Deserving Our Applause?

If you type the words “Kevin Youkilis” into Ebay what you’ll find is a serious demand for one of the most beloved and appreciated Red Sox players in recent memory.               

            There are signed jerseys, balls and baseball cards all going for hundreds of dollars; creating zero doubt to any knowledgeable baseball fans head regarding not only Youkilis’s talent, but also his extreme work ethic and intensity that has helped him mold a remarkable career.

            In today’s Boston Globe, Youkilis had some choice words for the fans who fill up Fenway Park and peer down at their adored team night in and night out.

             We know he was heavily sought out by Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane thanks to Michael Lewis’s “Moneyball”, but besides that blip of a collegiate career, nobody in their right mind saw him becoming the most versatile player in the game.  Throughout his six-year career he’s played first base, third base, right field and left field.  Naming another major leaguer who has defensively accomplished more will certainly press even the most involved fan. 

            In the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft, 242 players were deemed more valuable to the 30 teams shaping their farm systems and ultimate future.  Youkilis was selected in the 8^th round; nine years later he’s arguably the most valuable player in the American League. 

            In 2007, he willingly moved from third to first base, making room for eventual World Series MVP Mike Lowell to play his natural position.  Instead of complaining to his manager or whining to the press, Youkilis trotted out each and every hot summer night, eventually finishing the season as the only player in baseball who didn’t commit a single error.  With that came a Gold Glove award and a reputation as one of baseball’s rising stars.

            The next year Youkilis picked up where he left off. He started in the All-Star game and finished behind only teammate Dustin Pedroia and Justin Morneau in the Most Valuable Player race. 

            This season has been a relatively trying one for the Red Sox.  Heading in, Boston had the best pitching staff, the reigning MVP, and a rejuvenated, dangerous lineup.  Thanks to some unexpected injuries, the team has been through more downs than its fan base has expected. Most recently with the complete failures of John Smoltz and Brad Penny, the near summer long slump of Jason Bay and David Ortiz’s steroid scandal and .220 batting average.  In Youkilis’s case, his numbers are moderately down from last year, but not to any concerning degree and he’s remained one of the most hated players in all of baseball.  He’s been hit 12 times this season, which puts him among the American League leaders, and against the Detroit Tigers he charged the mound after being hit in the side in the second inning. 

            Today the Cincinnati native added to the commotion by bashing the fan base as a whole and going to an unexpected place of disgruntlement.  As one of the most popular players on one of the most supported teams in all of professional sports, Youkilis’s comments come off as mildly ridiculous.  While they weren’t specific enough to completely understand what’s exactly going on in his head, they will certainly strike a nerve with the fans that have tirelessly come to Fenway Park over the past six seasons and wildly cheered on one of the hardest workers in baseball.

            Reading the article, his words seem unfair and badly chosen.  If Kevin Youkilis didn’t know Boston was a city defined by its somewhat obsessive sports fans by now, then he’s more naïve than he looks, but that most likely is not the case here. 

            Overall he’s shown to be not only a first class player but also a model citizen.  His vigorous charity contribution in the community hasn’t gone unnoticed and there are dozens upon dozens of stories involving Youkilis that will warm the coldest heart.  

            He vented during a pennant race in what hopefully won’t be what Boston’s loyal fans remember every time the 30-year-old takes a third strike or pops out to deep center. 

            Kevin Youkilis is a vital member of the Boston Red Sox for this season and the next few to come.  Today he made the first of what hopefully amounts to a sole mistake in his words with the press.  

Wonder Boy and the Power Surge

*

Buchholz outduels Halladay, Sox Beat Jays 6-1.

The home runs provided more than enough offense: JBay hit a 2-run bomb and Victor NoLastNameNeededI'mTheOnlyFamousVictor and David Ortiz both added solo shots. Papi continued his late-season resurgence by homering in his third straight game.

On a rare off-night for Roy Halladay, Clay Buchholz shined for the Sox. He allowed one run by scattering six hits through six innings

Boston Globe game report.
Herald game report.


Playoff Report:
1st- AL Wild Card
2nd- AL East

The Sox remain 7 games behind the Yanks after they beat Oakland 3-2 behind a Candy Texiera 2-run homer.
After Texas fell, 5-4, to The Joe Mauer Show, the Sox took over the Wild Card lead by one game. The Rays remain 3 games behind the Sox after beating Baltimore.

More on WonderBoy:
Clay Buchholz has finally arrived, it seems. Though not 100% consistent, Clay has quietly pitched well this season and has developed into a very sold #4, or even #3, starter. Should he continue to develop at this pace, he may actually reach the level of his absurd hype.

So far this season WonderBoy (2-3, 3.99ERA) has given up more than three runs only once. He has 24 strikeouts in 38 innings, and his WHIP is a manageable 1.70. He needs to work on pitch counts and stamina, he's only lasted 7 innings once, but he'll get there. For my money, when Wakefield gets off the DL it'll make things interesting for Tito. They'll most likely option Tazawa back to Pawtucket even though Brad Penny might be most deserving of a little sit-down.

INTERESTING FACT: WonderBoy is secretly Canadian. Proof? His two wins this season have come against the Jays. (2-0, 1.54ERA, 7K) And both times he's beaten Roy Halladay. Good thing the Sox didn't trade WonderBoy from that slacker.

3 Strikes:

• The Providence Journal says the present outdeuled the future.

A little pre-mature, no?

• WEEI says this isn't the same Buchholz we saw last year.

Yeah, he's good.

• Mike Reiss has 5 things to watch in the Pat's pre-season game tonight.

I'll be happy watching Tom Brady ride the pine, thank you very much.

Favorites: Chad Finn is the best Boston sports writer/commenter out there. And he writes about Remy's impending return to the broadcast booth (just in time to face the MFY!) He's also got a new blog post on the best Boston sports blog, besides this one.

Tonight:
Lester takes the hill and looks to sweep the Jays ahead of what will prove to be a crucial series at home against Darth Vader and the Comeback Kids.

Bos (68-51)
Lester (9-7, 3.71ERA)

at

Tor (55-63)
Cecil (5-1, 4.35)

*image from wikipedia commons

Papi in Headline? For a Good Thing?

What is this, 2004?

Beckett couldn't get it done after getting staked to a four run lead, but Papi and the bats make up for an off-night by everyone's favorite goatee by scoring 10 runs to beat the Jays 10-9. Ortiz homered and scored three runs, including the go-ahead in the eighth, and Hideki (Okiedokie, Okajima!) pitched a perfect inning to grab the win. Texas lost to the Joe Mauer Show leaving the Sox and Rangers tied for the Wild Card lead.

Bos (67-51) 0 4 0 2 1 0 0 3 0      10 12 0
Tor (55-62) 0 1 1 1 2 2 0 2 0      9 13 2

Beckett 5.1IP 9H 7ER 4K
Delcarmen .2IP 0H 0ER 2K
Okajima! (W) 1.0IP 0H 0ER
Bard .2IP 2H 2ER 1K
Papelbon (SV) 1.1IP 2H 0ER

Stuff you need to know:
David Ortiz (18) and JBay (26) both homered. AGonzo drove in a run (yeah, it was a sacrifice, but still...) Jacoby stole his 53rd base of the season, one 0ff the Sox' single-season record. Pedey didn't play because he came home to be with his wife who gave birth to the couple's first child, Dylan (Where's the dedication???)

Globe game report.
Herald game report.

3 Strikes:

• Mazz says that these close ones are what separates the good teams from the playoff teams.

Maybe so, but I'd still like to see them crush a team like the Jays.

• No surprise, but the world of sports journalism is changing.
  

And by changing, I mean, it's not a great time to want to be a sports journalist. Or to want to be anything, really. (Link courtesy of twitter @GrantWahl)

• Great to see that Eastern Bank has donated $10,000 to cover travel/lodging expenses for the Peabody Western Little League team that made the LL World Series.

You know what else would be great? To show the world there are some athletes in MA.

Tonight:

Bos
Buccholz (1-3, 4.45ERA)

at

Tor
Halladay (2.65, 13-5)

Game Time 7:07pm

Get ready for a long night...

And the 2010 DH is...

It's safe to say that at this point, David Ortiz will at the most spend the rest of his career as a part-time designated hitter; most likely it won't be with the Boston Red Sox.

A team that since the all-star break has been dogged with an inconsistent offense highlighted by a serious lack in middle of the order production.  

Gone will be Ortiz's steroidal baggage, sub-.225 batting average and most importantly one of the most feared left handed hitters the American League has seen in the past seven years.   

From about 2003-2008, David Ortiz followed by Manny Ramirez was the most devastating three-four combination in baseball.  They were titans able to jump start Boston's offense the second there was a lull (which were few and far between as it was).  

Before a sense of nostalgia sets in, the focus of this article is on the team's future and looking forward to a short-term solution, the answer is Mike Lowell.  With a bad hip injury that's sure to plague him the rest of his career, the former gold glove third-baseman admitted today that being penciled in as a designated hitter is no different than a day off for his body.  The grind of another 162 games just isn't possible for Lowell unless he puts the defensive part of his game behind him.  

The move would open up third base for Kevin Youkilis, who as versatile as he is would be making a permanent return to the position he came up in the organization playing. 

The trade deadline addition of Victor Martinez makes the catcher/first base situation jumbled, but interesting.  Jason Varitek will either accept a role as Josh Beckett's personal catcher and a back-up role behind Martinez or he'll take a multi-year contract from another organization that will allow him to end his career as an everyday player.

First base is where things get exciting.  27-year-old Adrian Gonzalez, who is currently leading baseball in walks on a weak San Diego Padres lineup, would be a wonderful addition.  He's a gold glove winning defender who is consistently getting better each and every season with his bat.  He finished third in home-runs in the national league last season with 36 and as of today he has 32 which puts him in third again.  Gonzalez's adjusted OPS is second to Albert Pujols and he's doing so with the likes of Chase Headley and David Eckstein surrounding him in the order.  

Gonzalez is likely to leave San Diego once his contract expires after next season so a smart move would be for the Red Sox to either trade four or five prospects for him in the off-season and avoid a bidding war, or wait for him to hit the market and go next season with a question mark at first base.  Keep in mind that the New York Yankees already have a first baseman locked up for the next 18 years at the reasonable price of 600 million dollars, so they most likely wouldn't be a factor.  

Either way his addition would make everyone's job easier, especially Terry Francona who is currently stuck juggling a line-up that can't seem to find a consistent run producing stride.  

It would also allow Mike Lowell to become the team's permanent DH and solidify a lineup that's healthier, happier and has fewer holes than today's struggling squad.  

Out of Texas and Out of the Playoffs

Sure it's mid-August, but the Sox just don't look that good. Lose 4-3.

The Sox left Texas yesterday, thank god, and fled the country. The Olde Towners just didn't have it in Arlington and lost the game, the series, and the wild card lead. It's always up to the Ace to stop the bleeding, and after leaving Texas yesterday the Sox will look for some big help from a Texan tonight, in Josh Beckett.


Bos (66-51) 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 3 8 0
Tex (66-50) 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 - 4 11 1

Tazawa (L) 5.0IP 10H 4ER
Okajima 2.0IP 0H 0ER 1K
R. Ramirez 1.0IP 1H 0ER 2K

Stuff you need to know:
The loss knocks the Sox out of first in the Wild Card race, and installs the Rangers. Texas deserves the spot- they're 7-2 against the Sox this season. Dusty homered in the 7th. Nancy Drew missed her second-straight game (groin, entitlement) and Wake pitched a so-so rehab start for Pawtucket.

Boston Globe game report.
Herald game report.

3 Strikes

• SurvivingGrady says that there's no one to blame but Theo.

I tend to agree and, as always, SG doesn't do it in a stupid knee-jerk kind of way.

• Sounds like the Pats are slowly putting my-man Tedy Bruschi out to pasture.

Even Belichick can forget that super-heroes have no age.

• Starbury is still the man.

Must...fight...biting comments...linking Stefan...and an idiot...


Tonight

Bos (66-51)
Beckett (14-4, 3.10)

at

Tor (55-61)
Romero (10-5, 3.70)

Game time 7:07- those crazy Canucks.

Sooooo

Last night the Rangers made the Red Sox look like a Federal Bank with no security guards.  Like a junkyard with no dog.  Like an FAO Schwarz with no talking tree.  

Ignore that last simile, the reality is they are a baseball team whose primary catcher throws out less than nine percent of all the runners that dare go on him.  Eight times in last night's contest Texas felt fully confident they could swipe second (and once third) from Jason Varitek.  While all the blame should not be solely placed on the captain's shoulders, Brad Penny moves like molasses to the plate, Varitek was unable to gun down runners even when he knew they were going to take off.  There were pitchouts and fastballs away that just didn't seem to make a difference.  

Regardless the Sox have to shake this loss off and focus on taking the series this afternoon behind Tazawa and his filthy stuff opposing hitters haven't had a sniff of yet.   

Articles

On a slow, slow Sunday that will most likely be highlighted by Tiger Woods' 15th major (third tournament victory in a row, six on the year), here's the Globe's Extra Bases blog which gives you today's line-up and other important what have you's.  

Jeff Wilson at Star-Telegram.com has a nice piece on Texas's rookies and how the future's looking bright for the Rangers organization.  

And those are the only two articles on the internet worth reading.  If you're still searching for more, just watch Tiger...or Ian Kinsler being a pussy

This Just In!!

Terry Francona was seen leaving a Mercedes dealership in Arlington, Texas around seven this morning.  It's believed he bought new catcher/first baseman/clutch hitter Victor Martinez six vehicles of his choosing after the stimulus sized bailout the former Indian provided the Red Sox manager in last night's comeback victory.  

If you didn't witness the ridiculous move Francona made with one out in the ninth inning then your heart is probably a little healthier than mine today.  Tito decided to pinch-run Jason Varitek, who was standing on second base, with Clay Buchholz (CLAY BUCHHOLZ!).  The young pitcher did what one would expect from an inexperienced baserunner, getting thrown out at the plate after an incredibly awkward head first slide to make the second out.  

With the Sox backs nearly broken and Francona literally cowering from the camera in the visiting dugout, Victor Martinez came up to bat with men on second and third.  He fouled a few pitches off with two strikes on him before lining a go ahead double into the right field corner.  The rest of the game is history and the Red Sox won one of the most important games of their season.  

Boston Globe Recap

The Depressing version

Texas Sized Showdown

Yesterday afternoon, Jason Verlander did what great pitchers do.  He's throwing 98 M.P.H. on the first pitch and 100 M.P.H. on his 123rd, strike after strike just defiling Boston's hitters.  David Ortiz, who came into the game with a lifetime batting average over .400 against the Tiger's ace, looked like a blindfolded old lady trying to kill a fly with a hammer.  Thankfully, the Sox managed to take the series and this loss was a reasonable one to deal with.  Just a great pitcher doing what he's paid to do in a must win situation. 

On a postive note, Clay Buchholz continues to improve, pitching well enough for a win had he not been going up against Verlander.  

Box Score

Globe Recap

Looking ahead to the pivotal three game series against Texas this weekend, the Red Sox have The Left-Handed Terminator on the hill tonight with the Wild Card lead in the balance.  

The Dallas Morning News had a pretty good Q&A with Red Sox blogger Randy Booth from Over The Monster and USA Today has a piece on the Ranger's confidence heading into the stretch run of the pennant race.  Unfamiliar territory for the ball club that hasn't seen post-season play in years.  

It looks like Theo Epstein is counting on one time Red Sox shortstop Alex Gonzalez to make a triumphant return  and shore up the left side of the infield.  He's tremendous defensively but not much of an improvement over the incumbent Nick Green with a bat in his hand.  Regardless of that, Green's glove has cost Boston one too many runs and any sort of replacement with major league experience couldn't hurt.  

Hello Offense: Its Been Awhile

With all the talk about the New York Yankees playing at a near invincible level right now, last night the Red Sox went out behind another Cy Young worthy Josh Beckett performance and delt Detroit a crushing loss.  Both Mike Lowell and Jason Bay continued their streaky hitting with a combined five home-runs in their past two games while Kevin Youkilis sat idly by on the bench after management decided an appeal of his five game suspension wasn't necessary.  

A smart decision it was, as Lowell continues his surprisingly stellar offensive season, making his case for more playing time.  

Complete Box Score 

Globe Recap 

Herald Recap

AP Recap

Things You Need To Know

-Jerry Remy made his second appearance at Fenway Park since late April due to his serious battles with lung cancer and depression.  Remy joined Dennis Eckersley and one-time partner Don Orsillo during the 2nd inning and received a standing ovation from the Fenway faithful when his face was shown on the center field screen.  

-With six wins and zero losses, the Red Sox have utterly dominated the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers this year.  Boston has now taken 11 of the last 13 from Jim Leyland's dangerous squad, but have never swept them in a season series.  

-As the Red Sox showcased the ace of their staff last night (Beckett picked up his 14th win of the season), Detroit will do the same in today's 1:35 PM start when Justin Verlander and his 100 MPH fastball take the mound against Boston's hot bats and Clay Buccholz.  

-I had my wisdom teeth taken out yesterday morning.

What's Everybody in the World Reading Today?

-In his "Five Things We Learned" column, WEEI's Alex Speier gives his take on the much needed resurgence of Boston's once flailing offense.  

-According to Tom Haudricourt at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Brewer's former All-Star J.J. Hardy will not be placed on waivers, leaving his most likely suitor (us) with a lingering void at the short stop position.  

-This piece is a couple of days old, but Tom Verducci of SI.com breaks down the AL Wild-Card race.  In it, he breaks news that the Yankees have already clinched the division.  

VERY IMPORTANT!!!

Today's game is at 1:35 PM.  Why? Because every sports fan in the New England area wants to watch Tom Brady throw between four and nine touchdown passes in his first game since Bernard Pollard ruined my 2008 autumn.  

For Those Who Like Gambling

Here's a link to the current odds of today's game.  We here at M&J Like Sports don't necessarily endorse gambling on professional and collegiate sporting events, however we do find it incredibly thrilling and a relatively peaceful way to get free beer. 

Just another helpful tool to get you through your busy day, courtesy of Mike & Jeremy Like Sports. 

The 2009 Boston Red Sox: From Pitching Depth to Junichi Tazawa

Two months ago the Red Sox had the deepest rotation in the league, their franchise's history and quite possibly the universe. Last night they trotted out Junichi Tazawa.

            How quickly things can change in a seven-month baseball season with Boston suddenly in serious need of some solid starting pitching.  It’s taxed their bullpen, which is one of the best in the league and with all the talk about their offense failing on the Tampa Bay, New York road trip, the back end of the rotation is clearly what hurt them.

              Not to jump on Tazawa too hard because he actually pitched to a reasonable degree in his debut last Friday night and showcased a filthy curveball with command of the strike-zone in his first start against the Tigers, but to picture him as our number three behind Lester and Beckett is a little stressful. 

            Theo Epstein says he’s got four pitches that he can command at an equitable level and he’s certainly been impressive in doing so to this point, but to ask a 23 year-old rookie who can’t verbally interact with nearly all of his teammates to contribute significantly in an American League pennant race could pose a problem. 

            Even if he can’t fill in for Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tazawa’s value will be of great worth to Boston this off-season.  His age and likely future success makes him very flexible as a trading chip should the Sox go after Roy Halladay, Felix Hernandez or another ace quality starter this winter. 

            With Tazawa as a security blanket, Epstein has the option of moving Clay Buchholz or Michael Bowden without giving up all the young gems in the farm system.

            With John Smoltz officially gone, Brad Penny relegated to a fastball he can’t control and Daisuke and Tim Wakefield hurt with vague injuries, it looks like the team’s young pitchers will be forced to step up and perform during the hectic months of August, September and if all goes well, October.  

Youk, Lowell Take Matters Into Their Own Hands

After brawl, rain, Sox take down Tigers 7-5.

Someone forgot to tell Tony the Tigers that the Red Sox' starting pitcher was playing high school baseball last year. When Junichi Tazawa hit Tigers' star Miguel Cabrera in the first inning, El Tigres took offense and plunked Youk (of course Youk) straight in the back. Youk charged the mound, the benches and bullpens cleared, the gods got angry and decided on a rain delay, and Mikey Lowell homered twice to really show the Tigers who's boss.


Det (59-53) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 7 1
Bos (64-48) 0 3 1 0 2 0 1 0 - 7 7 1

Tazawa 5IP 4H 1ER 6K
Cabrera 1IP 1H 0ER 1K
Saito 1IP 0H 0ER 1K
Bard 1IP 0H 0ER 2K
Papelbon 1IP 2H 2ER 3K

Things you need to know:
Lowell came in to replace Youk, who was ejected during the brawl, and hit two dingers. Tazawa allowed three runs, only two earned, in his first major league start. Bay homered for the third time in four games. Jacoby stole his 52nd base, marching (running) toward a club-record 54. Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello maintains that hitting Youk was unintentional, I do not.

Globe game report.
Hearld game report.

3 Strikes:

• USA Today says that depth and emotion are keying the Sox.

I say it's emotion and Heidi Watney.

• Bill Simmons rails against steroids and copes with Big Papi.

I just cry.

• SawxBlog was at the game last night and thinks that the Sox are still in this thing.

Hell yes. "Still standing with 50 games to go."

Tonight:
Det (59-53)
Galarraga (6-10, 5.23ERA)
at
Bos (64-48)
Beckett (13-4, 3.12ERA)

Game time 7:10pm

A Win? What's That?

Narrowly Averting Mass Suicide Throughout Red Sox Nation, The Olde Towners Actually Win One

As I always say, thank god for a hitting Dustin Pedroia, scotch and a shaky Edwin Jackson. The Sox managed to tough out a 6-5 win at home against the Deeetroit Tigers.

                1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9     R H E
Det (59-52) 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 0     5 10 0
Bos (63-48) 2 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 -     6 12 0

Penny 6.0IP 6H 3ER 2K
Delcarmen .2IP 3H 2ER 1K
R. Ramirez 1.0IP 1H 0ER 1K (W)
Papelbon 1.1IP 0H 0ER 1K


Stuff you need to know:
Pedey, Nick Green and JBay all homered. Ellsbury's stolen base gave him 51 on the season and put him at third-most ever for a Red Sox, 3 from the record. Papelbon got four outs and made it look easy, the way we're used to seeing it. Thousands of Red Sox fans were talked off the ledge.

Boston Globe game report.
Herald game report.


3 Strikes

• Chad Finn hasn't given up on the Sox yet, so why should you?

I'm such a huge fan of his Touching All the Bases Blog it's embarrassing.

• Big Baby is back for another two years

And oh yeah, the C's signed Candace Parker's husband too.

• Great article from SI's Joe Posnanski analyzing trades w/ Red Sox guru Bill James

Tonight:
El Tigres (59-52)
    Porcello 4.30 (10-7)
at
Bos (63-48)
    Tazawa 10.80 (0-1)

Game time 7:05

Live Every Week Like It's Shark Week

This week, of course, is shark week. In the illustrious and important week's honor, we highlight the Top 10 Sharks of All Time.

Just What the Doctor Ordered

A full lineup of Orioles and some fresh new blood

The Sox clobbered the Orioles 18-10 behind new-guy Victor Martinez. Martinez went 5-6 with 5RBI. This was no pitcher's duel

BOS (62-42) 4 2 1 7 0 2 0 1 1 18 23 0
BAL (44-60) 0 0 6 0 1 2 1 0 0 10 15 1

Buchholz 4.0IP 9H 7ER 3K
Delcarmen 1.2IP 1H 2ER 1K
R. Ramirez 1.1IP 4H 1 ER 1K
T. Saito 1.oIP 1H 0ER

Stuff you need to know:
Josh Reddick and Rocco Baldelli homered for the Sox. J.D. (Nancy) Drew left the game in the first with the same nagging groin injury. Mike Lowell has an 11-game hitting streak going (until I post this on the blog...my bad...)

The Globe game report with some Victor Martinez tidbits.
The Herald game report.

3 Strikes:

• The Globe says that the Sox fired two clubhouse security guys because they were found with steroids. Let's just say there's a lot of innuendo surrounding Papi and Manny in this piece. Jerry Remy's son, Jared, is accused of dealing the roids. I didn't believe it until I saw his picture. My god I got to get me some of those!

• The Wunderkid hasn't been performing well. Here's a great piece from the Globe questioning the bottom of the Sox's rotation.

• SportsByBrooks breaks down Jose "The Punching Bag" Canseco's latest claims about steroids in baseball. Hell, the guy's been right before. Could it be Cal Ripken? (stats)

Stayed tuned for more from MikeandJeremy later on today.

Tomorrow Night's Contest:

Boston (62-42)
Lester (9-7) 3.90ERA
at
Tampa Bay (57-48)
Garza (7-8) 3.69ERA

game time: 7:08pm

The Man Just Won't Go Away

Check out my take on the Brett Favre saga.

Green, Delcarmen Throw It Away

Sox lose it in the Ninth, Comeback in the 11th Not Strong Enough

Up 7-4 in the 8th inning with Papelbon coming on many TV sets in Red Sox Nation were switching off. Buchholz had given the Sox a quality start, the bats had come alive, and the dynamite Sox pen looked as if it were about to seal the deal against the lowly A's. Shortstop Nick Green, the embedded Yankee, had other thoughts.

"I really like Baseball," Green said after game, "and I wanted to keep playing. Sometimes nine innings just isn't enough."*

With Papelbon looking for his 29th save of the season, Green's rocket-arm turned two groundballs into errors by sending the throw meant for first-base somewhere between the bag and the moon, and three Oakland runs.

The A's tied the game in the 9th and went on to win it in the 11th against a shaky and tired-looking Manny Delcarmen. In other news, Delcarmen also looked like he had a vagina on his face.

Oak (42-57) 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 2 < >< >< >9 21 0
Bos (58-41) 0 0 5 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 < >< >< >8 14 3

Buchholz 5.2IP 9H 2ER 5K
R. Ramirez 1.0IP 1H 1ER 1K
Okajima .2IP 3H 1ER 1K
Bard .2IP 1H 0ER
Papelbon 1IP 3H 2ER 1K
Delcarmen 1.2IP 3H 2ER 1K
Saito .1IP 1H 0ER

Stuff you need to know:
The Sox retired Jim Rice's #14 jersey last night, after his Cooperstown induction on Sunday.
Last night was just the second time ever that Papelbon blew a three-run lead.
Before last night the Sox' bullpen hadn't allowed a run in 25 innings.

Boston Globe game report
Herald game report

3 Strikes

• Daisuke's frustrated with his re-hab and throwing program.

That's funny, because everybody else is frustrated with him sucking. And then complaining about it.

• The Sox traded outfielder/high-fiver Mark Kotsay and cash to the White Sox for outfielder/albino Brian Anderson (stats).

So? Just thought you might want to know who the new guy is. Plus, he's really goofy-looking. The new Brian Scalabrine? Only time will tell.

• Mark Buehrle set the major league record by retiring 45 straight batters (over two games.)
  

After tossing a perfect game over the weekend, he had a perfecto going into the 7th last night. And he's on both of my fantasy teams.

Big News:
The Sox are rumored to be pursuing Roy Halladay, but there are conflicting reports as to the package Theo's offered the Jays.
Team sources denied that they had offered Buchholz, pitcher Michael Bowden and outfielder Ryan Westmoreland, as old friend Gordon Edes first reported. Thankfully, the team reportedly told Jays' GM J.P. Ricciardi that Daniel Bard was untouchable.

Tonight:
Oak (42-57)
Anderson (5-8) 4.32ERA
at
Bos (58-41)
Penny (7-4) 4.71ERA
Game time 7:10pm

Thanks Josh: A Holiday from Halladay Talk

Sox Beast Oakland 8-3 behind Beckett, Dusty, LaRoche

I'm not saying the Sox's starting pitching wouldn't be unbeatable with Roy Halladay. But they're pretty unbeatable without him too. And if you need anymore double-negatives I wouldn't not talk to me about it.

OAK (41-57) 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 3 9 0
BOS (58-40) 1 0 1 3 1 0 2 0 - 8 14 1

WP: Beckett (12-4) LP: T. Cahill (6-9)

Beckett7IP 8H 3ER 10k
Bard 1.0IP 1H 0ER 2K
Delcarmen 1.0IP 0H 0ER


Stuff you need to know:
Pedroia 5th HR of the year (solo 1st inning)
New-Guy LaRoche pulling a Jason Bay 2-4 1R 1RBI. He's batting .417 with the Sox (5/12)

There's something in the (dirty) water:
Beckett is 7-0 at Fenway this year, in his last 5 starts 5-0 1.19ERA and 36K

Beaten Down quote of the Day:
"That's really a good lesson for a lot of our young pitchers to watch the way he pitches. He's aggressive. He mixed in his sinker and the breaking ball but he did throw them all for strikes."
-Oakland manager Bob Geren (via espn.com)

Beat you Down quote of the Day:
"The biggest thing tonight is we just kept putting pressure on them every single inning. When we have a lineup like we do, it's bound to happen."
-Jacoby Ellsbury (via espn.com)

Boston Globe game report
Herald game report

3 Strikes

• Juicers don't belong in the Hall, according to Gerry Callahan.

Only at your local stadium.

• New Boston sports radio WBZ-FM loses out on the Lou Merloni sweepstakes.

Besides the yearly Bachelor Auction at Framingham High, that has to be the only time the phrase "the Lou Merloni sweepstakes" has been used.

• NESN analyzes Theo's options at the trade deadline.

Theo's busy analyzing the Canadian WBC team roster. Hell, it worked last year, right?


Breaking News:
Jim Ed not a Horse, A Real Good Ballplayer, in fact.
The Sox retire #14 tonight, in honor of Cooperstown-enshrined Jim Rice. Tears? I don't think the Eck will be able to hold them back tonight.

For All of You Tweeps Out There:
The Man of the Hour might be retired, but he's still kickin it with the internet, that Twitter-thingy, and that damn rap music.


Tonight:
Oak (41-57)
Mazzaro (2-7) 4.75ERA
at
BOS (58-40)
Boy Wonder* (1-1) 3.72ERA

Game Time 7:10


*Buchholz

All is Well Until the 6th Inning

It was looking real good,  like Wedding Crashers before the sappy, terribly drawn out ending.  John Smoltz was cruising in Texas and making good on the promise he made in mid-June about his arm not being finely tuned until his fifth or sixth start, and then three very quick home-run's later, the Rangers had six runs.

His last outing was easily his most impressive of the year, albeit against the Kansas City Royals, and tonight's looked to be a close second, but the Texas bats just exploded in the sixth inning scoring five runs.  

David Murphy looked like he was hitting a Titleist, which makes that home-run less John Smoltz's faults and more Isaac Newton's, but the Michael Young blast he left up in the zone.

Overall Smoltz had some filthy stuff going on tonight.  The back door cutter he through to punch out former teammate Andruw Jones was disgusting, and his split finger was extremely effective through the first five innings.  

While obviously a discouraging loss, the Sox shouldn't be too worried heading into tomorrow's matchup with Josh Beckett on the hill facing Tommy Hunter, a young right-handed pitcher. 

No Halladay, No Problem

The timeliness of yesterday's Halladay v. Boston showdown couldn't have come at a more convenient time for all the Red Sox fans out there who possess an aching void in their soul for the six-time all-star to make his permanent residence in Massachusetts. 

While there's no doubting a Beckett, Lester, Halladay combination would serve as Fenway Park's very own Cerberus, the thought of giving up three or more crucial contributors for the 2011, 2012 and beyond teams wouldn't be worth the deal (unless of course it paid off with a third ring in six years)...

Looking towards the three game series with Texas that starts tonight, the Sox are up against one of the surprise contenders that the American League has to offer and a tough team that's just three games behind Anaheim in the AL Central.  Kevin Millwood, who finds himself going up against former mentor John Smoltz tonight, has led the pitching staff while Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler and Michael Young are major contributors in a potent offense that's currently tied with the Yankees atop all of Major League baseball in home runs.  

While they're still up one game on New York (who start a series with Baltimore tonight), the Red Sox could easily find themselves looking up in a few days at their long time rivals for the first time in a while.

Finally...It's Clay Buchholz

Tonight is the eagerly anticipated season debut for the Red Sox number one prospect Clay Buchholz.  His statistics in Pawtucket this season have been phenomenal.  So impressive in fact, that the thought of trading him for Roy Halladay (a hopelessly hypothetical situation) before July 31 is making Red Sox fans equally as nervous to send him inside the division as Ricciardi is of sending Halladay over here.  

Nobody knows how long Buchholz will be up in the big leagues, regardless of how impressive he is in tonight's spot start, but the performance will none the less be scrutinized over and over again in the debate adhering to whether or not Boston should accommodate him into a six man rotation.