Newsflash:One Game Winning Streak Over
It was bound to happen. Despite walking seemingly every other batter and lacking control at crucial times,Dice-K was seemingly never going to lose again by getting key strikeouts and keeping the ball in the yard. Last night, not so much. The Angels are still sore from last years playoff sweep and will apprently never get beaten by the Red Sox again this season. At least it wasn’t a blow out, a late inning surge and a two out, ninth inning homer by Manny weren’t enough though. LA has owned the Sox this season.
At least we lost to one of,if not the best team in baseball right now. The Yankees got HAMMERED by the O’s. Mike Mussina finally had a bad game and after an Adam Jones grand slam, the rout was on. And of course Tampa Bay lost, so no ground gained or lost for anyone in the AL East. I have a feeling its going to be neck and neck and neck down to the wire. I just don’t see any of these three teams rattling off a big winning streak. I think the East is going to have two teams in the playoffs, and we may not know who until the last week or two of the season. But thats what makes September so exciting right?
When does Jon Lester pitch again?
Lesteriffic Part….ah screw it, I LOVE JON LESTER!
I am comfortable enough in my heterosexuality to admit the man crush I have developed on Jon Lester. The man has developed into a stopper of skids like Josh Beckett before him. I have a feeling he walked into the dugout after the top of the first and quietly explained, all Glen Ford gunfighter like, that the team had better go out there and score some runs, or else.
Sydney Ponson’s deal with the Devil (see Clint Hurdle ’07/Tony LaRussa ’08) ended tonight as he came back down to Earth, you know Earth, the planet Manny may or may not be on. In his first game back after putting his patented “Crazy Switch” into overdrive, Manny decided that he and Papi should just hit like it was 2004, waking up the rest of the offense in the process.
See, this is how Manny works. He says/does things that make you forget the only other two players who have hit the Yankees better are Ted Williams and Jimmie Foxx, then he goes out and reminds you why they’ll be putting his bat in Cooperstown. Tomorrow he’ll park in left field, wear a plaid jersey and demand to be traded to Boston College for $10,000, two pints of Rocky Road and a player to be named later. Then he’ll go 5 for 5 with two grand slams, and everyone will forget again.
Except this time maybe we won’t. I have come to accept the fact that Manny’s $20 million option will not be picked up again. If the Red Sox had an opening for a DH? Maybe. But as it is, the Sox are not going to pay that much for an aging, not very good with the glove outfielder. See Johnny Damon. Now, Damon is NOWHERE NEAR the hitter Manny is. And yes I hated on Damon when he was a Red Sox, so there. But the Sox have been more youth oriented these past few years, not willing to give older players fat contracts. Keep in mind their still hurting form the Schilling contract this year.
Manny will probably be able to hit 30 homers a year until hes 45…………….as a DH, a postion Boston’s got filled. As irritating as he’s been, I think a hitter of his ilk should be able to stick around and get to 600 or more homers. You’ve been this consistent with the bat for this long, hit away, you deserve it. But not at the cost of the team. Without Manny, there are no two World Series rings in the last four years. But you could say the same thing about Dave Roberts.
I think Manny’s looking at either Seattle, the Angels or a reunion with ex-Indian hitting coach Charlie Manual in Philly. As a free agent. I think the Sox keep his bat to get to the playoffs. But in Philly he’d have to play left field. But Philly fans couldn’t hate him more than Pat Burrell.
So, who gets hit tonight?
I may have been a little too “firey” the other day. Hate is a very strong word. I don’t “hate” Joba. Let’s just say he is the Yankee I tolerate the least now. So it was A-Rod they went up and in on last night, drilled so hard he took a walk up the third base line. Thankfully he didn’t charge the mound, credit him for that. I’m sure he knew it was either him or Jeter who was gonna get it, I’m just glad nothing got out of hand. I’m sure Tampa Bay would love a bench clearing, suspension getting brawl between the two teams chasing them.
Hopefully tonight, the two teams will just get back to playing baseball. The Yanks are streaking like crazy, and the Sox? Not so much. I just have a bad feeling these two teams are headed in two differant directions, its way to early to panic, but the feeling during this series is not a good one.
But who knows, tonight maybe they’ll play a typical 10 hour affair, both streak to atop the division leaving Tampa Bay behind, and in October we find ourselves in the same place we also seem to.
Duel
Ah, the pitcher’s duel. Besides the homerun, there may be nothing more “baseball” than two individuals dominating most of the nine innings of a team sport. Whenever I witness one, as I did last night, I’m normally open to giving mucho credit to both pitchers. Neither one giving in, no matter who won, you have to respect the two guys who go out, don’t give an inch, no one wanting to lose, ecspecially in a 1-0 game between two very offensive clubs. But I while I can respect his talent, and his breaking pitches, I gotta say I now hate Joba Chamberlin. I have never wanted the AL to drop the DH rule so a pitcher could hit more than I did last night.
Seriously. You are cruising along, dominating your main rival. You are leading your team, trying to pass the Sox and catch the Rays. You are pitching like a leader does in the second half, making that climb. Then, like angry kid in a backyard game, you throw up and in the face, AGAIN, of the guy on the other team you don’t like. Does this kid not think. What if he hits Youk in the face? Not only is he getting tossed, potentially costing his team a game a great importance, but you needlessly hurt a guy, start a brawl, and ruin the game for everyone watching.
I defended Joba (beleive it or not) when people were complaining he was “too emotional”, I was glad to see a young guy wearing his heart on his sleeve. But trying to hurt someone because of a percieved “grudge” of some sort is ridiculous. When someone goes up and in on Jeter or A-Rod this weekend, and the inevitable fight, ejections, and embarrassment for both of these storied franchises happen, there’s only one person to blame. And its a shame he doesn’t have to go out there with a bat in his hands to take his lumps like a man.
Sweep in Seattle, Sweep in the Bronx, Rays win? Its On now!!!
Oh thank you Seattle, for your coffee, your music circa 1992, and your massive suckage at Safeco field, and eveywhere else, in 2008. A sweep on the road is just what this team needed, and in extras no less! Of course you can argue, why does it take extras to beat Seattle, but I’m trying to stay positive! Elsbury came to life in extras, and who else, JD Drew, Youk, and Lowell delivered the hits in the 13th. But the Yanks swept the Twins, the Rays won to stay a 1/2 game out and ESPN is all “A Rivalty Renewed” again. So after a travel day off its:
BECKETT VS CHAMBERLAIN!!!!!
NO HOLDS BARRED!!!! TICKETS ARE ONLY GOOD FOR THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT, CAUSE THATS ALL YOU’LL NEED!!!!!
Plus, its the return of Big Papi, who brings not only his bat, his smile and intensity to the clubhouse, but the ablity to single handely right the semi wreck that can be at times the Manny Show.
Seriously, if we can be serious about a kids game played for millions, this is, as always, a mucho important series. Both teams have got to keep pace with the Rays, if not pass them by, and keep the Yankees from advancing in the East or the Wild Card race. But you already knew that, didn’t you “Flairforthedramatic”?
What the? Two in a row! On The Road!
I know its “just” the Mariners, but Dice-K managed to strike out 6, walk only 3, even better Okajima came in with runners on, and didn’t give up a hit, let alone a run. JD Drew homered and Dustin Pedrois just keeps chugging along. Could an actual road sweep be far behind? Th eonly thing better would be if the Rays lost……………thank you Oakland! Hopefully this keeps up for the homestand which I am offically naming “Turnaround:the Return of Big Papi”
With very little time left, some Red Sox trade rumors are circling, some around left field. There are some whispers that the Sox may let Manny walk, seems his agent Scott “You’re all just jealous” Boras (and I am), wants four years for Manny.
Look, I have watch Manny since the Indian days, I have watched him become one of, if not the, most consistent righty in baseball while still acting like an eight year old. For better or worse. Look, when your career numbers start putting you on lists that only feature the names “Ruth”, “Williams” and “Foxx”" you’re doing something right. I want Manny to retire a Red Sox, I know its the hat that’ll be on his offical HOF painted Dick Perez postcard……………
But….
If you can get a young left fielder, lets say Matt Holiday for pitching,a Coco Crisp or Brandon Moss, while NOT picking up a $20 million dollar option, you gotta think about it, you’re playing for the future too you know. That playing for the future attitude is what’s primarly responsible for that 2007 World Series that didn’t involve a “curse” of some kind.
The Sox are still looking for bullpen help, thank God, but Brian “I think he’s overratted” Funtes is per the Rockies worth “at least” Clay Bucholtz. And you don’t think bullpen arms are at a premium?
Lesterrific Part II:Electric Boogaloo
I’m thankful for two things tonight. One, Jon Lester has decided to take on the Josh Beckett like role of stopper during losing streaks. Two: that the Seattle Mariners are so God-Awful. Lester went 7.1 innings, 8 hits, ZERO RUNS, and had 6 strikeouts. Most important number in that line? The innings pitched, allowing the Sox to go staright to Papelbon who closed it out, allowing the middle relief to stay where they should right now, far away from the mound and any hitters who may be turned toward said mound with a bat in their hand.
Even the hitters who haven’t been hitting woke up thanks to the M’s and Jarrod Washburn. Jacoby Elsbury managed NOT to strike out, and Jason Varitek even went two for four with a home run. I swear, a victory after being swept feels like Game Four of the World Series at this point. Sweeping the M’s would lead up to some good momenteum leading into a homestand against the Yankees, the Angels (REVENGE!) and the A’s. And if Oakland wants to leave Huston Street in town after they depart for some middle relief, all the better.
The Yankees limp into town with no Posada or Godzilla, but they are on a winning streak, and Robbie Cano, who in the first half had somehow forgotten the whole “how to hit thing”, seems to be back in form. It should be interesting, it always is, as ESPN cannot resist telling me every five minutes 
Did we forget the All Star break was over?
Remember in last years playoffs when it looked like the Angels had forgotten they had a playoff series to play? They had great pitching, good defense, and could run th ebases, but they lacked that one guy to hit behind Vlad. Well, they can still pitch, defend, run and they still don’t have “that guy” behind Vlady. And they still swept the Sox. Perhaps we can convince MLB to let the Sox finish the rest of the season at Fenway. Or maybe Pawtaucket since Papi’s having such a good time there.
Its a long season, with a lot left to go, but the fact that the road woes won’t go away is cause for concern. Next up is Safeco, where the Sox have never really played well as of late, but at least its the Mariners, right?
I’m still expecting to see some sort of “what?” out of nowhere trade for some bullpen help. I’m putting my faith in Theo (again) to not give away the future of the team for this post season. Remember when the Twins wanted Lester AND Elsbury?
Oh well, on to Seattle then back home for, you guessed it, the Yankees. Hopefully I’ll spend this weekend watching Papi drive a few into the right field stands at Fenway.
The Quiet Before the Storm
Just some thoughts before the second half takes off….
api homers in his first AAA rehab start, you try telling that pitcher life is fair. Also, where did they find a big enough uni?
:So now Manny is complaining that the front office isn’t doing enough to address the “will they pick up his option issue”. The front office says Manny hasn’t mentioned it all year. I’ve liked Manny since he started with the Indians, but since he hit #500 and people starting telling him he was a HOF’er, the crazy switch is stuck in overdrive. But I guess its just Manny being, aw screw it…………
:The Phillies sign Joe Blanton, the Mets win their 10th in a row, and the Marlins are trying to trade for Pudge. How left out do the Braves and Nats feel? Maybe they can get of fthe gymnasium wall and ask each other to dance.
:Kyle Loshe won, again…………………I refer back to my idea that Tony LaRussa has signed a pact with Satan.
:A warning to Cubs fans, you’re getting waaay too excited, your gonna start causing bad things to happen. Trust me I know, I’m a Red Sox fan.
:The Yankess are going to sign Richie Sexson. The same Richie Sexson that the Mariners didn’t want to keep. Can he secretly pitch? Was Hank not aware that the Braves wanna move Mark Texira? Worst part of this news: since the Yankees are on TV a lot, I will have to endure announcers refering to him as “The Big Sexy” Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww.
A Note to Wade Boggs…………
Look I know you won your World Series with the Yankees, but if Dave Winfield and Gary Carter can hold up two hats, why can’t you? Why not wear a Devil Rays hat, thats where you got number 3,000? I know, bitter,and its the hat on his HOF plaque, but really, come on Wade! By the way, Don Mattingly’s mustache was always better than Wade’s. I may never eat chicken before a game again.
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