August 14, 2010

G118: Red Sox 3, Rangers 1

Red Sox - 000 100 002 - 3 10  1
Rangers - 000 000 001 - 1 7 1
Lester (8-5-0-0-5) did exactly what was needed -- shut down the Rangers and rest the bullpen. He allowed only one baserunner past second base (it came with with one out in the seventh) and the bottom of the order tacked on two important insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Felix Doubront got the save, but it also could have be awarded to Vladimir Guerrero.

After Lester had thrown 109 pitches in the 102-degree evening heat -- although he told John Farrell around the sixth inning that he was not feeling well, he retired 15 of the last 16 hitters he faced -- Scott Atchison started the ninth. Michael Young lined out to second, Josh Hamilton hit an opposite-field home run to left, and Guerrero beat out a single to the shortstop hole.

Terry Francona brought in Doubront to face pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland. On Doubront's second pitch, Vlad took off for second - WTF? -- and Victor Martinez gunned him down by five feet. Moreland watched a game-ending strike three curveball two pitches later.

Felix has made four relief appearances:
I'm enjoying it. I'm excited to be a reliever now. I like the challenge. Coming in for the seventh of eighth inning, that pressure makes me feel good.
Boston scored in the fifth when Ryan Kalish singled and scored on J.D. Drew's two-out hit to right. In the ninth, Mike Lowell doubled to left-center and Kalish got his second single of the night (he also walked). Bill Hall singled to left to make it 2-0. After a pitching change, Eric Patterson singled to load the bases and Scutaro lofted a fly ball towards left-center. Pedro Borbon tried to make a waist-high catch, but the ball clanged off his glove, and Kalish scored.

The Red Sox squandered a scoring chance in the second when they loaded the bases with one out. Hall struck out looking and Patterson flew out to left.

The Yankees beat the Royals 8-3 and the Rays beat the Orioles 7-3, so the East remains the same: Tampa Bay 2 GB; Boston 6 GB. We have 44 games remaining.
Example
Jon Lester / Colby Lewis
Scutaro, SS
Drew, RF
Martinez, C
Ortiz, DH
Beltre, 3B
Lowell, 1B
Kalish, LF
Hall, 2B
Patterson, CF
Jacoby Ellsbury is on the disabled list for the third time this season, "with some swelling in the same area and a 'faint line' around the same area as a previous fracture".

I really wonder if he will play again this season. (And if so, has he played his last game in a Red Sox uniform?)

All is well.
Orioles/Rays, 4 PM
Yankees/Royals, 7 PM
Example
August 14:

1919 - The Robins and Cubs split a doubleheader in only two hours and seventeen minutes. Chicago win the opener 2-0 in 1:10 and Brooklyn takes the nightcap 1-0 in 1:07.

1922 - Lizzie Murphy plays first base for an American League all-star team in an exhibition game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, making her the first woman to play for a major-league team.

1942 - The Yankees turn a record seven double plays in an 11-2 win over the Athletics. It looks like two of them may have involved a runner caught stealing.

174 comments:

San Francisco Red Sox Fan said...

ha ha! Love the monty python pic - sums up the season perfectly.

"I'll bite you to death!"

Zenslinger said...

Picture. A thousand words.

I heard someone say of Monty Python, "I haven't seen all his movies" in The Bar the other day. I didn't comment.

allan said...

Andrus, SS
Young, 3B
Hamilton, CF
Guerrero, DH
Cruz, RF
Murphy, LF
Cantu, 1B
Teagarden, C
Guzman, 2B

Something along the lines of a 27-1 win would be most welcome.

allan said...

I didn't comment

Oh, by the way, which one's Pink?

allan said...

'Tis but a scratch!

allan said...

"I'm invincible!

Philip said...

When are people going to lay off of Ellsbury? How many of his naysayers have broken their ribs and gone for a walk, let along played pro ball and then reinjured them.

MORE IMPORTANTLY: Why the hell do we want him playing through this? If fans and media didn't learn from what happened with Youkilis playing through his injury (thanks, Kevin) or, hell, when MDC does it, then they're more hopeless than I feared.

allan said...

MORE IMPORTANTLY: Why the hell do we want him playing through this? If fans and media didn't learn from what happened with Youkilis playing through his injury (thanks, Kevin) or, hell, when MDC does it, then they're more hopeless than I feared.

Amen, brother. It seems equally possible that he actually came back too quick. I can't break down his swing, but he was hitting like poop up to and including last night.

9casey said...

wasn't he lighten' it up in Pawtucket?

and they can't trade him now, what value would would you get for him, but if they do they better sign Crawford.

Fans have gotten used to the excitement Jacoby brings...and if that is gone the backlash will come quick..

SoSock said...

In cmplete agreement re LBJ. Can't help but think he needed to wait a little longer. Maybe he could have handled a fall on that side better if he was completely healed.

Alas, fickle fans....

Rob said...

Red Sox WS trophies are going to be at a Dunkin' Donuts tomorrow in Portsmouth, NH... I might check them out if it's not a complete zoo.

Rob said...

Staats is doing the FOX TB/BAL game.

You heard it right... FOX is showing a Rays/Orioles game.

allan said...

Ryan Shealy has been released.

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

I can't break down his swing, but he was hitting like poop up to and including last night.

I thought that "poop" had a better swing than Ellsbury's of late. Hope he gets better. What a talented kid.

allan said...

BAL - 003 000 000 - 3 4 0
FKR - 000 510 01x - 7 15 1

MFY - 0
KCR - 1

laura k said...

Last night I had a crazy dream.

I dreamt that in last night's game against Texas, after we blew the big lead, Mike Lowell hit a 2-run HR and we won.

The dream felt so real that when I woke up, I went straight to the internet to see what happened - even though I had watched the whole game IRL.

As the story goes: "and then I woke up".

laura k said...

"I haven't seen all his movies" :)

"By the way, which one's Pink?"

I love the pic, too. Great scene.

laura k said...

Oh no, I just saw Allan said the same thing. Great minds and all that.

laura k said...

Re Philip re Ellsbury, I concur 100%. Well said.

allan said...

Angel Stadium: cursed. First Kendry Morales breaks his leg celebrating a walkoff home run. Now an 11-year-old kid breaks his arm during an onfield promotion.

***

laura k said...

102 for the night game and tomorrow is a day game.

I have no idea how people exert themselves in that kind of weather.

RedSoxDiehard said...

"What are you going to do now, bleed on me?"

"Come back here, I'll bite your legs off!"

<3

Rob said...

MLB/ESPN used to allow the Rangers night games on Sundays last year and the year before but I guess they don't do that anymore.

Rob said...

I can't imagine sitting in the stands, especially in the sun, when it's that hot.

laura k said...

I couldn't. Just couldn't.

laura k said...

I still don't understand why the catcher tags the batter to complete the K. No matter how many times it is explained to me, I don't get it.

laura k said...

Bases loaded, one out, how many will score???

allan said...

5

laura k said...

O'B on Ellsbury: "He was in really serious pain last night..."

laura k said...

5, alright!

allan said...

hmmm, now i'll say 0.

laura k said...

pfft

allan said...

similar to infield fly rule!

if the catcher doesn't catch it, it is like a fly or grounder that is hit, the ball is live and the batter is now a runner. the catcher has to field the ball and tag the runner/batter or throw him out at first.

but he doesn't have to do it if there is a guy on 1st, or 1st/2nd, or if the bases are loaded. that's to prevent the catcher, if a runner was also on first, from "dropping" a third strike and then starting a double play by throwing to second.

in other cases, like a guy on 2nd, on 3rd, or 2nd/3rd, those runners could advance at his own risk.

i hope that is right!

allan said...

MFY - 000 0
KCR - 100 0

laura k said...

Well, I understand the infield fly rule so I should understand this.

But that is a judgement call by the ump. This is the catcher has to do it. Is that right?

allan said...

Happy 26th Birthday, HH!

laura k said...

But it's called a K.

allan said...

sosock is a coach, maybe he can explain it.

meunier said...

With the extra innings yesterday Im really surprised not to see Salty behind the plate tonight.

Philip said...

When the catcher drops the ball/does not hold the K pitch, it becomes a K-ball in play. The runner must be tagged or force-played at 1st to make it an out. If he reaches, it's a K for the pitcher, but no out, and the runner is on.

allan said...

day game tomorrow, so he'll probably be in there then.

laura k said...

So it hinges on whether the catcher holds onto the ball after a 3rd strike, either swinging or called?

Philip said...

Now, I can't tell you WHY the K-passed ball works like that, but as an ump I can tell you it does. xD

Philip said...

Yeah, it's whether or not the catcher held on.

allan said...

rangers TV has a huge fuckin american flag on the wall in their booth.

allan said...

yeah, like if any fielder did or did not catch a fair ball on the fly. if he can't hold onto it, he has to make a play.

laura k said...

Well, "why" is crazy to ask in baseball, or maybe in any sport. Rules just are.

But thank you. I think what I was missing was "when the catcher doesn't hold onto the ball, it is still in play".

Weird that it can be a K for the pitcher but no out.

allan said...

don: we have just been informed that we are the only announcers in the league who keep the booth windows closed.

remy: i am very proud of that fact.

don: we're #1!

RedSoxDiehard said...

I hear it's cooled off, down to 100 now!

I know I had a game last month that was 90 at gametime and my seat was in the bleachers and it was disgusting. I can't imagine sitting in seats in the sun for tomorrow's day game! (And I'm someone who loves the heat and is always feeling cold.)

laura k said...

Oh man, can you imagine being a catcher in that heat? Wearing all that friggin gear???

laura k said...

(And I'm someone who loves the heat and is always feeling cold.)

And I'm someone who hates the heat, loves the cold, and is overheated even in mild weather. I would just have to stay home, period.

Two games that I can think, one in NYC & one in Chicago, A & I gave up good seats to find seats in the shade.

allan said...

at that nyy game, i could not keep score because my arm was sweating all over the paper. ... then there were nyy games when the snow was falling too hard!

laura k said...

Ack! The game in the snow... leads to the no-hitter we had tickets to and didn't attend. ARGH

Re sweat, are you thinking of the Irabu game?

allan said...

it was against detroit, i think.

was that the "heavy syrup" game? :>)

meunier said...

Blown h&r

laura k said...

Ha! CS

laura k said...

was that the "heavy syrup" game? :>)

LOL, no. It was Irabu's home debut. Much later than the "mm-mm" game.

Stop it now, I am cracking up, alone at work.

RedSoxDiehard said...

I can't wait till Pedey comes back so we can start turning double plays with ease again!

meunier said...

http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/more_names/blog/2010/08/youkilis_and_enza_split_up.html?p1=Upbox_links

Kevin Youkilis never actually married his "wife" because everybody and their grandmother knows she’s fucked half the celebs in Boston and is nothing but a gold digger.

laura k said...

Kevin Youkilis never actually married his "wife" because everybody and their grandmother knows she’s fucked half the celebs in Boston and is nothing but a gold digger.

Please explain what you mean by this and why you posted it. Thank you.

laura k said...

There is nothing wrong with not being legally married. Your hosts, for example, are not.

There is also nothing wrong with women sleeping with as many men as they want, although there is definitely something wrong with people who think that is wrong.

Something tells me professional athletes might sleep with a woman or two along the way. But that's ok, because they're men.

I am trying to be calm.

allan said...

Oh man, can you imagine being a catcher in that heat? Wearing all that friggin gear???

I hear that's why Ellsbury stopped catching.

allan said...

we throw out runners 643 just to give our infielders extra exercise.

meunier said...

They got married in Mexico and Youk purposely didn't file the USA paperwork. Not exactly my words I paraphrased the guy from barstoolsports.com

allan said...

she got tired of being sweat on.

allan said...

They got married in Mexico and Youk purposely didn't file the USA paperwork.

So?

laura k said...

The article actually says Yook didn't file the paperwork, not that he purposely didn't. But what of it anyway?

I am trying to determine if you are saying your first comment in seriousness, or reporting that someone else is saying it, and making fun of that.

In other words, are you being so blatantly sexist or is someone else.

RedSoxDiehard said...

LOL @ Don & jerry stealing Castig's rental car last night!

laura k said...

O'B and Castig were talking about that earlier! Very funny.

allan said...

Ken: You have commented previously that you like coming here especially when the Red Sox lose. Find another baseball blog at which to comment. Bye.

meunier said...

I just think its a funny story

laura k said...

Alright! Finally.

allan said...

drew: "i didn't get one of those yucky RBI things, did i?"

laura k said...

Yeah, hilarious. It's a good idea to keep blatant sexism out of these threads. I am controlling myself but please, for everyone's sake, keep sexism (and racism and homophobia, if you have any) to yourself. Thanks.

laura k said...

Now it's a cool 96F there.

RedSoxDiehard said...

Pedroia in Pawtucket: 3-1-1-0 plus a walk.

Looking forward to Tuesday!

laura k said...

Allan & Tim are seeing Pawtucket at Buffalo in a couple of weeks, but I guess Pedey will be back in the big club by then.

laura k said...

Remember, Allan, using comment moderation makes you Hitler.

laura k said...

Apparently very easy to K Teagarden. Embarrassing if you don't!

allan said...

Why do trolls complain when a blogger exercises control over what appears on his blog? It's as if they think every blog on the internet has to accept anything anyone posts.

You are creating your own world

No shit!!! That's exactly it! Congrats on solving that apparent mystery! And now, to quote our friend Lord, be a nice chap and fuck off.

(now we get to find out how obsessed Ken is with me)

laura k said...

It's as if they think every blog on the internet has to accept anything anyone posts.

A lot of people seem to think that. Like everything on the internet is an open forum - and *must be* an open forum.

Altho some people must know better and say that out of frustration and/or to provoke.

laura k said...

Then they start telling you why this place - that they want so desperately to post on - sucks.

Nyah nyah, who cares, I don't want to post here anyway, your blog sucks, but please please please let my comment through????

9casey said...

The sweat on Lester's cap is amazing , you would think it was raining.......

I wouldn't do so well in Texas, seeing I suffer from Yook disease..

Rob said...

I'm bummed I missed out on the rental car story! I was down at the local watering hole enjoying a blueberry wheat with my sister and my dad.

allan said...

why haven't we written down the 4 or 5 steps of how a troll acts? every single one of them -- literally, without fail -- follow the exact same pattern.

then it simply becomes a question of how many years they will hang around trying to post.

allan said...

I wouldn't do so well in Texas because it's Texas!

allan said...

MFY - 000 013 2
KCR - 100 002

9casey said...

Ish said...
I'm bummed I missed out on the rental car story! I was down at the local watering hole enjoying a blueberry wheat with my sister and my dad



Blueberry Wheat?????
Does everything have to be healthy...I expect my alcohol to kill me

Rob said...

Oh I don't care whether it's healthy or not. I really like the taste of it.

allan said...

... maybe the berries have extra pesticides on them.

laura k said...

Ha ha, I don't think blueberry wheat makes it any healthier. It just tastes different.

I gotta get ready to go home. Dear Red Sox, please have a lead when I get there. Thanking you in advance.

laura k said...

why haven't we written down the 4 or 5 steps of how a troll acts? every single one of them -- literally, without fail -- follow the exact same pattern.

we have to remember to do that. a joint post.

I wouldn't do so well in Texas because it's Texas!

ha ha ha. very good.

see you all later.

9casey said...

Ish said...
Oh I don't care whether it's healthy or not. I really like the taste of it.



I myself have found a new love for tequila.....there are so many different kinds now, but drinking cost too much for me to take it up seriouslly...

Rob said...

I still haven't tried tequila.

allan said...

I've had it maybe once. No idea when.

Amy said...

Hi, everyone. I am here to get you all ready to worry. We only have a one run lead.

:)

Amy said...

Teagarden is a silly name. Especially for a baseball player.

Kathryn said...

We call Ron Washington raj because he looks like Roger from "What's Happening". Anybody remember that show?

allan said...

come on, sid. shut em down.

Benjamin said...

Blueberry wheats are usually pretty sweet for beer.

Oh hey, a triple.

allan said...

nice - one out to go.

meunier said...

That was a bad one, trading away Murphy.

meunier said...

Lester will go to 120 tonight if needed I think.

Benjamin said...

Nice.

allan said...

Not a fan of the Gagne deal, huh?

Benjamin said...

Julio Borbon on the all-booze team?

allan said...

Julio Borbon on the all-booze team?

Don't forget my man, Bud Weiser!

Amy said...

Neither Bard or Papelbon available?

RedSoxDiehard said...

Bud Weiser is real? That's so cool!

Amy said...

So who will pitch the 9th? Lester?

RedSoxDiehard said...

Seeing Lester sweat like that, I now know why they told Youk to just meet them in Boston.

RedSoxDiehard said...

Doubront and Atchison were warming, but I don't trust any one of the bullpen guys for any duration of time, no matter how small.

allan said...

His middle name was Budson and the beer was well known in the mid-1910s, so the nickname seems like a natural.

Amy said...

I sure would like about 235 insurance runs.

meunier said...

PR please

Amy said...

That's a start.

RedSoxDiehard said...

Yes, 234 would still make me nervous, but 235 more runs would be just about right!

Kathryn said...

Doctor!!

meunier said...

Why isn't Lowrie running???

allan said...

lester at 109, with the last 5 outs either a K or in the infield. he'll be out there.

Rob said...

I like wheat beers, and a little fruit flavor makes them even better. So far my two favorite beers are Shipyard blueberry wheat (what I had tonight) and Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat.

Kathryn said...

And I don't think he will be pulled if he gives up a lead off home run.

allan said...

yeah, even if it ties the game. which it won't because we're getting a few insurance tallies.

meunier said...

No beer for me tonight I have some kind of bronchitis virus :(

Kathryn said...

Ish. I've had a raspberry wheat I liked

meunier said...

*knocks on wood*

Amy said...

OK, there is the first of the 235!

allan said...

HALL!

meunier said...

There goes the scoreless streak for O'Day

Kathryn said...

There it is.

Amy said...

Ish, I like fruity beers also.

You seemed to have learned to enjoy the brewskis!

allan said...

OK, there is the first of the 235!

That would be fun to keep score for. How long would that half-inning take, assuming no curfew? 10 hours? After maybe 180 runs, the Rangers would select fans who would pitch to one batter each.

allan said...

And there goes O'Day himself.

allan said...

MFY - 000 013 202 - 8 14 0
KCR - 100 002 000 - 3 13 0

allan said...

it is important to not make an out for awhile if we are getting 235 runs!

meunier said...

Leave something behind?

Kathryn said...

Wow. He just closed his glove early.

allan said...

casual play = error!

allan said...

hall barrelling in on t-garden!

Amy said...

OK, so we may have to settle for two insurance runs... but I will take it!

allan said...

tater time for tizzle?

Amy said...

Come on, Papi, get us another four insurance runs!

RedSoxDiehard said...

I don't care if the guy pitches with his left foot, why would they walk someone to face Papi?!

Amy said...

OK, can we PLEASE not blow this lead? I am tired and want to go to sleep with peace of mind for a change.

allan said...

hey, that's not lester.

Kathryn said...

One.

Rob said...

Scott Atchison's such an oddly-shaped individual.

allan said...

insurance is good.

Amy said...

You promised me LESTER!

Good thing we got those insurance runs....

RedSoxDiehard said...

breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out...

sometimes, at times like this, i need to remind myself how it works...

Amy said...

Nice stop, but not in time.

Arggh, tying run at the plate....

Rob said...

Felix for the save...? I like it.

RedSoxDiehard said...

NO WAY was he safe! :(

meunier said...

Arn't headfirst slides considered showing people up?

Kathryn said...

Can we put Lester back in??

Amy said...

Why can't we have a nice clean final inning? Is it really so damn hard to get three outs??

allan said...

no idea about showing anyone up, but it is generally thought to slow you down to go in head first rather than sprinting through.

allan said...

and you would think baseball players, who try to get every split-second edge they can, would know that.

allan said...

DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO SO SO DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kathryn said...

Two.

Rob said...

THANKS, VLAD!!!

allan said...

wow - merry xmas from vlad!

Amy said...

All right! What was he doing trying to steal?

allan said...

call it, blue.

Kathryn said...

I'm guessing Vlad can dive faster than he can run.

RedSoxDiehard said...

OK, that was cool! As Remy says, thank you very much! What was Vlad doing?

allan said...

strike 4.

W

The water is Muddy!!!

Rob said...

Felix for the save!

Kathryn said...

Three. Sweet pitch.

Dirty it is.

Amy said...

The water is DIRTY!!!

allan said...

Felix for Closer?

johngoldfine said...

About effin time, thank god.

Amy said...

Felix for Closer?

Fine with me!

I love Lester.

laura k said...

Whew! Don't drink the water!