July 4, 2011

G84: Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 7

Blue Jays - 124 000 110 - 9 13  0
Red Sox   - 000 040 030 - 7 11  2
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Red Sox pitchers are not created equal, that they are not necessarily endowed by the Front Office with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are a Spot in the Rotation, a Steady Paycheck and the Support of the Fans.

That to secure these rights, a Level of Good Play is instituted among Men of similar stature [and] whenever any Form of Pitching becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Responsibility of the Front Office to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new Starter, laying its foundation on such principles as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Success and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Starters long established should not be changed for light and transient causes ... But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them to Second or even Third place, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Starter. Such has been the patient sufferance of Red Sox Nation; and such is now the necessity which constrains the Team to alter their current Rotation of Starting Pitchers. The history of the present Starter [John Derran Lackey] is a history of repeated bad outings and meltdowns, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Championship for this 2011 Team. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He lasted only 16 batters on Monday afternoon (2.1-9-7-0-2, 65) , allowing nine hits and seven runs. Eight of the last 11 Blue Jays batters he faced hit safely, with five singles, two doubles, and a home run. It was the fifth time this season (in only 13 outings) that he has allowed in excess of five runs (6, 7, 8, 9, 9). His ERA now stands at a 7.47.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. ... We previously warned the Front Office about its attempt to offer Lackey an unwarranted Lucrative and Long-Term Contract and have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here in Red Sox Nation. We have appealed to their native justice and our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our Pennant Drive and chance of a third Title in a mere eight years. They have been deaf (so far) to the voice of justice and of consanguinity.

The question before this body is: Is our only recourse declaring War on the Front Office and, having gained control of the Team by coup d'etat, jettison the Accursed Tyrant?
Example
Brandon Morrow / John Lackey

I don't usually say this, but "Welcome Back, DH!"

Lackey had a very strong and economical start against the Phillies last week (7.2-8-2-1-5, 90), only the second start since April in which he has allowed fewer than four runs. He and Morrow matched up on June 11, when the Red Sox rocked Morrow (4.1-10-9-3-4, 103) and routed the Jays 16-4.

Toronto has lost five of their last seven, and is 10.5 GB in the East.

Ye Olde Days:
July 4, 1900 - The Chicago Colts beat the visiting Philadelphia Phillies in a doubleheader 10-4 and 5-4 (12). Several fans fire pistols to celebrate the holiday; no injuries are reported.

July 4-5, 1985 - The Mets beat Atlanta 16-13 in 19 innings in a game that also included two rain delays. It was Fireworks Night in Atlanta, so when the game ends at 3:55 A.M. (the latest finish in major league history), the show begins. Some local residents call the police, believing the city is under attack.
Mets    - 100 401 011 000 200 001 5 - 16 28  2
Atlanta - 102 010 040 000 200 001 2 - 13 18  3
AL East: Rays/Twins at 2 PM and Yankees/Spiders at 6:30 PM.

84 comments:

allan said...

Ellsbury, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Gonzalez, 1B
Youkilis, 3B
Ortiz, DH
Reddick, LF
Saltalamacchia, C
Drew, RF
Scutaro, SS

Davis, CF
Thames, LF
Bautista, 3B
Lind, 1B
Encarnacion, DH
Hill, 2B
Snider, RF
Molina, C
McDonald, SS

allan said...

Today's Red Sox lineup has a 1.106 OPS against Morrow (.361/.495/.611), including:

Pedroia 6-for-10 (3 doubles, HR, 3 BB)
Gonzalez 4-for-7
Ortiz 5-for-9 (double, HR, 3 BB)
Scutaro 4-for-8 (4 BB)

OBP-wise: Ortiz, Pedroia and Scutaro are each 8-for-12 vs Morrow (.667)

Jere said...

We're 2-0 against Toronto on July 4th. The 1977 game was the one where we hit four dongs in an inning and 8 total, 7 solo.

9casey said...

Hey Jere, who were the 4 in one inning?

allan said...

BRef:
Will this bases-loading-IBB madness never end? The Astros were the latest team to shoot themselves in the foot with 50-MPH bullets. They told Mark Melancon to throw 4 wide ones to Adrian Gonzalez in the top of the 9th in a tie game, with 2 out and runners on the corners, preferring to face -- honest! -- Kevin Youkilis with the bases loaded. Melancon walked him on 5 pitches, and the Astros lost, 2-1. Yeah, I know -- it's Adrian Gonzalez, this year's cross between the Abominable Snowman and Keyser Söze. And sure, I'm hip to righty-righty. Two problems, though: (1) Melancon has yielded a higher BA to righty batters, both this year and for his career, while Youkilis does not have a significant platoon split for his career; and (2) loading the bases shifts the crucial measure from A-Gon's batting average (.353 this year, .291 career) to Youk's on-base average (.392, .394). For a bonus, the IBB moved an insurance runner into scoring position. I just don't get it.

***

allan said...

July 4, 1977

HR
5th: Scott
6th: Lynn
7th: Hobson and Carbo (PH) back-to-back
8th: Lynn, Rice and Yaz back-to-back-to-back, then 1 out later, Scott

Man, I LOVED that tater-hittin' '77 team.

Jere said...

How awesome is it that NESN talks up the "flag drop," airs the pre-game ceremony...and still misses the flag drop?

allan said...

How awesome is it that NESN talks up the "flag drop," airs the pre-game ceremony...and still misses the flag drop?

>Mega awesome!

Buffyvision for me ....

Jere said...

The whole "military life" thing is almost as foreign and scary to me as Ash Wednesday is.

allan said...

NESN talks up the "flag drop," airs the pre-game ceremony...and still misses the flag drop

Why does NESN hate America?






(Sorry, I am out of practice.)

allan said...

The whole "military life" thing is almost as foreign and scary to me as Ash Wednesday is.

Observing one of those does not the systematic murder of innocent people, though.

allan said...

wow - ugly caps!

Jere said...

should be E5

allan said...

i am on mute, did they say e2?

Jere said...

no i was saying that before they said anything. It was E-5

Jere said...

Blue Jays forced to wear special hats to commemorate someone else's independence day.

allan said...

well, if they don't like it, they can go back where they came from.

allan said...

Is FY slow today? That FC was surprisingly close at first and he was out by a LOT on the steal attempt.

Jere said...

he's slow every day

allan said...

pedroia is slow, but that hit by lind got out of here fast (/mccarver)

...

nice to know that good start from lackey was just a stroke of good luck

Jere said...

We don't wanna hear about your leaner, Remy

Jere said...

Wait is that stars-on-the-back thing for just Red Sox All-Stars or all All-Stars?

allan said...

the jays all-stars - do they have stars upon thars?

Jere said...

Am trying to see. May need a close-up.

allan said...

i am not sure what you are talking about, actually. i just wanted to use the seuss reference.

Jere said...

Oh, it's like these two gold stars, one on each side of the MLB logo on the back of the neck. Sewn in. They showed it one of our Stars.

Sweet K, Reddick, that's how ya do it.

Jere said...

That's how ya don't do it.

allan said...

oh, jesus

Jere said...

The Internet just told me the stars are for all teams.

allan said...

i see bautista looking out at lackey and i am reminded of the wolf in the old cartoons that looks at a lamb and it morphs into a nice steaming, hot dinner.

Jere said...

dinner is served

Jere said...

booing before the play is even over. Not a good sign for you LackAttack

allan said...

wheeler up

allan said...

truped by buffy

Jere said...

i gotta go do 4thajalie stuff. "Enjoy the game".

Gonna have to win this 10-9 or something.

allan said...

Maybe Lackey will have a fireworks accident with his right hand later today...

Simon Chapman said...

Will this bases-loading-IBB madness never end? The Astros were the latest team to shoot themselves in the foot with 50-MPH bullets.

I have to say I am completely behind the BRef guy here. I absolutely detest intentional walks, especially to load the bases, and it's about my favourite thing in baseball when a team gets screwed for doing, including when the Red Sox do it. It's very satisfying when the result is a grand slam but I like it almost better when the pitcher walks in a run.

allan said...

I HATE LACKEY

Simon Chapman said...

And once again we are all left wondering what in the blue fuck Theo was thinking in signing Lackey. That was a festival of suck.

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

Too bad they took Lackey out. I was looking forward to seeing whether the BlueJays could keep doubling their run production each inning and win 511-0.

Maxwell Horse said...

You know these games when the starting pitcher doesn't have it, and Francona waits exactly long enough for the game to be out of reach before pulling him? It's sort of damning to him the fact that if Francona were actually intentionally trying to make the Sox lose those games, he'd act in exactly the same way.

Philip said...

I know they would never do this, but watching this game. . . it almost seemed to me to be a statement game. Looked like some plays that could have been made behind Lackey weren't. At the very least I'm willing to bet his fielders are not exactly enthused to be thrown under the bus all the time.

allan said...

I was thinking his runs allowed would match the specific inning. But he couldn't stop himself in the 3rd.

allan said...

I wish that TJ rumour about Lackey was true.

allan said...

man,how bad is it if you have tix for a future game and then you realize it's a lackey start. you'd want to see any other pitcher ... even a AA call-up because hemight get lucky. but lackey ....

Kathryn said...

I just checked the score before we start the big ping-pong match. Thanks Allan. You said it earlier.

Philip said...

I would rather sell my tickets than attend a Lackey game. that says a whole lot.

allan said...

No way fielders are letting balls drop, etc., though having a few of them yell back at Shithead would not bother me.

What I do wish is that Tito would leave him out there for 100 pitches, even when he sucks.

allan said...

GOOD NEWS EVERYBODY:

Lackey did not walk anyone today!

Maxwell Horse said...

I wonder if in the post-game show they'll somehow be able to blame interleague play's lack of designated hitter on today. Maybe something in the post-traumatic stress disorder realm.

allan said...

Lackey has now made 13 starts.

Runs allowed in six of them: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9

allan said...

jesus christ, is yook taking a beating this year.....

allan said...

2 on, a dong here would be interesting...

allan said...

... he said to himself, as everyone else had wisely said fuck this game, and gone off to enjoy the day

allan said...

HEY!!!

lbj triple!!! 7-2.

allan said...

BB to FY and a MOLINABALLA makes it 7-3.

allan said...

EVIL double off the LF wall. 7-4!

All this with 2 outs:

P7
K
1B
BB
3B
BB
2B

allan said...

OK.
Down by 3 with 4 innings to go.

Wheeler has retired all 8 BF.

allan said...

Aceves in to post some potatos.

Lackey: 2.1 IP, 16 BF, 65 PIT, 7 R
Wheeler: 2.2 IP, 8 BF, 25 PIT, 0 R

allan said...

Wait a minnit - I was distracted.

Did Toronto just BUNT A LEADOFF DOUBLE TO THIRD IN THE 6TH INNING WHILE THEY ARE UP BY THREE RUNS??????????????

Holy freaking shit, that's some stooopid baseball.

allan said...

... and they do not score!!!

(Outs are precious.
Don't throw them away.)

allan said...

nice seed from navarro to first!

Tom DePlonty said...

I am cooking, folks coming over in a bit, but looking in at the game and here every so often.

What do you think - Lackey to the DL soon? And if his elbow is blown, why doesn't he just have the surgery, and the Sox try to recover some value from his contract on the flip side?

allan said...

aceves yanking his last 8 or so pitches to the 1B side.

allan said...

navarro doing a ramiro pena impersonation.

Maxwell Horse said...

I missed part of the game but heard Don say that Darnell pinch-hit for Reddick. Was Reddick stricken with intestinal turmoil in the on deck circle? Or was it another time when Francona made a change for no reason other than to show that he did something proactive?

allan said...

i have the jays tv on mute, so i don't know. i dont think it was anything other than strategy-related.

allan said...

SALTY TRIPLE with 2 on! 9-6.

allan said...

Inning was
Navarro single to LCF, Tiz GR 2B down LF line, McDonald K, Salty 3B off LCF wall. AND Drew's sac fly scores the Salty One.

Jays 9-7 now

allan said...

francisco
5.01 ERA
1.76 WHIP

sounds good to me ...

allan said...

ellsbury leadoff single to RF!

allan said...

2-0 to FY, both way outside; C out to chat

allan said...

Bot up
Ball 3 way outside
strike 3-1

allan said...

swing/miss, ellsbury SB

allan said...

pedroia K on low pitch, screaming "FUCKIN' A", 1 out

gonzalez now the tying run ...

allan said...

berttagged francisco for a LF dong at skydome in may - staying inside today - bfsbs (K)

shit

navarro time.

allan said...

navarro
97 fb - s
97 fb - b
97 fb - c (low/away)
96 fb - s (inside)

Sox lose 9-7.

Kathryn said...

Damn it Lackey.

Nice attempt at a comeback.

Maxwell Horse said...

On the bright side to Lackey's horrible performance is it resulted in a cool July 4th game summary at Joy of Sox.

Amy said...

Brilliant write up, Allan. Loved the play on the Declaration. Lackey as evil king George! just perfect.

johngoldfine said...

Allan! Funny! True! Historical! Self-evident! Apropos! Worthy of TJ!

Anonymous said...

Source: Lackey agrees with Red Sox: "It's true, I do suck."

andy said...

impressive recap, sir.

allan said...

impressive recap, sir.

My buddy Tom did a lot of it.

***

MFY - 000 000 210 - 3 4 0
CLE - 000 000 42x - 6 6 1