The Misery Continues:
Well, now it's 5 of the last 6 we've lost! After a brief surge that falsely raised our hopes for the Sox in the second half, reality appears to have set in. Papi's out with a strained achilles. The starters on the whole are doing nothing; the hitting is spotty. Bulletin to Cherrington: Greinke's available before the deadline. Tonight's game was just another exercise in Hose futility. Too bad all this had to happen in the Fenway centenary. The Sox get a two zip lead, in large part due to the Dustman's bat work, supported by Middlebrook's homer, drop behind, 3-2, in the 4th and manage to pull even in the 6th on Dust's own HR, at 3. So what does Beckett do? An inning later, with one gone, he hits a batter, then after getting the second out, gives up a hit to former Sox third sacker Beltre, and puts the proverbial frosting on the cake by wild pitching the eventual winning run home. The Texans later added an insurance run on Cruz's homer to welcome Albers to the mound in the 8th.
And just think-- Friday the Hose get to travel to the House of the Devil (Yankee Stadium to you) for a series. They're now 10 1/2 games out (thank God for the Stripes' four game loss sweep by the A's or the season would be over already), and if things don't turn around soon, they'll be looking at next year's team for the latter part of this year.
I'm quoting odds on when Vee will no longer be wearing a Sox uniform. Any takers?
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
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!
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!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
A Bad Sweep!:
Well, after the Seattle split, the Hose came into Oakland, hoping to show off their prowess over this lower rung Western Div team. Instead, the Hose got swept, staring with a 6-1 thrashing on Friday nite and ending today in a 3-2 nailbiter. The only common element, other than the losses in each game was the fact that the A's doing the most damage were almost all former Sox players. Reddick, Crisp and Moss all had their way with the Sox hurlers, starting with homers off Dice-K in game 1 by Reddick & Moss, and finishing up with a triple by Crisp, who later scored in today's game. You know it's bad when your personal highlight is Jenn's sister, Sara catching a foul ball in Game 1 (a family first since I caught one at age 8--60 yrs ago--myself at Fenway).
Speaking of the Diceman, he lasted an inning plus and left behind 5-1, ending up back on the DL for a neck issue. Game 2: the Dustman re-tweaked his thumb and was held out of today's contest. About the only positives were Papi's 400th career shot today (22 on the year) and Gonzo's extending of the now 15 game hit streak today. Papi is now 49th on the career list and just seven behind HOF'er Duke Snider.
Well, after the Seattle split, the Hose came into Oakland, hoping to show off their prowess over this lower rung Western Div team. Instead, the Hose got swept, staring with a 6-1 thrashing on Friday nite and ending today in a 3-2 nailbiter. The only common element, other than the losses in each game was the fact that the A's doing the most damage were almost all former Sox players. Reddick, Crisp and Moss all had their way with the Sox hurlers, starting with homers off Dice-K in game 1 by Reddick & Moss, and finishing up with a triple by Crisp, who later scored in today's game. You know it's bad when your personal highlight is Jenn's sister, Sara catching a foul ball in Game 1 (a family first since I caught one at age 8--60 yrs ago--myself at Fenway).
Speaking of the Diceman, he lasted an inning plus and left behind 5-1, ending up back on the DL for a neck issue. Game 2: the Dustman re-tweaked his thumb and was held out of today's contest. About the only positives were Papi's 400th career shot today (22 on the year) and Gonzo's extending of the now 15 game hit streak today. Papi is now 49th on the career list and just seven behind HOF'er Duke Snider.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Split in Seattle
Well, for third time in the 4 games with the Mariners, everything came down to a final inning sac fly. However, the good news is that this time it was the Sox who got the sac fly and resulting winning run. After stranding another 9 runners as the game progressed, a trend that is a bit dusturbing based on this series, Papi, the newly anointed Sox starter at DH in the upcoming All-Star Game, stepped to the plate and drove a ball deep enough into the Seattle park's outfield to get the winning run home--Sox 2-1. Aceves, the guy who took the loss yesterday when the M's did the same thing in the 11th, pitched a perfect inning today and got the Save.
During the game Gonzo's recent hitting streak continued as he picked up a hit midway through the game. Better yet, The Dustman went 2-5, both hits figuring in the Sox scoring. In the 6th, Hose trailing one zip, Petey drove a ball deep into the cheaps to tie the game. This was at that point the best evidence to date that he's pretty much recovered from the problems that his injured thumb was causing at the plate. Then, in the deciding 9th after Kalish had hit a pinch two bagger, Dusty singled, moving Kalish over to third where he was able to score on Papi's fly.
So where are we as the Hose come to the Bay Area (Sara & I to go to the game tomorrow nite)? Well, Baltimore, Tampa and Toronto all lost, so we picked up a game on all of them, and are now still in 3d in the Div, but just a half game behind the O's if my math is correct, and still 6.5 astern of the Stripes, who won today. Assuming the Hose continue to win, the coming weekend's series against Mr. Hankie's Yankees could be perfectly timed to put a real move on the Evil Empire.
Well, for third time in the 4 games with the Mariners, everything came down to a final inning sac fly. However, the good news is that this time it was the Sox who got the sac fly and resulting winning run. After stranding another 9 runners as the game progressed, a trend that is a bit dusturbing based on this series, Papi, the newly anointed Sox starter at DH in the upcoming All-Star Game, stepped to the plate and drove a ball deep enough into the Seattle park's outfield to get the winning run home--Sox 2-1. Aceves, the guy who took the loss yesterday when the M's did the same thing in the 11th, pitched a perfect inning today and got the Save.
During the game Gonzo's recent hitting streak continued as he picked up a hit midway through the game. Better yet, The Dustman went 2-5, both hits figuring in the Sox scoring. In the 6th, Hose trailing one zip, Petey drove a ball deep into the cheaps to tie the game. This was at that point the best evidence to date that he's pretty much recovered from the problems that his injured thumb was causing at the plate. Then, in the deciding 9th after Kalish had hit a pinch two bagger, Dusty singled, moving Kalish over to third where he was able to score on Papi's fly.
So where are we as the Hose come to the Bay Area (Sara & I to go to the game tomorrow nite)? Well, Baltimore, Tampa and Toronto all lost, so we picked up a game on all of them, and are now still in 3d in the Div, but just a half game behind the O's if my math is correct, and still 6.5 astern of the Stripes, who won today. Assuming the Hose continue to win, the coming weekend's series against Mr. Hankie's Yankees could be perfectly timed to put a real move on the Evil Empire.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
We're Back!
Sorry for no commentary for nearly a month, but lots of non-Sox stuff happening, the most important of which is Jenn had another future Sox fan. Little boy and mom & child all fine! Can't wait to get him to a Sox game in a few years.
Now for the Sox! Since we last were together, the Hose have dropped briefly below .500 and subsequently recovered nicely, sitting at their season high five games over as of today's win over the Jays, 10-4. We also lost Yooouuukk in a trade to the Pale Hose, or, as a headline writer noted, Youk has changed his Sox. Too bad; will really miss him. The guy bleeds Red Sox red and was a vital part ofthe team for the past nine years, including having a major role in both 21st century Series wins.
As for today's win, this is 9 of the last 12 games for the Sox. The win today was pitched by Lester, who gave up all Jays runs on a couple of homers and a double. His game WHIP was, however, very nice at an even 1.00, with no walks.
On the Hose side of the ledger, it started to look as if Toronto's pitchers were going to do nothing with Papi but give him freebies on the theory that putting Papi on 1st and letting the rest of the Sox try to get something from it was better than pitching to him and risk having him seriously damage the Jays by himself. When they finally pitched to him, he did what comes naturally--he quickly dropped it into the cheaps, his 21st of the season, and his 53d ribbie. Also his third shot in three games. As for the rest of the lineup, Gonzo is continuing to look like the Gonzo that we had last year, his recent tear yielding three rbi's today, upping the season's total to 43, which at this pace, should just get him over 100 for the year if he continues. We may yet see the Gozo we liked last year and hope to have now. Today'[s offense was spread around the roster. Of ten hits, five were for extra bases. In addition to the aforementioned blast by Papi, the Dustman, Ross, Shoppach and Aviles each had a two-bagger.
This puts us two full games up on the Jays in the standings, keeps pace with Mr. Hankie's Yankees, and, depending on the final of the Rays game, may get us one game closer to them as well--it's tied at the moment, 4-4 in the bottom of the 8th in KC.
Separate item other than today's game: one of the other items that has happened in the past month with the Hose is the return to the rotation of the Diceman. Although his ERA is well into the high 4's or worse, most of that was the first inning of his initial start on his return. Since then, he's been looking pretty good, and may yet have a positive effect on the Hose' chances for the year. Yesterday, although not getting the W, he held the Jays to a single run in 5.2 innings, gave up only one freebie, and is looking better each outing.
Separate separate item: Sox DL casualties: like the last two years, the Hose have started and continued the season with an inordinate number of guys on the various DL's. The latest is their winningest starter, Bucky, who had some windpipe bleeding that was draining into his stomach. He was hospitalized, but was released today, and may be able to return to the rotation in a week or so. Speaking of returns from the DL, latest work on the health status of Jake iks that his rehab program may begin in the next week or so. If this is accurate and if there are no bumps in the road, he could be back in center by the All-Star game. Let's cross our collective fingers.
Sorry for no commentary for nearly a month, but lots of non-Sox stuff happening, the most important of which is Jenn had another future Sox fan. Little boy and mom & child all fine! Can't wait to get him to a Sox game in a few years.
Now for the Sox! Since we last were together, the Hose have dropped briefly below .500 and subsequently recovered nicely, sitting at their season high five games over as of today's win over the Jays, 10-4. We also lost Yooouuukk in a trade to the Pale Hose, or, as a headline writer noted, Youk has changed his Sox. Too bad; will really miss him. The guy bleeds Red Sox red and was a vital part ofthe team for the past nine years, including having a major role in both 21st century Series wins.
As for today's win, this is 9 of the last 12 games for the Sox. The win today was pitched by Lester, who gave up all Jays runs on a couple of homers and a double. His game WHIP was, however, very nice at an even 1.00, with no walks.
On the Hose side of the ledger, it started to look as if Toronto's pitchers were going to do nothing with Papi but give him freebies on the theory that putting Papi on 1st and letting the rest of the Sox try to get something from it was better than pitching to him and risk having him seriously damage the Jays by himself. When they finally pitched to him, he did what comes naturally--he quickly dropped it into the cheaps, his 21st of the season, and his 53d ribbie. Also his third shot in three games. As for the rest of the lineup, Gonzo is continuing to look like the Gonzo that we had last year, his recent tear yielding three rbi's today, upping the season's total to 43, which at this pace, should just get him over 100 for the year if he continues. We may yet see the Gozo we liked last year and hope to have now. Today'[s offense was spread around the roster. Of ten hits, five were for extra bases. In addition to the aforementioned blast by Papi, the Dustman, Ross, Shoppach and Aviles each had a two-bagger.
This puts us two full games up on the Jays in the standings, keeps pace with Mr. Hankie's Yankees, and, depending on the final of the Rays game, may get us one game closer to them as well--it's tied at the moment, 4-4 in the bottom of the 8th in KC.
Separate item other than today's game: one of the other items that has happened in the past month with the Hose is the return to the rotation of the Diceman. Although his ERA is well into the high 4's or worse, most of that was the first inning of his initial start on his return. Since then, he's been looking pretty good, and may yet have a positive effect on the Hose' chances for the year. Yesterday, although not getting the W, he held the Jays to a single run in 5.2 innings, gave up only one freebie, and is looking better each outing.
Separate separate item: Sox DL casualties: like the last two years, the Hose have started and continued the season with an inordinate number of guys on the various DL's. The latest is their winningest starter, Bucky, who had some windpipe bleeding that was draining into his stomach. He was hospitalized, but was released today, and may be able to return to the rotation in a week or so. Speaking of returns from the DL, latest work on the health status of Jake iks that his rehab program may begin in the next week or so. If this is accurate and if there are no bumps in the road, he could be back in center by the All-Star game. Let's cross our collective fingers.
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