I would like to think that the seventh-inning stretch of tonight's game was the low point of the 2006 season.
Tim Wakefield had exited after four innings with a "strained upper back", the lowly Royals had gotten every conceivable break on batted balls, using bloops, squibs and bleeders (along with some walks and two HBP) to take a 4-0 lead.
On the other side of the scoresheet, the Red Sox either looked like Little Leaguers at the plate (Lowell's strikeout in the second and myriad other swings by just about everyone else) or hit anything hard right at an opposing fielder (Nixon's hard grounder to first in the 2nd, his line drive at Hudson to end the 4th, and his long drive to deep center in the 7th; Ortiz's line drive to second which ended the 6th when Loretta was doubled off first).
Elsewhere, Toronto had scored nine times in the 4th inning against Texas and the Yankees led Seattle 4-2 and were poised to move into first place in the East.
So ...
In the Red Sox 7th, Manny Ramirez led off with a hard single off the Wall. Nixon's drive was caught against the wall in center, but Lowell and Coco Crisp each singled and Boston had scored a run. Luke Hudson was relieved by Joel Peralta.
Doug Mirabelli took a 3-1 pitch outside, which should have loaded the bases for the Sox. But home plate umpire Jim Joyce called it a strike and Mirabelli, who had taken about three steps towards first base, had to come back. Peralta's 3-2 pitch was a fastball and the SWHB drilled it into the Monster Seats in left-center for a game-tying home run. Thanks, ump!
Belli: "I was starting to walk to first base thinking it was ball four. I took a second to regroup and in that situation you're trying to get a pitch, get a strike. Coming from 3-1 and now I'm 3-2, I had no idea what he's going to throw there at that time. I just sold out on the fastball and was fortunate."
Two singles from Loretta and David Ortiz to start the 8th inning put runners at first and third and Ramirez's sacrifice fly to left scored pinch-runner Willie Harris with the go-ahead run. (Also: Ortiz stole second when Nixon struck out. On the replay we saw that Flo had nearly stopped halfway to the bag, then turned it on again and still beat the high throw. Manny and Kevin Youkilis were going nuts in the dugout, pointing, waving and laughing. Standing at second base, Ortiz tried to hide his giggles.)
The bullpen had to work overtime tonight and the combined line of Delcarmen, Hansen, Timlin and the Papelbot was solid: 5-3-1-0-2.
Perfect example of the worthless strike zone judgment of MLB umpires: Delcarmen's 0-2 pitch to Matt Stairs in the 5th: at the belt, right over the heart of the plate. Ball 1. (Too high, I guess.) Next pitch, again at the belt, but a little bit outside, could have caught the corner. Ball 2. ... So while Bud Selig blathers about the sanctity of the All-Star Game, his umpires can't be bothered to (a) know what the fucking rule book strike zone is and (b) enforce it.
***
late rally > no rally
***
Luke Hudson (5.79) / Tim Wakefield (4.05), 7 PM
In Hudson's first start of the year, on July 7 against Toronto, he pitched five innings, allowing one run and two hits.
July 18, 2006
July 16, 2006
G90: Athletics 8, Red Sox 1
A pathetic showing, dropping three of four to Oakland at home.
Snyder pitched well for four innings. Then he loaded the bases and walked in a run before getting two clutch strikeouts. He was one out away from escaping a huge jam down only 1-0, he couldn't do it. Two singles brought in three more runs and Rudy Seanez allowed one more (19 of his 33 first batters this year have reached base).
Alex Gonzalez popped a solo home run for Boston's only run. Manny Ramirez singled and walked twice, but also made a stupid base-running mistake, trying to go from first to third on Trot Nixon's single in the fifth. Although there were two outs -- Manny's gaffe ended the inning -- it was one of the few chances the Sox had to cut into the A's lead.
Both the Yankees and Blue Jays won this afternoon, so the East looks like this:
***
Joe Blanton (4.95) / Kyle Snyder (10.29), 2 PM
In his lone Red Sox start, on June 19, Snyder gave up three runs and four hits while striking out six over five innings against Washington. ... In his only start against the Red Sox -- on September 15, 2005 -- Blanton allowed two runs and six hits in six innings.
Snyder pitched well for four innings. Then he loaded the bases and walked in a run before getting two clutch strikeouts. He was one out away from escaping a huge jam down only 1-0, he couldn't do it. Two singles brought in three more runs and Rudy Seanez allowed one more (19 of his 33 first batters this year have reached base).
Alex Gonzalez popped a solo home run for Boston's only run. Manny Ramirez singled and walked twice, but also made a stupid base-running mistake, trying to go from first to third on Trot Nixon's single in the fifth. Although there were two outs -- Manny's gaffe ended the inning -- it was one of the few chances the Sox had to cut into the A's lead.
Both the Yankees and Blue Jays won this afternoon, so the East looks like this:
The Royals are next -- and nothing but a sweep will do.Boston 54 36 --
New York 53 36 ½
Toronto 51 40 3½
***
Joe Blanton (4.95) / Kyle Snyder (10.29), 2 PM
In his lone Red Sox start, on June 19, Snyder gave up three runs and four hits while striking out six over five innings against Washington. ... In his only start against the Red Sox -- on September 15, 2005 -- Blanton allowed two runs and six hits in six innings.
Why Josh Beckett Might Not Be As Bad As You (And I) Think
There is no sugar-coating it. Josh Beckett has pitched poorly this season.
(And yet, various media people look only at his 11-5 record and say he's been a plus -- Sports Illustrated's John Donovan believes Beckett has "delivered" and is part of "what went right" for Boston in the first half of this season.) People who did not get their "Understanding Stats" degree from Joe Morgan University know better.
But has Beckett been as putrid as many Red Sox fans believe?
The 26-year-old right-hander has made 19 starts this season:
Despite those ugly numbers, Beckett has turned in 11 "quality starts" in those 19 outings, third behind Curt Schilling (15) and Tim Wakefield (12). (Of course, what is defined as a "quality start" -- at least six innings and allowing 3 or fewer earned runs -- can be equal to a 4.50 ERA.)
But let's focus on Beckett's worst games:
Beckett has pitched poorly -- and everything I've said about his over-reliance on his fastball and apparent stubbornness in actually trying to pitch remains true -- but he's stunk up the joint in far fewer games than we think.
(And yet, various media people look only at his 11-5 record and say he's been a plus -- Sports Illustrated's John Donovan believes Beckett has "delivered" and is part of "what went right" for Boston in the first half of this season.) People who did not get their "Understanding Stats" degree from Joe Morgan University know better.
But has Beckett been as putrid as many Red Sox fans believe?
The 26-year-old right-hander has made 19 starts this season:
IP H R ER BB K ERA AVG OBP SLG
114.1 108 70 65 40 95 5.12 .260 .333 .508Of the 27 home runs he's allowed, only 14 have been solo shots. He has allowed eight two-run HRs, four three-run HRs, and one grand slam. ... That .508 opponents' slugging percentage? Mike Lowell is slugging .518 this year. Kevin Youkilis (.458) and Trot Nixon (.447) are far below that.Despite those ugly numbers, Beckett has turned in 11 "quality starts" in those 19 outings, third behind Curt Schilling (15) and Tim Wakefield (12). (Of course, what is defined as a "quality start" -- at least six innings and allowing 3 or fewer earned runs -- can be equal to a 4.50 ERA.)
But let's focus on Beckett's worst games:
IP H R ER BB K HR
0427 at Cle 3.2 6 9 8 5 6 3
0530 at Tor 4.2 10 7 7 1 7 4
0605 at NYY 1.1 8 8 7 2 1 2
0714 v Oak 4.1 8 7 7 4 3 1
14.0 32 31 29 12 17 10 18.64 ERAThe Toronto and Yankees games were in consecutive outings, as well as being against our main divisional rivals, perhaps furthering the perception of Beckett's suckiness. ... I'm not saying these games do not (or should not) count in looking at his performance, but check out his season stats without those four starts: IP H R ER BB K ERA HR
100.1 76 39 36 28 78 3.23 17Beckett's record in those 15 starts? 11-1. And that 3.23 ERA would be 6th best in the American League. He'd be discussed as a Cy Young Award candidate by the national media.Beckett has pitched poorly -- and everything I've said about his over-reliance on his fastball and apparent stubbornness in actually trying to pitch remains true -- but he's stunk up the joint in far fewer games than we think.
July 15, 2006
G89: Red Sox 7, Athletics 0
Curt Schilling rights the ship (7-2-0-1-9, 102), with help from David Ortiz (HR #32, triple #1 and RBI #88-89-90), Manny Ramirez (3-for-5), and Mike Lowell (two doubles).
The Yankees beat the White Sox 14-3 and Toronto edged Seattle 7-6 in 14, so Boston's lead in the East stays the same -- 1.5 over New York and 4.5 over the Blue Jays.
The Yankees beat the White Sox 14-3 and Toronto edged Seattle 7-6 in 14, so Boston's lead in the East stays the same -- 1.5 over New York and 4.5 over the Blue Jays.
Then-Ranger A-Rod Courted Ortiz
Did I miss this or was it not reported in the Boston media?
Ortiz pondered Rangers
By Kat O'Brien, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
July 12, 2006
This might pain Rangers fans, but designated hitter David Ortiz considered coming to Texas before signing with Boston in the 2002-03 off-season.
Ortiz was released by the Minnesota Twins on Dec. 16, 2002. ... Ortiz's good friend, then-Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez, spoke to Rangers owner Tom Hicks to try to persuade him to go after Ortiz.
"[Hicks] called me," Ortiz said. "He wanted me to go and play in Texas. I didn't get the offer I wanted at the time." Ortiz said he would have been interested in playing in Texas because his primary goal was "to go to a place where I could play every day."
But Ortiz, then 27, also thought he had earned a pay raise from the $950,000 he had earned in 2002, but, he said, "They offered me the same salary from the year before." ...
More than a month after being released, Ortiz signed a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the Red Sox."
A Strange Definition Of "Hero"
Sean McClelland, Dayton Daily News:
Listening to the talk this week about Boston's Manny Ramirez refusing to show up for the All-Star Game, I was reminded of my long-ago youth.It is pretty well-known that in 1977, while recovering from an injury, Manning was screwing Dennis Eckersley’s wife while the Indians were on the road.
I concluded that Rick Manning, the only player I ever tried to emulate, never would have pulled such a stunt. ... In my young eyes, the hustling Manning could do no wrong. ...
I know this about Manning: If selected by the fans to start an All-Star Game, he would be there, no questions asked.
The kids today who look up to Ramirez can't say the same about their favorite player, and that's sad.
July 14, 2006
G88: Athletics 15, Red Sox 3
@#*&%
So much for not having Papelbon pitch a second inning last night, so he could be fresh tonight.
Jerry Trupiano in the third inning: "Throwing two straight curveballs to Frank Thomas is like going into a lion cage ... with a stick, and trying to annoy the lion." ... And again, in the middle of the fourth: "The A's broke three bats that inning, but they scored two times." They broke some bats -- who cares?
***
Mid-5th: Josh Beckett continues to think he can blow AL hitters away solely with his fastball. He gets pounded and then goes out five days later and refuses to change his approach (media reports have said he scorns the type of prep work Curt Schilling does). So the light-hitting A's lineup battered him tonight (4.2-8-7-4-3, 94), raising his ERA to 5.12. ... Barry Zito is not having much trouble, and he leads 7-0 after five.
***
Barry Zito (3.29) / Josh Beckett (4.75), 7 PM
Beckett has a 2.54 ERA in seven Fenway starts this year. The A's are dead last in MLB in both batting average (.244) and slugging percentage (.389 (the only team under .400)). However, they are in the middle of the pack in home runs -- and 9th in the AL -- so Beckett should still be careful.
In his last outing, Zito held the Angels to three runs over eight innings, but John Lackey tossed a one-hitter. ... In his six losses this year, the A's have scored a total of three runs. ... David Ortiz is batting .421 (8-for-19) against Zito.
In their last two games, the Red Sox have played 30 innings in 10:42.
So much for not having Papelbon pitch a second inning last night, so he could be fresh tonight.
Jerry Trupiano in the third inning: "Throwing two straight curveballs to Frank Thomas is like going into a lion cage ... with a stick, and trying to annoy the lion." ... And again, in the middle of the fourth: "The A's broke three bats that inning, but they scored two times." They broke some bats -- who cares?
***
Mid-5th: Josh Beckett continues to think he can blow AL hitters away solely with his fastball. He gets pounded and then goes out five days later and refuses to change his approach (media reports have said he scorns the type of prep work Curt Schilling does). So the light-hitting A's lineup battered him tonight (4.2-8-7-4-3, 94), raising his ERA to 5.12. ... Barry Zito is not having much trouble, and he leads 7-0 after five.
***
Barry Zito (3.29) / Josh Beckett (4.75), 7 PM
Beckett has a 2.54 ERA in seven Fenway starts this year. The A's are dead last in MLB in both batting average (.244) and slugging percentage (.389 (the only team under .400)). However, they are in the middle of the pack in home runs -- and 9th in the AL -- so Beckett should still be careful.
In his last outing, Zito held the Angels to three runs over eight innings, but John Lackey tossed a one-hitter. ... In his six losses this year, the A's have scored a total of three runs. ... David Ortiz is batting .421 (8-for-19) against Zito.
In their last two games, the Red Sox have played 30 innings in 10:42.
Doing The Opposite
Joe Sheehan, Baseball Prospectus:
The people running MLB have so little belief in the magic of their sport that they are obsessed with dressing it up to get anyone to pay attention. I am convinced that if every park cut out all the non-baseball crap from the scoreboard and PA system, no more than five people per park would complain. (I once thought it would be a good idea to try to get every ballpark to be quiet for one night -- just the game and only the game. Call it: "Silent Night".)
Is someone going to stay home and not spend $$ for tickets because there is no dot race? Will families go to the movies instead of the ball park because the scoreboard doesn't tell them when to clap? Will couples stay away from the game because they now have the ability to speak to each other at a normal volume between innings? I say no.
Tuesday, Bud Selig spoke to reporters, and during that exchange, he expressed the idea that a rule should be established that would prohibit pitchers selected to the All-Star team from pitching on the Sunday prior to the game.Sheehan closes with a short discussion of what I'm always ranting about -- the constant blaring noise and commercials and instructions to cheer and general annoyance that every ballpark has (some way more than others).
The staggering ridiculousness of that idea -- let's impact the championship season for the sake of an exhibition game in which 45 players will appear and Matt Holliday will be among the leaders in playing time -- strains my vocabulary, my imagination and my patience. It is, however, wholly consistent with Selig's apparent view that baseball isn't a terribly interesting game, and desperately needs bells and whistles to keep the attention of the public. ...
Selig, who I'll blame individually for a process that certainly involves more people than him, doesn't believe that the greatness of major-league baseball is in the day-to-day of a six-month regular season. Virtually every decision he's made over the course of his comissionership has detracted from that element, that thing that really does make baseball great, in an effort to garner short-term attention with parlor tricks. ...
The people running MLB have so little belief in the magic of their sport that they are obsessed with dressing it up to get anyone to pay attention. I am convinced that if every park cut out all the non-baseball crap from the scoreboard and PA system, no more than five people per park would complain. (I once thought it would be a good idea to try to get every ballpark to be quiet for one night -- just the game and only the game. Call it: "Silent Night".)
Is someone going to stay home and not spend $$ for tickets because there is no dot race? Will families go to the movies instead of the ball park because the scoreboard doesn't tell them when to clap? Will couples stay away from the game because they now have the ability to speak to each other at a normal volume between innings? I say no.
Craig Breslow Up; Lester = Houdini
Lefthander Craig Breslow was called up from Pawtucket. To make room, Lenny DiNardo was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Breslow:
Art Martone on the Red Sox wasted scoring chances last night: "Number of Red Sox baserunners: 20. Number of Red Sox home runs: 2. Number of times the Red Sox were retired in order by Oakland pitching: 1. ... Number of Red Sox runs: 4." Boston was also 2-for-12 with runners on second and/or third, leaving a total of 15 men on base.
Huston Street on Jonathan Papelbon:
John Tomase on Craig Hansen:
Francona talks about the progress of several injured pitchers: David Wells has been throwing long and his right knee isn't getting worse. Tito: "We're close enough where we can start thinking about a side day ... Maybe even within the week. We'll see." ... Matt Clement did not do any throwing over the break, focusing instead on his strength program. ... Tim Wakefield says his back feels "good, not great". ... Lenny DiNardo is scheduled to start today for Pawtucket. ... Francona says Keith Foulke "has been throwing with good arm speed, good zip on the ball".
From the Globe's Extra Bases blog:
Surprised, excited, anxious all at the same. ... I grew up in a family of Mets fans. But with that came a deeply rooted hatred for the Yankees. I guess that crosses over.In 37.1 innings, Jon Lester has allowed 63 baserunners (35 hits, 25 walks and 3 HBP). He has pitched only six 1-2-3 innings. Yet his ERA is only 2.89. Opposing teams have scored more than one run in an inning off Lester only once -- when Texas got two in the first inning of Lester's debut.
Art Martone on the Red Sox wasted scoring chances last night: "Number of Red Sox baserunners: 20. Number of Red Sox home runs: 2. Number of times the Red Sox were retired in order by Oakland pitching: 1. ... Number of Red Sox runs: 4." Boston was also 2-for-12 with runners on second and/or third, leaving a total of 15 men on base.
Huston Street on Jonathan Papelbon:
I don't really think I can [relate to his success]. The year that he's having is second to none. I think that what he's been able to do on the mound, regardless of whether it's his first year or his 10th, is just absolutely amazing. ... He's in Boston. It's not like he's in some small market. He's playing for the Red Sox. They're expected to win every single year. That's what makes what he's able to do even more special.Jeff Horrigan checks in with Lowell Spinners closer Joshua Papelbon:
It's unbelievable. Every time I come into a game, it's a standing ovation and everyone chanting, 'Papelbon,' and everyone wanting autographs. I knew it was going to be somewhat like this because of my brother but not this intense. I don't think there's ever been this much hoopla for a 48th-rounder.In 7.1 innings over six appearances, Papelbon has struck out nine, walked one and allowed zero runs. ... More minors.
John Tomase on Craig Hansen:
In Hansen's first inning of work (or less if he enters mid-inning), he has averaged over a strikeout an inning while posting an ERA of 1.74. When starting a second inning, which he has done four times, his ERA shoots to 16.88. Stat-heads speak of sample size, and four outings isn't exactly large. But at the very least, Hansen's second-inning struggles suggest an early trend.I'm not so sure about this. In Pawtucket, Hansen was starting and pitching three or four innings each time out. He wasn't a one-inning-only type of guy.
Francona talks about the progress of several injured pitchers: David Wells has been throwing long and his right knee isn't getting worse. Tito: "We're close enough where we can start thinking about a side day ... Maybe even within the week. We'll see." ... Matt Clement did not do any throwing over the break, focusing instead on his strength program. ... Tim Wakefield says his back feels "good, not great". ... Lenny DiNardo is scheduled to start today for Pawtucket. ... Francona says Keith Foulke "has been throwing with good arm speed, good zip on the ball".
From the Globe's Extra Bases blog:
Every sportswriter's worst nightmare is being on deadline and having his or her laptop fail. Sometimes it's due to circumstances out of your control. A foul ball off the bat of Bobby Kielty struck the laptop of Springfield Republican sportswriter Ron Chimelis, who was sitting in the front row of the press box, damaging the screen and the machine.He was still able to file his game story.
July 13, 2006
G87: Athletics 5, Red Sox 4 (11)
Scattered notes (mostly on the jaw-dropping idiocy of ESPN2's Gary Thorne and Buck Martinez):
ESPN2 begins its broadcast with a solid five minutes of Manny bashing. Thorne and Martinez both agree that yes, Manny's knee has been an issue for the Red Sox all season, his knee has been bothering him, sure, etc., etc., etc., but "bottom line: we all know he could have gone" to the All-Star Game.
Martinez pronounces Papi's name wrong all night long: David OR-tiz. (like gettin' arrested by the PO-lease.)
Ramirez's first AB in the first inning -- he gets a nice hand, as always, but ESPN2 can't let it pass. Thorne: "They like Manny being Manny." ... Martinez: "Well, they've gotten used to it." ... The explanation that follows is that Sox fans didn't like Manny until a few years ago, but now that the Sox have been winning, they like him now. ... Remember: This is how other media and casual baseball fans get their Sox information.
Jon Lester is like Houdini at getting out of jams, but he's still throwing too many pitches. His count over five innings: 26-23-17 21-16 = 103.
Sometime around the third inning, Thorne admits that he now thinks players who DH should be considered for MVP. He talks about Ortiz's home runs and RBI and game-winning hits and says "He's just playing by the rules." ... I guess it was against the rules last year.
ESPN2 talks about Mike Lowell having a bad 2005 and Theo Epstein seeing a player he could get on the cheap. Theo supposedly said: "You can play defense. I believe in you." ... However, Lowell was a throw-in on the Beckett deal, the player we had to take to get the deal done. And as it turns out, Theo didn't even make that trade. It occurred during the time he was not with the club. So Thorne gets every aspect of the story wrong.
Martinez: "Manny has a game plan and he never deviates from it." So Ramirez never makes any adjustments at the plate? He just stubbornly sticks with his pre-conceived plan. Oooookay, Buck.
In the 6th inning, Buck explains: "We get the impression that Manny just gets in the box and is a free swinger." What do you mean "we", idiot? Manny has never been that type of player. And I thought you said earlier that Ramirez has a plan when he comes to the plate. So if that was true, he wouldn't be a free swinger then, would he?
In a game filled with praise for Jason Varitek's catching ability (any good pitch Lester made was described as "That's all Varitek right there."), Buck praises Tek's "ability to put the ball in play" after he singles in the 3rd inning. Jeez. If Varitek can't put the ball in play, he should be serving beers in the concourse.
Martinez: "The Sox have left 11 men on base this game." ... Thorne: "Obviously, the Red Sox are not used to that happening." Um, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
Thorne claims that the Boston papers don't write "Manny being Manny" anymore, they just write "MBM".
Ramirez makes a nice over-the-shoulder catch at the wall in left-center for the first out of the ninth. Martinez: "He made that look pretty easy, didn't he?" ... Thorne: "His knee didn't look to be a problem there." ... Afterwards, they try to take the high road, saying how Manny took a great route to the ball and he's a bit underrated in the field. Too late, assholes.
After Willie Harris gets picked off in the bottom of the ninth, Thorne channels Tim McCarver: "Boston had the Big Dig; that didn't proof to be very successful. Harris had the big lead; that didn't proof to be very successful."
Finally: Why didn't Papelbon come out for the 11th? He had thrown 18 pitches in the tenth. Why go to the shitty arms right away? Julian Being Julian. Another gut punch of a loss.
Feel free to remind ESPN that their announcers are ignorant and offensive.
***
Esteban Loaiza (6.43) / Jon Lester (3.06), 7 PM
Both New York and Toronto are off tonight.
ESPN2 begins its broadcast with a solid five minutes of Manny bashing. Thorne and Martinez both agree that yes, Manny's knee has been an issue for the Red Sox all season, his knee has been bothering him, sure, etc., etc., etc., but "bottom line: we all know he could have gone" to the All-Star Game.
Martinez pronounces Papi's name wrong all night long: David OR-tiz. (like gettin' arrested by the PO-lease.)
Ramirez's first AB in the first inning -- he gets a nice hand, as always, but ESPN2 can't let it pass. Thorne: "They like Manny being Manny." ... Martinez: "Well, they've gotten used to it." ... The explanation that follows is that Sox fans didn't like Manny until a few years ago, but now that the Sox have been winning, they like him now. ... Remember: This is how other media and casual baseball fans get their Sox information.
Jon Lester is like Houdini at getting out of jams, but he's still throwing too many pitches. His count over five innings: 26-23-17 21-16 = 103.
Sometime around the third inning, Thorne admits that he now thinks players who DH should be considered for MVP. He talks about Ortiz's home runs and RBI and game-winning hits and says "He's just playing by the rules." ... I guess it was against the rules last year.
ESPN2 talks about Mike Lowell having a bad 2005 and Theo Epstein seeing a player he could get on the cheap. Theo supposedly said: "You can play defense. I believe in you." ... However, Lowell was a throw-in on the Beckett deal, the player we had to take to get the deal done. And as it turns out, Theo didn't even make that trade. It occurred during the time he was not with the club. So Thorne gets every aspect of the story wrong.
Martinez: "Manny has a game plan and he never deviates from it." So Ramirez never makes any adjustments at the plate? He just stubbornly sticks with his pre-conceived plan. Oooookay, Buck.
In the 6th inning, Buck explains: "We get the impression that Manny just gets in the box and is a free swinger." What do you mean "we", idiot? Manny has never been that type of player. And I thought you said earlier that Ramirez has a plan when he comes to the plate. So if that was true, he wouldn't be a free swinger then, would he?
In a game filled with praise for Jason Varitek's catching ability (any good pitch Lester made was described as "That's all Varitek right there."), Buck praises Tek's "ability to put the ball in play" after he singles in the 3rd inning. Jeez. If Varitek can't put the ball in play, he should be serving beers in the concourse.
Martinez: "The Sox have left 11 men on base this game." ... Thorne: "Obviously, the Red Sox are not used to that happening." Um, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
Thorne claims that the Boston papers don't write "Manny being Manny" anymore, they just write "MBM".
Ramirez makes a nice over-the-shoulder catch at the wall in left-center for the first out of the ninth. Martinez: "He made that look pretty easy, didn't he?" ... Thorne: "His knee didn't look to be a problem there." ... Afterwards, they try to take the high road, saying how Manny took a great route to the ball and he's a bit underrated in the field. Too late, assholes.
After Willie Harris gets picked off in the bottom of the ninth, Thorne channels Tim McCarver: "Boston had the Big Dig; that didn't proof to be very successful. Harris had the big lead; that didn't proof to be very successful."
Finally: Why didn't Papelbon come out for the 11th? He had thrown 18 pitches in the tenth. Why go to the shitty arms right away? Julian Being Julian. Another gut punch of a loss.
Feel free to remind ESPN that their announcers are ignorant and offensive.
***
Esteban Loaiza (6.43) / Jon Lester (3.06), 7 PM
Both New York and Toronto are off tonight.
Comments On The First Half
We knew Kevin Youkilis could hit (.297/.407/.467) and get on base (he now leads all leadoff men with a .404 OBP) -- which made Terry Francona's insistence on playing a chronically unproductive Millar last year so maddening -- but what has surprised me most has been his glove work. In his first year at first base, Yook has fit right in with the air-tight infield defense. He has also walked 55 times against 68 strikeouts.
Alex Gonzalez's work at shortstop has been nothing short of sensational, and he has provided a bit of punch at the bottom of the order. In late May, he was batting below .200, but he's up to .284/.327/.407.
I had no idea what to expect from Mike Lowell this year. In 2005, he was 147th among 148 qualifying players in OPS and we were forced to take him in the Beckett deal. Lowell has rebounded, hitting .307/.359/.516 and tied for the major league lead with 31 doubles. He's only the 4th Sock since 1960 to hit 30 doubles before the ASB. He is also looking cool, calm and collected at third base.
Trot Nixon has stayed healthy in his free agent year and is hitting as well as ever (.311/.415/.455). His power is down, but he's getting on base more often than at any time in his career.
David Ortiz's .609 slugging percentage is the higher than in any of his other Boston seasons. His batting numbers: .278/.388/.609. Ortiz leads the majors with 31 HR and 87 RBI, putting him on pace to set new Red Sox single-season records in both categories. In 160 games since last year's All-Star break, Ortiz has 57 HR and 160 RBI.
Like Ted Williams before him, Manny Ramirez works his ass off, produces like a motherfucker, and gets dumped on in the media. After a slow start, he's raking at .306/.434/.615 -- the 4th-best OPS (1.094) in the majors. With 24 homers and 65 RBI at the break, Ian Browne of redsox.com tabs Manny for a monster second half and the league's MVP.
Mark Loretta had a solid first half -- .305/.353/.385 -- nothing fancy and nothing horrible. His slugging percentage is low because 85 of his 107 hits have been singles. I'd like to see him dropped in the order (7th?) and have Youkilis and Nixon at the top of the order against right-handers.
When he returns, Wily Mo Pena (.321/.370/.482, 112 AB) will see some time at first base. He also did a decent job in center field in Crisp's absence. Alex Cora (.300/.402/.350) has filled in at second and short and done a terrific job. Since May 22, Cora's hitting .352.
What's wrong with Jason Varitek (.232/.316/.386)? Injury, slump, age? He's been consistently bad all season. How bad? Alex Gonzalez is batting 52 points higher -- and slugging 21 points higher. Francona must ignore the "C" and move Tek's nerf bat way down to 8th in the lineup.
Doug Mirabelli is the current holder of The Ringo Starr Luckiest Man on Earth Award. At .175/.257/.317 since returning to Boston, the Stud Who Hits Bombs may not bat his weight this year. Still, if Varitek continues to slump, he could/should get some starts against lefties even on Wakefield's off-days. Oh, Wakefield's ERA before Mirabelli returned? 3.90. Since his arrival? 4.10.
Coco Crisp got off to a great start in April before getting hurt, and has struggled since coming back to the lineup (41-for-157, .261). When Crisp starts hitting, his ideal spot in the lineup would be #5 or #6.
Ortiz and Manny are #3 and #4 in the AL in Runs Created. Manny is #3 in RC/27 (the number of runs a lineup of nine Mannys would score per 27 outs) -- trailing only Travis Hafner (10.91) and Jim Thome (9.83).
Josh Beckett (4.75, 1.24) is Exhibit A of why W-L records tell you very little about a pitcher's actual performance. He's 11-4, but few of us have been pleased with his work. I haven't seen a lot of his starts, but he still seems intent on trying to blow his fastball by everybody and has shied away from his curve. Varitek gets praise for his handling of the pitching staff; it's high time for him to slap some sense into Beckett.
Paltry run support (up until recently) has depressed Tim Wakefield's W/L record, but he's turned in yet another underrated performance (4.05, 1.24). Bothered by a bad back, Wakefield has still pitched 12 quality starts in 18 outings, second on the staff to Schilling's 14.
Rookie Jon Lester (3.06, 1.55) has looked quite good. While he has dug himself some holes (too many walks), he has also shown a lot of poise and determination in getting out of his jams. Like all the Red Sox young arms, including relievers Manny Delcarmen (3.52, 1.35) and Craig Hansen (4.63, 1.29), he seems to have adapted to the cauldron of Boston exceptionally well.
What can you say about Matt Clement (6.61, 1.76)? He's been hurt, but it sure seems like his problems are also mental. I have no idea what we'll get from Clement in the second half.
Jonathan Papelbon (0.59, 0.72) began the year in the bullpen and was expected to move into the fifth starter spot when needed. Instead, he took over as closer after the third game of the season -- where he has excelled. He has allowed only three runs in 46 innings. His ERA+ is 803!!! I still want him in the starting rotation in 2007.
In his last six outings covering seven innings, Delcarmen has 10 strikeouts and zero walks, a huge improvement. As they improve, and gain Tito's trust, MDC and Hansen are getting more high-leverage innings. Those were innings that had been going to Rudy Seanez (4.86, 1.62) and Julian Tavarez (4.56, 1.42), who despite their sterling performances in Sunday's 19-inning loss, have been putrid.
Thanks to Papelbot and Mike Timlin (2.59, 1.31), the Red Sox bullpen ERA is sixth in the AL.
Alex Gonzalez's work at shortstop has been nothing short of sensational, and he has provided a bit of punch at the bottom of the order. In late May, he was batting below .200, but he's up to .284/.327/.407.
I had no idea what to expect from Mike Lowell this year. In 2005, he was 147th among 148 qualifying players in OPS and we were forced to take him in the Beckett deal. Lowell has rebounded, hitting .307/.359/.516 and tied for the major league lead with 31 doubles. He's only the 4th Sock since 1960 to hit 30 doubles before the ASB. He is also looking cool, calm and collected at third base.
Trot Nixon has stayed healthy in his free agent year and is hitting as well as ever (.311/.415/.455). His power is down, but he's getting on base more often than at any time in his career.
David Ortiz's .609 slugging percentage is the higher than in any of his other Boston seasons. His batting numbers: .278/.388/.609. Ortiz leads the majors with 31 HR and 87 RBI, putting him on pace to set new Red Sox single-season records in both categories. In 160 games since last year's All-Star break, Ortiz has 57 HR and 160 RBI.
Like Ted Williams before him, Manny Ramirez works his ass off, produces like a motherfucker, and gets dumped on in the media. After a slow start, he's raking at .306/.434/.615 -- the 4th-best OPS (1.094) in the majors. With 24 homers and 65 RBI at the break, Ian Browne of redsox.com tabs Manny for a monster second half and the league's MVP.
Mark Loretta had a solid first half -- .305/.353/.385 -- nothing fancy and nothing horrible. His slugging percentage is low because 85 of his 107 hits have been singles. I'd like to see him dropped in the order (7th?) and have Youkilis and Nixon at the top of the order against right-handers.
When he returns, Wily Mo Pena (.321/.370/.482, 112 AB) will see some time at first base. He also did a decent job in center field in Crisp's absence. Alex Cora (.300/.402/.350) has filled in at second and short and done a terrific job. Since May 22, Cora's hitting .352.
What's wrong with Jason Varitek (.232/.316/.386)? Injury, slump, age? He's been consistently bad all season. How bad? Alex Gonzalez is batting 52 points higher -- and slugging 21 points higher. Francona must ignore the "C" and move Tek's nerf bat way down to 8th in the lineup.
Doug Mirabelli is the current holder of The Ringo Starr Luckiest Man on Earth Award. At .175/.257/.317 since returning to Boston, the Stud Who Hits Bombs may not bat his weight this year. Still, if Varitek continues to slump, he could/should get some starts against lefties even on Wakefield's off-days. Oh, Wakefield's ERA before Mirabelli returned? 3.90. Since his arrival? 4.10.
Coco Crisp got off to a great start in April before getting hurt, and has struggled since coming back to the lineup (41-for-157, .261). When Crisp starts hitting, his ideal spot in the lineup would be #5 or #6.
Ortiz and Manny are #3 and #4 in the AL in Runs Created. Manny is #3 in RC/27 (the number of runs a lineup of nine Mannys would score per 27 outs) -- trailing only Travis Hafner (10.91) and Jim Thome (9.83).
In the spring, Curt Schilling (3.60 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) wondered if he'd be able to once again pitch at his customary high level. Outside of a five-start bump (6.53 ERA) after that 133-pitch outing in Cleveland, Schilling has established himself as the ace of the staff.RC RC/27
Ortiz 74.1 8.00
Ramirez 73.9 9.28
Youkilis 63.7 7.29
Lowell 53.8 6.18
Nixon 50.7 7.03
Loretta 47.5 5.01
Gonzalez 32.0 4.58
Varitek 29.3 3.76
Crisp 23.7 4.57
Pena 20.4 6.80
Cora 15.5 5.59
Josh Beckett (4.75, 1.24) is Exhibit A of why W-L records tell you very little about a pitcher's actual performance. He's 11-4, but few of us have been pleased with his work. I haven't seen a lot of his starts, but he still seems intent on trying to blow his fastball by everybody and has shied away from his curve. Varitek gets praise for his handling of the pitching staff; it's high time for him to slap some sense into Beckett.
Paltry run support (up until recently) has depressed Tim Wakefield's W/L record, but he's turned in yet another underrated performance (4.05, 1.24). Bothered by a bad back, Wakefield has still pitched 12 quality starts in 18 outings, second on the staff to Schilling's 14.
Rookie Jon Lester (3.06, 1.55) has looked quite good. While he has dug himself some holes (too many walks), he has also shown a lot of poise and determination in getting out of his jams. Like all the Red Sox young arms, including relievers Manny Delcarmen (3.52, 1.35) and Craig Hansen (4.63, 1.29), he seems to have adapted to the cauldron of Boston exceptionally well.
What can you say about Matt Clement (6.61, 1.76)? He's been hurt, but it sure seems like his problems are also mental. I have no idea what we'll get from Clement in the second half.
Jonathan Papelbon (0.59, 0.72) began the year in the bullpen and was expected to move into the fifth starter spot when needed. Instead, he took over as closer after the third game of the season -- where he has excelled. He has allowed only three runs in 46 innings. His ERA+ is 803!!! I still want him in the starting rotation in 2007.
In his last six outings covering seven innings, Delcarmen has 10 strikeouts and zero walks, a huge improvement. As they improve, and gain Tito's trust, MDC and Hansen are getting more high-leverage innings. Those were innings that had been going to Rudy Seanez (4.86, 1.62) and Julian Tavarez (4.56, 1.42), who despite their sterling performances in Sunday's 19-inning loss, have been putrid.
Thanks to Papelbot and Mike Timlin (2.59, 1.31), the Red Sox bullpen ERA is sixth in the AL.
Cool Standings
Every day, Cool Standings runs one million simulations of the rest of the season and posts the results.
Here are each East team's current record, runs scored and runs allowed, expected regular season wins and losses, and the percentages of those 1,000,000 seasons each team won either the division or wild card.
Here are each East team's current record, runs scored and runs allowed, expected regular season wins and losses, and the percentages of those 1,000,000 seasons each team won either the division or wild card.
W L GB RS RA EXPW EXPL DIV WC
Boston 53 33 - 486 413 98.1 63.9 81.8 4.2
New York 50 36 3 479 406 91.9 70.1 16.0 10.7
Toronto 49 39 5 472 432 86.7 75.3 2.2 1.9
Baltimore 41 49 14 436 501 71.7 90.3 0.0 0.0
Tampa Bay 39 50 15.5 383 457 68.9 93.1 0.0 0.0The Red Sox have the most home games remaining of any AL team: 44 of 75.
July 12, 2006
Manny Ramirez - Reality vs Perception
Bruce Allen at Boston Sports Media Watch has an excellent analysis of the media's role in the public perception of Manny Ramirez. Don't miss it.
Allen adds a brief follow-up today, wherein he notes that as he gathered specific examples of anti-Manny bias in the various local rags, "there were just way too many to include, and many were just incidental little shots here and there by various writers".
Here is a prime example of a "little shot" in today's Herald, by Steve Buckley:
I hope to write more about this tomorrow.
P.S.: It seems like the Home Run Derby attracts as much excitement as the All-Star Game itself. So when I read that David Ortiz says he's likely finished with the Derby -- "I don't think I'm going to do it anymore. I'm no good at it. I've tried three times - how many times do I have to try, 10? I'm no good." -- I find myself wondering when the hatchet job on Big Papi will start. Doesn't he understand his obligation to the fans? He's a disgrace to the game. Etc. etc. blah blah etc.
Allen adds a brief follow-up today, wherein he notes that as he gathered specific examples of anti-Manny bias in the various local rags, "there were just way too many to include, and many were just incidental little shots here and there by various writers".
Here is a prime example of a "little shot" in today's Herald, by Steve Buckley:
Somehow, the Red Sox are winning games for 2006 while building a strong team for 2007 and beyond. Think about it. Though the marquee attractions are Curt Schilling, David Ortiz and poor, achy Manny Ramirez, a bunch of kids are muscling their way into the clubhouse and demanding big-league service time.There is it, completely unrelated to any point being made, utterly unnecessary, 100% gratuitous. And once your eyes are open to this kind of thing, you see it everywhere -- and you rarely see it for any other Red Sox player.
I hope to write more about this tomorrow.
P.S.: It seems like the Home Run Derby attracts as much excitement as the All-Star Game itself. So when I read that David Ortiz says he's likely finished with the Derby -- "I don't think I'm going to do it anymore. I'm no good at it. I've tried three times - how many times do I have to try, 10? I'm no good." -- I find myself wondering when the hatchet job on Big Papi will start. Doesn't he understand his obligation to the fans? He's a disgrace to the game. Etc. etc. blah blah etc.
Manny: Torn Meniscus?
Will Carroll, Baseball Prospectus, writes that Manny Ramirez
is taking a disproportionate amount of heat for missing the game, even getting openly questioned on [Saturday]'s Fox telecast. Tim McCarver said the worst thing about his knee injury was "remembering which leg to limp with." It's easy to say that Ramirez is faking an injury, but almost as easy to actually check on the injury. Ramirez is suffering from a small tear in the medial meniscus of his right knee. It's an injury he can play with, but one that can "grind," a bone-on-bone situation that is unpredictable and painful. ...Gordon Edes -- while stating that "Carroll has a solid reputation in the industry for his reports on player injuries" -- notes:
Industry sources, both with direct knowledge of Ramirez's condition, had conflicting reactions [to the report.] ...Edes spoke with Jeffrey Dugas, an orthopedic surgeon in Alabama and associate of noted orthopedist James Andrews, who said that an MRI is the "gold-standard test" for determining a meniscus tear. Dugas:
One source, although not offering direct confirmation of Carroll's report, acknowledged some degree of accuracy. Another source, however, said neither the Red Sox medical staff nor an outside entity have administered an MRI to Ramirez and have not indicated they intend to do so. Without an MRI, the source said, the Sox would only be guessing there is a tear.
But even if an MRI showed a tear, unless it clearly and significantly keeps a player from performing, there's no reason to do anything with it. If he can play his position, hit, run on it, he can continue to play. An MRI is such a sensitive test, sometimes you can overread it.Bud Selig either didn't know about the report or didn't care. He said it was "beyond my comprehension" why Manny would not make the trip to Pittsburgh, adding
The only thing I want to say in all fairness is that he's the only player we had that problem with this year. Everybody else has been terrific. Tommy Glavine does the right thing. He comes anyway. Of course he can't pitch, but he comes anyway. And Reyes is also here and he can't (play). But he's here. ... I need a vacation too, but ...More later...
July 11, 2006
ASG77: American 3, National 2
The World Series will open in Boston!
The AL, down by a run since the third inning, was down to its last out against Trevor Hoffman in the top of the ninth. Paul Konerko singled to left (a hit only because the NL 3B was guarding the line), Troy Glaus bopped a ground rule double to left, and Michael Young, on an 0-2 pitch, tripled to the gap in right center. The junior circuit took a 3-2 lead.
And Mariano Rivera got the save, despite letting the potential tying run reach second with two outs. ... The American League won its 9th straight All-Star Game (though the NL did get its first lead since 2003) -- completed in a swift 2:33.
***
Lineups for the 77th All-Star Game:
The AL, down by a run since the third inning, was down to its last out against Trevor Hoffman in the top of the ninth. Paul Konerko singled to left (a hit only because the NL 3B was guarding the line), Troy Glaus bopped a ground rule double to left, and Michael Young, on an 0-2 pitch, tripled to the gap in right center. The junior circuit took a 3-2 lead.
And Mariano Rivera got the save, despite letting the potential tying run reach second with two outs. ... The American League won its 9th straight All-Star Game (though the NL did get its first lead since 2003) -- completed in a swift 2:33.
***
Lineups for the 77th All-Star Game:
AL NL
Suzuki RF Soriano LF
Jeter SS Beltran CF
Ortiz 1B Pujols 1B
ARodriguez 3B Bay RF
Guerrero LF Renteria SS
IRodriguez C Wright 3B
Wells CF Utley 2B
Loretta 2B Lo Duca C
Rogers P Penny P
July 10, 2006
July 9, 2006
Pedro On VHS
Do you have, or do you know someone who has, any Pedro Martinez starts on VHS or DVD?
Send me an email if you have any information (especially of games earlier in his Red Sox career).
Send me an email if you have any information (especially of games earlier in his Red Sox career).
G86: White Sox 6, Red Sox 5 (19)
Bos - 100 200 000 020 000 000 0 - 5 11 0
Chi - 000 101 001 020 000 000 1 - 6 18 0Damn.Props to Julian Tavarez for an amazing pitching performance (4-1-0-1-2, 49), shutting down the White Sox in the 13th-16th innings. That's more unlikely than Harvey Haddix's 12 perfect innings back in 1959.
After that, asking for three shutout innings from Rudy Seanez, who hadn't pitched since June 30, was too much. He gave us 2.1 -- which is about 2.1 more than I expected -- but then four straight singles ended the 6:19 marathon.
Boo: Jason Varitek and Trot Nixon went a combined 0-for-17. But none of the other batters did much for the last 15 innings (except for Loretta in the 11th), either.
Time for a rest.
***
Curt Schilling (3.63) / Jose Contreras (3.31), 2 PM
While Contreras has had 17 consecutive winning decisions and is 9-0 this season, his lifetime ERA against Boston is 11.67. But Schilling notes: "He's not even remotely what he was in New York. I think a lot of that is confidence, the way he pitches, his mound presence is better and it's showing."
From The Press Notes:
David Ortiz is the second Red Sox player to hit 8 HR over 8 consecutive games (George Scott (the one and only Boomer to wear red socks), June 14-22, 1977). Flo is on pace for 59 HR and 164 RBI. Since last year's All-Star break, Ortiz has hit 57 HR and driven in 159 runs, both tops in MLB.
The last time the Sox faced a pitcher with a 9-0 record? June 27, 1978, Ron Guidry, Yankees. New York won 6-4 in 14 innings (Guidry got a ND). ... The last time the Sox pinned a loss on a pitcher with a 9-0 record? July 9, 1960 (exactly 47 years ago today), Jim Coates, Yankees. Boston won 6-5.
Rudy Seanez has not pitched since June 30 (yay!). Among Red Sox relievers he has the lowest percentage of first batters retired (14-of-30, 47%). Jonathan Papelbon is at 79% (31-of-39), Mike Timlin is at 76% (25-of-33), and Craig Hansen is 100% (10-for-10).
Schilling makes his 400th career start today.
July 8, 2006
One Final Hard-To-Believe Fact From Pedro's Historic 2000 Season
If he had made one more start and allowed 47 earned runs without recording a single out, he still would have had the lowest ERA in the American League.
Herald's Buckley Slams Ramirez For Thinking Of His Health, Teammates And Fans
Manny can't win.
Steve Buckley's column in today's Herald is headlined: "All-Star Shame: Ramirez, Sox make mockery of 'Classic'"
Buckley writes that this isn't
But really, what can you say? Is it not common knowledge that Manny Ramirez has had problems with his hamstrings and knees for many years? Or is it Buckley's contention that Ramirez has been scheming to duck out of the 2006 All-Star Game since 1998?
With interleague play and the Extra Innings cable package, fans all across the country (and world) can see every single team play on an almost nightly basis. This isn't 1957, when fans in some cities could never see the stars of the other league in action.
And imagine if Manny did grab his bat and head off to Pittsburgh, got hurt, and ended up missing six weeks? (Everyone -- even the members of Boston sporting press -- agrees that if not for Manny hitting behind David Ortiz, Papi would get far fewer hittable pitches than he now sees.) So what would Buckley's angle be in that case?
Manny clearly doesn't care about his team's chances in the pennant race. No, he had to go to Pittsburgh for a meaningless exhibition game ("this time it counts"? please), rather than think that his teammates just might welcome his potent bat against the Yankees in August and September. So when Big Papi racks up those BBIs instead of bashing walk-off home runs, just remember where the blame lies. At the feet of selfish Manny Ramirez.
If anyone still wonders why Manny doesn't waste his time chatting with most of the local media, just keep this column (and the approximately 23,856 previous potshots he's taken since coming to Boston) in mind.
It must be very difficult for a columnist to grind out copy day after day after day. I understand that. But in this case, turning in a blank sheet of paper would have been the wise choice for Buckley. The Herald could have run a list Ramirez's Hall of Fame stats in its place.
Steve Buckley's column in today's Herald is headlined: "All-Star Shame: Ramirez, Sox make mockery of 'Classic'"
Buckley writes that this isn't
a case of a player pulling up lame a few days before The Big Game ... No, this was something carefully orchestrated over a period of weeks ... Seems as though they started working the phones to keep Manny out of the All-Star Game during spring training, doesn't it?First of all, Steve, you are not sorry. What's the point of beginning your final sentence with an apology for everything that came before it? If you were actually sorry for what you were writing, you'd have hit the delete key and typed up something else for your readers.
The Red Sox kept talking about Manny's knee, Manny's knee, Manny's knee, Manny's knee, to the point that I expected Jerry Lewis to appear as the host of a telethon to raise funds for life-saving surgery for the ailing left fielder. ...
The Sox are going to get away with this because their millions of fans will believe the bit about getting poor Manny healthy for the stretch run. ...
Is he hurt a little? Sure. But it's July. Everybody has aches and pains.
Sorry, something's not right with this.
But really, what can you say? Is it not common knowledge that Manny Ramirez has had problems with his hamstrings and knees for many years? Or is it Buckley's contention that Ramirez has been scheming to duck out of the 2006 All-Star Game since 1998?
With interleague play and the Extra Innings cable package, fans all across the country (and world) can see every single team play on an almost nightly basis. This isn't 1957, when fans in some cities could never see the stars of the other league in action.
And imagine if Manny did grab his bat and head off to Pittsburgh, got hurt, and ended up missing six weeks? (Everyone -- even the members of Boston sporting press -- agrees that if not for Manny hitting behind David Ortiz, Papi would get far fewer hittable pitches than he now sees.) So what would Buckley's angle be in that case?
Manny clearly doesn't care about his team's chances in the pennant race. No, he had to go to Pittsburgh for a meaningless exhibition game ("this time it counts"? please), rather than think that his teammates just might welcome his potent bat against the Yankees in August and September. So when Big Papi racks up those BBIs instead of bashing walk-off home runs, just remember where the blame lies. At the feet of selfish Manny Ramirez.
If anyone still wonders why Manny doesn't waste his time chatting with most of the local media, just keep this column (and the approximately 23,856 previous potshots he's taken since coming to Boston) in mind.
It must be very difficult for a columnist to grind out copy day after day after day. I understand that. But in this case, turning in a blank sheet of paper would have been the wise choice for Buckley. The Herald could have run a list Ramirez's Hall of Fame stats in its place.
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