April 13, 2009

G7: Athletics 8, Red Sox 2

Red Sox   - 010 001 000 - 2  6  0
Athletics - 050 010 11x - 8 12 0
Lester had a nine-batter, 35-pitch nightmare second inning -- HR, single, HBP, K, K, single, double, single, K -- and his teammates' bats slept walked through the rest of the game.

Kevin Youkilis homered in the second, giving Boston a short-lived lead. He also doubled in the fourth. The Red Sox's other run came on a one-out walk to Rocco Baldelli and singles from Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz.

***

Jon Lester (9.00, 54 ERA+) / Dallas Braden (4.50, 96 ERA+)


We need bats.
Good
AVG OBP SLG OPS+

Kevin Youkilis .522 .577 .739 237
Jason Bay .294 .500 .824 234
Jason Varitek .278 .316 .722 157

Bad
AVG OBP SLG OPS+

Dustin Pedroia .167 .259 .375 61
Mike Lowell .174 .208 .391 50
David Ortiz .200 .346 .200 46
J.D. Drew .125 .176 .375 37
Jacoby Ellsbury .208 .269 .208 26
Jed Lowrie .056 .150 .056 -44
After six games, the Red Sox are hitting .242/.329/.424, 93 OPS+.

Braden pitched on Opening Day against the Angels and allowed three runs and nine hits over six innings. Ian Browne calls him "a soft-tossing lefty who relies heavily on command".

BP 2009 on Braden:
An obscure 24th-round pick in 2004 ... his fastball sits at a pedestrian 89-91 mph, but he's always doing something with it -- he'll cut it, sink it, add and subtract from it, and use it to try to set up his average slider and effective changeup.
Lester lasted only five innings against Tampa Bay in his previous start, giving up eight hits and five runs.

330 comments:

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allan said...

Ye Olde Game Story of Sunday from Jere here.

It begins: "After the war that broke out in southern California today, the Bostons may be known as the Fuse Boxes, as they currently dwell in the cellar."

It's a short one, but Jere is as entertaining as ever. I loved the subtlety of this: "Four Californians were sent to the corner, and the contest was completed without incident, though memories were made."

tim said...

Beane...an obscure pick??? No!

laura k said...

Jere, great stuff! I assume you'll be around to collect the appreciation.

Jere said...

Really glad you guys liked it! Thanks.

Pepe Lepew said...

Wow, I just read Mark Fidrych died today. He was found dead underneath his pickup truck in Massachusetts.

allan said...

Mark Fidrych, the colorful major league pitcher known as "The Bird," died today in an accident at his Northborough farm. Fidrych was 54.

Phillies broadcatser Harry Kalas also died today (73).

Jere said...

Fidrych died. I can't believe it. Only 54.

allan said...

Look at those inning pitched in each game -- at age 21! I recall reading about pitch counts of 130-150 every time out.

Gee, I wonder why that was his only full season and his career went into the shitter after only two years?

One of the biggest examples of abusing a pitcher.

laura k said...

OMG. The Bird. He was so young!

Wow. What a shock. I know several fans who will be heartbroken.

Zenslinger said...

I will be at the game in Oakland tonight.

Most of you will be asleep by the time it's over. But I have to take my chances when I get 'em.

Zenslinger said...

Lowrie to the DL.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Zenslinger said...

Wang's getting smacked around in the first.

Is it OK to feel good that his ERA is high (22.50 at the moment) when we're behind even the Chokers in the standings?

And am I supposed to feel good that the Yanks are getting scored on when it's the damn Rays that are doing the scoring?

Jere said...

Wang has dookied the duvet in every start in recent memory. The one on NESN in March, the Cubs exhibition game, and now his first two regular season starts. Fall from grACE.

Jere said...

"Lowrie to the DL"

Nick Green must be doing some serious voodoo. Good thing he's doing really well as a bonus for the rest of us.

Zenslinger said...

Holy Christmas. Wang loads the bases without getting an out in the second. Walks Longoria on a long at-bat to bring a run in. They lift him for Albaladejo...Grand Slam to Pena. 9-0, still no outs in the second.

Wang's ERA stands at 28.93.

And we still need a win tonight to be even with these jokers.

9casey said...

Zenslinger said...


And we still need a win tonight to be even with these jokers.



True but they played the orioles and the royals......


Giradi might not make May , I also see that Pena and Thomson changed coaching spots
Pena went to bench and Thomson went to third......

Zenslinger said...

That is the one silver lining here, Casey.

tim said...

Another great write-up Jere, I love 'em!

allan said...

Left wrist sprain for Jed, same one that was hurt last year, sent back to Boston for tests. Gil Velazquez will take his spot.

Rocco Baldelli, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
J.D. Drew, RF
Jason Bay, LF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Jason Varitek, C
Nick Green, SS

Ryan Sweeney, RF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Jason Giambi, 1B
Matt Holliday, LF
Nomar Garciaparra, 3B
Jack Cust, DH
Kurt Suzuki, C
Bobby Crosby, 2B
Rajai Davis, CF

allan said...

MFY: 000 110
FKR: 451 011

allan said...

NESN!

allan said...

very strange seeing nomar wearing #1

laura k said...

HITS PLEASE

laura k said...

Just strange seeing Nomar back in the AL.

Jere said...

tim, thanks. Too bad TB couldn't get a run in that one 0 inning...

Jere said...

Nomar was in my dream last night.

laura k said...

Was he at your childhood home?

Jere said...

Rocco flailing at Braden's looper.

Jere said...

No, he was at the second most common place in my dreams--Fenway. And he got a big ovation, led by me, who was in the dugout with him.

Benjamin said...

I still hate these road uniforms.

laura k said...

OTT

crap

Jere said...

basically a GORF there.

laura k said...

Jere, very cool.

allan said...

Don't get Andy started on Braden's looper.

Rob said...

This is what I call an "intimate" crowd. You can hear individual fans screaming shit at the players.

Jere said...

I'll remember this game as the one I was doing my taxes during.

laura k said...

Those intimate crowds are fun to be in. Maybe not as fun for the players, but it's great for fans.

laura k said...

So we need a Sox win and a Smith refund.

Rob said...

There was a guy screaming at Pedroia, "YOU CAN DO IT!!!!" Hilarious.

allan said...

Hey, Don and Jerry: OCab cannot hit, he is not a good player.

Rob said...

I am all messed up tonight. Woke up at 3:15 this morning, drove my father to the bus to Logan by 4 AM, he traveled to Honolulu today for work, I stayed out and took some pictures at the beach of the sunrise, slept from 8 AM to Noon, and tonight this is just weird. 10 PM, watching a game where it's 7 PM, and talking to my dad who just arrived in Hawaii where it is 4 PM.

allan said...

remy: not sure how holliday will hit away from coors?

LOOK AT THREE YEARS OF HIS ROAD STATS!!!!!!!!!!!!

laura k said...

Seems like so long ago Nomar was with Boston. So much has happened since then!

nick said...

Nick Green is smoking pop rocks. awesome!

laura k said...

Ish you need to call someone in Australia or New Zealand, just to get really mixed up.

Jere said...

that's a dong there's a dong

laura k said...

SWEATY DONG!!

Rob said...

Truped... Anti-Truped... Truped... DONG! SWEAT-POWERED!

allan said...

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK

Benjamin said...

Youk!

9casey said...

redsock said...
Hey, Don and Jerry: OCab cannot hit, he is not a good player.


Really...are ther 3 ss in the american league better than him

allan said...

shit, lugo is better.

laura k said...

I need my eyes checked. Did we just get two hits in a row?

Rob said...

L, there's a webcam that I look at from time to time from Hobart, Tasmania where right now I think it's 12:25 PM... I looked at it just now and it showed 7:15 AM which confused me even more!

But I mean, it could be much worse. Could be in my father's shoes, actually traveling to Hawaii, where for him the sun rose today at 6 AM and sets at 1 AM!

My head just exploded. Oh look, a baseball game!

Rob said...

One thing that is very neat is there's a streaming webcam in Waikiki right where he is and at some point this week he'll walk over there and wave to the webcam.

Benjamin said...

Lowell not so much.

laura k said...

Worse, and you'd be in Hawaii? Don't know if that's worse. :)

allan said...

i should say that if given a choice, i'd take lugo.

Jere said...

Every time Turbo Tax makes me type my name in again I think "you know who I am! I'm AC dammit!"

Rob said...

I'm leaning that way, L. It's 80° there and sunny right now. 42° here and... Night.

Teleportation would come in handy.

Benjamin said...

Crap.

Rob said...

All or Nothing gets all of it.

laura k said...

bah

Rob said...

This should be a good time to hop in the shower.

allan said...

1 a side

DRINK!

SoSock said...

I just cussed Cust.

nick said...

re-faced baseball cards

allan said...

let's go houdini

SoSock said...

DP PLS

laura k said...

b2b ks! one more, houdini

SoSock said...

Hah!
Before that K (that very timely K),
GDGD showed the count as 0 - 3.
WTF?

Benjamin said...

WTF is that.

laura k said...

oh wtf

Jere said...

almost got out of it. "Neither one had a chance at it"--except both of them.


15-5 Tampa

Jere said...

Abreu and Giambi in weird red and green unis on consecutive nights.

Benjamin said...

Fucknuts.

allan said...

and houdini drowns in his trunk

Jere said...

my god bay. he's going after it like he's got it all the way.

SoSock said...

Nick Swisher just pitched to a batter in the Skankees - Rays game.

Hahahahahahahahahaha!

laura k said...

oh great, bay's wrist?

Rob said...

I now declare this day... Weird Shit Day!

allan said...

MAKE MADDON APOLOGIZE!

SoSock said...

WTF is up with Lester?

laura k said...

ugh

I'm going to stay up til 1 am and be exhausted for this? Come on.

Anonymous said...

I don't think they gave the starter's enough time in spring training.

SoSock said...

Seems like we've been 1 pitch away from ending this inning a dozen times.

Amy said...

Just tuning in. Teaching tonight...forgot all about the ten o'clock start. How the hell are we already down four runs? I think I am going to go to sleep. These games are painful. Is April over yet?

allan said...

35 pitch inning

laura k said...

L pet peeve: Lester "strikes out the side" after he allowed 5 runs to score. I think strikes out the side should only be used for a OTT 3-K inning.

Amy said...

I agree, Laura. Strikes out the side seems to leave the impression that he pitched well. Hardly the case.

Bay and Lowrie hurt their wrists? WTF?

SoSock said...

I second L's motion.
If you're HAVE to say he struck out the side you should be required to say "while fucking up the whole inning"

Amy said...

These road unis are dark.

Tek at least made decent contact.

laura k said...

Bay dived for a ball that he wasn't even close to, hurt his wrist

Amy said...

Can someone give me a brief recap on how Oakland got five runs? GS? Dongs? Just lots of walks/hits?

Benjamin said...

This team is making me hate them right now.

laura k said...

I'm glad people agree! I like SoSock's edit. I want to hear Don say that next time.

Amy said...

Our team or theirs, Benjamin?

allan said...

HR
single
HBP
K
K
single
double
single
K

Amy said...

Thanks, Allan. I appreciate the update.

Benjamin said...

Cust dong (1-1)
Suzuki single
Crosby HBP
Davis K
Sweeny K
Cabrera bloop single to right (2-1)
Giambi double past a diving Bay (4-1)
Holliday single (5-1)

Amy said...

Allan's avatar is very appropriate for this season so far.

Amy said...

Thanks, Benjamin, also. (Is it Benjamin or is Ben ok?)

SoSock said...

That was a weak inning

nick said...

for the record, I totally agree.

Benjamin said...

Benjamin, but it's not like I've been consistent either.

Amy said...

Hi, SoSock! Hadn't seen you yet this season. How are you doing?

allan said...

12.86 ERA for Lester right now

Wang's is 28.93

Amy said...

Well, you were Phil in 08! Benjamin is a lot to type!

Amy said...

Well, Wang's ERA is higher, so that's some comfort...I guess.

Benjamin said...

Almost as many K as ER. Sigh.

SoSock said...

Wow - Kalas passed away IN the booth just before the game.
Talk about a damper.

Amy said...

A 1-2-3 here would be uplifting.

Amy said...

Everyone go to sleep? Got very quiet in here. I give the Sox one more half-inning, and then I have to get to sleep.

SoSock said...

Hi Amy, just saw your post.
My schedule has been hectic as hell and these game times have just not gelled for me at all.
I've been checking in most days about 10 minutes after the damn game ends - :(
Anyway, I'm hanging in here - good days/bad days you know. More good though. Thanks for asking.

allan said...

2 days ago, when I mentioned Schlitz beer, I meant Schaefer.

L corrected me.

Amy said...

Glad to hear you are doing okay, SoSock. I hope you are making it to Boston for JOS 1.

Amy said...

Schaefer is the one beer to have....

Can you finish the line?

nixon33 said...

SCORE SOME FUCKING RUNS.
(NICK SWISHER IS A DOUCHE BAG, FUCK HIM)

nick said...

not a huge crowd here tonight, but will most of you be on hand for jos1? barring anything unusual I will be there.

SoSock said...

My Tickets are tacked up on my bulletin board in the office!

allan said...

Amy, that's what i was quoting re Adenhart's death. I said it's an ad campaign that will not be making a comeback.

Patrick said...

Just getting here...

Did I read the box score right? Nick Swisher pitched an inning?

Amy said...

I will be there, come hell or high water. But I hope that there is neither.

nixon33 said...

this team is haunted by the ghost of big papi

nick said...

ah... it so nice to see all the returning faces. Hello all. (I will miss rooting for FUNIX).

Amy said...

That's weird, Allan. I had no idea why you were talking about Schaefer beer. But that jingle is forever embedded in my brain. It sure would not be very PC today. Even without Adenhart's death.

laura k said...

There are still two tickets unaccounted for if anyone else wants in. Email me for details.

SoSock said...

Dear Papi
Please come back.
We miss you.
RSN

Benjamin said...

At least Youk isn't shitty.

Patrick said...

My gut feeling when we traded Manny, was that Papi would never be good again. Not because of protection, but because he loved Manny.

Amy said...

Wow, all of a sudden the room is full! And I was about to go to sleep. Hi Nix, Patrick and Nick, and anyone else I have missed.

laura k said...

That Schaefer jingle was huge. Constant.

Do you remember the one for Schlitz?

laura k said...

Papi's a professional. He's not going to be unable to hit because his buddy is on a different team.

SoSock said...

OK - I stand corrected (maybe).
Earlier they said Kalas died in the booth, now I just heard he was rushed to a hospital and died shortly after.
Not that it changes anything.

nick said...

So Papi is suffering from a broken heart? Large Father's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Benjamin said...

Manny's departure gimped Papi's wrist last year? His presence would've made Papi 29 again?

Patrick said...

Papi's a professional. He's not going to be unable to hit because his buddy is on a different team.I'd love for him to prove me wrong. Big Papi has only existed with Manny. There was magic.

nixon33 said...

DREW TAKE A PITCH

SoSock said...

Can we just clone Yook? 9 times?

Amy said...

He may be a professional, but he sure has not hit as well post-Manny. I was willing to chalk it up to his injury last season, but not now.

Schlitz...Milwaukee's Best? I didn't even drink beer when these beer commercials were on tv. But Schaefer was unforgettable. So catchy.

Doesn't the "More taste, less filling" slogan imply the same as the beer to have when you are having more than one?

laura k said...

Patrick, it's a nice idea, but it stretches the imagination just a tad.

laura k said...

He has not hit as well post-Manny, of course we know that. But don't we also know that two events happening near each other does not imply causality?

Patrick said...

I tend to exist in between the real and the fantastic.

laura k said...

When you're out of Schlitz... you're out of beer.

SoSock said...

damn
Even-inning Lester is back.

allan said...

go check his stats when manny was not around.

Anonymous said...

Every hit comes at the wrong time, every bad pitch is hammered, balls fall in at odd places, WTF do they do to get out of this?

Amy said...

Yes, two events do not necessarily mean causality, but it doesn't mean there isn't some connection either. There are so many factors---age, injury, bad luck---but Manny's absence could be one as well. Who really knows? Not even Papi.

nick said...

nice! ok. 1 more out and 5 more runs.

SoSock said...

HEY!
Something good happened!

allan said...

magic? sounds like mystique and aura and ghosts in the ball park to me.

Amy said...

Yes! Thanks for the Schlitz reminder. So what was Milwaukee's Best? My father used to drink some weird beer called Blatz, I guess one of the cheapest made.

SoSock said...

Orlando Hudson hit for the cycle today in LA - and did it by the 6th inning.

nick said...

how the fuck about that.

Benjamin said...

The As run the bases like the Sox play the games.

laura k said...

None of us know, so people make shit up to explain it. If Ortiz isn't hitting because Manny's not around, he's not much of a baseball player in the first place.

Amy said...

I like seeing Cabrera caught like that. Though I still like him for 2004.

SoSock said...

Milwaukee's Best -
quite possibly the worst beer I've ever tasted.

nixon33 said...

can we get some runs, MOTHERFUCKERS PLEASE?

Amy said...

Making stuff up is part of the fun, no? It's sure not all science.

Jere said...

let's see if Bay can swing

laura k said...

6th inning! Wow, that's crazy.

Blatz? It just sounds cheap, doesn't it?!

I'm not aware of any jingle for Milwaukee's Best.

laura k said...

It's not all science, but I'll reject magic every time.

Amy said...

OK, this really is my last half inning. And already one down. But I have to teach again tomorrow and need my sleep to get those brain cells working. COME ON, SOX, SCORE.

nick said...

these guys are disheartening. even that swing by lowell.

"head for the mountains. head for the busch." classic.

SoSock said...

Nick Swisher - 22 pitches
1 hit, 1 walk, and a FREAKING K!
I didn't catch who he struck out, but it should be hell in the clubhouse for whoever it was.

Amy said...

Shit, two away. I was hoping for a BIG inning so I could put off sleep a little longer.

mfeige said...

I haven't been following the Sox much earlier on. Who is N. Green? Why is he Starting at SS? and where is Lowrie?

Matt

Amy said...

Why was Swisher pitching? Had they exhausted their bullpen?

Amy said...

Lowrie on the DL with a sore (sprained?) wrist.

nixon33 said...

wow. this week we've learned that several runs is insurmountable.
WTF?

Benjamin said...

Nick Green got a utility infield backup position out of spring training. He played for the MFYs last season. Lowrie's on the 15 dl with wrist issues.

laura k said...

N Green = Nick Green

backup infielder

Benjamin said...

(15 day dl)

nick said...

g'night amy. sorry that inning was nuttin.

Amy said...

And there's the inning. 1-2-3 again. Time for bed. Good night all. I can't wait for an Eastern Time Zone game.

laura k said...

Nix, I love the new avatar.

nixon33 said...

ARE insurmountable. to be grammatically correct.

allan said...

Back in the mid-80s in VT, I drank Reingold, which I believe at that time was $4.99 for 12 cans.

tim said...

Hey amy! Well see ya later!

Just checkin' in now folks. Saw the shitter inning and stuff, got it on the slingbox so won't be actively threading tonight. Time for a Easter Monday miracle! (that's gonna get real old real soon)

nixon33 said...

thanks, L. Credit goes to someone on SoSH.

laura k said...

G'night Amy. Staying up for west coast games is new for me. Not sure how far I'll go.

mfeige said...

Thanks for the Info! Sorry about the un-informed-ness.

Jere said...

I thought you meant "(a lead of) several runs", which would necessitate the "is."

allan said...

green also hit like a beast in spring training

laura k said...

"My beer is Reingold the dry beer... think of Reingold whenever you buy beer..."

Lotta alcohol songs in those days!

tim said...

Also Schlitz malt liquor is fucking terrible. My alcohol of choice in first year...the can with the big blue bull on the front, estimated alcohol around 6% - got harassed once for buying it - the guy at the store, upon hearing my request popped his head out from the back room to tell me "that's fuckin' gross man!"...then I received the 6 pack which had a nice thick black film of dust/grime on the top of the cans....ohh university

Jere said...

when I was little--actually, I'll quiz Allan or whoever else on this one. What beer-related slogan did the bleachers and right field grandstand used to chant?

nixon33 said...

It could work that way jere, yes.
I was thinking one thing and typed another. happens so often to me.

wow we suck.

laura k said...

MFiege, I feel like I should ask you a lot of questions.

* * * *

fuck. this is ridiculous. i should go to sleep.

allan said...

Ballintine Blast for Garciapopup.

tim said...

wow that's terrible. did you know his name spelled backwards is RAMON???

tim said...

(^^^sarc)

Rob said...

Ironic... Nomar hit that dong near the same place in this stadium where he hit his first MLB home run.....against John Wasdin in 1996.

Jere said...

don't you hate when the NESN people joke around and then some shitty thing happens? It's like yesterday--after that frustrating game, the last thing we wanted to hear about from TC was who gets the "chocolate bunny" award.

nixon33 said...

ish, they just showed that on the oakland feed, didnt they?

allan said...

no idea

nick said...

Garciaparra spelled backwards is thisgamesucks.

mfeige said...

I'm still in Shock . . . I can't believe it. Ugh.

Rob said...

ish, they just showed that on the oakland feed, didnt they?No idea. Castig told me through these here terrestrial radio waves.

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