October 3, 2008

ALDS 2: Red Sox 7, Angels 5

Red Sox - 400 100 002 - 7  14  0
Angels - 100 110 110 - 5 12 2
Wow. After Chone Figgins tripled off Justin Masterson to begin the bottom of the eighth and scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly off Jonathan Papelbon, Boston stormed back against Francisco Rodriguez in the top of the ninth.

David Ortiz pounded Frod's first pitch to deep right. Reggie Willits leapt at the wall, the ball hit in, and then fell out of, his glove, and Flo had a stand-up double. Coco Crisp went in to run before Kevin Youkilis grounded to third. With J.D. Drew at the plate, Frod tried to pick Crisp off second. His throw to Willie Aybar was in plenty of time, but Aybar neglected to tag the Crisp and Ococ slid back in between the shortstop's legs. Drew swung and missed on two pitches and worked the count to 2-2 before crushing a home run just to the right of dead center.

Drew: "I squared it up really nice."

It broke the tie and gave the Red Sox a 7-5 lead. Frod continued to melt down, allowing an infield hit to Jason Bay and a line drive single to Mark Kotsay. Jason Varitek hit into a double play to end the inning.

Bot had come in after Figgins's triple and had retired three straight Angels in the eighth on only seven pitches. Torii Hunter began LA's last gasp with a hard bunt towards third. Youkilis sprinted in, bare-handed the ball and fired to first. One out. Pinch-hitter Gary Matthews popped a full count pitch towards the third base camera pit. Yook ran over, timed his leap, and snared the ball over the heads of the crouching photogs. Then Bot whiffed Howie Kendrick to give Boston a 2-0 lead in the series.

The ninth-inning dugout TBS shots told you everything you needed to know about this series. The Angels were in shock, staring out at the field with glassy, dead eyes. As Frod struggled to get outs in the ninth, they knew they were playing their last home game of the 2008 season. As the Red Sox rolled to their 11th straight post-season win over the Angels, they knew they were finished. (And WTF was with the announcing team of Chip Caray and Buck Martinez? Were they auditioning for jobs as LAA's Hawk Harrelson-type announcers? I watched the last 3-4 innings on mute.)

The game looked initially like a rout, as the Sox scored four times in the first. But the Angels chipped away, scoring one in the bottom of the first, on three straight singles from Mark Teixeira, Vladimir Guerrero and Hunter. Boston made it 5-1 on back-to-back doubles by Alex Cora and Jacoby Ellsbury, but the Angels got that run right back. Juan Rivera walked to start the fourth and scored on Chone Figgins's singled to left.

Matsuzaka walked Teixeira and Vlad to begin the fifth and Hunter singled home Tex. After that, Dice bore down, striking out Rivera, getting Kendrick on a fly to center, and retiring Kendry Morales on a pop to third. But that was the night for Dice (5-8-3-3-5), who threw 108 pitches in five innings, including 61 (!) in his final two innings.

Hideki Okajima pitched a perfect sixth, but allowed hits to Teixeira and Guerrero to begin the seventh. At that point, those two guys were 8-for-8 in reaching base. Masterson came in and got three outs, but not before walking two more Angels (the first on a blown call by the home plate umpire) and forcing in LA's fourth run.

The Red Sox wasted a golden scoring chance in the sixth. With one out, Kotsay reached on Hunter's error on a fly ball right at him in center. Varitek singled, chasing Santana, and Jose Arredondo walked Cora to load the bases. Ellsbury fanned on a slider in the dirt and Dustin Pedroia (0-for-5) grounded to second. Boston also could do nothing with a couple of two-out singles from Drew and Bay in the seventh.

But in the end, Boston dined out on monkey burgers. They get to enjoy another off day on Saturday before getting back to some broom work on Sunday.
***

Boston 1st:
Ellsbury PF5, Pedroia K, Ortiz single, Youkilis single, Drew double (1-0), Bay home run (4-0), Kotsay single, Varitek P6.
Earlier this evening, Tampa Bay beat the White Sox 6-2, to take a 2-0 lead in the other ALDS. The NL is off tonight.

***

Daisuke Matsuzaka (2.90, 158 ERA+) / Ervin Santana (3.49, 125 ERA+)

Lineups:
Red Sox                 Angels
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF Chone Figgins, 3B
Dustin Pedroia, 2B Garret Anderson, LF
David Ortiz, DH Mark Teixeira, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B Vladimir Guerrero, DH
J.D. Drew, RF Torii Hunter, CF
Jason Bay, LF Juan Rivera, RF
Mark Kotsay, 1B Howie Kendrick, 2B
Jason Varitek, C Jeff Mathis, C
Alex Cora, SS Erick Aybar, SS
***

Mike Lowell calls Game 2 "a monster game for them and a tremendous opportunity for us".

The Angels are facing the possibility of heading back to Boston down 0-2. The worst case scenario for the Red Sox has them tied 1-1 with Josh Beckett set to pitch on Sunday night.

Yesterday, Beckett had what Terry Francona called "a pretty aggressive side [session] ... Nothing was cut short. His fastball had some finish to it and he threw all his pitches." Depending on who you asked, he threw either 65 pitches (John Farrell) or 67 (Francona).

Farrell:
[T]he extension that he was able to get with his fastball, the down-and-away area to a righthanded hitter, which is always going to indicate the furthest extension from the throwing arm [was good]. There was no discomfort in the oblique. So provided that there's no concerns coming out of his exam, or a follow-up exam tomorrow, he should be on line for Sunday.
So Dice now has a mohawk? I could not find a picture though.

Lowell probably will not be in the lineup tonight. Francona may rest Lowell and play Mark Kotsay (7-for-18 against Santana) at first, moving Kevin Youkilis to third. (More on Yook's great play late in Game 1.)

Mike Timlin says "there's a real possibility" he could retire after this post-season. ... Transcripts of Thursday interviews with Francona, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Mike Scioscia and Howie Kendrick.

A Boston victory tonight would set a franchise record of nine consecutive postseason victories. The MLB record is 12, set twice by the Yankees. ... In the eight wins so far, the pitching staff has a 1.88 ERA. ... A win tonight would also set a major league record for consecutive playoff victories against a single opponent (11).

Starting times for the rest of this series were announced:
Game 3: Sun at Boston, 7:17 PM
Game 4: Mon at Boston, 8:37 PM
(8 PM if CWS-TBR series over)
Game 5: Wed at Anaheim, 9:37 PM
(8:37 PM if CWS-TBR series over)
Only one other game today:
White Sox (0)/Rays (1) at 6

1,328 comments:

1 – 200 of 1328   Newer›   Newest»
allan said...

Pitch placement graphs for Lester

laura k said...

Mike Timlin says "there's a real possibility" he could retire after this post-season

We'll miss you 'nt!

Amy said...

Timlin is at least one year too late in making that decision.

tim said...

A web page that should have the alcohol flowing extra-early today...

LMAO to paragraph #3 there..."Known for his colorful attire..."

Goddamn.

This guy reminds me of Fred Willard on Fernwood Tonight for some reason.

Sarah Haendler said...

Yet again, an 8 o'clock show is going to keep me from watching this game. I'm missing all the fun this week! I especially wanted to see the Vice Presidential debate last night, though it turns out not to have been as funny as I'd hoped, according to what I've heard. Fortunately we only have a matinee on Sunday and then the show closes, so this will be the last playoff game I have to miss. (I think...)

Go SOX!!

nixon33 said...

IM SO FUCKING PSYCHED FOR TONIGHT.

Rob said...

ME TOO NIX!

allan said...

Note to self: Order the post-season mlbtv package before 6 PM!

Rob said...

Jeez. Four games on Sunday, if necessary.

Rob said...

Why can't you just order it now?

allan said...

it turns out not to have been as funny as I'd hoped, according to what I've heard.

Much like Shitforbrains in 2000, who was praised for showing up sober and not drooling all over himself, the librul media is saying Mooselini "exceeded expectations".

allan said...

Why can't you just order it now?

I guess I could! (Though I'm at work.)

allan said...

Hmmmmmm, I'm able to watch yesterday's condensed games right now.

I wonder if I have the playoff package already. Was it included in the regular season or is this by mistake (or can non-live games be seen by anyone)?

I better wait until this evening to see if I need to spend another $15.

Rob said...

Much like Shitforbrains in 2000, who was praised for showing up sober and not drooling all over himself, the librul media is saying Mooselini "exceeded expectations".

Some people think Palin "won" the debate because she wasn't terrible. That's like saying a baseball team is a good team if they play .500 ball when people thought they'd be 20 games under. No, you're still merely a .500 team.

Rob said...

But the media got what they wanted: The most-watched of any debate since 1992. 42% higher rating than the debate the previous Thursday between Obama and McCain.

laura k said...

But the media got what they wanted

There you go. That's the sum total value of that "debate", although I understand some people find a humour factor, as Sarah mentioned. Not me.

allan said...

See, now I violated my own rule. I blame Sarah.

laura k said...

We had a rockin' debate in Canada last night. Five candidates going at it around a table. Really four candidates going at it and one bobbin', weavin', duckin' and dodgin'.

laura k said...

See, now I violated my own rule.

I was surprised to see that. Why not enforce it startiiiiing NOW?

Rob said...

I was surprised to see that. Why not enforce it startiiiiing NOW?


I mean... NOW.


...Really, I meant... NOW. Uh...

Rob said...

I'd love to watch a Canadian debate.

laura k said...

I'd love to watch a Canadian debate.

They are actual debates! Imagine watching Bush get grilled by his opponents, and having to defend himself without a script. It is very cool!

tim said...

SoSock donation pledge thingy up to $2k - nice! More than halfway there...

laura k said...

Mooselini

Seen at an Italian restaurant in Newfoundland?

laura k said...

Yeah Tim, thanks!! Last time I checked it was $1980.

I emailed the link to a bunch of people, too. Can't hurt.

allan said...

Hmmm, there is a bit of work piled up here. I may have to pull a Derek Bell* to watch the game.












*: Operation Shutdown

tim said...

In other news, you could solve a lot of fucking problems with 700 billion dollars...makes me sick.

tim said...

Hmmm, there is a bit of work piled up here. I may have to pull a Derek Bell* to watch the game.

What about a crack pipe in the back of your car?

laura k said...

I may have to pull a Derek Bell* to watch the game.

From Wiki: "Bell jumped the team on March 29, was released on March 31, and never played in the majors again."

Not a good move. Please don't try it.

laura k said...

Tim, it is sickening, on so many levels. When you consider what is actually happening there, and what led to it, it's positively nauseating.

One thing's for sure, the US is revolution-proof. In case there was any doubt, we now know for sure.

allan said...

Happy Birthday to: Gore Vidal, Dennis Eckersley, and Al Sharpton!

tim said...

and what led to it, it's positively nauseating.

That's my beef with it. I recognize that the economy does need help, and needs to be revived - but the blatant disregard for ANY SORT OF SANE ECONOMIC THOUGHT that led to this massive bailout is what pisses me off. These people are all fucked.

laura k said...

The economy wouldn't need nearly as much help if it weren't for all the deregulation that caused the meltdown. But instead of fixing the cause, we'll just have the public bailout out the corporations. Seriously fucked up.

We better hope that Harper never gets a majority, or we could well see the same thing happen here.

tim said...

I don't know about that, our economy being 1/10th the size of the American...whatever the government, I don't think that it would ever happen in Canada.

In this country majority governments are dangerous no matter what the party - 5 years of a dictatorship, essentially.

tim said...

Meant to tack on to that first paragraph - I don't think it would happen in Canada because the people that make up this country wouldn't let it happen.

Rob said...

Mmmmm. Pork.

laura k said...

In this country majority governments are dangerous no matter what the party - 5 years of a dictatorship, essentially.

I agree.

I don't think it would happen in Canada because the people that make up this country wouldn't let it happen.

There would be a much great stink, that's for sure - and it would be much more likely to mean something.

People are very beaten down there. They believe/know what they say and do doesn't matter, so they don't try. (Many do, but not enough to make a difference.)

9casey said...

Quick question about health care in Canada is that for everyone who resides there or just citizens?

allan said...

$700 billion

Did you read where a Treasury spokeswoman told Forbes.com that $700 billion figure is "not based on any particular data point. We just wanted to choose a really large number."

So let's assume the total "necessary" to "fix" the "problem" is $200 billion. Then Bush/Cheney gave their friends a $500 billion going-away present!

allan said...

Pretty sure it's after residing for 90 days.

We are not yet citizens.

9casey said...

redsock said...
Pretty sure it's after residing for 90 days.

We are not yet citizens.



Besides wonderful Americans like your self do you have a lot of other immigrants up there?

Rob said...

People are very beaten down there. They believe/know what they say and do doesn't matter, so they don't try. (Many do, but not enough to make a difference.)

Do you feel it's easier and/or more effective to take action in Canada than it is here?

allan said...

... wherein Palin cannot name a single magazine or newspaper that she has read for the last several years:

Couric: And when it comes to establishing your world view, I was curious, what newspapers and magazines did you regularly read before you were tapped for this — to stay informed and to understand the world?

Palin: I've read most of them again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media —

Couric: But what ones specifically? I'm curious.

Palin: Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years.

Couric: Can you name any of them?

Palin: I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news.

***

allan said...

Besides wonderful Americans like your self do you have a lot of other immigrants up there?

Yes, certainly in the Toronto area. We were coming from NYC, so I was worried the suburbs would be all-white and bland, but they are not.

Canada is one of the few countries activily seeking immigrants from all over the world. L might elaborate.

9casey said...

redsock said...
Palin: I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news.


That one didn't bother me that much , what was Katie looking for , For her to start saying......." I always loved Highlights, Car and Driver , and Hunters Weekly."


Katie Couric is a joke.....Really. "what papers do you read..."

Rob said...

Don't forget Us Weekly. You're not qualified to be VP unless you read Us Weekly.

9casey said...

redsock said...
Canada is one of the few countries activily seeking immigrants from all over the world. L might elaborate.



Why?
All over the world . what countries?.....

laura k said...

Quick question about health care in Canada is that for everyone who resides there or just citizens?

Everyone who is a legal resident, whether citizen or no. As Allan said, we are not yet citizens.

The waiting period depends on the province. Ontario is 150 days. Other provinces are 90 days, or sometimes none.

Besides wonderful Americans like your self do you have a lot of other immigrants up there?

Yes, tons. For the past 30 or so years, Canada has been actively encouraging immigration. The country needs working people to pay into the system so we can all have health care.

Immigration is skewed to professional, middle-class people. But there are a lot of refugees too. It's extremely diverse.

9casey said...

ish said...
Don't forget Us Weekly. You're not qualified to be VP unless you read Us Weekly.


Democratic VP, and also have a Barbra Streisand DVD box set, as well as seen The Boss at least 5 times....

9casey said...

L-girl said...
Besides wonderful Americans like your self do you have a lot of other immigrants up there?

Yes, tons. For the past 30 or so years, Canada has been actively encouraging immigration. The country needs working people to pay into the system so we can all have health care.


I'm amazed the have to actively encourage it....Do they have a system like Social Security, so when you retire you can live in poverty, that works well here...

laura k said...

Do you feel it's easier and/or more effective to take action in Canada than it is here?

Absoutely, positively, completely. The system responds to the people here. Not necessarily quickly or perfectly, of course. But it works.

In fact, in Canada, change often begins from within government, as opposed to activists working outside the system. Universal health care was created and fought for by a political party here.

People know their MPs, visit with them, call them regularly - and get them on the phone, and have long conversations with them. It's so different.

A saying goes that in the US the people are afraid of the government, in Canada the government is afraid of the people.

9casey said...

If SoSock's wife was to move up there , would she be taken care of?

laura k said...

I'm amazed the have to actively encourage it....

Negative birth rate, like most advanced countries. So if we are going to take care of an aging population, we need people.

Do they have a system like Social Security, so when you retire you can live in poverty, that works well here...

Pretty much. There's also a Canada Pension Plan, a bit more than the social security thing.

But it's not great. It's somewhere between the US and the more advanced countries like France, Sweden, Germany. Canada is part North American, part European.

And there's an internal struggle between people who want it to be more like the US and people who want more of a European-type social system.

allan said...

Jesus Christ, say "the Wall Street Journal" ... something ... her local paper!!!!!

We don't know what she reads, but she can apparently read.

allan said...

Re L's PM note:

Some put a Liberal lawn sign on our lawn without asking us. I assumed it was a campaign worker, so I sent an angry email to the address listed on the representative's website.

Within 30-45 minutes, she called me back -- the candidate herself -- to apologize.

laura k said...

If SoSock's wife was to move up there , would she be taken care of?

Unfortunately she couldn't become a legal resident now. :(

She would have to pay out of pocket for care. That would still be much, much less than in the US, b/c costs are regulated. But she couldn't get a health care card and use the "free" (publically financed) system.

allan said...

Plus it would take about two years to go through the application process to become a resident.

laura k said...

Re L's PM note:

That's MP. PM is the prime minister. He ain't calling us!

Some put a Liberal lawn sign on our lawn without asking us. I assumed it was a campaign worker, so I sent an angry email to the address listed on the representative's website.

Within 30-45 minutes, she called me back -- the candidate herself -- to apologize.


Election season!

But it's true, and quite amazing.

Now I wonder, are JoS readers wondering why you are upset about a Liberal sign on your lawn?

Liberal is the centre here. We support a party left of Liberal. And they are an actual viable party, with seats and influence on government. Go figure.

(Simmer down, Tim. It's just a fact. ;) )

allan said...

(Simmer down, Tim. It's just a fact. ;) )

I said flag day!

laura k said...

Why?

Negative birth rate, we need people!

All over the world . what countries?.....

You name it. India, China, Korea, Poland, Brazil, Russia, Portugal, Italy, US, Mexico, Ethopia, Somalia, Kenya, Carribean countries, etc. etc. etc.

laura k said...

I said flag day!

I'm not channeling Rick Mercer! I just know Tim is not a fan of the NDP.

9casey said...

redsock said...
Jesus Christ, say "the Wall Street Journal" ... something ... her local paper!!!!!

We don't know what she reads, but she can apparently read.



I can't hate on her, I don't know why I just can't .....To watch her have to hang with McCain and Battle Obama and O'Biden, I think she actually called him that last night.....Career Seanators at least 2 of them, millionaires , out of touch talk boxes, I find her different....

tim said...

Hell, I'd say that our Conservatives are centric in relation to the US system.

laura k said...

Katie Couric is a joke.....Really. "what papers do you read..."

Couric interviews Palin and Couric is a joke? If Couric's a joke, what does that make Palin?

laura k said...

Hell, I'd say that our Conservatives are centric in relation to the US system.

And you'd be totally correct!

There are a few right-wingers in there, the Stockwell Day variety, but most are very moderate compared to the US.

allan said...

Hell, I'd say that our Conservatives are centric in relation to the US system.

The common remark up here was that Bill Clinton would be a perfect leader for the Conservative party.

tim said...

My problem with the NDP isn't their principles - they just don't have a plan to pay for any of it. We're still paying for the one time they had a majority here in Ontario.

laura k said...

Career Seanators at least 2 of them, millionaires , out of touch talk boxes, I find her different....

She's different all right. I hope you don't fool yourself into thinking because she's not a millionaire she'll do shit for the working person.

nick said...

you got politics in my baseball.

one isolated debate comment. I liked this quote from Ezra Klein from before the debate:

If everyone expects Sarah Palin to do better than expected, and she does, did she still do better than expected? Even though everyone expected her to exceed expectations? In which case, isn't that doing as expected?

laura k said...

The common remark up here was that Bill Clinton would be a perfect leader for the Conservative party.

But remember, that's what Bill Clinton actually did, not his rhetoric or how Fox News portrays him. Only in the US could Bill or Hillary Clinton be considered liberal.

My problem with the NDP isn't their principles - they just don't have a plan to pay for any of it. We're still paying for the one time they had a majority here in Ontario.

Poor Bob Rae, he'll never live that down.

They've done very well in the BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba provincial govts.

But I'm glad your problem with them isn't their values. Not sarcasm, I mean that.

laura k said...

Allan, any time you want to invoke the no-election-politics rule, I'll be the first to comply. :)

tim said...

There are a few right-wingers in there, the Stockwell Day variety, but most are very moderate compared to the US.

Yeah, the ex-Reform-Partyites. I just don't see the appeal of these parties unless your raking in tons of money.

The common remark up here was that Bill Clinton would be a perfect leader for the Conservative party.

I'd vote for it! Remember, you aren't voting for your MP, you're voting for the party/it's leader.

allan said...

I find her different...

I read something awhile ago that I found interesting. She speaks gibberish when asked anything -- and comes off sounding vacant and happily ignorant. That much is clear.

But this article was saying that both parties speak in cliches and gibberish. Palin has simply not yet mastered the "official" nonsense.

laura k said...

Yeah, the ex-Reform-Partyites. I just don't see the appeal of these parties unless your raking in tons of money.

Right. Making tons of money and happy to shit on everyone else. Most political ppl I know are afraid that that faction will come out of the woodwork to rule the party if Harper gets a majority.

They were convinced it would happen after the last election, and it didn't, so now they are raising the alarm about this one.

I dislike Harper A LOT and would never ever ever vote for him, but I still find a lot of the anti-Harper rhetoric over the top.

Don't tell wmtc readers I said that because I am sick to death of explaining that one!

laura k said...

Tim, did you watch the debate last night?

"Where's your platform? In the sweater?"

tim said...

I'm down with the no-politics rule...this has been a very productive afternoon at work for me...JoS, RedSox.com, Facebook etc...man, why am I getting paid.

It's almost 5 on a Friday tho - w00t! Time to get my ass out of here, make a stop at the SuperStore, pick up a rotisserie chicken and pack of swiss chalet dipping sauce (that's right L!) and look at the clothes (yes a grocery store with clothes - $5 polos, how can you beat that!), some beers, some wine and settle in for a cozy night with...CRAIG SAGER OOOOOOOOO

allan said...

Alright then.

Baseball only ....

Starting ..... NOW!

tim said...

Tim, did you watch the debate last night?

No, unfortunately I missed it - was feeling sick as hell, so was busy making a soup and stuff. Only get Canadian TV upstairs so had the ball games on in the background...I didn't know it was a roundtable, I would've loved to see it. Hoping to catch the next one tho.

Anyway I'm out!

tim said...

Starting ..... NOW!

My bad. Go Sox of all colours!

laura k said...

Got to love that SuperStore! I can't believe Tim remembers I hate Swiss Chalet sauce. How funny.

No politics in that post! :)

laura k said...

this has been a very productive afternoon at work for me...JoS, RedSox.com, Facebook etc...man, why am I getting paid.

Sounds like Allan's job.

allan said...

swiss chalet dipping sauce & CRAIG SAGER ...

not an appetizing combination.

Rob said...

My problem with the NDP isn't their principles - they just don't have a plan to pay for any of it. We're still paying for the one time they had a majority here in Ontario.

It does sound a lot like the democratic party here. New programs, new initiatives, etc., it's got to come from somewhere.

L, I loved your summation of the Canadian government as being part North American-part European.

Liberal is the centre here. We support a party left of Liberal. And they are an actual viable party, with seats and influence on government. Go figure.

Hell, I'd say that our Conservatives are centric in relation to the US system.


I truly find that fascinating. I sit around down here thinking about how there are Republican principles I agree with and others I don't, and the same going with Democratic principles. Without knowing where particular Canadian parties stand on particular issues, it feels to me that it'd be easier to agree with one party there a lot more than I do here.

Rob said...

Sorry, I was typing while Allan posted the baseball-only post.

Rob said...

I've been to a couple SuperStores in New Brunswick - Atlantic SuperStore. Loved it. There's one just over the border, about a 45 minute's drive from Caribou, Maine.

laura k said...

It does sound a lot like the democratic party here. New programs, new initiatives, etc., it's got to come from somewhere.

It is nothing like the US Democratic Party. The equivalent here would be the Liberals, not the NDP.

Both the Liberals and the NDP are very good at balancing budgets.

"It's got to come from somewhere?" How about the Pentagon?

laura k said...

I loved your summation of the Canadian government as being part North American-part European.

Thank you :)

laura k said...

OK, startiiiing NOW! :)

A Conformer said...

this has been a very productive afternoon at work for me...JoS, RedSox.com, Facebook etc...man, why am I getting paid.

Sounds like Allan's job.


I just came back from 3 days of camping in the Smoky Mountains (that's why I wasn't in Thursday's thread), all while on the clock. I love September-October: the parks only open weekends, but the paycheck stays the same. Only 3/7ths of the regular work!

Rob said...

Last night I wanted to see what happened, with the Rays. See how they did. I loved watching that game. Tonight, I want the White Sox to even up the series. Love this one to go five games.

laura k said...

Smokey Mountains!!!

I have always wanted to see that part of the US, but have not been able to get there yet. I am way envious.

all while on the clock

Now that is a job.

Rob said...

Ofer... Might have said this before, but you really seem to have a very enviable job. Being able to take quite a large tour of the country as part of your job. It sounds amazing. I hope it helps balance out the actual work.

Rob said...

I've seen northwestern Virginia, which is still quite a ways northeast of the Smokey Mountains, and NW Virginia was very pretty!

Interstate 81 from Scranton, PA to Winchester, VA is such a beautiful drive. And Winchester is only in the very NW part of the state. Love to drive the rest of 81 sometime, then head east toward the Smokeys.

allan said...

How about the Pentagon?

In Janaury 2005, we learned that the US had lost $9 billion in Iraq. Lost! (And I'll bet they have "lost" several more billions of taxpayer money in the almost four years since then.)

That $ might have paid for a thing or two.

...

OK, startiiiing NOW! :)

(I mean it!)

laura k said...

Ofer has the best job I've ever heard of.

allan said...

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Jason Bay, LF
7. Mark Kotsay, 1B
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Alex Cora, SS

A Conformer said...

Smokey Mountains!!!

I have always wanted to see that part of the US, but have not been able to get there yet. I am way envious.


If you ever get to the area, don't miss Asheville. Great small mountain city, lots of alternative people (for lack of a better term...), organic farms, micro-breweries... my kind of place. First town in the US where I felt at home.
The Smokey Mountains... it was a great trip, and the mountains are beautiful (despite all the air pollution) but Patagonia is too fresh in my mind. I tried not to compare, but my brain wouldn't shut up about it. And I must say, Patagonia wins handily.
Oh, and the first thing I did when I got back to the car? Checked JoS. Once I saw that first sentence by Lowell, I knew the Sox had won.

all while on the clock

Now that is a job.


Global paycheck- it's the Israeli Army way of thinking. You have a salary and a job, and as long as you do your job, they don't care how many hours it took you.

Ofer... Might have said this before, but you really seem to have a very enviable job. Being able to take quite a large tour of the country as part of your job. It sounds amazing. I hope it helps balance out the actual work.

Balance is the key word... 6.5 days a week in July and August, then 3 in Sept-Oct, then 13-14 hours of physical work and inventory and table writing in Nov-Dec. But I like it, no doubt. I consider myself pretty lucky for falling into it almost by mistake.

allan said...

Checked JoS. Once I saw that first sentence by Lowell, I knew the Sox had won.

Must remember to not bury the lede!

laura k said...

Wouldn't Patagonia compare more to the Rockies, or the Grand Tetons, in the western US? Many of your photos reminded me of "out west".

Asheville sounds terrific.

I tried not to compare, but my brain wouldn't shut up about it.

Yeah, brains are like that, especially when it was a recent trip.

A Conformer said...

Must remember to not bury the lede!

It was more than 24 hours after the win, and it's the postseason. If the uppermost headline today at 12:30PM was Sox 4-Angels 1 I'd be pretty damn surprised.

laura k said...

Forgive me, I have one more comment to make, which I should have put in my "how about the Pentagon" post.

Another idea: tax a few corporations.

Starting now.

laura k said...

Ofer, I doubt you had time to skim 1000+ posts of gamethread, but I was wondering where you were. Someone said something about an "Argentinian red" (as in wine).

allan said...

Watching the FKR is out for me.

A Conformer said...

Wouldn't Patagonia compare more to the Rockies, or the Grand Tetons, in the western US? Many of your photos reminded me of "out west".

Asheville sounds terrific.


I think Patagonia would compare with both. And if you add Mendoza, San Juan and Salta, you could probably compare them to every single mountain in the world, it's so diverse. Patagonia starts with huge glaciar fields in the south, goes through lush forests with amazing quantities of water in the centre, to volcanoes and deserts in the north...

Fuck, I wanna go back to backpacking. Just the feeling of the pack on my back this weekend made me happy.

Rob said...

HBP, walk, single... Bases loaded, 0 out for the White Sox.

Rob said...

I'm currently looking out my window, and for the first time this season, I can see this amazing orange, warm light - RED sunlight on a large oak tree in my front yard. It is truly breathtaking. All summer the sun was in the wrong part of the sky to shine on this tree.

Unfortunately I don't have my camera right now.

allan said...

Jayson Stark says FY is the MVP:

Pedroia's 43 hits and 33 runs in 26 games in August was the first month that any player has accumulated those numbers in that few games since Lou Gehrig's 48-hit, 35-run June in 1936.

FY batted .374 since June 14. When he hit cleanup, he went 12-for-18, with two homers, four doubles and a 1.222 slugging percentage. he stole 20 bases in 21 tries.

laura k said...

Ofer, that sounds amazing. Would it be a great place to visit if you weren't backpacking/camping? We travel independently and off the beaten track, but we don't camp. Could you still experience a lot of it?

Jere said...

It just hit me that the girl at the Rays game giving the "hand job" was probably just shaking a cowbell.

allan said...

I already have MLBTV! Fuckin' A!

Jere said...

I visited Asheville briefly, and I agree--seemed cool. I remember a good record store, too (actual records).

But my last memory of the town is from reading about that Sox fan who quit his job to hike the App. Trail. I remember him stepping out of the woods and into Asheville to stay at a hotel. (Which he did quite a bit considering he was supposed to be "hiking." Did I first hear about that at JoS? I think so.)

laura k said...

Which he did quite a bit considering he was supposed to be "hiking."

Hiking doesn't necessarily mean sleeping in the woods. That's camping.

Hopefully he did just did what he wanted and didn't worry about what we thought.

allan said...

So I have the Rays in my ear.

A SoSHer hiked the trail back in 2005 or 2006. He was blogging about it, I think I linked to it.

Rob said...

Palin Bingo

Gives me an idea for next season: Instead of a Don Orsillo drinking game, we should make Orsillo Bingo!

laura k said...

Gives me an idea for next season: Instead of a Don Orsillo drinking game, we should make Orsillo Bingo!

And where does the drinking come in?

Rob said...

I love how a couple of bullpen guys put an arm out to catch Perez - but nobody really did a lot to try and catch him. Concerned for their own arms, I guess.

Rob said...

And where does the drinking come in?

Bingo?

Rob said...

At least you'll still be coherent by the 9th inning.

Rob said...

Kazmir being Kazmir... 55 pitches in 1 2/3

Jere said...

"Hopefully he did just did what he wanted and didn't worry about what we thought."

You don't post your adventures online to be anonymous. But I guess you're right, hiking could mean whatever you want it to mean. I could "hike" ten feet a day around the yard of my mansion, sleeping in my bed at night and playing video games the rest of the time, and after 20 years, claim I'm an "outdoorsman" who's "hiked" over miles of terrain.

laura k said...

Wow Jere, you're so judgemental of someone else's adventure. It's his adventure, he can live it however he wants.

Staying in a hotel in Asheville doesn't mean living in a mansion and playing video games.

You don't post your adventures online to be anonymous.

Who said anything about anonymity? You and I both blog, we're not anonymous, but we still live our lives how we choose, not according to what anyone else thinks we should do.

laura k said...

I can't imagine what you would think of my hiking. I guess you would call it "hiking".

Rob said...

Here come the FKR

Rob said...

And there goes the FKR.

Rob said...

You can still hear the famous Rays heckler even with 35,000 other people inside the Trop.

laura k said...

Ish, I was just going to say that!

Don't remember if I posted this in a gamethread yet. Allan recently got a new SABR journal in the mail, and there is a huge long story about THAT GUY. I couldn't believe it.

The writer is someone Allan has worked with before, a good SABR guy. I couldn't believe how much space they gave to this stupid loudmouth.

allan said...

From the title, it seemed like it would be sort of a history of heckling, but it was an "as told to" from that tool.

Rob said...

The art of heckling.

What a crock.

nixon33 said...

is that Harold Sexual Harassment" Reynolds doing the game with DO?

A Conformer said...

Ofer, that sounds amazing. Would it be a great place to visit if you weren't backpacking/camping? We travel independently and off the beaten track, but we don't camp. Could you still experience a lot of it?

Hmmm... A lot of what I did is impossible without walking a good distance. There's a whole lot you can do, though... in most places there are more expensive options that don't involve walking (biking, horseback riding, tour buses, sailing), and even though you can't get everywhere (e.g. the crater of the volcano), you'll see a lot.

But I guess you're right, hiking could mean whatever you want it to mean. I could "hike" ten feet a day around the yard of my mansion, sleeping in my bed at night and playing video games the rest of the time, and after 20 years, claim I'm an "outdoorsman" who's "hiked" over miles of terrain.

Reminds me of the heated debates about what constitutes "trekking" and what doesn't.

laura k said...

Yes it is. I didn't know why Ish was talking about Don, then I turned on the game. Nice to hear him on a national b'cast. He's got a great announcery voice.

A Conformer said...

Is that Jeter ad for a golf course?

Rob said...

is that Harold Sexual Harassment" Reynolds doing the game with DO?

Yep.

laura k said...

Thanks Ofer. The list of places I want to go grows ever longer.

laura k said...

My "yes it is" was to Nix re Reynolds. Thread moves fast.

Rob said...

I'm with ya there, L. Lots of places I want to see. I've only ever been along the eastern seaboard from Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec to central Florida.

Rob said...

Wasn't sure Alligator kept his foot on the bag when he caught that ball.

laura k said...

I have such craving for travel, it's unbelievable.

laura k said...

Harold Reynolds is doing a nice job. He and Don are a good team.

Aki homer, Rays 3-2.

Rob said...

Fricken Alligator.

allan said...

Chone Figgins, 3B
Garret Anderson, LF
Mark Teixeira, IB
Vladimir Guerrero, DH
Torii Hunter, CF
Juan Rivera, RF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Jeff Mathis, C
Erick Aybar, SS

Rob said...

My craving for travel is unbearable sometimes. I look through old pictures I've taken - a lot. Then look on flickr at places I've never been before.

Rob said...

From Extra Bases...

-Josh Beckett will start Game 3 without question. “He’s pitching,” Francona said. Francona was extremely satisfied with Beckett’s 67-pitch side session in the bullpen yesterday. While watching him yesterday from a distance, he liked Beckett’s body language and could hear the catcher’s mitt pop.

“That ball was loud,” Francona said.

Afterward, John Farrell told Francona, “This is not a guy that’s hurt.”

This was the plan all along. The Red Sox, Francona said, could have tried to pitch Beckett tonight. But they wanted to give him a full week of normal preparation so he could go into the game with his best stuff. That’s exactly what happened, Francona said.

Rob said...

55 pitches through 1 2/3 for Kazmir... Now 94 into the 6th, and he has the lead.

laura k said...

Ish, you really do sound just like me in that. Now at my age I feel like I am running out of time to see all the places I want to. May seem silly, as I'm not under 50 (for a little while!) but time is rushing by and it's a long list.

A Conformer said...

Ish, great news!

Rob said...

Kazmir out. Balfour in.

And the next batter? The OC.

laura k said...

I hope the Rays sweep the DS.

Us too, of course.

laura k said...

I didn't see the original confrontation, I'm sure I'll see it now.

Rob said...

Kazmir drilled Cabrera on the ankle first pitch tonight.

laura k said...

Was there actually a fight or just trash talk?

Rob said...

Balfour's already getting chippy. He's an intense dood.

laura k said...

I mean yesterday.

Rob said...

Trash talk.

Rob said...

DO: "Not sure if he's hearing voices or not, but he's talking to something."

Benjamin said...

I hate the FKR, mostly because I fear them. I'd rather face Chicago.

allan said...

Don Cherry!

Rob said...

Is this the second coming of the Traffic Cop? Balfour was pointing to first base like Sexy Lips would.

Benjamin said...

Plate this fucker. Come on.

Rob said...

Yeeeeahhh!!!

He certainly makes Craig Sager look conservative, doesn't he?

Benjamin said...

Swisher wasn't in the lineup yesterday?

Rob said...

Swisher came in late in the game yesterday.

Rob said...

The fucker will not be plated, yet.

laura k said...

Oh man, Craig Sager is a nun compared to Don Cherry.

But Don Cherry is a MAJOR asshole.

A, why did you link to Cherry?

Benjamin said...

He certainly makes Craig Sager look conservative, doesn't he?

He makes Rod Roddy look conservative.

laura k said...

I'd rather face Chicago.

Me too. But I'm rooting for them anywhere. I can't resist.

laura k said...

More Don Cherry

allan said...

I was clicking around and saw the pic.

Rob said...

Heidi on NESN... I guess footage is starting earlier than normal.

Ah. SportsDesk. Nevermind.

andy said...

ok wtf? why isn't lowrie playing?

laura k said...

Me too. But I'm rooting for them anywhere

Make that "anyway".

Rob said...

Francona likes Cora better against Santana. 2 for 3 (double and triple) against him, and Francona likes the way Cora approaches his style of pitching.

Rob said...

Balfour could also become the second coming of John Rocker.

Benjamin said...

Rod Roddy.

Hmmm, looks like a rally of sorts.

laura k said...

Just what baseball needs 'nt.

allan said...

Francona likes Cora better against Santana. 2 for 3 (double and triple) against him, and Francona likes the way Cora approaches his style of pitching.

Giving Einstein a start here and there is fine for the regular season. But this is the ALDS. We will win anyway, but this is not the work of the P.A. Tito I know and love.

Rob said...

I actually trust his judgement on Cora for tonight. But we'll see how Einstein plays.

allan said...

Harold trying to make conversation with Don re Thome/softball swing/great career. The O-bot ain't bitin'.

laura k said...

I wonder if there's more to it. Any time we have questioned Playoff Assassin Tito, later we have learned there was a solid reason behind a questionable move.

In fact, A, I think you asked me to remind you of that.

allan said...

Did he really cite the 2-for-3?

laura k said...

I wonder if Don will get his Sox confused. I did hear him say "the ... Sox strand a pair" but I was in the other room, couldn't tell if he said white or red.

laura k said...

What happens if this game goes late? I'm watching everything on Rogers SportsNet. Can't remember how they handled that last year.

allan said...

Shit, I think this game might go over 9:30, which will fuck up my plan to tape the game.

Rob said...

I don't know. This was third person.

-Francona had an inkling he would start Alex Cora over Jed Lowrie tonight even before the series began. Francona preferred Cora over Lowrie even before he knew their stats against Ervin Santana. He felt Cora matched up better against the style of pitching employed by Santana than Lowrie. When Francona looked at the numbers that Cora is 2 for 3 against Santana with a double and a triple, it simply heightened his comfort with the move.

link

allan said...

L and I on the same page!!!

Maybe take the timer off, try to make sure it's on EP speed and flip channels.

Rob said...

If this game goes late, the beginning of the Red Sox/Angels game SHOULD (this is how it went last year) be on TNT.

laura k said...

Well, I'm home. I can deal with the taping, that's no problem. But where will the game be, that's the question.

laura k said...

Talk about a LOBotomy.

nixon33 said...

white sox are worse than the mets.

laura k said...

I'll look, but I don't think that works up here.

Rob said...

L, I'd bank on TNT. But you don't have TNT up there, do you? Be interesting to see what Rogers would do.

Amy said...

Wow, almost 200 posts and the game is over an hour away.

I spent the afternoon trying to kill yellow jackets that invaded our house. We finally got an exterminator, who found a nest in my ceiling of my closet where they had eaten through the sheetrock. Scary as hell.

allan said...

Hmmmm.

"Francona had an inkling he would start Alex Cora over Jed Lowrie tonight even before the series began."

I like it when some SoSHers say their "Cora Sense" is tingling.

(From "Spidey sense": a vague but strong sense of something being wrong, dangerous, suspicious.)

allan said...

Dear Ozzie, Just lose before 9:25. Thank you.

laura k said...

It looks like we do have this game on two different stations, so maybe one of them will stay with this game and one go to the Red Sox game. Maybe.

Amy said...

Gee, I am sorry I missed all the political talk. Guess the ban has been put in place though.

laura k said...

Amy, that sounds dreadful.

A, I will do what I can, but prepare yourself that the tape may not get everything.

Ish, we have a whole bunch of US stations on our cable pkg, so we might have TNT & TBS even w/o Rogers. Plus Rogers SportsNet has a west and central broadcast, they could use one of those stations. So I'm hopeful. :)

andy said...

motherfuck amy. When I was a kid i was attacked by a swarm of yellow jackets in lake tahoe. My family was picking them out of my hair and clothes. I had hundreds of stings.

irony: My high school mascot, yellow jackets.

andy said...

BTW my Verizon Fios just added TBS in HD so I am now appeased.

Amy said...

Yes, I am not a fan of yellow jackets. But these were pretty sluggish ones, so I got some satisfaction being able to smash them. But they just kept coming and coming. Like a bad horror movie.

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