October 9, 2009

ALDS2: Angels 4, Red Sox 1

Red Sox - 000 100 000 - 1  4  0
Angels - 000 100 30x - 4 6 0
Another four hits, another resounding loss. And the Red Sox will fly back to Boston in an 0-2 hole. Game 3 is on Sunday at noon.

Only four American League teams have come back from being down 0-2 in an LDS -- and two of those four are Red Sox teams (1999, 2003). So it's certainly possible, but this team will have to rouse itself from its offensive slumber to do so.

Beckett and Weaver had a hell of a pitchers duel going until the 7th-inning stretch. Only one player reached base in the first three innings. Both teams scored in the fourth: Jacoby Ellsbury tripled and scored on Victor Martinez's single; then Bobby Abreu singled, took third on Vladimir Guerrero's hit and scored on Kendry Morales's sacrifice fly.

Beckett began the seventh at only 75 pitches and having retired the previous eight batters. He fell behind the first two hitters 3-0, walking Guerrero (his only pass of the game), but battling back to retire Morales. With Juan Rivera at the plate, pinch-runner Howie Kendrick stole second. Kendrick stayed put as Rivera grounded hard to third, but he was able to score on Maicer Izturis's single into right-center, giving LA a 2-1 lead.

Billy Wagner had been up for awhile, but Terry Francona stayed with Beckett. Izturis stole second on the first pitch to Mike Napoli. Then Beckett plunked Napoli with a 2-2 curveball. It was time for a pitching change, but Playoff Tito was nowhere to be seen. Erick Aybar whacked a 2-1 pitch over Ellsbury's head in center for a two-run triple, bringing the curtain down on Beckett's performance.

In the ninth, Kevin Youkilis doubled with one out and Jason Bay walked with two outs, but Mike Lowell flew out to center to end the game. (Boston's other hit was a two-out single by Ellsbury in the eighth.)
Example
Josh Beckett (3.86, 123 ERA+) / Jered Weaver (3.75, 121 ERA+)

Is tonight a must-win? It feels like it.

In a best-of-5 series, every game is important. Down 0-2, needing to win three in a row, would be a tough task (especially if the bats remain AWOL). Tied 1-1 with the first two of three possible games at Fenway Park -- I can live with that. (Like I have a choice?)

Beckett:
There are no issues physically at all. Obviously last year was a little bit different. So as far as physically coming in (this year), it's a lot better. Last month it's been better than it was two months ago, so I'm just looking forward to going out there and doing what I'm supposed to do.
Jason Bay:
We had four singles and three errors. That isn't going to win too many ballgames. We need more offense.
The Red Sox were held without a run and without an extra-base hit only five times during the regular season.

Terry Francona "fell ill an hour before first pitch with food poisoning". Bad tacos for lunch, apparently. He missed the introductions and Brad Mills was told he might have to take charge, but Tito was there when the first pitch was thrown. Asked after the game about the umpiring ("What was your main complaint or beef there?"), Tito said: "Don't bring up the word beef, please."

Francona's regular cribbage opponent is now George Kottaras. "Pedey quit 'cause he stinks." ... David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia each were tested for performance-enhancing drugs after last night's game. No word if CB Bucknor was given an eye exam.

The New York Times says Chip Caray "is still prone to bad play calls, descriptive exaggerations and factual errors. ... [There is] a pattern of an announcer out of his element."

Times: Game 3 is set for Noon on Sunday. Game 4 will be at 8:30 on Monday, but would be moved to 7:30 if the Twins-Yankees series is finished. Game 5 in Anaheim is set for 9:30, but will be moved to 8:00 if there are no other games scheduled.
Example
And: Twins/Blackburn (0) at Yankees/Burnett (1) at 6 PM

(Background to Molina (and not Dumbo) catching Burnett)

325 comments:

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laura k said...

David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia each were tested for performance-enhancing drugs after last night's game. No word if CB Bucknor was given an eye exam.

Nice.

Although tonight feels like a must-win, it's important to remember - somewhere in our minds - that it's not.

Several teams have been down 0-2 in a 5 game series and come back to win the series, or blown a 2-0 lead and lost a 5-game series.

I don't want to have to see the Red Sox do that, but if they have to, I know they can.

heng brothers said...

This might have come up in last night's game thread (wasn't lurking last night), but, was anyone else surprised that TBS chose Orsillo to do the play-by-play for a series that the Sox are playing in? If I recall, last year they had him calling the Rays-White Sox series. I definitely appreciate hearing the familiar voice and the (Sox) knowledge he brings to the booth. Maybe they're trying to super make up for the fact that Chip Caray is a train wreck in the booth.

laura k said...

was anyone else surprised that TBS chose Orsillo to do the play-by-play for a series that the Sox are playing in?

Are you sure he is given a choice?

I hated the broadcast last night. Seriously hated it. Since Don has to act neutral, IMO he goes too far in the other direction. And Martinez is just unbearable. I'm using MLB Audio for the rest of the series.

heng brothers said...

Are you sure he is given a choice?

I would say probably not, but it's odd that they would assign our play-by-play guy to our series. He probably wasn't given a choice. I know he's a professional, blah blah blah... and TBS baseball coverage is pretty lousy.

tim said...

Funny, last night before I knew the score was 5-0 I was thinking, shit, big deal if they go down 2-0, they just need to reel off 3 in a row. Done it many times before.

allan said...

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Victor Martinez, C
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Jason Bay, LF
7. Mike Lowell, 3B
8. J.D. Drew, RF
9. Alex Gonzalez, SS

Abraham: "CB Bucknor's Wikipedia page has been locked until Oct. 10 because of "vandalism.""

:>)

allan said...

Some Bucknor edits here.

Two from the Globe's comments:

On Oct. 8, 2009, Bucknor made two terrible calls against the Boston Red Sox during Game 1 of the American League Division Series. In between innings, he admitted, "not understanding why they didn't let Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder drive a car."
"What's the big deal?" Bucknor said. "I call games just fine!"

***

"It is a little-known fact that Bucknor is the inventor of an umpire-specific, miniature "Magic 8 Ball" (e.g. "Signs point to safe") that he uses to call plays at first base. He possesses superhuman hand speed similar to quick-draw artists, enabling him to consult the ball and then conceal it again before making the call--without being picked up by most cameras. Bucknor is also prone misunderstanding the rules of baseball, saying "Wait, when the ball is in the glove and you touch a runner with the glove it's the same as actually touching him with the ball itself? Wow, I didn't know that."

***

allan said...

Today in Baseball History

1916 - Babe Ruth outpitches Sherry Smith as the Red Sox beat the Dodgers 2-1 in 14 innings (still the longest World Series game by innings).

1920 - Several hours before the start of Game 4 of the World Series, Brooklyn's Rube Marquard is arrested (on his 34th birthday!!!) when he tries to sell a ticket to an undercover cop for $350. He is later found guilty and fined a dollar and court costs ($3.80).

And Happy Birthday to the man who designed Central Park.

allan said...

Several teams have been down 0-2 in a 5 game series and come back to win the series ...

The 1999 and 2003 Red Sox, to name two.

allan said...

Looking forward to trying the new Hot Corner feeds on MLBTV.

(Where is the link for the Jeter-cam?)

allan said...

OMG! This is great!

allan said...

Here is a shot of the 4-screen mosaic.

allan said...

And NO commercials!! You get the random camera feeds while the teams change sides.

allan said...

MIN: 00
MFY: 00

Zenslinger said...

RS, that's pretty cool in principle. I've always felt like my connection is not good enough to make MLB.tv really enjoyable. Too many skips (and too often when the ball is between the mound and home on a tense AB.) Mosaic was a mess for me.

But if you had a T1 and a huge screen, that four-angle view would be pretty sweet.

Zenslinger said...

And Mauer oughta hit an HR off of Beavis right now.

allan said...

I'm going back and forth to the TV so I put it back on the solo CF shot. But if I have downtime later (hopefully for the Sox game), I'll try to with 2 or 4 different angels up. The between innings is great, cameras panning around, infielders coming out to their positions.

allan said...

Is he Beavis or Cletus?

allan said...

F U, BLOOMBERG! ASSHOLE.

Zenslinger said...

AJ...two HBP in a row. Second time through the lineup -- can I get a meltdown?

Unknown said...

Wow, way to fuck that opportunity up.

Zenslinger said...

Kee-rist!

laura k said...

Several teams have been down 0-2 in a 5 game series and come back to win the series ...

The 1999 and 2003 Red Sox, to name two.


1995 Yankees on one side of the fence (vs Seattle), 2001 Yankees on the other (vs Oakland... slide, Jeremy, slide...)

laura k said...

Here is a shot of the 4-screen mosaic.

YUCK

allan said...

MIN: 000 0 - 0 2 0
MFY: 000 0 - 0 0 0

laura k said...

1995 Yankees on one side of the fence (vs Seattle), 2001 Yankees on the other (vs Oakland

And apropos of nothing...

I completely expected both outcomes, never believed it would be otherwise. My predictive talents aren't so good anymore.

Zenslinger said...

Son of And Mauer oughta hit an HR off of Beavis right now.

Zenslinger said...

One freaking hit at the right time. It's going to require a few runs to win a game here. Jeez.

Unknown said...

Twins Lead!

laura k said...

Yeah!!! Twins score!!!

Zenslinger said...

Finally a run scores!

Going to need more...

allan said...

remove head from ass, blackburn.

laura k said...

Please save home run calls for home runs.

allan said...

with the hot corner feeds, i have the CF camera you see when the pitch is delivered. but that is it, it never changes, so teix's foul ball, all i saw was him running down the line, then turning back. i'm busy watching him and the fans for clues.

laura k said...

if you say so. i'd rather just watch the game.

laura k said...

bah. i guess nyy fans will have to hate alex a little less.

allan said...

"look who got a hit"

laura k said...

i'm outta here, see you later

allan said...

1. Chone Figgins 3B
2. Bobby Abreu RF
3. Torii Hunter CF
4. Vlad Guerreo DH
5. Kendro Morales 1B
6. Juan Rivera LF
7. Maicer Izturis 2B
8. Mike Napoli C
9. Erick Aybar SS

allan said...

Sounds like the Sox are leaning towards Lester in Game 4 and not Dice. Kilgore says Lester has never pitched on three days rest in his MLB career.

Tito: "I was really sick. Like, violently sick. It was terrible. I couldn’t stop getting sick."

Kilgore says Francona "did leave the dugout to be sick a few times during the game."


He wasn't alone.

Zenslinger said...

I'll be in The Bar. Go go go.

Unknown said...

Kilgore says Lester has never pitched on three days rest in his MLB career.

April 23, 2008

Against the Angels in Fenway, as a matter of fact.

allan said...

Now corrected at the Globe!

Unknown said...

Twins lead again!

Unknown said...

Hey, look, Fruitbat is human!

allan said...

HP ump sucks here too.

pitch at damon's belt - ball (too high i guess, though that is about the middle of the actual strike zone

pitch above the belt - strike!

allan said...

dp nathan pls

allan said...

hurry up and end this, nathan, there's another game to switch over to.

Unknown said...

YOU'VE GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME!!!

allan said...

fuck the heck?

Unknown said...

Well, Joe Nathan, up to this point I considered you one of the only closers in baseball better than Papelbon.

That is no longer the case.

allan said...

well, i'm switching over anyway. thanks for nothin', nathan, you asshole.

Rob said...

It was just a horrible 3-1 pitch. That should've been his 3-0 pitch. The 3-0 pitch was PERFECT. He'd have grounded it to third.

Rob said...

Extra innings.

allan said...

so this pitch tracker thing -- which i now have on MLBTV. is it accuare? if a ball is called a strike, will it go outside the zone? or do they push it over to the line or it's a toss-up?

allan said...

safe at first?

no?

laura k said...

Rogers isn't showing our game until the NYY/Twins are done! Radio only for me until this thing ends. Thanks Rogers. You only own 59 stations. Can't show two baseball games at the same time.

Well, Joe Nathan, up to this point I considered you one of the only closers in baseball better than Papelbon.

And then you woke up.

allan said...

strike 1 to vmart was clearly outside and called a strike. i guess that tells me. now i can keep track of blown pitch calls too.

Unknown said...

now i can keep track of blown pitch calls too.

You're going to be quite busy then.

allan said...

yep - ball 1 to abreu seemed to be a low strike

Unknown said...

FY!

allan said...

looked like a gift for us on that pitch to hunter

(i'll stop now)

Unknown said...

Three errors last night, two of which were outs.

OTT

Unknown said...

I'm following the pitches on this

allan said...

does that update in real time?

Unknown said...

After every at bat, not during though

Amy said...

WHERE IS THE GAME? We are watching the NYY game (being a nice wife), but I cannot find the Red Sox game on TV.

Posada on with one out....

Rob said...

Amy, it's on TNT

Amy said...

Not on my TV. Some movie called Hitch is on. I will check again.

No score yet though, right?

Rob said...

Amy just change it to TNT. It says Hitch but it's really baseball.

Amy said...

OK, Ish, though I can't right now. We are on the Cape with only one TV, and Harvey wants to see the end of the Yankee game obviously. I will have to wait and follow on the computer and wait for you all to update me as well.

allan said...

outside of that one strike outside to a RHH (to hunter, i assume), looks like ol' cb is doing alright so far.

Unknown said...

Joe Nathan needs to get his ass off the mound

Rob said...

Joe Nathan you're a fucking idiot.

He whirled around and threw the ball into centerfield.

Gardner on third with 1 out.

allan said...

no one has reached base yet, amy.

sox 1: lyndon K, FY 5-3, Victor 8

laa 1: figgins 6-3, abreu 4-3, hunter 5-3

sox 2: yook 8, flo 7, bay 1-3

allan said...

vlad flies to center

allan said...

morales 3U

Unknown said...

C. B. Bucknor is the 4th most edited page in the last 24 hours on Wikipedia

allan said...

rivera k looking

(trax has it inside)

Amy said...

Thanks, Allan, I really appreciate the update.

Unknown said...

That last strike seemed outside, but I'll take it.

Unknown said...

Er, inside, yah

allan said...

PC:

beckett: 12-11
weaver: 15-11

Rob said...

WOW!!! 6-5 double play!!!

Unknown said...

LINE DRIVE DOUBLE PLAY IN NY!

Unknown said...

bucknor may be bad but he's calling the inside strikes for both teams, i guess that's all you can ask for

Rob said...

Damon lined to O-Cab as Gardner took off for home and was doubled off of third to end the 10th.

Unknown said...

Yeah, being consistent with bad calls is fine, it's when the strike zone becomes an amoeba that I get ranting

Unknown said...

nathan couldnt just close it out easy that woulda been nice to see mfy lose easy. twins still got a chance, but i'd rather cut my wrists than hear more shit about all the walk off wins of the mfy this year, be nice if twins can pull this out

Anonymous said...

We are done if our bats continue to do nothing.

Unknown said...

if bucknor was at 1st tonight he'd have been safe

Amy said...

DP in NY! Going to the eleventh.

Harv says he doesn't care if I switch. Sometimes I don't get him, but I guess I won't complain. He says he can watch on his laptop, whereas I can't. So I guess that is fair.

Anonymous said...

Fair ball by Mauer called foul.

Unknown said...

tori cunter, die in a fire

allan said...

forgot my update.

lowell P4
drew 1U
gonzalez F8
13 pit

Unknown said...

Mauer should have credit for two hits in that at bat.

Unknown said...

Twins 1st and 2nd none out.

Marte is pulled before he retires a batter.

Unknown said...

yeah kubel coming out of the strikeout slump now ortiz needs to do the same thing. or OR tis as buck says it (which makes me want to yell at him)

allan said...

buck said it correctly a couple of times last night, so we know he CAN do it if he wants. why he doesn't want to is a mystery.

Unknown said...

i think he thinks he's speaking spanish, although im sure the spanish people groan when they hear him say it b/c it's not right

Amy said...

Maybe he thinks it's cute to say it that way. Grrr

allan said...

izturis flies to bay

Unknown said...

Bases loaded with none out for the Twins

Amy said...

I am watching now, Allan. Harv is watching on his laptop. :)

Unknown said...

running grab for J Dizzle

allan said...

napoli - nice running catch, in and towards the line, by drew.

you watching, amy?

Amy said...

Two perfect games so far. Cool. Let's keep Beckett's going.

Amy said...

Yup, since the beginning of this half inning.

Amy said...

Have the Twins scored yet? Harvey is very quiet.

Shit, there goes Beckett's perfect game.

allan said...

... and amy with the jinx.

:<(

Unknown said...

twins chokin, bases still loaded 2 out

Rob said...

Bases are loaded for the Twins with 2 out.

Amy said...

Sorry...I was just so glad to be seeing the game.

Amy said...

Useless Twins.

allan said...

you probably jinxed weaver too, so that's good.

Amy said...

Which catcher in the ML has the highest % of throwing out runners? And who is the one who is worse than Vmart? Tek??

Unknown said...

Wow, the Twins suck

laura k said...

I hate Rogers.

That is all.

Unknown said...

Tek is def bottom of the league. you could show me stats that say differently and i'd still call you a liar

Unknown said...

I'm fairly sure Cactus has both the most stolen bases allowed and the fewest caught stealings of all regular catchers.

allan said...

buh buh buh buh bad
bad to the chone

Unknown said...

i have a terrible feeling that the twins just gave the game away

Rob said...

Ah FUCK.

Yankees win.

Unknown said...

They hadn't

Now they have

Useless fucks

Rob said...

Teixiera walk-off dong.

laura k said...

Well, that's that in the Bronx. Harvey can be happy and I can see our fucking game.

Unknown said...

Yeah, the Twins have no chance of winning the ALDS

They are made of epic failure

Shows you just how shitty the AL Central is

Amy said...

Fuck Teixiera

Unknown said...

LBJ!!

laura k said...

i have a terrible feeling that the twins just gave the game away

They did that at least 4 times tonight.

It's hard to win in the post-season when it took a minor miracle to get you there.

Unknown said...

FUCK YES!!@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amy said...

Harvey NOW wants to watch the TV. ARgggh.

I will be back soon once he is done gloating.

Unknown said...

lets see if we can do better than the twinnies here

allan said...

can't find any listing, so i'll go thru teams:

sb/cs/%

al east

dumbo - 80/31/28%
tek - 108/16/13%
vmart (w/bos) - 17/2/11%
navarro (rays) - 61/22/27%
barajas (tor) - 53/27/34%
weiters (bal) - 65/21/24%
zaun (bal) - 29/10/26%

sox suck.

laura k said...

DEAR ROGERS

STOP SHOWING YANKEE STADIUM AND SHOW ME MY GAME!!!!!!

I HATE YOU,

AN ANNOYED CUSTOMER

Amy said...

Back. Stupid Twins. Stupid Yankees.

Amy said...

So VMart is WORSE than Tek. And I am not a liar.

Of course, he is MUCH better offensively.

Unknown said...

you can say what you want about vmart throwing out runners but as far as im concerned his shits smell like roses and bakery fresh cinnamon buns

Anonymous said...

GD it only place on the field that didn't allow him to score.

Amy said...

Wow, 34%---that's impressive.

YES! We score first!!

Unknown said...

Blue Light RBI!

allan said...

vmart w/clev - 39/7 - 15%

Anonymous said...

THERE WE GO!

Rob said...

YAY a run!

Unknown said...

like i said, bakery fresh cinnamon buns

Unknown said...

V-Mart was also catching Wake

Unknown said...

barajas has a goddamn cannon of an arm, like vintage ivan rodriguez

allan said...

CINNABON!

allan said...

i'm too lazy to do the rest, but you can sorta see what the usual avg is and what we got.

laura k said...

Rogers cuts back just in time for me to see VMart's hit and LBJ scoring.

Whew.

Bye now. GO SOX

Unknown said...

is it bad that i was hoping for a jonny damon-esque collision there?

Unknown said...

i feel like OR tis will make an impact in this series at some point. HOW ABOUT NOW PLEASE? :D

Unknown said...

10 SB with only one CS with V-Mart catching Wake

That would be around 20 and 0 if Tek were catching those

allan said...

kinda sick of hearing that ortiz won the "Most Home Runs After June 6" crown.

Unknown said...

Not saying V-Mart is great back there, but he's better then the Cactus

Rob said...

I have a feeling a new nickname has just created.

Unknown said...

nah kevin, past balls dont count as steals, so hard to tell what vtek would have he cant even catch the regular pitchers without the ball slipping thru his legs anymore

allan said...

maybe tek thinks that if he doesn't throw down, the SB doesn't count against him.

allan said...

a victor home run would be a CINNABOMB, no?

Unknown said...

absolutely. we could use a cinnabomb later this game. or some vintage papi...or maybe some of JD we saw at the end of the season...even a SEABOMB FROM SEABASS

Anonymous said...

SNZ!

Unknown said...

or would they call that a depth charge?

allan said...

alright, josh, there's your run. now get in that ass.

allan said...

...even a SEABOMB FROM SEABASS

hmm, that's treading a little too close to sterling territory for me.

Unknown said...

yeah i apologize... /wrists

nick said...

well, at least abreu didn't walk. g'evening all.

allan said...

treading, sea -- treading water, get it?

a pun!

Unknown said...

DR!!!!!

allan said...

HOLY FUCKING MOLEY!!!!!!!!!

Amy said...

Lowell!

Anonymous said...

Wow the Dr still has the moves in the postseason at least!

allan said...

DOC: "eat shit, toriiii"

nick said...

that is hot!

Amy said...

How the hell did he do that?

allan said...

that was smoked. i'm surprised his glove didn't catch on fire.

Unknown said...

Ugh

DP please?

Rob said...

Tomorrow night in Denver should be VERY interesting.

Right now it's 27 degrees and snowing...

More snow showers are forecast for tomorrow night and temps in the 20s. The overnight low for Denver tomorrow night? 18.

allan said...

not sure fy could have fielded that even without the runner going

Unknown said...

And Pedro's scheduled to pitch that game

Unknown said...

Bleh

allan said...

that looked like a cookie - glad it was only a F9

Amy said...

Uch, why can't we keep the lead for more than one half-inning?

Rob said...

Flying scrotums and such.

Unknown said...

Phew

GET THE LEAD BACK

Rob said...

Seabass 1
Jeter 0

Unknown said...

getting awful tired of avocado commercials

nick said...

that's the first one I've seen. Now why did that guy get shit for not bringing the guac and not anyone else at the party. What about all those people sitting 'round the dining room table who don't seem to give a shit?

Unknown said...

FUCK SHIT BALLS THOUGHT THAT WAS GONE

allan said...

bay is not doing enough roids.

nick said...

That ball sailed farther than I thought it was going to. Wasn't until it got close to the fence that I thought it had a chance--then it didn't.

allan said...

more cs %

texas

salty - 61/19/24%
teagarden - 29/18/38%
irod - 7/6/46%

Amy said...

46%! Whoa. Our catchers are pathetic.

allan said...

small sample for I-Rod?

Amy said...

Yeah, I noticed that. Statistics can be misleading.

Unknown said...

small sample but man's gotta cannon cant hate on him

nick said...

I just saw a link to this article (Seats of Gold) about the ticket prices at the Toilet. Long but perhaps entercational.

Unknown said...

Dang

allan said...

it's thanksgiving weekend up north and i can leave work an hour early -- which is now.

there's radio in the car, but ... it's a tight game -- gotta stay!

Unknown said...

I would really like to know why the dorm hallway is the approximate temperature of a furnace.

allan said...

i assume theo et al. have studied the issue and decided it isn't super important. otherwise they might have tried harder to trade HH for teagarden.

it's annoying as all hell to watch, but i have no idea how much it really contributes to losing.

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