Yes, Jenn, the first game was not a pretty sight. But last night's Game 2 was worse. JB was moving along nicely. Jake's trip and the run made it better, but still, for the most part, the Sox bats might as well have been toothpicks--nothing was happening. All season long, whenever the Sox had an extended losing streak, it occurred contemporaneously with a lineup of quiet wood. The trouble is, during a season, you can recover. In a playoff series, this solitude can mean only one thing--premature vacation. Let's hope that the Hose turn things around fast, or we'll all be watching other teams try for the prize.
Your uncle Phil and I were talking about this just this morning, and we agree that next year some major changes are likely necessary to bolster the team. Tek, as good a leader as he is, is pretty much done. This is two consecutive years of almost no significant hitting, and he is almost unable to throw out a runner heading for second. Too bad to see him go, but almost a necessity. Papi is another one. True, he has more HR's than anyone in MLB since June, but he definitely is not even close to the Papi of tree or four years ago. Another guy I'd hate to see go, but he'd be better for the Sox as a trade for someone still popping regularly. Finally, and this hurts as much as anything, Mike Lowell is at the stage where retirement would be a good idea. It hurts me to watch him struggling on that hip almost as much as I'm sure it really hurts him to run on it. He's been reduced to a very good 'every third day' player who can still hit and, in a very reduced range, field. I feel very bad, almost treasonous, talking about these three core members of the recent Sox successes, but, if we are to continue going forward, these cuts are necessary.
Separately, how did Aidan enjoy his first Sox game? I'd guess he wasn't standing and cheering every Sox move the way his Pops does, but I'm glad he's getting into things. Any pics of the little fan?
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Lack of Run Support Equals Loss
Dad --
Did you see last night's game? Disappointing is an understatement.
Lester was awesome through the first four innings. Even when he got into trouble he pulled a Dice-K and somehow managed to escape without any damage. That is until the fifth.
Aybar was the first to bat and he ended up on 2nd base. Then Figgins hit a grounder that moved Aybar to 3rd. Abreu walked and then Hunter hit a home run to straight away center field. So the Halos are up 3 zip. But three runs is no big deal, especially since there's still four innings left to play.
But 4 innings doesn't mean squat if you can't get men on base. And the only men to get on base last night were Pedroia, Bay, Drew and Gonzalez. And they each only got one hit. It wasn't pretty.
But even uglier was Ramon Ramirez's stint on the mound. He took over for Lester and only faced three batters in the bottom of the 7th - and all three reached. So it's no surprise that the Angels scored two more times to give them their winning score of 5-0.
It was sad, especially since this is the same team the Sox seem to whip every year in the ALDS. But there's still hope.
Last night was only game one. The Angels still need to win two more in order to knock the Sox out of the post season and there are four games left to play; two of which are back at the Fens. Tonight Beckett takes the mound and we'll be there to watch. Hope our trip to Edison Field helps the Sox bats wake up. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Jenn
Did you see last night's game? Disappointing is an understatement.
Lester was awesome through the first four innings. Even when he got into trouble he pulled a Dice-K and somehow managed to escape without any damage. That is until the fifth.
Aybar was the first to bat and he ended up on 2nd base. Then Figgins hit a grounder that moved Aybar to 3rd. Abreu walked and then Hunter hit a home run to straight away center field. So the Halos are up 3 zip. But three runs is no big deal, especially since there's still four innings left to play.
But 4 innings doesn't mean squat if you can't get men on base. And the only men to get on base last night were Pedroia, Bay, Drew and Gonzalez. And they each only got one hit. It wasn't pretty.
But even uglier was Ramon Ramirez's stint on the mound. He took over for Lester and only faced three batters in the bottom of the 7th - and all three reached. So it's no surprise that the Angels scored two more times to give them their winning score of 5-0.
It was sad, especially since this is the same team the Sox seem to whip every year in the ALDS. But there's still hope.
Last night was only game one. The Angels still need to win two more in order to knock the Sox out of the post season and there are four games left to play; two of which are back at the Fens. Tonight Beckett takes the mound and we'll be there to watch. Hope our trip to Edison Field helps the Sox bats wake up. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Jenn
Monday, October 5, 2009
Season-ending W--Peter
Well, yesterday's season ending game was a success, overall, for the Sox. We got another W, the 95th of the year, are headed to the playoffs, and put a lot of horsehide into the bleachers. Gonzalez got his first career slam, Papi got a pair of ribbies, but came up one shy of the century--still a great second half when you consider what the first half looked like, and Jake swiped his league leading 70th base--winning the title by ten.
On the minus side, Bucky was not particularly encouraging, lasting just three and looking more like his early season self than his second half persona--for the second consecutive time. Hopefully, it's an aberration as he's slated to be the third starter in the post-season. Speaking of which, the rotation has been set with Lester leading off, followed by JB and then Bucky. Terry's not yet said who or where anyone else will fit in. Wake is definitely out for the duration with a ruptured disc that is causing numbness in his leg. Hate to see him go, but well past forty with this as an issue, it wouldn't surprise to see a retirement. Hope not, but we'll see what the MD's say after the season.
NOW--on to the playoffs!
On the minus side, Bucky was not particularly encouraging, lasting just three and looking more like his early season self than his second half persona--for the second consecutive time. Hopefully, it's an aberration as he's slated to be the third starter in the post-season. Speaking of which, the rotation has been set with Lester leading off, followed by JB and then Bucky. Terry's not yet said who or where anyone else will fit in. Wake is definitely out for the duration with a ruptured disc that is causing numbness in his leg. Hate to see him go, but well past forty with this as an issue, it wouldn't surprise to see a retirement. Hope not, but we'll see what the MD's say after the season.
NOW--on to the playoffs!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Still Tuning--Peter
Well, tonight was a continuation of the playoff prep tuning. JB came back after missing a turn for back spasms. He was a little shaky early on, but finished up a decent five inning stint getting five K's along the way. The game WHIP wasn't what we'd like to see, but given the circumstances, not going to complain.
As for the other Hose, the offense looked pretty solid. Martinez continued his torrid hitting, getting a Slam that has him now at 108 RBI's for the year, and the first Sox member to hit in 29 consecutive starts since some guy named Damon did it in '05. Does anybody remember him? I think he left to join some team a ways down the coast or something.
Papi didn't get an RBI, so he's still stuck on 98, but has one more chance for the C-Spot. He did pick up his thirtyfifth double, not too shabby a number especially given his early season problems. In addition to Martinez, three other Sox got HR's, including Brown, whose shot I believe is his first MLB hit. Way to get started!Jake didn't play, so he'll have to get his 70th steal tomorrow. Finally, literally, a new Sox hurler out of the pen, Richardson, did all anyone can ask--an inning of perfect ball. Welcome to the club, Rich! May you have many others like it for the Sox.
Finally, for the followers of the blog--you know who you are--Welcome and thanks to Winter Park! Good to have you aboard!
As for the other Hose, the offense looked pretty solid. Martinez continued his torrid hitting, getting a Slam that has him now at 108 RBI's for the year, and the first Sox member to hit in 29 consecutive starts since some guy named Damon did it in '05. Does anybody remember him? I think he left to join some team a ways down the coast or something.
Papi didn't get an RBI, so he's still stuck on 98, but has one more chance for the C-Spot. He did pick up his thirtyfifth double, not too shabby a number especially given his early season problems. In addition to Martinez, three other Sox got HR's, including Brown, whose shot I believe is his first MLB hit. Way to get started!Jake didn't play, so he'll have to get his 70th steal tomorrow. Finally, literally, a new Sox hurler out of the pen, Richardson, did all anyone can ask--an inning of perfect ball. Welcome to the club, Rich! May you have many others like it for the Sox.
Finally, for the followers of the blog--you know who you are--Welcome and thanks to Winter Park! Good to have you aboard!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Rolling the Dice--Peter
Jenn, it's looking like we've got a rotation. With Lester doing his thing yesterday, JB pitching this weekend and the Diceman looking more and more like he was expected to, things are looking better in the Fens. Tonight, Dice sat down twelve consecutive batters after opening by allowing a double. He K'd seven in six innings, allowed only five hits and, when it mattered and things got a bit tough in the 5th, he PITCHED--he got in a jam and, although he gave up the Tribe's only runs, worked his way out of it, cutting it off there and following with another solid inning of shutout ball. Since he's come back from the DL, his ERA has been a nice low 2.22--pretty impressive.
Speedy is still taking over the basepaths, although tonight is the second consecutive evening of getting caught stealing as well as swiping a base. Statistically, 12 CS's out of 82 tries is pretty good work.
Overall a good workmanlike victory. Two more for the season's end and then--the Playoffs! By the way, CC will not celebrate his first ever 20 win season as a Yankee this year. The Rays lit him up really good.
Speedy is still taking over the basepaths, although tonight is the second consecutive evening of getting caught stealing as well as swiping a base. Statistically, 12 CS's out of 82 tries is pretty good work.
Overall a good workmanlike victory. Two more for the season's end and then--the Playoffs! By the way, CC will not celebrate his first ever 20 win season as a Yankee this year. The Rays lit him up really good.
The Boys are Back!
Dad --
Yes, last night was definitely a return to normalcy. And no one could be happier than me.
It was great to see that Lester's injury had no ill effects on his pitching skills. Did you know, he was perfect through the first three innings? It was pretty awesome to watch. And the standing ovation he got as he left the field in the 7th was gratifying.
But for me, the best part of yesterday's game, besides the win of course, was seeing the first string back where they belong - on the field. Watching Wednesday's final game against the Blue Jays felt like watching a preseason game. All the players, except for Papi were the second string.
I know it's the end of the year, and why risk injuring one of your starters before the playoffs, but there's a reason I don't go to preseason games. I don't wanna see the 2nd string. I wanna see Youkilis, Pedroia, and Ellsbury get hits, steal bases and make amazing catches. I know these 2nd stringers could be the Red Sox of the future, but I'm not interested in the future now. I wanna see the guys I know and trust. I have no problem putting the 2nd string in toward the end of the game, especially if it's a blow out, but watching them from the very first inning, to me that's just a cop out.
As I said, I'm glad that last night we were back to business as usual - our starters were in the lineup and we beat the Indians with a nice shutout. Here's hoping our Red Sox can carry that momentum through these last few games of the season and into the ALDS.
Jenn
Yes, last night was definitely a return to normalcy. And no one could be happier than me.
It was great to see that Lester's injury had no ill effects on his pitching skills. Did you know, he was perfect through the first three innings? It was pretty awesome to watch. And the standing ovation he got as he left the field in the 7th was gratifying.
But for me, the best part of yesterday's game, besides the win of course, was seeing the first string back where they belong - on the field. Watching Wednesday's final game against the Blue Jays felt like watching a preseason game. All the players, except for Papi were the second string.
I know it's the end of the year, and why risk injuring one of your starters before the playoffs, but there's a reason I don't go to preseason games. I don't wanna see the 2nd string. I wanna see Youkilis, Pedroia, and Ellsbury get hits, steal bases and make amazing catches. I know these 2nd stringers could be the Red Sox of the future, but I'm not interested in the future now. I wanna see the guys I know and trust. I have no problem putting the 2nd string in toward the end of the game, especially if it's a blow out, but watching them from the very first inning, to me that's just a cop out.
As I said, I'm glad that last night we were back to business as usual - our starters were in the lineup and we beat the Indians with a nice shutout. Here's hoping our Red Sox can carry that momentum through these last few games of the season and into the ALDS.
Jenn
Thursday, October 1, 2009
A Return to Normalcy
Well, Jenn, I guess if you wait long enough things will get back to normal. Tonight's game with the Sox is a perfect example of that.Lester came back from the 'contusion' (fancy name for a bad bruise) to throw, make that pitch six and a third and allow just a pair of harmless hits, one free pass and K seven Indians.Bard and Wags kept the lid on and Laser, as he usually does, slammed the door--three up, three sown, including two K's.
Meanwhile, on the offensive side, Jake got another swipe--looks like a lock for 70+ for the year; and Papi got one more RBI closer to the century mark with his 97th. He needs three in three games. In fact, Jake went 3-4 and Youk also added another RBI to climb higher into the 90's.
As for the playoffs, the rumor is that Lester will start game 1, JB go in game 2 and Bucky in Game 3. Should be interesting.
Meanwhile, on the offensive side, Jake got another swipe--looks like a lock for 70+ for the year; and Papi got one more RBI closer to the century mark with his 97th. He needs three in three games. In fact, Jake went 3-4 and Youk also added another RBI to climb higher into the 90's.
As for the playoffs, the rumor is that Lester will start game 1, JB go in game 2 and Bucky in Game 3. Should be interesting.
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