April 2008

2-0 with a Walk Off!

Thank you to everyone who came by on my birthday. I really appreciate all the birthday wishes, and since I'm really into celebrating things, seeing my blog featured in the panel was one of the best birthday presents I could get. In addition to that, I also got a Nikon Coolpix S550 digital camera in purple and tickets to last night's Sox game. It goes without saying that my 18th birthday couldn't have been better.

I was pretty concerned about whether the Sox would have been able to get the game off in the first place because it was monsooning here in Boston all day Monday and all day Tuesday until 6:45. The rain literally stopped just in time, and luckily the game was only delayed 10 minutes.

Jon Lester can also be a wild card on the mound, because he never seems to be able to make it to 6 innings in a game this year. Lester has good stuff when he attacks the strike zone and really pitches agressively, but when he pitches around hitters and runs his pitch count up, obviously he runs into a lot of problems, a lot of hits, and ends up with a short day.

Luckily, last night went as well as it could have gone. Lester came out looking strong, and my dad said that if he could throw about 60 - 65% strikes, he'd have a good night. Lester actually threw 59 out of 97 pitches for , which means 61% of his pitches were strikes. Good call Dad. Lester ended up one-hitting the Jays while striking out six and walking four (his only bad number of the night).

Last night was also Mike Lowell's first game back (!), which was kind of neat for me because I was at the game when he was put on the DL, then got to go to the game in which he returned. When he took the field before the game to warm up with Youk there was a lot of applause, and it amplified when they announced his name in the lineup. During Lowell's first at bat, he got a standing ovation. 

Some of the guys on the team have set songs for when they come up to the plate. Tek's is Kryptonite, and Lowell's happens to be Ironman, which I find extremely fitting. When Mikey takes the field, it feels like the Red Sox have a very good chance of winning no matter who they play. Anything hit down the third base line is in Lowell's reach, and when he comes up to bat, there's always a big chance of him doing something special. He's no superstar, no Ramirez or Ortiz, but he's a rock for this team, a force that holds the guys together, keeps them loose, and picks the team up when they need it. If Varitek wasn't already captain, Lowell could easily secure a "C" on his jersey. 

After Lester pitched eight terrific innings, Papelbon came in. It's always a treat to have Pap pitch at games that I go to, because it is so amazing to see the transformation that comes over him once he reaches the infield grass. In the bullpen and dugout and clubhouse, Pap is such a loose cannon and funny guy, always laughing and pulling a prank on someone or dancing irish jigs. However, when he comes in to close a game, he always pauses just at the precipice of the infield grass for just a few seconds, as if to collect himself, gather all his idiosyncrasies, and stuff them in a box somewhere inside for three to six outs. Even his posture changes on the mound - he stands straight up and still if he isn't fixing the mound or throwing a pitch. 

It was freezing at Fenway last night. I wore three sweatshirts and could see my breath. Balls weren't traveling too far and bats were breaking, so I anticipated lower than usual velocity for the pitchers, and Papelbon's speed was definitely down a little from his last outing (94-96 instead of 97-100), but he still looked good except for a stray double, and Dustin Pedroia made a FANTASTIC play to keep the score even at zero going into the bottom of the ninth.

At Red Sox games, I love to take pictures and experiment with different angles and settings to see what produces the best results, but in the ninth it was just too exciting to even hold my camera. The Globe claimed that the Sox haven't played such a low scoring game since 1980, so this was definitely a game to remember. Halladay had to face the top of the lineup, and it looked like the Sox were headed to extra innings after he got Coco and Dustin out, but then Ortiz came up. The place was rocking with "Papi, Papi" chants and the ubiquitous "Let's go Red Sox", and after coming within inches of a walk-off homerun, Papi worked a walk. Manny's at-bat drew the same excitement from the fans, and when he hit a single to center, Youk seemed like just the man to have at the plate. However, no one in my section knew that Jacoby Ellsbury was somewhat unavailable due to a sore groin, so everyone was freaking out over David Ortiz still being the lead runner. Thank god Youk's hit was bobbled, because I think that if Wells had fielded the ball cleanly, Speedy Gonzalez (aka Ortiz) would have been thrown out at home. 

Thankfully, the slippery grass, spin of the ball and excitement were too much for Wells and he bobbled the ball, because I got to celebrate not only my 18th birthday but the first walk-off win for the Red Sox this season with 37,000 of my closest Red Sox comrades. I'm officially 2-0 at Fenway this season and am going next on Saturday! Youuuuukkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!

Here's some pictures from my new camera :D
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It's only April, It's only April, It's only aejgkjklagnsehlgahwegsk!

Today should not have happened. Yesterday should not have happened. Thursday should not have happened.

There's frustration and then there's whatever the Red Sox are doing to me right now. After the first inning, I thought Beckett was going to throw a perfect game. When he came out in the second and struck out the next two batters, it only reaffirmed my predictions. Alas, it was not to be, but he still pitched good enough to win. Bucholz pitched well enough to win. Masterson pitched well enough to win. Heck, even Manny Delcarmen today pitched well enough to preserve a win.

But no, the Red Sox decided they weren't going to hit. Captain Contagious is back behind the plate, the starting pitching is going the distance, Youk is setting records with his fielding, but the Red Sox don't want to hit, and if they don't hit, they don't win. Lovely.

To give some credit to the Rays, the pitching was pretty decent. Everyone on that mound executed well, and Shields today wasn't lucky, he was just good.

But still, I want Papi in the lineup and hitting, I want Dustin banging out doubles like he's Mike Lowell, I want Jacoby running around the bases and reaching home from second on a passed ball.

This team started the season really erratic. One day they won, one day they lost, back and forth, back and forth. Now, they're streak-tastic. They won nine out of ten halfway through the last homestand, then lost the last five.

I guess there are still, among all the Ls, plenty of positives to find. Beckett struck out 13 batters. Youkilis set a record for most consecutive chances without an error while subbing at third and then moving back to first. Mike Lowell's rehab is going well and he may be back Tuesday. Manny is fast approaching 500 homeruns and hitting like it's nobody's business. Dustin is one of the league leaders in batting average. Manny Delcarmen looks better this season. Masterson was masterful, and Bucholz pitched beautifully.

But for the icing on the cake, just win Tuesday.  Beat Toronto and get rid of this bug for good.

Random Randomness

Ohhhhhh Mike Timlin and Bryan Corey. I just can't put my feelings for you two into words.

It was great last night when Don Orsillo mentioned that the Devil Rays have one of the best bullpens in the major leagues. It once again highlighted Theo Epstein's inability to build a bullpen. It's the one thing Theo can't do, and year after year the bullpen just, I don't know, scares me when they come in. Sometimes they can be lights out, sometimes they just suck.

I think Timlin last night proved that he needs to remain as the admiral and only the admiral. If you don't know what I'm talking about, the Red Sox bullpen is a drum line of sorts. They like to think of themselves as pirates, and they even have a pirate flag hanging in the corner next to Papelbon. Delcarmen is the leader of the band, seats are assigned, Timlin is like the captain and David Aardsma is quickly catching on with keeping the beat.

Back to Bryan Corey for a second . . . WHY? Why did the Red Sox bring him back? Theo, W T F. Seriously. This guy didn't suck enough during the first week of the season? Why not just bring up Craig Hansen, trade Corey for anything (like really, a couple of hot dogs would do the trick) and cut all ties?

This situation best be taken care of by Tuesday. I'm going to the game that night (barring a rain out) for my 18th birthday (which is Monday, April 28th, Red Sox tickets and cash are highly appreciated). Then, Saturday, my dad got tickets for me, my mom, him, and four family friends to go to his office's luxury box at Fenway. His office has had a luxury box at Gillette Stadium for a while, and I've been there many times, but this is the first year they have seats at Fenway. I'm pretty psyched for something new. After that, it's AP exams on May 8, 9 and 14 in Literature, English Language, and European History. Funnnnn. Then it's graduation and I'm DONE!

I have to go prepare for Clay Bucholz's Adventure in the Majors: Part VII tonight. Adios.


Dear Jason Varitek, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Manny Delcarmen

I know everyone is in to the whole team unity type thing, let's all sit around and bond. While that's all nice and good, I would appreciate if the three of you would STAY AWAY from the rest of the team. I sure this whole Red Sox plague is nice and fun and all, but you guys really don't have to share, considering that we have a few guys injured, a few guys very prone to being injured, and many many games in just a few weeks with little to no off days.

See, there's this magic thing about illness. It tends to spread. What expedites the spread of Red Sox plague is contact with non-infected persons. So really, if you feel the need to come in to work (and it would be better if you didn't feel the need to do so), at least wear a surgical mask, wash your hands every 23 minutes as well as before and after touching things, and cough into your elbow.

Thank you. Love,
Red Sox Nation

(P.S. Theo's mom probably made some matzoh ball soup for passover. Don't hesitate to ask/beg for some. It WILL make you feel better.)

Texas Sweep and Birthday

The Sox had a fantastic weekend, so naturally I did too. The starters finally went more than six innings - Wake went eight Sunday, and Beckers went eight Thursday. Papelbon has gotten in slight trouble a couple of times, but still has yet to blow a save (knock on wood). Dustin is on fire as well as Manny, and Papi is continuing to hit a little better. As of this morning, he has 2 homeruns, 15 RBIs, and is up to .177. He's batting .306 in his last eight games.

Manny was named co-AL player of the week this week, which comes as no surprise considering how hot he is at the plate (he leads MLB with 20 RBIs). He's hitting homeruns like crazy, running hard, and looking good everywhere he steps. Part of his success is probably due to the extensive training he did in the off season in Arizona at API, but I don't believe he would have done any of that had this year not been a contract year. I don't think the Sox will sign him to a high price, long term contract like he most likely wants, and though he's requested to be traded multiple times, made many fielding mishaps, and sometimes taken vacations in the middle of the season, I really want him back. Over the past eight years, Manny has become an integral part of this team, the face of the organization in some ways, and I sometimes forget what the Red Sox were like without him. Manny and Papi together are incredible, the duo of this baseball age. These past two games have definitely shown that the Sox can score runs and win without Manny (he was ejected Sunday, had the day off Monday), but the character of the club is totally different. It's not right without Manny in left field, picking flowers and taking breaks in the monster. There's a lot of time left in the season, but I hope by the end of it both the Sox and Manny can agree on a contract and keep him in Boston.

On a younger front, Jed Lowrie has made quite the case for staying up in the majors this weekend. He's been playing fantastically, hitting like he's been up here for years and playing the field perfectly. I can almost see Alex Cora getting shafted in favor of Lowrie, but I also know that the Sox tend to be cautious with their young players, and if they have a plan in line for Lowrie, they probably won't change it because of a bunch of RBIs.

It's spring vacation here in Massachusetts because of Patriots Day (Monday). I'm spending my time off from school getting my wisdom teeth out (oh joy) and visiting the stomach doctor. It's not the best vacation, but on April 28th, I'll be celebrating my 18th birthday! Needless to say, I'm very excited. I have AP exams on May 8th, 9th and 14th, then after those I'm basically done with high school. Graduation is on June 8th, so I'll have three weeks in between exams and graduation to just have fun and blow off school. It's a pretty exciting time.

By the way, I almost forgot to mention this. My cousin Alex is a freshman in high school, and he is featured in one of the new Red Sox movies called Blessed: Still We Believe 2. It's a great movie, and he sort of narrates it. His podcast, Without a Curse, is featured. He does a very good job with the podcast, and it's hard to believe by listening to it that he's only 15. Check it out at http://mysportsradio.com/?cat=52 or google him. His name is Alex Reimer.

That's all for now. Until later . . .

First Game of the Season, Wang, Bucholz, Papi

I went to my first game of the season on Thursday (12-6 win against the Tigers) and it was absolutely fantastic.

There's something about that first game you go to where you just need the guys to win. You walk on to Brookline Avenue and immediately your heart starts beating faster and you can't keep the smile off your face because there are tens of thousands of Red Sox fans there, your team is right there and the Fenway green just lines the border between the ground and the sky. The smell of sausages make them seem appetizing (even though they are really gross), vendors are roasting peanuts, The program man is hawking fans, the Fenway hawk is soaring through the sky, it's almost as if the excitement is tangible. Then, of course, there's that walk up the ramp from the Fenway concourse to your seats. The monster just pops up in front of you and knocks the air out of your chest, and you are so close to the field that you have to suppress the urge to jump over the dugout and feel that grass under your feet. And when the game starts, it's just incredible.

The game itself was basically a ping pong match. I have never, in my almost eighteen years, seen Tim Wakefield throw so many pitches so quickly. I was less than impressed. However, he really didn't give up too many hits. Rather, it was the walks that killed him. Wake walked five and hit two, so I think the ball was just moving so well he had no control over it. In a way, with the knuckleball thats almost a good thing, but Wake still needs to control his pitches.
The bullpen band was out in full force. For those of you who do not know, the Red Sox bullpen has this sort of drumline where they take drumsticks, fingers, whatever they have with them and drum on the top of the bullpen to get a rally going. They were pretty active in the fourth considering that none of them were pitching yet.

Yesterday was a little less uplifting. Wang was just on last night, practically unhittable. The good news definitely came out of Bucholz though, who looked fantastic. With the subtraction of about four pitches last night, Bucholz could have thrown a no-hitter or a two hitter as well. He erased some of the doubts caused by his shaky spring training.

As for Papi, I don't know whether to worry about him or not. If not for the shift and some excessive foul territory, I doubt Papi's slump would even exist. I think some of the problem with him is that he can use his knee, of course it is a little sore, but the more he uses it and crouches down at the plate like he used to, the better he'll feel. I think he's being cautious with the knee and a little uncomfortable at the plate, but soon enough he'll make someone pay. During a slump like this, it's best not to worry and not to bug Papi about it, because Papi is a fantastic hitter, a fantastic player, and he'll pull out of this better without all the pressure.

An hour and a half to game two of the season against the Yankees, and I'm fully believing Beckett will win this one and Papi will get a hit. Until then . . .

Bullpen Blows

I haven't really wanted to write anything because I didn't want to post over the last entry, but I guess at some point there comes a time when you have to move on with life.

Anyways. Toronto = Disaster. Plain and simple.

Theo Epstein has once again shown his lack of ability at creating a bullpen. The Sox have the great combo of David Aardsma, Bryan Corey, Manny Delcarmen, Javier Lopez, Hideki Okajima, Jonathan Papelbon and Julian Tavarez. These guys are so good it's scary (Insert sarcasm here).

Aardsma was decent in the one game he pitched, but his chief claim to fame having the first name that appears alphabetically in the Baseball Encyclopedia. Corey is okay, but I would still be concerned in a tight game with him on the mound, Delcarmen's meatball to Frank Thomas speaks for itself, Lopez isn't anything special, and Tavarez's consistency is about as stable as his personality. Okajima and Pap are of course amazing, but they won't be in a game unless the Sox are winning, tied or need some action during a long losing streak. 

Seven of the nine inherited runners by the bullpen scored this weekend, accounting for almost 1/3 of the 23 runs scored by the Jays. The bullpen is responsible for an additional 11 runs by themselves. All together, thats 18 out of 23 runs in just three games, meaning Sox relievers average 6 earned runs a game. Wow.

Theo has to do something, as Schilling's return at all this season is beyond doubtful and Beckett, Colon and Wakefield are very injury prone. This team can't afford to lose anymore pitching, and if they have to rely on their bullpen, they might as well just forfeit the game. 



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