August 15, 2010

G119: Rangers 7, Red Sox 3

Red Sox - 000 000 030 - 3  6  1
Rangers - 010 000 42x - 7 11 0
Matasuzaka was sharp though 6.2 innings, allowing only five hits and one run. But with a runner on third base, Pedro Borbon singled on a drag bunt to the right side on the infield to give Texas a 2-0 lead. Elvus Andrus lined a single to center -- and in came Manny Delcarmen.

Michael Young crushed MDC's first pitch to deep left for a three-run homer and what had been a pitchers duel was suddenly a hefty 5-0 Texas lead. Boston came back with two outs in the top of the eighth, as Eric Patterson singled, Marco Scutaro doubled (5-1), and Darnell McDonald homered to right (5-3).

The Rangers scored two more, mostly off Michael Bowden, in their half of the eighth, and the Sox went down without much resistance in the ninth.

The Yankees (with 2 hits and 3 errors) lost to the Royals 1-0 and the Rays beat the Orioles 3-2. Tampa Bay is 1 GB New York; Boston stays 6 GB.

The Red Sox are off tomorrow, but the Yankees host the Tigers and the Rangers visit the Rays (Lee/Price).
Example
Daisuke Matsuzaka / C.J. Wilson
Scutaro, SS
McDonald, RF
Martinez, 1B
Beltre, 3B
Lowell, DH
Saltalamacchia, C
Hall, 2B
Kalish, CF
Patterson, LF
Afternoon baseball in Arlington, with a forecast of 104°.

That's not quite the outfield we expected to see in mid-August, though it's partially because LHB are hitting only .103/.186/.131 against Wilson this year. Righties are .245/.351/.365.

Starting on Tuesday, 15 of the next 21 games are at home.

Trivia: Which two players have the most 3-HR games since 1919?
Orioles/Rays at 1:30 and Yankees/Royals at 2.
Example
August 15:

1916 - Babe Ruth outduels Walter Johnson at Fenway Park, as the Red Sox beat the Senators 1-0 in 13 innings.

1991 - Yankees captain Don Mattingly is benched and fined $250 for refusing to cut his hair. He asks to be traded for the second time in two months. "I'm overwhelmed by the pettiness of it." Four of his teammates -- Steve Farr, Matt Nokes, Pascual Perez, and Mel Hall -- have also been warned about the length of their hair.

120 comments:

laura k said...

Yankees captain Don Mattingly is benched and fined $250 for refusing to cut his hair. He asks to be traded for the second time in two months. "I'm overwhelmed by the pettiness of it."

To really appreciate the pettiness and idiocy of this, you have to remember that the Yankees sucked in those days. There were always tons of good seats available, even at relatively low prices, and Mattingly was THE most popular player, and one of the only popular players, period.

Phil Rizzuto and the rest of the broadcast team wore bald wigs for the opening segment that night. Terrific laughs.

Can you even imagine YES doing such a thing? Neeeeever.

Rob said...

ESPN's "Outside the Lines" did a two-week study on 184 total baseball games and looked at every single play that were not balls and strikes to see if the umpires got the calls correct. Most were obvious plays that didn't require any closer look, but of the ones that did, 13.9% remained too close to call, 65.7% were considered to be correct calls, and 20.4% were considered to be the wrong call.

Zenslinger said...

And, even in those days when it was worth more, isn't it almost an insult in itself to be fined only $250? It's, like, not worth it to fine you any more than that -- an admission of the pettiness of it.

johngoldfine said...

I'd forgotten Stump Merrill until I read about the Mattingly imbroglio--Stump a Maine boy who was a big part of the UM team playing in the 1964 College World Series.

I know the hair cut orders came down from GS, but it's worth noting that the 60's did not arrive in Maine til, oh, about 1969.

allan said...

Blowing 1 out of every 5 calls is not very good.

allan said...

Andrus SS
Young 3B
Murphy LF
Hamilton DH
Cantu 1B
Moreland RF
Teagarden C
Blanco 2B
Borbon CF

PA: "According to the pitchers, it's hotter in the bullpen because there's artificial turf out there and no cover. The Texas bullpen is in the shade."

allan said...

FY is 0 for 2 with Paw.

Dan Hickling (Globe EB) reports that Carlos Delgado was replaced in the fourth inning by Lars Anderson. He did not remain in the dugout.

mattymatty said...

In Pawtucket, Pedroia is 0-2, but his two outs have been fly outs to the warning track. I think the second one would've been a double off the Monster at Fenway.

allan said...

MFY - 000
KCR - 100

BAL - 010 0
FKR - 102

allan said...

Didn't he GIDP?

mattymatty said...

Red Sock: Yup, his first AB he GiDP, but since then he's hit twice, two fly outs (one to RF one to LF).

mattymatty said...

Whats the over/under for players collapsing of heat stroke?

allan said...

TEABALLA?

mattymatty said...

Would it be unfair for the Red Sox to erect a tent or some other sort of shade in their BP? If I were Tito I wouldn't want my relievers passing out before the fifth inning.

allan said...

maybe they are in the clubhouse until needed?

NICE grab!

meunier said...

First time I've seen Kalish have to go all out for a catch.
/annoyed that Nava is still in Pawtucket

meunier said...

Knocking on wood that it appears we got the good Dice-K toady.

mattymatty said...

Hamilton just took what I think was an 88 mph fastball down the middle on a 3-1 count then K's on a curveball. Not sure what he was looking for there but that was about as hittable a pitch as you'll get in the majors.

laura k said...

I can't thread today, but I'm listening while I work.

Man, I am happy for Josh Hamilton.

Good thing Andy's not around to hear me say that! Although I can't remember what his problem was with Hamilton. God, maybe?

Whatever it was, the guy is amazing.

laura k said...

John, I don't think Stump Merrill made that decision. In those days, those directives came from god, i.e. George Steinbrenner.

allan said...

One of the links (the actual Times stories from 1991) reports that Stump was pretty embarrassed to have to deal with the media about it.

Mattingly notes that the hair wasn't even close to his collar. GS was insane, for sure.

Zenslinger said...

Although I can't remember what his problem was with Hamilton. God, maybe?

Crack cocaine, I believe.

mattymatty said...

He didn't like that Hamilton was a reformed drug addict?

laura k said...

What Andy's problem was with Hamilton, not what Hamilton's problem was.

Andy didn't hate Hamilton b/c he has a substance abuse issue. He hated how he talked about his recovery.

mattymatty said...

Great AB by Kalish... pitch #10 coming up.

mattymatty said...

Pawtucket is up 3-1 w/ 1 out in the top of 9th so it doesn't look like Pedroia is going to bat again. He'll have to settle for an 0-3 day.

Zenslinger said...

Oh, I get it.

It has been talked about quite a lot. "God" is often required for that kind of change, so I can give anyone who's been through it the latitude to preach if they like. Beats the shit out of the alternative.

SoSock said...

Well this sux. Been sitting at the puter doing billing and watching MFY on GDGD because I thought this game started at 3. Then I check the conversation here and see we're well underway. Must have been looking at CT start

allan said...

i thought it was hamilton god talk, for lack of a better word(s).

mattymatty said...

Zenslinger: definitely.

Kathryn said...

I may have to switch to NESN or EEI on the computer. These Texas guys DO NOT STOP TALKING. They'll talk about anything. They likened Bill Hall playing various positions to Robin Williams being more than a comedian. Wow, just shut up.

mattymatty said...

Thanks for the free out, Ron Washington.

meunier said...

Kalish came close to getting him.

SoSock said...

Oh shit. I see now. Somehow the clock on my laptop has gotten off by an hour. And I'm supposed to be somewhere at 4!

Later

allan said...

similar pitch by pitch!

ryankalish: csfbbbfffc
moreland: ccfbbbffffb

runner going on each second groups of fouls, too.

okay, carry on.

mattymatty said...

This isn't the day for Throws-Way-Too-Many-Pitches Dice-K. We need Economical Dice-K, please.

Zenslinger said...

Patterson must be the one slated to go down when Pedroia returns.

allan said...

How's about we dump Cash's ass instead?

meunier said...

Rags announcers say that Scutaro is turning his body around too much and pulling the ball.

Zenslinger said...

Cash isn't on the roster. Is he?

ryankalish: csfbbbfffc
moreland: ccfbbbffffb


If you have seen Allan score a game, you realize this information is easily at hand.

allan said...

They likened Bill Hall playing various positions to Robin Williams being more than a comedian.

Do they also reference Williams when talking about Hamilton's coke addiction?

allan said...

Oh yeah: DL.

laura k said...

It has been talked about quite a lot. "God" is often required for that kind of change, so I can give anyone who's been through it the latitude to preach if they like. Beats the shit out of the alternative.

What's more, he was not preaching - which to me means telling other people they should do such-and-such. He was only speaking about his personal experience.

I say, whatever works. As you said, "god" or god-equivalent often seems to be the key.

To be fair, Andy was going through his own very serious issues at the time and people were preaching at him - and something about the god talk drove him around the bend.

Zenslinger said...

Re: Cash

Yahoo's depth chart is usually pretty accurate, although Ellsbury's on it at the moment. When you think about it, our depth chart is so fucked up. So many people go to multiple positions. Not only Patterson, Hall and Lowrie, but multiple OF positions (McDonald) and two catchers behind Lowell at first.

I know Lowrie's got heat exhaustion. Any word on why Ortiz isn't in the lineup?

Zenslinger said...

If KC manages to beat the MFY 1-0, I will have a good laugh.

TB 3, BAL 2.

allan said...

LH batters getting a day off.

meunier said...

Got Him!

laura k said...

1-0 top 9 in KC

mattymatty said...

Nice play by Patterson!

mattymatty said...

Yankees lose! Yankees lose! Thuh UH UH UH Yankees! Lose!

laura k said...

NYY had 2 hits vs KC starter in 8 inns

mattymatty said...

Hey, there's Economical Dice-K!

allan said...

MFY - 000 000 000 - 0 2 3
KCR - 100 000 00x - 1 4 0

BAL - 010 000 10
FKR - 102 000 0

allan said...

Tough luck, Burnett!!!

allan said...

Could we pls not squander every fucking chance we have to gain a game?

Zenslinger said...

Yankees lose! Yankees lose! Thuh UH UH UH Yankees! Lose!

I am having my laugh.

But...let's not do the same.

laura k said...

NYY lose

laura k said...

OK, I'm very late on that. Still fun.

mattymatty said...

So much for not squandering every opportunity. Kalish GIDP.

meunier said...

The Gyroball is a screwball thrown harder but with less "screw" so it doesn't hurt the pitcher, AFAIK.

allan said...

Nice Ks from Dice-K.

meunier said...

I can see why Wilson used to be a closer.

allan said...

It is hereby decreed that any future use of the word "mouth" must now be spelled "mouthe".

Please make a note of it.

Mgmt.

Zenslinger said...

Management is getting mouthey.

mattymatty said...

Our offense looks non-existent.

allan said...

Our offense looks non-existent.

Hush your mouthe.

Kathryn said...

I guess when you are running your own world, you can spell mouthe any way you want!

Kathryn said...

High heat from Dice. You don't see that much.

meunier said...

Hit on the foot.

meunier said...

runs, PLEASE

meunier said...

The bat head got stuck in the field!

mattymatty said...

Again with the stupid bunting...

allan said...

BAL - 010 000 100 - 2 5 0
FKR - 102 000 00x - 3 8 0

allan said...

ump getting stingy all of a sudden.

HALL!

meunier said...

Beanball time.

mattymatty said...

We're getting bunted to death. Though it would help if the offense could do anything at all.

allan said...

How hot is it?

It's so hot ... that the temperature was almost higher than Dice's pitch count!

allan said...

7-8-9 for us in the top 8th

mattymatty said...

It's so hot ... that the temperature was almost higher than Dice's pitch count!

Ba-da-BOOM!

allan said...

thank you, manny, thank you very fucking much.

laura k said...

Ugh

mattymatty said...

It took the Red Sox bullpen one single pitch to lose the game. That has to be some sort of record.

laura k said...

So much for getting bunted to death.

mattymatty said...

So much for making up any ground today.

DAMMIT!

Zenslinger said...

Shit.

allan said...

5 runs in 2 innings?
How hard is that?

mattymatty said...

5 runs in 2 innings?
How hard is that?


Not to be overly pessimistic but so far we have three total hits through seven innings, so it seems today at least, pretty hard.

mattymatty said...

Hall missed a homer by about 6 inches there.

mattymatty said...

Oh come ON...

allan said...

hall's ball looks like it would have hit right at the top of the padded wall (1-2 inches?) if no one was there.

ALIVE!

allan said...

we have some dudes on the bench who can hit ....

laura k said...

Radio guys going on about Texas "magic"

Altho Castig did say they also have tons of talent, which is more important. With no connection between that talent and this so-called magic...

allan said...

"magic".

i know o'brien is just running his mouthe, but what century is this?

does he say the rangers doctors look at chicken entrails instead of taking MRIs?

laura k said...

AFT!

Zenslinger said...

Strop. That is a nasty freakin' name.

Strop.

allan said...

no shutout today, magic men!

mattymatty said...

About time one of those line drives fell this inning. Nice job by Scutaro!

allan said...

MICROWAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

FUCK YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

laura k said...

ALIVE BABY ALIVE!!!!

MICROWAVE ACTION

meunier said...

2 down now..

mattymatty said...

McDONALD!!

meunier said...

Fuck you MDC

Zenslinger said...

Not nasty enough a name, I guess.

Whoa, we got a game goin' now.

mattymatty said...

Victor, gotta swing the bat there... ugh. Well, at least we're back to 2 down. Hopefully we can hold 'em and make a run in the 9th.

allan said...

beltre
lowell
salty

(with tiz and drew on the bench)

allan said...

bowden up

allan said...

thanks for merely standing there, josh, you dick.

Zenslinger said...

Bowden. Yay. One more.

mattymatty said...

How are we supposed to win with this bullpen?

mattymatty said...

Sorry, I've got to go. If I watch any more of this I'm going to break something. Enjoy rest of your weekend, everyone!

allan said...

How are we supposed to win with this bullpen?

That is a very good question.

Zenslinger said...

If I watch any more of this I'm going to break something.

Hopefully not your ribs, or anyone else's.

Zenslinger said...

SF-SD game also a total shitshow. Yanks' loss the only good news of the day. Baseball wise.

allan said...

alright, sox, just mail in these 3 AB and get the fuck outta texas.

allan said...

new open stance for lowell?

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

Sure feels like bullpen improvement should be on our to-do list. Okajima has been nonexistent all year, MDC has been horrible, Papelbon has been streaky. Our starting pitching has been great, and we're second in the ML in home runs.

laura k said...

The water is safe to drink.

Zenslinger said...

Maybe a 5-5 road trip against good teams is not the end of the world. But to lose when the competition is losing is galling.

I was surprised to see Baseball Prospectus had our postseason odds at 30%. Seems a lot lower.

allan said...

30%? Wow. Maybe because we play the Rays six more times?

BP's PECOTA and ELO have us at 27% and 25%. Cool Standings runs the odds two ways and we're at 15.3% and 20.8%.

SoSock said...

Having Petey back will be a huge boost IMO. I just hope he's actually ready. Seems as though maybe LBJ was not.

RE the satisfaction with the 5-5 road trip -

True dat but we're gonna have to suck it up and do at least a little better to stay on the bus. We needed to get to 6-4 to gain a game for the week. It gets a little more imperative every week that we gain a little ground.

I, however, am still riding. I think we can do it. Of course the deciding factor will be the games vs the Rays and Yankees.
Don't make me look stupid Sox!