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August 6, 2009

G107: Yankees 13, Red Sox 6

Red Sox - 001 210 002 -  6  8  1
Yankees - 001 821 10x - 13 18 0
It's time to take John Smoltz out of the starting rotation. He may still have value as a reliever, as long as he doesn't face too many lefties and never goes through a lineup more than once. But his days as an effective starter appear to be over.

Coming into tonight's game, lefties were hitting .403/.440/.662 against Smoltz. New York's lineup had seven LHB (CI and Slappy were the only RHB). Smoltz faced 16 LH batters -- and 12 of them reached base, including two doubles and two home runs. Smoltz's opponents' OPS goes up as he throws more pitches (not including tonight):
PITCHES  PA   AVG   OBP   SLG    OPS
1- 25 39 .281 .410 .313 .723
26- 50 47 .304 .304 .478 .783
51- 75 43 .349 .349 .488 .837
76-100 35 .353 .371 .882 1.254
After three unimpressive innings -- 59 pitches -- the Yankees teed off on Smoltz in the fourth: Posada double, Cano RBI single, Swisher walk, Cabrera three-run home run, Jeter F8, Damon single, Teixeira double, Rodriguez BBI.

Smoltz finished the night with a 3.1-9-8-4-3, 92 line. Sacrificial lamb/reliever Billy Traber actually recorded one more out than Smoltz did: 3.2-9-5-1-1, 70. But his seventh pitch was hit by Dumbo for a three-run dong to boost New York's lead from 6-3 to 9-3. That ended up being the final coffin nail on this game.

Joba has a Dice-esque evening (5-6-4-7-5, 108), but was credited with a "win". A quintet of Yankees pitchers issued 12 walks and allowed eight hits; the Red Sox were 3-for-21 with runners in scoring position and left 15 men on base (221 032 212).

Jed Lowrie left the game in the fourth inning with pain in his left forearm. In the post-game, Terry Francona said Lowrie felt pain shoot down his arm. He'll meet with team doctors tomorrow.
Example
John Smoltz (7.12, 66 ERA+) / Joba Chamberlain (3.58, 124 ERA+)

Lineup:
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Victor Martinez, C
Kevin Youkilis, LF
David Ortiz, DH
J.D. Drew, RF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Casey Kotchman, 1B
Jed Lowrie, SS
Example
UPDATE (4:22): Rocco Baldelli has been placed on the disabled list. ... David Ortiz will address the media before tomorrow's game regarding last week's news that he failed a drug test in 2003.
Example
UPDATE (2:45): Josh Reddick will be in uniform for tonight's game, though the Red Sox have made no formal announcement.

Mazz:
According to major league rules designed to prevent roster manipulation, a player must spend a minimum of 10 days in the minor leagues upon being demoted. Nonetheless, an exception can be made in the event of an injury to a player at a corresponding position – outfielder for outfielder, pitcher for pitcher, etc. – though it is unclear whether a team must place the injured player on the disabled list in order to exercise that right.
Jason Bay has said his hamstring injury is minor, but a DL stint is a possibility.
Example
The Red Sox are 2.5 GB the Yankees -- with 55 to play -- as the two rivals begin a four-game series in the Bronx.

Not much else to say -- these are the first critical games of the 2009 season.

Other starters:
Fri 7 PM - Beckett/Burnett
Sat 4 PM - Buchholz/Sabathia
Sun 8 PM - Lester/Pettitte
SoSHer luckysox delivers the pep talk:
Fuck the pessimism and the whining, and the kvetching and the sour pussing and the "We only have 2 decent pitchers, whoa is us!" So fucking what? So the Sox aren't perfect? When have they been perfect? ...

No team is perfect and the 09 version is far from it...but have some faith. We've learned this already...have some faith! THIS is why we follow and post and watch and curse and celebrate and lose sleep and wake up angry or wake up happy. It's why we care. THIS very part of the season when the bats quiet and pitching falters, this is when special things happen, folks. ... It's when hope is alive and the heart flutters a little bit more with every pitch. ...

Back on the god damned wagon, y'all. You don't want to accidentally miss something amazing.
Back on the wagon. Get in the van. Everybody on the bus. Hop on the F-Train.

Meanwhile, what are they saying in New York that the Yankees need to do?

Good luck with that.

It didn't work then ...



It won't work now.

537 comments:

  1. I really wish they could just skip Smoltz in this series. Hopefully he'll surprise me tonight but I don't feel too optimistic.

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  2. Jason Bay re-aggravated his left hamstring running out a grounder in the eighth inning last night. Will miss at least the first two games of the series.

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  3. I love these pep talks.

    Is Reddick back up yet?

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  4. DL Traber and get Reddick up. That might break the record for most egregious fake DL stint ever, but fuck the rules. The Sox need another OF.

    I guess DFAing Traber and bringing up Duncan or Anderson makes more sense...

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  5. SoSHer FFCI wonders if JtC will hury himself with a celebration getting strike one on Ellsbury in the first!

    We need to put the pressure on that drunk driving motherfucker right away -- first game of a big series, at home, he'll be way pumped up and he will choke.

    Or come inside on Yook -- and start a brawl.

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  6. LMAO. That's their answer? Conjure up another curse? We got 'em by the bawls. Fuck you, Joba and your meth happy mama.

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  7. "DL Traber and get Reddick up. That might break the record for most egregious fake DL stint ever, but fuck the rules. The Sox need another OF."

    I thought Kottaras was the most egregious fake DL stint ever.

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  8. SoSHer Beomoose:
    "I want to beat them so badly that 3 generations from now their descendants will waken in the middle of the night screaming and know it was because of this day."

    ReplyDelete
  9. This should be some series...

    As a Yankee fan I would like to see wins tonight and Saturday (Obviously I'd like to see wins Fri-Sun)...but historically we've had issues with Beckett and Lester....so those games are going to be iffy.

    We caught a break with Bay being out...but what scares me is the potential of VMart becoming a new Yankees killer.....he has always hit well against us.

    This series actually matters....April/May/June meant shit...it was early....however this plays out could catapault the team who wins this series to the top of the AL East....

    **I hope this gets posted even though I am a Yankees fan

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  10. Post away, dude. But consider using one period at a time.

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  11. JOSers, before we take moderation off tonight, pleae remember:

    DNFTT

    Thanking you in advance for your cooperation. :)

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  12. Ha! I posted that before I even saw the comment above mine. Cool.

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  13. It didn't mean shit because you lost those games but it would have meant lots of shit if you won them. Although we know what happened earlier in the season means nothing, also.

    What's going on here is the number 2 team in the AL East, taking on number 1 in their home ballpark.

    This is the #4 team in ALL of baseball taking on #2, in their home ballpark. This is a huge series. Plus it's four games.

    Red Sox sweep means 1.5 GA and a Yankee sweep means 6.5 GB. Red Sox 3/4 means 0.5 GB and Yankees 3/4 means 4.5 GB.

    So yeah. The Yankees can go eat a bowl of dicks and we'll be 1.5 up by the time Joe Morgan finally shuts up on Sunday night.

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  14. In all fairness I wrote that comment before L posted her's and I mean no ill will toward B.R. because, although I'd love it if he stopped telling us he's a Yankee fan because, we know, he's been respectful (and I agree with him most of the time except for that little issue of me being a Sox fan and he being a Yankee fan), etc.

    Anyways, John Smoltz, I would like you to eat a large plate of huevos rancheros because you will need all the huevos you can get tonight.

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  15. "So yeah. The Yankees can go eat a bowl of dicks and we'll be 1.5 up by the time Joe Morgan finally shuts up on Sunday night."

    Ehhh....I'd like to say Yankees will be 4.5 up after Joe Morgan shuts up Sunday night.

    Ish, Relax. We got our asses handed to us, but it was early in the season. We lost. Like we lost to the Phillies in June, and 2 out of 3 to the Marlins and Nationals...they are all losses....none mean anything more than the other. Here we are mid-August, the season winding down, top AL teams separated by 2.5 games, and either the Sox are gonna walk outta NY staggering and beaten up, or the Yanks are gonna be left wondering why they keep getting shit on by the Sox (along with their confidence shattered) that could affect them the remainder of the season.

    These games mean a hell of a lot more than May/June games did. I'd be saying that if the Yankees were 8-0. Can't wait to watch Smoltzy toss those meatballs tonight.

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  16. Allan, of all people, jumps in with the Most Probable Outcome! (MPO) Way to go, Allan!

    See, that's what's most likely to happen.

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  17. "Or they split and we all shrug our shoulders and look to the end of the month meeting."


    Preferably...I'd like to see an October meeting. It's been way too long....I miss Yanks/Socks on Fox everynight in the midst of October.

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  18. No worries. I have stress on the fingertips. Well, along with everywhere else at the moment. But that's unrelated to baseball. I should be good by gametime, hopefully.

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  19. ... or they split the 4 games.

    Can't wait to watch Smoltzy toss those meatballs tonight.

    I am in no mood for this shit. I wouldn't welcome it on any day, of course, but into my third day of carting box after box of heavy shit out of a now-smelly basement, I REALLY have no fucking goddamn patience at all.

    Like I always say, there are a bazillion websites to post back and forth insults with Red Sox fans, but this has never been one of them. Consider that the last post of yours that will appear with any trash talk in it. Type carefully.

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  20. BR: Don't fucking tell members of this community to RELAX after YOU come around stirring up shit.

    Ish can't post whatever he wants. You're the one who has to be careful.

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  21. L-Girl I am really sorry. Please forgive me. I will no longer say relax to anyone in this forum. You cursing at me is not something I want to happen, and I brought it upon myself.

    I look forward to a grand old baseball showdown between two great AL teams. We are gonna have a jolly ole' time watching them go head to head for four games. I look forward to future Hall of Famer John Smoltz tossing a great game, and young star Joba Chamberlain doing the same for the Yankees. That way it will be a great game for fans of both teams alike! :)

    Redsock - Apologies for your difficult last 2 days....flooded basements blow, and can definitely ruin a summer day. You must be stressed out from all the moving. I hope things go better over the course of the weekend.

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  22. The temerity of Eric Wilbur to even mention a prior season.


    http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/wilbur/2009/08/06/a_2006_redux_/


    Doesn't he know that nothing that has ever happened before has anything to do with what might happen today?

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  23. Doesn't he know that nothing that has ever happened before has anything to do with what might happen today?

    It's a very subtle observation. Some people try for years and years, but they simply cannot get it through their thick heads.

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  24. Barth, would you please explain to us exactly how past seasons do effect current play on the field?

    Not how one season might mirror another, or how we might learn from past mistakes. But how a past season actually effects a current one?

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  25. Trolls and ass-kissers can all go to hell.

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  26. Another pep talk for James:

    SoxInTheMist:

    fuck the toillette nouveau
    fuck Damon and his IQ of 18
    fuck munson again
    fuck the expressway
    fuckety fuck twitter and every fucking mention of it
    fuck every Orsillo fucking sidekick except Eck
    fuck the naysayers
    fuck Jeter and his ass lunge
    fuck JtC - no reason needed, may Rice carry your dead carcass off the field
    fuck still being lurker after 6 years of reading SOSH daily
    fuck the damn fucking woodpecker gnawing on my house
    fuck Manny
    fuck the Rays and their circus big top tent stadium
    fuck my damned clogged toilet
    fuck FOX/MLB and their fucking Saturday afternoon fucking blackouts
    fuck ESPN
    fuck Bush - each and every incarnation of that DNA
    fuck Watson (Tito should manage in Yaz' #8 bathrobe tonight)
    fuck anyone who mentions 'stealing outs' or fucking 'epic squanders'
    fuck god damned rainouts
    fuck anyone who fucking disagrees with me

    2004 wasn't a fucking accident or aberration mother fuckers

    just fucking the fuck win

    ***

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  27. Trolls and ass-kissers can all go to hell.

    Gonna get pretty quiet around here.

    Pritty, pritty, pritty, pritty, pritty, pritty ...

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  28. "if JtC will hury himself with a celebration getting strike one on Ellsbury in the first!"

    LMAO and more funny because it's only a slight stretch tho imagine that douchebag actually doing something like that.

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  29. "Trolls and ass-kissers can all go to hell."

    Amen Sister....can't stand those types

    This Reddick kid looks good...reminds me of Shane Spencer/Shelly Duncan....that rookie that comes up late in the year but has a major impact on the big league club. Wouldn't suprise me to see him lace some doubles into the right field corner this weekend....

    Paul Byrd was not a bad move for insurance at all...suprised the Yanks didn't look at him. Would much rather have that windup instead of Mitre's garbage.

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  30. and
    fuck the yankees
    fuck mold
    fuck smelly fucking mold
    fuck second place
    fuck walking up stairs for hours because of some fucking rain
    fuck joba the cunt
    fuck the dee snider fan club president
    fuck saving every piece of paper that i ever touched
    fuck dumbo, the dud, bitch tits, horseface, fruitbat, ccc, "future batting champion" cano
    fuck michael fucking kay, who should have to watch a 2004 highlight reel in hell
    fuck nettles, that brownshirt punk
    actually, no, saving paper is cool -it's having to move the fucking shit once you saved it that sucks
    so fuck having to move stuff from one place to another place
    fuck billy "actually a mets fan" crystal - why is that asshole not dead
    and fuck any red sox who are not ready to hit and pitch like possessed motherfuckers tonight

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  31. can't stand those types

    I may be as thick as a whale omelet, but I believe you were foremost in her mind when she wrote that.

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  32. I'm digging the pep talks! I'm fucking ready to whoop some pinstripe ASS!!!!

    Time for Papi to hit out some taters in the whiffle ball field everyone calls Yankee Stadium!!

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  33. Globe:
    "Earlier this afternoon there was a report posted on NESN.com indicating David Ortiz would speak with reporters about his inclusion on the list of 104 players to have tested positve for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003. However, that report has since been taken down, and the Globe reporters at Yankee Stadium told us it was unclear if Ortiz would speak at all before tonight's series opener between the Red Sox and Yankees in the Bronx."

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  34. If JtC throws near any one of our hitters' heads tonight I want to see his blood on the mound.

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  35. "I may be as thick as a whale omelet, but I believe you were foremost in her mind when she wrote that."

    I'm confused then cause I don't think I'm an ass-kisser or a troll...just a New Yorker that enjoys this blog a lot. Like I've said it's a guilty pleasure. Just wanna talk baseball....I feel like L-Girl was talking about someone else.

    Where did Bard come from btw? Farm system or trade? That kid can throw

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  36. ... and here I thought mattaroni was being honest when he said he was a respectful Yankees fan. He won't be missed.

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  37. I'm the only respectful Yankees fan here :) A little troll slippage every now and then...but I know the rules...no trash talk.....what did the guy say tho?

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  38. A Yankee fan posting on a Red Sox blog is nearly a troll by definition. At best, he is going to be merely tolerated/ignored.

    Your comments at ish's blog and some of your posts from yesterday and today have been clear troll behaviour.

    And if a fan surpresses much of what makes him a fan so as not to piss off the other side, what good (or fun) is that?

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  39. "A little troll slippage" will not be tolerated.

    P.S: The basement flood is not making me cranky. Dealing with Yankee fans makes me cranky.

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  40. No more slippage....I understand the rules here. I take it I'm not very well liked here due to the fact I'm a Yankees fan. I understand this. I will post few and far between as much as possible, and focus all my posts on non-objective baseball topics.

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  41. Bard was a '06 1st round pick and yes he can bring it. Why hang around a blog where the other readers almost by definition hate the team you claim to like? I don't get it but whatever turns you om I guess as long as you can be respectful and the blog owners don't mind you being here.

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  42. I do not appreciate the name calling, but I will explain why prior years have some bearing on what happens this year one more time (or you can read Eric Wilbur's column).

    It is not that something that happened before will necessarily happen again, but that experiencing something unpleasant should define how you deal with the same issue when it happens again.

    If you drove to work on Tuesday by a particular route where there was big traffic delay, that fact does not mean there will be the same delay on the same road on Wednesday.

    If, you see that the reason for the delay is a particular construction project, though, you must either adjust your route or expect another delay.

    If your team was saddled with elderly players in 2006, and you found that that was a recipe that just doesn't work since it increases the chances of injuries, you ought to do something about getting younger players.

    I am not faulting Theo here particularly given what he has done for us. He tried to get Texeira who, I think, used us to jack up his price with NY and was never serious about coming here. Maybe he ought not to have placed all his eggs in that guy's illusory basket, but there weren't many alternatives out there.

    My point, a few weeks ago (and one I doubt about which Theo would disagree) was that we were not hitting against any decent team (despite the 2 game lead down from 5). Our rotation after Lester was old guy, old guy and old guy which, 2006, among other years, has taught us to be a recipe for trouble. It does not mean trouble is inevitable, and I never said it was. It means that trouble is more likely than when we have younger guys around.

    I am surprised at what little Buchholz has shown since his recall and perhaps Bowden would do no better, but it is time to find out, I think, and to drop this Smoltz, Penny thing. Maybe both can make it back with a little patience, but I have none and time's a'wasting.

    Yes, I am happy to see Reddick and I wish we had more of these. You will remember what a shot in the arm Ellsbury was in 2007. That doesn't mean the same thing will happen in 2009, either, just that the odds are improved by going young.

    That's what today has to do with prior years.

    I am neither a troll or an ass kisser. (Definitely not the latter). I am eternally hopeful, and amazed at how bad this slide has been with the people we have, but I must, reluctantly, conclude that Bay was good only until the league caught up with his act, and that Drew is never, ever, ever, going to live up to the promise he had, which allowed him to tell Philly to go fuck themselves while he played in the Northern League until a team he wanted to play for could draft him the next year. Guys that cocky ought to better than he is.

    I think NY is old, too. Worse than us and that sooner or later it will show, but we are at the point when "sooner" better start coming now.

    Yes, I want a sweep with at least one drubbing. I am wearing my Red Sox tie in my NY office today because that's what I do when NY plays Boston. My 80 plus year old parents are going to Saturdays game, and I don't like them to have to stress too much.

    Still, is go into Monday 2 1/2 out, I will be a very happy Red Sox fan.

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  43. Barth, no one callled you names. You are not the troll and ass-kisser to whom I was referring.

    Certainly neither of those labels applies to you. I'm not sure why you thought I was referring to you, but I hope that clears things up.

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  44. Why hang around a blog where the other readers almost by definition hate the team you claim to like? I don't get it

    I don't get it either. As Allan said, I think a Yankees fan on a Red Sox blog is a troll by definition, and of course the reverse would be true as well.

    I also can't imagine wanting to post at a place where you have to walk on eggshells because most of what you have to say will draw the ire of everyone else there.

    Very strange - and suspicious.

    But sooner or later all the NYY posters who say they are respectful melt down into trolls. Mattaroni22 was supposed to be a respectful fan too. He tried to leave a comment that was a personal attack against each individual Red Sox player and Allan. Nice.

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  45. Also, I'm putting in my bid for NO NYY commenters during gamethreads. It's bad enough today. But gamethreads are for this community to hang out together, not to fend off baiting and trash talk.

    Sadly, I only have the final say on my own blog, not on Allan's! :) And he's usually more tolerant than me. I'll see what he says when he gets back from getting more boxes.

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  46. "I also can't imagine wanting to post at a place where you have to walk on eggshells because most of what you have to say will draw the ire of everyone else there.

    Very strange - and suspicious. "


    I do it because as I have mentioned before....and the ass-kissing is done...it was a strong use of sarcasm in my earlier post....I think this blog is excellent. As a Yankees fan, it gets my juices flowing, but besides that, it's well written and covers the 2 teams in baseball I am most concerned about.

    What's so suspicious about that...it's no different than the guy that loves S&M....or a woman who is happy living with 4 cats...everyone has their own thing. I truly enjoy this blog. I am not gonna walk on eggshells...I'm just going to be respectful because Iam in enemy territory and I have no right to come here and just talk shit.

    Obviously L-Girl was referring to me...I'm not that daft. It's her partner's blog...she can say what she wants, it's fine and good...to respond back in any manner would be acting like a troll....I'm sticking around...until a post of mine draws Redsock's ire, and Iam blocked...don't see it happening anytime soon.

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  47. "Also, I'm putting in my bid for NO NYY commenters during gamethreads. It's bad enough today. But gamethreads are for this community to hang out together, not to fend off baiting and trash talk."



    I will respect this wish....Don't expect to see me during games at all....totally understandable.

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  48. Barth, Past seasons can teach important lessons, this is true but I hate it when people start clambering "OMG 2006!" or "1978!" as soon as the team goes into a slump. Not saying that's what you are doing but some people do it. But, still, you're amazed at how bad "this slide" has been because , what, they lost 2 games to the Rays (a good team)? I don't get that.

    Bottom line is every baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. They could lose 3 out of 4 to the MFY this series and still come back and win the division. I hope to God that doesn't happen, of course, but there's never any reason to panic in the middle of the season and you never know what's going to happen in the future. I hate people who talk about "momentum". Momentum is at least 99% luck I think.

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  49. Oh, ire has been drawn and I've already rejected a few comments. I'm feeling bizarrely generous today, though.

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  50. I'm gonna be a bit more careful...I know which of my comments were rejected...and will stay away from them in the future....put the ire away, no need for it to be out.

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  51. Barth, Past seasons can teach important lessons, this is true but I hate it when people start clambering "OMG 2006!" or "1978!" as soon as the team goes into a slump. Not saying that's what you are doing but some people do it.

    It's what he was doing when he first got here. A more articulate version of OMG 1978. Which supposedly we couldn't appreciate because we didn't live through it. Even though we did.

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  52. I'm gonna be a bit more careful...

    As he goes and adds the the MFY logo to his profile...

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  53. It's her partner's blog...she can say what she wants, it's fine and good...to respond back in any manner would be acting like a troll

    That's correct. But I'm not the only one who can say whatever I want. All the members of this community can - all the Red Sox fans who post here.

    I don't have special privileges in terms of what I can say. Believe me, if Ish or Nixon33 or 9Casey told you to go to hell, that would be fine, too. :)

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  54. BALDY to the DL

    FLO will speak tomorrow re PEDs.

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  55. Okay. I am used to being called names and was too sensitive this time.

    The gloating NY fans (I work in NY and have to put up with them) seems awfully foolhardy (just as I thought our were getting a bit too excited over a 2 game lead.)

    This could be the knock out punch for us, to be sure, but if it isn't they may very much regret the missed opportunity. When the shoes were on other feet, we got used to the idea that the NY FO would buy a key player at the right time and then bury us, or something stupid would happen (Grady brain freeze, Torrez fat curve ball after a guy hits the ball of his foot, etc.) but we stopped being stupid when Terry took over and our front office has done much better than theirs. We are not flawless, but make way fewer mistakes than they do.

    So, if this is not the knock out and we are somewhere around 2 1/2
    back or less on Monday morning, NY fans can walk around with that stupid "We all know what's going to happen" grin they still keep wearing, even though it has been a long time since it last applied.

    And, though I share Eric Wilbur's concern, the rotation is not nearly as weak today as it was in 2006. Schilling was only briefly a closer that year, btw, but was ineffective wherever he pitched and the junk we were forced to throw out there was not what we are sending out today.

    So, yes, this is a big series, but I am not sure anyone is playing with house money quite yet.

    ReplyDelete
  56. 1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
    2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
    3. Victor Martinez, C
    4. Kevin Youkilis, LF
    5. David Ortiz, DH
    6. J.D. Drew, RF
    7. Mike Lowell, 3B
    8. Casey Kotchman, 1B
    9. Jed Lowrie, SS

    1. Derek Jeter, SS
    2. Johnny Damon, LF
    3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
    4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
    5. Hideki Matsui, DH
    6. Jorge Posada, C
    7. Robinson Cano, 2B
    8. Nick Swisher, RF
    9. Melky Cabrera, CF

    ReplyDelete
  57. good lord. amped up much? for what?

    my poor child. She thinks she's going to spend time with me tonight or tomorrow night or sunday... she can with a few ground rules. 1) I maintain total television domination. 2) she may move around, but shall not cross my viewing path of aforementioned television except during commercial breaks or with immediate prior approval. 3) snacks/dinner shall be provided, however said provision shall not interfere with any scheduled aspect of gameplay. 4) she will tolerate any expletives, yells, cheers, curses, adorations, and outbursts that may spew forth during the game or a reasonable time following. 5) should she need to go to bed and gameplay has not concluded, she may do so of her own free will. 6) she shall self-identify as a red sox fan. 7) fatherly love shall shower as if from the heavens upon her if she abides by the previous rules set forth herein. 8) any provision not set forth here may be added at any time in the future at the sole discretion of the aforementioned father. parental judicial review shall be granted upon appeal, but only during commercial breaks or at other such time as allotted by the father.

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  58. good to know you run such a relaxed, progressive household, nick. ;)

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  59. I think that prior games against the Yankees this season have a highly significant effect on future games against them. Let's review those previous match-ups:

    WIN

    WIN

    WIN

    WIN

    WIN

    WIN

    WIN

    WIN

    So it has been, let it continue to be.

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  60. The past is the past....

    The real season starts now...

    2.5 games between first and second....

    Any predictions on a new Yankee killer since Bay is out for at least 2 games....VMart? Kotch? Smoltz?!?!

    I'm interested to hear

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  61. I have posted on Replacement Level occasionally (that is, maybe two or three posts total). It's because I am interested in the Yankees as our rivals, and had completely non-confrontational comments or questions to post. I do not believe in "giving shit" to Yankee fans, despite the fact that I heartily want them to lose. I'm just applying the Golden Rule. If I had had a screaming Yankee fan in my face the moment after [name your bad moment], I might have attacked him, and I don't want anyone feeling that way about me.

    I agree that it would be a significant negative to this blog's value if we had trash talking between Sox and Yankee fans, whether or not it was during games. B.R.'s trying to be respectful, and it seems that RS is being relatively harsh on him. But then again, RS has seen rejected comments, and he's the one who puts so much effort into the blog, so I can understand he doesn't want it trashed. We need to be able to express disappointment here when things don't go well for the Sox without worrying about that crap.

    I'm glad Bay's not hurt too badly.

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  62. Mazz says Baldy fouled a ball off his foot in BP last night in Tampa and it swelled up overnight.

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  63. Nick. My poor daughter survived a similar regimen, growing up in the NY suburbs to boot. (She once asked me if it was okay to root for the NY Rangers, as long as continued her Red Sox allegiance and I asked her where she was planning to move.)

    She had to suffer through some heartache of course, as did we all, and I filled her in on all the heartache she missed by not having been born, as my uncles and dad did for me. (I hate McCarthy for skipping over Parnell for Galehouse four years before I was born). I told her that all the disasters we have suffered will make our ultimate win all that more sweet.

    She survived, of course, and her payoff was sweet: trips with her dad to Fenway over the years and to game 2 of the World Series in 2004 (her freshman year of college in NYC where she turned in dorm floor in a Red Sox oasis in otherwise foreign territory) and in 2007 (her senior year).

    My niece, somewhat younger, used to tease her dad (my brother) and me by imitating the "yes, yes, yes" that spilled forth from one of us when something looked like it might, looked like it could, and actually did happen to further a key Red Sox (or C or B) win.

    As she gets ready for high school, though, she carries her membership in the Red Sox Nation proudly and does her older sister. And my three nephews have turned my sister, always dubious in our youth about all of this, into a rabid Sox fan.

    It's good for the soul, y'know, and your child will benefit from the discipline.

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  64. Methinks Nick was exaggerating for effect.

    Emma was at the game with us last week. She seemed pretty happy to be there.

    You know, Allan lived in NYC as a Red Sox fan for 18 years. Many people on this blog have had similar experiences.

    What suburbs do you live in? I grew up in Rockland Cty.

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  65. B.R.'s trying to be respectful, and it seems that RS is being relatively harsh on him.

    I disagree on both points. I think I'm being nice. He's getting a lot of leeway. The comments I rejected were nothing more than gloating.

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  66. Redsock...for the most point I have been respectful.....I understand you dislike me for my allegiance...but stop saying you've given me a ton of leeway....and everything I say is gloating...that's overdoing it...here or there in the midst of conversation...a tiny bit of troll shows up...but for the most part...all my posts have been respectful, and baseball-related....

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  67. My God, I am getting to the point that I would trade ten Aaron Boones for you to -- just -- stop -- ellipsizing --

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  68. stop saying you've given me a ton of leeway....and everything I say is gloating...that's overdoing it

    You are not reading carefully. I said the comments I rejected were gloating. That is why I deleted them.

    I am not going to critique each of your posts, but you'll have to trust me when I say you're getting leeway. Perhaps the contentious nature of nearly every website with even a small group of commenters has altered your perception.

    Some people think that even having non-Sox fans comment at all is bad. I do not necessarily agree. But it's a slippery slope -- and I'd rather be over-critical than allow stuff that would turn Sox fans off.

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  69. Philip and I are going to be biting our nails up to our elbows over the next 4 games!!!!! But we're also going to the futures at Fenway game sat. Yay!

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  70. Hey Lisa, where are your JoS pix?

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  71. My bad re the pictures! Philip took SO many, that I have to weed through them and I've been swamped this week getting ready for vacation. I promise--I'll start getting them uploaded tonight while the game's on.

    Mea culpa!!!

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  72. Nice thread--everyone's keyed up! Allan your 'fuck the--' anathema is great; I didn't know you were into free verse. It's pretty damn slick.

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  73. Just looked at the blog rules. I see there is nothing specifically re the Yankees. May need to add to it.

    Lisa: I want to post a few pics from the game (along with the program and x-word). I have some pics from myself and a couple of other people, but I know you took a lot.

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  74. Rogers has Al-Yankzeera, but EI has NESN!

    Must ... not ... obsess ... on ... DR ...

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  75. Alright, let's destroy these pieces of shit.

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  76. i am excited for the start of this game.

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  77. Game hasn't even started and 70+ comments. Juices flowing, well that is to be expected.

    My wish list tonight

    1) Smoltz shows he is still a big game pitcher.

    2) Youk doesn't look like a fool in left field

    3) Our number 3 hitter smacks a 3 run HR to left in the first.

    4) Jtc melts down in the second and throws at someone that causes an ejection of said thrower.

    5) Lowrie busts out and gets a couple in the jet stream.

    6) Nobody else gets hurt on the Sox team.

    7) Drew shows he is ON FIRE!!!

    8) Damon has to make a throw to third that bounce 4 times.

    9) Passedballa lives up to his name.

    (in my best M*A*S*H voice) That is all

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  78. when was the last time a sox catcher batted 3rd before v-mart?

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  79. Must ... not ... obsess ... on ... DR ...

    Are you trying to drive Zen crazy?

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  80. "let us keep our hatred crisp and clean."
    ossie schreckengost, sosh, 8/23/03

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  81. Heh. I'll survive it...somehow...

    Wonder how many starts Kotchman will get at 1B?

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  82. when was the last time a sox catcher batted 3rd before v-mart?

    You forgot to have the duck appear when you asked that.

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  83. DR says it would be good for the sox to get pedroia in to score.

    i'm not sure, so i'll trust his superior inside knowledge.

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  84. promising him an illicit ice cream if he gets a dp?

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  85. truped myself off the bat. fuck.

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  86. promising him an illicit ice cream if he gets a dp?

    Rum raisin.

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  87. Is that the first F9 at the toilet all season?

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  88. Grr...

    Smoltz, please don't suck

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  89. LH are OPSing over 1.000 against Smoltz. 7 of the MFY are LH. He better have his shit together tonight.

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  90. Castig: "There's no implosion date yet for the old Yankee Stadium, because they have too many things in there left to sell."

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  91. Just made plans to go to the Giants game tomorrow night here in San Francisco.

    Evidently, there is a Jon Miller bobblehead giveaway.

    Wow -- I can't be late for that!

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  92. Obviously it is too early to pass judgement on Smoltz' game but I think this kind of big game is what he was needing to get the ol juices pumpin.

    On another note the placement of Youk tonight shows just how seriously the players take the gravity of this series. Makes me so horny.

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  93. This is a solid lineup tonight. I think we just need to go out and get the very best defensive SS and forget offense. Just nail it in the field Hall of Fame style and bat 9th. We may be close with that islander guy. All this change at that position is tiring and hasn't gotten us anywhere in relation to that position.

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  94. This is when Drew does his fiery magic.

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  95. So far so good Smoltz
    Let;s beat these mofos! You can do this!

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  96. We have FIRE in scoring position

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  97. hearing how horny andy is makes me hot!

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  98. A brave angel waits on deck.

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  99. He hits someone soon. He is frustrated.

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  100. I had to run off before and pick up emma from a friend's house out in the country. hour plus round trip. grocery store dinner (in front of the tv) and now, you fine folks.

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  101. This guy's got nothing. He only throws 92 as a starter.

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  102. No way he went on that pitch.

    Fucking ump

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  103. Where did that 96 come from? Guess he can reach back. But it's rare.

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  104. and strike 3 was too far outside.

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  105. Yeah, the 0-2 strike wasn't a strike, but it was closer than a lot of the crap Cousins calls.

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  106. castig said "squander"

    rut roh

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  107. Why the FUCK can't this team get a FUCKING CLUTCH HIT

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  108. Then he spat and it went on him. HAHA. You spat on yourself!

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  109. Watching GDGD, the strike zone seems squeezed for both pitchers.

    And both are having to throw a lot of pitches. Assuming neither gets shelled, it could be a battle of the bullpens.

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  110. looked like a check from LBJ to me, wish they'd showed a replay, anyway that promising inning went to Hell in a hurry

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  111. I have NESN on mute but I can see Varitek's on-bench percentage going through the roof now!

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  112. the cuz is fuckin' us with the zone

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  113. I read my rules aloud to emma and reviewed any language with her that she didn't understand. she consented. When I said she must self-identify as a sox fan, she replied, "but, I am." Good response. :-) She has politely asked if she needs to cross my view.

    She's too nice for me. but, perversely, she claims she's bored.

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  114. what was Allan's awesome acronym for that?

    c'mon...DP!

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  115. on-bench percentage :)

    we hope tek's goes up!

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  116. fuck. that is not outs....oh yes it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  117. adslkfaqalknsfoikdk

    !;liaeoirufdj/adf

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  118. FY and LBJ and an assist from passedballa equals one out!!!

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  119. i said well no one lbj throws anyone out -- as the u8mp raises his fist!!!

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  120. holy shit I forgot what it's like to have someone thrown out at home!!! EXTRA MART!!!!

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  121. don't be disrespecting lyndon's arm, dumbo (and allan!)

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  122. I'm still amazed he didn't slide. not only that, but he looked like he just gave up on the play. Dumbo.

    I'm glad they're leaving men on base, but we've got to stop doing that. clogging the bases is good; clearing 'em again even better.

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  123. And only five pitches to get those last two outs.

    Smoltz 44-27

    JtC 42-24

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  124. SLIDE, JORGE, SLIDE!!!!!

    hahahahahahhaha

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  125. FUCK YEAH
    FUCK YEAH
    FUCK YEAH
    FUCK YEAH

    one for every base!!

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  126. hi everyone - tuned in just in time for the unslide! and then missed the FY dong because I was watching the replays of the unslide. dummy = me.

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  127. How do I find a broadcast like the ones we've seen recently online?

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  128. Efd, I saw your update on FB, read it to A. :)

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  129. ... about time for yook to get drilled.

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  130. Nick before I forget, Emma looked like a nice young lady in the pics from JOS

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  131. well, efd, one more great play for you to watch a replay of. joy that!

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  132. It would have been a nice touch if Pedroia had slid into home at the end of the HR.

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  133. that's no lady, that's my daughter! :-)

    (thanks!)

    goddamn...two nearlydongs.

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  134. http://atdhe.net/7345/watch-red-sox-vs-yankees

    for this game, about 3 secs behind (yes network)

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  135. i think emma was intrigued by my scorecard, but was too shy to ask about it.

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  136. if you want nesn, zen, email me.

    joyofsox@gmail.com

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  137. i think emma was intrigued by my scorecard, but was too shy to ask about it

    Am surprised you didn't give her a blank one and showed her how to fill it out

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  138. missed the dong :(

    ***wtf yook?***

    was helping my dad change the tire on his truck....had a flat as a result of a fucking butter knife in the flat tire....BACKWARDS! WTF!!!!!

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  139. NESN feed on myp2p.eu Lag is bad but worth is for me to avoid YES

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  140. show us your double, JD.

    (double pronounced doo-blay)

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  141. ...well, at least we have one run

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  142. Drew haters will be out in force tomorrow on talk radio.

    Hold em Smoltz, hold them.

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  143. Oh look, Martinez doesn't NASCAR it back to the dugout to get his shit on like Tek does. I swear he's like a fly on a piece of shit when he's batting/on base when the third out is made.

    That's dedication. Not like that drew fuck.

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  144. Smoltz will go 9. I guarantee it. Which means it has to be true.

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  145. that's Laura's boy! (defensive edition)

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  146. emma's reading over my shoulder. she recalled that she had her own scorecard, but said allan's was really cool.


    oh dear! hope LBJ's ok. that had to hurt. but awesome!

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  147. damn if they could get a clutch hit or two they'd be up about 5-0 :(

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  148. LBJ leaves his mark on the toilet.

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  149. cock -- weak dong. fuck this little league field

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  150. here comes the curtain call...

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  151. I hope the Red Sox score more runs than the amount of fist pumping JtC is doing right now.

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  152. finally saw LBJ's toilet dive. Nice!

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  153. 3 deep hits in a row. I don't like that. Smother 'em Smoltz!

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  154. here comes the curtain call...


    ha, I was just about to type "what, no curtain call?"

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