July 6, 2009

G82: Athletics 6, Red Sox 0

Athletics - 000 401 001 - 6 15  1
Red Sox - 000 000 000 - 0 2 1
Anderson (9-2-0-2-9, 111) stole the show, dominating the Red Sox with ease.

The only hits off the 21-year-old left-hander were Jason Bay's single to left in the second and Nick Green's single to right in the fifth.

Bay was also the only Boston runner to advance past first base, stealing second after his single and then reaching on a three-base fielding error by center fielder Scott Hairtston in the seventh.

Smoltz (6-10-5-1-3, 99) allowed five hits and four runs in the fourth as Oakland batted around. He had trouble locating his off-speed pitches all night.

Garciaparra received a lengthy standing ovation -- more than two full minutes -- before he led off the second inning. He tipped his helmet and applauded back. Nomar went 2-for-4.

Before the game, Nomar expressed his appreciation for Red Sox fans:
I love them. I don't how else to put it to the fans that I love them, and the way they treated me the whole time I was here. I can't tell them how much that meant to me.
***

Brett Anderson (5.45, 75 ERA+) / John Smoltz (6.00, 77 ERA+)

Smoltz's first start at Fenway Park as a member of the Red Sox will be overshadowed tonight by the return of Nomar Garciaparra, who will play in Boston as an opposing player for the first time.

Aaron Bates has been called up from Pawtucket and will play first base and bat ninth tonight in his major league debut. Bates was a third-round pick for Boston in 2006.

After batting .370 for Portland in May, Bates was promoted to AAA on June 7. Bates is hitting only .182 for the PawSox in 88 at-bats and is 0-for-his-last-27.

Jed Lowrie was moved to the 60-day DL to make room on the 40-man roster.

Fun Fact: Rookie LHP Anderson was less than six months old when Smoltz made his major league debut in 1988.

211 comments:

1 – 200 of 211   Newer›   Newest»
fusionmouse said...

MFY left the tying run on first in the bottom of the ninth... lose to Jays 7-6! Let's gain ground Sox.

allan said...

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Jason Bay, LF
6. Jason Varitek, C
7. Rocco Baldelli, RF
8. Nick Green, SS
9. Aaron Bates, 1B

Benjamin said...

It's sad and a little scary that Bates is the best option at first base right now. I'd love to see some revisionist history after he goes 3-5 with a double, though.

nick said...

My memory is certainly hazy, what with age and booze and those medical experiments I routinely volunteer for to earn extra cash, but I remember seeing [Nomar] standing up, in front of the dugout, applauding us. Us. The perpetually disappointed (at that time, anyway) masses.

- Red at Surviving Grady recounting '98 ALDS

s1c said...

I hope the sob goes 0-3 with smoltzie pitching a no hitter.

s1c said...

Oh yeah, thanks for being moved nomar - so that we could get some "vindication" and we could continue to "dream on"

charlie pioli said...

Does anyone know how Lars Anderson is doing in the minors? Why isn't he up playing 1B for the sox. People were predicting he would be in the bigs by this year anyway.

allan said...

Batting stats for every single Red Sox minor leaguer.

Lars at AA: .262/.358/.410

allan said...

And All Pitchers

...

B-Ref is your friend!

s1c said...

Because Lars has been sucking bilge water - while Bates has been smoking -

tim said...

Good ol' Tito.

"There's a lot that goes into a being a really good player that maybe isn't always the fairest," Sox manager Terry Francona said. "But he's a good kid, and he'll always be a good kid. I hope they give him a great ovation. And then I hope he hits into a double play."

allan said...

Doesn't he know Nomar will pop-up?

allan said...

nesn must have put all of 45 seconds of work into that short nomar clip. what garbage.

s1c said...

nesn must have put all of 45 seconds of work into that short nomar clip. what garbage.

Well they didn't want to show any pop ups.

allan said...

good god lugo, wtf was that?

also, that 1-1 pitch shows that the TOP of the amica zone is the batter's belt.

s1c said...

Ways to make Nomar Tribute videos:

Short - Show every AB as a Sox that had more than 4 pitches.

Long Show every RBI hit as a Sox.


I hope the FY personal has nothing to do with his pregnant wife.

laura k said...

ok everyone start complaining about lbj at leadoff!

allan said...

LBJ now 0-1 in this leadoff phase. Boooooooooo

laura k said...

s1c, explain? FY personal?

s1c said...

Fragging LBJ, haven't you learned, you have to take pitches as the lead off man :>

s1c said...

On the pregame they said that FY was missing this game due to personal reasons

laura k said...

thanks. yes hopefully it's something routine he wants to be around for.

Benjamin said...

GDGD's sill borked. Good thing there's tv.

laura k said...

nice

very very nice

Benjamin said...

Is Selig going to whine about the delay of game?

allan said...

nomar is all out of sorts now-- he took the first pitch

johngoldfine said...

Borked?

allan said...

god forbid nesn comes back from commercial early for the reception. nope. still gotta cram the ads in

s1c said...

GDGD working for me?

Well, we have a good start at the 0-3. Good for the fans to greet him like that also.

s1c said...

Time to get another ear of corn (I love fresh corn)

laura k said...

I thought borked meant not getting senate confirmation because of a public outcry.

johngoldfine said...

I thought borked meant being outed as a right wing ideologue!

laura k said...

canuckingle!

laura k said...

"I thought borked meant being outed as a right wing ideologue!"

oh yeah, that too :)

no more threading for me for a while, my RSIs need a rest

laura k said...

"for a while" meaning a few innings, not a few weeks

MacLeodCartoons said...

Almost 700 rbi for the Red Sox - that would be a heck of a long tribute video.

tim said...

Eck is really showing his ignorance of the PawSox.

First he mentioned he doesn't know/care about why Lars Anderson isn't up instead of the other kid. Then while discussing how Oakland's rotation is all rookies, he says "It'd be like the red sox starting Ellsbury - I mean, Buchholz and...that other kid down there, every game" D.O.: "Bowden, Michael Bowden..."

And on a related ignorance note, he mentioned how he doesn't care about anything Nomar did after Boston because his tenure there makes him a shoo-in for the hall.

And this is all in the parts of the game my slingbox hasn't been crapping out for!

allan said...

i agree tim.
i said bowden before don did!

and re what he said that about lars: "yeah, it's not like that's part of your job, to know about the red sox and their best young players"

allan said...

lugo winning hearts and minds.....

s1c said...

Thanks sLugo

tim said...

lEgo.

Amy said...

Hi, everyone. Call me a sap, but I was very touched by the ovation for Nomar.

BTW, did you know that Nomar is Ramon backwards? :)

s1c said...

Since you insist Amy - SAP.

Finish this inning out John.

Amy said...

Thanks, S1C. I knew I could count on you to take the bait!

s1c said...

My pleasure Amy

Now get some runs boys (oh, btw, my brother in law and his brother are at the game tonight.)

Amy said...

Beautiful night for a ball game.

Amy said...

So the Sox have more players in the ASG than any other team. Because they are better or because Red Sox fans are more crazed than fans of other teams?

I did not even vote this year. The whole game bores me. But I am happy that Wake made the team.

s1c said...

Amy - the fans only voted in Bay and Pedroia. Papelbon and Beckett - the players, and Youkilis and Wake were manager picks.

Amy said...

Yeah, I knew that. Not a complete ass, just a sap. :)

laura k said...

NESN YOU SUCK

SHOW THE GAME
SHOW THE GAME
SHOW THE GAME

laura k said...

Is there anyone here who didn't find the ovation for Nomar touching? Banish him! ;)

Did you know that Amy's daughter's name is Yma?

Amy said...

Yma and Yevrah. Sound like Hebrew names or something.

Amy said...

Shit, that happened fast.

s1c said...

Once again Lugo can't turn a dp and the next batter smokes the ball off the wall.

Amy said...

That is maddening.

allan said...

fuck this shit - 5 hits this inning! -- outs, smoltz, outs.

tim said...

Well, fuck.

Amy said...

SCORE RUNS NOW

allan said...

Boooooooooooooougo.

Amy said...

Youk, don't get tossed.

Amy said...

Uch. That was pathetic.

laura k said...

I see on FB our friend EFD is in Staten Island, seeing "baby Red Sox play the baby Yankees" (his quote).

allan said...

our nesn missed yet another pitch

Amy said...

I hope the baby Red Sox are doing better than these Red Sox.

Rob said...

Good evening, JoS. Enjoyed the Nomar ovation very much. NESN showing a HUGE moon. Made my own salsa. Wish we saw the Baltimore Smoltz. Finding it funny that Eck was talking about how Wells says what's on his mind and doesn't mince words, etc. Describing himself to a lesser degree.

Now I am going to the gym. Haven't exercised in awhile. Enjoy the rest of the game.

Amy said...

Lugo made an out!!

laura k said...

Lugo made a play!

Amy said...

Bye, Ish. Hope your mom is doing better.

allan said...

i figured that was green for sure!

Amy said...

Nomar popped up!! Never saw that before. :)

allan said...

Good ol' Garciapopup!

laura k said...

RSVP

Amy said...

Please score now. DO NOT SQUANDER.

A Conformer said...

Shitty bottom of the order two out rally?

Amy said...

Feh.

laura k said...

sigh

allan said...

chokers lost, we need to make hay

Amy said...

Oh, man. Is Smoltz having a bad night? Or is this what he is?

allan said...

too early to tell.

idiot nesn says dillon is p-running, i write it down, then they correct themselves with hairston and i have to bust out the white out - GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

laura k said...

Don says, that's Hairston at 2nd base... Allan says SHIT, thanks a lot fucker... and reaches for the white out.

These announcers don't think we care about the details. But some people do.

Amy said...

Nice throw!

laura k said...

Oops, didn't know Allan already reported that. :)

Amy said...

Fuck, take him out already. Or are we just conceding the game?

laura k said...

For godsakes score some runs this inning!

A Conformer said...

Does anybody else think it's funny that OCab is also there tonight?

laura k said...

The NESN camera was showing him a lot during the ovation for Nomar. Strange coincidence.

Amy said...

I thought it was sort of ironic/poignant that when Nomar was getting his ovation, the camera kept showing his replacement in that trade. I happen to think we never should have let Cabrera go. But yeah, Ofer, I thought it was odd.

s1c said...

The SS that should not have left was A-gonz.

allan said...

O-Cab:
Yep, can never have too many of those .280 OBP types.

laura k said...

Not left OCab go? He didn't hit at all. Not. At. All.

Amy said...

And we have had better shortstops since? Any who have hit better or fielded better? Renteria? Lugo? That other guy I no longer even remember??

laura k said...

But you can't see the future. There was no reason to keep Orlando Cabrera.

And who did we get when we got rid of him? You have to take that into account too.

s1c said...

Time to move mr. Youkilis out of the 3 hole, he sucks there - Batting #3 .233 .357 .500

allan said...

Our comp picks for losing O-Cab:

Ellsbury and Lowrie.

laura k said...

"Our comp picks for losing O-Cab:

Ellsbury and Lowrie."

That should lay that question to rest!

s1c said...

"Our comp picks for losing O-Cab:

Ellsbury and Lowrie."

That should lay that question to rest!


well that settles it, i'm with amy ;)

allan said...

We should of kept Bellhorn at 2B too.

laura k said...

s1c's always sucking up to amy :)

Amy said...

Ellsbury and Lowrie are worth losing Cabrera, I will concede that (although Lowrie's value has yet to be proven). But that also required trying to see the future.

Who WAS the other guy I am forgetting? Between Renteria and Lugo?

Amy said...

Mark Bellhorn! He was cute, but that's about it.

s1c said...

Amy - Gonzalez

Amy said...

Thanks, S1C. He sure was forgettable.

s1c said...

s1c's always sucking up to amy :)

s1c said...

Amy - Gonzalez was the best defensive SS the Sox have had since '75.

laura k said...

"But that also required trying to see the future."

That's not what I meant.

Lowrie and Ellsbury were highly touted prospects. Baseball people had been watching them for years.

The SSs that did not work out after getting rid of OCab were not predictable cases. No one could have known Renteria would be such a dud (for example). People were very excited about him, expected good things.

s1c said...

No one could have known Renteria would be such a dud (for example).

Except for LaRussa - he said publicly that rentawreck would be a wreck in Boston.

laura k said...

Yeah!! Thundering triple!

s1c said...

e-8 for a jbay

Amy said...

Gonzalez was a dud at the plate. I barely remember him. Obviously.

I knew what you meant, Laura, but even highly touted prospects can fizzle. The fact that someone as good as Renteria fizzled is sure proof of that.

Bottom line, I suppose, is that

HAHAHA

it's always a risk. I am glad that the Sox took a risk on LBJ and Jedi, but not on Renteria.

laura k said...

"Except for LaRussa - he said publicly that rentawreck would be a wreck in Boston."

He got lucky on that one. ;)

But based on past performance, we could not have known he would suck.

s1c said...

Fragging Tek, way to get the run home you sob.

Amy said...

Sigh, Tek,

allan said...

way to set the example, capt.

Amy said...

That wasn't clear (the Bay thing distracted me). I am glad they took a risk on LBJ and Jedi, but not glad they took the risk on Renteria or Lugo or Gonzalez.

laura k said...

"but even highly touted prospects can fizzle"

Of course! But that's a different subject. Whether or not to keep a player who can't hit a lick and contributes nothing when you can get two great prospects for him is a no-brainer.

s1c said...

There are times this season that I am reminded of the 06 season. Tonight is one of them.

laura k said...

But that's what I mean about seeing the future. I'm saying why keep OCab, and you say because who have we had since. That's really not a valid argument. You can only go with what you know at the time.

s1c said...

Unfortunately SS seems to be the achilles heel of Theo. Personally I would prefer a good to great defensive SS who hits above 260 instead of what we have had lately.

laura k said...

Here's a better way to explain what I'm thinking.

You can't judge a trade or move after the fact based on the results. A move can be the right thing to do and still not work out.

Every move is a gamble, there are no guarantees. But based on the information you had going in, did it make sense? That's all you can ask, I think.

Amy said...

Me, too, S1C.

Laura, you are out-lawyering me here! You are right that my point is not entirely logical. I conceded already that it was a good deal to get the prospects. But I can still be disappointed about the deals they made for SS with those three later players.

laura k said...

I'm not trying to make you concede. :)

Just trying to explain the logic behind my thinking.

Amy said...

Your argument was persuasive! I just sometimes operate irrationally!!

s1c said...

I just sometimes operate irrationally!!

must keep quiet, must keep quiet, must be polite, must be polite

laura k said...

We all do. Especially in sports!

s1c said...

Jbay!!!

laura k said...

HOLY SHIT!!!! BAY WE LOVE YOU!!!

allan said...

i did NOT expect that!!!!!!!!!!

Amy said...

Wow! Canadian defense!

allan said...

here i was saying "shit" because that ball was off the wall, then bay skies and snares it!!

Amy said...

Now, S1C, were you thinking some kind of sexist thought there? Or was it just about me personally? :)

laura k said...

I guess since he's Cdn that should be "defence".

allan said...

did not hit the wall, nope.

laura k said...

"Now, S1C, were you thinking some kind of sexist thought there? "

I was wondering that too. Anyone but s1c, I might think so.

Rick (f/k/a westcoastsox) said...

Hello from DC, where, if this works, I have posted my first comment from my cell. Just glanced at scoreboard. Yuck. Good thread as usual though.

allan said...

I have posted my first comment from my cell.

What are you in for?

s1c said...

Oh, Amy that comment had so many openings - Lawyer, Woman, Senior citizen, "I saw thank you, try the veal written all over it".

Amy said...

Westcoastsox on the East Coast!

s1c said...

from my cell.

Let us know if you can't make bail!!!

Rick (f/k/a westcoastsox) said...

Eastcoastsox!

laura k said...

bah!

laura k said...

"I saw thank you, try the veal written all over it".

LOL

allan said...

when we get 6 in the 9th, fangraphs is gonna look so cool!!!!

Amy said...

How long are you in DC for, WCS?

And S1C, I have been known to be a good straight (wo)man for many a joke. Only Harvey is a better set up person than I am for teasing!

s1c said...

gift

A Conformer said...

And S1C, I have been known to be a good straight (wo)man for many a joke. Only Harvey is a better set up person than I am for teasing!

So, you're not one for gay jokes, then?

s1c said...

two gifts tonight, bays trapped ball and that one

laura k said...

Replay shows him safe, we got a gift there. Not that it matters much at the moment.

laura k said...

You thought Bay trapped that? I didn't.

laura k said...

Ofer, I take it you're not up very early.

s1c said...

Bay, it is possible, but I think he caught it.

laura k said...

They just showed the super slo-mo: a catch. An amazing catch!

Amy said...

Like I said, Ofer, I just seem to walk into jokes....

s1c said...

Well, that camera shot ends that debate, definitely caught it.

allan said...

bay should have high-fived a fan to make the catch/DP complete.

loser.

A Conformer said...

Ofer, I take it you're not up very early.

Never. Late is my middle name.

s1c said...

Fragging kidding me

Amy said...

And OCab who can't hit just hit one out....

Sigh,

laura k said...

See? Amy's right! He would have hit that HR for us. ;)

allan said...

WHY CAN'T WE GET HITTERS LIKE THAT??

s1c said...

bay should have high-fived a fan to make the catch/DP complete

Geez, give the guy a break, he isn't that tall.

Amy said...

LOL!

Now at least we can keep our senses of humor when down SIX runs.

laura k said...

Oh this is stupid. Stop hitting already.

laura k said...

"WHY CAN'T WE GET HITTERS LIKE THAT??"

Shit, I missed the cue on that one.

I guess that was bigger pre-2004.

s1c said...

that's it time to kick in the TV.

allan said...

hey look -- another 65-pitch inning for saito.

A Conformer said...

Wow, Saito's lost it completely these past few weeks...

9casey said...

redsock said...
god forbid nesn comes back from commercial early for the reception. nope. still gotta cram the ads in




On my nesn they didn't even go to commercial if i recall.....and I loved the Nomar ovation, I'm sucker for the emotional side of sport....

Amy said...

So is Saito the Gagne or the Timlin of 2009?

allan said...

we are watching on the rogers station, maybe they run their own commercials.

laura k said...

We all loved it.

So what, out of town NESN feed got ads and Boston NESN didn't? Bad.

A Conformer said...

BRETT ANDERSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!!!!!
BRETT ANDERSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!!!!!
BRETT ANDERSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!!!!!
BRETT ANDERSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!!!!!
BRETT ANDERSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!!!!!
And, just for good measure:
BRETT ANDERSON IS PITCHING A WIN!!!!!
BRETT ANDERSON IS PITCHING A WIN!!!!!
BRETT ANDERSON IS PITCHING A WIN!!!!!
BRETT ANDERSON IS PITCHING A WIN!!!!!
BRETT ANDERSON IS PITCHING A WIN!!!!!
BRETT ANDERSON IS PITCHING A WIN!!!!!

Amy said...

Glad to hear it, 9C, but watch out for S1C and his cynicism!

s1c said...

Gagne - At least Timlin had performed for the Sox before.

laura k said...

Oh yeah that's right, I forgot we're watching a Rogers SportsNet feed. Blame Canada.

allan said...

LUGO will get it started.












(the 1-2-3 inning, that is.)

laura k said...

Alright, Ofer has the jinx going on. Here we go, Secret Weapon.

s1c said...

mmm, bh informs me that there are blueberry muffins fresh out of the oven. my blues are gone

A Conformer said...

In Lugo's defense, if he started being good, he wouldn't be secret anymore...

laura k said...

we just ate some blueberries. no muffins to go around them tho.

well this game sucked, but i had a nice relaxing evening watching and threading with you all.

better game tomorrow, eh.

s1c said...

A's have learned from the O's,

o frag, eck beats me too it.

Amy said...

When does Tito give up on Saito?

laura k said...

sparkling clean h2o

Benjamin said...

Bleh. At least we didn't lose *more* ground.

Amy said...

Oh, well, at least the Yankees also lost today. Stupid clean water.

laura k said...

"In Lugo's defense", he has no defense

A Conformer said...

Well, it had been a while since the whole "rookie lefty 2-hits the Sox" myth got any play.

allan said...

i squirm a little bit when eck uses the word "chink".

s1c said...

15-2
15 hits to
2 hits

are you fragging kidding me!!!

clean h20

ugh

allan said...

Piss on it.

allan said...

Phillies with 10 in the 1st, now beating the Reds 22-1 in the 8th.

A Conformer said...

Good night

Amy said...

Good night, Ofer, or is it good morning?

Barth said...

Ok. Flame away again, but this Smoltz "comeback" should be on another team that can afford to keep tossing him out there in the middle of a pennant race.

Some SoSHer compared this to the Tiant "experiment" in 1971, but that was very different, which a younger pitcher, on a team going nowhere, but looking for something that might help later. (Yes, I know we wound up in the thick of it at the end, but that was a strike-infested fluke, as was Aparicio falling at third which put an end to all that.)

Here in 2009, Clay Buchholz should have pitched tonight and should pitch five days from now. If not him, Michael Bowden. The pathetic A's showed us why tonight. The future is with kids. It is kids: the Pedroias, the Ellsburys and, before that the Youks and Paps who will lead the way, not someone else's hero playing his last days out here.

As for washed up heroes making one last turn, Nomar, despite the disconsolate 2004 and his stupid agent, should get his chance before he hangs it up. Somewhere around September 1, when we can have 40, we ought to find a place for him and a shirt with a 5 on its back for him to wear. He might have seen a championship in Boston were it not for Grady's brain freeze and though he brought on his own departure by acting as if he had been imprisoned here, that was a long time ago and worked out for everyone except him. His mistake, to be sure, but he deserves to end it here. Smoltz should end it elsewhere.

laura k said...

"Flame away again"

Can you show me an example of any time you were ever flamed on this blog?

Disagreed with, yes. Flamed? I'd be extremely surprised.

Rob said...

In that horrendous first inning for Cincinnati, the start Johnny Cueto only lasted 2/3 of an inning. 5 hits, 3 walks, 9 runs. 49 pitches.

tim said...

Here in 2009, Clay Buchholz should have pitched tonight and should pitch five days from now.

Buchholz isn't in the rotation because of his own doing. He pitched terrible last season, which is why the front office went out and got Penny and Smoltz. Judging by your knee-jerk reaction to the two bad innings Smoltz has had this year, you most certainly would have been calling for Buchholz' head last season, and would've wanted him out of a Sox uniform as well.

I, for one, stand behind Smoltz - he's been around in MLB for nearly as long as my life, meaning he clearly knows his stuff, he's coming back from a serious shoulder surgery, and he's made two starts in the A.L. Talk about small sample size, cut the guy some slack. It seems as if you are expecting him to be lights out. He really hasn't been all that bad. He has had two shitty innings - the first being inning 1 back in the bigs, and the second being last night. In both of those games, the Red Sox offense was completely shut down by opposing pitchers.

If we come back and score 5 right after he gives up 4, I guarantee you don't make that post.

Barth said...

On the comment about Buchholz last year as compared to Smoltz this year:

I see them completly differently becuase Buchholz is a young up and coming guy who not only deserves patience, but requires it. We have much more time for him to work out the kinks, either in Pawtucket or, if he is ready again for it, Boston. I did not call for his head last year, though I though Pawtucket might be the best place for him while he was pitching poorly.

With Smoltz, though, we are at the end of the road. His career has been long and distinguished, but there is not time to let him work things out, because he is 42 already and coming off surgery to boot.

Yes, when you are talking about your own guys there is more leeway to be given out of deference to their many years of service. Yaz comes to mind, of course, but so does Schilling. Harry Sinden made a big mistake in casting Orr away so that he finished his career in another city, but it would be different if the player at issue was not so connected to the team.

I admire Smoltz both for what he has done and what he is trying to do now. It's just that we are not the team with which he should be experimenting. Washington might be a better place or, if he is willing, I guess, Pawtucket.

Barth said...

On the flame comment it is duly withdrawn. I was tired and really ticked off that we blew a chance to gain ground. This has been a really disappointing home stand so far. There are extenuating circumstances out of our control (Lowell, then Bailey, going down, for instance) but this Smoltz thing is of our own doing. It is not just two bad innings. He does not look good to me: his slider does not break the way it used to, and his control is way off. He is 42.

laura k said...

Thanks for that.

It has been a disappointing home stand so far but we're still in first place, and that's what counts.

When we're chalking up 3 or 4 wins in a row, or winning 6 out of 8, we feel invincible. When we hit the inevitable rough patches, we're throwing blame around and demanding changes.

Barth said...

First place means very little to me at this point in the season. I like it, and it is better than being in, say, second place, but it says very little. We should be further ahead, frankly, but we don't hit all that well, and really haven't for about three years. (We won a pennant and championship in one of those years, which says something, too.)

Still, were I Theo (oh, would that be great) I would feel pretty good and not anxious to do too much. I would try to find away to get Bucky and possibly Bowden up here and let the Smoltz thing take a back seat, for reasons I have mentioned. I would also try to shore up the bench with a little more pop than we currently seem to have in Pawtucket or Portland and yes, Nomie seems like the ticket to me, particularly if he can play first, which he did in LA. But nothing big.

And NY is old. Old, old and old.

I would like to see the offense come back a bit, starting tonight.

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