Ugly!!Yuck! by Peter

Well, today was three games in one! (It's almost like a tennis match, actually).
Unfortunately, the Sox lost two--and the actual game that they were a part of. After cruising along for five innings, Wake was looking pretty much like the Wake of last year's first four or five months and the came the sixth inning. Matt Stairs, a journeyman in this observer's humble opinion, came up. My immediate reaction was, "Oh, Christ--I hope he doesn't screw things up for the Sox now!" He has a history if being a thorn in their side (or pain in the ass, if you prefer that anatomical reference) at exactly the worst moment. So it was again today. Before the thought was out of my mind, the ball was in some fan's hand and the score was 1-0 Jays. Things then went rapidly from bad to worse. A combination of walks and hits and by the time the Sox were out of the inning, it was three-zip Jays. Game one to the Jays (or, for you tennis fans, Set 1).

However, the Sox quickly recovered. As in years past of recent memory, their bats awoke. Firs, Papi worked a walk. Then, Manny singled, putting two on base. After Lowell made an out (definitely not a batting repeat of 2007, so far), Drew came up and quickly deposited the horsehide into the bleachers. Game Two (Set Two?) to the Sox! Tie score! It appeared that as in many previous episodes of our Sox, their deadly batting order was coming to the rescue and all once again was well for the 'Olde Town Team'. Unfortunately, that's all it was--an appearance.

Almost as quickly as they had caught up, the Jays put another trey up on the board. This time there was no cavalry in the form of Sox offense to the rescue. The damsel finished in distress--Game three (Set 3?) to the Jays. Game, set and match - Jays.

Aardsma took the L, and justifiably so. It appeared he couldn't do anything right. But the fault isn't only his. All of the other Sox relievers in that fateful inning who could have stopped the Jay rally failed to, capped by the other Manny, Delcarmon, in case you're keeping score, who appeared to have saved the Sox from going down by getting two outs, only to give up the hit that put the Jays in the lead for good. After that, it was all down hill.

Well, tomorrow's another day by the lake. The Sox should pick up and get back on the right path with a W. I think Bucholtz (not sure about the spelling there) is scheduled to pitch. Can we have another no-no?
While I'm on the pitching front, another bit of encouraging news: Colon's doing real well in his stints with the PawSox and could be in the Fens soon. You could hope for worse. Yesterday he went five innings, gave up a single hit and was clocked in the low to mid 90's. If he can do that consistently with the top club, it would be quite an acquisition by Theo! Man, the guy (Theo) is great--one of the best things to happen to the Sox since the days of Teddy Ballgame.