July 16, 2010

G90: Rangers 8, Red Sox 4

Rangers - 200 050 010 - 8 12  0
Red Sox - 020 101 000 - 4 8 2
Bengie Molina hit for the cycle!

Both the double and triple glanced off the tips of outfielders' gloves, so he had a little help, but no one fell down or collided or were knocked unconscious. Molina singled in the second, doubled in the fourth (J.D. Drew got turned around awkwardly, reached back, and it hit off his glove), homered to center in the fifth -- a grand slam -- and tripled in the eighth. That last hit caromed off Eric Patterson's glove in deep center, and bounced towards the triangle. At that moment, it became clear that Molina was actually going to do it.

It is the first time in baseball history that a catcher hit for the cycle with a grand slam as the dong.

It was Molina's sixth career triple. The other five:
May 30, 2000:      2-for-4, single, triple
September 7, 2000: 4-for-4, 2 singles, double, triple
August 17, 2006: 3-for-5, single, triple, home run
May 23, 2007: 2-for-4, single, triple
April 29, 2009: 3-for-5, single, triple, home run
For the Sox, Kevin Youkilis doubled twice and singled, Adrian Beltre homered and singled, and Drew singled and knocked in two runs.

The Yankees beat the Rays 5-4 with a run in the bottom of the ninth. Tampa Bay is 3 GB and Boston is 6.5 GB.
Example
9:21: Play resumes after a 60-minute delay. (And the rain starts up again after a few minutes. Looks like it may come and go all night.)

8:21: Rain delay (at the end of three innings).
Example
Colby Lewis / Felix Doubront
Scutaro, SS
Patterson, CF
Ortiz, DH
Youkilis, 1B
Drew, RF
Beltre, 3B
Nava, LF
Hall, 2B
Cash, C
Amalie Benjamin says Fernando Cabrera is in the clubhouse and has probably been swapped for Robert Manuel.

Manny Delcarmen started for Portland last night and got three groundouts for a perfect inning of work. Jeremy Hermida had a single and a double as the Sea Dogs' DH.

Clay Buchholz starts for Pawtucket tonight in Syracuse; Josh Beckett pitches tomorrow. Jed Lowrie is now rehabbing with Pawtucket.

Also at 7 PM: Rays/Yankees
Example
July 16:

1909 - The Washington Senators and Detroit Tigers play the longest scoreless game in AL history (0-0, 18 innings/darkness). Ed Summers of the Tigers pitches a complete game, allowing only seven hits. The MLB record is 19 innings (Reds/Dodgers, September 11, 1946).

1988 - The San Antonio Missions defeat the Jackson Mets 1-0 in 26 innings, the longest game in Texas League (AA) history. The game began on July 14 and was suspended after 25 innings. When play was resumed, the game was over in 13 minutes (total time: 7:23).

200 comments:

tim said...

red sox gotta sign this guy!

laura k said...

Yay, NESN!

allan said...

win, pls

9casey said...

They will, I believe Boras is his agent....

9casey said...

the comment was for tim

allan said...

f - E - lix.

allan said...

weather

nesn: 86, wind 11 to CF
gdgd: 89, wind 15 L to R

allan said...

"go-ahead RBI"

oy, don.

Angry Steve said...

red sox gotta sign this guy!


that's impressive... for a pitcher who has no face!

laura k said...

"gunned down at 3rd base to conclude the inning, but Texas grabs a pair"

that is classic DO

Angry Steve said...

seriously though, why haven't we snapped him up yet???

laura k said...

that's impressive... for a pitcher who has no face!

I was going to write that exact comment! Then got distracted. Funny guy, Angry Steve.

Zenslinger said...

The upside so far tonight: Rays or Yanks almost HAVE to lose.

laura k said...

Rays or Yanks almost HAVE to lose.

Why?

allan said...

murphy looked safe to me in real time.

allan said...

felix is not sharp tonight.

allan said...

they are playing each other.

allan said...

FKR - 01
MFY - 0

Aybar sac fly off CC (runner helped along by Slappy error).
Small Game for TB.

laura k said...

Oh yeah! Thanks. :)

laura k said...

In that case, go FKR.

laura k said...

Jerry sharp as ever.

allan said...

... feel like being a sweat machine.

laura k said...

Sweaty Half Dong!

allan said...

a non-caring rbi.

laura k said...

J.D.Ingle

laura k said...

Now we're talking.

Zenslinger said...

Drew goes gingerly from first to third.

laura k said...

Is that because he's soft or because he doesn't care? It's hard to keep track.

laura k said...

"doesn't throw to either venue"

DRINK!

Zenslinger said...

Is that because he's soft or because he doesn't care? It's hard to keep track.

If he's feeling quite softly, he sort of minces around the bases. If he's feeling particularly uncaring, sometimes he'll just go from first, to second, and then past third, into the dugout, and head for the nearest Chili's.

laura k said...

bases loaded, no outs. will we capitalize or will we squander...?

laura k said...

LOL @ Zen

laura k said...

tied!

allan said...

nice - because i have no faith in cash.

Zenslinger said...

Scratch the "-ly" off of "softly"!

Rays up 2-0 and still batting.

Angry Steve said...

YAAAA WILD PITCH!!!

Zenslinger said...

Can we not at least Cash in with a sac fly?

Zenslinger said...

Way to draw the WP, Kevin!

allan said...

cash needed a pole vault stick to have any hope of reaching that pitch.

laura k said...

I thought using "softly" added to the humour.

Patrick said...

Is it DOU-bront, or dou-BRONT

I like the second one better.

Amy said...

So glad the score is tied. How sad is that?

laura k said...

Not sad, but a bit exaggerated. We're not the Orioles.

laura k said...

The arm signals were hilarious.

Amy said...

I am well aware of the facts. Just reporting on my emotions. The two do not necessarily have a cause and effect relationship.

Philip said...

Per MLEs, minor league catcher Luis Exposito would have an OPS+ of 76 in MLB. Kevin Cash has a career OPS+ of 39. Why is he starting, ever?

Hell, it ain't his defense, because Matt Klaasen has him at -1.1 overall this year.

laura k said...

Geez Amy, I know you're aware of the facts. It was just a reply, not an attack.

allan said...

when did it start raining?

Amy said...

Ah, Laura, you are overreacting! I was just being...me? Not attacking or feeling attacked. I just forgot the emoticon. :)

laura k said...

It started raining a minute or so ago.

A, did you miss the replay of Don & Jerry discovering GQ rated them #1 in the AL? You would have liked it, it was quite amusing.

laura k said...

OK Amy, sorry. You seemed to be admonishing me, but I guess not.

Amy said...

Nah, I am too smart to admonish you! I was just being obnoxious.

laura k said...

They were doing YMCA hand signals for NESN, and Don was cracking up.

allan said...

they talked about it recently. i have the game muted right now.

laura k said...

See you all after the rain.

allan said...

GQ on Don/Jerry:

4) Boston Red Sox—Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy

Remy has an arresting voice, with a thick Massachusetts accent—not the sound of your typical broadcaster—and he talks in a string of short bursts. He also has no volume control. In fact, when he first chimes in, one worries that some beer-brave Sawx fan has stumbled into the booth. It's a big personality to cram into a headset, but Orsillo makes it work by playing the straight—if bland—man, by calling a solid game, and by getting out of Remy's way, when necessary. Remy will misspeak (hilariously) on occasion, like: "Sometimes it's hard to get down that sacrifice fly," on a botched bunt attempt. But it's always in service of the game's action, and it never slows him down.

Amy said...

Rain delay. Poop.

laura k said...

they talked about it recently.

Right, we heard that. This was much funnier. Oh well, I guess you missed it.

allan said...

Reports from HH's AAA start.

allan said...

When I heard themn before, I was laughing because they did not read anything from the magazine. You can see why. I assume they avoided it again...

allan said...

FKR - 011 0
MFY - 001 0

allan said...

FKR - 011 010
MFY - 001 00

Angry Steve said...

ahhhhh... damn you Dumbo

allan said...

EB says 9:20 re-start

allan said...

alright, here we go.

Amy said...

Still pouring at Fenway.

laura k said...

Yay, game.

laura k said...

Beltre Dong! The man without a nickname

allan said...

rainy dong.

Edward Lee said...

FORE

allan said...

rub that head!

Amy said...

I call Beltre the Belter. Not much of a nickname, but it works for me.

Edward Lee said...

Beltre oughta try playing at the British Open sometime.

meunier said...

Last night I saw a Canadien minor league team, the Victoria Seals.javascript:void(0)

meunier said...

@ the Chico Outlaws. Old Sox prospect Morgan Burkhart is managing the Yuma Scorpions in the western indy league.

allan said...

GOT that snake!!!

allan said...

oh - but it is a hit. andmaybe he hurt himself ...

allan said...

hell of a catch -- then fuk.

meunier said...

Web Gem!

Amy said...

Damn.

meunier said...

Hopefully HH is back next week and we don't have to worry about Doubront

allan said...

f-doub out
f-cab in

meunier said...

Looks like Cabrera is overrated

Amy said...

Can this guy pitch?

Amy said...

I sure hope Theo has some tricks up his sleeve before the trading deadline.

I hate this season....

laura k said...

Oh boy. Not good.

laura k said...

Molina is a triple away from the cycle, but I think we're safe from seeing that!

allan said...

just going to type "let's not typecast a guy for two batters worth of pitches" ... now, well, you can't do that, but fuck it.

can bengie get a triple for the cycle?

laura k said...

Looks like Cabrera is overrated

Small sample size

laura k said...

Can you imagine what would have to happen for Molina to get a triple? The whole OF would have to break both legs.

allan said...

I sure hope Theo has some tricks up his sleeve

Pedroia
Beckett
Ellsbury
Martinez
Varitek
Lowrie
Hermida
Delcarmen
Buchholz
etc. etc. etc.

laura k said...

Ha, good one. The regular team is very good. Whether or not we'll see them all playing at one time... who knows.

allan said...

FKR - 011 010 10
MFY - 001 002 01

Amy said...

Yes, the regular team is great...except the bullpen. I don't care how great how offense is. Without someone to hold down the other team, it really won't matter. Tonight is just one example. Even if MDC returns, I still see too many holes.

I would like to see us acquire some bullpen arms.

allan said...

Thinking about what should be our starting lineup/rotation, I don't see where Theo can do much. Maybe get a bullpen arm, but that wouldn't be a headline grabber.

Amy said...

Well, Allan, we are thinking along the same lines then.

laura k said...

We obviously need some reinforcement in the bullpen. But it's not that easy to get. Teams aren't lining up to get rid of really good relief pitchers.

Almost every team needs a better bullpen than they have - that's why an outstanding bullpen is such an advantage.

laura k said...

The regular team returning isn't just offense. It's also fielding, catching and starting pitching. It's everything! :)

allan said...

and even when you get a reliever you think is gonna be fuckin' great, it can go very wrong (coughgagnecough)

laura k said...

I don't see where Theo can do much. Maybe get a bullpen arm, but that wouldn't be a headline grabber.

I may be completely off here, but this doesn't sound like Amy and Allan thinking along the same lines.

allan said...

I don't Theo will do much of anything at the deadline. He has made it clear that he won't do something that will create a logjam/mess when an injured guy comes back.

allan said...

Lewis: 20 batters, 104 pitches. More than 5 pitches per batter is a lot.

laura k said...

NYY did a nice tribute to Bob Sheppard tonight - no announcements when players came to the plate.

Wheels ORtiz!

Amy said...

Uch, did you have to mention Gagne??

I think we all agree a better bullpen would be valuable. That's what I meant by thinking along the same lines, as I said that right above Allan's comment. I guess I am just less hopeful about the team's chances without a reliable closer/bullpen than you both are.

I do realize that wanting a better bullpen and getting a better bullpen are not the same thing. :) A girl can dream, though, can't she?

allan said...

rally time.

allan said...

But I think anyone we may get will provoke a shrug and a "well, we'll see".

We have a very good team. Stay close in the ALE/WC for now and let 'em come back and do their thing.

meunier said...

Back in the game..

Amy said...

7-4 feels so much better than 7-3!

Amy said...

Damn! Snagged that one.

allan said...

some nava magic, maybe?

laura k said...

Yes, 7-4 does feel a lot better than 7-3. Amazing how that works!

I'm not particularly hopeful about the team's chances, but not unhopeful either. Just watching it play out.

laura k said...

Allan is WAY more optimistic than I am, which is really weird!

meunier said...

LOW

allan said...

mfy in bot 9th: 1st/2nd, 1 out, CI up. tied 4-4.

Amy said...

Maybe Allan needs a new avatar then?

I wish someone's optimism would wear off on me. Maybe I need to go buy a pair of rose colored glasses. I bet they have some in Provincetown.

allan said...

Allan is WAY more optimistic than I am, which is really weird!

Yes. It is strange.

And nice.

allan said...

i don't think i should change mid-season. ... but maybe that would "help".

(plus i grouch plenty when not watching baseball ...)

laura k said...

(plus i grouch plenty when not watching baseball ...)

Do tell.

:)

allan said...

CI K.

So clutch.

Amy said...

Maybe changing the avatar will HELP the second half of the season?

laura k said...

the new allan?

Amy said...

OMG, Laura, let's not go overboard. I'd take a Mona Lisa type smile instead.

meunier said...

I wonder if Josh has trouble with his lower arms due to his being a junkie at one time?

allan said...

swisher wins it with a single.

allan said...

that's the kind of player jeter is. he will strike out with the game on the line to let a teammate get a game-winning hit.

laura k said...

David Murphy causing another Gagne reference! That's twice in one night, give us a break!

allan said...

yellow smiley face does have a jest connection ...

laura k said...

I doubt he has arm trouble from drugs.

Amy said...

Did I just hear them talking about Gagne on NESN? What is this? A plot to torture me tonight?

allan said...

FKR - 011 010 100 - 4 9 0
MFY - 001 002 011 - 5 7 2

Right now:

MFY ---
FKR 3.0
BOS 6.0
TOR 12.5
BAL 28.0

allan said...

gagne

we did win the world series that year.

Amy said...

LOL, Laura, great minds thinking alike? :)

Amy said...

Winning the WS in 2007 had NOTHING to do with Gagne.

allan said...

Winning the WS in 2007 had NOTHING to do with Gagne

Change any part of the flow of that season and the end result changes.

Amy said...

I am not sure what to feel, but somehow I think having the Rays lose is okay. I see our chances at the WC being much more likely than the ALE, so let the Yankees win and beat the Rays into the ground.

laura k said...

Ha ha, yes, a new form of torture!

Who knows, maybe Gagne was the essential piece of the puzzle in 2007. We can never know what would have happened without him.

Well, wait on that. I mean what would have happened on the overall season. We know what would have happened in certain games. Losses would have been wins!

laura k said...

I see Allan said the same thing more concisely.

laura k said...

I definitely want FKR to beat NYY. No question for me.

allan said...

Remy: Texas is the fourth





team for Lee in






the last four







seasons."

Amy said...

Change any part of the flow of that season and the end result changes.

Wow, I don't think I agree with that view. I somehow think we would have won without Gagne. In fact, he seemed to do more harm than good. I guess I am less...something... about these things. I don't think every change necessarily changes the result.

Sort of like Sliding Doors?

allan said...

Change any part of the flow of that season and the end result changes.

There must be a name for this, something philosophical.

laura k said...

Like the Butterfly Effect, or the pebble thrown into the lake, disturbing every drop of water.

allan said...

patterson needs to bat 10th, not 2nd.

Amy said...

Yeah, what the hell is the word? Notice my "something" in my response. I am drawing a blank.

Fatalist seems to be the opposite---that no matter what you do, the fates have been decided. SO would this be non-fatalist? That doesn't seem right either.

laura k said...

A, it's been called many different things in different eras. These days a lot of people use Butterfly Effect. I don't love that, but it conveys the meaning.

Amy said...

Butterfly Effect. Yes, that seems right. But is there a label for that view?

Amy said...

Did you see Sliding Doors? I loved it, Harvey hated it.

allan said...

"mmm mmm in heavy syrup" doesn't get traded to boston in 2007 and someone else pitches those innings. maybe that guy gets hurt. maybe david murphy stays with us and collides with someone. it changes what the team has to do, what tito does. we might still win -- we needed a historic comeback in that alcs too -- but there is no way to know.

what we *do* know is that he pitched for us and we won it all in the end.

laura k said...

Origin of term Butterly Effect

allan said...

come on -- TRIPLE!! do it!

allan said...

OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG

laura k said...

I'm thinking... you're right, fatalist isn't it, that's the opposite, the outcome being fated no matter what we do.

OMG MOLINA IS GETTING A TRIPLE!!!!

Angry Steve said...

patterson needs to bat 10th, not 2nd.

Amen.

Amy said...

Holy shit! He hit for the cycle! That slow poke? What else....

laura k said...

I fucking cannot believe I just saw that. This is UNFUCKINGBELIEVABLE.

meunier said...

This could only happen with Ram Ram on the mound.

laura k said...

Earlier in the thread I said all the OFers would have to break their legs for that to happen. Yet there they are with their legs and there he is at third.

allan said...

baseball.

what a game.

allan said...

remy: "and he did it without three guys falling down"

laura k said...

Amazing!!! Remy just said the same thing, 3 guys falling down. Molina might need oxygen.

Amy said...

Baseball: the game where anything can happen. Even Benjie Molina can hit a triple. Weird.

laura k said...

Also... I did not see Sliding Doors. No interest.

allan said...

did bengie pull a fat?

laura k said...

So true, baseball is so crazy.

Watch him end up with a season-ending injury after hitting for the cycle.

allan said...

"Now it is done. Now the story ends. And there is no way to tell it. The art of fiction is dead. Reality has strangled invention. Only the utterly impossible, the inexpressibly fantastic, can ever be plausible again."

laura k said...

domino effect
interconnectedness

Just thinking of other phrases that describe a similar idea.

In other words, why we didn't really have tickets to a no-hitter that day. :)

allan said...

oh fuck you, cash. good god you suck so much shit.

Amy said...

Sliding Doors is relevant as it is also about how one split second difference in timing can change a person's life. For some reason, Harvey found that premise horrifying. I think about it all the time. What if I had not done X at X time? How would my life be different?

How would this season be different if Beltre had not collided with LBJ?

meunier said...

Can't we find someone in the Atlantic League better than this catcher?

laura k said...

I can't even believe Cash is on the team.

Angry Steve said...

y'know if I sucked at my job like Cash has sucked it up, I woulda been shit-canned a LOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGG time ago.

Seriously. Aren't there anymore avaiable Molina's out there?!?!?!

laura k said...

Oh yes, I got the relevancy.

But if you think this way, I think you don't go over what might have happened had x or y been different, because you know you can never know that. You know that nothing ever flows backwards, and your one action or lack of action was only one of myriad events that effected the outcome.

To me that goes with it, but obviously YMMV.

allan said...

Our Molina isn't even a real Molina! He's a fuckin' knockoff, like a Guccy bag or a Molex watch.

Amy said...

YMMV?

allan said...

If we get to the post-season this season, will we later say that without Kevin Cash we might not have had the same result?

Yes.

(We will still hate him, however. (Unless he hits a pennant-winning inside-the-park grand slam at Yankee Stadium.))

Amy said...

Yes, that all makes sense. Obviously we never can really know. But I still like to think about it. :)

Angry Steve said...

Our Molina isn't even a real Molina! He's a fuckin' knockoff, like a Guccy bag or a Molex watch.

after I typed that, I totally forgot about Gustavo... yeah, he'd even be better than Cash

laura k said...

Oh well, as long as you like it, as opposed to beating yourself up over it, then it's cool.

Your Mileage May Vary. An internet expression that probably dates me as ancient.

laura k said...

shift this!

Angry Steve said...

...I mean Gustavo has a whopping .143 BA right now!!!

allan said...

tiz starts it off.

Amy said...

Nope, no beating myself up. Just imagining a different life if I had not happened to make a particular choice or take a particular path.

Never heard of YMMV. I think MM often varies!

allan said...

Theo should really give a actual cactus a shot back there, for real.

meunier said...

Rally caps..

allan said...

a lil' bit o' fire could make it 8-7.

laura k said...

I have to go take care of the dogs and get ready for bed. I'll have the game on so when we come back and win I will run back to post about dirty water.

Right? :)

Amy said...

Anything can happen. We have seen it tonight.

laura k said...

I think if we don't make the postseason I will blame it on all the trashing of LBJ. I hate it!

OK, dogs. Bye.

meunier said...

I thought rookies couldnt play in the all star game, only be there?

allan said...

both molina's double and triple hit off outfielders' gloves. so he did need help!

allan said...

ron washington is a scary-looking man.

allan said...

with all the injuries, talk about a "what if" season!

allan said...

come on -- DONG!!! -- do it now.

Angry Steve said...

Nava walks and Hall hits a G.S. Dong...

...then I wake up...

allan said...

both teams 3rd pitcher tonight:

o'day: 1-1-0-1-1, 4 BF, 14 pit
jeemer: 1-1-0-1-1, 4 BF, 14 pit

4th pitchers:
francisco: 5 BF, 24 pit
r ramirez: 5 BF, 24 pit

allan said...

4+ runs, pls.

allan said...

if mccarver was calling this game, he would be making an incoherent, tortured felix/feliz connection right about now.

Amy said...

OK, another night of clean water. Let's hope all the losses are part of the butterfly effect that leads us to the post-season.

Good night!

laura k said...

Go ahead and drink the water. It's very clean.

Good night!

Rob said...

First time in MLB history a catcher hits a grand slam and hits for the cycle in the same game! Thanks to Peter Gammons for that nugget of info.

That was AWESOME and totally worth it to see Molina hit for the cycle. Wow.