Well, it had to happen--the 0 for all games season start is OVER! Even better--the streak ender came against the Evil Empire--Mr. Hankie's Yankees! Also, if you need more, the game was the Fenway season opener. The early innings were looking too much like the last week and change as the Sox and Lackey quickly found themselves on the short end of a 3-1 score halfway through the 32d inning. However, Sox bats quickly came to life en masse in their half of the 2d and by the time the smoke cleared, it was Sox 6, Stripes 3! Was the streak over? Not so fast! The NY crew slowly chipped away a run at a time until the score was tied 6 all after the top of the 5th. Sox response this time? Score a go-ahead run in their half of the inning. From then on, it was all Sox.While the pen held the Stripes in check, Jenks,Bard and Pap allowing no runs, the latter pair each throwing a perfect inning, the batting order kept stringing hits together in the 7th to expand the lead to 9-6, which is where it finished.
Hopefully, this is the start of the season for the Hose and they'll continue to play this way going forward. Dusty, Gonzo, Papi, Drew and Salty all had multi-hit games, with Dusty going 3-5 including his first 2010 homer.
Go Sox!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
1996 Redux:Peter
Well, after this morning's game, the return to 1996 for the Sox is still continuing (and yes, I know that's a redundancy).If there is something good in today's one zip loss to the Tribe, it's that Lester was the Lester of the last couple of years, not, thank God, of the season opener last week! He gave up just 3 hits and got 9 K's, so his ERA is at least back in the respectable area of the mid to upper 3's.However, the hitting (WHAT hitting?) is still bordering on the non-existent, for the most part. Bard took the L, but even his stint was good as he gave up no hits, but unfortunately took the single earned run of the game.
This whole week's games is beyond horrible. When the team hits, the rotation gets lit up. When the rotation looks good, not very often so far, the order can't put wood on the ball. Now, in 1996, the last time the Hose opened 0-6, they finished 85-77, I believe, but no titles were won. This is supposed to be the favorite for the Series title! What the hell's going on? Truth be told, the final week and a half of Spring training, I started to worry as the Sox seemed to be losing virtually every game, and not by a little. But I then said, 'no big deal--it's spring training. Wait to regular season.' Well, I waited and look where we are! Tomorrow we get MR. Hankie's Yankees into the Fens. Hopefully, today's game is a start of a turnaround and in addition to this quality pitching, we get some offense.
This whole week's games is beyond horrible. When the team hits, the rotation gets lit up. When the rotation looks good, not very often so far, the order can't put wood on the ball. Now, in 1996, the last time the Hose opened 0-6, they finished 85-77, I believe, but no titles were won. This is supposed to be the favorite for the Series title! What the hell's going on? Truth be told, the final week and a half of Spring training, I started to worry as the Sox seemed to be losing virtually every game, and not by a little. But I then said, 'no big deal--it's spring training. Wait to regular season.' Well, I waited and look where we are! Tomorrow we get MR. Hankie's Yankees into the Fens. Hopefully, today's game is a start of a turnaround and in addition to this quality pitching, we get some offense.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
An Abortion in Texas:Peter
Well, fellow Sox fans, the new season has begun, and I'm not quite sure who or what to blame for the abortion we've experienced so far. In this week's SI, the Sox were picked to win: the Division, the League and (beating the reigning Champions) the Series. Is it the SI jinx at work already? Is it the fact that I forgot to tear off the March page on my wall calendar so that the 'spirits' of baseball were still looking at Sox activity as Spring Training (the page has, by the way, been removed--last nite, in fact) and didn't count? I don't know which it is/was, but the first two games against last season's league champs have been just what the heading says!Fortunately, it's not the whole team. The hitting, both from the old stalwarts like Youk and Papi (2 HR's in 2 games), as well as at least one of the new signees (Gonzalez) has been all it's supposed to be. Crawford has yet to get a hit, but, hopefully, that will come.
What has been terrible has been the pitching! Lester, deservedly gets the ball for the opener and gets rocked and leaves without a single K. Still, Sox manage to hold to a tie at 5 as Bard takes the ball. When the smoke clears, Texas has a 9-5 lead, Bard has a 54.00 ERA and the final score is 9-5, Texas.
Yesterday, Lackey, a Texan who's never done very well in his home state, gets the call and with a 3-3 tie and 2 outs in the 4th, gives up six runs, including a Slam to last year's team mate, Beltre. The early relief, was no much better, and the Fenmen ended up losing this one 12-5. Meanwhile, Mr. Hankie's Yankees are in first two games up on our heroes. Today Bucky gets the ball, and hopefully, puts the proverbial sock (a big Red one) in it and gets things turned around.
Other items: very briefly, I had a panic over what almost became a repeat of last year with Jake. Chasing a deep fly to his right, he was rapidly closing with the Sox left fielder, his entire focus on the ball. The air controller in my psyche is screaming at the left fielder to get out of the way. Just as a collision is imminent, LF backs away and Jake makes a nice running catch.
Let's get this third game & get out of town and back to the Fens to face aforementioned Stripes.
By the way, as for this blog, we'll try to get you a regular running commentary on things Sox and the games, but this year, as Jenn is getting swallowed up by some really excellent cooking blogging and food writing, along with her entertainment writing, you'll probably see not as much of her commentary as you're used to. However, in keeping with the aforementioned, there very well may be a bite or two (pun definitely intended) on ball park food, which any regular attendee can now tell you has gone way beyond the basic traditionals of peanuts, beer and a hot dog.
What has been terrible has been the pitching! Lester, deservedly gets the ball for the opener and gets rocked and leaves without a single K. Still, Sox manage to hold to a tie at 5 as Bard takes the ball. When the smoke clears, Texas has a 9-5 lead, Bard has a 54.00 ERA and the final score is 9-5, Texas.
Yesterday, Lackey, a Texan who's never done very well in his home state, gets the call and with a 3-3 tie and 2 outs in the 4th, gives up six runs, including a Slam to last year's team mate, Beltre. The early relief, was no much better, and the Fenmen ended up losing this one 12-5. Meanwhile, Mr. Hankie's Yankees are in first two games up on our heroes. Today Bucky gets the ball, and hopefully, puts the proverbial sock (a big Red one) in it and gets things turned around.
Other items: very briefly, I had a panic over what almost became a repeat of last year with Jake. Chasing a deep fly to his right, he was rapidly closing with the Sox left fielder, his entire focus on the ball. The air controller in my psyche is screaming at the left fielder to get out of the way. Just as a collision is imminent, LF backs away and Jake makes a nice running catch.
Let's get this third game & get out of town and back to the Fens to face aforementioned Stripes.
By the way, as for this blog, we'll try to get you a regular running commentary on things Sox and the games, but this year, as Jenn is getting swallowed up by some really excellent cooking blogging and food writing, along with her entertainment writing, you'll probably see not as much of her commentary as you're used to. However, in keeping with the aforementioned, there very well may be a bite or two (pun definitely intended) on ball park food, which any regular attendee can now tell you has gone way beyond the basic traditionals of peanuts, beer and a hot dog.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Not Again!
I'm hoping that this isn't an omen of the coming season. Yesterday, just before he started the exhib game against the Twins, Beckett was hit in the head by a ball of a fungo bat wielded by one of the Sox coaches. He lasted 2 innings in the game, but was then sent home with "concussion-like symptoms". I'm telling you--a repeat of last year's injury parade is not something I even want to think about!
Monday, February 14, 2011
It's HERE! -- Peter
Well, Sox fans, it's finally that time again! Spring training begins today down in Florida! With the new acquisitions the Sox picked during the off-season, things are really looking good (no injuries, please!) for the coming season. Stay with us for the season and post-season all the way to the World Series! And, don't forget, if you have something to say about the blog, the Sox or anything Sox-related, please feel free to do so!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
It's Almost Time!: Peter
Well, it's 2011 and it's getting closer to the start of the season. Sox have made a number of major acquisitions in the off season that should beef up the lineup and portend a great 2011 campaign--as long as we don't get hit by the injury epidemic of 2010. When does it start? February 14, 2011--reporting day for the spring--just 16 days off! Can't wait!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
It WAS A Good Year, But....
Well, like I said in the head above, It was a good year, but Adrian Beltre is gone. Having only signed a one year deal with the Hose in the hopes that a really good year would yield him a super contract, he succeeded. After hitting .321 with 28 HR's and 102 ribbies, plus his only All-Star appearance in his career, Beltre has signed to play 3d base with Texas. Six years and $96mill did it, after he rejected the Sox offer of $10mill for a year.Looks definitely like Yooooukk will be at the hot corner in 2011.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
