July 5, 2011

G85: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 2

Blue Jays - 000 000 002 - 2  6  0
Red Sox   - 021 000 00x - 3  7  0
Lester (4-0-0-1-5, 50) left the game with a left lat strain. Early reports are that he will miss two weeks.

The Sox won the game on what looked like a blown call at the plate, one of several in the top of the ninth from plate umpire Brian Knight. What will go into the history books, though, is that after Jonathan Papelbon allowed a lead off single to Corey Patterson and a two-run dong to Jose Bautista, he then allowed a one-out single to Edwin Encarnacion and a two-out walk to J.P. Arencibia, before giving up a line drive single to John McDonald, a line drive to left that Darnell McDonald charged and then launched a perfect throw to home plate, where Jason Varitek blocked the plate and tagged out Encarnacion to end the game, and give Papelbon one of the least-deserved saves of his entire life.

What seems to have happened, however, is that when Encarnacion slid into Varitek's left leg, he got spun around and may have been able to drag his right foot across the plate before the tag. McDonald's throw was there in plenty of time, but Varitek was slow in putting the glove on the base runner. Knight was standing almost directly over Varitek, however, so he certainly had a good look at everything. I was watching the Jays feed and did not get see a super-slow replay where you could look at more than one spot during the play.

Knight blew at least three ball-strike calls in the inning. He failed to call strike three on the leadoff batter, Patterson, and the next pitch was hit into center field for a single.
Knight also missed two strikes in Arencibia's at-bat.
So if Knight also blew the call at the plate, that's four wrong calls in one half-inning. Once again, we have clear evidence that subpar umpiring affected the outcome of this game in a very direct way.

If Papelbon struck out Patterson and/or Arencibia, I want him to get credit for the out(s). And if Encarnacion got his foot on the plate before he was tagged, then I want his run to count.

The main reason why I want an extensive expansion of instant replay? I don't want what the players do on the field to be negated or altered by the imperfect observations of a non-player.
Example
Brett Cecil / Jon Lester

Cecil had a 6.86 ERA in four April starts (including April 15 against Boston) and was demoted to Las Vegas (AAA). He returned on June 30 and allowed six runs in 6.1 innings, upping his ERA to a Lackeyesque 7.24.

After going 9-for-51 (.176) from June 15-29, Jacoby Ellsbury has gotten hot again, batting .555 in the last four games (10-for-18). ... Jose Bautista has hit safely in 61 of his 78 games this season, reaching base via a hit or walk in 73 of 78 games. (In 10 games against Boston this year, he's hitting .211/.302/.395.)

AL East: Yankees/Spiders at 7 PM and Rays/Twins at 8 PM.

105 comments:

allan said...

Ellsbury, CF
Scutaro, SS
Gonzalez, 1B
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
McDonald, LF
Varitek, C
Drew, RF
Navarro, 3B

allan said...

Davis, CF
Patterson, LF
Bautista, 3B
Lind, 1B
Escobar, SS
Encarnacion, DH
Snider, RF
Arencibia, C
McDonald, 2B

allan said...

The Red Sox have beaten the Blue Jays 277 times, more than any other team. The Yankees have 272 wins.

allan said...

OTT

laura k said...

I had to miss yesterday's game, couldn't take time off my project. Tonight I am SO happy to settle in to watch the game! Win, pls

meunier said...

EEEEEEHHHHHPPPP

Zenslinger said...

Tek may be fully alive.

laura k said...

Tek may be fully alive.

Alive and prickling?

Zenslinger said...

MLB Network, when they're not showing a real game for some reason, does this thing where they report and check in on all the games while doing news. Sort of a highlights-as-they-happen show. Informative but annoying.

Kathryn said...

I'm with you, L. I haven't been able to watch an entire game since last week. We are finally back home.

laura k said...

FUCK YEAH!!!

meunier said...

pony dong!

allan said...

90 coming in
190 GOING OUT

Kathryn said...

'laser show'

laura k said...

K, I hope it was a great trip?

Kathryn said...

Thanks L. It was great. Six days with my brothers, nieces, and nephews. A lot of guitar playing, singing, and laughing. And, of course, eating and drinking. Jon has a special relationship with my 11- year old nephew with autism. That is always sweet to see.

Kathryn said...

Although I am glad I missed the beginning of yesterday's game. It was funny when I checked the score in the third inning and yelled out loud about Lackey.

meunier said...

uh oh Albers looking like he is warming up to replace Lester

meunier said...

Lester's things have been brought into the trainers room.

Kathryn said...

What is going on? This doesn't look good.

laura k said...

Music, laughter and food, with family who enjoy each other - sounds heavenly!

Zenslinger said...

Lester injury not a good development.

laura k said...

Not good.

Kathryn said...

Oh, we have our moments. But we do have fun together. My youngest brother is going through a rough time. I hope it helps him to know he has family support.

Jon said he was more excited about being with my family than he was about going to the Sox/Phillies game!!

Kathryn said...

Francona looks irritated and distressed. Ugghhh

allan said...

What are the odds he merely pulled a posada and said that's the night for me, fuck you guys, i'm going home?

laura k said...

All families have their moments, but some are lucky enough to really enjoy each other, too.

laura k said...

What are the odds

zero

meunier said...

Will Kyle Weiland have to pack his bags?

Kathryn said...

You may have already noted this...Cameron was traded to the Marlins.

meunier said...

Davis is getting a ball in the rear in his next AB.

allan said...

Why? Because he tried to get on base, like every other batter does?

laura k said...

Marlins, yes. Traded, no. He was DFA'd by the Sox, so the Marlins just picked him up.

meunier said...

As Trup just explained, bunting during a game without hits against you violates the "baseball code".

laura k said...

It's not even a real no-hitter, it's a combined effort. Entirely no reason to not bunt your way on.

allan said...

That is complete bullshit, in my opinion.

laura k said...

How are you listening to Trup? He doesn't broadcast anymore.

Kathryn said...

Globe reports it as a trade for ptbnl or cash.

laura k said...

I'm listening to the radio. Castig/OB said that some people feel that's not appropriate b/c of an unwritten code, but that's up for dispute. They weren't saying *they* believe in such a "code".

Benjamin said...

So much for that.

allan said...

I don't remember who said it, but when one player or manager was asked about stealing when up by x runs or any of that other stuff, he said, "When the other team stops trying to score runs and win, then we will, too."

laura k said...

Globe reports it as a trade for ptbnl or cash

Huh. That's weird. Thanks for the info.

Benjamin said...

Globe reports it as a trade for ptbnl or cash.

Maybe it's Hanley Ramirez. ;-)

Kathryn said...

Regarding yesterday's game. Is it possible that they jumped on Lackey early and often because Farrell knows how bad Lackey is and how to exploit him?

laura k said...

I would think it's possible and probable. But anyone can know Lackey's - or any pitcher's - tendencies these days.

Kathryn said...

BTW, Allan. My brother loves history and enjoyed your game summary:)

Benjamin said...

because Farrell knows how bad Lackey is and how to exploit him?

Step one: tee off on his shitty pitching.

Tom DePlonty said...

When Castig and O were talking about the "unwritten rule" about bunting for a base hit late in a no-hitter, Castig mentioned a game "about eight or ten years back" where Ben Davis did it and made everybody mad. He said he "couldn't quite remember who the pitcher was". Was he just kidding? The pitcher was Curt Schilling. (Hard to believe I know a piece of baseball trivia that Castig doesn't!)

Wish they'd say something about Lester.

Kathryn said...

Yes, but if Farrell spent last year trying to compensate for his problems, he would certainly have fuller knowledge of how to attack them.

laura k said...

Step one: tee off on his shitty pitching.

Yeah, not much mystery there.

allan said...

step two: profit.

Kathryn said...

Benjamin, I knew I was leaving the door wide open for shots at Lackey.

laura k said...

Kat, I know what you're saying, I'm sure there's something to that. But it's not like all the other teams that teed off on Lackey had any special inside knowledge, that's all I mean.

Benjamin said...

step two: profit.

That's step three. Step two is "score shitloads of runs".

laura k said...

Tom, I know, I was surprised too. We'll chalk it up to age. I oughta know.

Tom DePlonty said...

"Left lat strain".

allan said...

with lackey, it's even easier. only 2 steps.

allan said...

Globe reports it as a trade for ptbnl or cash.

I hope it's not Kevin Cash.

Kathryn said...

But it's not like all the other teams that teed off on Lackey had any special inside knowledge

This is true. And we all know that yesterday wasn't an outlier.

laura k said...

Globe reports it as a trade for ptbnl or cash.

I hope it's not Kevin Cash.


I was going to say that the whole time! Shoulda done it... :)

laura k said...

Is anyone listening to the radio? Did they mention Allan by name? They are quoting from his email re ugly 1916 unis.

laura k said...

we missed the beginning, too busy talking about The Onion print edition coming to Toronto

Tom DePlonty said...

I am listening to the radio but working too; not sure but I think they mentioned his name.

Kathryn said...

Monique Walker (who?) is writing Extra Bases for the Globe tonight. She reports: Lester's "injury could be significant enough that he could end up on the DL.". Then she goes on to say that the severity of the injury hasn't been reported.

What kind of crazy speculation is that?

Tom DePlonty said...

It was about the pink plaid unis?

laura k said...

Yes, pink plaid unis.

Tom DePlonty said...

What kind of crazy speculation is that?

She's taking sport journalism lessons from Nick Cafardo.

laura k said...

I hate that kind of nonsense speculation. So unprofessional.

laura k said...

"So unprofessional"

"Nick Cafardo"

Great minds think alike.

allan said...

Found that quote about not trying to score runs. I quoted in a pre-JoS blog post I did on July 1, 2003. This was a few days after the Sox beat the Marlins 25-8 and the Sox manager apologized for his team's behaviour.

***

July 1, 2003

Unbelievable. Just when I think Grady Gump can't piss me off any more than he has already, he shows me I have underestimated him. The day after the Red Sox routed the Florida Marlins 25-8, Grady Little offered an apology to Marlins manager Jack McKeon (and a half-hearted one to the press) for scoring so many gosh durn runs: "There's a right and wrong way to play the game and I feel we didn't play the game the right way totally." ... I thought scoring runs was what baseball teams are supposed to do ...

Also from Jeff Horrigan's Herald story: "Little said the Sox made "mistakes" in judgment during the game ...
Gump: "I've already spoken to most of them. ... They're not clearly defined. A lot of them are unwritten things, (but) we probably crossed the line in a couple of different areas."

Todd Walker saw things in a different (and correct) way. "Every chance you get to score a run, you're going to score a run."

Red Sox principal owner John Henry agreed: "If we're supposed to stop trying to score, we should just put up a disclaimer on the scoreboard: 'You should go home now, we're not trying anymore.' You've got people giving up their Friday night to be at the ballpark, spending a couple of hundred bucks, and we're supposed to stop playing? The idea is to score runs. If not, then why are we out there?"

Henry added: "I'm supposed to feel sorry for the other guys? ... So for us to quit trying just because we might upset the opposition? Why don't we just say no one on either side should continue to play and try to score runs."

John Tomase reported that Little conducted Friday's postgame press conference "with his shoulders slumped and his voice flat." The next day on NESN, Jerry Remy said Grady felt worse after the 25-8 win than he did after blowing three leads to the Phillies.

allan said...

&



Sadly, Gump wasn't alone in his idiocy. Third base coach Mike Cubbage admitted he gave Florida extra outs. "It's a fine line. Guys want to score for the hitter. I kind of regret sending Walker. But it was a chance for outs, and they were having a hard time getting outs." (Boston's 14-run first inning ended with an easy out at the plate, also.) Isn't helping the opposing team record outs similar to throwing a game?

Two members of the Boston Herald -- Tony Massarotti and Steve Buckley -- also decided the Red Sox had disgraced themselves and the grand American game with their disgusting run-scoring, proving that the Boston media will piss on anything, no matter how good it is. I will not be surprised by columns condemning the Red Sox for "excessive" celebrating and "poor sportsmanship" after they win the World Series (for making the losing team feel bad).

Massarotti spoke of "a night for shame ... Red Sox ruthlessness on the basepaths ... no compassion ... tactless." And Buckley added (in a pay column): "... your beloved Red Sox didn't exactly cover themselves in glory last night. They had this game in the bag in the first inning, and then spent the rest of the night taking the extra base, trying to score on close sacrifice flies ... boorish ... the Sox made history last night. They also made asses of themselves." ...

And whether he meant to or not, McKeon may have suckered Gump into keeping the score down the next day. On Saturday, Boston led 9-2 with two outs in the 7th inning. Johnny Damon was on first base and the Marlins were not holding him on. Gump did not tell Damon to steal second. Wouldn't want to make my buddy Jack mad. So Damon stayed put. Then the Marlins scored four runs in the 8th, four more in the 9th (thanks to poor bullpen management by Gump), and won the game 10-9.

Kevin Millar said he wanted to puke ...

****

There is a lot more at the link!

laura k said...

Too bad Jason Bay, Orlando Hudson and Marcus Thames didn't all play for the same team at the same time.

laura k said...

It's early! I love a fast game.

allan said...

patterson singled on the 0-3 pitch.

Benjamin said...

patterson singled on the 0-3 pitch.

Before the inning started, GDGD said he flew out to Drew. Because, you know, GDGD sucks.

Benjamin said...

As does Papelbon, far too often.

laura k said...

Oh fucking A. Why, Bot, why?

meunier said...

Bautista is doing the dance again :(

laura k said...

Two more like that, pls

Kathryn said...

Now get your three outs.

laura k said...

Catch that! Catch that!... Thank you.

laura k said...

Bah!

laura k said...

I just asked A how many pitches Pap has thrown. # 22 on the way for crissakes.

Benjamin said...

NICE

laura k said...

OUT AT THE PLATE!!!!!!

DIRTY CACTUS WATER BABY!!!!

meunier said...

MICRO-WAVE!

Tom DePlonty said...

Darnell!

laura k said...

Darnell, I take back what I said about you, tonight I love you!!!

Benjamin said...

McDonald > Cameron.

allan said...

thought i saw his foot in there

Benjamin said...

Must be nice to get to block the plate when you're a vet like Tek.

Zenslinger said...

Safe.

Kathryn said...

Wow. McDonald my man!

laura k said...

Safe? The ump was in pretty good position there.

Kathryn said...

He is safe.

Benjamin said...

thought i saw his foot in there

Ricocheted off Tek's ankle before he brought the glove around.

allan said...

looked like tek's foot blocked him and spun him around, but did his right foot twitch over the plate before the tag?

cannot tell. but the ump was standing over tek so he was right on top of it.

allan said...

replay was not slow enough for me to watch several different points all the same time.

and but so... WATER!

allan said...

"Gotta make it interesting." (K. Foulke)

allan said...

And Papelbon gets the "save"!!!

Benjamin said...

looked like tek's foot blocked him and spun him around, but did his right foot twitch over the plate before the tag?

Watching the replay many times, I'd have to agree. Tek got the glove around but not down far enough -- tagged Encarnacion's knee after he'd already spun the other foot across the plate.

Jim said...

Just caught the end of the thread. Yeah, I had the TV muted and was listening to Sox radio feed on MLB. Yes, Castig did mention Allan by name, in fact referred to him as a baseball historian who wrote a book about the 1918 Red Sox. Then mentioned the unis. Needless to say, I was quite impressed. I figured everyone here would be tuned in.
BTW, turned on the Jays TV volume for their recap and they're all ascared of Zaun, who, being an x-catcher, was adamant that even if the runner did get his foot in, the throw beat him and it was a textbook block, so no ump will call him out. So there, don't you dare start whining you Blue Jay homers. So they didn't. Also btw, Papelbon sucked.

Jim said...

Ooops. Sorry, sloppy editing. Zauny said no ump would call the runner SAFE. And Buffy and Martine were properly cowed. Didn't stick around for the Buck and Tabler take, cuz frankly, my dears, I don't give a damn.

tim said...

Two things:

1 - awesome recap yesterday on 07.04, allan.
2 - last play of the game looked like the runner may have touched the plate with his right foot, as previously mentioned here. Zaun on buffyvision said the ump was blocked by Varitek so he didn't see it. Oh well. Dirty water is good.

laura k said...

Yes, Castig did mention Allan by name, in fact referred to him as a baseball historian who wrote a book about the 1918 Red Sox. Then mentioned the unis. Needless to say, I was quite impressed. I figured everyone here would be tuned in.

Whoo-hoo!!

Jim, after your comment, Allan got the clip from the archived game. I just listened to it. SO cool! "Allan Wood, the baseball historian who wrote a book about the 1918 Red Sox, sent us a picture of..."

Amazingly, we were listening to the radio, but started chatting and only realized Castig was talking about it when he said "pink plaid". I forgot that they talk about their "question of the game" for so many innings.

Thank you!!