April 12, 2011

G11: Rays 3, Red Sox 2

Rays    - 000 030 000 - 3  8  0
Red Sox - 001 001 000 - 2  5  0
Five straight Rays batters reached base in the fifth inning, marring Lester's (7-7-3-2-8, 109) night and giving Price (7.2-5-2-2-3, 116) and the Tampa pen enough of a lead to hold off the Red Sox. Boston, now 2-9, dropped into last place in the East, 5 GB the Orioles, who were rained out in New York.

With one out in the fifth and Boston up 1-0 (thanks to a Darnell McDonald solo shot), Lester surrendered singles to the bottom three hitters in the Rays lineup: Kelly Shoppach, Dan Johnson, and Elliot Johnson. Sam Fuld was safe on a fielder's choice (Adrian Gonzalez grabbed a dribbler on the first base line and threw home, but Shoppach was safe) and the game was tied. Johnny Damon singled to center and two more runs scored.

Boston got one run back in the sixth when Dustin Pedroia led off with a double and scored on Jed Lowrie's double (his second of the game) with outs. Mike Cameron grounded out to third to end the inning.

In the eighth, Pedroia walked with one out and Kevin Youkilis was hit by a pitch with two outs, but Lowrie flew out to left-center. Boston sent three pinch-hitters to the plate against Kyle Farnsworth in the ninth: Jacoby Ellsbury and J.D. Drew struck out, and David Ortiz flew out to right.

Dept. of Strange Small Sample Size Statements: Jerry Remy mentioned four-game hitting streaks three times in the first four innings. In the first inning, he said Damon had a four-game hitting streak coming into the game. In the third, Fuld singled and Remy announced that he now had a four-game hitting streak. When Youkilis singled in the fourth, Remy said, "Now a four-game hitting streak for Youkilis, it's starting to come together." ... In the first inning, Don Orsillo made a note of Pedroia's high batting average (.563) at Fenway Park this season. Pedroia and the Red Sox had played four games at home.
Example
David Price / Jon Lester

Last week, we heard a lot of statements like "no 0-4 team has ever won a pennant" (and I posted many of them here)*, but shouldn't we be looking at games behind in the standings rather than a team's won-loss record?

* And Peter Abraham has some more today:
ACTA Sports sent ... examined the first 10 games played by all teams from 2002-10. There were 39 teams that went 0-3 [typo?] their first 10 games.

Of those 39 teams, only one team won 90 games (the 2002 Angels) and only two others (the 2006 Padres and the 2007 Phillies) made the playoffs.

Here's the good news: The 2002 Angels won 99 games and the World Series after a 3-7 start. They also had John Lackey.

The Red Sox (4.5 GB) are trying to win the AL East (or the wild card). So while 2-8 is a very bad won-loss record (32-130 over an entire season, which would be the worst record in AL history), it should be looked at in context of the division's other teams. Rather than asking how many 2-8 teams have made the playoffs in baseball history -- because teams from 1905 or 1952 or 2008 have nothing to do with the 2011 Red Sox, we should be asking:
Can the 2011 Red Sox play at least 5 games better than their rivals over the next 152 games?
I say they can, especially when two of the three teams above them are the Orioles and Blue Jays.
Tonight: Orioles/Yankees (7 PM) and Blue Jays/Mariners (10 PM). Last night, the Mariners trailed 7-0 during the seventh-inning stretch, but rallied to win 8-7, thanks in part to three consecutive bases-loaded walks in the eighth.

129 comments:

allan said...

Crawford LF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Youkilis DH
Lowrie 3B
Cameron CF
Varitek C
McDonald RF
Scutaro SS

Globe Notes: The Sox are the worst team in baseball in terms of run differential as they are at -31. ... The Sox are 19 of 91 (.209) with [RATS] and have left an astounding 81 runners on base in 10 games.

***

Is 8 LOB per game really an "astounding" amount?

allan said...

Is 8 LOB per game really an "astounding" amount?

2010 Red Sox
Games with 8 or more LOB: 77

If a team does something in every other game, can that thing really be called "astounding"?

laura k said...

It feels astounding when you're watching the game, but without knowing how many LOB is average for various teams and how much of a difference it makes, we don't know.

As we know, lots of LOBs mean lots of batters reach.

laura k said...

I can't watch the game tonight, at least not until 8:30 or 9:00. It's the federal election leaders' debate here in Canada. Allan, Tim, Jim/Woti (anyone else?) should also be absent from the thread. But will they be?

allan said...

s 8 LOB per game really an "astounding" amount?

NO!

Allan, Tim, Jim/Woti (anyone else?) should also be absent from the thread. But will they be?

Probably not. (Will flip during commercials.)

Jim said...

They switched the French-language debate so as not to clash with NHL playoff Canadiens/Bruins. If they can't accommodate me watching the Red Sox, then fuck 'em.
Tomorrow I'll see a pro-Harper critique from the National Post and spend the rest of the day trying to find a progressive spin on whatever Iggy blabbers. At least our local Lib. Kingston candidate is vote-worthy so I won't have to resort to the lesser-of-evils solution.

laura k said...

Uh, ok. I figure the Red Sox play 162 games. There is only one English language debate. Prety easy equation for me.

Our local Lib candidate is an unknown equation but we have no viable NDP in Mississauga. So, case closed, Lib it is.

And just why do you read the National Post, may I ask?

Jim said...

Actually, it was a bad attempt at humour, since "critique" and Harper/National Post is a contradiction. I dropped the local rag once it was taken over by Sun Media, let alone read the NP.
The only thing that would tempt me to watch these 2 live is if the Auditor General were moderator and she was allowed to be herself for 2 hours (not that I have any idea what "herself" would be like, but I can be a wishful thinker).

Edward Lee said...

I must confess that I laughed at the joke about Sam Fuld beating Chuck Norris, Tim Tebow and Superman in a game of poker using only a handful of Steak-N-Shake coupons.

allan said...

i want to enjoy this game, don.

Jere said...

lOTTster

Edward Lee said...

That inning was sexy.

meunier said...

My residency in the DR is going to cost darn near $3,000..shit, CC hit.

Zenslinger said...

Lester looks good. That's nice.

SoSock said...

Dear Red Sox
Please consider not sucking tonight.
Thank you
SoSock

allan said...

our bench is batting 5-6-7-8 tonight.

Jere said...

Don just said how Sodium's a "proud papa," and in the shot of him, you could see his hospital wristband!

meunier said...

cc you fool

Edward Lee said...

Oh FFS.

s1c said...

Well that sucked

laura k said...

News from the front. Stephen Harper's pants are on fire.

meunier said...

I hope Salty's new kid has a short first name.

SoSock said...

Picked off? Damn.
Half following for a bit while getting some invoicing done

SoSock said...

Grrrrr

meunier said...

around the horn!

meunier said...

Jedi 2B

s1c said...

Was a good article the other day on why Jedi should be the starting SS. If he starts hitting it will be hard to keep him out of the line up.

meunier said...

Canada Post helped scammers get victim's new address

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/04/11/bc-canadapostprivacy.html

allan said...

orioles/mfy, ppd.

allan said...

L watching the Canadian debate upstairs. I just heard the word "asshole" angrily and loud!

Kathryn said...

Hey Everyone. I just got in from an ADHD seminar. It looks like Lester is doing well. Let's get the bats going.

meunier said...

Microwave beam!

s1c said...

Dong!!!

allan said...

MICROWAVE!

SoSock said...

Well boy howdy! Looky there!

Kathryn said...

Microwave!!

allan said...

K Time!

allan said...

OTT KKK

Kathryn said...

I like this Lester. A strike out machine.

allan said...

That still would have given the reader no context at all, no way to know how good or bad the #s are.

Lord Lynch said...

A very brief visit before I retire for the evening! Got a late start tomorrow, hence I am up at 1:20 UK time watching Jon Lester dealing!

9casey said...

Hey Allan , thanks for the work on that other question, I appreciate it.....

The most amazing thing is that Tek caught 2 of those games....wink wink

s1c said...

That still would have given the reader no context at all, no way to know how good or bad the #s are.

??? did I miss something?

RedSoxDiehard said...

Grab some wall!

Jere said...

Allan was responding to 9casey's comment. On a different post. Accidentally. I assume.

laura k said...

The most amazing thing is that Tek caught 2 of those games....wink wink

Oh, two games. What more do you need to know, with such a large sample size. /eye rolling

9casey said...

laura k said...
The most amazing thing is that Tek caught 2 of those games....wink wink

Oh, two games. What more do you need to know, with such a large sample size. /eye rolling




Aren't you supposed to be watching a debate?

9casey said...

Jere said...
Allan was responding to 9casey's comment. On a different post. Accidentally. I assume.



Hey Jere how are things going? you still in Rhode Island? How is the soap business?

allan said...

oops, wrong thread for the reply to casey.

allan said...

dp pls

don't be like dice.

allan said...

SHIT

Kathryn said...

Need a DP.

Kathryn said...

Well, that's not a double play.

allan said...

not even a single play.

allan said...

don reading damon's media guide page

allan said...

tek seems to be losing his pitch-calling skills

Amy said...

So I am driving home from a meeting at 8:15 and Lester strikes out the side. All is sounding great. I get home, put on the TV, and Lester has loaded the bases with one out. I am going back in the car.

allan said...

doubront up

Amy said...

Finally.

meunier said...

LOUD NOISES!

allan said...

"fooled was scutaro"

SoSock said...

Damn. Not a good inning. Glad I was busy

Amy said...

Pepper Saltalamacchia. Cute.

allan said...

1-3-6-3-4

RedSoxDiehard said...

LOL. Salty hasn't decided on a name for his new daughter yet.

Jerry: "I was thinking Pepper. Pepper Saltalamacchia."

allan said...

shit, feed gone

Amy said...

FY ILY!

s1c said...

Runs now please

Kathryn said...

Inside.

Kathryn said...

Jedi double

Edward Lee said...

OOH BABY BABY

Zenslinger said...

Announcers seem to think Youk was screaming at Price after Jed's hit, and that Jed was yelling at him, too. I know Youk was yelling, "Take that you piece of fucking shit!" but I thought he was still angry at the ump.

SoSock said...

Well, thats 1 back anyway.
Hold, please

allan said...

bard up

johngoldfine said...

Pepper isn't bad!

Kathryn said...

There's the DP we wanted.

Pokerwolf said...

Hey, guys and gals. I much prefer the score for tonight (although RUNS NOW PLEASE).

How're y'all doin?

allan said...

we've hit rockets all night

Kathryn said...

Y'all? Are you from my parts PW?

Amy said...

Nice play!

Kathryn said...

Man, FY is good.

Edward Lee said...

I assume the Large Father is available to PH for Cameron.

If he can PH for each of Cameron, Tek and Scutaro, even better.

Edward Lee said...

GMAFB.

Kathryn said...

FY made another great play. He might have been out.

s1c said...

time to make this the last time needed to bat tonight - set the alarm clocks and don't hit the snooze button - it is time to wake up the bats!!!

allan said...

hack :<(

allan said...

nesn misses pitches to pedroia to show a home depot ad.

johngoldfine said...

home depot, sure, makes sense

Amy said...

Does EB have LEAD FEET?

allan said...

Yes. He does.

Kathryn said...

He is just SOOOO SLOWWWWW

SoSock said...

C'mon Yook.....

Pokerwolf said...

I am from them there parts, Kathryn. Same state, even! =D

Kathryn said...

It would be a nice time to get a hit Youk.

allan said...

well, he warned us he was slow.

SoSock said...

Oops. Pinch hit here?

tim said...

So nice to be watching a competitive game.

Alright fuckers - win this now!

Kathryn said...

Same state, even! =D

And same astrological sign, I see.

Amy said...

shit

Pokerwolf said...

Dammit. More LOBs.

johngoldfine said...

well, shit

s1c said...

fraKKK!!!

tim said...

And yes L, I did watch the debate!

Jack had the comment of the evening - something along the lines of "what do we need more prisons for? all of the criminals are in the senate"

And I read your post about having to vote Lib, same situation for me. Had a Liberal incumbent for years, but last time round this asshole con won by like 300 votes, and the NDP candidate isn't a viable option. Stupid electoral system, making me feel like a vote for the NDP will help Conservative jerk win.

SoSock said...

Damn squanderage

Kathryn said...

CRAP

Pokerwolf said...

Farnsworth sighting in the pen for the Rays. How about we welcome him back to Fenway properly?

tim said...

That thing on Jenks' chin is the source of the red sox struggles and malaise.

Tell theo to force him to cut it. I don't care how well he pitches.

Pokerwolf said...

Nice OTT, Jenks!

Kathryn said...

Way to go Jenks.

allan said...

Tim: L was asking if you knew nothing about the four leaders before this debate, who would you vote for based on the debate?

Jere said...

Well, if we do win, it'll be the kind where reporters all talk about how it's the kind of game that "turns the season around" while noting that momentum ends with the next day's starting pitcher and....whatever, just win a game.

Edward Lee said...

Good news, everyone!

(obligatory)

Pokerwolf said...

RUNS PLZ!!!

allan said...

THE MOP!

Jere said...

gotta foul that off, guy

allan said...

okay drew, get on and let papi update his walkoff stats

allan said...

tie it up, pls

tim said...

Gilles, hands down.

/sarc

Seriously, I dunno if I can answer since I am biased and see things the way I view them. But I can try.

Harper was weird, I thought Iggy and Jack were the most reasonable but even Iggy seems slimy and wouldn't stop harping on the same points (Harper proroguing and being held in contempt) - while both valid points, it doesn't need to be the answer to every question and the time would've been better off discussing the liberal platform. At least Jack discussed issues instead of spending the whole time hammering Harper, as I felt the liberals did.

Also, Layton's face and tie matched the set background. So he gets my vote.

I'm also pissed off the bloc was in there and not the green party, seeing as they only run in one province.

Kathryn said...

That's two not very good at bats.

Edward Lee said...

OMG Drew looked slightly pissed off there.

tim said...

Fuck.

Pokerwolf said...

Crap!

allan said...

yay - all alone in the cellar.

Kathryn said...

I thought that was gone off the bat.

SoSock said...

Wow, it's very early in the season and this is already getting very old.

Rob said...

Ugh.

tim said...

Also, love how in our debate Harper complained about the "bickering" that everyone was doing.

Mike: "It's a debate, Mr. Prime Minister!"

May as well abolish parliament entirely, do away with all that nonsense bickering that gets in the way of the dictat---erm, Prime Minister's rule.

allan said...

Also, Harper's talk of an unnecessary election...

"Just make me King and do away with these silly elections and everything will be fine."

I mean, the asshole tried to sell us on the idea that it was a bad time for an election because of the tsunami in Japan!

allan said...

Nice linescore in Arizona:

STL - 021 023
ARZ - 231 21