Finished!: Peter

Well, Jenn, it was a long run, and, considering the injuries the team had to endure, a good one. Had some new exciting players, Beltre and a few of the rooks who came up to plug the holes, and some who didn't live up to hopes (no names here).Anyway, even had we won last nite against the Chisox, we were eliminated already when both the Hankiemen and Rays won their games. Our loss only made it more final! The loss was particularly disappointing because again Lackey had a good outing. However, the pen blew the save,and, eventually, the game. Lackey allowed two runs in six innings and things fell apart afterward. On a positive note, Papi got his 32d HR and another ribbie, while Beltre increased his league leading doubles lead and added another ribbie.
Well, the Sox still have the 90 win mark to shoot for, and with five left should get it.

Bucky,Two Centuries Keep Sox Alive At Five: Peter

Jenn:
If nothing else, you gotta' admit the race remains exciting! Against the Pale Hose in Chicago, our heroes attempted to return the favor so to speak that the Chisox dumped on them a couple of weeks ago. The first game of the series was a good way to do so. Bucky pitched very well, allowing only a single run and getting a game WHIP of 0.625! Also lowered his ERA to 2.33, while getting his 17th win of the year. Offensively, the Sox struck quickly. The feature of the evening was both Big Papi and Beltre getting their 100th RBI of the year. Now if Beltre can get his 30th HR it will be a nice combination. Additionally, he got a pair of doubles, maintaining his position as number one in the league in two baggers with 48. Scoot,Papi also got doubles for the evening.
So this leaves the Bosox in postseason contention, although by the slimmest of threads. They are now five behind the Hankiemen with five to play. Keep hoping!

From Ecstacy to Heartbreak--in Two Innings!:Peter

Jenn: Maybe it's just as well that you probably haven't yet seen last night's game--unless you were watching live on TV where you were. Dice was as good as he probably ever was in his time with the Sox, only making one mistake in eight innings. Unfortunately, the 1-0 lead he had for most of the game to that point went out the window (actually, out of the park) when A-Rod got what was only the third hit and first HR against the Diceman in 22 AB's; 2-1, Hankiemen.Worse, it was the bottom of the 8th and the Sox 9th had the lower end of their batting order scheduled up. So, what happens? Like Celtic Pride in Red Sox, facing Mariano Rivera (who lately has been blowing saves like Pap this year) Kalish singles, then quickly steals second AND third. Then, after he's plated by Hall, gaining Big Mo another blown save and the Sox a tie score, Hall decides that he deserves an equal share of the spotlight and he, too, steals second and third, coming in for the lead on the soon retiring Mike Lowell sacfly. The inning ends soon after, but now the Hose are leading into the last of the 9th and I'm imagining writing this piece with the Sox just 4.5 back of the card and six out of first.
Not to be. The Laser comes on and quickly gets the first batter. Then it all falls apart! Pap gives up a walk and three hits, the tying run and gets his 8th BS of the year. Unfortunate too, because most of the hits were just out of the reach of various infielders. That's why they call baseball a game of inches. The inning ends tied and after the Hose fail to score in the 10th, the Stripes load the bases with no-one out against Oki, and after he gets a couple of outs, they score on a walk-off walk. Game over, and with it all but the most infinitesimal remaining part of the Sox' playoff hopes. The Hankiemen magic number to clinch the playoffs is now one. The next Sox loss or NY win, and it's wait until February to start all over again, hopefully with a lot fewer major injuries than the Hose have had to put up with this year. Speaking of which, even in the final inning, the injury bug grabbed one of the Sox starters. Diving to pick up and throw the ball to first on a bunt, Victor turned his ankle and couldn't get up for a few minutes, just lying face down on the infield grass writhing in pain.
Really sad--dropping behind, then taking the lead, only to lose it moments later. The Hose deserved a better fate this evening. Can't blame the Curse any more, I don't think.

Another Lester Gem: Peter

Jenn: If you haven't seen it yet, you've really got a treat on the Tivo tonight! Actually, given the geography, I know you probably haven't seen it yet. But Lester was just awesome today! In seven innings, he got another eight K's, had a game WHIP of 0.71, and allowed only a pair of weak singles, the earliest coming in the 6th inning. He was bidding to become only the third Sox hurler to have two no-no's in his career. The first was some guy named Cy--yes, that one, and the other was someone I've seriously never heard of, but a contemporary of Cy and the Babe when the Babe was one of the best pitchers in the league for the Sox. Lester also became the first lefthanded Sox hurler in 57 years to win 19 games, the last being Mel Parnell, who did it twice. Three of the others in the small number (6) of Sox pitchers doing that include the aforementioned Babe, Dutch Leonard and Lefty Grove. He also lowered his ERA to a sub-3.00 level, joining teammate Bucky in that rarefied sphere.
As for the rest of the game, the Sox, behind Lester, built a six zip lead, including Papi's 97th and 98th RBI's, homers by JD (his 20th) and Victor (19th). That means the team now has three hitters with at least 20, and two others within reach. After coming out, Bard gave up a pair of runs only one of them earned, on an error by Beltre and another homer by the Grandyman. However, Bard quickly ended any ideas the Hankiemen may have had about rallies, striking out Berkman and Swisher and getting Texeira on a liner to end the inning. The Sox added an insurance run on successive doubles in the 9th, and then Oki came on to close out the game, allowing only a meaningless solo shot by A-Rod for the final score.
Five and a half from the card with eight to play--tight, but not impossible.

One At A Time: An Exciting One At That!: Peter

Jenn:
If you saw the game live, you already know what I'm talking about before I even say it. If not, you've got quite a show in store on Tivo tonight! There the guys were, up three zip after two, the Yanks getting one back in the 3d, and I'm worrying. But after four,. it's 7-1, Sox, and, if that's not enough to get your juices flowing, they're up 10-1 after five--against Mr. Hankie's Yankees--IN NEW YORK--AGAINST ANDY PETTITE, their long time tormentor. I'm trying to not get too excited. After all, all of the aforementioned is still in effect, and it's only the 5th. But hey! I mean how bad can it get? Just wait, as it almost turned out.
Comes the last of the 6th and both A-Rod and Texeira go deep, followed by a walk to Cano. I'm thinking, actually telepathizing (is that a word?) to Tito to pull JB before things really go south. Just as I start these thoughts, JB recovers and closes out the inning without any more damage. So, it's now 10-3; still more than comfortable, right? Not right! Comes the Hankiemen's 7th, and with two gone, Jeter,one of the few New York players I actually respect, walks, followed By Swisher's shot to the cheaps on the first pitch he sees. It's now 10-5. Tito, anything happening down there? But wait! Atch takes the ball from JB. First guy he sees is Texeira, and walks him on a full count. A-Rod wastes little time, going deep on his second pitch and now the score is an uncomfortable 10-7. Fortunately, Atch stopped the bleeding there. After the Sox go hitless in the 8th, Bard takes over, and does exactly what he's paid to do--retire batters. Although he allows a two out single to the Grandyman, nothing else leaves the infield and the lead holds. Just three more outs, right. Oh Boy! The tension. Hose again get nothing in their half of the 9th other than Victor's leadoff free pass. Then, The Laser comes on to close things out. Now, back in the 5th, everyone in the Sox dugout, I'm sure, was figuring that the pen would have an easy evening, maybe not even have to do much. Shows you what a few pitches in the wrong place can do. Turns out Pap looks pretty good--for the first two batters, getting Jeter on strikes and Swisher on a soft fly. He then faces Texeira and gets to a 1-1 count. The next pitch looked very good from a pitcher's standpoint--down and in, where it takes a damn good bit of hitting to do anything at all with it--which, unfortunately, is exactly what Texeira does--a damn good bit of hitting! When next the ball is seen, it's resting well up in the right field seats, a no doubter. Sox, 10-8, and I'm really concerned, particularly when A-Rod works the count full (a couple of questionable calls by the ump,but, like they say, baseball is a game of inches), and then walks. He quickly takes second on defensive indifference, and I'm really worried. Why? Because Cano, having perhaps his best all-around season and batting in the .320's, is now in the box waving his bat around. A single, and it's tied. Just what we need at this point. I'm really watching for Pap's 'death stare'. I see it, so I feel better. He'll get Cano out--I hope. The count gets to 2-2, and Cano's hanging in there. He's really grinding; giving nothing away. But finally, The Laser has had enough of this bulls--- (I know, it's a family show) and burns Cano with a third strike. Cano swings, creates a quick breeze for anyone in the immediate area, and the Sox WIN!
Statswise: Lowrie goes a career high four for four, including his seventh shot of the year, a three run jobbie to start the Sox scoring. JD gets three hits, Papi is 2/5 with his 35th two bagger, and Hall gets his 18th HR of the year, moving ever closer to that magical twenty mark. Beckett got the 'W' and the pen got some good numbers, Bard his 31st hold and Pap his 37th save. So, the Hose knocked the Hankiemen out of first, and rest six and a half out of the card and seven from first with nine to play. Still tight, but mathematically possible. As the MLB net commentator noted, the Sox are just concentrating on one game at a time, and not concerning themselves about anything after that until this game is over. Then, the same for the next game,and so on. Just stay focused!

One More Gasp of Air: Peter

Jenn, it's getting awful close to midnite. After Lester hurled his great game a few days ago, I was re-energised. Baltimore coming to the Fens, even with their good record under Showalter, should be a positive. And maybe it would have been if the Sox had their full roster. Anyway, we lose the first, 3-1, in a well played game, sans much offense. Yesterday, however, was very hard to take. Bucky's holding a one zip lead, finally gives up an unearned run and leaves after six. The roof then quickly falls in, beginning with Atch giving up a trey and ending with Pap in a non-save nightmare allowing three of his own on a five hit inning. Very out of recent character. Final: O's 9, Hose the same lousy run they had since early in the game. I'm trying to find some ray of light amidst the clouds, and the best I can come up with is, since the Rays also lost both days, we're still six and a half from the card. Only trouble is the games are dwindling down to a precious few and we're not narrowing the margin--at all!
So, tonight, we get Lacky, in the midst of the worst losing streak, four, of his MLB career--not exactly what Theo was planing for when he signed the Lack to an $85 mill contract in the off-season.
Hold on! Tonight Lackey pitched one of the best games of his recent past. He went seven, allowing a lone run in the 4th and posting a game WHIP of 0.71 and change. Not a typo--0.71+! That's what Theo had hoped for all year. The pen held up their end of the deal as well, Bard being perfect for an inning with a pair of K's and The Laser, totally opposite to last night, striking out the side.
Offensively, Papi had four ribbies, including three on his 31st homer of the season and brought his ribbie count to 96. He has ten remaining to get to the Franklin mark again for the 6th time in his Sox career--should be seventh but he got jobbed last year for his 100th as the year ended. Beltre moved to within one RBI of his second career century season with his 45th two bagger of the year, and Reddick got his first shot of the year, a drive deep into the right field seats--and I mean deep! Had it been hit any harder it would have gone through the back wall and foundation of the stands at that point.
So, here we are, still six and a half back of the card, as the Rays took one from Mr. Hankie's Yankees, and just ten games to go. It's hard to say with a straight face the Sox will make it, but it has happened before. In 1964, the Phils were leading the NL (no divisions then) for the pennant and a trip to the Series. They'd led almost from Opening Day. The lead was up to the same 6.5 games and there were the same ten games left. A lock, right, Jenn? N o t S o o o F A S T!! Phils lost their last ten and the Cards won the pennant by a game--took the World Series too--against guess who?!! The Yankees (pre-Steinbrenner)!(In '65, they dropped like a rock, eventually hitting last place.) So, my point (and the same one I made to you after the Hose were down three zip in the ALCS to the self-same New York mob) I wouldn't bet all my money on it, but they still have to play the games and it's not over until they do.

Another Lester Gem: Peter

Well, Jenn, after yesterday's second straight loss to the Jays, coupled with the Stripes and Rays wins, I was getting down. I mean, 15 to go and that distance from the post-season--getting tense. But today, Lester came out and, other than not getting his usual almost one K per inning strikeout totals (he only picked up four), he was excellent! He allowed four harmless singles and held the Jays scoreless. The scoreless item was copied by the two Sox relievers, so that the team got a shutout collectively. Offensively, the Sox got four extra base hits, including a pair of jacks out of nine hits. Drew and Victor supplied the shots, and are now respectively just one and two HR's short of the magic number twenty. If they get it, and McDonald, who has 17 at this point also does, the Hose will have five players at 20 or more for the year. If Papi is joined above 30 by Beltre, that would be a pair at that level. Pretty good, in spite of all the injuries. Actually, power is one of the few things that the injuries haven't totally destroyed for the Sox this season. They currently are second among all teams in MLB for homers for the season, behind the Jays.
With losses by the Stripes and Rays today, the Hose are back within seven for the division and five and a half for the card. Not impossible, but tight. Stay tuned.

Too Little, Too Late: Peter

Jenn, when I asked if you'd seen tonite's game and you said not yet, I had to restrain myself from telling you how things had just turned out! Really exciting, but thoroughly frustrating! There things were. The Hose started well enough, taking an early two zip lead at the Fens, complements of Martinez, who launched a two run shot in the 1st. Unfortunately, Lackey was once again lacking. Very next inning,he gives the lead back--and then continues to give and give and give until he'd given seven runs, taken a shower and goodbye--and it was only the 5th! It got worse. In the 6th Bowden continued the giving by the Hose hurlers, allowing three more Jays runs on a pair of singles, a wild pitch and the AL leading Bautista's 48th HR of the year--10-2, Jays. I think the evening's over; at least that's what I'm thinking.
Not So Fast!In their half of the same inning the Sox show some life, taking back three of those runs on a couple of singles and two doubles, as well as a ground out ribbie by V-Mart to go with his 1st inning homer--10-5, Jays. Unfortunately, Fox, who began looking pretty decent for the Sox weakened and gave up another run on a pair of two out singles and a wild pitch in the Jays' 7th. Wake had to come in and get the last out of the inning or who knows what might have happened--Jays, 11-5.
Which is where things stayed until the bottom of the 8th. Having kept the Jays from scoring again, the Hose tried to take back the game. Leading off and pinch hitting, Nava greeted the Jays new pitcher by walking setting up V-Mart for his second two run shot into the cheaps, and it's now 11-7, with no outs. Unfortunately, that was it for the inning. Another new Jays pitcher shut that door.
To their credit, however, the Hose weren't done for the evening. No sir! Bottom of the 9th--last chance, and here come the Hose! It was getting exciting again, and I'm thinking we still can keep pace with Mr. Hankie's Yankees (who won) and get a game on the Rays (who didn't).
Lowrie opens the inning with a ringing double. Then, hopes fall....and fall, as the next two Sox hitters (and I use the term lightly) strike out. Down to our last out. Is it over? Are we done? Not yet! Navarro, who normally can't get a hit for love or money, produces a run scoring single, 11-8, Sox. After this, he's rewarded for his efforts by been plated when Nava doubles into center, 11-9, Sox, and the guys on MLB Network are going crazy! Why? Well, guess who's coming to the plate! V-Mart--he of the two homers so far! MLB to hype things up shows how the very light hitting Chin Soo Choo of Cleveland only moments earlier hits his third HR of the evening,and then ask the rhetorical question, will V-Mart do the same? If so, it will be tied at 11! Jays manager Cito Gaston counters with Gregg, whose lifetime record against Martinez is getting Victor out all six times he's had to face him, including a pair of K's. That's OK, I'm thinking. It's Victor's turn. Yeah, right! The pitch....a swing....a weak popup to the edge of the OF and it's over.
Seven back of NY with 15 to go, 6.5 back of the Rays. But, as the guys on MLB were pointing out as they debated the fact, Sox can still get in to the post. Even old "Cowboy Up" Kevin Millar of the 2004 Champions, who's now on MLB network, was strongly pushing that. "Just watch", he kept saying. "It's not over!" Hope you're right, Kev.

Another Team Win: Bucky Hits 16: Peter

Jenn, this is getting really exciting! It's starting, and I emphasize that word, to remind me of the Sox in late 1967. Keep your eyes on the team. Tonight, Bucky's trailing one zip after Branyan dropped one in the cheaps, the only run the M's would manage, as it turned out. From that point on, the Sox came together. With one swing, Beltre moved closer to the thirty HR mark and tied the game. Two innings later, Papi led off with a ringing double and scored on an error by Figgins. You should have seen the play! Ball goes right through his legs like he's a Little Leaguer in his first game at the sack. Sox, 2-1! In the 7th, the Hose started the inning by getting hits from the first three batters they sent up, including a pair of doubles. Result: two more runs. They then finished off the scoring for the evening in the next inning after there were already two outs. Scoot singled, stole second, and then found he'd wasted his energy going to second because Kalish tripled and sent him home--5-1, Sox.
Bucky came out after seven and Oki tossed an inning of shutout ball, including an inning ending DP. Closing out the game, Atch tossed a perfect inning, getting three balls on the ground for an easy 1,2,3 outing.
So now the guys from the Fens are six and a half behind the Rays for the Division lead and six behind the Stripes for the card. Rays beat the Stripes tonight. Stay tuned. The Hose play Mr. Hankie's Yankees six more times this season, and the Rays and Yankees play each other another nine. Could get interesting. Hmmmm.

Papi's 30 Again! Sox Come Back: Peter

Jenn, it's getting exciting again! Here the Sox were, able to see that the Rays had lost to the Stripes, meaning the Sox had a chance to get a half game closer to the lead and a full game closer to the card. All they had to do was beat Seattle again. So, naturally in the very first inning they drop behind. However, in what was to ultimately be the winning pattern, they immediately took the lead, 2-1, in the 2d and then expanded to 3-1 in the 3d. When the M's trimmed it, the Hose took matters into their own hands and again stretched it to a pair. I was actually starting to think positively. Then, unfortunately, the Dice got rolled--for a tying pair in the 5th and the lead run in the 7th. Exit Dice, to be spared any further agony thanks to the work of Oki and Hill (sandwiched around one batter who reached off of Bowden). Hill actually got the 'W' once the Sox got things straightened out, but, for a little while I was beginning to get schpilkes. Fortunately, in the very next inning, the 8th, V-Mart and Beltre collected consecutive two out singles to set the table for Papi. Looking at the opportunities, the game lead and a chance to reach the thirty homer mark again after a couple of years' absence, he didn't waste a lot of time. One and oh and goodbye baseball! Someone in dead center went home with a souvenir--Sox, 7-5. At that point, Lowrie, who had a very good evening ended the inning with a flyout, but, hell, after his earlier contributions of a pair of homers, no complaints from this quarter.
In the 9th, the Hub Heroes added another pair, giving the team a little room to breathe. These two came with only a single hit, but some real nifty baserunning, which is something that hasn't been as common for the Sox this year as had been planned, given the injury to Jake. No matter--Tek led off with a walk and was removed for the fastest remaining guy on the roster, Patterson. He wasted no time in swiping second, after which he set sail for third on Nava's ground out to first. When the M's blew a simple fielder's choice grounder by Kalish, the Hose had another run and a baserunner to boot. The M's changed pitchers and Kalish greeted the new hurler by changing bases, stealing second before the new pitcher could even get his bearings. From there a grounder, followed by Reddick's hit brought him home with the final run for the Fen crew.
In the home half of the 8th Bard had done his usual 'hit this if you can' flamethrowing, and now it was the turn of, who else, The Laser! Facing the top of the M's lineup, beginning with the most prolific collector of hits in MLB for the past decade, Ichiro, he worked hard but ultimately lost him on a full count walk, followed by Ichiro's move to second on defensive indifference. At that point, all it took was Figgins' fourth hit of the night to plate the run and it's now 9-6. What does Pap do, Jenn? Only what, with one exception, that he's done for the past five or six weeks. He took it up another couple of gears and simply blew away the next three hitters in order--k, K, K!! Game over! Sox inch a little closer.
With Papi's homer, he joins Beltre over 90 ribbies, and maintains his chances at a century for the season in that category, along side Beltre. It would be nice--a return to the days a few years ago when he and Manny performed the same act for the team. Don't forget--Beltre's just three HR's shy of the thirty mark as well.

No Longer Winless in Seattle: Peter

Jenn:
Tonite (actually last nite as it's now morning) against the M's in Seattle was a turnaround for Lester. Even when he's had a good showing in his home town, somehow the Sox lose. Not this time! Lester went a fabulous eight innings allowing only a trey of singles and one lone run while the team supported him with five runs, including a number of doubles and Kalish's HR to seal the deal.
Lester meanwhile was busy picking up a dozen K's and his 17th 'W' on the year. This puts him in second in wins for the league. His game WHIP was a low 0.75, and the only reason it was that high was he gave up a few walks to go with the three hits. Statistically, Lester is now not only 2d in wins, but also third in strikeouts at 208, eighth in ERA (3.18) and tied for third in opponents' batting average at a low .220. He's also one of a very small group of Sox pitchers with consecutive 200 K seasons, the club including Clemens and Pedro.
Now, I know that seven out of wild card and seven and a half from first with only eighteen games left is a pretty slim chance, but the Sox basically have their own destiny in their own hands. Why? They still play the guys from NY six times and those same guys have nine left with the Rays. The right combo of Sox wins and Rays/Stripes losses and....well, you see the possibilities. Time will tell.

A Good Finale: Peter

Well, Jenn, at least the Oakland finale was worth watching. It served a couple of purposes: it got the Hose back on the winning trail, hopefully to continue further up the coast in Seattle tonight, and it showed why pitching a perfect game doesn't necessarily mean anything beyond the event. (The same pretty much goes for no-hitters too, as any review of exactly who all of the no-no's in history belong to.)The Sox came to their season finale in Oakland with no chance of winning the season series for a fifth consecutive year, again largely due to the war scene injury list they've assembled. They were facing another of the A's good (but NOT, contrary to local opinion, great young pitchers. This one, Dallas Braden, had an additional distinction. He'd been lucky enough to toss a perfecto this year--and done not much of anything else worth writing about since. Yes, he had an ERA in the 3's, which is pretty good on its face, but nothing overpowering. Look at some other of history's perfect games as a comparison: Cy Young (yes, that Cy Young)(most career wins ever: 511); Sandy Koufax (HoF;the perfect was his then-record FOURTH no-no of his career; a regular 300K/season pitcher);Jim Bunning (HoF; no-no's in both leagues);Randy Johnson (second all-time career K's;HoF;Series MVP)--you get the picture. Then you go to the other extreme: Braden; Gallaraga (Tigers hurler who threw a perfecto, only to have an umpire blow the call on the final out & who since is less than even average.
Anyway, the Sox were out there in Alameda County Colosseum and found themselves down three zip before you could even finish your first bag of peanuts, well maybe your second bag, as it was the 5th by the time things got this bad. It didn't show any signs of getting better as JB suddenly couldn't find the plate, walking four in a row! OUCH!! Looking grim until the Hose responded in the very next inning with four runs by a combination of timely hitting and smart baserunning. Jd jammed one deep into the Colosseum outfield for a two run two bagger and then, safely ensconced on second base, came around along with Mike Lowell, on Kalish's perfectly timed pinch single. Just to solidify things, in the 8th with one gone, JD again got the key hit, this time loading the bases for a moment--until an A's error byh one of their "good young pitchers" allowed Beltre to score the Sox' fifth run.
Atch pitched his second perfect inning and then, comes the 9th. Hose got nothing so on comes The Laser. Your uncle Phil and I had debated him just a few hours earlier--his recent return, for the most part, to the Pap of a few years ago (my claim) vs. he's not the guy he used to be (Phillip). Pap settled it for this game. Thirteen pitches after taking the mound the A's had gone three up and down, all K's and the game was over--bing, Bang, BOOM! Pap got his 36th save and JB had another win. Hadn't done all that poorly either other than the aforementioned four straight BB's. JB got seven K's in six innings, although his game WHIP was a bit high, largely due to the four walks. Offensively, I think you have to say that JD was the big hero, going 3-3 and driving home a pair of runs, while Papi & Beltre each picked a pair of hits.

Two Bad Days in Oakland: Peter

Well, the past two days across the Bay have been upsetting, to say the least. Friday, we've got Bucky, leading the league in ERA, going against the best of Oakland's good staff, Cahill, each after his 16th of the year. Bucky has what is definitely his worst start of the year! In an inning plus, he allows nine batters to reach base! Not a good way to win a game. In fact, we don't. We lose by five zip, which is the score when Bucky leaves in the 2d with no outs. The pen did an excellent job thereon with few baserunners at all. But the damage was definitely done. Too bad too as the Stripes lost. Could have picked up a game. Am I sounding like a never say die fan, or what?
Yesterday, Sara and I were going to go the the game, but tickets were unavailable, so we decided to watch on the 48" screen at La Maison Richmond--right here in the media room. Game's supposed to be on the air, but ten mins before game time, we find out that as it's a Comcast broadcast, you don't get it if you don't have Comcast. Folks like us on Direct TV have to miss it. So, our revised plans of peanuts, dogs and drinks (just like the ballpark, but without any obnoxious A's fans) falls apart. We're reduced to watching occasional updates on Direct's MLB channel. This, of course, gives your father, Jenn, the chance to watch his second fave old movie (behind Casablanca, of course) in between the updates. For the record, that's Cagney in White Heat. "Top of the World, Ma!" Great flic!
Anyway, the game. As we see from the MLB updates, Scoot leads off things with a shot into the cheaps and it's Sox, 1-0. Stays that way for a while until we get another run. So now, it's Sox, 2-0, and I'm making the mistake of hoping. Lackey's pitching as well as any time this year. Unfortunately, in the 7th, it all falls apart and with a collection of hits and walks, he gives it all away. By the time the smoke clears, the A's have the lead, 3-2, later to be expanded to 4-2 against Bard, and the game is gone. We do pick up a run in the 9th with two gone, but it's too little, too late. Another loss, even though the Stripes lost again.

Mirror Image--More Like It!: Peter

Jenn:
I'm starting to feel as if I'm in the Fun House with mirrors everywhere! This series with the Rays is looking like that mirrored room--close to lookalikes, but not quite! First we win, 12-5. Then we lose, 14-5, then we win, 11-5. Balls sailing out of the Fens left and right, people running the bases like it's just a jog in the afternoon--on and on and on and....well, you get the picture.
Tonight started looking as if it was a continuation of last night's nightmare, with the Guys from FLA up four zip after an inning and a half. Then, in successive innings, the Hose tied it by scoring a pair each in the 2d and 3d. Included were three of their five roundtrippers on the evening. Scoot started with the first of his two (of four hits overall) and then Papi and Beltre each went solo. Looking more like the Sox will have a pair of 30+ HR hitters for the first time since Manny & Papi last did it. If Papi can pick up enough ribbies, we'll also have a pair of century guys in that category, again for the first time since Manny and Papi last went there. Just missed by one last year when Papi got jobbed on his 100th.
Anyway, after the Hose caught up, Wake allowed the Rays a run for the lead again in the very next inning, and I'm again getting skeptical. I never doubt the heart of our team; it's just that when your roster looks like the worst third of a MASH triage scenario, it's hard to keep the optimism up. Anyway, the Sox response, beginning with three in the 5th and continuing through the 7th, was to grab the game by the throat and keep squeezing until they killed any chance the Rays had of coming back.
Seventeen hits, some outstanding, not to mention scoreless, relief pitching, and the Sox are now within six and a half of the Rays and still nine behind Hankie's Yankees.
Milestones worth noting are the fact that Wake, with tonight's 'W', is the oldest Sox hurler to ever win a game, passing HoFer Dennis Eckersley. It's been a while since Eck set that mark. Wake now says he wants to pass The Rocket & Cy as the winningest Sox pitcher ever. He needs another 13 wins for that. Don't bet against him. The knuckler puts almost no strain on a pitcher's arm, so time really isn't the issue it would be with a pitcher throwing more traditional stuff.
Scoot's four hits tie his career best for hits in a game. The guy's exemplifying the guts the Hose are showing in the face of the injuries. Like Lowell, Scoot's playing through the pain. In the SS's case, it turns out he's got rotator cuff damage in his throwing arm, but would rather play than lose any time during the season. A cuff injury's no fun, trust me on that, Jenn.
Day off tomorrow, then the Hose are here against the A's. The best thing the A's have is the lowest team ERA in the league, so it will, as always, be interesting. Sara's trying to locate tix for us to go Saturday nite,but nothing definite yet.

Mirror Image--Not Good: Peter

Jenny:
It's getting really hard--reminds me of my youth when the Sox (in a one division AL) used to end up 8th or 9th in the league. They'd have an occasional good game and then go right back in the tank--like tonight! Last night we beat the Rays, 12-5, after leading 12-2. Tonight, the Rays beat us, 14-5, after leading 14-2. The Diceman was great--for two innings. After that, fuggeddaboudit! It got bad and then got worse. On the injury side, Scoot was back in the lineup, so either they found very little in the MRI or deemed it play throughable (if there is such a word). At least the Stripes also lost, so we're still nine back, although we're again 7 1/2 behind the Rays for the card. Oy, how much longer can this go on?

A Bit of Hope--and Another DLer: Peter

Talk about symptomatic of the season! Yesterday, Jenn, the Sox showed what they can do by shredding the Rays 12-5 with homers from Papi, Beltre (back 2 back) and Kalish (his 2d slam of the year). Lester was good enough in six innings to get his 16th win, picking up 10 K's along the way and getting a game WHIP of 1.0. In fact, the Sox were ahead 6-1 after two and 11-2 after four. However, it was also announced that at the same time Tek came back off the DL, Scoot is having an MRI due to possible damage to his shoulder suffered in the finale of the Chisox debacle on Sunday. It never stops! It's like you're afraid to look around because someone who should be there will be next seen in the hospital ward. Unbelievable! There's also an interesting thing about just how badly these injuries have affected the team. Even though he's been out for over two months now, Yooouukk is still listed in the AL top ten in the batting averages! His .307 places him tenth in the league, and his runs scored, which he was either leading or second in the league in when he got hurt would still have him within 19 of the top five in the league.
At least the Sox are getting a good look at the future members of the team in a way that would be unlikely if not impossible in a normal year.

Just When You'd Think It Couldn't Get Any Worse: Peter

I don't know how much more of this I can take, Jenn. Today JB was a pitcher in the true sense of the word. When he had to, he made pitches and got outs, including nine K's in 6 1/3 of an inning. He was far from on the top of his game, but at crunch time, he had it all!So he leaves in the 7th trailing 3-2, due to a pair of unearned runs, but Bard keeps things going and the Hub Hose pick up a pair in their half of the 7th and one in the 8th to enter the 9th up 5-3. Enter the Laser. You can almost see where my story's going, can't you. Pap quickly gets two outs, allowing just a walk, the runner advancing on defensive indifference. Still, it's 5-3 with two out. Papelbon's pitching. How bad can it be? This bad--a double scores one run.The next batter up singles for the tying run and Pap's seventh BS of the year (first in several weeks with his recent return to yesteryear). Had enough yet? Too bad, because it goes steeply downhill from here.Pap faces one more batter, who he walks on a 3-2 count.He's then followed by Richardson, who walks the only batter he faces. Tito rethinks Richardson out of the game and Manuel comes to the mound.Is he the solution? Are you kidding? He merely walks the next TWO batters in succession, and, as both walks are with the sacks jammed, two more runs score making it Chisox 7, Bosox 5. What a lovely way to end the afternoon! Right. And the bases are still loaded! Mercifully, he gets the next batter to line out and end the inning. After this, the Hose come up for their last at bat, going oh so quietly on a pair of strikeouts and a fly ball.
If you need any more salt to rub in your wounds, today the Yankees and the Rays both lost--a glorious opportunity to pick up a game on both--not to be. Still ten back of first and 7.5 astern of the card with 25 to play.
The Sox will never admit it, but, given the way things are going, they're already looking closely at the youngsters and how they'll fit in with the regulars with 2011 in mind. If you need reminding just how futile it's been for the Sox to maintain a healthy lineup, the starting lineup that Francona put on the field on Opening Day only repeated its start a total of three more times all season! Four games all year with the Opening Day starting lineup--how bad is that?

All Coming to An End--Badly: Peter

Jenn:
The headline says everything you have to know. Injuries continue to mount, the Sox, in spite of real good effort, continue to fall astern, and in worse ways each day.Yesterday, they played a doubleheader to cover not only the sched game, but also the one called off in advance by Earl. That's Hurricane Earl. Both ended up as 3-1 losses to the Pale Hose, but in different ways. The first game was disappointing, but, OK, even though he pitched well enough to win, Bucky was outdueled. I can live with that. It happens. But the second game--Uugghh!!
Early in the game, it's zip zip and Chicago sends a runner home. A brilliant peg to Saltalamacchia well in advance of the runner and the runner is out, right? Sorry, wrong! Salty drops the ball on contact with the runner. Chisox, 1-0 on Salty's error. So, the game moves on, and Scoot shortly after drives home the Bosox run to tie, just as he had in game one. The game proceeds until the 7th and with men on first and second, a long drive is hit to center. It bangs off the wall and Kalish grabs the ball, throws to the cutoff man for a realistic try at the runner going home. Only problem is that his throw is so far off the mark, the runner could have walked home, and, to make matters worse, the guys from the South Side end up with a runner on third, an easy fly ball from scoring--which is exactly what happens next. Three runs for Manny's new team--all due to Hubhose errors. Disgusting.
On the injury side, the Dustman had surgery yesterday and is expected to be ready for spring training (hello, February). But we also found out that Mike Lowell, who, in what is probably his final season, playing like there was a title at stake on every pitch and getting his BA higher with some regularity, has been playing with a broken rib, but refuses to go on the DL. Why? Simple! The team needs him, and he feels like he wants to finish by playing, not being a statline. More credit to him. This is one guy when you look up 'character' in Webster's, it will say, "See him".When you hang 'em up, Mike, you will be truly missed.
Hopefully, today brings a better result.

Everyone Contributes: Peter

Jenny, tonight was one of those games where it seemed everyone had a part in the victory. When a timely hit was needed, someone stepped to the plate and delivered. When the pitching looked like it was ready to give back the game, the pen came to the rescue. Finally, when else, when it looked as if Pap was going to slide back to the earlier part of the season and blow a save, he stiffened and put the Birds out of their misery, finishing with a pair of K's.
Early on, the Sox started with a quick five zip lead, and the Diceman was rolling along looking as though no O was ever going to get on base. I know three and change is a bit early to start talking about no-no's, Jenn, but things looked that good! However (the way things have gone this year, there's always a however), in the 6th the O's struck back, and suddenly, what had appeared to be an easy victory in the making was now looking very possibly like another lost opportunity. Dice gave up three quick hits at the start of the inning, and after a couple of outs, allowed another double that plated one more pair of runs. Now, it's five four, Sox and Dice is off to the showers. On comes Atch, and I'm on schpilkies (not really sure how it's spelled, but I'm on them anyway). Fortunately, Atch rears back and gets the inning ending out with a resounding K. The Hose picked up another run in the very next inning, making it 6-4 and that's how things stayed. To his credit, Atch went two full innings of no-hit shutout ball, getting three K's in the process. This kind of contribution goes a long way, I can tell you, to giving the regulars in the pen a rest. Oki finished the 8th with a quick ground ball out, and that brought on The Laser. As already mentioned, he first reverted to earlier 2010 season and started giving everyone in Sox Nation cardiac trouble. But, finally, he came around to recent performance levels and put the Birds back in the cage.
WE gain no ground on Mr. Hankie's Yankees as CC was almost unhittable against the A's, but it looks like we got a half game on the Rays, as I think they were off today.

A Lesson In Pitching: Peter

Jenn, tonight was a real lesson in pitching by Lester. I know, I've repeated it so many times that you probably hear it in your sleep, but the true measure of a pitcher is how does he do when he really, really has to PITCH? Anyone can throw the ball 60 feet, six inches when there's no pressure on, but all of a sudden, when you've got men on base, few if any outs and the opposing team's in rally mode; or you've already dug yourself an early hole of three or four runs and are trying to stop the blood so your team might have a realistic chance to get back in, that's what separates the real pitchers from the throwers. Tonight was Lester's turn to show he can pitch when it really counts!

In the first two innings, he allowed five runs! Not what you'd call a real good start to the evening. In the process, he gave up five hits, a hit batsman and a walk and only got a pair of K's. This clearly isn't the Lester we're accustomed to seeing, and it was starting to look, God forbid, like a repeat of his outing two turns ago against Toronto. Oyyyy!
Then came the 3d, followed by the 4th and Lester had three up and down in each inning, getting three more K's in the process.But it's still 5-2, O's. However, in the very next turn at bat JD got the Hose a run closer by sticking one deep into the center field bleachers, 5-3.
Lester back on the hill in the 5th and it's a repeat of innings three & four--three up and down, including another pair of strikeouts. In the 6th, Lester struggles again, but once again showing just how good a pitcher he really is, he gets the O's without allowing any more damage even though he had loaded the bases with Birds. Picked up another pair of K's in the process, bookending them around the Bird's threat.
From that point on, taking Lester's guts as a guide, the Sox hitters took control of the game, picking up six runs in the top of the 7th and rewarding Lester with his 15th W of the year. McDonald led off with a hit, and then, with one out, Scut worked the count full and then deposited the ball in the cheaps in left for the two runs that tied the game. But the Hose were far from finished. JD walked, after which Martinez greeted the new O's hurler with an RBI double, 7-5, Sox. But not through yet! Papi came to the plate. Not wanting to see him in a slow trot around the bags, Showalter ordered him walked--to get to Beltre. So much for strategy! Beltre took one strike and then gave Papi the opportunity to take a nice slow trot around the sacks anyway--in front of Beltre, who was doing the same thing--drive deep to the left field seats; 9-5, Sox.
From there, it was pretty much textbook Sox, marred only by a two out run on a sacfly off of Bard to put the score where it was when things ended. Papelbon finished off things in the 9th, a quick 1,2,3 inning made up of a K and a pair of harmless ground balls. Once again, The Laser is looking like The Laser of a couple of years ago.
Standings: well, we're still eight out of first, seven behind the Rays for the card, but, once again, the Hose refuse to die. I know, Jenn, last night I said that it was looking all but over for them, but, hey, you never know. If they can continue to hold things together a game at a time like this, who knows? Do it, SOX!

TOM Gone--Hermida too!: Peter

Well, for awhile we had two many Manny's. So, to distinguish, The Manny was ALWAYS Manny, while DelCarmen was The Other Manny or TOM, for short. Then, after Manny left, I kept calling TOM TOM because he was The Only Manny. Now, I don't call him at all because he's gone in a trade yesterday to the Rockies--Sox to Rox, and we now have NOM (Not One Manny). I enjoyed him while he was here (most of the time) and wish him well in Colorado. Today, Jeremy Hermida was released making it a very short residency with the Sox. Good luck here as well.