Okay we get runs here.

Doc
Drew
&
Dreck


(... just kidding, tek!)

Rob said...

Ish - did Uncle Joe say why he is doing this game solo?

Dave O'Brien is in Yankeeland tonight for the TOR/MFY on ESPN2.

Dave actually left halfway through the game last night. He did innings 2, 3, and 4, and then Joe did the rest of the game. It's strange because they have more broadcasters than they did last year, and Joe's doing a game solo today.

allan said...

harden gone!!!

go bbats

Jere said...

Wicked!

s1c said...

Time to light up the pen, lets go boys.

allan said...

ouch.

Rob said...

Ow. Flank shot.

Jere said...

Lowell plunked in ribs. I could hear him say "ow"

allan said...

Harden (5-4-0-4-6, 86)

s1c said...

Ouch! that had to hurt

Rob said...

He'll be feeling that one in the morning. And the one after that. And the one after that.

Jere said...

the payoff pitch coming. (Ish, tell me if Castig says it)

Jere said...

Drew involved in three double plays today.

s1c said...

Fragging kidding me.

Jere said...

The A's paid in full on that payoff pitch.

Jere said...

3-0. Take it to 3-1, then make up for last night's non-dong, Jason. Nope, ball 4.

Rob said...

Five walks for the Red Sox. No runs.

allan said...

sox -- 5 walks and 4 hits -- and 0 runs. only 1 runner to third.

Jere said...

single coco, now Cora will knock in game's first run.

allan said...

feels like a 2-out tease to me.

Jere said...

Embree in! Captain Cheese! Love to see it. We must put runs on board!

Rob said...

(Ish, tell me if Castig says it)

I missed it, heh.

Earlier I was out driving and another trademark call from Joe: "The pitch is outside - oh no, it's a strike. A late strike call by (insert umpire name here)."

allan said...

Tito: Lugo's hitting .400!

Jere said...

This ump has made some delayed calls, though. He did it to Papi on strike 3.

Jere said...

another owie. Cora HBP. Loaded.

Rob said...

more plunkage. bloody hell.

Rob said...

Gordon Edes (keeping Joe company): "Here's a chance for Pedroia to do something special for his homies."

He's got a lot of family and friends there today.

Rob said...

10 LOB.

allan said...

LOB-otomy.

s1c said...

A's high tight and plunking people, and again 3 LOB, geez. Where the frag is the offense?

Jere said...

Taking the LOBlaw into our own hands.

Jere said...

Youk with another non-error.

Rob said...

Good play on a bad hop for Youk. Keeps that errorless streak alive. I wasn't worried...

Jere said...

2 quick outs for Wicked Lester.

Rob said...

First time that the Royals are 2 games above .500 since April 11th... 2004.

Amy said...

Hi all. Been listening on the radio (no Jere cast today?) and finally got home. 0-0 after six. Hmmm. How's Lester been doing, besides not giving up any runs?

Rob said...

Lester's pitch count is relatively low, isn't it? He's at what... 84 now?

allan said...

"can it corey a apple" is up

Jere said...

"Kansas City Royals: Forever Champions."

s1c said...

Royals first time 2 games over .500 since 2004 (4-2).

Sock did you see D'Onofrio's predictions? He also has posted 54 outs predictions. I liked this one
3. The Sox will eventually settle on this lineup: Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Ramirez, Youkilis, Lowell, Drew, Varitek, Lugo. Yup, that means you're paying 6-9 a total of $45.5 million this year. So be it.

Jere said...

Line out short. 0-0 thru six.

Rob said...

Tavarez is stupid.

Tries to catch the foul ball with his bare hands. Comes up wincing. With no ball.

allan said...

hey amy:

lester has been solid. also been houdini-like with DPs in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. a few 4-pitch BB but overall, quite nice.

Rob said...

Corey could probably scare an apple into coring itself with those non-lip lips.

allan said...

D'Onofrio ... has posted 54 outs predictions.

54 outs???

Jere said...

Amy: I had people scorin' tix left and right on my blog today. Pavilion standing room for June weeknights available. Your school should be out then. Love the view from up there. Got some for myself....

allan said...

Sid at 87 pitches. Both pens quiet.

Benjamin said...

87 pitches. Bring Lester back out for a rare seventh inning?

Jere said...

I thought Tavarez had that one!

Amy said...

YOUK!!

Jere said...

Double! Yooooooooouk

Rob said...

Yooooouk double bagging one to left center.

Amy said...

leadoff double. LET'S SCORE!

Jere said...

DONGGGGGGGGG Papi!!

Rob said...

Scoreless no more!

s1c said...

Papi Dong!!!!!!!!!

Yeah boy!!!!!

Ron said...

Papi comes up BIG. Thanks Hombre...

Amy said...

YES!!! PAPI feeling better!

allan said...

I LOVE TO SEE THAT MAN'S DONG!!!!

allan said...

FLO giving us some Good Times.

Rob said...

Oh, Manny. That was close.

Jere said...

Manny--caught at top of wall in straightaway center.....

tim said...

TIZZLE!

s1c said...

Crap, thought we were going to get a back to back

54 outs???

27 outs per team

allan said...

Heh -- Manny can't believe it stayed in.

Ron said...

Manny got Truped there.

Jere said...

Lowell pops up and clearly states "god damn it."

Rob said...

Manny should still feel good about that AB though. He launched it. Just - a couple of feet short.

Jere said...

Stretch time at Fenway in Oakland.

Rob said...

The expression on Manny's face was priceless, though. I wonder if any of the photographers caught his expression.

s1c said...

Lester into the 7th!! Celebrate good times!!!!

Would like to see a quick 1-2-3.

allan said...

My beer gets the job done.

Rob said...

I wonder if they'll play Sweet Caroline in the middle of the 8th.

Other places are. LA and Washington.

allan said...

corey and lopez up

allan said...

bot threw 16 pitches last night

Amy said...

OK, gtg eat dinner. I am feeling very confident though. Keep the positive karma going.

Jere said...

.55555 strike percentage for Lester

allan said...

OK, gtg eat dinner.

What, no hitting F5 on the laptop at the dinner table???

s1c said...

Bot threw 16 last night, but Tito said on the pregame he probably would not be in tonight.

Rob said...

Can anyone think of any better outings they've seen from Lester?

Jere said...

2 quick outs for Lester

«Oldest ‹Older   1 – 200 of 514   Newer› Newest»