Red Sox - 000 000 030 - 3 6 1Matasuzaka was sharp though 6.2 innings, allowing only five hits and one run. But with a runner on third base, Pedro Borbon singled on a drag bunt to the right side on the infield to give Texas a 2-0 lead. Elvus Andrus lined a single to center -- and in came Manny Delcarmen.
Rangers - 010 000 42x - 7 11 0
Michael Young crushed MDC's first pitch to deep left for a three-run homer and what had been a pitchers duel was suddenly a hefty 5-0 Texas lead. Boston came back with two outs in the top of the eighth, as Eric Patterson singled, Marco Scutaro doubled (5-1), and Darnell McDonald homered to right (5-3).
The Rangers scored two more, mostly off Michael Bowden, in their half of the eighth, and the Sox went down without much resistance in the ninth.
The Yankees (with 2 hits and 3 errors) lost to the Royals 1-0 and the Rays beat the Orioles 3-2. Tampa Bay is 1 GB New York; Boston stays 6 GB.
The Red Sox are off tomorrow, but the Yankees host the Tigers and the Rangers visit the Rays (Lee/Price).
Afternoon baseball in Arlington, with a forecast of 104°.Scutaro, SS
McDonald, RF
Martinez, 1B
Beltre, 3B
Lowell, DH
Saltalamacchia, C
Hall, 2B
Kalish, CF
Patterson, LF
That's not quite the outfield we expected to see in mid-August, though it's partially because LHB are hitting only .103/.186/.131 against Wilson this year. Righties are .245/.351/.365.
Starting on Tuesday, 15 of the next 21 games are at home.
Trivia: Which two players have the most 3-HR games since 1919?
Orioles/Rays at 1:30 and Yankees/Royals at 2.
1916 - Babe Ruth outduels Walter Johnson at Fenway Park, as the Red Sox beat the Senators 1-0 in 13 innings.
1991 - Yankees captain Don Mattingly is benched and fined $250 for refusing to cut his hair. He asks to be traded for the second time in two months. "I'm overwhelmed by the pettiness of it." Four of his teammates -- Steve Farr, Matt Nokes, Pascual Perez, and Mel Hall -- have also been warned about the length of their hair.
Yankees captain Don Mattingly is benched and fined $250 for refusing to cut his hair. He asks to be traded for the second time in two months. "I'm overwhelmed by the pettiness of it."
ReplyDeleteTo really appreciate the pettiness and idiocy of this, you have to remember that the Yankees sucked in those days. There were always tons of good seats available, even at relatively low prices, and Mattingly was THE most popular player, and one of the only popular players, period.
Phil Rizzuto and the rest of the broadcast team wore bald wigs for the opening segment that night. Terrific laughs.
Can you even imagine YES doing such a thing? Neeeeever.
ESPN's "Outside the Lines" did a two-week study on 184 total baseball games and looked at every single play that were not balls and strikes to see if the umpires got the calls correct. Most were obvious plays that didn't require any closer look, but of the ones that did, 13.9% remained too close to call, 65.7% were considered to be correct calls, and 20.4% were considered to be the wrong call.
ReplyDeleteAnd, even in those days when it was worth more, isn't it almost an insult in itself to be fined only $250? It's, like, not worth it to fine you any more than that -- an admission of the pettiness of it.
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten Stump Merrill until I read about the Mattingly imbroglio--Stump a Maine boy who was a big part of the UM team playing in the 1964 College World Series.
ReplyDeleteI know the hair cut orders came down from GS, but it's worth noting that the 60's did not arrive in Maine til, oh, about 1969.
Blowing 1 out of every 5 calls is not very good.
ReplyDeleteAndrus SS
ReplyDeleteYoung 3B
Murphy LF
Hamilton DH
Cantu 1B
Moreland RF
Teagarden C
Blanco 2B
Borbon CF
PA: "According to the pitchers, it's hotter in the bullpen because there's artificial turf out there and no cover. The Texas bullpen is in the shade."
FY is 0 for 2 with Paw.
ReplyDeleteDan Hickling (Globe EB) reports that Carlos Delgado was replaced in the fourth inning by Lars Anderson. He did not remain in the dugout.
In Pawtucket, Pedroia is 0-2, but his two outs have been fly outs to the warning track. I think the second one would've been a double off the Monster at Fenway.
ReplyDeleteMFY - 000
ReplyDeleteKCR - 100
BAL - 010 0
FKR - 102
Didn't he GIDP?
ReplyDeleteRed Sock: Yup, his first AB he GiDP, but since then he's hit twice, two fly outs (one to RF one to LF).
ReplyDeleteWhats the over/under for players collapsing of heat stroke?
ReplyDeleteTEABALLA?
ReplyDeleteWould it be unfair for the Red Sox to erect a tent or some other sort of shade in their BP? If I were Tito I wouldn't want my relievers passing out before the fifth inning.
ReplyDeletemaybe they are in the clubhouse until needed?
ReplyDeleteNICE grab!
First time I've seen Kalish have to go all out for a catch.
ReplyDelete/annoyed that Nava is still in Pawtucket
Knocking on wood that it appears we got the good Dice-K toady.
ReplyDeleteHamilton just took what I think was an 88 mph fastball down the middle on a 3-1 count then K's on a curveball. Not sure what he was looking for there but that was about as hittable a pitch as you'll get in the majors.
ReplyDeleteI can't thread today, but I'm listening while I work.
ReplyDeleteMan, I am happy for Josh Hamilton.
Good thing Andy's not around to hear me say that! Although I can't remember what his problem was with Hamilton. God, maybe?
Whatever it was, the guy is amazing.
John, I don't think Stump Merrill made that decision. In those days, those directives came from god, i.e. George Steinbrenner.
ReplyDeleteOne of the links (the actual Times stories from 1991) reports that Stump was pretty embarrassed to have to deal with the media about it.
ReplyDeleteMattingly notes that the hair wasn't even close to his collar. GS was insane, for sure.
Although I can't remember what his problem was with Hamilton. God, maybe?
ReplyDeleteCrack cocaine, I believe.
He didn't like that Hamilton was a reformed drug addict?
ReplyDeleteWhat Andy's problem was with Hamilton, not what Hamilton's problem was.
ReplyDeleteAndy didn't hate Hamilton b/c he has a substance abuse issue. He hated how he talked about his recovery.
Great AB by Kalish... pitch #10 coming up.
ReplyDeletePawtucket is up 3-1 w/ 1 out in the top of 9th so it doesn't look like Pedroia is going to bat again. He'll have to settle for an 0-3 day.
ReplyDeleteOh, I get it.
ReplyDeleteIt has been talked about quite a lot. "God" is often required for that kind of change, so I can give anyone who's been through it the latitude to preach if they like. Beats the shit out of the alternative.
Well this sux. Been sitting at the puter doing billing and watching MFY on GDGD because I thought this game started at 3. Then I check the conversation here and see we're well underway. Must have been looking at CT start
ReplyDeletei thought it was hamilton god talk, for lack of a better word(s).
ReplyDeleteZenslinger: definitely.
ReplyDeleteI may have to switch to NESN or EEI on the computer. These Texas guys DO NOT STOP TALKING. They'll talk about anything. They likened Bill Hall playing various positions to Robin Williams being more than a comedian. Wow, just shut up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the free out, Ron Washington.
ReplyDeleteKalish came close to getting him.
ReplyDeleteOh shit. I see now. Somehow the clock on my laptop has gotten off by an hour. And I'm supposed to be somewhere at 4!
ReplyDeleteLater
similar pitch by pitch!
ReplyDeleteryankalish: csfbbbfffc
moreland: ccfbbbffffb
runner going on each second groups of fouls, too.
okay, carry on.
This isn't the day for Throws-Way-Too-Many-Pitches Dice-K. We need Economical Dice-K, please.
ReplyDeletePatterson must be the one slated to go down when Pedroia returns.
ReplyDeleteHow's about we dump Cash's ass instead?
ReplyDeleteRags announcers say that Scutaro is turning his body around too much and pulling the ball.
ReplyDeleteCash isn't on the roster. Is he?
ReplyDeleteryankalish: csfbbbfffc
moreland: ccfbbbffffb
If you have seen Allan score a game, you realize this information is easily at hand.
They likened Bill Hall playing various positions to Robin Williams being more than a comedian.
ReplyDeleteDo they also reference Williams when talking about Hamilton's coke addiction?
Oh yeah: DL.
ReplyDeleteIt has been talked about quite a lot. "God" is often required for that kind of change, so I can give anyone who's been through it the latitude to preach if they like. Beats the shit out of the alternative.
ReplyDeleteWhat's more, he was not preaching - which to me means telling other people they should do such-and-such. He was only speaking about his personal experience.
I say, whatever works. As you said, "god" or god-equivalent often seems to be the key.
To be fair, Andy was going through his own very serious issues at the time and people were preaching at him - and something about the god talk drove him around the bend.
Re: Cash
ReplyDeleteYahoo's depth chart is usually pretty accurate, although Ellsbury's on it at the moment. When you think about it, our depth chart is so fucked up. So many people go to multiple positions. Not only Patterson, Hall and Lowrie, but multiple OF positions (McDonald) and two catchers behind Lowell at first.
I know Lowrie's got heat exhaustion. Any word on why Ortiz isn't in the lineup?
If KC manages to beat the MFY 1-0, I will have a good laugh.
ReplyDeleteTB 3, BAL 2.
LH batters getting a day off.
ReplyDeleteGot Him!
ReplyDelete1-0 top 9 in KC
ReplyDeleteNice play by Patterson!
ReplyDeleteYankees lose! Yankees lose! Thuh UH UH UH Yankees! Lose!
ReplyDeleteNYY had 2 hits vs KC starter in 8 inns
ReplyDeleteHey, there's Economical Dice-K!
ReplyDeleteMFY - 000 000 000 - 0 2 3
ReplyDeleteKCR - 100 000 00x - 1 4 0
BAL - 010 000 10
FKR - 102 000 0
Tough luck, Burnett!!!
ReplyDeleteCould we pls not squander every fucking chance we have to gain a game?
ReplyDeleteYankees lose! Yankees lose! Thuh UH UH UH Yankees! Lose!
ReplyDeleteI am having my laugh.
But...let's not do the same.
NYY lose
ReplyDeleteOK, I'm very late on that. Still fun.
ReplyDeleteSo much for not squandering every opportunity. Kalish GIDP.
ReplyDeleteThe Gyroball is a screwball thrown harder but with less "screw" so it doesn't hurt the pitcher, AFAIK.
ReplyDeleteNice Ks from Dice-K.
ReplyDeleteI can see why Wilson used to be a closer.
ReplyDeleteIt is hereby decreed that any future use of the word "mouth" must now be spelled "mouthe".
ReplyDeletePlease make a note of it.
Mgmt.
Management is getting mouthey.
ReplyDeleteOur offense looks non-existent.
ReplyDeleteOur offense looks non-existent.
ReplyDeleteHush your mouthe.
I guess when you are running your own world, you can spell mouthe any way you want!
ReplyDeleteHigh heat from Dice. You don't see that much.
ReplyDeleteHit on the foot.
ReplyDeleteruns, PLEASE
ReplyDeleteThe bat head got stuck in the field!
ReplyDeleteAgain with the stupid bunting...
ReplyDeleteBAL - 010 000 100 - 2 5 0
ReplyDeleteFKR - 102 000 00x - 3 8 0
ump getting stingy all of a sudden.
ReplyDeleteHALL!
Beanball time.
ReplyDeleteWe're getting bunted to death. Though it would help if the offense could do anything at all.
ReplyDeleteHow hot is it?
ReplyDeleteIt's so hot ... that the temperature was almost higher than Dice's pitch count!
7-8-9 for us in the top 8th
ReplyDeleteIt's so hot ... that the temperature was almost higher than Dice's pitch count!
ReplyDeleteBa-da-BOOM!
thank you, manny, thank you very fucking much.
ReplyDeleteUgh
ReplyDeleteIt took the Red Sox bullpen one single pitch to lose the game. That has to be some sort of record.
ReplyDeleteSo much for getting bunted to death.
ReplyDeleteSo much for making up any ground today.
ReplyDeleteDAMMIT!
Shit.
ReplyDelete5 runs in 2 innings?
ReplyDeleteHow hard is that?
5 runs in 2 innings?
ReplyDeleteHow hard is that?
Not to be overly pessimistic but so far we have three total hits through seven innings, so it seems today at least, pretty hard.
Hall missed a homer by about 6 inches there.
ReplyDeleteOh come ON...
ReplyDeletehall's ball looks like it would have hit right at the top of the padded wall (1-2 inches?) if no one was there.
ReplyDeleteALIVE!
we have some dudes on the bench who can hit ....
ReplyDeleteRadio guys going on about Texas "magic"
ReplyDeleteAltho Castig did say they also have tons of talent, which is more important. With no connection between that talent and this so-called magic...
"magic".
ReplyDeletei know o'brien is just running his mouthe, but what century is this?
does he say the rangers doctors look at chicken entrails instead of taking MRIs?
AFT!
ReplyDeleteStrop. That is a nasty freakin' name.
ReplyDeleteStrop.
no shutout today, magic men!
ReplyDeleteAbout time one of those line drives fell this inning. Nice job by Scutaro!
ReplyDeleteMICROWAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFUCK YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALIVE BABY ALIVE!!!!
ReplyDeleteMICROWAVE ACTION
2 down now..
ReplyDeleteMcDONALD!!
ReplyDeleteFuck you MDC
ReplyDeleteNot nasty enough a name, I guess.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, we got a game goin' now.
Victor, gotta swing the bat there... ugh. Well, at least we're back to 2 down. Hopefully we can hold 'em and make a run in the 9th.
ReplyDeletebeltre
ReplyDeletelowell
salty
(with tiz and drew on the bench)
bowden up
ReplyDeletethanks for merely standing there, josh, you dick.
ReplyDeleteBowden. Yay. One more.
ReplyDeleteHow are we supposed to win with this bullpen?
ReplyDeleteSorry, I've got to go. If I watch any more of this I'm going to break something. Enjoy rest of your weekend, everyone!
ReplyDeleteHow are we supposed to win with this bullpen?
ReplyDeleteThat is a very good question.
If I watch any more of this I'm going to break something.
ReplyDeleteHopefully not your ribs, or anyone else's.
SF-SD game also a total shitshow. Yanks' loss the only good news of the day. Baseball wise.
ReplyDeletealright, sox, just mail in these 3 AB and get the fuck outta texas.
ReplyDeletenew open stance for lowell?
ReplyDeleteSure feels like bullpen improvement should be on our to-do list. Okajima has been nonexistent all year, MDC has been horrible, Papelbon has been streaky. Our starting pitching has been great, and we're second in the ML in home runs.
ReplyDeleteThe water is safe to drink.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a 5-5 road trip against good teams is not the end of the world. But to lose when the competition is losing is galling.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to see Baseball Prospectus had our postseason odds at 30%. Seems a lot lower.
30%? Wow. Maybe because we play the Rays six more times?
ReplyDeleteBP's PECOTA and ELO have us at 27% and 25%. Cool Standings runs the odds two ways and we're at 15.3% and 20.8%.
Having Petey back will be a huge boost IMO. I just hope he's actually ready. Seems as though maybe LBJ was not.
ReplyDeleteRE the satisfaction with the 5-5 road trip -
True dat but we're gonna have to suck it up and do at least a little better to stay on the bus. We needed to get to 6-4 to gain a game for the week. It gets a little more imperative every week that we gain a little ground.
I, however, am still riding. I think we can do it. Of course the deciding factor will be the games vs the Rays and Yankees.
Don't make me look stupid Sox!