September 7, 2008

G142: Red Sox 7, Rangers 2

Red Sox - 020 022 100 - 7 12  1
Rangers - 000 000 011 - 2 7 1
1.5 GB!

Byrd was dynamite (6.2-3-0-3-4, 102), holding the Rangers in check while his mates battered McCarthy. Francona was thus able to use whichever pitchers he wanted to in preparation for the Rays series that begins tomorrow night in Fenway.

And once again, it was a team effort from the lineup.
Ellsbury - RBI single, BB
Pedroia - RBI single, BB
Ortiz - 2-run HR, single
Youkilis - double
Bay - solo HR, single
Casey - single, run
Varitek - single, run
Cora - RBI triple, BB
Crisp - RBI single, double, walk, 2 runs, SB
Toronto shutout Tampa Bay 1-0, completing a three-game sweep of the Rays. Los Angeles beat the White Sox 3-2 and Detroit beat Minnesota 7-5 -- so the Red Sox increased their WC lead to 6.5 games.

And Seattle beat New York 5-2, dropping the Yankees into fourth place!

***

Paul Byrd (4.58, 97 ERA+) / Brandon McCarthy (2.25, 192 ERA+)

RHP McCarthy has made only three starts this season: 16 IP, 13 H, 5 BB, 9 K.

Even after going 1-for-7 in the last two games against Texas, Dustin Pedroia is still batting .537 over his last 10 games. Since June 14 (70 games/335 PA), FY is batting .395/.437/.628!

Since August 18, Coco Crisp has hit .469 (23-for-49).

***

Out-of-town:
Rays/Blue Jays at 1
Tigers/Twins at 2
Angels/White Sox at 2
Yankees/Mariners at 4
East
Rays 85 55 --- Magic #
Red Sox 83 58 2.5 20
Yankees 76 66 10.0 12
Blue Jays 75 66 10.5 12
Orioles 63 78 22.5 E

Wild Card
Red Sox 83 58 --- Magic #
Twins 78 64 5.5 16
Yankees 76 66 7.5 14
Blue Jays 75 66 8.0 14

382 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 382 of 382
efd said...

oh, I knew who drove it in - THAT WAS YOUR BOY! :)

allan said...

From 5.5 to 1.5 in a week.
Very nice.

Rob said...

Oi. Coco and Bay exchanging each other's insurance information on that one.

Jere said...

near-miss. Coco almost bulldozed by Bay. Catch made. No one hurt.

A Conformer said...

Pardon the overconfidence, but CWS and MIN scores are close to irrelevant already.

laura k said...

From 5.5 to 1.5 in a week.
Very nice.


Fucking unbelievable!!

And:

That was my boy!!

Jere said...

"Pardon the overconfidence, but CWS and MIN scores are close to irrelevant already."

But CWS are playing the Angels. We're fighting them for best overall record.

efd said...

Coco and Bay exchanging each other's insurance information on that one.

I love that line. If I were a baseball announcer I'd start using it!

s1c said...

OTT - put this mf game out of reach.

A Conformer said...

"Pardon the overconfidence, but CWS and MIN scores are close to irrelevant already."

But CWS are playing the Angels. We're fighting them for best overall record.


Now that's something I can get behind.
Rooting for two different teams in different games of the same series. Amusing.

allan said...

Bravo Byrd!

83 thru 6.
Keep him going, Tito.

Benjamin said...

DET - 020 003 20
MIN - 012 010 10

Rob said...

DONG ALERT.

Jere said...

Canadian Dong-con

allan said...

MAPLE DONG!

Benjamin said...

Good. It's time Bay didn't have a shitty game this month.

s1c said...

Bay Dong!!!

dong dong the rangers are dead!!!

1.5 back!!! Looking good!!!

laura k said...

Canadian Dong-con

Doung?

nixon33 said...

bay-rod HR.

Rob said...

Bay's 100th run scored this season.

laura k said...

Dave O'B: This is one bad pitching staff.

Benjamin said...

Beltre dong. 2-2 SEA.

allan said...

Dave O'B: This is one bad pitching staff.

Hey, Dave, this team can hit a little bit, you know.

allan said...

I like "doung"

efd said...

bay-rod HR

speaking of which (kind of), SEA ties up the game on an Adrian Beltre 2R dong.

allan said...

I like "doung"

efd said...

oops, Phil beat me to it. Never mind!

Benjamin said...

Hey, Dave, this team can hit a little bit, you know.

Two great tastes that go great together.

Rob said...

This has been one of those little surprises of a week that really turns around the thinking.

Consider where the Red Sox and others were a week ago, and where they are now.

allan said...

Yeah, I feel like we are absolutely going to the playoffs and have a nice head of steam to try and overtake the slumping Rays.

laura k said...

Dave O'B: This is one bad pitching staff.

Hey, Dave, this team can hit a little bit, you know.


Both are true. As Phil and Reese's* pointed out.

* Called Reese in Canada.

allan said...

two sets of footprints as hamilton goes to first.

laura k said...

This has been one of those little surprises of a week that really turns around the thinking.

I know! I wish my thinking would catch up with the week.

laura k said...

two sets of footprints as hamilton goes to first.

I would rather everyone switch to vomit-inducing Michael Kay avatars than read this!!!!!

BARF

allan said...

If L saw these Rangers fans on My27, she's be projectile vomiting all over the place.

allan said...

I did it for Andy.

Jere said...

Shouldn't it be Dounge?

laura k said...

Nah, just add the U.

honour, favourite, harbour, etc.

Jere said...

no but Younge Street or whatever...or do I have that spelled wrong?

laura k said...

Yonge Street

Benjamin said...

DET - 020 003 200 - 7 13 1
MIN - 012 010 100 - 5 11 2

Twins lose.

Jere said...

Twins lose. If we hold on: WC: 7 up in the loss with 20 left.

allan said...

Fuck - couldn't get the last one.

HELL OF AN EFFORT, BYRD!

Up 7-0, Tito can plan ahead for the Rays and use whoever he wants to close this one out.

Jere said...

oh. See I never knew how to pronounce it, only how to spell it. But know that I know, the pronunciation is making me spell it wrong.

Jere said...

3-2 on a Seattle dong.

laura k said...

It's pronounced young, spelled Yonge.

Benjamin said...

Lopez dong. 3-2 SEA.

allan said...

NYY: 110 0
SEA: 002 1

still batting bot 4

allan said...

isn't it more like yawng than young?

allan said...

phil is stealing my thunder ...

Jere said...

pez dispenses the inning ending tablet

nixon33 said...

lopez: the new okijima?

hes been fucking great lately, i remember he first started sacking up in that yanks series in the bronx.

laura k said...

isn't it more like yawng than young?

Some people say "yaang" or "yong". Wiki says "young" and I hear that a lot. I dunno.

Either way, I'll go with "doung".

johngoldfine said...

Allan's numerical post on the near-impossibility of the RS hoping for anything but wild card convinced me. Why do I listen to anything but my wildly beating heart?

Jere said...

right. I'm sayin', ever since I learned it was "young," now I think there must be a U in there. I seriously never would've come up with "young" from Yonge. I thought it rhymed with Sid Monge. Or Sponge.

allan said...

the leaves start turning, the evenings are getting shorter and there is a nip in the night air, and everyone in a boston red sox uniform starts getting his shit together. that's what we do.

allan said...

Allan's numerical post on the near-impossibility of the RS hoping for anything but wild card convinced me.

I'm going to have to revisit that tomorrow morning!

Jere said...

Cora swinging at Benoit balls

johngoldfine said...

I would hope to hell, Allan. I didn't want to analyze it all out but once you did I enrolled in Hatin' Life 101. I feel better now.

nixon33 said...

HOLY MOLY FUNIX IS AWESOME!

Benjamin said...

FU Nix.

Jere said...

yesterday I said Coco's long fly balls always go out, they never are off the wall for a double. Just proved me wrong there.

s1c said...

Is a ball off the wall the same as bieng truped? Because I sure thought that one was gone.

efd said...

Coco only says "screw you, Nix" with that one.

allan said...

dong? dang.

laura k said...

Why do I listen to anything but my wildly beating heart?

Because you also have a brain.

I find the two are so often at war.

laura k said...

Why do I listen to anything but my wildly beating heart?

Because you also have a brain.

I find the two are so often at war.

Jere said...

I kind of wish the Sox' names were sewn on with individual letters like the Rangers have. Instead of the big patch.

Make him pay, Ls.

johngoldfine said...

Yeah, l-girl, but why am I listening to Allan's brain?

Benjamin said...

Nice catch, Teagarden.

allan said...

I wish they'd junk the names altogether.

laura k said...

Yeah, l-girl, but why am I listening to Allan's brain?

That, I don't know. :)

To make it worse, I think he was listening to mine!

laura k said...

unis w/o names > unis w/ names

Jere said...

"I wish they'd junk the names altogether."

Yes! But as long as they've got them...

Jere said...

the worst is the home unis with names they sell.

johngoldfine said...

Your basic chain o' fools, l-girl.

allan said...

Yes! But as long as they've got them...

... they can still get rid of them!

laura k said...

Your basic chain o' fools, l-girl.

Speak for yourself!

johngoldfine said...

Ordinarily I'm a name-not-a-number believer, but in baseball the name has a goal which is to make his number an icon (retired!) all by itself. So, I'm good with just a number.

Jere said...

Benoit balls > Benoit strikes


(That's my first time using the "greater than" thing on the internet! I feel the same....)

allan said...

Joaquin is busy joaquin Pedroia. (/jere)

Jere said...

That would be interesting. A uni with just the last name on the back.

johngoldfine said...

How about just nicknames ala JoS?

Jere said...

Joaquin Phoenix's Main St.

Rob said...

As far as Allan's post went a week or so ago, nobody was expecting the Rays to slip like they are. From the way they were playing (and if they continued at that pace), we'd still be right around 5 GB. Their's to lose and they're losing it.

Rob said...

Fuck Yeah
15

Rob said...

On Fire!!!
7

MDC
17

White Flag
50

Jere said...

Hey there's another goal for 2008. Mussina = exactly 19 wins.

Jere said...

"nobody was expecting the Rays to slip like they are."

That's an untrue statement:)

laura k said...

As far as Allan's post went a week or so ago, nobody was expecting the Rays to slip like they are.

Except Andy.

But I agree, Ish, that's what it's about. When a team has a big lead, they can keep it no matter what any other team does.

And they still might, you know. I'm not convinced the Rays are in a massive collapse. Every good team stumbles. We did last season - but never fell out of 1st.

laura k said...

And I guess except Jere too. :)

johngoldfine said...

Yeah, ish--moral of the story is not to get up to leave the game or the season before the last AB.

Jere said...

I can show you where I predicted a 10-17 month for the Rays for September, if you want. They have to do a little better than they are to reach that!

efd said...

speaking of Mussina, he just threw wide of first for an error, allowing the runner to go to 2nd.

This comes after A-Rod got picked off first, with Jeter on second. A-Rod took off for second, so Jeter had to try to get to third, and Jeter was out in a rundown.
With Giambi at bat.

Jere said...

okay, not predicted. Rooted for.

Jere said...

I wish a pitcher could get a half win, so Moose could finish 19.5 and 10.

laura k said...

okay, not predicted. Rooted for.

People forget there's a difference. I thought and still think the Rays will win the division. But that's not what I'm hoping for!

Rob said...

L, you thought the Red Sox weren't going to go to the playoffs. Or if they did, not win a game. G162.

efd said...

I'd like to see him get 19 with a couple of chances for 20, and he leaves each of those games with a win that the bullpen blows.

Ichiro (the runner who got to 2nd on the error) just scored, SEA up 4-2.

Jere said...

4-2 Seattle

allan said...

Every good team stumbles. We did last season - but never fell out of 1st.

Yeah, we got swept and humiliated by the Jays at Skydome in September too!

Rob said...

That's why a couple weeks ago I said it's interesting to hear what people's predictions are, and see how it plays out. That's why people predict how the season goes before the season actually starts. It's just something fun to talk about. But if you're wrong, no worries. It'd be quite an accomplishment to be right.

efd said...

EDIT: with a *lead* that the bullpen blows.

Jere said...

who brings green and white balloons to a Red Sox-Rangers game?

allan said...

I'd like to see him get 19 with a couple of chances for 20, and he leaves each of those games with a win that the bullpen blows.

With the non-white relievers doing the blowing ...

Rob said...

who brings green and white balloons to a Red Sox-Rangers game?

Maybe to match the ballpark?

laura k said...

It'd be quite an accomplishment to be right.

Or just luck.

Jere said...

I'd like to see a black family move next door to the Mussinas, at address #20.

Rob said...


Or just luck.


That too.

laura k said...

Yeah, we got swept and humiliated by the Jays at Skydome in September too!

That's what I've been thinking of as you guys are going nuts over the Rays getting swept here. "Where have I seen this movie before...?"

efd said...

posting this just to enter Texas Teagarden's dong off MDC into the official record.

laura k said...

L, you thought the Red Sox weren't going to go to the playoffs.

That's correct. I thought that.

The crazy thing is a part of me still does! I don't know why, we have such a good lead in the wild card. But I don't feel as optimistic as I usually do.

Jere said...

So what will it say about god when Hamilton relapses?

Jere said...

Arlington International Singletary

laura k said...

choose one:

he's being tested, he didn't believe hard enough, it's god's will, all of the above

allan said...

So what will it say about god when Hamilton relapses?

It's all part of His plan.

Rob said...

double-barreled action would mean a RHP and an LHP warming in the bullpen, right? Don called it that with two RHP's warming.

I still say I'm glad nobody else guessed the same date I did for Yankee Elimination Day. I'm not as confident about my predictions for a tie-breaker.

laura k said...

Where are we now in the YED race?

Jere said...

It's a gun accidentally manufactured with two right-barrels. It'll still kill ya.

Rob said...

And who's to say he's going to relapse? If he does, it's nobody's fault but his. Divine involvement takes blame away. Makes it sound like he couldn't control it.

laura k said...

And who's to say he's going to relapse?

I thought it was hypothetical, not predictive. I always hope a recovering addict can hang in there, no matter who s/he plays for.

Jere said...

god is like varitek with the pitching staff. If he cures your ass, he's treated like a...well, like himself. When you fuck up, you didn't pray hard enough.

laura k said...

If he cures your ass, he's treated like a...well, like himself. When you fuck up, you didn't pray hard enough.

Unless you're Jewish or Catholic.

Jere said...

I'm rooting for the relapse, then he kicks it again, but does it god-free, and then in interviews tells everyone "the god thing is bullshit! Do it yourself! Worked for me!"

I also am rooting for the Yanks to come calling for him, and he says No. Because everyone assumes he'll be a Yankee. I'd love it if he never becomes one.

laura k said...

I'm rooting for the relapse

Wow you're mean.

allan said...

BOT's gonna nail this one down!

Rob said...

I don't mind his believing that god helped him come back. Having that faith that there is someone by your side even if there's really nobody - it's better than nothing.

Benjamin said...

Why is Paps pitching?

Jere said...

"I'm rooting for the relapse

Wow you're mean."

You ignored the next line, though. Very key line. The part where he gets better again. Hey, it could be a five minute relapse!

allan said...

Why is Paps pitching?

Just a bit o' work before the Rays?

efd said...

i hate to be an early bailer, but I have to go to the grocery store and I'm starving (not a good combination, I know). I'll see you all tomorrow.

Jere said...

"I don't mind his believing that god helped him come back. Having that faith that there is someone by your side even if there's really nobody - it's better than nothing."

I still say depending on some invisible magic dude is bad for your health.

laura k said...

I still say depending on some invisible magic dude is bad for your health.

It would be bad for your health. But you're not him. It was clearly good for his health, since it helped save his life.

Rob said...

A little snort... Mmm. I needed that. Okay, I'm good for another couple years. And I don't need god!

Benjamin said...

Hamilton's a disgrace. All he proves is that you can do lots of heroin and still be great at baseball. What kind of message does that send our children?

Rob said...


I still say depending on some invisible magic dude is bad for your health.


Placebo effect.

Rob said...

Hamilton's a disgrace. All he proves is that you can do lots of heroin and still be great at baseball. What kind of message does that send our children?

Do you think he should have been allowed back into baseball?

laura k said...

You ignored the next line, though. Very key line. The part where he gets better again.

No, I saw it.

Hey, it could be a five minute relapse!

This could only be spoken by a man who's never done a drug in his life. :)

A man's life is more important than whether or not he subscribes to anyone else's belief system or lack of it.

Benjamin said...

Do you think he should have been allowed back into baseball?

Baseball's a disgrace too.

Rob said...

Tekballa.

Benjamin said...

Water.

Jere said...

Did anyone see the Curb episode where the Christian lady won't take pills for her pain, saying that god will take care of her? And then Larry says, "why not just pray for the TV to get fixed??"

1.5 back! All going to His plan!

Rob said...

First round of dirty water is on me!

Jere said...

Yanks five outs away from fourth place!

Jere said...

make it 4

Jere said...

PawSox 0-0 in the 6th, needing a win to keep the season alive.

allan said...

W: Byrd (11-11)
L: McCarthy (1-1)

Neat!

Jere said...

This is incredible. Just before I came here today, I took a picture of some unknown animal. I almost linked to it, to see if anyone knew what it was. Just now, someone comments on my blog saying it's a type of wasp. I looked at this creature's wiki page, and it says

"Charles Darwin found the grisly life cycles of ichneumons wasps incompatible with the central notion of natural theology which saw the study of nature as a way to demonstrate God's benevolence. In a letter to American botanist Asa Gray, Darwin wrote

"I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created the Ichneumonidae with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of Caterpillars, or that a cat should play with mice." "

s1c said...

to repeat a phrase uttered on another game thread. will just make it that much sweeter when they do catch the rays.

dirty water.

On to FENWAY!!!

Jere said...

"(11-11) (1-1)"

Wait, but now all those 1's lined up point to an all-powerful being! I'm so confused!

Rob said...

Lopez Dong!

Benjamin said...

Lopez dong #2. 5-2 SEA.

nixon33 said...

THEY GUY IN THE STAND WHO JUST CAUGHT THE HR IN SEATTLE WAS WEARING A SOX HAT!
HAHAHAHA

Jere said...

5-2 Seattle.

Rob said...

So, Jere... The Yankees play the Angels tomorrow. Who do you root for?

Jere said...

There's no such thing as Angels.

Jere said...

"THEY GUY IN THE STAND WHO JUST CAUGHT THE HR IN SEATTLE WAS WEARING A SOX HAT!"

That is great. I think the Yanks are about to make the announcement that they've bowed out of the race.

Benjamin said...

So will those final few games between the Sox and the MFY be called the "Spiteful Series"?

Jere said...

Isn't it weird that the guy Beckett's facing in the Phiten commercial (speaking of magic) looks kind of like Ellsbury?

allan said...

Some Putz in to dispose of the New Yorkers.

laura k said...

Oops, I got work and had to disappear.

I'm a disgrace! See you all tomorrow.

Jere said...

"So will those final few games between the Sox and the MFY be called the "Spiteful Series"?"

Jobber will be out to injure in that series.

allan said...

And the fucker hits HGH.

allan said...

I'll call it "We're In, You're Out, Let's All Eat and Drink And Laugh Our Asses Off".

allan said...

Nady FC. 1 gone.

Jere said...

Ruth and Jeter, same amount of hits, career. But Ruth's total distance of all his hits is 10 times longer.

Benjamin said...

Putz is pretty shitty.

allan said...

Ruth and Jeter, same amount of hits, career. But Ruth's total distance of all his hits is 10 times longer.

And Ruth banged more hot women in one weekend than Jeter has in his entire life.

Benjamin said...

Cano K. Two out.

allan said...

Cannot.

allan said...

WHADDA YA KNOW?

Cano sucks.

Benjamin said...

Ruth probably had more genital sores, and that's really saying something.

Jere said...

So did any Yankee reporters say that Yankee fans were rooting for their team to get no-hit the other night, and that if they weren't, they weren't baseball fans?

Rob said...

Hey Yankees... say hello to FOURTH PLACE!!!

Benjamin said...

Suck it, MFY.

Fourth place for you.

allan said...

I LIKE IT!

TBR - 85 56 ---
BOS - 84 58 1.5
TOR - 76 66 9.5
NYY - 76 67 10.0
BAL - 63 78 22.5

Jere said...

Fourth place.

Let's go Orioles!

Benjamin said...

FKR - --
BOS - 1.5
TOR - 9.5
MFY - 10
BAL - 22

Jere said...

PawSox go bottom 8, still 0-0.

Jere said...

Colon went 7.2 shoutout innings, 2 hits.

Hughes went 8 shutout innings, 4 hits.

I just love that Hughes and Kennedy are pitching in the playoffs. The AAA playoffs.

Jere said...

Bottom 10 in Scrotum/Wilted-Berries. Shelley Duncan coming up, 0-0, one out, series winning run at 3rd.

Jere said...

Duncan dong. Pawtucket's season is over.

Hitting the game winning HR in round one of the AAA playoffs for Duncan--not quite the "AL MVP" season some predicted of that psycho fuckface ghoul.

«Oldest ‹Older   201 – 382 of 382   Newer› Newest»