Well, the other day against the Brewers the Sox suddenly rose up and put the game out of reach by sending ten men to the plate. Ten men? Nothing! Today against the Pads, the score was knotted at 3 after one of the Pads had tied the game with a 3 run shot in the 6th. Not to worry--our heroes came to bat in the 7th and after scoring the go-ahead run and then making two outs, exploded like a nuclear warhead. When the smoke had cleared, the line for the inning was 13 men to the plate and 10 runs (no typo) scored, the last 9 after two were out. Someone ought to tell the guys that BP is BEFORE the game starts, not during the middle of it.
Seriously, the Sox banged out 14 hits, which when coupled with 9 BB's adds up to a lot of opportunity. Gonzo was 3-5, including a double. Papi, Yoouukk and The Dustman each had run scoring two baggers. At this rate, Gonzo will own almost every offensive category available. He's now well over 60 ribbies, and leads the league in BA, Doubles, hits and RBI's. Way to go, Theo! He's followed closely by both Yoouuk and Papi in terms of RBI's as well. If all of this is not enough, the Hose had 5 guys hitting over .300 on the season. No wonder their team BA is MLB's highest!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Batting Around and Then Some!
Well, after losing yesterday, based entirely on Milwaukee's 1st inning, a game that Lester's post-1st pitching gave them a chance to win, the Sox came back with a vengeance! Starting in the 1st inning, they shot out of the gate like a scalded dog. The first six batters reached base, topped by Yooouuukkk's 3 run blast into the Monster seats, and by the end of the inning eleven men had gone to the plate and the Hose led six zip. Wake, meanwhile, was Wake. Over eight innings, he allowed just three hits and a single freebie, resulting in a game WHIP of 0.5. Although two of the three hits were solo shots, overall, he was in total command, even getting his season high in K's at six. When you're used to swinging at breaking balls in the mid to upper 80's and heat at somewhere north of 90, suddenly dealing with a diet of stuff that just about never exceeds 75, and often may be in the lower reaches of the 60's, is a task that's not something most hitters care to deal with. That's because, assuming the floater is moving and tumbling like it can, it's damn near impossible to hit. When you do, to make things worse, it's not often likely to get very far.
On the offensive side, the Hose bats started hot and continued there for most of the game. IN addition to Yoouukk's blast, Pedroia and Scutaro both drove the ball deep into the cheaps and the Hose tacked on a total of four doubles and a trey. Every Sox starter had at least one hit, and Jake, JD, Gonzo and The Dustman all had multi-hit games, Pedey getting three hits on the day. The hitting performance didn't hurt the stats races either. Gonzo added a pair of ribbies to his AL-leading total and Yoouukk picked up three to vault over 50 RBI's and move closer to the leaders in the league.
On the offensive side, the Hose bats started hot and continued there for most of the game. IN addition to Yoouukk's blast, Pedroia and Scutaro both drove the ball deep into the cheaps and the Hose tacked on a total of four doubles and a trey. Every Sox starter had at least one hit, and Jake, JD, Gonzo and The Dustman all had multi-hit games, Pedey getting three hits on the day. The hitting performance didn't hurt the stats races either. Gonzo added a pair of ribbies to his AL-leading total and Yoouukk picked up three to vault over 50 RBI's and move closer to the leaders in the league.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Three & Counting!
Well, with last night's dismantling of the Brewers the latest streak has reached three, and 12 of 13 for the Hose. As with many of the W's in the prior 9 game streak, this one was spread throughout the order. Gonzo was 3-4, Papi added three and homers were hit by Jake and Gonzo. Lackey started off like the Lackey of pre-DL, giving up an early four runs, leaving the score knotted at four, and looking like this was going to be a game of attrition to see who would be the last one standing. Kind of like Bastogne in WWII when Gen.McAuliffe told the Germs "Nuts", hung on and waited for Patton to break through. However, after the four early runs, Lack tightened up dramatically, retiring his last 14 batters in a row and only leaving after he was comfortably up 10-4 and eight innings were gone. The pen closed out the game and, with the Cubbies beating the Stripes in Chicago, the Sox had a 2.5 game lead again.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Sox WinBeckett Gem;Cup Comes Home!
Well, for those of you who've been following this blog for awhile, you already know that frequently when the Sox and one of the other Hub teams is victorious, we repeat the classic old Boston Herald sports headline. So, here we go--Sox, B's win! In fact, in the latter case, the Bruins really won--took home Lord Stanley's silver chalice for the first time in 39 years! Hail, Bruins!
Now for the Sox: they resumed their recent winning ways, beating the Rays four zip behind JB's sterling pitching. He threw a complete game one hit shutout, striking out six and walking absolutely....NO-ONE! Game WHIP was 0.11. All of the offense the Hose needed was provided by Yoooouuuukkk in the 7th. Three run HR and that's all that was needed by the Sox. It's fortunate too, as the Rays pitcher held the Hose to just four hits. But one of them was the dinger. JB's ERA dropped back below 2.0 as well.
Now for the Sox: they resumed their recent winning ways, beating the Rays four zip behind JB's sterling pitching. He threw a complete game one hit shutout, striking out six and walking absolutely....NO-ONE! Game WHIP was 0.11. All of the offense the Hose needed was provided by Yoooouuuukkk in the 7th. Three run HR and that's all that was needed by the Sox. It's fortunate too, as the Rays pitcher held the Hose to just four hits. But one of them was the dinger. JB's ERA dropped back below 2.0 as well.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
What to Do?
Well, a few weeks since our last commentary, and I apologize. Part of the excuse was Paris was too beckoning to us. But we're back and here we go.
Got a question this past week from a long time client. She wanted to know why she should consider selling know if many national news stories indicate prices are dropping and, in some cases, hint at a second dip toward the bottom for the housing market.
My reply was simple. Nationally, there is a fair amount of evidence to support such a case. However, as always, real estate is more than anything else a case of Location, Location, Location. In our case, Location is Marin County--nowhere else! In its weekly stats showing sales for the County as compared with the same week one year ago, the I-J showed total home sales were pretty flat compared to a year ago. But average prices were up nearly 20% on the same comparison. This was for single family homes. Condos did show a drop, but the price stats on condos, overall, have frequently lagged those for single family homes.
So where does this leave you as a potential seller? Well, as you've seen me say many times here, with interest rates continuing at or near historic lows and lots of buyers out there with cash in hand and looking, this is definitely a good time to consider putting your home on the market.
One thing to consider about this: it's now mid-June. As we ease into the middle of summer, many folks go away for vacation, leaving their search for a little while. You may want to consider calling us to meet and give you some good ideas to help you prepare your home for the market with the idea of putting it on the market immediately after Labor Day. Homes will sell in July, but in August, the sale rate drops way off, rebounding really with a vengeance after the end of summer holiday. So, have a question? Thinking of selling, but not sure how or when? Give us a call! We'll gladly help you through the issues--and get you a great deal!
Got a question this past week from a long time client. She wanted to know why she should consider selling know if many national news stories indicate prices are dropping and, in some cases, hint at a second dip toward the bottom for the housing market.
My reply was simple. Nationally, there is a fair amount of evidence to support such a case. However, as always, real estate is more than anything else a case of Location, Location, Location. In our case, Location is Marin County--nowhere else! In its weekly stats showing sales for the County as compared with the same week one year ago, the I-J showed total home sales were pretty flat compared to a year ago. But average prices were up nearly 20% on the same comparison. This was for single family homes. Condos did show a drop, but the price stats on condos, overall, have frequently lagged those for single family homes.
So where does this leave you as a potential seller? Well, as you've seen me say many times here, with interest rates continuing at or near historic lows and lots of buyers out there with cash in hand and looking, this is definitely a good time to consider putting your home on the market.
One thing to consider about this: it's now mid-June. As we ease into the middle of summer, many folks go away for vacation, leaving their search for a little while. You may want to consider calling us to meet and give you some good ideas to help you prepare your home for the market with the idea of putting it on the market immediately after Labor Day. Homes will sell in July, but in August, the sale rate drops way off, rebounding really with a vengeance after the end of summer holiday. So, have a question? Thinking of selling, but not sure how or when? Give us a call! We'll gladly help you through the issues--and get you a great deal!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
And You Thought The Patriots Didn't Play Until September!
Yup! Sixteen to four! What's that? It wasn't the Pats? Oh, well the score had me fooled for a moment there. I know the Hose have been thrashing their way through the AL East the past week, but with their 8th in a row, they outdid themselves--probably trying to make up for only scoring five last night. Today, they batted around twice, with Papi and Tek each driving a ball into the cheap seats. If that weren't enough, Gonzo got another ribbie, his eight straight game with one for a new personal record, The Dustman picked up three its to continue his climb to his normal level in hitting, and Scut had a quad! Yoouuk sat this one out at the request of Terry to get a little rest for a couple of days. Jake also got a pair of hits. Dusty's three included a pair of two baggers, and, coming with last night's contribution, it appears as if the one game off for a physical of the knee has been just the cure for ails him.
Pitching wise, Lackey had the second consecutive decent showing since coming off the DL. He went six, and while allowing all of the Jays' runs, also grabbed 8 K's for his best performance all year to date. He also only walked two. After he left, the pen, in the personae of Wheeler, Hottovy and Bowden each contributed a shutout inning, the first and last of the trio each being perfect.
The win extends the Sox' streak to a season high of eight in a row, and keeps them two up on Mr. Hankie's Yankees.
Pitching wise, Lackey had the second consecutive decent showing since coming off the DL. He went six, and while allowing all of the Jays' runs, also grabbed 8 K's for his best performance all year to date. He also only walked two. After he left, the pen, in the personae of Wheeler, Hottovy and Bowden each contributed a shutout inning, the first and last of the trio each being perfect.
The win extends the Sox' streak to a season high of eight in a row, and keeps them two up on Mr. Hankie's Yankees.
Friday, June 10, 2011
The Win Streak Continues!
WEll, the only streak that could grow tonight (since the Sox aren't playing the Stripes today) was the overall win streak. Lining up against the Jays in Toronto, the Hose wasted little time in getting that started. In the 3d, they picked up a pair on Dusty's infield single and Gonzo's ground ball DP. Maybe a DP isn't the most glamorous way to score, but, hey--a run is a run. I'll take it. The Jay's halved the lead an inning later in the only even remotely shaky inning Bucky had. Overall, he was sparkling, with just three hits allowed and a pair of walks; his game WHIP was 0.714. He also had a half dozen K's on the evening. The Hose response was in kind plus a little, the team adding another pair to set up a 4-1 lead that lasted for most of the remainder of the game until the 9th when they tacked on an insurance run for the final score of 5-1.
Both Jake and Gonzo continued their outstanding years, the lightning fast center fielder getting three hits, including his 21st double and the first sacker adding a pair of hits, among which was his 20th double and a pair of ribbies to expand his league leading total to 57. Speaking of multi-hit games, The Dustman also had a trey. Perhaps the doctor's exam straightened out his knee so he could swing and move with less pain, the result being three hits. A gutsier guy you're not going to find anywhere!
From the mound, once Bucky left, he was followed by Bard, who produced a 2 K shutout inning, and then, by The Laser, who bettered that with a perfect inning, including a K.
The streak is now seven--and counting.
Both Jake and Gonzo continued their outstanding years, the lightning fast center fielder getting three hits, including his 21st double and the first sacker adding a pair of hits, among which was his 20th double and a pair of ribbies to expand his league leading total to 57. Speaking of multi-hit games, The Dustman also had a trey. Perhaps the doctor's exam straightened out his knee so he could swing and move with less pain, the result being three hits. A gutsier guy you're not going to find anywhere!
From the mound, once Bucky left, he was followed by Bard, who produced a 2 K shutout inning, and then, by The Laser, who bettered that with a perfect inning, including a K.
The streak is now seven--and counting.
The Streaks Continue!
The Streaks Continue!
Well, since Game 2 in Yankee Stadium, when the Sox had their longest string of YS success since 1939, they played the last game of the series there and--WON AGAIN! This means that the Sox have now won six in a row in YS for the first time ever. Their other streaks, six games overall and seven in a row over the Stripes obviously continue unbroken. Last night's game was one that I had thought would never get started due to a 3 hour plus rain delay at the start. When it got to 7:30 pm here on the left coast, I figured that's 10:30 pm in My and that would mean a finish, barring long innings or extra innings of at least 1:30 am (as it turned out, it was closer to 2 am), and that wasn't going to happen. Wrong! So the Hose, again with a team effort, backing JB's excellent pitching (after the 1st inning) won the series finale 8-3. JB gave up the first two Stripes runs in the 1st, then shut the team down. However, CC was pitching for the Y's and doing just fine--only a single hit through six. However, this game, barring rain, is played for nine innings and in the 7th, Papi led off with a single. This was his first response to being hit by CC a few innings earlier. When next he stepped to the plate, it was still the 7th, and he finished off the seven run inning he'd begun with his single by driving in more with a solid, ringing two bagger. The teams finished out with each adding a single run in the 9th, final being 8-3. The Dustman missed the game for an exam of his knee in the Hub, an injury that he sustained a little while ago against the Birds that has been hurting him and his plate work. Fortunately, surgery is not necessary for now.
Well, since Game 2 in Yankee Stadium, when the Sox had their longest string of YS success since 1939, they played the last game of the series there and--WON AGAIN! This means that the Sox have now won six in a row in YS for the first time ever. Their other streaks, six games overall and seven in a row over the Stripes obviously continue unbroken. Last night's game was one that I had thought would never get started due to a 3 hour plus rain delay at the start. When it got to 7:30 pm here on the left coast, I figured that's 10:30 pm in My and that would mean a finish, barring long innings or extra innings of at least 1:30 am (as it turned out, it was closer to 2 am), and that wasn't going to happen. Wrong! So the Hose, again with a team effort, backing JB's excellent pitching (after the 1st inning) won the series finale 8-3. JB gave up the first two Stripes runs in the 1st, then shut the team down. However, CC was pitching for the Y's and doing just fine--only a single hit through six. However, this game, barring rain, is played for nine innings and in the 7th, Papi led off with a single. This was his first response to being hit by CC a few innings earlier. When next he stepped to the plate, it was still the 7th, and he finished off the seven run inning he'd begun with his single by driving in more with a solid, ringing two bagger. The teams finished out with each adding a single run in the 9th, final being 8-3. The Dustman missed the game for an exam of his knee in the Hub, an injury that he sustained a little while ago against the Birds that has been hurting him and his plate work. Fortunately, surgery is not necessary for now.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Post-Anniversary Update
Well, the last time I touched base, I mentioned I'd been pre-occupied with preps for my 40th anniversary. Since then, it happened and I was in Paris with my better half catching up on the Sox when possible in the pages of the International Herald Tribune. As it turned out, most of the news was bad for the first half of the week (the recent four game loss streak to Detroit and the Chisox), but got better for the rest of the week with the three game sweep of the A's. Moving on and at home now, I got to enjoy (presumably with all of you) the extension of that winning streak yesterday by the Hose over Mr. Hankie's Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Sox won 6-4, and while the pitching wasn't great, it was good enough. Lester became the first AL starter with 8 W's for the year, going just over six, but giving up three runs along the way. His game WHIP was adequate, being under 2, but he only picked up five K's. Not bad against his BB's as he only allowed one of those. Fortunately, we started well, leaving the first inning with a three zip lead on Jake's HR, Gonzo's trip and Yooouuukk's sacfly. After the Stripes picked up a single run off Lester, the Hose extended it to 4-1, and later to 6-3 on a shot by Papi.
Terry pulled Lester shortly after that and the pen looked good initially (if you ignore Jenks brief appearance), with Aceves holding the Stripes scoreless after completing Jenks' quick walk and Bard throwing a perfect 8th. Then, The Laser came on and allowed a run on a leadoff freebie to Jeter, followed by a hit by Posada. Once the run came in, the Evil Empire got a guy on second with A-roid coming up. Pap buckled down (A-roid has a decent history vs Pap)and closed him and the game out. Sox are now just percentage points behind the Stripes for the division lead.
Terry pulled Lester shortly after that and the pen looked good initially (if you ignore Jenks brief appearance), with Aceves holding the Stripes scoreless after completing Jenks' quick walk and Bard throwing a perfect 8th. Then, The Laser came on and allowed a run on a leadoff freebie to Jeter, followed by a hit by Posada. Once the run came in, the Evil Empire got a guy on second with A-roid coming up. Pap buckled down (A-roid has a decent history vs Pap)and closed him and the game out. Sox are now just percentage points behind the Stripes for the division lead.
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