Red Sox - 100 112 300 - 8 13 0Beckett (6.2-4-2-2-7, 90) retired 18 of 20 batters from the first inning through the seventh, Jason Bay went 4-for-5, Dustin Pedroia had two RBI-singles (26 straight road games!), Jacoby Ellsbury had two singles and two stolen bases (his first SBs since July 1), and Jed Lowrie smacked another triple.
Royals - 100 000 100 - 2 5 2
Bizarre play: You've probably already seen it. In the seventh, Bay hit a drive to deep left-center. CF Mitch Maier leapt at the wall and the ball hit off the tip of his glove. It then rolled along the top of the wall (towards left field) for 12-15 feet before LF Ross Gload jumped up, swiped the ball off the wall back towards the field, caught it and fired it into the infield. Bay ended up with a double.
Screen shots (the out-of-town scores change after the second picture):
And some advice to the parents of the kid who brought the anti-Manny sign to the park: When your sign refers to a player as stupid, you should make sure all of the words are spelled correctly.
The sign (shown on FSN at the start of the bottom of the ninth, sadly edited out of mlbtv's archived game) read: "Just Manny Bein'n Manny" -- with the second "Manny" crossed out and the word "Stupid" written off to the side.
"Bein'n"?
Tampa Bay beat Cleveland 8-4 and Texas held off New York 8-6. ... Red Sox still 3 GB, Yankees 6.5 GB.
***
Josh Beckett (4.15, 107 ERA+) / Brian Bannister (5.33, 82 ERA+)
I've has this link sitting around for awhile and I'm pretty sure I never posted it.
Seattle Times, April 20, 2008:
Ask [Bannister] how deeply he has delved into statistical analysis, and he says, "Oh, as deep as anybody. I've gone as deep as you could go, so far."SI's Jon Heyman has an article examining the apparent nuts and bolts of last week's trade. (Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also has a few nuggets.
If there's a Web site or book that presents some provocative new way of looking at baseball and its numbers, chances are strong Bannister has checked it out.
"What it has stirred up is really fun," he said. "Because here's a whole group of baseball fans that were kind of outcasts, or ignored, or everyone said they were crazy. The truth is coming out that they have some interesting things to say. If I can bridge that gap a little bit, I'm happy to do that."
Alex Eisenberg (who runs Baseball Intellect) has an article at The Hardball Times: "Why Jason Bay Makes The Red Sox A Better Team".
Scoreboard Watching: Spiders/Rays at 7 PM and Yankees/Rangers at 8 PM
460 comments:
1 – 200 of 460 Newer› Newest»Amy's Birthday Oatmeal:
1. J.D. Drew, RF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. Jason Bay, LF
7. Jed Lowrie, SS
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Does anyone here have a possible reason why the Sox would be interested in Joe Borowski? I'm not sure I would even release Timlin for that guy. What's the point? Anyone?
Interesting story about Bannister!
Speaking of Bannister, Joe Posnanski has an article on an interesting new statistic in development (inspired, in part, by Brian Bannister) called the Ziegler number, which purports to examine the effectiveness of ground ball pitchers: http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/08/01/b-log-the-ziegler-numbers/
I like it because (in its current form, anyway) it makes Jon Lester look really good.
Happy B-day Amy!!! (triple digits are getting closer).
Bannister - Joe Posnanski has his own Banny Log, which was one of the reasons why I was looking forward to tonights game, only Joe is on his way to Beijing.
Did Lowell get the shot yesterday or before he left Boston. I'm surprised to see him in the line up if he got the cortisone on Monday. I thought they had to allow 24 hours after the shot before he played.
Happy Birthday Amy!
Hi all. I've been away for a few weeks with no TV and only occasional internets (enough to ignore my piling up email). Went out west for the 13th annual Grassroots Radio Conference in Portland and to see my parents--which included a stay on the Oregon coast, a day hike in the Olympics, general hanging about and plenty more. Sadly not much baseball.
And, I won't be here again tonight until perhaps late. Leaving to film the Governor in a few minutes, then meetings.
but...hi!
Interesting article by Eisenberg. He does good work with the break downs.
Bannister, for those that don't know, is being followed by Joe Posnanski, with every start of his being written about on Posnanski's incredibly brilliant and inexplicably free blog. Apparently Bannister, on top of being a fan of statistical analysis, is supposed to be a half-decent pitcher as well.
Nice to see Lowell back in the lineup tonight. Hope he's doing better and Ortiz's click isn't much of a problem. A start from Beckett better than his last would be nice as well.
Happy Birthday Amy!
Hey Nick!
Doubt I will be around to thread tonight early on, gotta BBQ my chicken so I'll be doin' that while watching via Slingbox. Afterwards, who knows...
Solid oatmeal. Would've flipped Lowell and Bay though, given Lowell's struggles...
Jack: It is completely inappropriate to level accusations against fellow posters and then ignore any and all requests for evidence of these alleged attacks against you?
I suppose you can accuse and run -- and pop up in the next thread acting as though nothing has happened -- but it's hardly the type of behaviour I would expect from an ethicist.
Happy Birthday Amy! She's not expected on the game thread tonight, they're having a family birthday dinner.
Hi Nick! Sounds like a great trip. We were just talking about the Oregon coast. Plus we have another indie radio guy here now - not on thread tonight because it's a Tuesday night show at WFMU. But keep an eye out for efd on future threads.
Borowski? Oh lordy, no.
Offense breaks out tonight. Happy Birthday, Amy. Blogger out of commission for 10 minutes at 7 PM eastern. Good thing the game's at 8.
l-girl, I'll be in touch with efd during the show tonight. That's assuming I stay awake... I'm dead on my feet now.
Oh, and happy birthday Amy, my big sister!
As I said before about Borowski and Wilson. WTF Theo?
Joe Posnanski - ah, yes. Every time I read his stuff, I think, "I've got to put this on my regular rotation."
And then I don't.
Time to remedy that!
You know, every time I read someone refers to Bay as J-Bay, I immediately think "jailbait". How's that for a nickname? (;
Check out the Heyman SI link for more on the Mets and Manny. Sounds like they were avoding MBM and made up a public story about the Sox asking for too much.
Joe Posnanski - ah, yes. Every time I read his stuff, I think, "I've got to put this on my regular rotation."
And then I don't.
Time to remedy that!
Trouble is, there about literally dozens of top-notch baseball blogs you could/should check out. And then there are all the great blogs for your other interests. (Plus all the great blogs you have not discovered yet!!!)
It can be a full time job and you always feel you are missing something. Sigh.
Jailbait: I like it!
Redsock: I was not aware of the thread following my comments; I apologize for not being more attentive. Even though the Red Sox are always Number One among my priorities or close to it, there's been a lot going on here lately. I will return to that thread and respond. I certainly did not intend to be a hit-and-run poster. Again, I apologize. I can certainly see where that would seem onnoxious. It was not my intent, and you should know that I do not shy from conflict.
Redsock - did you see this Lohud Rare Cancer Took Babe Ruth Dentist Says at baseball think factory? (via shysterball)
Borowski wtf?
Wtf indeed.
No matter what comes between us, we are all united in the thought:
Borowski wtf?
Royals manager has been suspended for tonights game.
Great story about Brian Bannister. And of course he's on our all-house team, turning the double play with Matt Stairs.
It can be a full time job and you always feel you are missing something. Sigh.
And if you're trying to write your own blog as well, and you have to earn a living, and you might just want to do things that don't involve sitting at a computer... you have to seriously limit your blog reading. I know I miss tons of great stuff, but there are so many hours in a day.
Remy - "I think it scared him a little bit last night."
Remy on HH - "he's putting extra pressure on himself. He kept the team in the game and settled the game down. He just needs a clean game"
Remy on Captain kick ass - "its his location. More pitches over the plate and he has had some bad run support. I think everything is just the same its just location."
Obviously not word for word because I can't type that fast.
Macha is actually being pretty good tonight. Then again ever since he helped out my friend earlier this year I've gone easier on him.
Now.
8:00 pm.
Soon after 8:00.
I can't believe you guys crested 1,000 comments last night - without me! Against the Royals, no less!
As for me, we've lost internet at the house until Friday so I won't be taking part in game threads until then. It feels weird. Tough stretch of time around here, but we will persevere.
Great story about Brian Bannister. And of course he's on our all-house team, turning the double play with Matt Stairs.
Jose Mesa on that team?
Yay, we're back!
s1c, I remember that re Macha. It's always nice to find out someone is a decent human being. (As I think most people are.)
Ish, oh nooooo! We will miss you! Good luck weathering this shitty time. "This too shall pass."
Jose Mesa on that team?
Damn right! He might be the captain.
We have a resister-lawyer friend up here named Jeffry House. Doesn't play baseball but really should be an honourary member.
Thanks for the spinach pics!!!!
Borowski is a typical Theo move -- no risk, possible reward (however small).
Thanks for the spinach pics
About damn time you helped out Tim. This team needs all the spinach it can get when on the road. (Popeye the sailor man)
Your pregame dose of grossness:
WTF!
CLE: 10
FKR: 1
I think we need Papi the Walkoff Man to return....except for the fact that walkoffs aren't possible on the road.
I'll take Papi the RBI machine.
CLE: 10
FKR: 1
I hope I'm not the only one that got giddy when I read this as 10-1.
Hovering over the URL is enough to make me avoid that link. I must admit to having a Joba-like reaction to bugs.
CLE: 10
FKR: 1
I hope I'm not the only one that got giddy when I read this as 10-1.
I was just thinking that they must have had a monster 2nd inning... shame it's not true.
I've got a good feeling about tonight. A win would top off a wonderful day, good news at work today, got an awesome day of training tomorrow planned and BH got good news from the Doc. A win would just cap the day so its time to bring back a pre game a little dance.
Watch the volume.
Tris Speaker on the house team? A bit of a stretch I'd say.
turned on the TV on a randon ei channel -- and saw jhonny hit a dnog! 3-1!
Goddamn, chicken takes a long time to cook.
I must admit to having a Joba-like reaction to bugs.
Heh, I don't blame you. I don't get that queazy normally, but it was pretty bad. Wild nonetheless.
Varitek is hitting .220?!?!? WOW.
Anyone else just see the Hardee's commercial -- we have the KC feed -- with the guy with the bat creeping through his house?
In about half the shots, the guy looks *exactly* like me. I saw the first one and said "holy shit, it's me!"
That was very weird. Thank goodness in some of them he does not look like me.
Which reminds me -- before one of the NYY WS appearances, the Daily News printed a pic of a guy sleeping out for tickets. It was my exact double!
Heh, I've seen a couple body doubles of myself and yes, definitely a WHOA moment.
Why I am more worried about the Royals vs the White Sox.
2003-2007 Sox 7-8 vs Royals on the road. Vs the White Sox - 15-5 on the road.
It is on!!!
That's really funny because looking thru my Fenway pics from Sunday, I saw shat appeared to be YOU sitting in the stands right next to the Sox dugout! (YOU meaning redsock)
There was a picture of a guy who looked exactly like me in the New York Times, out protesting something in the town where I went to college (Amherst). His hair was long, and my mother called me and told me to go get a haircut.
TEAHEN SUCK!
"what appeared to be you," that should read. But it's funny I got to write "shat." Drew just shat on that pitch and set the table against Bannister.
teahen is not a good RF (this series)
Thank you Teahen (-5 sp).
That better have been a fucking bluff. If Pedroia is bunting, I'm losing all faith in humanity.
I love this lineup order. Switch Bay and Lowell and I'd have passionate sex with it.
jere can you send me the pic?
Evening, everybody...well, afternoon for me, but evening for most of y'all, I'm sure.
Happy birthday to Amy! Sorry I didn't mention it in my first post in this thread...too busy plugging Posnanski, I guess. :p
I've got Gameday up, and I'll be doing some writing and keeping my eye on this and the CLE/TB and TEX/NYY games tonight. Good times!
well that sucked. Trade him
BAhhhhhhhh, at least DP is at 2nd.
I'm here, but I need some non-computer time. I'll just come around to cheer for our dongs and runs, which will be many.
Phil, you must be feeling better if you're going to have sex with the whole lineup.
cheer for our dongs and runs, which will be many.
L-girl feeling the power of the spinach!!!
Phil!
With regards to that Vidro conversation late last night, FJM's got an article on it
I will post the pic and link....
Nice job by Drew staying rundown long enough
One-zip us.
SHIFT THIS
zenslinger: remind me whether you went to Amherst, UMass, or Hampshire.
Jere still owes us Nebraska stories.
Run(s) are good.
Papi sez "Take your shift and shove it!"
AY PAPI! Always nice to start off with a run in the 1st.
Everybody safe!!!
Sweaty wheels!
Find Allan.
Laura: don't be silly. Tito will never swap Bay and Lowell.
what's that old saying - the sweaty wheel gets the base?
crap, that hurt.
Poor baserunning inning. At least we got one.
Time to finish cooking this meal. Be back later, possibly.
That's what you get when you have an aggressive base-stealer on second...ha
We miss you, Lowell. Get well soon.
tex 2-0 - still bot 1st
tim: I still like DJW's take from last month on Vidro.
Worst DH ever.
Hinske up with two on and no outs.
Esteban German... didn't he use to be like, pretty good. Posting >.400 OBPs, and stuff? What the hell happened to him? And why is he batting second?
To answer the question: I was a Nebraska Husker football fan growing up. No one knows where it came from. When it came to time to start looking at colleges, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life or where I wanted to go to school. So I visited a bunch of schools, and put U of N on my list. I loved the city of Lincoln and just went ahead and went there. Everybody accused me of "going to school on a farm" yet the irony was I was in a city, as opposed to where we all grew up in the woods of CT, despite its proximity to NYC. So that's why I went to Nebraska. 1993-1995. Fun, huh?
So what's the call, Allan? Did I just think that guy looked like you because of the white hat, like the one you have on in your book jacket photo? Or did you think he looked like you?
And why is he batting second?
Just a wild guess here, but I would say because he's playing for the <.500 KC Royals.
Heh, zenslinger went to Amherst. Guess I shouldn't mention I did too.
Oh, and no, I'm not proud of probably the two most famous Nebraska Huskers right now: Joba and Larry the freakin Cable Guy
aw jeez edith
3-3 CLE. FKRs.
Ah, Jesus - "in play, run(s)". What the F is going on with Josh?
have not rec'd the pic yet
Kim: Oh, man, against the Royals?? The shittiest of the shitty.
Me: Supposedly they've been playing well lately.
Kim: Yeah, last night and tonight!
At least it was only one run.
I posted a link to the pic in a comment
jacoby had to come in a long way to catch that. 2 out.
The other day at Fenway they were giving away Jacoby Ellsbury one red sleeves from Infused-O Water. It was, apparently, Jacoby Ellsbury day. Ellsbury sat in favor of Coco Crisp.
Nice to see a 1-0 lead tonight. Last night was about as close as you could get to tying a game, it seemed like.
So, I'm at my sister's apartment - we just had a very nice little dinner. Made a package of chicken and prosciutto tortellini and a chicken breast with a southwest style rub on it. The chicken breast was given to us free at the store, interestingly enough. A little promotion they're doing.
So we'll be going for a bit of a walk and then I'll be proceeding back home to internetlessness. Enjoy the game!
Maybe a little ...
I asked L to look: She asked which one is supposed to be Allan?
So.....
4-3 FKRs.
Nice to see a 1-0 lead tonight.
Past tense?
Blech, too bad about the error. At least Josh hitched up his boot straps and got out of the inning.
james, I saw those on the Saturday Yankee game two weeks ago, along with shirts that said "Jacoby" on the back, with the O being the logo of the water. Was clueless as to what those were till I found out later on the internet. Was that the day you saw them, too?
Lowrie catch by Aviles
KC TV just a tad overexcited on that P6.
I just lost the video feed. Rats.
3-0 TEX.
Alex Gordon with a base hit. (Another Nebraska guy...)
OK, weirdly, I can only get the video feed through Mosaic, not in the browser, right now.
Fine with me. Four games up.
Really great diving play by Lowrie going to his right and he makes the play at first.
I believe it was that Yankees game. It was the day after the last day Jacoby led off.
Hey, I'm trying to have a public profile as per the wishes of the management, but I'm having some trouble. It keeps bringing me to the same two pages where it asks me to put in a password. I put in the right password, and it goes to the other of the two pages.
Not that there is likely to be anything of interest in that profile. A long-aborted blog that attempted to listen to every disk of the Merzbox over the course of 50 days. I made it about 5 discs in, if I remember.
Anyway, what the hell am I doing wrong?
James, I'm seeing that your profile is public.
james - do you have a blogger/google acct? maybe log into that first?
CI DP.
You must already be logged in, James, because you're commenting. Try (if you haven't already) clicking on your name in the comment. That should take you to your profile, and you should be able to edit it.
L sees it too.
Ok, lets get the bats smoking here. Time for Peds to get that 26 game hitting streak.
Can Drew lead off for the Sox forever?
Got truped on that one.
FY needs to go some roids to get that extra 15 feet of distance.
FY needs to go some roids
especially since Gammons thinks Manny was worse than the roids.
Nuts.
Hold them Captain Kick ass.
Did Papi get a new helmet? It looks like it's sitting higher on his head. And it's shiny.
Outs on 3-0 pitches make Baby Jesus cry.
Cool. I got it. Now if I say anything bad about Manny will no longer be anonymous.
By the way, that sucked. Ortiz cannot catch a break.
worse than the roids.
Nuts.
You can have roids, or nuts, but not both.
Manny just got a single.
Nice, that last pitch.
A-Rod DP
Six J names in the starting ten. A record?
I'll just sit here and talk to myself.
Three swinging Ks for Josh in that inning
I'm clearly talking.
Six J names in the starting ten. A record?
It's a generational thing, I'd guess.
My son, basically the age of a lot of these guys, went all the way through school with everyone seemingly having initial J.
Yeah, I'm that age, too. But is it a record? Gotta be close.
I'm clearly talking.
Now you are!
Beckett looks filthy tonight.
It's incredible that Beckett's curve may not be the best curve on the staff. I think Buchholz may have one of the top two or three curves in the majors. If he can convince himself to trust the fastball, he could be very, very scary.
"It may have hit a thread on my jersey." --Pete Rose in the '75 WS. (Lowell was just hit by a pitch, across the front of the jersey.)
Bay! Knocks home Lowell on a double one hop off the wall.
Bay!
SLOWELL SCORES FROM FIRST!!!!!!!!!
The Bay State Bomber comes through!
Mike Lowell is slow as shit.
yay
I always feel weird comparing these game threads to the ones I read at RLYW; these threads have their share of doom and gloom and agony, but for the most part things stay pretty much upbeat. RLYW, on the other hand...my God, you'd think that team was 51-61 instead of the other way around. I mean, I know they've had a tough season of injuries (as though the Sox haven't...), but there is a weird expectation that the team's going to lose, and every opposing run scored is a harbinger of hellfire and brimstone. Most MLB teams would KILL for the lineups the Yankees trot out every night, and yet nobody on that team can hit, every pitcher sucks, and no lead is safe. Just kinda strange. And I'm not knocking those guys, either - it's a very intelligent bunch at RLYW. Just pointing that out.
Hooray for Bay! Stupid Gameday totally left that play out, and I had to check here to see that a run had scored.
oh man... infield in works, grounder right to the guy.
GDGD is now putting the current batter over the last batter. So it looks like the 5 guy bats after the 3 guy. It is a new glitch.
I think Sabes is the answer
Murphy sac fly. 4-0 Tex.
He's carrying that team.
I show Davis getting the Scrotum Fly for Texas
teKK.
Balfour comes in with the spiders sacked.
Tek is absolutely cooked. If GDGD is any indication, that pitch was dead center, and he swung right through it. Tito really, REALLY needs to start thinking about benching him, at least for a little while.
but cash is clearly far worse than even a cooked tek. time to cut cash and try brown or kotteras from pawtucket.
Man, Beckett is getting no love on the outisde part of the plate to righties.
but cash is clearly far worse than even a cooked tek
At least Cash can throw out base stealers. Isn't he like at 30% and that is with the knuckler.
I was wrong. It was Tom Gordon, not Saberhagen. Only guy to K 400 dudes with Sox AND KC. (NESN trivia question.)
I'm with redsock on this one...I don't think Cash is the answer, either. If the C spot is going to be an offensive dead zone from here on out, might as well let a rookie come in and get some seasoning.
I just "can't put up with" Tek's "antics" at the plate anymore. "It's not worth it."
GDGD shat the bed, and I can't rouse it from its drunken stupor.
Francisco flies out to deep deep deep left center with the bases loaded. Still 4-3 FKRs.
Yanks are batting, top 5, 2 out, down 4-0
Well, given that the only two Red Sox I blogged about are now gone from the team, is there any one of those you'd like to suggest for my next entry?
I must use this power with care.
Now going bot 5, 4-0 us. Meaning Tex.
jere...is that your way of saying the Sox should try to move Tek for Russ Martin?
I love how KC can never take a pitch.
I'm joining a bit late and have just skimmed the comments so far, so apologies if this is a dupe.
JoeC/DaveO mentioned that Joba is going to see Dr Andrews for "a second opinion".
Dr Andrews: You're also ugly.
ALNM...I'm thinking most, if not all, the guys I'd want you to use your special power on won't be back next season, so it's a moot point. The offer is appreciated, though.
Jere beat me to it.
But then, a sloth on valium could beat me to it these days...
JoeC/DaveO mentioned that Joba is going to see Dr Andrews for "a second opinion".
All right, you're ugly too.
Yay for Bellsbury! He needed that.
KC PB guy shows AL SB leaders and informs us that they are "speedsters, all".
Really?
Slumpbuster for Ellsbury?
Anyone know how many bases Ellsbury has stolen lately?
KC PB guy shows AL SB leaders and informs us that they are "speedsters, all".
Really?
Maybe they all just get REALLY good jumps.
Mugro that was the first one since early july.
first sb in exactly a month, i believe
3-1 Boston Red Sox
It seems like it has been awhile. A month!! That is a long time for a guy like him.
Has he been told not to steal?
KC TV a bit surprised the Sox sent LBJ -- fuck the heck???
FY - yeah boy!!!
FY! Big run, AND the streak lives on!
On Pedroia's stroke
the Bannister broke
we need more runs
Were Pos not in Beijing, this start would definitely pain him. Bannister didn't even go 5. Ouch.
Let's keep those runs coming!
I hear this Ramirez pitcher is very lazy. Gives about 47%.
Sweet.
That's #26 on the road game hitting streak?
1000 looks out of reach tonight!
Judas triple.
We could start talking about violas again. It worked last night.
It would be REAL nice to not strand more runners in this inning.
I haven't seen these kinds of catches outside of a Mitch Maier highlight film.
Aw, fiddlesticks.
Lowell being Lowell. Looks like the end of the Lowell era. The distractions and antics are just "too much." Eventually you have to cut your losses and move on.
3-1, I'll take it.
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