If This Had Only Happened Earlier!
The Sox won again last night, again beating the Rays, in Tampa no less! That's two in a row and four of five for the suddenly mighty Sox. Unfortunately, they were eliminated from the post-season on Sunday. However, playing for pride is a good way to finish out the season as a prep for next year. Last night, after Dubront got wild for an inning and walked the bases full with no outs, eventually allowing the Rays to open a three zip lead, he got his act together again and the pen was even better, the last two pitchers starting with Tazawa, going perfect for a pair of innings. Dubront ended up with his 11th W, backed by timely hitting by Cody Ross and Ellsbury and Ciriaco, as well as a sacfly from The Dustman.
A sweep today would be a great way to depart Tampa for the year.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Three of Four!
Well, with yesterday's win over the now fast fading Rays, the Sox are putting up numbers like they were supposed to all year! Unfortunately, these are just too late to do anything other than regain some lost pride and get some valuable experience for the new players who have come up over the season, as they will be the nucleus for next year's team. Could be a good one as well--just find some good pitching to add to Bucky and the pen.
Anyway. last night was Jake's night--three ribbies, including a 2 run shot, giving him seven RBI's in his last 9 games--not a bad pace if extended over a full season. It makes one wonder what it might have been had he not been out injured for over half of the season. Could have been a replay of his 2011 numbers. The Dustman also helped with his 16th swipe, and the Hose moundsmen looked pretty good, limiting the Rays to a couple of scattered runs and not much in the way of hitting.
The win also got the Hose a half game closer to overtaking the Jays for the next rung out of the division cellar. Mathematically, the Sox could finish at .500 in spite of the year's debacle, but realistically I don't see it as they'd have to run the table on the rest of the season. Well, I can hope. After all, I am a Red Sox fan.
Well, with yesterday's win over the now fast fading Rays, the Sox are putting up numbers like they were supposed to all year! Unfortunately, these are just too late to do anything other than regain some lost pride and get some valuable experience for the new players who have come up over the season, as they will be the nucleus for next year's team. Could be a good one as well--just find some good pitching to add to Bucky and the pen.
Anyway. last night was Jake's night--three ribbies, including a 2 run shot, giving him seven RBI's in his last 9 games--not a bad pace if extended over a full season. It makes one wonder what it might have been had he not been out injured for over half of the season. Could have been a replay of his 2011 numbers. The Dustman also helped with his 16th swipe, and the Hose moundsmen looked pretty good, limiting the Rays to a couple of scattered runs and not much in the way of hitting.
The win also got the Hose a half game closer to overtaking the Jays for the next rung out of the division cellar. Mathematically, the Sox could finish at .500 in spite of the year's debacle, but realistically I don't see it as they'd have to run the table on the rest of the season. Well, I can hope. After all, I am a Red Sox fan.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Happy Birthday!
Well, the Sox so far this season have done almost everything they can to upset Red Sox Nation. It's clear that the post-season is not in this year's future, but they have definitely set the foundation to return to it in the very near future--possibly as early as 2013. In the meantime, the only thing they have left to short for is avoid the cellar, which they can do in part by achieving their other opportunity--torpedoing the Yankees' post season goals, the first of which in the Division title. Starting last night on Jake's birthday, they took a solid step in that direction. In what was a classic of Red Sox late inning rebound and counterattack on Mr. Hankie's Yankees, they came back from a pair of one run deficits and, on Jake's fourth hit of the evening, grabbed the W in a walk-off. Lester pitched marginally well as the starter, but gave up way too many freebies. As a result, the Stripes took the early lead and had far too many baserunners to make this Hose fan comfortable. Fortunately, the pen held them at bay, finished by Bailey's win at the end including a K of A-Fraud. Going into the 9th the Sox were knotted at 3, the tie coming thanks to Dusty's retort to a 2 run two bagger the half inning earlier by Jeter. Taking a solid swing, the Dustman drove the ball on a line into the first row of Monster seats. You could see him saying, "get up", as he rounded first, hoping that it would clear the wall and not just ricochet off of it. Prayer answered and his 15th of the year became a fan souvenir. After failing to score in the 8th where they started loading the bases on a couple of consecutive bunt singles and a blooper with just one out, they wasted no time in their half of the 9th. With Ciriaco on 2d, Jake wasted no time and sent a hard single into right field. Running on contact Ciricao headed for the plate and with a perfect slide, just beat an excellent throw from Ichiro. Sox score, Sox WIN. Game OVER!
In addition to Jake's birthday show, Pedey had three hits, the HR among them, to help move the Sox past the Stripes. Tazawa continued his season long show of quality from the pen.
Well, the Sox so far this season have done almost everything they can to upset Red Sox Nation. It's clear that the post-season is not in this year's future, but they have definitely set the foundation to return to it in the very near future--possibly as early as 2013. In the meantime, the only thing they have left to short for is avoid the cellar, which they can do in part by achieving their other opportunity--torpedoing the Yankees' post season goals, the first of which in the Division title. Starting last night on Jake's birthday, they took a solid step in that direction. In what was a classic of Red Sox late inning rebound and counterattack on Mr. Hankie's Yankees, they came back from a pair of one run deficits and, on Jake's fourth hit of the evening, grabbed the W in a walk-off. Lester pitched marginally well as the starter, but gave up way too many freebies. As a result, the Stripes took the early lead and had far too many baserunners to make this Hose fan comfortable. Fortunately, the pen held them at bay, finished by Bailey's win at the end including a K of A-Fraud. Going into the 9th the Sox were knotted at 3, the tie coming thanks to Dusty's retort to a 2 run two bagger the half inning earlier by Jeter. Taking a solid swing, the Dustman drove the ball on a line into the first row of Monster seats. You could see him saying, "get up", as he rounded first, hoping that it would clear the wall and not just ricochet off of it. Prayer answered and his 15th of the year became a fan souvenir. After failing to score in the 8th where they started loading the bases on a couple of consecutive bunt singles and a blooper with just one out, they wasted no time in their half of the 9th. With Ciriaco on 2d, Jake wasted no time and sent a hard single into right field. Running on contact Ciricao headed for the plate and with a perfect slide, just beat an excellent throw from Ichiro. Sox score, Sox WIN. Game OVER!
In addition to Jake's birthday show, Pedey had three hits, the HR among them, to help move the Sox past the Stripes. Tazawa continued his season long show of quality from the pen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
