May 20, 2010

G42: Red Sox 6, Twins 2

Twins   - 000 000 011 - 2  6  0
Red Sox - 013 011 00x - 6 8 1
Lester: 9-6-2-0-9, 103.

Kevin Youkilis hit a three-run home run to the back wall in dead center to put the game on ice in the third. Yook also drove in a run in the fifth inning. Adrian Beltre homered in the second and doubled and scored in the sixth.

Lester -- in his 100th career start -- was at the top of his game, allowing only one runner to second base in the first seven innings. His strikeouts of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau in the seventh, both looking, were devastating. His economical pitch count: 9-12-10 9-10-8 14-12-19 = 103.

Tampa Bay (30-11) beat the Yankees 8-6 to extend its lead in the East to 5 games. Boston is now only 3.5 games out of second place -- or the Yankees are 3.5 games out of fourth place.
Example
Francisco Liriano / Jon Lester
McDonald, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Martinez, C
Youkilis, 1B
Lowell, DH
Beltre, 3B
Drew, RF
Hall, LF
Sanchez, SS
Since April 18, when his ERA was 8.44, Lester has made five starts: 1.82 ERA in 34.2 innings. He has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last four outings.

Liriano has gone at least six innings in all seven of his 2010 starts; he had a 23-inning scoreless streak in April. He lost to the Yankees (6-9-3-0-7, 101) last time out.

Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Cameron batted 1-2 in Portland's lineup this afternoon. Ellsbury went 3-for-4, with a double, stolen base, and a run, while Cameron was 1-for-4 with an RBI double (he knocked in LBJ) and a run. The Sea Dogs lost 6-2. ... Lefty Felix Doubront was promoted to Pawtucket.
Example
Red Sox/Yankees - Battle of the Back-Up Catchers

Top RBI per plate appearance among catchers (min. 20 PA):
0.219 - Ryan Hanigan, Reds
0.213 - Jason Varitek, Red Sox
0.210 - Francisco Cervelli, Yankees
0.197 - John Jaso, Rays
          PA   AVG   OBP   SLG   OPS   BABIP
Varitek 47 .317 .404 .805 1.209 .304
Cervelli 81 .373 .442 .493 .934 .417
The Cactus has thrown out only 19% of SB attempts (3 of 16), but Cervelli (who I guess will not be a back-up for the next 3-4 weeks) is worse: 1 of 13, 8%.

137 comments:

Amy said...

So will Blogger be working tonight??

allan said...

Denard Span CF
Orlando Hudson 2B
Joe Mauer C
Justin Morneau 1B
Michael Cuddyer RF
Jason Kubel DH
Delmon Young LF
Brendan Harris SS
Nick Punto 3B

Zenslinger said...

Jays give up three in the bottom of the ninth and Griffey gets a PH walkoff. Hopefully this is the beginning of a slide for them. I've been waiting uncomfortably long for it to begin.

That's nothing compared to the 7-run Braves comeback today with a PH walkoff grand slam.

Let us win another tonight, please.

Angry Steve said...

woohoo Jays lose!!! we have a chance to move up a bit!

Amy said...

Hmm, looks like comments are still not coming through since my test message sent about half an hour ago has not shown up. Another night without a game thread? :(

meunier said...

I see it Amy.

Patrick said...

so Angel is pronounced like the heavenly being, and not like aunt hill?

That's how Castig says it anyways.

allan said...

the fucking twins guys i am stuck with say an-hell.

allan said...

... and with the jays done, rogers is showing YES on sportsnet.

so a hearty FUCK YOU to rogers.

Patrick said...

McDonald, Hall, Sanchez...gah.

I whine about this lineup but these are the guys who have played all year (basically), and our problems are not offense related.

meunier said...

I think it's Añgel.

Zenslinger said...

OTT your hearts out, Twins.

Zenslinger said...

Hall at SS I don't care for.

Mickey D leading off I really don't care for.

Lester on his game and Pettitte giving up a quick run, those things I like.

meunier said...

ñ is option + the key below the esc key on Macs, I don't know on other computers.

allan said...

one of twins idiots -- maybe circle me bert -- says that some umps like to call a big zone at the start of a game "to move the game along" -- he seemed like he approved. don't want the game to start off slow -- just fuck the actual rules .....

Zenslinger said...

The Beak begins with a double, single, and homer. 3-0 Rays.

Christ, that team is sucking down rocket fuel before games or something.

Benjamin said...

Darnell McDonald has a 1.000 OBP when batting in the #1 slot.

Or at least now he does.

meunier said...

I have Newman Romero as the utility player instead of Sanchez.

meunier said...

oops in MLB 2k10 I mean

Patrick said...

OB just said Youk is on pace for 130 runs.

YOWZA!

meunier said...

The Beak ???

meunier said...

SB MacDonald

allan said...

the beak
tucan sam
horseface

meunier said...

Youk K'd but we have made Liriano throw more than 20 pitches in the 1st

Patrick said...

I just got MLB TV. Over stimulation here I come.

Zenslinger said...

I think we realize that making fun of the size of a person's nose is not exactly mature behavior. But when it's a figure as beloved as Andy Pettitte, ordinary rules don't apply.

allan said...

23 for liriano

Benjamin said...

Schghnoz?

allan said...

shame the jays lost. if they had, a tampa win would have toronto tied with the mfy for second.

Patrick said...

FFS!!!!

LESTER IS AN ANDROID SENT FROM THE FUTURE TO THROW STRIKES!

allan said...

23 for liriano in 1st
21 for lester in 1st + 2nd

Patrick said...

Swisher just looked absolutely dumb missing a shallow fly, but got Kapler by a mile at second when he tried to extend.

allan said...

BELTRE HOMRE!

meunier said...

Beltre dong.

Patrick said...

Way to work the count, Drew. I'm sure OB approved of the effort.

allan said...

twins tv wondering why sox got beltre since lowell is a gold-glove winner at third. it has "created friction".

Patrick said...

Lowell couldn't get a gold glove at DH these days.

Zenslinger said...

Yay. Beltre.

allan said...

these twins tv guys are DUMB. really, really DUMB.

Zenslinger said...

twins tv wondering why sox got beltre since lowell is a gold-glove winner at third

Reading fucking newspaper. Or computer screen. Christ. There are only 14 other teams in the AL. You can know a little about each even if it's not your job.

Patrick said...

Lester faces the minimum!!

SEN!!!

Amy said...

Hmm, guess Blogger is working. I hadn't even bothered to check.

allan said...

twins tv: "so ... angel or an-hell -- what should we call him?"

HOW ABOUT WHAT IS SAY IN THE PRESS NOTES THAT HAVE EVERY SINGLE FUCKING PLAYER PHONECTICALLY!

Patrick said...

Joe C was just explaining that Sanchez said he didn't care which, and that Tito and Pedroia call him Ain-GEL. So that's that.

Amy said...

Yes!

Patrick said...

SWEATY DONG!!!!!

Amy said...

WOW!! Our offense is offensive and sweaty!

meunier said...

SWEATY!

allan said...

HIS DONG IS SO SWEATY

meunier said...

Liriano said "hijo de la puta"

Kathryn said...

Just finished cooking Trahana and sat down to start threading just in time.

YOUUUUUUKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joe Gravellese said...

wooop. let's keep it goin

allan said...

another 2-outs, nothing going on rally!

laura k said...

Hi. Not threading these days (too much typing all day) but watching. Hooray for sweaty dongs.

Patrick said...

Lester's has 73/32 FB/GB this year.

That's impossible to deal with when he's K'ing a hitter an inning.

He's a machine.

Patrick said...

Lester still facing the minimum!

TET!

allan said...

lester pc: 9-12-10 9 = 40

laura k said...

Reading fucking newspaper. Or computer screen. Christ. There are only 14 other teams in the AL. You can know a little about each even if it's not your job.

I thought this was Allan's comment!

laura k said...

Reading fucking newspaper. Or computer screen. Christ. There are only 14 other teams in the AL. You can know a little about each even if it's not your job.

I thought this was Allan's comment!

allan said...

laura has sox radio on, so i will be bitching about o'brien now, not twins guys

Kathryn said...

I have home and away options on EI tonight, so NESN it is.

allan said...

WP? how can that not be a PB?

Amy said...

OK, I have spent a few minutes trying to decode FB/GB in Patrick's comment, but to no avail. ???

Kathryn said...

It took me a little bit, but I figured it's fly ball/ground ball???

meunier said...

pizza night, bye.

Patrick said...

I wrote it backwards, which makes it look not impressive. Lester has, before this game recorded 72 GB outs, and 32 FB outs. Keeping the ball on the ground is a great recipe for success as a pitcher.

Amy said...

Now it makes sense! OK, thanks for the explanation, Patrick. (At least you know we are reading your comments.)

Kathryn said...

Yes, that ratio makes a lot more sense! I thought maybe there was something I didn't understand about fly ball outs.

Amy said...

Oh, well, no longer facing the minimum.

Patrick said...

WHoa! Pop fly to center field, BJ Upton held out his arms like he had it, he had it, he had it, it falls 10 feet behind his back.

Miranda into third.

allan said...

Pop fly to center field, BJ Upton held out his arms like he had it, he had it, he had it, it falls 10 feet behind his back.

I am angry that the first thing to pop into my head after reading this was Lou Pinella.

Patrick said...

Now the only chance is to pick off Morneau.

Benjamin said...

Short man on risers.

Kathryn said...

FY!!!

Patrick said...

FUCK YES!

allan said...

did not need a step-ladder.

Joe Gravellese said...

BYAH

allan said...

for the record, the idiot in the wins booth is dick bremer. i lost about 12 IQ points listening to the first 3 innings

Amy said...

So this time I could figure out that wins booth = Twins booth.

Amy said...

Vmart definitely finding his swing.

allan said...

manship up in the twins manpen

Amy said...

Youk hot and sweaty!

Kathryn said...

YOUUKKK!!

Patrick said...

So this time I could figure out that wins booth = Twins booth.

HA!! That got a laugh out of me.

allan said...

Still, He Sweats

Amy said...

Yeah, I am having one of those nights where I am reading everything very literally.

Must be a result of reading bluebooks all afternoon.....

laura k said...

Manship can be on all kinds of teams.

The Twins are full of "team" names. Hudson on the body-of-water team, Span on the buildings team, Baker on the trades team... there are others. I'll try to control myself.

Gotta do something while I'm not threading. :)

Kathryn said...

I always have some mixed emotions when a college alum is playing against the Sox. I want them to do well, but not make a game-winning play or anything. Brendan Harris is an alum of my college.

I remember seeing Curtis Pride (another alum) against the Sox at Fenway. I think he came up late in the game with a chance to win it.

allan said...

rays 5-4 in top 5th

Benjamin said...

Something awful lurks at the fringe of human awareness. Still he sweats.

allan said...

lester - 58 pit thru 6!

Patrick said...

Lester and Buchholz making me feel a lot better about the monster contracts we just handed out to Lackey and Beckett.

Amy said...

Yes, Lester and HH are our aces. We can hope Beckett fixes his back, his head, and his control. Lackey is just lacking. And DiceK is a wicked roll of the dice every game.

Don't even get me started on the bullshit pen.

laura k said...

Something Wicked This Way Sweats

allan said...

DREW - HACKER!

Patrick said...

Bullpen band: Daniel Pappelbon and the ulcers.

laura k said...

Warming up for The Ulcers, the Crapshoots

allan said...

is mauer related to posada?

Rob said...

Mauerballa

Patrick said...

Hall doesn't usually get a hit, but he so often works the count.

Amy said...

Papelbon is the Heart Attack.

So the Crapshoots warm up for the Ulcers and then we close with the Heart Attack.

laura k said...

Joeballa?

laura k said...

I was pretty amazed to read (here on JoS!) that Pap's recent blown save was his first one since JoS1.

Amy said...

Yeah, I still can't believe that about Papelbon's blown saves. I think Allan (or whoever wrote that comment) made it up.

At any rate, it fails to reveal how many times he has come dangerously close to blowing a save by giving up at least one and sometimes two runs before squeaking by. Or at least has put the tying/go ahead runs on base.

Patrick said...

OB had to say it twice: Jon Lester is dealing.

laura k said...

Or it may prove the blown save statistic is sliced too thin - too specific.

Or it may mean Amy sees Papelbon as worse than he objectively is.

Or ... something else.

laura k said...

Putting the tying run on base shouldn't matter. Plenty of closers do that all the time. All that matters is runs allowed.

laura k said...

Lester! Wow.

Patrick said...

What a boner inducing inning. My god!

allan said...

72 thru 7

lester should be good for 11-12 innings tonight.

Kathryn said...

Two consecutive great pitching nights. Nice to see.

laura k said...

Totally great to see.

laura k said...

Jesse Crain on the bird team

laura k said...

I better stop threading, bye for now.

Amy said...

VMart again!!

allan said...

umm, ob, that did not "rattle around" the corner. idiot.

Amy said...

I love Lester!

allan said...

just saying to laura that it was a few years ago now, but lester used to be "dice, the prequel": 100 pitches in 5 innings, worked slower than molasses, put lots of guys on base, somehow wriggled out of trouble ... that's where houdini first started.

Kathryn said...

Hmm, I don't remember that being Lester's MO. Interesting.

Patrick said...

I remember that Lester. He was like that in '08 right up until he owned Toronto against Halladay, and then threw the no-hitter two starts later.

allan said...

the first half-season he was up, for sure. and into the next year. there was a bit of talk whether he would snap out of it and show the talent he had in the minors.

laura k said...

That's right, he was the original Houdini. Now it's a generic term for getting out of jams, but Lester used to give us heart attacks on a regular basis.

Memo to Dice-K: anytime you want to similarly transform yourself, feel free.

Patrick said...

It was 4 starts later, now that I actually look it up.

allan said...

ram and bot up

Amy said...

I remember that Lester. This is Lester 2.0

allan said...

only 3rd 3 ball count

Kathryn said...

That's an incredible stat.

allan said...

The water is Muddy!!!

laura k said...

LESTER!!! We love you!

The water is filthy.

Patrick said...

Sweaty Water!!!

Amy said...

Beautiful dirty water! A complete game! Can't remember the last time I saw one of those.

allan said...

never mind the bollocks, it's jon lester.

Kathryn said...

Dirty>>Clean.

Lester>>Liriano

allan said...

rays 8-4, in bot 8th

yanks would be 5 GB

SoSock said...

mmmmmm......
Just in time for some dirty water I see.
Cool.
LL team won againg too, we're like 10 -2 or something now.
Liking it.

Rob said...

Mmmmm dirty water.

Don't fish in it, but love it.

allan said...

FKR - 300 121 010 - 8 11 1
MFY - 021 100 002 - 6 10 1

FKR ---
MFY 5.0
TOR 6.0
BOS 8.5
BAL 17.5

We may still be 8.5, but we're closing in on the Yankees!