April 9, 2009

G3: Rays 4, Red Sox 3

Rays    - 012 100 000 - 4 10  2
Red Sox - 000 001 011 - 3 7 0
Jason Varitek began the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run, but the Red Sox could not push another run across.

David Ortiz walked with two outs, but Kevin Youkilis (who had walked, singled, doubled, and singled in his previous appearances) flew out to the dirt of the triangle.

Boston also stranded runners at second and third in the eighth.

***

Matt Garza (2008: 3.70, 120 ERA+; Spring 2009: 20.2 IP, 6.10 ERA) / Daisuke Matsuzaka (2008: 2.90, 159 ERA+; Spring 2009: 9 IP, 1.00 ERA)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
J.D. Drew, RF
Jason Bay, LF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Jed Lowrie, SS
Jason Varitek, C
Also: Junichi Tazawa gets the ball in Portland's season opener today.

***

Daniel Barbarisi has a ProJo article in which he discusses what the Boston lineup looks like
as the Red Sox evolve from the Manny-Ortiz home run duo to a top-to-bottom, grinding lineup.
This is bizarre. Haven't we been hearing about the 1-to-9 grinders for at least five years? Hell, we heard that back in the dark pre-Tito years when the Pro was batting 7th and 8th?

Julio Lugo begins a week of workouts in Florida today. Mark Kotsay is scheduled to face live pitching next weekend.

Some Red Sox players (Jason Bay, Mike Lowell) had little beef about last night's home plate umpire Bob Davidson. Jason Varitek had no comment. David Ortiz: "Wow. That's all I've got to say. Wow. You can make your own comment on it."

Meanwhile:

198 comments:

allan said...

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. Jed Lowrie, SS
9. Jason Varitek, C

1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
5. Willy Aybar, DH
6. Matt Joyce, CF
7. Gabe Gross, RF
8. Shawn Riggans, C
9. Jason Bartlett, SS

Rob said...

Gorgeous day for baseball. Not a cloud in the.... Okay a couple of fair-weather clouds in the sky. Already it's 54° in Boston and is expected to be right around 60° by 1:30.

Patrick said...

The thing that bugs me about Ortiz, is that he does get bad calls from the umpires and I think it goes to his head. I see a lot of doubt in that man.

PLEASE DON'T SUCK DAISUKE! I really don't want to lose to Matt Garza and The Rays again.

allan said...

Plus he bitches way too much, though it is usually with head shaking and eye rolling. He really ought to cut that out.

nixon33 said...

I hate Garza. Him and his auto-pilot-spitting-1000-times-a-mintue. It's vile the way he spits. I don't usually mind ballplayers spitting, whatever right? But this motherfucker drags his front teeth along his tongue to gather his cotton mouth spittle before projecting it from his gob. It kinda drives me fucking crazy.

Ok enough of that shite, just beat the son of a bitch.

laura k said...

Nice description of the spitting.

laura k said...

I love day baseball.

laura k said...

Crap. Rays announcers.

allan said...

fuck - i was right

dee-wayne and ance face

allan said...

Kevin "I last managed in MLB in 1995 and am totally qualified to manage again yet for some reason I have received not one call in almost 15 years, maybe they don't have my new number" Kennedy

Rob said...

That was a very nice looking changeup. I'd like to see that more often!

nixon33 said...

I'm glad JD is back in the lineup. I wish he could hit lefties. I'm not sold on Baldelli...
I guess we'll see

allan said...

2 quick outs

and KK complaining about a wide zone on crawford.

allan said...

staats calling bob davidson "bob davids" and our pitcher "matsuzaki"

Rob said...

Matsuzaki. Brilliant.

Patrick said...

Bah!

Rob said...

Castig: "Dice-K strands two in the top of the first inning and picks up where he left off last year."

Bryon Harris said...

Hey all,

I ponied up my 15 bucks to mlb and am home listening to the game (first chance this season) on the internet.

It's been a while since I lived I was a Mainer and listened to the sox on the radio. Who's the new guy?

Patrick said...

That that! I would love Carl Crawford if he was on our team. As it is, after him pulling Coco's hair and whining, I despise him.

allan said...

chokers also playing this afternoon.

0-0 bot 1st

Patrick said...

I think Daisuke will always have an ERA that defies his WHIP.

Patrick said...

LETS SEE SOME STEALS!!

laura k said...

that's my boy :)

Rob said...

It's been a while since I lived I was a Mainer and listened to the sox on the radio. Who's the new guy?

You mean Dave O'Brien?

Rob said...

If you can drop one down and leg it out, why not? I loved that bunt.

Rob said...

Dice-K went to his mouth in the top of the first...

nixon33 said...

SPEED KILLS, TAKE IT WITH ACID!

Patrick said...

Do people ever use the word 'balk' in real life situations?

nixon33 said...

Patrick, I've heard it used, yes.

nixon33 said...

What looks different about Youk? Is he bigger? Is his helmet bigger? something is different...

Rob said...

My leg's balking at me.

Rob said...

Youk did shave the crazy beard for spring training and grew it back out through the course of the spring.

Patrick said...

J.D. Dong! (I am so bad at calling these)

laura k said...

I noticed something different about Yook, too. I think he's thinner, in better shape.

allan said...

fsn's cf camera is higher than usual, but i don't think you're watching that channel.

nixon33 said...

Ish, it's not that, yet I did follow his beard trends.
Hmm...

laura k said...

I use the word balk.

Rob said...

Other than the beard I've got nothing.

nixon33 said...

FUCK

Rob said...

ohhhHHHHHHHHHHHH..... Awwwwwww.....

nixon33 said...

don't forget Baulk!

Bryon Harris said...


You mean Dave O'Brien?


yea what happened to Trupiano?

allan said...

i forgot this last inning:

"there goes the no-walker"

nixon33 said...

Eh...

Patrick said...

God damnit.

Rob said...

yea what happened to Trupiano?

He was axed after the 2006 season.

Bryon Harris said...

Did he deserve it?

Patrick said...

That was like Saito's inning last night.

Rob said...

Did he deserve it?

Well, I liked him. I don't know why they let him go. In 2007 O'Brien only did a handful of games during the season and I didn't like the guy they used when O'Brien was doing ESPN games. I've banged on about this for awhile, but I wish Trupiano would have been allowed to stay. But I wasn't asked. Everyone has their opinions on him.

nixon33 said...

Speaking of, I WAS TRUPED!

allan said...

when the sox played the jays i was blacked out and had to listen on the net - i couldn't do it. hated trupe too much.

Bryon Harris said...

Cool thanks. I also liked the dynamic the way it was is why I ask.

Rob said...

Byron, I will say I really do like Joe and Dave on the radio too. I think at this point better than Trup. But I'm 21 years old - I grew up listening to Joe and Jerry.

allan said...

i'm in the clear minority, but i can pretty much take or leave castig too. the two of them were insufferable, but i can deal with castig & whoever now, for the most part (unless he starts in on college sports, then i flip out).

Rob said...

Meh I don't feel like pitching to you, Aki. Here's first base. Next!

Bryon Harris said...

I'm gonna hafta log some hours before I get much of an opinion about the current personel. And speaking of hours ive run short on them...See ya folk...go Red!

Rob said...

Angels/A's game has been postponed tonight.

nixon33 said...

MOTHERFUCKER

nixon33 said...

I Hope our bats come alive today.

nixon33 said...

O's 1 - FUCKFACES 0

nixon33 said...

OK BATS. 3 RUNS ISNT INSURMOUNTABLE

nixon33 said...

TEX just hit a homer for the MFY. Sterlings Tex HR Call?

"MARK DELIVERS A TEX MESSAGE!"

laura k said...

I think that's kind of cute, Tex Message.

Glad I don't have to hear it, but it is cute.

allan said...

someone at sosh mentioned the call during the cubs exhibitions. also something like, you've made your mark, teixeira.

but his name has nothing like TEX in it. not the sound or spelling.

Benjamin said...

This'd be more fun if we scored some runs.

allan said...

i'm close to muting these shitheads and watching in silence.

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOk

Benjamin said...

"Teixeira puts one right up their tush-era. You really know how to fark, Mark."


Bleh, 3-1 MFYs on a Swisher dong.

Rob said...

I wonder what Sterling's Swisher dong call was.

laura k said...

"but his name has nothing like TEX in it. not the sound or spelling."

But it's his nickname, and it's used all the time. A-Rod's name isn't really A-Rod, Kevin Youkilis is not really Yoooook. Etc.

laura k said...

fuckety fuck

Benjamin said...

Sigh. Maybe I should just go back to playing Passover.

nixon33 said...

Ish, he didnt really do a Swish call, but did mention something about Jolly St. Nick...

A fan reached over and took it away from Markakis, according to Sterling.

laura k said...

argh

Benjamin said...

3-2 MFYs.

Rob said...

You'd think sitting here with the window open at 63° out a bright, beautiful April afternoon watching a Red Sox game would make me very happy. Well, not only is this a really boring game but it's windy and dry out too. 18% humidity plus a stiff breeze... Well, try driving and holding your hand out the window at 63°... Your hand will get cold.

Oh well. I know I shouldn't be complaining, but.

nixon33 said...

O's hitting the ball HARD off of Carol today.
Another just missed a HR.

Rob said...

Joe and Dave talking about how fidgety Puffin Face is.

Castig: "He'd make a cup of coffee nervous!"

Obie: "He's like a cat on a high-tension wire."

nixon33 said...

UGH. it feels like this game is over, WTF?

laura k said...

I would say Josh Beckett is the Puffin Face. Or maybe that's just Puffy Face. He always looks a little swollen.

allan said...

feels like we ought to be in the 14th inning or so

allan said...

brawl pls

laura k said...

Is it too late to blame going to Japan?

Zenslinger said...

I stayed home from work and vaporized...for this?

Amy said...

Hi all, still stuck with the netbook which makes it impossible to type. But here watching Tek fly out. Boo. Hope everyone is well. I am also in the midst of Passover, so cannot stick around. Hope things turn around in this game.

laura k said...

I wonder why Amy can't type on the netbook.

Happy Passover to those who celebrate. It was always my favourite holiday when I was observant.

Amy said...

Time for a SB?

Anonymous said...

I'd like to take a moment to remember Nick Adenhart, who passed away today after a hit-and-run following his first start of the year.

Amy said...

Keyboard is so small that I make numerous erros and have to keep making corrections. VERY annoying. BUt actually, I think I am adjusting. Did this one with only two errors that I corrected.

Amy said...

Damn Crawford. (That took at least four re=typings.)

allan said...

bedazzle?

laura k said...

Very sad about that pitcher and the others in the car. I didn't know who he was.

* * * *

Amy, the more you use it, the more you'll adjust. If you keep using it, your old laptop will seem strange when it comes back.

Amy said...

Right...do I want to adjust again? Well, this is getting easier. The typing that is, not watching this game. UCH.

laura k said...

I feel like I've been watching this game all day. Since I woke up at 7 this morning.

allan said...

anyone know if leyritz was driving the other car?

Amy said...

Trup'd there.

What car accident? I must have missed that story.

Passover was once my favorite holiday also, Laura. Not so much any more. Too much traveling and the food gives me an upset stomach!

Amy said...

I thought the hit and run reference in that comment was to a play on the field, not a car accident.

allan said...

mdc up

laura k said...

Car accident killed an Angels pitcher and 2 friends. Hit-and-run driver went thru red light.

I liked Passover for the political overtones. My family always related the seder to civil rights and other people's freedom movements.

Pokerwolf said...

Hey, Sox fans! Just dropping a quick note to say GO SOX (although that's not really happening today, is it?) and I hope everyone's doing okay.

My Dad just snagged tickets to the Sox/Nationals game on June 23rd!! Woohoo!! I haven't been to a Sox game in a long time! I can't wait!

Amy said...

That is awful. (The accident.)

That's what I always enjoy about Passover also--the whole anti-oppression liberation story. Somehow these days that gets lost these days. My brother-in-law's seder is very traditional and virtually all Hebrew; my parents is chaotic and fun, but hardly inspiring!

Benjamin said...

Baltimore really doesn't want to win this one.

Amy said...

OK, time to go get ready to drive to Boston for the second seder after getting home at 1 am last night from NY after the first seder.

I hope the Sox find their bats.

laura k said...

yoooook

laura k said...

Life!

laura k said...

Why are they playing that music in Fenway? Very Yankee Stadium-like.

Benjamin said...

Tripleu

Benjamin said...

Fucking Lowell.

Benjamin said...

Guy on third. One out. Nah, leave'im.

allan said...

rays giveaway in a few days -- replica world series rings.

brilliant idea. why the eff didn't the sox do this?

allan said...

manny being dice

Benjamin said...

Throw strikes, asshole.

allan said...

mdc is on the fuck you train

allan said...

boner.

Joe Grav said...

there we go Nomar

Joe Grav said...

I'm feeling runs, nowish

laura k said...

What happens to people that makes them wear a Fenway Park replica on their head? Childhood trauma? Bullied excessively in middle school?

allan said...

i wonder when tito will first PH for tek this year?

Benjamin said...

Can we just have Youk bat in all nine slots? Others can pinch run.

Rob said...

NHL Winter Classic will be played Jan 1. 2010 at Fenway! Cool beans. The Bruins against... well most likely either Montreal or the Rangers. The NHL has just approved it today.

Joe Grav said...

aww dammit...

Joe Grav said...

Ish, hopefully not Montreal, if so there will be 15,000 obnoxious Habs fans there.

I'm thinking Boston vs. NY is most appropriate for Fenway

Joe Grav said...

....hearing "Ole Ole Ole Ole" and "Go Habs Go" ring out from the hallowed seats at Fenway Park would be too much for my heart to bear.

allan said...

here is something for jere to get annoyed at:

rays are selling tix to an upcoming homestand called "championship week". they are playing the yankees and white sox.

Rob said...

I agree whole-heartedly, Joe. You know that the nervous Habs fans have already eaten up a lot of the tix to tonight's game. Hearing Ole Ole at the Garden is enough for me as it is.

Rob said...

What a catch. Doctor doing some lunges.

Joe Grav said...

Ish, I half want the Habs to win just so they stay in 7th and not get to 8th and matchup with the B's.

But if they fall out of the playoffs... HAHAHAHA

Rob said...

Joe I think I'd rather play the Habs first round because the Rangers are just beginning to turn it on at the right time. Plus the Bruins have owned Montreal this season. Seven game series is not real fun sounding but they seem like the easier opponent right now.

Rob said...

Brian Shouse doesn't sound like someone who will get the Red Sox out in order here in the 8th. Then again he must be in here just to get Ortiz.

Joe Grav said...

7 run rally here, Sox.

Rob said...

Huh. Shouse stays out there. Looks a lot more like a match-ups guy.

allan said...

stays in for yook, and gets drew.

Joe Grav said...

there we go

Rob said...

Sweat-Powered!

Rob said...

Yook now batting .727

allan said...

WHAT DO WE WANT? DONGS!
WHEN DO WE WANT 'EM? NOW!!!

Rob said...

Castig has put the word "pillow" into the rotation for describing bases.

Joe Grav said...

crack a doung!
hit a homre!!

allan said...

homre!

is that new? did we not think of that until now?

allan said...

CALL THE D0CTOR

Rob said...

Dr. Doubles!

allan said...

R MOTHERFUCKING X!!!!

allan said...

jed - lugo wants your job. what you gonna do?

allan said...

that is outside, shithead

allan said...

fuck nuts

Benjamin said...

Just brutal.

Joe Grav said...

shitpile

allan said...

more good news

in the 9th: nyy 9-2.

Joe Grav said...

homre

Yeah, that is new.

Sadly, no homres yet this year.

At least we have life with an inning to go.

Joe Grav said...

Ish - if you're looking for something to watch between games tonight, check out ESPN2 - the Bemidji State Beavers of Destiny continue their improbable Frozen For run against Miami (OH). Probably the best Underdog Story Nobody's Ever Heard Of in sports right now.

Joe Grav said...

Baldelli for Tek, singles
Jacoby singles, 1st and 3rd
Pedroia singles
Papi smash

allan said...

hold the line, jeems, then it's time for "the day before good friday miracle".

will tek bat? will tito use carter?

allan said...

i can't see tito phing for tek. not in game 3. he should, but ....

Rob said...

It's too bad they're tearing down the old Yankee Stadium. They should have done something like this to it.

Joe Grav said...

Holy Thursday Miracle

allan said...

KK thinks Tek will hit -- "no matter what the score is, in the bottom of the 9th"

allan said...

WTF - ring him up

allan said...

piece of shit ump.

this inning was over 8 pitches ago.

allan said...

THROW STRIKES, YA BUM!

Rob said...

Jeemer being Dice-K.

allan said...

god dammit -- get one fucking out, for fuck's sake.

Joe Grav said...

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh

allan said...

donkey time

Benjamin said...

Runs, please.

allan said...

percival?!!

... lock and load ...

Joe Grav said...

lets GOOOO

allan said...

we don't get paid for overtime

3 runs - now.

Rob said...

These two men do not walk softly.

allan said...

no balls, tery, no balls.

Rob said...

Ride, Captain, ride on your mystery ship!!!

allan said...

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Rob said...

And that was a mystery too! Anti-truped there!

Benjamin said...

!!!

Patrick said...

Thank you Tek! Just listen to Magadan please. You're kicking ass!

allan said...

tito = genius

Rob said...

What's great about this is now we start the ninth anew, down a run with the top of the order.

Patrick said...

He's the conductor of the fuck train! It's leaving the station!

Rob said...

Varitek thunders above .100

allan said...

percival era in 21 games at fenway: 8.44

Rob said...

I find it funny that the Rays expect to go deep with this guy as their closer.

allan said...

NOW he calls that shit

fuck you

Rob said...

It's ok though. Percival's just punched his ticket to the Laser Show.

Benjamin said...

:(

Benjamin said...

Please.

allan said...

win it, yook.

win it

Patrick said...

Oh youk. You could repay all of my anguish (not much) with just a glimpse of your dong.

Rob said...

Fail. The water remains clean.

I hear though, that the water is dirtier out west.

Benjamin said...

:(

Rob said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
nixon33 said...

FUCK! so close, yet so far...
WHAT A TEASE

Joe Grav said...

Gary Thorne used to be the #1 NHL announcer, Ish

Joe Grav said...

That game was such a Red Sox (TM). They love to tease.

Oh well. 159 more

Rob said...

Gary Thorne used to be the #1 NHL announcer, Ish

Shows you how much I know! I really only got into hockey after the lockout.

Jere said...

"here is something for jere to get annoyed at:

rays are selling tix to an upcoming homestand called "championship week". they are playing the yankees and white sox."

Isn't that just referring to the fact that it's the week in which they celebrate last year's AL championship? I know the Phillies had several days of events--they didn't get their rings till day 3 I think.

andy said...

How do you pronounce "Teix" as it is written on on the cover of one of the papers you posted.

allan said...

Isn't that just referring to the fact that it's the week in which they celebrate last year's AL championship?

Yes, but I thought you might take exception to the MFY being included in anything relating to a championship.

allan said...

How do you pronounce "Teix" as it is written on on the cover of one of the papers you posted.

Tuh-shuh?

How do you spell shuh so it rhymes with Tuh?

Rob said...

"Teix"?

Tesh?

Jere said...

"Yes, but I thought you might take exception to the MFY being included in anything relating to a championship."

Ha, well, if they priced certain games as "championship games" and those were only Yanks, then I'd be pissed. Or especially if they called them "Class Games."

We're almost getting a 200 out of this game--you know, if I hadn't been there, this was a definite 200...