June 4, 2009

G54: Red Sox 6, Tigers 3

Red Sox - 006 000 000 - 6  6  0
Tigers - 030 000 000 - 3 10 0
First series sweep in Detroit since September 17-18-19, 1996! In the first game of that series, the TCM struck out 20 Tigers.

The Red Sox took advantage of Willis's inability to throw strikes. Though a lot of his pitches were not far out of the zone, he did not get many calls. He walked one in the second, but quickly got a double play. He faced the minimum six batters through two innings.

In the third, Willis plunked Ellsbury, then walked Lugo. After Kottaras struck out, Willis walked Pedroia, Drew and Youkilis -- on a total of 14 pitches. That was the end of his day (2.1-0-5-5-3, 53). Zach Miner came on and allowed Bay's two-run double (ending the Tigers' no-hit bid!), Lowell's RBI groundout and Baldelli's run-scoring single.

Wakefield allowed three straight hits to begin the Detroit second, but other than that, pitched well (6.2-8-3-0-3, 81). Okajima extended his team-best scoreless innings streak to 16.1 and while Papelbon gave up a walk and a single in the ninth, he got his 14th save.

***

Tim Wakefield (4.55, 106 ERA+) / Dontrelle Willis (5.56, 84 ERA+)

On May 12, Wakefield had a 2.92 ERA. Since then, he has made four starts and allowed 19 runs in 23.1 innings, with opponents teeing off at a .320/.409/.480 clip.

Actually, there was an excellent eight-inning, one-run game mixed in there. But in the other three starts -- against the Angels, Mets and Blue Jays -- Wake gave up 18 runs in only 15.1 innings.

MLB.com:
The Tigers are wondering which version of Willis will show up -- the somewhat effective lefty who compiled a 3.57 through three starts after he was activated from the 15-day disabled list after being treated for an anxiety disorder, or the guy who threw batting practice to the Orioles on Friday. In a disastrous outing at Camden Yards, Willis surrendered seven runs on 10 hits over five innings and his ERA jumped almost two runs a game.

166 comments:

allan said...

Also at 1: TEX/NYY and LAA/TOR.

allan said...

1. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
2. J. D. Drew, DH
3. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
4. Jason Bay, LF
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. Rocco Baldelli, RF
7. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
8. Julio Lugo, SS
9. George Kottaras, C

1. Clete Thomas, CF
2. Ramon Santiago, 2B
3. Magglio Ordonez, DH
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Curtis Granderson, CF
6. Brandon Inge, 3B
7. Ryan Rayburn, LF
8. Adam Everett, SS
9. Dane Sardinha, C

No Tiz? Tito: "Day game after a night game, and with the angle he [Willis is a drop-down lefty] throws from, this is something to point to. We talked about it last night."

Tito, on Gerald Laird's bunt for a hit: "I'm not big on unwritten rules and 'the book.' The book has gotten re-written by people who don't know how to write. Just play the game. It's 4-0 and they're trying to win the game."

Benjamin said...

LAAAAAAAAAA jumps out to a quick 3-0 lead over Toronto in the top of the first.

Jere said...

NESN has gone black. It briefly came back for a second and went away, and it's the only channel doing it, which makes me think it's their fault, not mine. It has three minutes to come back. I'm warning them.

allan said...

FSN feed -- FUCK YOU, EI!

We are going out on the patio with the radio.

Rob said...

No thread today?

Zenslinger said...

It will be interesting to see what Wang has to offer.

Benjamin said...

Comment moderation on for today's thread?

allan said...

just forgot to take it off!

laura k said...

Ahhh, sitting outside with baseball on the radio. My fave. Thank you, internet.

Rob said...

Yay thread!

Boo NESN technical problems!

Rob said...

Yay radio!

Rob said...

Crazy bad problems. Audio, no video.

allan said...

24 to go

Rob said...

NESN was able to come back for the commercials! Naturally.

Benjamin said...

Looks like Tim's getting some gift called strikes above the letters.

Rob said...

Nothing like waking up this morning to a wasp flying around inside.

Zenslinger said...

Alex Cora is back and leading off for the Mets. Just had an RBI double.

allan said...

stupid stems

above the ltrs? usually above the belt is a ball.

Jere said...

I got the pre-game, but has been black since 1:00. No audio. I blame them for the bad top of first. I credit myself for getting Wake through bottom 1.

Still black. This is unacceptable. Radio playing "you and me baby ain't nothin' but mammals..." as they come back from break.

s1c said...

Castig's guest on the pre game show was - Nelson. Who is he? He's the ump today.

In and out of the thread as I am working and on the road listening to WTIC.

Yay, radio.

Jere said...

NESN breaking their "pitches missed" record with "all of them."

allan said...

wang has a scoreless first -- damn, he's already doing better than i expected

Rob said...

Jere NESN is being shown here. After some video problems they're back and back big.

allan said...

castig having a case of sterlingitis?

says past a diving yook, but does not say if he dove to his left or right. since he did not mention the foul line, i'm assuming right.

BUT I CAN'T SEE, Joe!

s1c said...

Not surprised to see the father sitting against the leftie. Probably see him sitting from now on against the lefties and either Drew or Lowell getting the DH / day off.

Rob said...

Rut roh. Cabrera is grabbing his hamstring.

s1c said...

Not a good start in the 2nd, and MFY's take the lead thanks to mr. juice jr (damon)

Rob said...

Also Willis is a sidearm lefty.

NESN's picture goes black again. !!!!!JKRHfastdl.

Rob said...

And it's back.

Jere said...

classic John Rish--says the Yanks have two on one out. But they made the first two outs on a DP. So unless he got the update in MID-play, he was wrong on that one. Now inning over, Yanks just get the one on Damon's dong. Could've been a huge inning.

s1c said...

Crap, oh well, off to my next inspection.

Rob said...

Well seeing as NESN's picture is in and out, in and out, I can go have a shower and listen to the radio.

Jere said...

I still have black on NESN. They owe me an extra game.

laura k said...

"castig having a case of sterlingitis?"

It might be more common than you think, in this post-radio era.

Zenslinger said...

Swisher was doubled off second on a A-Rod flyout. Could have been a big inning indeed.

Jere said...

AT first GDGD said Teix doubled off first. Now it says he was thrown out at second. And you're saying yet another thing. What the hell happened?

allan said...

reaches vs a LHP!

Zenslinger said...

My mistake, Jere. It was Teix who was doubled off first.

allan said...

yay lugo - just stand there!

Zenslinger said...

Ha ha, RS.

I find myself kind of hoping Lugo makes dramatic, game-losing errors so that we can just get rid of him somehow. I try not to wish ill on players -- especially ours -- but it just seems like time to (as a SoSH poster said) "cut bait".

laura k said...

runs please!

Jere said...

bases loaded. score at least two.

allan said...

o'brien already predicting an 0-4 for Kottaras. must think he's still on espn.

Zenslinger said...

Willis' no-hitter is turning sour for him here.

Zenslinger said...

A lot of these balls look very borderline -- but that's GDGD. Who knows.

laura k said...

Thanks Dontrelle! Doesn't matter if we can't hit, I guess.

Pen has been up for a bit, tho.

Benjamin said...

A lot of these balls look very borderline -- but that's GDGD. Who knows.

It's an erratic and bullshit strikezone.

allan said...

ob says they are close - with willis glaring at the ump every so often.

laura k said...

"o'brien already predicting an 0-4 for Kottaras."

That really bothered me. Let's just watch the game, eh? No need to predict individual batter's performances.

Jere said...

I heard O'B asy that 0-4 thing. What a stupid thing to say.

laura k said...

As fun as this is, I feel bad for Willis. I used to really like him. Geez.

Jere said...

thank you P Train.

3-2 Det.

allan said...

leyland pulls his P with a no-no going.

Zenslinger said...

Wang WP bring in a run...1-1.

Jere said...

Wang WP ties the game at 1

Zenslinger said...

I feel awful for him. Anxiety is not a fun thing to experience...but how the fuck do you get better when it's your job to be an MLB pitcher?

allan said...

and willis allowed nothing to go out of the infield.

nick said...

just joined the game via GDGD. wow. that must be painful to watch. No hitter, though. He can hold his head high on that.

Jere said...

The Tigers are pitching a combined NO-HITTER.

laura k said...

"Anxiety is not a fun thing to experience...but how the fuck do you get better when it's your job to be an MLB pitcher?"

I know, I was thinking the same thing. It would seem like a very bad job for someone with an anxiety disorder.

laura k said...

There goes no hitter.

Benjamin said...

TEX 2 - MFY 1

Jere said...

Red Sox lead!

And my no-hitter jinx works immediately:)

Rob said...

As far as O'B and commenting on Kottaras, he was mentioning what Francona said about how Kottaras was going to have a "very difficult day" against Willis.

Moot now.

Jere said...

In the 5 games going on in MLB right now, 31 runs have been scored and no game is past the 4th inning.

6-3 us.

laura k said...

me likey

Rob said...

Sounds like Leyland was ejected for arguing balls and strikes, as well.

Thunder Bay and Rico Baldy powering the team!

Zenslinger said...

I try to keep the fantasy-baseball comments to a minimum. But I have to share with someone that I picked up Jason Kubel of MIN...and he has two 3-run HRs today.

Thank you.

allan said...

still a very stoopid thing to say

a) that he'll not hit anything

b) that he'll bat 4 times against willis (meaning willis will stay in to face at least 36 batters)

Jere said...

Joe laughing at the 6 runs, 2 hits, on the board.

It happened in the Citi Field exhibition game in April--and I took a picture of that board.

Jere said...

NESN back!!! Time of non-game: 54 minutes.

Unknown said...

This is pretty strange. Willis is a guy I've always liked a lot; I figure he'd be a good Satchel Paige in the movie version; with the high leg kick. You'd just have to get everyone to wear reversed jerseys and then reverse the film in post-production to fix the lefty/righty thing.

Still, I'm always glad to see the Sox chase a starter in the 3rd.

Zenslinger said...

Ah, the sweet OTT. Thank you, Tim, you bow-huntin' Bush-lovin' son of a so-and-so.

Zenslinger said...

Ignore that last comment. I'm seeing things. The inning's still going on. Nothing to see here.

Jere said...

I love how the Tigers used to have Lance Parrish, and now they have Larish.

Jere said...

two out bloop over second, then fly out to deep left center to end inning

Jere said...

Don apologizes for NESN having "dropped out on the standard definition side."

Apology reluctantly accepted.

Benjamin said...

Wang's starting to lose it again.

Jere said...

i love Wang

Benjamin said...

4-1 Texas.

Jere said...

4-1 texas

allan said...

dave and joe talking about the possible 3B gold glove winner. seemingly going on only what they see or the player's rep. no talk of actually using stats or metrics to see which one is truly best. it's all very sad. like judging a batter's worth by how nice his swing looks.

Rob said...

Youk's done.

Rob said...

Allan, that would mean Drew is the best hitter ever. I love watching him swing.

Jere said...

Did I hear TC call Bay the "Bay Hey kid" the other day?

Benjamin said...

dave and joe talking about the possible 3B gold glove winner. seemingly going on only what they see or the player's rep. no talk of actually using stats or metrics to see which one is truly best. it's all very sad. like judging a batter's worth by how nice his swing looks.

Not to defend them, but defensive metrics are still woefully inadequate when compared to batting metrics.

Zenslinger said...

Youk's foot hurtin', I guess.

allan said...

i know -- and they probably have no idea that any of those metrics exist anyway.

laura k said...

"I try to keep the fantasy-baseball comments to a minimum. But I have to share with someone that I picked up Jason Kubel of MIN...and he has two 3-run HRs today.

Thank you."

I thank you for the first part.

nick said...

Youk out? hmmm... what's it with these 1st basemen? What happened to Cabrera? Leaving the game to an injured leg when all he had to do was stand around and let the Sox keep walking.

Rob said...

Tight right calf for Youk.

Zenslinger said...

"I thank you for the first part."

I've been L-Girled.

Jere said...

Inge looking like a member of the 1919 White Sox in the World Series.

Jere said...

Cabrera was hurt running bases

Jere said...

Yanks strand two. Still 4-1.

nick said...

"I thank you for the first part."

I've been L-Girled.




I like it. :-)

Thanks, Jere.

Jere said...

5-1 Rangers

Jere said...

Wang pulled.

Benjamin said...

Wang's gone.

Jere said...

very nice DP by DP

allan said...

So Girardi pulled his Wang?

Jere said...

Texas dude pops up on first pitch to strand two after a walk. I check, and sure enough, it was a four pitch walk. So Aceves had come in, given up a hit and a 4-pitch walk, and the next idiot swings at the first pitch. Dungeon!

Rob said...

Remember the squirrel? O'B asks Castig where the squirrel has gone and Joe says, "I don't know. It's too early for hibernation..."

There must be someone out there who says, "It is!?? I thought animals started hibernating in June!"

Amy said...

I am at work, :( But leaving soon. :) I hate missing a day game, but I see we are ahead. Yay, Wake!

Benjamin said...

Texas pitching is still crap, though. Bases loaded, no outs.

Amy said...

Strange lineup....Lugo! Baldelli, Kottaras and Kotsay!

allan said...

7th hit off wakefield, dave, not 4th or 5th.

jesus christ.

Rob said...

Well have a good rest of the afternoon, everyone. I have company just arriving and we're headed for Chipotle. Hot damn!

Benjamin said...

Strange lineup....Lugo! Baldelli, Kottaras and Kotsay!

Kotsay is in for Youk, who was pulled with a tight calf.

Amy said...

Leaving work! Enjoy the game. I will be listening in, but not threading.

allan said...

i cannot believe o'brien saying that was the 4th hit off wake, then "correcting" himself and saying 5th.

he is keeping score as part of his job -- and the scoreboard presumably had a 6 before the hit and then a 7.

radio-only listeners have no idea he is getting shit wrong.

Jere said...

O'B is bad, like he's not even trying.

Jere said...

Yanks score on a bases loaded walk, 5-2

Jere said...

5-5 on Teix double

Benjamin said...

5-5 MFYs. Fucking hell.

Jere said...

Off the third baseman's glove.

Zenslinger said...

Yargh. Teixeria = monster.

Is our game delayed or something? GDGD stuck on 0-1 to Larish.

laura k said...

No delay, must be GDGD problems.

Benjamin said...

Is our game delayed or something? GDGD stuck on 0-1 to Larish.

Video replay on the foul to confirm it wasn't a home run.

laura k said...

Oh sorry, Allan tells me that was the delay from the HR review. It was foul, game resumed.

laura k said...

ball, then dp to end the inning.

Jere said...

top 7th, Pedroia up , 3-2, 0 out.

laura k said...

Now 3-2 on Pedroia.

Popped up to left.

Jere said...

oh, TC, no, it was a 2-run double for Teixeira, not 3-run....

Jere said...

my bad, it was a 3-run. For some reason I thought 5-2 = 2

Jere said...

Steroid single makes it 6-5 NY

laura k said...

Firey walking today.

Benjamin said...

Third BB for Drew.

allan said...

GDGD says Miner left with "an injured leg".

Zenslinger said...

Kinsler ties it up with a HR vs. Yanks...6-6.

Jere said...

Texas dong ties it!

Benjamin said...

Toronto threatening. 5-4 LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

Benjamin said...

Baldelli batting? Send the runner.

Zenslinger said...

Did they just send Lowell to 2B?

laura k said...

Come on LBJ, how about an RBI or 2?

allan said...

they did, on the fourth pitch (foul) -- castig "forgot" to mention it, though. i saw it on gdgd.

Benjamin said...

Toronto loads the bases with no outs.

laura k said...

How bout it Slugo? Bases loaded no outs, any predictions?

Benjamin said...

Fucking Toronto.

Jere said...

Wait, did Kottaras really go 0 for 4?

Zenslinger said...

Yaaaagh! The Prophecy of Kottaras cometh to fruition!

Run for the hills!

Zenslinger said...

GDGD says 80mph curve...followed by 99mph 4-seamer.

laura k said...

squander

Benjamin said...

Hey look, no runs.

Zenslinger said...

Laird's photo is slightly less moronic than last year's.

s1c said...

Still 6-3 and the Sox blew a bases loaded 0 outs. C'mon, what happened to our offense?

s1c said...

Uncle Dave jinxed Kottaras, of course he still threw out a base stealer, which on Wake, is simpy great.

laura k said...

That Dave O'Brien sure is smart.

allan said...

jeemer's scoreless streak now at 16 innings --

BUT YA JUST CAN'T TRUST HIM!

Jere said...

"jeemer's scoreless streak now at 16 innings --"

Well sure, if you use "facts."

laura k said...

No facts allowed! Baseball only here!

Jere said...

Lugo is horrible

Benjamin said...

10 pitches. Bring him back out for the ninth?

allan said...

Lugo is horrible.

No facts allowed.

Benjamin said...

Toronto loses 6-5.

laura k said...

Maybe don't make it so interesting this time, Bot.

Jere said...

wasn't his fault last time, cheap hits

laura k said...

But the hits were off him.

I don't freak out about it, because no one scored, and that's all that counts.

Jere said...

Melky dong makes it 8-6

Jere said...

good job by Kotsay to take charge

laura k said...

Castig: "Kotsay is really baseball player."

Note to Joe: they're all really baseball players. See how they're playing ML baseball?

laura k said...

Sweeeeeeeeep!

dirty water x 3

Jere said...

w

Benjamin said...

Done and done.

Benjamin said...

Alas, Texas loses.