A Wasted Beckett Effort: Peter

Well, Jenn, we're getting closer to running out of time. Tonight it was the O's, the AL's worst team, who did the deed. JB pitched a respectable seven innings, allowing just two earned runs while striking out five. He gave up just a lone free pass, and his WHIP for the game was microscopically over 1.0. Unfortunately, an error allowed a third run, and though Lowrie tried to get the Hose back into the game with a two run shot, Dubront gave up a pair of solo shots to the cheap seats. Add those to no timely Sox hitting and you've got a recipe for a loss--which is what the Sox ended up with.

Since the Rays lost tonight, we're still seven back of the wild card. However, Mr. Hankie's Yankees won, so our heroes are now a full eight games behind the division lead--with just thirty to play. The fact that the Sox have done a remarkable job given the battlefield-like casualty list all season long doesn't make it hurt any less.
I was thinking about a conversation you and I had after game three of the 2004 ALCS when the Stripes had us down three zip. Your comment then was, "I guess it's over." You sounded so down, to call you glum would be an understatement. My response was that I recalled the rules said you had to win four games before you won the ALCS, and that while, yes, we certainly were deep in the doo-doo (Actually I used a stronger word, but, hey, this is a family show), it wasn't over yet. As everyone knows, the turnaround began immediately with that day's game, ran through an eight game win streak that concluded with a World Series championship. Listen my children and you shall hear of the midnight rush of Red Sox cheer. Everyone still sitting here will remember that fall of that we all revere. Oops, excuse me--apologies to Longfellow. Anyway, conversation aside, I'm getting to the point where I'm about to admit this year isn't our year--not because of a lack of talent or desire. This team has, considering what's been constantly happening to them, put on a display that they should be more than proud of.It's just that when the heart of your club is unable to take the field because of a med student's list of injuries, it's hard to use your talent to its intended end. I truly believe that without most of the injuries, the Sox would right now be in the thick of the fight, if not in an outright lead. Somewhere out there in the mists, Teddy Ballgame is nodding agreement. I know there's still enough time, but unless the injuries stop and the players get back in long enough to have an effect....

These Are the Ones That Really Hurt!: Peter

Well, Jenn, between the ribs and Mom's fruit salad, you saw it with me. There we were, Sox up one zip into the 7th and Bucky throws over to first, past Lowell and by the time Pena (pride of Haverhill, MA) stops running, it's a two base error. A sacfly foul that JD made a great catch on and it's tied. Not to worry, we figured. I'm repeating as Martinez comes to bat in the 8th, "Let's hope he remembers yesterday"--and he does!Here's the pitch--it's a fast ball, letter high out over the middle of the plate and Martinez swings--and a second later it's ten rows deep in the right center seats--TWO ONE, SOX! Unfortunately, in the Rays' half of the inning, Bucky makes one more mistake and Upton takes him deep--two all. In spite of all of this, Bucky gets an ND and does pretty well, lowering his ERA to 2.21, still by far the AL best. That's the way it stays until the bottom of the 10th. The Rays' DH comes up; some guy both of us and God knows how many others as well have never heard of, Johnson.His season BA is .149 and his slugging (a misnomer in his case, you would think) average is an equally anemic .298. He has only one HR for the whole season, for Christ's sake. Atch throws the ball--and the game is over! Bang! Home run! Now he has two for the year! By the way, those averages are AFTER the HR. He was marginally worse before that swing!
Now, Jenn, I know you keep faulting the Sox for leaving starters in too long, but today's players are better conditioned than those of my youth and before, and those guys routinely had 15 or 20 COMPLETE games every year, win or lose! Some of those were for extra innings too! This pitch count stuff is bull! But with the salaries the teams have invested, they're afraid to let the pitchers go as long as their bodies will permit. The result--self fulfilling prophecies--and few of them good!
If all of this weren't bad enough, my old "if all of both teams' men on base had scored, the Sox walk away 10-7 winners. They out hit the Rays, they just didn't do it in as timely a fashion. Well, tomorrow is another chance to leave Tampa "just" 4.5behind with 31 games left. It's still possible, but those games are getting fewer and fewer.

The REAL Lester!: Peter

Well, Jenn, like I told you last evening over the remnants of dinner,tonight Lester looked like the guy we've gotten used to seeing on the mound. He completely left last weeks' abortion against the Jays in the trash where it belongs. Against the Rays last night, he went seven strong innings, allowing just a pair of harmless singles while striking out ten. True, he did allow five freebies and hurled three wild ones--THREE!, but even then, he quickly recovered and pitched. I don't think you or anyone following this blog needs me to again explain what I mean by 'pitching', so I'll leave enough said.
After he left, Bard did a quick inning of shutout ball, followed by The Laser who, following in his recent renaissance, struck out the side. While he did allow two walks, he quickly neutralized both.Got his 33d save in the process.
Offensively, Martinez handled most of the lifting with a pair of solo shots to the cheaps. Papi also doubled and scored the other run on a Lowrie hit.
And we move closer to the Rays and Mr. Hankie's Yankees.

Doubleheader--Good & Bad: Peter

Well, because of yesterday's rainout, we got a day-nite 2blheader today with the M's. First game had JB starting and for 6 13 innings he was the JB we've come to expect in the best times. Only allowing a leadoff single by Ichiro at the start, he was unhittable while the Hose were building a four zip lead,. Then, one out into the 7th, suddenly he was Joe Anybody. Throw a ball, watch it sail--out of the yard in two cases and now it's 4-3 and time for a shower.Bard came in and shut down everyone through the end of the 8th while the Hose added a run, and then The Laser came on and slammed the door. Perfect 9th-his 32d save, but much more important, more evidence to the idea I wrote about here a day or two ago--the 'old' and best model Pap is back. He admits he's regained confidence in his splitter and feels very comfortable using it at random to keep the hitters totally off balance. Today's appearance was his fifth since blowing a save and losing to Toronto a couple of weeks ago. It also marked the fifth straight he's had without a run, during which streak he's allowed a total of one hit--just a single single. Basically, he appears back to the Pap of '07/'08--nearly unhittable. If we can get a reasonable healthy team on the field with some consistency, the timing of his return could be perfect!

Now, the nitecap--Sox faced a young kid who's looking good and likely to get better. Felix Hernandez, though only 10-10 has a 2.47 ERA, second in the AL to our own Bucky. He went seven, picked up nine K's against a single walk, and allowed only four hits. That kind of pitching will end anyone's winning streak and so it was for the Hose tonight. Wake, called in to pitch on short notice, did a creditable job,but against the stuff Hernandez was tossing, 'creditable' isn't going to cut it--not now, not never, and that's NOT a slap at Wake. It's just a fact of life no matter who's on the losing end in a case like this. Wake was starting as Lester, the scheduled guy, was pushed back to open this weekend's series against the Rays in Tampa, after he was pushed there due to the scheduled starter for that game, Dice, came down with a sore lower back. That series can be the final make or break for the Sox for this year. Sweep (and they almost have to) and they're just 2 1/2 behind and poised to really challenge for the post season. Don't and....well, not worth stating the obvious.

He's Not Coming!: Peter

Well, it's official--Damon's staying right where he is--in Motown. He exercised his contractual right to stay. By the way, in case any similar rumors pop up, Manny's also NOT coming to the Hub.

Scoot & Lack: Not Lacking Tonite:Peter

You know, Jenn, if we could get some consistency as well as some health, we just might see the Hose back in the post-season this year. Tonight was a great example of consistency from some key Sox pickups for the year. Scutaro, moving to leadoff in Jake's absence, got another pair of timely hits tonight, bringing in four of the Sox six runs. With that support, Lack took the ball, went eight innings and allowed just a pair of earned runs (three in all) while striking out ten M's batters. He only gave away a couple of freebies as well, so his game WHIP was a cool 1.00. It's his best performance since his near no-no on July 22. Now, if we could have this kind of performance more often than monthly....
After he'd gone eight, Lack was replaced by the newly rejuvenated (see yesterday's post) Laser. Pap came on, gave up a weak single and then retired the next three hitters, nailing down a couple of K's on the way. All this in a mere twelve pitches, again with many in the over 95 range on the gun. This renewal on his part is the third consecutive renaissance of the "original" Pap. Love to see it and look forward to having it continue.
Of the balance of the lineup, both JD and Beltre also had a pair of hits apiece. Overall, the two teams had 17 hits combined--all if them singles. I don't think that's any kind of record, but it's sort of impressive in some kind of offbeat way. Blame it on the wind blowing in from center for a change.

Is the Damon Demon Back?: Peter

Yes, folks that heading is correct! Sox grabbed Johnny Damon off the waiver line today. He has, due to his contract, 48 hours to OK a deal with the Hose. Most Sox players commenting were very happy with the prospect and Damon himself said going back to the Hub would repair the scars left from his departure. We'll see.