After the Break:
Well, finally catching up after the All-Star break. I'm sure all of you are aware of the Yankee debacle that followed the Oakland sweep of our Sox--3 of 4 for the Stripes in the Fens. Coming out of the break, however, signs of hope I (always hope if you follow the Hose). Sox callup, Ciriaco, has been nothing short of incandescent! Even after a couple of games for the collar, he was still well over .400 entering tonite's game at Fenway. He merely improved on this position going 3/4, w/a two-bagger to raise his average again. The Sox, meanwhile took the series against the Rays in Florida, topping it off yesterday with a solid performance after JB had given up three in the 1st. Result finally? Sox won, 7-3 with JB K'ing 7 and giving a strong performance after all. After the 1st, he was very Beckett-like.
So, tonight back at Fenway, the Pale Hose came into town, the first time Yoouukk has faced the Sox since he was traded away. He acquitted himself well, going 3/4 with a pair of doubles and scored the Chisox' only run. However, fortunately for the Bosox, the team didn't wait long to even the score, picking up a run in the 1st on Gonzo's base hit. It took a bit longer for the Hose to put it away, but, after a really good effort by their starter, Cook (one unearned run in 7 innings on five hits and no freebies), the Sox bats came to life en masse.
Crawford (newly off the DL--finally) and Papi both worked freebies to start the inning and then Gonzo took a 2-1 offering and drove it over the Monster to make it 4-1. A little later in the inning, Aviles singled, driving in Cody Ross, who'd followed Gonzo with a single of his own--5-1 Hose. Padilla got the W and Aceves closed things out in the 9th, though no save.
The only sour note at all, in fact, was Bobby Vee's continued BS over Yoouukk. Yesterday, he said that he thought Yoouukk never wanted to get over the early season slur by Vee. What Valentine doesn't understand is that Yoouuk has too much class for that kind of crap--and further proved it by refusing to reply to Valentine's ill-tempered comments. Tito--where are you when we need you?
Ciriaco--what are the Sox going to do when the Dustman returns? He's really proving to be too valuable to get splinters sitting. My guess, he goes into play at short, occasionally giving Middlebrooks a rest at 3d. Could be good trade bait, but I'd hate to see him go elsewhere. He's just too good. Also, when you watch him play, you can see, he's not just playing--he's having FUN! Nothing better!