Theo On Bay, Lugo, Trading Deadline

Theo Epstein said the Red Sox made an "aggressive" offer to Jason Bay about one week ago, but the two sides could not agree on a contract extension. There is now a mutual decision to table any talks until after the season.

Bay wants to remain with the Red Sox:

I'm not trying to set a precedent. Just looking for something that's fair. ... I'd still love to get something done here. I like it here. But that being said, we just basically at this point right now don't want it to be an ongoing distraction ... But the way things have gone so far, like I said, very encouraged with that.

Epstein:

I think we were really hopeful with the aggressive offer that we made that we could have reached a deal now. But we have complete respect for Jason as a player and a person and for what free agency means to players. He's worked his whole career and had a really consistent career to get to a point where he can set his family up for life. ... We'll see what the future brings. We still want to retain him.

Epstein also spoke about Julio Lugo:

[O]wnership has been consistent that we'll do what we need to do to keep the best possible team on the field. A sunk cost is a sunk cost. ... This was one of the free agent signings that doesn't work out. We were paying for past performance, not current performance. That's the true definition of a mistake, and as the decision-maker, that's on me.

Epstein, on the trading deadline:

I think we don't have one glaring weakness, [but] there are opportunities to get better. Exactly which opportunities we pursue or try to pursue relates probably more to health than anything else. ...

We want to create as much depth and redundancy as we possibly can, because if you don't address depth before July 31 or in some cases in August, then you're left without an opportunity to do so down the stretch and into what we hope will be another postseason.

G89: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 1

Red Sox   - 200 020 000 - 4  6  1
Blue Jays - 000 100 000 - 1  5  0

Buchholz (5.2-4-1-3-3, 103) was on, except for a brief hiccup in the fourth inning, Kevin Youkilis belted a two-run dong in the first, and David Ortiz hit a two-run double in the fifth to pull the curtain down on Romero's night (4.1-5-4-5-8, 93).

With one out in the fifth, Dustin Pedroia grinded out a 12-pitch walk (bcfbfffffbfb) against Romero in the fifth. Romero lost something in that battle -- he walked Yook on five pitches (bbbcb) then gave up a double to deep left to Flo on a 3-2 count.

HH gave up a double to Adam Lind to open the Jays fourth, but he was erased when he tried to take third on Scott Rolen's grounder back to the mound. Lyle Overbay (who had three of Toronto's five hits) hit a ground rule double to right-center. Scott Rolen had to stop at third, but he soon scored on Alex Rios's sacrifice fly.

Buchholz may have tired in the sixth. After getting the first two batters, he was at 92 pitches. After Overbay singled and Rios walked, Terry Francona came with the hook. I was blacked out from watching at work, but it sounded as though HH had his good curve and change and his fastball was consistently at 94-96. (links to pitchfx charts)

Bullpen: Bard struck out three of the four batters he faced, Hideki Okajima stranded a two-out double in the eighth, and Jonathan Papelbon cruised through an eight-pitch ninth.
Clay Buchholz (2009 debut) / Ricky Romero (3.00, 144 ERA+)

Jason Bay:

I still don't think we've played our best yet. ... We're starting to hit our stride.

This is the fifth consecutive year that the Red Sox have begun the "second half" of the season in first place. They open with a six-game road trip -- three games each in Toronto and Texas.


This is Buchholz's first major league appearance since August 20, 2008. He has made 16 starts for Pawtucket and had a 2.36 ERA.

It's an opportunity that I've been waiting for all year. ... I'm ready to go. I've prepared for it for a good while now. ... I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a little bit (frustrated). But all I could do is go out there and pitch every fifth day and help that team win and try to get better every day I go out there. I knew everything else was sort of out of my control ...

Maybe the first couple of pitches (I'll be excited). But after that, that's how these guys stay in the game forever - because they control their emotions and everything else. I'm sure the adrenaline will be running, but ... I'm not going to be nearly as amped as I was a couple of years ago.

Rookie of the Year candidate Romero has a 2.38 ERA over his past eight starts (since the beginning of June); the lefty has held opponents to a .221 average in those 56.2 innings.

The Yankees (3 GB) host the Tigers at 7 PM. A.J. Burnett -- 1.34 in his last 5 starts/33.2 IP -- faces rookie Lucas French.

Lugo Has Been Designated For Assignment

Lugo's agent confirms the DFA-ing.



Julio Lugo:

When you see a good looking girl, you get married and sometimes things don't work out. I gave it my best and unfortunately things didn't work out. This is the best for both parties. I wanted it to work out but it didn't. ... I wanted to play right here with the Red Sox. I'm not happy that that didn't happen. But when things don't work out, it's best to move on.

Steve Buckley says that the Mets, Cardinals and Cubs have some interest in Lugo. Amalie Benjamin says that "multiple teams have talked to Theo" about Lugo, but the Red Sox are not expecting much in return.

***

Update: Rob Bradford of WEEI reporting the same thing.

***

Ken Rosenthal:

Julio Lugo's tenure in Boston is over.

The Red Sox will designate the shortstop for assignment on Friday, a move that will likely lead to his release, according to a major-league source.

The Red Sox will have 10 days to trade Lugo once the roster move is official. If they are unable to deal him, Lugo will be released.

So, this seems likely:

Tonight:
Buchholz up, Bates down
Lowell up, Lugo DFA

Saturday:
Lowrie up, Buchholz down

Clemens Perjury Update

Daily News, July 15, 2009:

The grand jury believed to be investigating Roger Clemens for perjury has issued a subpoena to the owner of a now-defunct Houston-area gym [Kelly Blair of 1-on-1 Elite Personal Fitness] linked to the distribution of steroids and human growth hormone. ...

"It continues to confirm my belief that it is only a matter of time - and maybe not that much time - until Clemens is indicted," [Richard] Emery [one of the attorneys representing Brian McNamee] said. "I would assume they are moving forward. The point is they have gone well beyond the McNamee allegations and are looking at other evidence." ...

Clemens' attorney Rusty Hardin did not return a call for comment. ...

Blair, a football and track star in the 1980s at Deer Park High School near Houston, is related by marriage to Andy Pettitte. ...

Daily News, July 17, 2009:

On the first Tuesday in August [August 4, which is also Clemens's 47th birthday!], former gym owner Kelly Blair expects to testify to a grand jury in Washington D.C. that is believed to be investigating Roger Clemens for perjury, and likely will be asked about having arranged a transfer of human growth hormone to the father of Yankee pitcher Andy Pettitte ...

Blair said he has not met Clemens, and has not talked to any of Clemens' representatives, and did not supply Clemens with human growth hormone. ...

In his press conference, Blair admitted that he had used performance-enhancing drugs.

"I've taken enough to kill an elephant," he said.

"It's Easy To Lose Sight Of The Fact That Everyone Makes That Kind Of Play All The Time..."

Thanks to his vaunted grace and tremendous skill, Yankees captain Derek Jeter was able Tuesday night to make a pop-up to shortstop look as routine as it actually was. "Look at him effortlessly settle under that ball and close his glove around it as it falls slowly in," gushed Yankees radio announcer John Sterling, who also had the privilege of broadcasting Jeter's catch of a soft humpback liner in 2002. ... Later in the inning, Jeter made an easy play look difficult with that jump-throw thing he doesn't need to do.

Lowell, Lowrie Due Back This Weekend

UPDATE from Rosenthal:

The Red Sox, facing a roster bind as they prepare for the returns of shortstop Jed Lowrie and third baseman Mike Lowell, have informed teams that they are willing to assume virtually all of shortstop Julio Lugo's remaining salary in a trade, according to a major-league source.

While another source told FOXSports.com earlier Thursday that the Sox were "desperately" trying to move Lugo, the second source offered a different view.

The Red Sox, he said, recognize that Lugo is a "sunk cost," and would accept a fringe prospect for him in return. In other words, they are willing to assume the same financial burden that they would if they released him.

A release could be the ultimate outcome. The Red Sox are likely to designate Lugo for assignment if they are unable to trade him once Lowrie returns.

***

Terry Francona:

We're either going to activate Mikey Lowell on Friday or Saturday and also Lowrie most likely on Saturday ... So we're looking at a couple of roster moves, and they're important ones. ...

If [Lowrie] comes back Saturday, or close to Saturday, he's not going to be at 100-percent efficiency. He's not going to be ready to play every day. ... We can use our shortstops -- and again, I don't want to get too far ahead of myself here -- we can use who we have and also give Jed a day built in in between.

Does Tito's talk of not getting too far ahead of himself regarding shortstops means there will be a corresponding decision on Julio Lugo? There has to be, doesn't there? I cannot see the Sox carrying the 3-Ls (Lowell, Lugo, Lowrie) and going with one less man in the bullpen.

Ken Rosenthal says the Red Sox are "desperately" shopping Lugo. Boston is also under contract with the Secret Weapon for $9 in 2010. I can't see any team picking up any significant part of that tab.

While Lugo's batting average is nearly 30 points higher than Green's (.284 to .257), their OPSs are identical (Lugo gets on base more often, Green has more pop). However, in 16 games since June 25, Nick Green has hit .133/.264/.200. Is that evidence that he is turning back into a pumpkin? Does that complicate the picture?

The issue is what will Green and Lugo do for the rest of the season, not what each of them has done to date. Lugo will likely be the better hitter, though his range and fielding will be decidedly subpar. Even with Green's lousy two weeks, the team has shown no inclination to give them near-equal playing time.

It's all speculation. We should know a lot more very soon.

I also wanted to post this, from SoSHer xjack:

I don't think Lugo has gotten enough credit for his professionalism. I can't think of another high-priced Boston athlete who's handled this kind of demotion and humiliation with more class.

Tim Wakefield did not pitch in what might be the only All-Star Game of his long career, but he did have a five-minute chat with Barack Obama, who asked him: "How do you throw that thing?"

Pedro Signs With Phillies

Pedro Martinez signed a one-year deal with the Phillies for $1 million.

Martinez was put on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder strain and will make a few minor-league starts, but Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said Pedro could pitch for the major league team in two to three weeks.

Off-Day Outtakes: George Harrison

George Harrison
The Art Of Dying
The Complete All Things Must Pass Demos Sessions & Remixes
Silent Sea Productions - 5 CD

Disc 1
Tracks 1-3    All Things Must Pass
Tracks 4-16   Apple Scruffs
Track 17      Apple Scruffs/Mama You Been On My Mind
Tracks 18-24  Apple Scruffs
  
Disc 2
Tracks 1-6   Art Of Dying
Tracks 7-10  Awaiting On You All
Track 11     Everybody Nobody
Track 12     Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
Track 13     Beautiful Girl
Tracks 14-15 Behind That Locked Door
Tracks 18-21 Beware Of Darkness
  
Disc 3
Track 1      Cosmic Empire
Track 2      Dera Duhn
Track 3      Down To The River
Track 4      Get Back
Track 5      Going Down To Golders Green
Track 6      Gopala Krishna
Tracks 7-10  Hear Me Lord
Tracks 11-12 I Dig Love
Track 13     I Don't Want To Do It
Tracks 14-15 I Live For You
Tracks 16-17 I'd Have You Anytime
Tracks 18-20 If Not For You
  
Disc 4
Tracks 1-3   I'll Still Love You
Tracks 4-5   Isn't It A Pity
Track 6      It's Johnny's Birthday
Tracks 7-13  Let It Down
Track 14     Mother Divine
Tracks 15-17 My Sweet Lord
  
Disc 5
Tracks 1-2   Nowhere To Go
Tracks 3-4   Pete Drake's Talking Steel Guitar
Tracks 5-6   Plug Me In
Tracks 7-12  Run Of The Mill
Track 13     Tell Me What Has Happened To You
Tracks 14-16 Wah Wah
Tracks 17-21 What Is Life
Track 22     Window Window

Download more track info here.

First Half: Best and Worst Games

Best

April 11 - Jason Bay hits two home runs, Ramon Ramirez and Jonathan Papelbon throw 68 pitches in relief of Brad Penny, and the Angels leave the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. Red Sox 5-4.

April 17 - Red Sox trail the Orioles 7-0 in the second inning, but immediately rally and lead 10-8 after six. That's the final.

April 24, 25 and 26: Red Sox sweep the Yankees at Fenway 5-4 (11), 16-11, and 4-1. Bay hits a game-tying, two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth off Mariano Rivera (Kevin Youkilis's dong wins it in the 11th), New York blows a six-run lead the next day, then Jacoby Ellsbury steals home off a drowsy Andy Pettitte in the finale. (Boston beats Cleveland on the 17th to cap an 11-game winning streak.)

May 7 - At home against Cleveland, the Red Sox score 12 runs in the sixth inning before making an out. That sets a new AL record and ties the MLB mark. Red Sox win 13-3.

May 20: - David Ortiz hits his first home run of the year, against the Blue Jays. About five minutes later, Bay and Mike Lowell go back-to-back; Jason Varitek had hit the first of his two homers to start the inning. CF Ellsbury ties a ML record with 12 putouts. Red Sox win 8-3.

June 6 - Jon Lester takes a perfect game into the seventh inning at home against the Rangers. He goes the distance with "evil, depraved filth", allowing two hits and striking out 11 in an 8-1 win. He struck out 12 in his previous start and would fan 11 more in his next outing (34 strikeouts in 22 innings).

June 9, 10 and 11: Red Sox sweep the Yankees at Fenway 7-0, 6-5 and 4-3 to win the first eight games against New York this season. John Henry wonders about the "MT Curse".

June 20 - Josh Beckett pitches a complete game shutout against Atlanta (and Derek Lowe), Red Sox win 3-0. (Nick Green hits a walk-off dong the following day.)

July 1: Trailing the Orioles 5-1, the Red Sox score four times in the top of the ninth -- they also trailed 5-3 with one out to go and no one on base. Julio Lugo singles home a run in the 11th for a 6-5 win (the day after Boston blew a 9-1 lead to Baltimore). It's Canada Day, but Bay strikes out in all five of his plate appearances.

July 10 - Jon Lester pitches eight shutout innings against the Royals, outdueling Brian Bannister, and rookie Aaron Bates scores the game's only run in the eighth inning. (Bates gets his first major league hit the next day.)

July 12 - Beckett pitches a complete game 6-0 shutout against the Royals. At the break, the Red Sox have the best record in the AL (54-34) and a three-game lead over the Yankees in the East. The team has also gone two months without losing more than two consecutive games (since May 15).

Worst

April 14 - Daisuke Matsuzaka pitches only one inning in Oakland, the Red Sox blow 3-0 lead, and Javier Lopez walks the bases loaded and loses the game in the 12th inning.

April 30 - Tampa Bay romps 13-0 at the Trop, Jonathan Van Every faces four batters as Lopez is banished to right field.

May 14 - Ortiz goes 0-for-7, stranding 12 runners, as the Red Sox lose 5-4 to the Angels in 12 innings. "Just put down, 'Papi stinks'." Ortiz is benched for the next three games.

May 23 - Papelbon gives up a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to Omir Santos, and the Mets win 3-2.

June 19 - Matsuzaka allows a home run to Nate McLouth on his first pitch of the game, Boston gets only two hits (both by Bay) and loses to Atlanta 8-2. Dice is removed from the rotation, put on the disabled list and sent to Fort Myers.

June 30 - A tale of two games. John Smoltz and the Red Sox lead 9-1 before a fifth inning rain delay. When play resumes, the Orioles outscore the Sox 10-1 -- the biggest comeback in team history -- and emerge victorious 11-10.

***

Since May 28, Jon Lester and Josh Beckett have combined for a 12-2 record and a 1.72 ERA. That's nine starts for Lester (1.48) and nine for Beckett (1.93).

Beckett's last 13 starts: 9-1, 2.14. ... In the last 16 games, Sox starters have turned in 11 quality starts and a 2.26 ERA.

With three walks and two HBP on Sunday, Jason Bay became the first Red Sox player to reach base five times in one game without recording a hit in more than 58 years (Ted Williams, May 23, 1951).

Second Half Pitching Assignments

Terry Francona laid out the rotation for the first six games after the All-Star break.

at Blue Jays
Fri 0717 - Clay Buchholz
Sat 0718 - Brad Penny
Sun 0719 - Jon Lester
 
at Rangers
Mon 0720 - John Smoltz
Tue 0721 - Josh Beckett
Wed 0722 - Tim Wakefield

With a day off on Thursday, July 23, the Red Sox will likely skip the 6th starter's spot. If so:

vs Orioles
Fri 0724 - Penny
Sat 0725 - Lester
Sun 0726 - Smoltz
 
vs A's
Mon 0727 - Beckett
Tue 0728 - Wakefield
Wed 0729 - Penny

Most importantly, the tentative pitcher for JoSapalooza is Wakefield.

Schadenfreude 91 (A Continuing Series)

Mike Vaccaro, Post:

Well, if you're looking for silver linings about the second half of the Yankees' season, maybe you can start with this: They only have 10 games left with the Red Sox. And they only have three games left in Anaheim.

Erik Boland, Newsday:

Three days ago, the All-Star break looked like an inconvenience, something that could only serve as a momentum-buster for one of baseball's hottest teams.

Three days later, few teams appear more in need of the time off.

George A. King, III, Post:

Aggravating the Yankees further was the fact they flushed four-run leads Friday and Saturday before a brutal fourth inning by ace CC Sabathia did them in yesterday.

Mark Feinsand, Daily News:

Alex Rodriguez hit three homers and drove in five runs in the three-game series against the Angels, but when the Yankees needed him most, his bat was nowhere to be found.

A-Rod grounded into a bases-loaded double play in the seventh inning Sunday, then struck out to end the game ...

           W   L   PCT   GB    RS   RA  DIFF    EXP
Red Sox   54  34  .614  --    465  380  + 85  52-36
Yankees   51  37  .580  3.0   495  435  + 60  49-39

Ottawa Batter Makes 3 Outs In One Inning

Back on April 21, I wondered if any batter had ever made all three outs in a single inning. I did some research and decided that it had never happened in the major leagues.

Earlier this month I got an email from Paul O'Leary, who is a catcher for the Ottawa Diamondbacks of Tier 1 of the National Capital Baseball League (Canada's largest non-professional league). Tier 1 is the league's top division.

On July 5, the Diamondbacks scored 16 runs in the bottom of the first and won 22-2. They sent 22 batters to the plate in that inning and Justin Cardinal -- yep! -- made all three outs.

O'Leary told me that his leadoff hitter also went 0-for-3 in that inning:

He reached on three errors ... so it may be the only time two batters were 0-for-3 in one inning!

Buchholz Will Start On Friday

Clay Buchholz will be activated and start against the Blue Jays in Toronto on Friday, when the Red Sox return from the All-Star break. Terry Francona announced the decision in his post-game conference this afternoon.

***

After typing that, I went to Extra Bases, where I figured I could get a link. And I see Adam Kilgore has posted this 15 minutes ago:

Clay Buchholz will start for the Red Sox Friday night against the Blue Jays, the team's first game after the All-Star break, Sox manager Terry Francona announced after this afternoon's game at Fenway Park.

Yikes! Not word-for-word, but pretty close.

Buchholz has a 2.11 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) for Pawtucket.

G88: Red Sox 6, Royals 0

Royals  - 000 000 000 - 0  3  0
Red Sox - 100 310 01x - 6 10  0

Beckett: 9-3-0-0-7, 94. 100th career W.

Beckett started strong, retiring the first nine batters, including four of the first five on strikeouts. He gave up a leadoff double to David DeJesus in the fourth and then set down the next nine Royals.

He allowed two singles and an HBP in the seventh, but kept the shutout intact thanks to a 463 DP. He faced only three batters over the minimum.

Aaron Bates doubled twice and singled,with a run and RBI; Kevin Youkilis singled twice; and Rocco Baldelli and Dustin Pedroia both singled and doubled. Nick Green scored two runs. Jacoby Ellsbury stole his 40th base of the year.

Jason Bay did not have an official at-bat. In fact, he did not even see a strike until the eighth inning, on the Royals' 16th pitch to him.

1st: Ball, ball, ball, ball
3rd: Ball, ball, ball, ball
4th: Ball, ball, ball, ball
6th: HBP
8th: Ball, ball, swing/miss, ball, foul, foul, HBP

KC pitchers handed out nine free passes: three to Bay, three to Green, two to Jason Varitek, and one to Pedroia.

Robinson Tejada relieved Chen in the fourth and faced eight batters. Of his 41 pitches, the Red Sox put only three of them into play. His line: 1-0-2-4-1.

***

Bruce Chen (6.88, 62 ERA+) / Josh Beckett (3.62, 128 ERA+)

Beckett will try for his 100th career victory this afternoon.

Chen missed all of 2008 after TJ surgery and has made three starts this year (17-16-6-10).

Pedroia Will Miss All-Star Game

Gary Dzen, Globe:

Dustin Pedroia, voted by fans as the starting second baseman for the American League will miss this year's All-Star Game in St. Louis to attend to his pregnant and hospitalized wife, Pedroia said in a statement released by the Red Sox.

(MLB.com)

Terry Francona:

I hope when it came down to it, I actually hope I influenced him. I'm not taking credit, but I hope I did. Yesterday, I said, "Pedey, look. What's the worst-case scenario if you don't go to the All-Star Game?" He said, "Well, I'm mad." I said, "What's the worst-case scenario if you go and Kelli is not ..." And he said, "I can't go."

Carlos Pena replaces FY on the AL team.

CI's Mansion Pissing Off Tampa Neighbors

New York Post, July 11, 2009:

When it's finished, Jeter's mansion in Tampa's sleepy Davis Islands community will boast seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, two three-car garages, an entertainment room, a billiard room and a memorabilia room.

But the enormity of the project has perturbed the community near downtown Tampa, an area made up of apartments and smaller, modest single-family homes. ...

Jeter bought the three lots and combined them to total 1.26 acres. He's building the 31,000- square-foot, two-story mansion as a place to crash during spring training. ...

The Yankee shortstop also plans to erect a 6-foot fence around the giant shorefront home. Zoning officials are planning a hearing on that for next month.

Tampa ordinances limit the height of the fence to 3 feet. But Jeter wants permission for a 3-foot masonry structure topped by a 3-foot-high wrought-iron fence.

Alan Schwarz, New York Times, July 9, 2009:

As baseball's statistical revolution marches on, the last refuge for the baseball aesthete has been the sport's less quantifiable skills: outfielders' arm strength, base-running efficiency and other you-won't-find-that-in-the-box-score esoterica. But debates over the quickest center fielder or the rangiest shortstop are about to graduate from argument to algorithm.

A new camera and software system in its final testing phases will record the exact speed and location of the ball and every player on the field, allowing the most digitized of sports to be overrun anew by hundreds of innovative statistics that will rate players more accurately, almost certainly affect their compensation and perhaps alter how the game itself is played.

Which shortstops reach the hard-hit grounders up the middle? [Not Jeter -- redsock] Which base runners take the fastest path from first base to third? Which right fielders charge the ball quickest and then throw the ball hardest and most accurately? Although the game will continue to answer to forces like wind, glaring sun and the occasional gnat swarm, a good deal of time-honored guesswork will give way to more definite measurements — continuing the trend of baseball front offices trading some traditional game-watching scouts for video and statistical analysts.

Jack Curry, New York Times:

The first baseman loved throwing knuckleballs. That was a problem for Stan Cliburn in his first managing job with the Watertown Pirates in upstate New York in 1988. Almost every day, Cliburn began fielding practice by reminding his first baseman to throw the ball straight.

"I'd catch him throwing that knuckleball around the infield all the time," Cliburn said. "I had to tell him we weren't fooling around."

Tim Wakefield, the frolicking first baseman, tried to entertain teammates before Cliburn marched on the field. but he was perpetually caught fiddling with the pitch. Before long, Cliburn and others learned, Wakefield was not fooling around anymore.

What started as an aimless way to toss a pitch that danced eventually became Wakefield's vocation. He realized that a .189 batting average in his first season at Class A was going to make him an afterthought. By his second season, Wakefield had begun the transformation from a floundering hitter to an apprentice knuckleball pitcher. ...

Baseball Fans Delighted By New Between-Innings Fuck-Cams

Attendance may be down, but the fans at last week's [Nationals] game didn't care -- they were too busy enjoying the stadium's new Fuck-Cam.

"We've been really surprised and delighted by the crowd reaction," said Washington Nationals public relations director Janine Perry, who started the Fuck-Cam program that has since been emulated by every other ballpark in the major leagues, except Miller Park in Milwaukee. "Apparently, people who like watching baseball games also really enjoy watching other people have sex. And not just between innings, either. If the action on the screen is still going when the play on the field resumes, they'll still watch. The Fuck-Cam has been quite a phenomenon."

Schadenfreude 90 (A Continuing Series)

Sunday
Mark Feinsand, Daily News:

The way things have been going for the Angels, Mike Scioscia could probably come out of retirement today and go 3-for-3 against the Yankees.

The Angels' manager watched his depleted team [Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter and Juan Rivera were out] stage its second straight comeback victory, overcoming an early four-run lead to lay a 14-8 beating on the Yankees Saturday. A seven-run fifth inning put the Angels ahead for good ...

Pettitte was charged with six runs on seven hits and two walks in 4.1 innings, the third time in his last four starts he has allowed a six-spot. The southpaw is 1-2 with a 10.38 ERA in those four games ...

George A. King III, Post:

If, as the Yankees want you to believe, Joba Chamberlain is young and learning to be a starter, does that mean age has wrapped a blanket around Andy Pettitte?

One game after Chamberlain's third straight subpar outing, the Yankees asked Pettitte to go deep against the Angels yesterday. Yet, like Chamberlain, Pettitte was rocked ...

Chamberlain is 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA in his last three starts. In 13.1 innings the 23-year-old has allowed 27 hits. Now Pettitte is on a bender. ... In the 37-year-old's last four outings, he is 1-2 with a 5.94 ERA.

No, 5.94 was his ERA in the three previous starts leading up to Saturday. As seen above, 10.38 is the correct answer.

Mark Feinsand, Daily News:

After sitting through another unwatchable performance on Friday night, we all had to listen to Joba tell us how his stuff the last two times out has been as good as it's been all year. If that's true, the Yankees are in serious trouble. He sounded like Ian Kennedy, who said the exact same things last August after he was knocked out after two innings in this very ballpark.

With a night to sleep on the game, Girardi recited his standard lines - yes, Joe, we know he's only 23-years-old - and said he believes Joba is due for a good second half.

My question is, why? ...

[M]ore often than not, he's been a guy that throws 100 pitches in five innings or less, not hanging around long enough to get the decision in the game. In fact, no pitcher in history has ever had more no-decisions in his first 29 starts than Joba, who has 19.

Joba = Dice Jr.?

Saturday

Mark Feinsand, Daily News:

Before Friday night's game, Joe Girardi expressed his frustration with the constant criticism aimed at Joba Chamberlain. The manager may have said all the right things after the pitcher labored through yet another unwatchable outing, but it's hard to believe Girardi isn't a little concerned.

In his last two starts, Chamberlain has given up 13 runs - though only seven were earned - on 18 hits and two walks in eight innings ...

Since his brilliant eight-inning outing in Cleveland on June 1, Chamberlain has pitched into the seventh inning only once in his last seven starts, averaging just a shade over five innings per outing in those games while posting a 5.05 ERA.

G87: Red Sox 15, Royals 9

Royals  - 000 015 120 -  9 13  3
Red Sox - 331 200 33x - 15 12  1

This game had it all.

Smoltz was credited with his first win in a Red Sox uniform, Aaron Bates collected the first hit and RBI (and error) of his major league career, Kevin Youkilis -- the Sultan of Sweat -- hit two home runs, drove in four runs and scored four times, David Ortiz crushed a two-run dong to right-center, the bullpen frittered away a 9-1 lead with Justin Masterson imploding to the tune of five runs in only .1 inning, Daniel Bard (with the tying run at the plate in the seventh inning) sat down three straight Royals, the KC pen issued six walks (three of them intentional) in the seventh and eighth innings, and Takashi Saito pitched a perfect ninth in a sudden downpour to put the Red Sox 2 GA of the Yankees.

And Ryan Freel hit into a 9-2 fielder's choice, as his bases-loaded liner to right was scooped on a short hop by J.D. Drew, who fired a laser beam on the fly to Jason Varitek, who stretched out like a first baseman to take the throw.

***

Gil Meche (4.14, 104 ERA+) / John Smoltz (6.60, 70 ERA+)

Time for Smoltz to shine and bring the doomers back in from the ledge. Because it's nice inside ... we have a one-game lead, the second-best record in MLB and a fridge full of cold beer.

Despite some recent hiccups, the Red Sox bullpen still has the best ERA in the American League: 3.26. The Rays are second at 3.36, and only the Mariners, Twins and White Sox are also under 4.00.

Terry Francona:

You can't go the whole year and have every reliever have a 1.60 ERA. That's probably not realistic.

John Farrell:

Their execution hasn't been as consistent as we've seen for most of the year ... but to say that something is drastically wrong or major adjustments are needed? No. ... We're not seeing anything drastic in terms of a delivery flaw or a bad habit with these guys or a physical issue that's starting to rear its head.

Last night's win was the first time the Red Sox won a game with as few as three hits since September 5, 2006 (a 1-0 win over the White Sox).

Since a May 26 loss to Minnesota, Lester has a 1.48 ERA in eight starts, with 69 strikeouts in 54.2 innings.

Jacoby Ellsbury was surprised at his first major league ejection:

I thought it should have been a helmet violation or whatever they call it, an equipment violation. That's why they have that. It's $100, and everybody stays in the game, and they move on. ... I thought I got in there. I spiked my helmet in frustration. ... I didn't say anything to [the umpire].

Two innings later, Ellsbury's replacement in center field, Rocco Baldelli, nailed Mark Teahen trying to tag and get to second base on a deep fly ball. Ellsbury could not have made a similar throw.

In five games since last Sunday, Dustin Pedroia is 11-for-21 with five doubles and two home runs. ... Mike Lowell took live batting practice on Friday. ... Since June 25, Daniel Bard has retired 19 consecutive batters.

In his first start since a bullpen demotion last month, San Francisco's Jonathan Sanchez (9-0-0-0-11, 110) no-hit the Padres last night, 8-0 (the only base runner reached on an 8th-inning error). It was the first time Sanchez's father saw his son start a major league game -- "I was expecting him to get tired."

At 4 PM: Yankees/Angels (Joba blew a 5-1 lead last night and New York lost 10-6). Boston is 1 GA.

G86: Red Sox 1, Royals 0

Royals  - 000 000 000 - 0  4  1
Red Sox - 000 000 01x - 1  3  1

Lester (8-4-0-2-8, 115) outdueled Bannister (7.2-3-1-4-7, 115) and Dustin Pedroia's double off The Wall scored Aaron Bates with the night's only run.

Mark Kotsay singled to start the bottom of the eighth. It was only the second hit for the Red Sox to that point; Jacoby Ellsbury had singled in the fifth. After two foul attempts, Nick Green bunted pinch-runner Bates to second. J.D. Drew struck out for the second out. On a 0-1 pitch to Pedroia, Bannister uncorked a wild pitch, and Bates took third. FY hammered the next offering off the Monster and Boston led 1-0.

In the ninth, Jonathan Papelbon was on his game, firing fastballs at 95-97, and needing only 11 pitches to retire the Royals' 3-4-5 hitters.

Lester worked out of a few jams. He had a runner at second with no outs in the second, but struck out Miguel Olivo, got Alberto Callaspo to fly to right and fanned Ryan freel. He stranded mark teahen at second after a two-out double in the fourth.

An infield error and Teahen's third hit of the night put Royals at first and second to begin the seventh. Olivo flied out to deep center. Rocco Baldelli (in for Ellsbury who was ejected on a play at the plate in the fifth) caught the ball and fired a one-hopper to second that nailed Teahen trying to advance to second. Jose Gullen tagged and took third, but there were now two outs. John Buck grounded harmlessly to third.

***

Brian Bannister (3.87, 111 ERA+) / Jon Lester (4.16, 112 ERA+)

Current Royals roster against Lester: 5-for-50 (.100/.179/.120)

Current Red Sox roster against Bannister: .396/.423/.625 for a 1.048 OPS. Drew is 4-for-9 with a double and a dong. And OMG -- Julio Lugo is 3-for-4!

NYY/LAA at 10 PM: Chamberlain/Saunders

Papelbon Through 38 Games - 2008/2009

Jonathan Papelbon's first 38 appearances in 2008 and 2009, respectively:

DATE    IP    H  BB   K   BF  PIT P/INN
0706   37.2  28   7  48  148  576  15.3
0708   38.0  34  18  40  167  688  18.1

        AVG   OBP   SLG   OPS   WPA   aLI
2008   .203  .241  .312  .553  0.51  1.60
2009   .234  .325  .352  .677  2.58  2.15

(WPA: Win Probability Added and aLI: Average Leverage Index)

Papelbon is pitching in (on average) more high-pressure situations than he was through his first 38 games last year -- and, therefore, has had a greater contribution to Red Sox victories.

While his strikeout rate has remained the same (down from 10.0 to 9.5), his hit rate is up slightly (8.1 from 7.5) and his walk rate has skyrocketed (from 1.0 to 4.3).

Papelbon has altered his motion this year to use his legs more and put less of a strain on his shoulder. On June 26, he said his arm is "feeling better than any year I've had" -- and that was due to the way Francona was using him.

Through 38 appearances in 2008, Papelbon had six games of more than one inning. However, three of those came in the first 12 games of the season -- on six, three and one days rest. (The other three were all on one day of rest).

Thus far in 2009, he has made only two appearances of more than one inning: April 11 on three days rest and May 4 on four days rest.

Francona suggested that perhaps expecting Papelbon to duplicate his 2008 performance is too much to expect:

There's been a few more walks than we've seen in the past, but I think it's more realistic, almost, what he's doing this year. What did he have last year - four walks, for a while? That's unheard of. ... There have been some instances where he's pitched himself into binds, but then he still has the ability to reach back.

Bot:

I don't think I have to hit a panic button [regarding the increased number of pitches], but it concerns me to the point where I have to pay more attention to my delivery. ... I look at it as: Did I get the job done or not. That's basically what it all boils down to for me. To me, the efficiency, the pitches per inning, kind of takes a back seat to: Did I get the job done?

It seems logical for the team to sacrifice some day-to-day excellence in the hopes of protecting Papelbon's arm/shoulder for the long-term, but if the drop in effectiveness means he has to throw more pitches to more batters, are those long-term benefits being undercut?

***

John Smoltz:

I love when people - and I've already heard some of it - say, "Ummmmm, I don't know. I don't think he can do it" ... I'm amused by it, because it happens all the time. I can tell you thousands of cases where I've started off a little slow and people have said, "He's getting older," and at the end of the year they're saying, "Well, he did it again." This is no different.

If you're going to be a major league pitcher, you have to have a little bit of that chip on your shoulder. At the same time, there are about 10 variables that are brand new to me, including the catcher and including the league. It's going to take some time. ... This may not make sense now, but I can see down the road, if the opportunity for some pretty big games exists, what I'm going to be able to do.

Naturally, there will come a time when an athlete cannot keep doing it again, but I don't think we have any idea right now if Smoltz is at that point.

Smoltz says he has been working on a new changeup:

The game's going to dictate when I use it. And I haven't had the feel I want with it yet. But it will happen. It's my fifth pitch, and I'm certainly not going to use my fifth pitch in too many situations. The bullpen is a nice place to work on stuff, but when you take it out to the mound in a game, that's something entirely different.

Mike Lowell's workout on Thursday included "soft tossing, tee work and taking ground balls at third". He will work out today and Saturday and the team will re-evaluate him on Sunday. He hopes to be activated a week from today.

I'm really happy. The [medical staff] told me they'd be shocked if I didn't feel like everything was in sync by the end of the week. ... They assured me it was going to get better each day, and it has.

A Twitter post from Peter Gammons indicated that Dustin Pedroia may miss the All-Star Game to be with his wife in the hospital. Francona: "I'm not sure how to answer that. I guess there's always a chance that he couldn't play because you don't know what's going to happen. But the plan is for him to play."

Julio Lugo was back with the club last night after missing one game because of what Terry Francona called a "pretty serious family issue". ... Rocco Baldelli has been working out at first base, though he has never played the position in a major league game. ... Daniel Bard's last four outings: 5.1 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 10 strikeouts.