August 11, 2008

G119: Red Sox 5, White Sox 1

Red Sox   - 000 000 203 - 5  7  0
White Sox - 001 000 000 - 1 7 0
Danks had easily set down the first 17 Red Sox batters and was eight outs away from a no-hitter against a lifeless Boston lineup when Kevin Youkilis smacked a single into left-center.

Mike Lowell then walked on five pitches and Danks needed a mound visit. He recovered to fan Jason Bay, but J.D. Drew ripped a double that one-hopped the wall in left-center and scored two runs, giving Boston a 2-1 lead.

After a quiet eighth, five of the first six Boston batters in the ninth inning reached safely. Jed Lowrie's bases-loaded double scored two runs and Jacoby Ellsbury's second single of the night brought around the fifth Boston run.

Beckett (8-7-1-0-8, 104) was stellar. He allowed two singles to start the third and two fly balls brought in Chicago's run. After that, only one White Sox runner reached second base. Bot wrapped things up with a perfect ninth.

The Twins shutout the Yankees 4-0 to drop the New Yorkers 9 GB in the East (they trail Tampa Bay by 10 games in the loss column).

***

Josh Beckett (4.08, 109 ERA+) / John Danks (3.21, 139 ERA+)

After the Angels (who lead the West by 14 (!) games), the next-largest division lead in either league belongs to the FKR, who are up 4.5 games on the Red Sox and 8.5 on the Yankees.

Tampa is off tonight; Yankees/Twins at 8 PM.

475 comments:

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Rob said...

Jon Heyman thinks Larry Lucchino will leave the Red Sox at the end of the season.

Lucchino is said by people familiar with the just-departed Ramirez soap opera to have been much more committed to keeping Ramirez, no matter how badly the man-child superstar behaved and how much he risked undermining the clubhouse -- the two innovative Yalies have engineered this Red Sox renaissance and combined to bring two World Series titles to the previously star-crossed and storied organization. Yet there is burgeoning talk among baseball's elite that the end of their baseball relationship could be at hand.

nixon33 said...

wow, the mets fucking suck. i used to try and root for them, but i almost feel like its more fun to watch them fall apart at the end of games. now that willie is gone, i enjoy their loses a lot more.

Zenslinger said...

Oatmeal, hold the Papi (day off):

1. Coco Crisp, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
4. Mike Lowell, 3B
5. Jason Bay, LF
6. J.D. Drew, DH
7. Jed Lowrie, SS
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
-- Josh Beckett, SP

tim said...

Oatmeal, hold the Papi (day off)

FUCKING BASTARD! WHAT A LAZY SOB! TRADE HIM!

Zenslinger said...

Extra Bases also said knuckleballer Charlie Zink will start Tuesday.

nixon33 said...

great just what our offense needs, a papi day of.

Zenslinger said...

I assume Ellsbury's in RF and Coco's in CF with Drew at DH. Extra Bases has two CF's at the moment.

Tony said...

That is a brutal lineup, especially if you're assuming (like I am) that Lowell's hurt. Funny to see Crisp lead off again, as well as Ellsbury back down to 9th after his one trip back to leadoff and subsequent cooling down from his hot start.

I'm looking forward to seeing Zink. Obviously, not as much as I would be if it were September and the Sox had a 7 game lead in the East, but I've been reading about him for years and it's cool to finally see him pitch in the Big Show.

nixon33 said...

knuckleballer Charlie Zink

THIS GUY SOUNDS MADE UP!

lurkkher said...

Tony - agreed, brutal lineup.

I'm presuming that the Coco/LBJ positions are due to the lefty pitcher.

A Conformer said...

You know, I'm a Red Sox fan (obviously), and I root for the rivals to lose, always. But the Longoria and Crawford injuries don't really make me happy.
Now, if they played for the MFY, it would be totally different.
That said, I hope they plan on losing some games soon. It seems we haven't made up a game in the standings for a while.

allan said...

whew - nesn -- at home without the hawk!!

Rob said...

Good thing the game isn't being played in Boston. It'd be John Danks' night. Dank here in New England.

Jere said...

"Extra Bases has two CF's at the moment."

What, the Globe made a mistake?

Rob said...

And this laptop is making a weird noise. I think it's the fan but it just sounds... like a car would when its struggling.

Jere said...

" It'd be John Danks' night. Dank here in New England."

hopefully Second City is just joshin'. Or...whatever.

Zenslinger said...

What, the Globe made a mistake?

Indeed. But they did correct it.

I'll be at The Bar if you need me.

allan said...

we need to pound the shit outta danks because his stoopid lower lip hair is annoying me greatly

A little night musing said...

Don't know how much I can follow the game tonight. We're going to be sorting the electronics in the apartment in preparation for Upper Manhattan's first ever electronics recycling event this weekend, and this place is more or less the Museum of Antique Computer Bits... but without a curator, if you get my drift.

I'm getting anxious just contemplating it.

A little night musing said...

we need to pound the shit outta danks because his stoopid lower lip hair is annoying me greatly

Yes, that's the spirit!

Benjamin said...

This is a pretty crappy lineup.

Rob said...

Wow. That patch of hair on his chin is horrible looking. I mean, I don't have anything against the "soul patch", but that's overkill.

Jere said...

This isn't a new thought or anything, but it pisses me off that while I memorized all the ballpark names as a tike, my kids will have to memorize the names of the corporations whose names the parks use.

Jere said...

1Pitch1out for Josh

allan said...

danks - 12 pitches, 11 strikes.

A Conformer said...

Sorry I keep beating the same drum, but notice something funny about that oatmeal? something like 6 J's in a row? Huh?

The all J roster conspiracy lives.

allan said...

it's also a very white lineup.

Rob said...

I wonder if it'll be the first time in baseball history for a knuckleballer to fill in for another knuckleballer.

A Conformer said...

Quentin will have a short career with that crouch. Knee problems are pretty likely.

Benjamin said...

<3 9-pitch innings thrown by us.

JCal76 said...

Why is it that when Remy announces the defense and their fielding percentage he always gets how they rank in the AL wrong??

Jere said...

a conformer, I mentioned that too, the other day, asking that day if it was a record....don't know if you beat me to that or not.

Jere said...

"I wonder if it'll be the first time in baseball history for a knuckleballer to fill in for another knuckleballer."

That's funny, because there was a chance Zink would pitch for Pawtucket at Fenway on Saturday, but he didn't--but the opposing team DID throw a knuckleballer.

allan said...

team fielding percentages ... can you think of a more meaningless stat?

Stephanie Frisina said...

fuck sakes. my first post of the day and it gets conflicting edits. FU Blogger.

Stephanie Frisina said...

Wins?

tim said...

Oh and it was logged in as stephs account. Salt on the goddamn wound.

allan said...

Doctor Millars it to left.

Rob said...

My father, on Dank's lip hair: "It looks like he has a rat stuck to his lip.

A Conformer said...

So, as avid, constant baseball watchers: are the White Sox' announcers the homeriest of the homers?

tim said...

Also, what in the blue fuck to Dank's face.

Jere said...

when I get conflicting edits I just hit reload and the comment goes through.

Jere said...

It's hard to beat Hawk's homerism....

JCal76 said...

Danks lookin a little like Billy Koch with that rat on his chin.

allan said...

CWS has got to be the worst. Not only do they act as cheerleaders -- "come on ball, get out!" or "run run run, you can do it!!!" -- but they project possible WS rallies like 10 year old kids. ... okay if thome homers here, then dye gets a double and uribe singles, then we'll be in good shape.

they are a joke.

JCal76 said...

It's hard to beat Hawk's homerism....

I've heard him not say a word after an opponents HR. Ive also seen him after Chi ends their half of the inning not say a word and then awkwardly go to commercial.

allan said...

I've heard him not say a word after an opponents HR.

Yup. He'll say: "here's the pitch ... (crack) ............
.......................
......................
.......................
........................
and Danks get a new ball from the umpire. He's ready to go."

Tony said...

redsock - not to mention every time I hear "you can put it on the board, YES!" I want to disembowel myself with a knitting needle.

Jere said...

It's weird how Hawk was such a beloved RED Sock, and he's turned out like this. Then again, I first knew him as a Yankee announcer for MSG in like the late 80s...

Rob said...

I'm hoping for a lot of Hawk silence tonight.

JCal76 said...

Jason Bay looks like Woody from Toy Story.

Jere said...

I remember in the Yankee days, it was "rack 'em up, put 'em on the board." The "yes" was added later.

efd said...

Hawk was an announcer on channel 38 for a while too, right?
(back me up on this, pre-cable JoS-ers!)

Rob said...

Griffey, I'm a big fan of yours, but not tonight.

Interesting that the Diamondbacks were able to acquire Adam Dunn today.

Not quite enough to counter Manny, but it's something.

Benjamin said...

Wikipedia says he was on WSBK in the mid 70s and fired in 1981 before joining the White Sox crew in 1982.

tim said...

Man. Slingbox is fuckin' up. Shitty wireless here.

Jere said...

'75-'81, Hawk on 38, with Stockton, then Martin

efd said...

thanks Phil! I was just thinking I could have looked that up myself...

Rob said...

PAINTING!

allan said...

HE GONE!

tim said...

woooooo

Tony said...

Have a seat, Griffey. Craig Biggio is SO much better than you are.

tim said...

Am I the only one who hates Griffey's stance? It's just lame, and reminds me of his video game for super nintendo.

Benjamin said...

Junior is 4-21 with the White Sox, all singles, with one walk.

allan said...

I wonder if John Danks has ever thrown a perfect game ..... WELL, HE'S PITCHING ONE NOW!!!!!!!!!!

Jere said...

Kim just entered and got her first look at Danks: "Oh no, he's got the Krotch beard."

(We call Koch Krotch.)

Tony said...

Apropos of nothing, Sidney Ponson's Gameday picture is a thing of beauty. I've struggled for a few minutes to think of a funny comparison, and nothing is springing to mind. All I can do is invite you all to go take a look.

JCal76 said...

Why can't Ponson get a Bryce Florie liner? Please?

Tony said...

I can't even say "god damn it, Tek" anymore. It's not like he's TRYING to suck this bad.

Jere said...

ooh a Minny dong, 2-zip

Tony said...

On the bright side, Adam Everett (!) just put the Twins up 2-0 in the 2nd with a dong. How about that?

JCal76 said...

2-0 Minny

Benjamin said...

Try harder, Allan. Danks can't hear you.

Jere said...

Yanks have had 5 baserunners in two innings, no runs. Nice.

allan said...

Yanks have had 5 baserunners in two innings, no runs. Nice.

See? It's not only us.

..

Bay is 2 for his last 14.

Tony said...

At this point in the evening, I would like to say that although I do not behoove John Danks his success as a baseball player and wish him a long and fruitful career, right at this very moment, I hope he burns in hell.

allan said...

manny woulda caught that.

efd said...

I know it seems counter-intuitive, but given the current WC standings a Twins loss would not be the worst thing in the world. Especially coupled with a Sox victory.

allan said...

i agree, efd

Tony said...

efd, I see your logic there, but I'd much rather the Sox just win. That would render any other team-watching more or less irrelevant.

allan said...

then again, with 42 or 43 games to go, maybe it's better to let the mfy get as far out of it as possible, then deal with the twins and rays

Jere said...

Yeah but if we beat Chi and the Twins win, the White Sox become the team in the WC race anyway. Also, I'll just root against the Yanks and take my chances, unless it were late September.

efd: hopefully you know the Red Sox Diehard site, complete with all-time broadcaster list.

JCal76 said...

Best case scenario is if the Yanks/Twins go 13 innings and then whilst heading into the 14th both teams burn in hell.

Benjamin said...

Yeah, at some point, your team just needs to do some winning. Even assuming you can lose your way to a playoff berth, there's no way to advance in the playoffs by losing.

Tony said...

Hey, AJ, how about another DP?

Jere said...

jcal76 WINS!

Except the Yanks get burned worse.

Benjamin said...

Fucker.

Rob said...

Tony's sharing my thinking. Just win, and the other games will take care of themselves. You can't get to 3.5 GB or 2.5 GA if you don't win.

Tony said...

Exactly, phil. One of the funniest things I ever read was in one of the BTF Mets game threads from last year: "it's funny how you can't clinch the division when you keep losing games". You win games, and the rest takes care of itself.

Now, as far as the prospect of the Sox winning games, that still remains to be seen. Especially since they're starting to turn into the 2006 MASH unit all over again.

Jere said...

" You can't get to 3.5 GB or 2.5 GA if you don't win."

We could, if we continually get rained out and the Rays lose over and over. But eventually we'd have to win the make-up games...

efd said...

Jere, thanks for that link - I wasn't familiar with that site.

I'm not rooting for the Yanks to win by any means, and I agree that the sooner they're buried and out of it the better.
But if they *do* manage to pull out a win against the Twins...
--ah, the heck with it. GO TWINS!!

Jere said...

yeah, I think of it like, "If the Yanks win, there's somewhat of a bright side." But go Twins.

Jere said...

Why are there only McCain ads on NESN? Isn't there some law where you have to have one side and the other side, not just one?

Tony said...

BTW, I wonder if the Rays will actually pull off a deal for Sheffield. It'd be kinda neat; the Rays actually dealing for this year instead of next. It also wouldn't make too much of a difference, since I think '08 Sheffield < '08 Longoria anyway.

And I consider Beckett only giving up 1 that inning a minor victory. Shame he had to throw 200 pitches to do it.

A Conformer said...

The BOS-SOX team names on the score line looks strange.

allan said...

the more the yanks tank, the better the tabloud back pages will be! ... with extra hank eruptions!!

tim said...

ba da da da da....eatin cherries

Jere said...

incredible analysis by Remy: "He shaved his head, so he has no hair."

tim said...

incredible analysis by Remy: "He shaved his head, so he has no hair."

sounds like a madden comment.

Tony said...

Hank has brought much joy into my life this past year-plus. I cannot wait for him to fire Cashman and give Manny a 5 year, 120 mil deal.

Tony said...

Can somebody run out onto the field and take a tire iron to Danks' kneecaps, please?

efd said...

anyone taking bets on the first "Zink or Swim" headline?

tim said...

goddankit.

allan said...

HEY DANKS -- ONLY 15 MORE OUTS FOR A PERFECT GAME!!!

Tony said...

efd, I don't want to Zink about it.

...I'll show myself out.

tim said...

This yahoo sports headline is baffling: "Arizona answered the Dodgers' acquisition of Manny Ramirez by dealing for Adam Dunn, a bopper of historic proportions."

historic proportions...adam dunn?

Jere said...

"Zink Sox-Eyed"

Tony said...

tim...his strikeouts are of historic import. Plus, IIRC, no hitter has more HR since '04 than Dunn. I know, selective endpoint, but still kind of impressive.

A Conformer said...

Anybody have a recommendation for a good place to find last-minute tickets for a concert? I wanna go see King Crimson tomorrow in Philly, but I'd rather not pay 90 bucks for the pleasure. Any ideas?

tim said...

BecKett. Anyway time to study for tomorrow's exam.

Later all.

Jere said...

Craigslist.

Or prostitution.

tim said...

a conformer...ebay? craigslist? i know they're usually filled with scalpers but the day before/day of the show they're trying to unload em below cost.

also king crimson is still around? that's awesome.

A Conformer said...

I should say that I've checked the obvious ticket sites, Ebay and craigslist.

Jere said...

Dude, you can go with Megan for 50 bucks!

Jere said...

Another person on there has them for 25 each.

tim said...

hahaha, that'd just be fucked.

I really gotta go...hopefully John Danks continues pitching this perfect game.

Tony said...

At least Beckett's keeping up his end of the bargain. Well, more or less.

Jere said...

NESN misses pitch....ouch

A Conformer said...

Dude, you can go with Megan for 50 bucks!

Yeah, I left her a message (: I even offered a ride, since I'm coming from Richmond and she's coming from DC. Now I'm just waiting for her to call back.

allan said...

HEY DANKS -- ONLY 14 MORE OUTS FOR A PERFECT GAME!!!

Jere said...

Lowell almost made it to first that time.

Jere said...

This is the perfectest game I've ever seen this guy pitch

Benjamin said...

Get a fucking hit.

A Conformer said...

Shaved Floyd looking terrified. And cold.

allan said...

HEY DANKS -- ONLY 13 MORE OUTS FOR A PERFECT GAME!!!

Jere said...

When I was little, we had that game Perfection. Then we got Super Perfection. That was just a perfect game.

efd said...

gosh, this is the most perfect perfect game I've ever seen.

allan said...

HEY DANKS -- ONLY 12 MORE OUTS FOR A PERFECT GAME!!!

shit

Tony said...

You know what, I'm starting to reach the point where I only half-care the Sox lose, just as long as SOMEBODY GETS THE FUCK ON BASE.

Rob said...

I don't care that Danks is pitching a perfect game right now. It only takes a dong to tie the game.

I'm just hoping Beckett keeps them at just 1 run.

Jere said...

The worst part of getting perfected by the ChiSox would be having to hear Hawk's call of it all over the place. Let's avoid that!!!!!

tim said...

Perfect game, can you believe it?

A Conformer said...

What's the record for ugliest facial hair while pitching a PERFECT GAME!!!!!!!!!?

Jere said...

Wow, I've never seen a mascot actively try to distract the opposing pitcher. In the major leagues.

Jere said...

3-6-1

Benjamin said...

Thanks, Swisher.

allan said...

If there are 2 quick outs, I demand that Lyndon drop down a bunt.

efd said...

Wow, I've never seen a mascot actively try to distract the opposing pitcher

I noticed that in one of the games over the weekend, too... maybe yesterday? The mascot was sitting just to the right of the plate (when looking in from CF) and rolling his arms around.

Benjamin said...

64 pitches and one run through five would be great, under different circumstances.

Jere said...

Funny how both teams named after socks (neither of which are green) have green biped creatures as mascots.

tim said...

Steph is watching that intervention show, featuring some girl huffing compressed air. Tis fucked.

Jere said...

Lowrie strikes out on two pitches.

A Conformer said...

Does anyone really buy an HD tv because it's the "official tv of MLB"? Who the fuck cares?

Tony said...

If nothing else, Phil, we can take from this game so far that Beckett's pitched very well.

Rob said...

Danks reminds me of a better Cole Hamels.

allan said...

OMG DANKS -- ONLY 11 MORE OUTS FOR A PERFECT GAME!!! LOL

tim said...

wtf danks

Jere said...

I saw the ad for that show! Looked messed up. In fact, KIm's in the other room and I hear screaming, so I think she's watching that crazy huffer girl too.

tim said...

Does anyone really buy an HD tv because it's the "official tv of MLB"? Who the fuck cares?

Theres a lot of idiots out there.

allan said...

OMG DANKS -- ONLY 10 MORE OUTS FOR A PERFECT GAME!!! LOL

...

BUUUUUUUUNTTTTTTTTTTT

Rob said...

HAHAHAHA NO MORE PERFECT GAME!

efd said...

there goes the perfect game!

allan said...

HBP!!!!

tying run on!!!

FU DANKS!!!!

OMG DANKS -- NO-HITTER INTACT!!! LOL

Jere said...

Way to ruin your perfect game, dipshit. Butt-plugged!

nixon33 said...

DONT WORRY DANKS, COCO WILL KEEP YOUR NO-NO IN ORDER.

Tony said...

A BASERUNNER!!!!!!!! PRAISE JEBUS!!!!!!!

Our long national nightmare is finally over.

Benjamin said...

No more perfect game, at least.

A Conformer said...

On LBJ's perfect BEhind.

Jere said...

Coco's face there reminded me of Daubach's, for some reason.

Rob said...

JACOBY'S GOTA RUN HERE

tim said...

hahahaha yes.

efd said...

crap.

tim said...

Danks still pitching a no-hitter eh?

Tony said...

I really, really hate you, Coco Crisp.

Benjamin said...

Still a nohitter.

tim said...

Bob's Furniture Tax Holiday weekend voice is on hyperspeed. Wow.

nixon33 said...

thanks cocococksuker.

is it me, or can anyone else believe how bad he is. i dont care about his glove, we have 'oby.

coco is worthless to me.

Tony said...

Crisp is more or less worthless as anything except a defensive sub right now, anyway. As I've said before, it's a shame how that wrist injury fucked up his career.

Still, F him.

allan said...

OCab decides to take 1 pitch before hacking.

3 PA - 4 pitches - 3 outs

tim said...

All Crisp has going for him is his glove. We can get a new one of those from the Rawlings Corp. of America anyday.

No arm. No bat.

Rob said...

"tardy on the cut" SHUT UP DON.

Benjamin said...

3-0 Twins.

tim said...

siddown san quentin

Tony said...

Throwing this out to you guys: talking to a friend of mine, we both agreed that if the '08 Twins made the playoffs, it would be an achievement at least equal to, if not more than, the '08 Rays making the playoffs. Thoughts?

tim said...

Wonder if the Chi media is going to slam Dye for not hustling down the line on that one.

efd said...

there's that glove!

Rob said...

WOW. feet betrayed you there huh coco?

tim said...

Like I said, good glove!

Fans behind the plate truped @ that one.

Benjamin said...

How hard is he supposed to hustle with another baserunner ahead of him?

Tony said...

Way to wriggle out of that, Beckett.

All right, guys, 9 outs left. Time's a-wastin'.

A Conformer said...

I don't know. I kinda like Coco's defense (:

allan said...

OKAY --

me drinking white wine and eating organic blackberries = red sox rally

i've done the math, it's totally solid ... so let's put 'em on the board

yes.

Benjamin said...

Hits, please. A run or two would be nice, but I'm not greedy.

Jere said...

Why, because they lost Santana? The Twins were almost a .500 team last year.

Benjamin said...

Which wine?

Rob said...

HIT!!!!

Jere said...

no-hitter OVER. now win.

efd said...

HIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JCal76 said...

I don't think Boston has swung on top of the ball yet tonight.

Youk!

Benjamin said...

If we don't get another baserunner, then Pedroia just ended his streak.

allan said...

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK

nixon33 said...

FUCK YOU DANKS!
HAHAHAHA

LETS WIN

Benjamin said...

Well that works.

efd said...

and the crowd gives Youk a standing O. ;)

nixon33 said...

YOUK!

nixon33 said...

i like me some win

tim said...

Possum chin breaks up rat chin's no hitter.

allan said...

Rx pls

Tony said...

THANK YOU YOUK!

jere: on top of losing Santana, the Twins were without Liriano most of the year, and...well, take a look at their roster. I mean, Jesus.

A Conformer said...

That was cheap. But I'll take it. Now, let's dong ourselves into the lead.

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