September 17, 2009

G145: Angels 4, Red Sox 3

Angels  - 001 010 101 - 4  8  0
Red Sox - 000 300 000 - 3 6 0
The Angels pushed a run across off Billy Wagner in the top of the ninth inning to avoid a sweep at Fenway -- and spoil Boston's bid for a perfect 8-0 homestand.

After Beckett (8-7-3-0-7, 114) departed, Wagner walked Juan Rivera. Pinch runner Terry Evans was bunted to second and scored on Howie Kendrick's bloop single over Dustin Pedroia into short right. Mike Lowell singled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but pinch-hitter Rocco Baldelli popped out to right to end the game.

Down 1-0 in the fourth, Jacoby Ellsbury homered down the right field line to tie the game. With one out, Victor Martinez singled to center and Jason Bay donged to deep left. After that Boston had only four baserunners and none of them reached second.

The Angels tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh when Chone Figgins struck out for the third out -- but yet afuckin'gain the ball got by Jason Varitek and rolled to the backstop.

The Yankees and Rangers were both off tonight, so Boston is 7 GB in the East (with 17 games left) and 6 GA in the Wild Card.
Example
Ervin Santana (5.52, 82 ERA+) / Josh Beckett (3.82, 124 ERA+)

Talk of the Red Sox having a shot at the AL East has crept back into some of the media coverage of the team. I was shocked when Dave O'Brien mentioned the possibility during last night's radio broadcast.

Of course, some of us have never stopped believing that catching the Yankees was possible. A New York loss last night would have helped tremendously, but a Boston win tonight would cut the East deficit to six games. And as the MFY head west to visit the Mariners and Angels, the Red Sox will feast on the cellar-dwelling Orioles and Royals. Boston could certainly be four games back when the three-game series in the Bronx begins a week from Friday.
Example
Nick Green had not told anyone about his injured right leg for three days. And during his pinch-hit appearance last nighty -- bottom of the ninth, down by a run, bases loaded, two outs -- he didn't think he could even put the ball into play.
Go look at the replay. Go look at all the swings, and maybe you can figure something out. I couldn't really swing. ... I almost collapsed every single swing, and almost collapsed walking down to first, and almost collapsed when I was leading off. ... I thought it was fine, but it was different once you get in a game ... I seriously did not think I could get a hit.
Paul Byrd:
I was in the clubhouse screaming at the TV with ice on my arm. I can't believe what a great game that was.
David Ortiz, who walked with two outs to start the rally in an inning that went P4, F8, BB, 1B, 1B, BB, 1B:
I never saw anything like that before. ... We're kicking ass.
Example
Jonathan Papelbon woke up on Wednesday with a sore lower back after slipping in the bullpen on Tuesday night.
This is just a one-day thing. ... There's no reason for me to go out there and push the envelope when I'm going to be pushed a lot more in a little while.
Tim Wakefield wants to start on Monday in Kansas City.
As of today, I can pitch. The meeting we had basically was to determine whether or not it was safe for me to continue to pitch, because my strength has gone down. We wanted to get everybody together and decide. I'll throw another side Friday, see how it feels from there.
The Yankees and Rangers are both off tonight, but Justin Masterson and his Spiders face the A's in Oakland at 10.

115 comments:

Rob T. said...

Funny, but when we dropped to 6 out, the media all started ignoring the divisional race.

Now that we're 6½ back, we're suddenly back into it?

It's this newfangled mathemagic, I tells ya...

allan said...

Ellsbury, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Martinez, 1B
Bay, LF
Ortiz, DH
Lowell, 3B
Drew, RF
Varitek, C
Gonzalez, SS

allan said...

SoSH Game Thread:

Dionysus:
"It has to be incredibly disheartening to be the Angels right now. You just got fucked by the Sox on the nights when their 4th and 6th Starters were pitching against two of your best. You got fucked by the Sox on games when some of their best position players were unavailable. All you know is that, come October, you are certainly going to be facing the Sox again - and it won't be Paul Byrd on the hill. It can't feel good. ... Sweep these fuckers. ... Break their hearts."

24JoshuaPoint:
"One close call in the Red Sox favor and Scioscia is going to pull one of those scenes where he pulls second base out of the ground and pretends to throw fake hand grenades at the umpires. It could be epic! I hope he pulls out the fake machine gun too and maybe a fake rocket launcher or something. That would be totally cool."

Rob said...

Know what I'm thinking? Watching PTI and Wilbon is talking about whether the Yankees are the favorites to win it all - they're not sure. They say yes, they're the favorites, but not nearly overwhelming.

But know what I'm thinking? This has the potential to be one of the most entertaining and exciting postseasons in years. Let's just say the season ends now...

Rockies, Dodgers, Phillies and Cardinals. Those are some STACKED teams right now!

Then the Angels, Red Sox, Tigers and Yankees. Three hyper-teams in each league going at it, with still another very good team rounding it out.

I'm excited!

Zenslinger said...

Objectively speaking, I'd say the Yankees have a clear but slight edge to make it to the WS. (Subjectively speaking, fuck them.)

In the NL, though, it's hard to say. Cardinals, I guess, but it's pretty up in the air.

Night before last I dared to hope for the Giants, but last night kind of quashed that for me. People out here haven't really given up hope, which I'm glad to see. My impression when I was first here on a visit in 1993, when the Braves took the Division, was that the town was easily discouraged. But such were pre-Wild Card days.

allan said...

what's with the flag on the wall tonight?

national yay for war day?

tim said...

Let's light these whiney fucksticks up.

Pronto.

allan said...

L says Hi.

tim said...

Hi L!


wtf was that shit on the field? i think its time for some propagandhi:

Dear Ron MacLean. Dear Coach’s Corner. I’m writing in order for someone to explain to my niece the distinction between these mandatory pre-game group rites of submission and the rallies at Nuremburg. Specifically the function the ritual serves in conjunction with what everybody knows is in the end a kid’s game. I’m just appealing to your sense of fair play when I say she’s puzzled by the incessant pressure for her to not defy the collective will, and yellow ribboned lapels, as the soldiers inexplicably rappel down from the arena rafters (which, if not so insane, would be grounds for screaming laughter).

allan said...

what's that about a niece?

Patrick said...

Did someone say Niece!?!

allan said...

same old story - figgins gets on - angels then suck

allan said...

1978!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

allan said...

don retelling the story now that ump had called time and then beckett went through his windup -- and they show the clip that has him practically releasing the ball when time is called.

fuckin a don -- don;t make shit up

tim said...

re: niece, i dunno, its from the song, about the pregame military bullshit and a child (the niece) not knowing what it is.

allan said...

and let the whining begin!!!!

tim said...

let the WINNING begin too!

Patrick said...

I <3 Beckett. No dongs please.

Unknown said...

Decent first inning

Zenslinger said...

I <3 Beckett. No dongs please.

So, your love for him is Platonic?

Zenslinger said...

Santana: a so-so pitcher since the beginning of August. Before that, he was wretched.

I wonder if he'll ever bloom as has been expected of him for so long.

Unknown said...

Crap

allan said...

"wounded warriors" = MUTE

Unknown said...

Score runs

Amy said...

Hi, all. So will Tek hit a dong and tie up the game?

BTW, I think the flag is for Constitution Day.

Tek: no dong.

allan said...

EQUIDISTANT!!!!!!!!!!!

dirnk it up

allan said...

so rivera helped throw the game last night by not diving

Amy said...

Yes, a pesky dong!

allan said...

YAY

allan said...

16!

allan said...

HOMRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


3-1

fuck you angels

Unknown said...

THUNDER BAY!!!

Rob said...

Good evening, Thread. Spent the first half of the game at the gym, watching on the elliptical. I love the machines that have a TV connected to them.

I was stretching when Jason Bay went yarrrrd but saw the replay and kept my vocal outburst volume to a minimum.

Amy said...

Very quiet thread tonight. Perhaps everyone is typed out from last night?

laura k said...

Now this is a dead thread. Of course, I haven't threaded in many days, so I'm partly to blame.

Anyway...

I was thinking Mike Napoli is part of the All City team.

Huston Street
Dallas Greene
Mike Lowell
Tim Wakefield
Jose Lima

Must be lots of these.

Rob said...

At least there's a lot of meat to cushion the blow.

Rob said...

Yeah, it is a dead thread. I was expecting to see at least 100 comments or so. I was surprised to see only 32.

laura k said...

At least there's a lot of meat to cushion the blow.

This is a funny comment out of context. :)

Rob said...

:>) Made me laugh for a full minute.

fusionmouse said...

Crickets chirping here tonight.

allan said...

okay - get the "tough chone figgins"

fusionmouse said...

Why doesn't he spell his name Phigins to better go with Chone?

Amy said...

TEK YOU ASSHOLE---AGAIN??!!

allan said...

not a FUCKING agin for the M. cactus

Rob said...

FUCKING CACTUS!

fusionmouse said...

Crap... Tek's really starting to lose his defensive cred!

allan said...

i read amy's comment to laura

she stood there open-mouthed!!!!

Amy said...

So they called that a wild pitch, not a passed ball. Not so sure, despite my Tek-iness.

allan said...

fuck what it was called - it was very stoppable.

Rob said...

"she stood there open-mouthed!!!!"

That's also funny out of context.

Amy said...

On your city team, Laura:

Mike Lowell
Josh Beckett

fusionmouse said...

Yeah Tek held on!

allan said...

K!

well, this sets up a nice comeback for us that is a kick in the nuts for them.

Unknown said...

You've got to be fucking kidding me, two nights in a row where we should have gotten out of an inning with a K and didn't?

Finally done.

Get the lead back.

Amy said...

Oh you already said Lowell. Sorry.

fusionmouse said...

Runs.






Please.

Patrick said...

On your city team, Laura:

Mike Lowell
Josh Beckett


I'm glad you mentioned this. I went to the Sunday night game with my dad. He was pretty drunk and yelling "scenic Lowell!" at Mike.

Unknown said...

So the Magic Cactus has lost his hitting ability, throwing ability, and is losing his plate blocking ability.

Exactly what purpose is he serving right now?

fusionmouse said...

Do the Angels just have a hard time playing in the fall chill of Boston?

allan said...

any reason why the fucking military can't take care of these vets? ... why public charity?

Rob said...

This reminds me of a George Carlin bit about post-traumatic-stress-disorder.

Back in WWI it was called shell-shock. Two syllables. Quick, blunt, to the point. Shell shock.

WWII it became "battle fatigue" Up to four syllables... A little softer.

Then in Korea and Vietnam? Operational Exhaustion. Eight syllables! Even less of the bluntness taken out of it. Sounds like something that would happen to your car!

Then as time went on it changes to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Still eight syllables, but we've added a hyphen!

Carlin wondered if it was still called shell shock, would more veterans receive the care they deserved today?

fusionmouse said...

Cactus is still one of the nicest players to the fans. He signed my son's book a few years ago when we had seats in the bleachers.

He frequently signs as he comes out to start his warmups in the pen.

And he's on the '04 and '07 teams...

But I agree it's time for him to become a back-up catcher or a Class A coach.

laura k said...

PTSD used to be called LMF: Lacking Moral Fibre.

WWI

Rob said...

Huh. A curve on 3-0. That'll bring the pitching coach out there...

allan said...

you don't just dump thighs like that.

laura k said...

Carlin wondered if it was still called shell shock, would more veterans receive the care they deserved today?

No. But he was great to wonder it.

Also, many other ppl besides vets get PTSD.

laura k said...

Beckett, I hadn't thought of that. (I'm not really threading.)

He was pretty drunk and yelling "scenic Lowell!" at Mike.

I hope it was funny at the time b/c it's very funny now.

Unknown said...

WHY would you let Tek bat there?!

WHY?!

fusionmouse said...

Wow Cactus grounded weakly to the right side--- shocking.

Amy said...

I am still thinking of players for the city team to take my mind off how useless Tek has become. It makes me sad.

Can we count partial city names, like Green for Greenfield or Johnson for Johnson City? And then there's that Francisco pitcher for SF.

Amy said...

Or Reggie Jackson for Jacksonville.

Rob said...

"Also, many other ppl besides vets get PTSD."

My sister did from car crashes. It's a lot more widespread than one would think. Many, many of us go through traumatic experiences and it WILL affect everyone one way or another.

fusionmouse said...

Joe was charitable "they scored two of their runs with 2 outs"

No, they scored one with 2 outs and one with 3 outs!

Amy said...

Jason Bay for Bayonne.

Getting desperate here. Where is Benjamin? He usually is the expert at digging up players for these teams.

allan said...

L said the same thing about Benjaimn - but she is too lazy to thread and told me to post it.

fusionmouse said...

Good night all...

I'm riding home. Will have the game on audio.

allan said...

meet george jepsen.....

allan said...

wag and bot up

SoSock said...

Slow thread.
Home just in time to see V-Mart give us the lead.

maybe?

Victor turns me into a false prophet. bleh

SoSock said...

meet george jepsen.....

Jane, his wife!

allan said...

tito, stop this crazy thing!!!!!

SoSock said...

www = win, wagner, win

SoSock said...

sonofabitch

allan said...

our 2 run dong in the 9th will crush their hopes and dreams

Benjamin said...

Free outs are good.

Amy said...

Benjamin, did you hear us asking for you?

Benjamin said...

Runs, please.

SoSock said...

I'm sure this will come as a shock, but.....
the lead-off walk scored.

Score.

Now.

Benjamin said...

Nah, I was just cooking/eating dinner. Need to pack for the weekend, though.

allan said...

bay
ortiz
lowell
drew
PH for tek

...

it's doable, so do it

Benjamin said...

Win it for Daryl Boston.

allan said...

SHIT swings from bay

Patrick said...

It's time for the crowd to get loud and scare the Ump. He'll give us the game, no problem.

laura k said...

Daryl Boston! Major duh.

Patrick LOL

Crap, thought Papi would walk to begin the rally.

allan said...

how about some rx to tie it?

Patrick said...

I want a Delli Dong!

allan said...

baldy time.

Rob said...

YOUK in the on-deck circle! But Baldy's gotta do something here.

SoSock said...

Doc keeps the flicker there

Unknown said...

Two-out rally time!

laura k said...

Let's go Rico. Be suave.

SoSock said...

Bald dong time

allan said...

remy asking why yook second after baldy is he is a better hitter? indeed.

laura k said...

ps I am not lazy. just tired.

allan said...

IF he is better.

Patrick said...

OOOOO THE SUSPENSE!!!

Rob said...

Oh well. Clean water.

Benjamin said...

Boo.

Amy said...

Yuck, clean water. Not much fun tonight.

SoSock said...

crap

clean water

squandered opportunity to gain both places.

Unknown said...

Oh well

The new winning streak starts tomorrow

Amy said...

Not sure how much baseball I will get to see in the next three days, given the holidays. Even less likely I will be threading.

Keep us winning while I am gone, please. And if Tek lets one more ball go by him on a third strike, I am going to cry.

SoSock said...

What Kevin said.

AND what Amy said. My plate will be for for the weekend. Hopefully I'll get to catch a little here and there.

How long will this next streak be? :)

tim said...

Fuck a doodle doo.

Time to run amok in the A.L. basement for the next week.

9casey said...

We win the games with Dice and Byrd and lose with Beckett.......funny game.....