April 28, 2009

G20: Spiders 9, Red Sox 8

Red Sox - 142 000 100 - 8 14  3
Spiders - 124 000 101 - 9 13 0
Bill James would not approve. Tie game, bottom of the 9th. Who should you put on the mound? Your closer or the worst pitcher on the team?

Sadly, Terry Francona chose Option B. And the Red Sox's 11-game winning streak is now history. I can only assume that he hoped to squeak through the 9th (the 8-9-1 hitters were up), maybe get a run or two with FY-Flo-Yook-Drew in the 10th and go to Jonathan Papelbon to nail it down. The only problem with that strategy is you have to not allow a run in the 9th!

Javier Lopez gave up a single to Mark DeRosa (who had homered in the 7th to tie the game at 8-8) to start the final inning. Ben Francisco bunted the runner to second and Grady Sizemore struck out. Lopez went to a full count on Asdrubal Cabrera, who whacked a grounder to the right side.

Kevin Youkilis half-dived to his right, snared it, turned and lobbed an easy, underhanded toss to Lopez. The pitcher and the ball were at the bag in plenty of time, and Lopez's foot was on the base, but he looked down anyway, and the ball clanked off his glove and rolled into foul territory.

Lopez then fell down and Youkilis raced after the baseball, but it was too late. DeRosa was crossing the plate.

How'm I doin'?

Lopez: From a LOOGY to a LWCGAOIHGDMFLDOI.

The Red Sox failed to score in the top of the ninth, with runners at the corners and one out. Nick Green was overmatched on three fastballs and Jacoby Ellsbury lined the ball right to Cabrera at second.

Toronto beat the Royals 8-1, so we are back in 2nd place. The Yankees broke a scoreless tie in Detroit with 10 runs in the seventh and beat the Tigers 11-0.

***

Brad Penny (7.80, 65 ERA+) / Anthony Reyes (4.76, 102 ERA+)

The first place Red Sox (13-6) -- by a slim .017 over the Blue Jays (14-7), but atop the East nonetheless -- continue their series in Cleveland.

Julio Lugo may get his first start of the season tonight. I somewhat fear Tito putting Lugo at leadoff, but I'm now confident that (a) Lugo will be eased into the lineup/regular playing time and (b) Ellsbury's hitting and overall play have improved enough to dispell Francona of that idea.

Only three Red Sox players have ever faced Reyes -- and one of them is Penny! J.D. Drew is 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and Jason Bay is 3-for-6 with a walk.

Of the five Spiders to have seen Penny previously, three are pitchers. Mark DeRosa is 8-for-27 and Tony Graffanino is 1-for-6 (but 0-for-his-last-5). (Graffanino has a -11 OPS+ in 24 plate appearances this year!)

***

Note: The Yankees' run differential is worse than that of the hapless Nationals, owners of the worst record in baseball:
            W   L    PCT    RS    RA    DIFF
Yankees 9 10 .474 102 126 - 24
Nationals 4 14 .222 85 107 - 22
New York's Phil "The Franchise" Hughes makes his 2009 debut (6.62 ERA in 2008) in Detroit at 7 PM. ... Jays in Kansas City.

610 comments:

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allan said...

Amalie Benjamin, 3:24 PM:

Yes, it's raining hard here in Cleveland. The tarp has been on the field since just after the final out last night, and it was needed today. It was just sprinking recently, but the rain has turned harder at this point. The radar shows that there should be a window in which the game can be played, but we'll let you know as we get any updates.

***

Benjamin said...

Lugo batting ninth:

Red Sox
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Jason Bay, LF
7. Mike Lowell, 3B
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Julio Lugo, SS
-- Brad Penny, SP

Spiders
1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B
3. Victor Martinez, C
4. Travis Hafner, DH
5. Ryan Garko, 1B
6. Shin-Soo Choo, RF
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Mark DeRosa, 3B
9. Ben Francisco, LF
-- Anthony Reyes, SP

Zenslinger said...

Hughes is nothing to sneeze at. I think he'll be the real thing in the long run, and a surer thing than Joba (injury) and maybe even Buchholz (inconsistent?).

Rob said...

And meanwhile it's 93° here.

10 miles east at the beach around 11:30am it was 59° while here it was 90°. Wacky sea breezes and wacky April weather in New England. Party's over after today, though. Back to Spring.

tim said...

Luuuuu-goooooo! :(

tim said...

93 in maine, jeeezus. it was shit here in the morning but has since turned sunny and mild. but i wouldn't know since i'm cooped up in the office with a pile of tax returns on my desk

Pepe Lepew said...

Snow and sleet ALL DAY! 34 and sleeting at the moment. 6 to 10 inches accumulation in the hills. Crazy day! Took the kid to see "Earth," went out to buy some new hiking boots, but couldn't find any Yaktrax, which I really need, got the kid a pair of pink Doc Martens (She is running around in pink Doc Martens and an oversized Alex Ovechkin jersey), and now we're going to go out to watch Caps and Rangers Game 7!, so even if the Sox play, we'll be missing it. Phew!

Unknown said...

And Drew is still batting fifth why?

allan said...

WHY?

Because he is ON FIRE!!!!!!

allan said...

Nooz: "The New York Yankees slashed prices on more than 40 percent of their front-row seats by up to 50 percent Tuesday and announced many of those who bought tickets closest to the field for $325 to $2,500 will be eligible for additional free seats."

allan said...

P.S.: Drew has the 4th highest OPS+ on the team.

laura k said...

Cleveland broadcast on EI, but Rogers cable comes through again! We are loving this Rogers Sports Net thing that keeps bringing us NESN.

allan said...

DO with the rugged manly look!!!!

laura k said...

Wow, bad weather in Pepeville. Enjoy hockey w/ your kidlet! Sounds great.

Jere said...

Lookie here, back to red sleeves on the road.

laura k said...

full bore = DRINK!

allan said...

FULL BORE sighting

Unknown said...

FY!

Jere said...

I hate ads on foul poles

Grant Salzano said...

That wasn't even close... what the heck?

Grant Salzano said...

NICE slide, D-Ped :)

Woot.

laura k said...

ON FIRE!!!

allan said...

ON FIRE, I tells ya.

Jere said...

1-0 us. Now Bay to make it 4-0.

Unknown said...

FIRE!!!

Drew must be reading this.

Grant Salzano said...

Ouch... good pitch.

laura k said...

At around 8:00 I have to leave for an hour or so. (Phone date.) One reason I was happy there was a game last night. I hate having to miss any other weekday games besides Weds night.

allan said...

JETERIAN!

laura k said...

WOW

Jere said...

Looking like Pokey Reese

allan said...

who was that guy spanking bay?

laura k said...

Crazy Canuck!

allan said...

bay risking injury - could have just stopped at the wall.

Grant Salzano said...

OMG AN ICE CREAM TRUCK JUST PULLED UP IN FRONT OF MY APARTMENT!!1 =-O

allan said...

yes don shoppach is "getting the night off tonight" -- just like kottaras is. that's what backup catchers do.

Unknown said...

Penny looking rather shaky.

laura k said...

We were just talking about ice cream trucks! When I was a kid, we would run after the truck screaming ICE CREAM ICE CREAM, frantically, afraid he might drive away without stopping. It never occured to us... why would he want to drive off, he was there to sell us ice cream!

allan said...

but nesn told me penny is 2-0!

undefeated!



... with a 7.80 ERA

andy said...

I was thinking earlier that Penny is the only reason we lose this game. I really hope lugo re-injures himself. Not too bad but enough to get him back on the bench full time. Come on he is still getting paid, MILLIONS.

Grant Salzano said...

I got a milkshake. Delicious. But also $4.50.

I tell you, these guys probably make a killing off college students.

Jere said...

way to flip your bat like it was a dong, prick

Unknown said...

Bleh

Get the final out.

allan said...

andy, i've been expecting more anti-rays invective from you.

allan said...

29 pitches for each pitcher?

Unknown said...

Alright.

Score runs.

andy said...

The Rays have handled my problem for me. Flash in the pan bullshit of an operation. And their douche coach can kiss my ass too.

Jere said...

Lowell almost tripled

andy said...

Also Lugo is back so I am distracted by his sucktitude.

allan said...

that spider coach sounds just like tito? wtf?

allan said...

watney wearing her cute conductor's cap

Jere said...

So I guess we have switched back to red underclothes/socks on the road from blue. Public outcry must've worked. But it seems to be a muted red.

Unknown said...

Alright, Lugo, prove me wrong here.

allan said...

too good to be true

Amy said...

Good evening, everyone. I will be in and out. Still getting organized. Tonight is our last night in our home for the last 25 years. Harder to leave than I thought.

Baseball will cheer me up.

Amy said...

Nice debut, Julio!

andy said...

Fuck you Lugo. Nice hit. Rays suck.

Jere said...

Lugo OPS at a cool two grand

allan said...

lugo - SMOKIN'

Unknown said...

I am...pleasantly shocked.

laura k said...

"Fuck you Lugo. Nice hit. Rays suck."

Classic Andy!

Jere said...

run

Unknown said...

Run(s)!

Amy said...

Nice sac fly, LBJ.

laura k said...

LBJ rbi and Tek run, a nice tandem for the womenfolk here tonight :)

Amy said...

Yes, Laura. Like Saturday's game!

Amy said...

Fuck yeah!

allan said...

puh-droyer

Unknown said...

FY 2-2!

laura k said...

Yeah Papi!!!

Amy said...

Good for Papi!!

Jere said...

woohoo Papi. gapper doobler

laura k said...

Ortiz with the half-dong

Unknown said...

Papi!

Unknown said...

More Run(s)!

allan said...

love them baltimore dongs

Unknown said...

goddamit

Unknown said...

Effing gameday effing up.

allan said...

"long wait for penny" -- GLUG

laura k said...

Kevin, I know I asked this before, but if you answered, I missed it. Why don't you get MLBTV or at least MLB Audio? The audio is very inexpensive.

laura k said...

yoooooooook

sweat powered ribbies!

allan said...

sox pounding reyes's slop

Amy said...

Yes, YOUK! We are invincible!

Jere said...

I am so happy

Unknown said...

NOW we have more run(s)

allan said...

tiz went from 2nd to 3rd on that double??????????????

Jere said...

It was a ripped single to left by Youk scoring two, then Drew flies to left and the guy comes in and makes a diving catch to end inning. 5-1.

allan said...

yook single? nesn had him on second and was distracted

Unknown said...

Right now I have shitty AOL dial-up internet, so I don't think that's going to happen.

Unknown said...

Quite frankly I'm amazed Gameday even functions with it.

allan said...

now it's 5? so flo did score???

Amy said...

Damn. Damn.

allan said...

penny pitching to contact ...

Amy said...

Yes, Ortiz did score.

Unknown said...

Penny not impressing.


When will Smoltz be ready?

Jere said...

It was second and third after Ortiz' double, and 3-1. Youk hit one to left scoring both runners. But you're right, it was a double. Looked so much like a classic single I didn't even notice he got 2.

laura k said...

Ew dial-up, sorry to hear that.

allan said...

fucxking nesn - good, do they have 3 year old running the bar on the screen?

wite out to the rescue!

Amy said...

Uch, bad throw.

Jere said...

god effing dammit. changes the whole inning.

Unknown said...

Dammit Penny...

And yet, with the bats looking good, he's probably going to be 3-0.

Unknown said...

Wait, Lowell error?

My bad there Penny.

Jere said...

Hughes one hit, one walk thru three. 0-0.

allan said...

and his ERA will rise to 9.45

Jere said...

Yeah Lowell had a DP ball and threw it into right field.

allan said...

still june 1 for smoltzy, i think

allan said...

d-fooking-p pls

Unknown said...

Throw strikes!

Unknown said...

...

allan said...

long wait for reyes??

Benjamin said...

More runs, please.

allan said...

what does gdgd have for total pitches for each pitcher?

Unknown said...

Penny on pace for a 256.5 pitch CG.

Unknown said...

57 for penny, 63 for reyes

allan said...

both guys go the distance, i say boston wins 37-28.

allan said...

thanks!!!

21 minute wait -- gulp!!!

allan said...

2 innings = 1:09

Benjamin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
allan said...

thought i might have missed some pitches, but i didn't!

Benjamin said...

both guys go the distance, i say boston wins 37-28.

I don't think Lopez can pitch that many innings.

Grant Salzano said...

We're so good at this game.

Benjamin said...

Tek!

andy said...

Those unis look sharp

allan said...

Donald and Gerald

Benjamin said...

Boo. We ran out of Reyes.

Amy said...

Tek---proving to be a surprise!

Unknown said...

TEK!

allan said...

sox 1/3 of the way to history

Grant Salzano said...

Tek has the nicest swing in baseball.

allan said...

heidi has hacked grant's account

Grant Salzano said...

<3 Tek

Love that sweet stroke.

Unknown said...

"2 innings = 1:09"

I thought we were done playing New York...

allan said...

reyes batters faced and pitches

17 - 76

that's the spirit (/marxbros)

Jere said...

We've moved to the backyard with the radio. See you all later.

allan said...

2 innings = 1:09

damn wakefield (/matthews)

Grant Salzano said...

Lugo is clearly back to his normal self.

Unknown said...

And...the old Lugo returns.

allan said...

he's hitting .500!!!!!

god, what's wrong with you guys?

Benjamin said...

I miss Reyes already.

Benjamin said...

I don't have the sound on. That kinda looked like runner interference.

allan said...

garko cannot deal with slowell's wheels

allan said...

go ahead, pitch me away

3-for-3 with hits to RF

FY

allan said...

dong pls

Grant Salzano said...

P-P-P-P-Pedroia...
P-P-P-P-Pedroia...
P-P-P-P-Pedroia...
Pedroia The Destroya!

Unknown said...

FY 3-3

Unknown said...

FY on pace for a 9-9 game.

charlie pioli said...

Just found out where my dorms are for Northeastern next year. Fenway Park is 0.6 miles away!!!!!!...my grades are going to suffer

allan said...

bad news

Grant Salzano said...

Awww shit, this has to be the guy they'd least want up to the plate right now... :D

allan said...

i want some sweaty salami

Grant Salzano said...

Youk's BA has dropped to a sad .423

Grant Salzano said...

Rut roh...

Grant Salzano said...

DAMN IT#@$%^

allan said...

6 LOB in 3 innings BOOOOOOOOOO

Unknown said...

Alright Penny, how about a scoreless inning?

Grant Salzano said...

My laptop is getting viciously warm... It's kind of making me nervous

allan said...

101 pitches by clev pitchers in 3 innings

batters in inning: 6, 8, 8

Grant Salzano said...

This is going to go down as The Worst Baseball Game Ever.

Grant Salzano said...

For fuck's sake...

allan said...

shitty shit

andy said...

Do I have to say anything?

Unknown said...

Lugo back to 2008 form.

Benjamin said...

Shitfuck.

Grant Salzano said...

I'm going to kill somebody in the balls.

Unknown said...

FUCK!!!

This is going to be one long-ass game.

allan said...

back to 0-0 for penny - he can still get a "win"

Amy said...

Oh, shit.

allan said...

remy says jones warming asap

yeah - no reason to have any action in this inning before now.............

Grant Salzano said...

This is going to be one long ass-game.

Fixed.

allan said...

no sense overreacting now -- this'll be a 19-16 final

allan said...

hurry up with out #3 - i need some rally juice

Grant Salzano said...

What's with this dude and the Jeter Jacknife?

allan said...

penny seeing his red sox career fading away into the mist

Grant Salzano said...

How many people are actually in here watching this abortion of a game?

Unknown said...

About damn time.

allan said...

abortion = we are down by 12

7-7 in the 3rd = something else

allan said...

of course it FEELS like we are losing big

Grant Salzano said...

Not quite 1/3 of the way home.

2 hours of my life wasted.

Grant Salzano said...

I'm not even talking about the result, this is just a horrifyingly awful game to watch...

Grant Salzano said...

YAY!

Benjamin said...

So that's what an out looks like. I'd forgotten.

Unknown said...

Well done.

Can we keep him and get rid of Lopez once Dice comes back?

allan said...

it's keeping me busy, coloring in all the runs.

PC

penny: 29-28-32 = 89
reyes: 29-34-13 = 76

Benjamin said...

I'd say we should hope it gets rained out, but this is like starting over anyway.

allan said...

jones > lopez for sure

dice returns and masterson replaces penny?

allan said...

PENNY STILL UNDEFEATED!!!!

Unknown said...

BBay

allan said...

when someone like joe morgan cites W-L record as a measure of a pitcher's worth, just think of Penny waking up tomorrow morning with a 2-0 record.



(8.66 ERA)
\

Amy said...

Any bets on what time this game will end?

allan said...

so much for history.

amy: friday?

Amy said...

Do they have a curfew in Cleveland?

allan said...

even 4:30 = 11:30. seems about right.

Grant Salzano said...

Any bets on what time this game will end?

Honestly, probably like 10:30, the entire pace of the game is going to change completely.

allan said...

yeah, sox will win 8-7 in 11.

Amy said...

Well, if we go only nine innings, 11:00 seems possible. But who knows? This could go into extra innings at this rate.

allan said...

penny faced 21 batters -- retired two in a row only once.

Benjamin said...

Lugo cleanly fields one.

Runs please.

Amy said...

Pace definitely picking up. OTT

Unknown said...

"Honestly, probably like 10:30, the entire pace of the game is going to change completely."

Yes 10:30

Tomorrow morning

Unknown said...

OTT

andy said...

And yes

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