Jerked Chicken and Other Things-Peter

Well, we have the continued effects of the flu. While it certainly doesn't appear to be anywhere nearly as lethal as the 1919-20 pandemic that killed over twenty million, it's certainly having a negative effect on the Sox this week. Dice-K gets scratched last night due to the flu and is rescheduled to go today. However, he's still suffering so the Sox call up a guy not from the Pawsox, but from a lower minor level--Double A. They get Justin Masterson, the first Jamaican ever to start a major league game. Although he does walk four batters, his control of the game and his focus keep any of them form scoring. Aside from one bad pitch that was deposited in the center field bleachers by Napoli in the fifth, Masterson left after six strong innings with a 3-1 lead. He probably figured he would get his first major league victory. No such luck. By the time the Sox overworked relief squad finished, he probably felt like the famous chicken dish from his home--Jerked.
As soon as Masterson is gone, the relievers came in and both Lopez and the Other Manny, Delcarmen to you, gave up a hit and a walk apiece without getting any outs. All four scored, the finish coming when the normally dependable Okajima got his second blown save of the season by giving up a couple of hits and a walk before retiring three Angels to end the inning. None of the hits were particularly earth shattering, but they were hits nevertheless, and they hurt.

Aardsma surrenders two hits and a BB before ending the inning and another runs has come across for the Halos. In the ninth, we get Tavarez, who, gives up a hit and a free pass, eventually surrendering an unearned run, helped in part by an error by the usually sure handed Crisp.

Well, I'm thinking, it's the ninth and we're down four. Not great, but we've got the heart of the order coming up and the Manny's been hitting and Papi has been hitting recently, coupled with the fact that the rest of the top half or more of the order is over .300. So, I'm thinking at least we've really got a legitimate shot. As it turns out, that's what we get--shot--bang, we're dead. Yes, Papi put one out that was an absolute shot, getting us to within two, and giving him 20 ribbies on the season, tie with Manny for the season, but Manny launches one that in any normal situation would have been a candidate for the Space Shuttle, but in this case is suddenly held up by the wind and caught to end the game by Torii Hunter.

This flu thing has to be beaten--and soon. So far, we've got Tek, the Diceman, Youk and Beckett suffering from it, and God knows who else about to be bitten by the bug. What were they using, Bush's non-existent flu vaccine?

Well, tomorrow they're Florida-bound for a set with the Rays. Even though those guys are always at the bottom of the league, W-L-wise, they do have some good players (including one, Pena, from yours truly's home town outside Boston, Haverhill), and, given a chance, can make your life miserable. Beckett's supposed to be back on the mound Sunday, and hopefully before the guys win that one, they'll have a two game winning streak going.

To all you Sox fans out there, we appreciate your visits to the blog, but we'd like some comments, feedback, or just plain bitching. Tell us what you think, like or don't.