Red Sox - 000 000 221 - 5 13 0Strange game. Wasted scoring opportunities by the bushel full for both teams through six innings.
Athletics - 000 000 000 - 0 4 0
Lester (6-2.-3-0-3-3, 94) turned in a nice performance, much improved from last week. There were some rough patches -- he issued his three walks on four pitches each -- but Houdini was helped by three double plays -- in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings. Oakland got three hits and three walks off Lester, but got only one runner past first base.
After allowing a two-out single in the seventh, Bryan Corey came in to get the third out. Corey allowed a leadoff single in the 8th, but retired the next three A's, two by strikeout. Manny Delcarmen pitched a perfect 9th: 6-3, F7, 3U.
Harden struggled in the first, allowing a single to Pedroia and walking Yook and Tizzle. But he stopped the rally, fanning Manny and Lowell and getting Drew to ground to first. Once he was gone (5-4-0-4-6, 86), the Sox pounced.
The Sox left the bases loaded in the 6th, but finally scored in the 7th. Yook doubled to left center and Ortiz crushed a home run to right. Five straight singles to start the 8th (four of them to the exact same spot in left field off Lenny DiNardo) made it 4-0. Tek donged in the 9th for the final run.
In the 18 innings in Oakland, the A's scored only one run on seven hits.
***
Jon Lester (44 ERA+) / Rich Harden (233 ERA+)
Einstein gives the Red Sox an extra LH bat against Haren.Pedroia, 2B
Youkilis, 1B
Ortiz, DH
Ramirez, LF
Lowell, 3B
Drew, RF
Varitek, C
Crisp, CF
Cora, SS
Gotta hope both those ERA+ numbers regress a little to the mean. Small sample size and all that.
ReplyDeleteHi. Have a good gamethread, everyone. I'll be back for Friday's game.
ReplyDeleteSmall pre-lineup news:
ReplyDeleteDrew RF
Cora SS
Crisp CF
This Crisp/Ellsbury thing is getting weird. I don't understand it.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking we get 6 from Lester with 2 runs and 5 hits. I'm looking for Manny to go yard.
With a few walks from Lester as well. Hopefully he'll be able to put some guys away quickly. No more nibbling.
ReplyDeleteThe video that pops up on redsox.com shows last night's controversial near-dong--from the A's channel. The A's announcer calls it a homer immediately. Finally the color guys chimes in with 'I think this ball's in play.' Then they go on acting like it looked like a dong.
ReplyDeleteEdes: Tito says Coco's a fastball hitter so he's in vs. fastball pitcher. I mean, my initial reaction is always gonna be 'how could Jacoby not be in there?' but as it currently stands, we've got a great fourth outfielder who would be a starter on most teams, so it's good to platoon as long as A. when Ellsbury's in, you LEAD HIM OFF, and B. always get the sitting guy into the game late.
This Crisp/Ellsbury thing is getting weird. I don't understand it.
ReplyDelete1. Tacoby might still have some shoulder stiffness or twinges from banging into the wall.
2. The Sox want Ococ to show off his skills so that he'll be good trade bait.
3. Tacoby is not a "sure thing" at the plate even though he had a great couple of months last year.
4. Having Ococ gives Tito more lineup options to throw at opposing pitchers.
5. Platooning Tacoby/Ococ keeps both of them rested.
The only possible negative I can see at this point is that Tito might not let one or the other get into a rhythm which could hurt their offensive numbers.
3. Tacoby is not a "sure thing" at the plate even though he had a great couple of months last year.
ReplyDeleteRight. Pedoria hit like crap in September 2006 and April 2007, but that small sample size was not a measure of his true ability.
Going in the other direction, Ellsbury is unlikely to sustain his September and October 2007 performance level.
TC and Eck spent a couple of minutes on Joba's uh, celebration in the eighth inning.
ReplyDeleteEck: "I can understand why you'd celebrate like Papelbon does at the end of the game, because there's so much pressure and suddenly it's all lifted. But, not in the eighth inning."
Until Jacoby proves he can get on base at at least a .380 rate, I think you have to go with pedroia and youks at the top. A reasonable projection for Jacoby in his first season in the majors would be .360, and his speed is just not enough of a factor to make up for that. What good is stealing second so they can walk Papi?
ReplyDeleteOf course, the dynamics change a little if Manny puts up 1.000 OPS and Drew puts up .900 in the 5 spot, making walking Papi quite harder. Still, OBP > speed.
On the other hand, I know Tito will do whatever he feels helps the guys the most mentally, and if that means Jacoby bats leadoff, I don't have an issue at all as long as he's somewhere above .350 obp. Below that, he's basically Coco Crisp.
Larry Bowa got ejected from the Dodgers game last night for standing outside of the 3rd base coach's box after "repeated warnings."
ReplyDeleteI think that rule will be fought over all season. A year-long campaign to get rid of the helmets and being stapled to the coach's box.
"3. Tacoby is not a "sure thing" at the plate even though he had a great couple of months last year."
ReplyDeleteStill, if I had to bet money on one guy on the team to get on base in any given game, I'd probably choose Jacoby.
Royals set to take a second straight game from the mighty Tigers. KC 4-0 in the 9th.
ReplyDeleteAhhh - NESN
ReplyDeleteAFT.
"What good is stealing second so they can walk Papi?"
ReplyDeleteSo if Youk or Pedroia hits a ball of the wall should they hold at first? Ellsbury could steal second, third, and home all while Papi's up. I'm not gonna keep a guy out of the leadoff spot because he has too MUCH talent.
"as long as he's somewhere above .350 obp. Below that, he's basically Coco Crisp."
If Jacoby's OBP is .350 that's 20 points higher than Coco last year and Coco overall in his career. But it's gonna a lot higher than that, I'd say.
FY, single
ReplyDeletefuck yeah.
ReplyDeletelots of hits, please, gentlemen.
Yeah! Dick Harden looks like Dick Soften so far today.
ReplyDelete- Uncle Joe is doing this game all by himself today. Dave O'Brien is in Yankeeland, and even though there are two other guys (Dale Arnold and studio man John Rish), Joe's doing this game alone.
ReplyDelete- One thing that's amazing about the Red Sox is how they have five guys who can and have hit lead-off. Youk, Lyndon, oCoC, Lugo, and Pedroia. Great way to start things up. Maybe Ortiz can put a quick three-spot on the board.
- There seem to be approximately 47 fans at the game today.
flo 4-for-6 with 2 dongs against harden.
ReplyDeleteRadar gun showed 98 on that last pitch.
ReplyDeleteit is time for grand slam #21, mbm.
ReplyDeleteOh man. Bases juiced for Manny.
ReplyDeleteConfucius say Manny hits grand dong.
manny 3-for-6 v harden - 3 dongs
ReplyDeleteneeded a fly ball there Manny
ReplyDeleteI blame online translators. Apparently "dong" and "strikeout" are similar words.
ReplyDeletecome on doc -- give us some Rx
ReplyDeletesame deal as ALCS game 6. loaded, next two get out, Drew comes up...
ReplyDeletelowell fooled on the change.
ReplyDeletedrew --- ah FUCKING A
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
that is absolutely shitty. goddamn it. Wait, was there just a big Canadian flag up? Oh for Harden, that's right.
ReplyDeleteYou have to be kidding me
ReplyDeleteall these empty seats. Go watch a baseball game!! How many people live in the Bay Area, like a billion?
ReplyDeleteplease stop the incessant banging
ReplyDeletejust poppin in from work to say hey all!
ReplyDeletefollowing on GDGD, shitty first but at least hardens thrown 25 pitches. we'll have to get him out of there and knock around their pen.
lester -- 15 pitches to the first 2 hitters
ReplyDeleteyou tellin' me Papi nor Manny could hit a lazy fly ball of Rich Harden? Did that just happen? Wasn't that an issue last year, where those two wouldn't hit when everyone else was?
ReplyDeletele ster - noun (Fr.) a methodical or deliberate pitcher
Cora in Cora's hubby's position. Of you know what I mean you win an invisible prize.
ReplyDeleteOui le ster!
ReplyDeletebrown, like o'neill, "plays it on a hop"
ReplyDeletecust me!
ReplyDeleteCora's hubby: Phil Rizzuto, who played shortstop.
ReplyDeleteGood day all - nice to have a game on at a reasonable hour! And nice for us Brits to get MLB TV too!
ReplyDeleteLooks like Floyd Bannister's kid shut out the wealthy Tigers.
ReplyDeleteOnly the 2nd, and already DOn and Jerry mocking fans.
ReplyDeletethat woman did not look pleased.
ReplyDeletei miss sean mcdonough ragging on fat kids stuffing food in their faces.
DP! AC to DP aka FY to KY
ReplyDeleteYOOO-- awww.
ReplyDeleteKeeping tabs on this one at work -- everything's blocked, so I'm watching the line score on fangraphs.com.
ReplyDelete3-0 on Manny...and ball 4.
ReplyDeletea grasscutter to short but mik3 lol still out easily
ReplyDeletemike slowell
ReplyDeleteget another DP, Wicked Lester
ReplyDeletethere it is! DP
ReplyDeletecould someone get that guy with the horn ejected?
ReplyDeletemark ellis burks up, as a horn and drums play from the stands. NESN should just turn off the mic that's picking that up. 4 pitch walk to Delta Burke.
ReplyDeleteBarton finks out on a pop to Slowell, inning over
ReplyDeletei love guys who hack after a 4-pitch BB.
ReplyDeleteyeah that's a no-no. Kangaroo court will fine his finky ass.
ReplyDeleteI'm following the game at work off of MLB Gameday, but it is pretty slow. Any alternate suggestions?
ReplyDeletei forgot to tell you that the day after you came up with the wicked lester name, one of the sites i download toons from had a set wicked lester demos from 74 or so. i got them for the hell of it -- maybe i'll up them on an off-day.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, Mr. Drew.
ReplyDeletesolid single by Bible Diet boy.
ReplyDeleteI'm using CBS when I miss pitches.
ReplyDeleteDREW -- ON FIRE !!!!!
Tough luck DP.
ReplyDeletepoop.
ReplyDeleteDrew doubled up at first --took one extra pause and was screwed.
ReplyDeleteand coco pops out to left. 0-0 through 3.5
ReplyDeletenice job on the Wicked Lester score. I don't think I've ever actually heard WL.
ReplyDeleteI like CBS' scoreboard. Interesting considering CBS itself doesn't cover baseball at all.
ReplyDeletePC:
ReplyDeleteHarden: 25-13-18 7 = 63
Lester: 23-10-10 = 43
Hey guys. Joinin' the fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm calling for a 1-2-3 inning for lester here.
Thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteremy should be forced to buy commercial time on nesn or stfu.
ReplyDeleteRemy again does the "I Want You" line. I still say the Uncle Sam of RSN should be saying that.
ReplyDeleteMike Sweeney--hey they've got Barton Fink and Sweeney Todd. Anyway, Sweeney walks. Call him "Todd walker."
Walked Lester
ReplyDeletedp pls.
ReplyDeletepatrick wrong
ReplyDeleteso much for that....
ReplyDelete"Still, if I had to bet money on one guy on the team to get on base in any given game, I'd probably choose Jacoby."
ReplyDelete???
even with his ridiculous hot streak last season, Papi was on base far more.
"If Jacoby's OBP is .350 that's 20 points higher than Coco last year and Coco overall in his career. But it's gonna a lot higher than that, I'd say."
Yes, which is why I said if his OBP is below .350, he's basically Coco- a little more OBP, a little less SLG, a little less defense. Neither are guys you want up top of the order, anyway.
Ellsbury's minor league career is .390 OBP. To suggest he'll vault above that to be the best on this team is not a bet I'd make. Even Youk lost a significant amount of OBP in the majors vs. minors.
Besides, if you accept that Tito is going to alternate Coco and Jacoby, and you surely don't want Coco up top, perhaps it would be better to keep Pedroia up top, where he is proven and comfortable, at least until the choice between Coco and Jacoby is made. By that time, we'll have a slightly better idea of what Jacoby is capable of, and then we can make the switch if necessary. But to suggest Tito's hurting the team by putting two .390 OBP men in front of Papi and Manny is silly.
This is quite out of place now, but I was watching the game. I won't respond any more- the only point I wanted to make was that we need to temper our expectations of Jacoby. Hard to do with the Sox, but he's a rookie. Let him develop, see what happens.
walk-ed lester, nice
ReplyDeleteBob Lobel is leaving WBZ. That's rather surprising news.
ReplyDeleteafter the kust K,
ReplyDeletelester with
27 balls
26 strikes
Patriot, I hope we don't regret not getting Santana for Jacoby and Lester.
ReplyDeletePlease prove us right, Lester!
I said, if I had to choose a guy who I think will get on base. Not, "If I looked at last year's stats."
ReplyDeleteYA DREW!!!!
ReplyDeleteOrsillo didn't even realize the guy was gonna get doubled off...
ReplyDeleteThere was your double play, what was that, 7-3?
ReplyDeleteSweeney has been hanging around emil Brown too much. Could do with out the pitching duel though.
ReplyDeletepatrick- believe it or not, I'm definitely cool with not making that trade. I'm not down on Lester or Ellsbury at all. I love watching homegrown kids win World Series games :)
ReplyDeleteSantana would've been nice...If we could've made a trade with the quality of prospects the Mets sent over, well hell yeah, I would've done it in a heartbeat.
9-3.
ReplyDeleteJust meant Jacoby's a guy I'd like to see up there. Of course, there are a lot of guys in this lineup I like to see up there.
ReplyDeleteI wanna see the replay of this throw "to" first by Drew. That play was like the Evans play in the '75 Series on drugs.
Hoping Papi busts out in style next inning.
ReplyDelete9-3
ReplyDeleteJere- there's the replay. Hey, at least it made JD laugh!!!1
ReplyDeleteCome on bats!
no bunt.
ReplyDeleteNO -- No bunting in the 5th. Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI know, that was a huge laugh for Drew.
ReplyDeleteremy: take your unenlightened bunting ideas back to the dark ages of the 1970s. we use brains now.
ReplyDeleteMaybe JD is tired of the "no emotion tag", a fist pump in the ALCS last year and now we get laughter.
ReplyDeleteC'mon Youk.
This game is actually turning out to be a great reminder of the vagaries of baseball. Inconsistent offense, getting out of jams, bad baserunning...it's training for not having heart attacks in a mid-August bat-drought!
ReplyDeleteYouk Ks swinging
ReplyDeleteLester at 58 thru 4 -- he should be able to go 7 if he doesn't implode.
ReplyDeleteWe saw Jeemer and Bot last night -- will Tito go with MDC today? (Wouldn't mind seeing some Aaaaardsman also.)
Papi Jeter's on into the opposite field for a 1B
ReplyDeleteManny Ks swinging. 3 pitch K.
ReplyDeleteHard to believe this game is still scoreless.
ReplyDeleteSigh, we need the heart of the order to be mean. It's early yet.
ReplyDelete5 PM -- time for a beer.
ReplyDeleteTime for a Cherry-flavored soft drink...and Newman-O's with a hint o' mint.
ReplyDeleteDrew makes the catch, one out.
OAK - 2 hits and 3 walks, yet only one guy has made it to second base.
ReplyDeleteGot a couple of cans of Asahi, the Japanese beer Dice did a commercial for last year. Worked last night -- we'll see how it does today.
ReplyDeleteI'd have a beer at 4:59, just to be rebellious.
ReplyDeleteCan o' Corn for C o C o.
ReplyDeletethe time of the comment was 4:58.
ReplyDeletei'm a bad man.
Ish - did Uncle Joe say why he is doing this game solo?
ReplyDeleteLowell gets glove on foul pop. No catch. Kathleen Hanna-han stays at plate.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of bad men. Lester K's another one.
ReplyDeletefoul tip in to mitt. Tek intangibly holds on. 0-0 thru 5.
ReplyDeleteI'd pick Papi to get on base, but I'd pick Jacoby to do something once he gets there. (Banal enough?)
ReplyDeleteI assume O'Brien is doing another game (in NY I guess?) and Rish nor Arnold won't go out to Cali for one game.....
ReplyDeleteOkay we get runs here.
ReplyDeleteDoc
Drew
&
Dreck
(... just kidding, tek!)
Ish - did Uncle Joe say why he is doing this game solo?
ReplyDeleteDave O'Brien is in Yankeeland tonight for the TOR/MFY on ESPN2.
Dave actually left halfway through the game last night. He did innings 2, 3, and 4, and then Joe did the rest of the game. It's strange because they have more broadcasters than they did last year, and Joe's doing a game solo today.
harden gone!!!
ReplyDeletego bbats
Wicked!
ReplyDeleteTime to light up the pen, lets go boys.
ReplyDeleteouch.
ReplyDeleteOw. Flank shot.
ReplyDeleteLowell plunked in ribs. I could hear him say "ow"
ReplyDeleteHarden (5-4-0-4-6, 86)
ReplyDeleteOuch! that had to hurt
ReplyDeleteHe'll be feeling that one in the morning. And the one after that. And the one after that.
ReplyDeletethe payoff pitch coming. (Ish, tell me if Castig says it)
ReplyDeleteDrew involved in three double plays today.
ReplyDeleteFragging kidding me.
ReplyDeleteThe A's paid in full on that payoff pitch.
ReplyDelete3-0. Take it to 3-1, then make up for last night's non-dong, Jason. Nope, ball 4.
ReplyDeleteFive walks for the Red Sox. No runs.
ReplyDeletesox -- 5 walks and 4 hits -- and 0 runs. only 1 runner to third.
ReplyDeletesingle coco, now Cora will knock in game's first run.
ReplyDeletefeels like a 2-out tease to me.
ReplyDeleteEmbree in! Captain Cheese! Love to see it. We must put runs on board!
ReplyDelete(Ish, tell me if Castig says it)
ReplyDeleteI missed it, heh.
Earlier I was out driving and another trademark call from Joe: "The pitch is outside - oh no, it's a strike. A late strike call by (insert umpire name here)."
Tito: Lugo's hitting .400!
ReplyDeleteThis ump has made some delayed calls, though. He did it to Papi on strike 3.
ReplyDeleteanother owie. Cora HBP. Loaded.
ReplyDeletemore plunkage. bloody hell.
ReplyDeleteGordon Edes (keeping Joe company): "Here's a chance for Pedroia to do something special for his homies."
ReplyDeleteHe's got a lot of family and friends there today.
10 LOB.
ReplyDeleteLOB-otomy.
ReplyDeleteA's high tight and plunking people, and again 3 LOB, geez. Where the frag is the offense?
ReplyDeleteTaking the LOBlaw into our own hands.
ReplyDeleteYouk with another non-error.
ReplyDeleteGood play on a bad hop for Youk. Keeps that errorless streak alive. I wasn't worried...
ReplyDelete2 quick outs for Wicked Lester.
ReplyDeleteFirst time that the Royals are 2 games above .500 since April 11th... 2004.
ReplyDeleteHi all. Been listening on the radio (no Jere cast today?) and finally got home. 0-0 after six. Hmmm. How's Lester been doing, besides not giving up any runs?
ReplyDeleteLester's pitch count is relatively low, isn't it? He's at what... 84 now?
ReplyDelete"can it corey a apple" is up
ReplyDelete"Kansas City Royals: Forever Champions."
ReplyDeleteRoyals first time 2 games over .500 since 2004 (4-2).
ReplyDeleteSock did you see D'Onofrio's predictions? He also has posted 54 outs predictions. I liked this one
3. The Sox will eventually settle on this lineup: Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Ramirez, Youkilis, Lowell, Drew, Varitek, Lugo. Yup, that means you're paying 6-9 a total of $45.5 million this year. So be it.
Line out short. 0-0 thru six.
ReplyDeleteTavarez is stupid.
ReplyDeleteTries to catch the foul ball with his bare hands. Comes up wincing. With no ball.
hey amy:
ReplyDeletelester has been solid. also been houdini-like with DPs in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. a few 4-pitch BB but overall, quite nice.
Corey could probably scare an apple into coring itself with those non-lip lips.
ReplyDeleteD'Onofrio ... has posted 54 outs predictions.
ReplyDelete54 outs???
Amy: I had people scorin' tix left and right on my blog today. Pavilion standing room for June weeknights available. Your school should be out then. Love the view from up there. Got some for myself....
ReplyDeleteSid at 87 pitches. Both pens quiet.
ReplyDelete87 pitches. Bring Lester back out for a rare seventh inning?
ReplyDeleteI thought Tavarez had that one!
ReplyDeleteYOUK!!
ReplyDeleteDouble! Yooooooooouk
ReplyDeleteYooooouk double bagging one to left center.
ReplyDeleteleadoff double. LET'S SCORE!
ReplyDeleteDONGGGGGGGGG Papi!!
ReplyDeleteScoreless no more!
ReplyDeletePapi Dong!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah boy!!!!!
Papi comes up BIG. Thanks Hombre...
ReplyDeleteYES!!! PAPI feeling better!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE TO SEE THAT MAN'S DONG!!!!
ReplyDeleteFLO giving us some Good Times.
ReplyDeleteOh, Manny. That was close.
ReplyDeleteManny--caught at top of wall in straightaway center.....
ReplyDeleteTIZZLE!
ReplyDeleteCrap, thought we were going to get a back to back
ReplyDelete54 outs???
27 outs per team
Heh -- Manny can't believe it stayed in.
ReplyDeleteManny got Truped there.
ReplyDeleteLowell pops up and clearly states "god damn it."
ReplyDeleteManny should still feel good about that AB though. He launched it. Just - a couple of feet short.
ReplyDeleteStretch time at Fenway in Oakland.
ReplyDeleteThe expression on Manny's face was priceless, though. I wonder if any of the photographers caught his expression.
ReplyDeleteLester into the 7th!! Celebrate good times!!!!
ReplyDeleteWould like to see a quick 1-2-3.
My beer gets the job done.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they'll play Sweet Caroline in the middle of the 8th.
ReplyDeleteOther places are. LA and Washington.
corey and lopez up
ReplyDeletebot threw 16 pitches last night
ReplyDeleteOK, gtg eat dinner. I am feeling very confident though. Keep the positive karma going.
ReplyDelete.55555 strike percentage for Lester
ReplyDeleteOK, gtg eat dinner.
ReplyDeleteWhat, no hitting F5 on the laptop at the dinner table???
Bot threw 16 last night, but Tito said on the pregame he probably would not be in tonight.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone think of any better outings they've seen from Lester?
ReplyDelete2 quick outs for Lester
ReplyDelete