If there’s anything the Sox didn’t need after a demoralizing, humiliating, hangover-inducing five-game sweep at the hands of their most hated rivals, it’s a West Coast trip. But that’s what they get.
Beaten, battered, bruised and fresh from a cross-country flight, the Red Sox push Kyle Snyder — some might call him overworked after two outings in which he faced 16 batters in the past week; Terry Francona calls him pre-warmed! — to the hill against Joe Saunders, otherwise known as Jered Weaver, The Sequel.
Don’t worry, though. Since Aug. 15, Kyle Snyder’s been virtually the ace of the Sox’ staff!
- Rudy Seanez — 27.00
- Craig Hansen — 20.25
- Jermaine Van Buren — 20.25
- Mike Timlin — 20.25
- Jon Lester — 17.18
- Josh Beckett — 14.29
- Jason Johnson — 8.31
- Kyle Snyder — 7.36
- Manny Delcarmen — 5.40
- David Wells — 3.86
- Curt Schilling — 3.21
- Jonathan Papelbon — 3.00
- Keith Foulke — 0.00
Comment away!
Coco Crisp, CF
Mark Loretta, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Wily Mo Pena, RF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Doug Mirabelli, C
Gabe Kapler, LF
Dustin Pedroia, SS
Kyle Snyder, P
Wow. What does Tito need to see to realize Coco isn’t a leadoff hitter? It boggles the mind…
That’s a crappy lineup. Coco – OBP of .320 and change. ‘Belli, even worse. Kapler? Beyond useless with the stick. Lowell? Playing really tired right now. And then there’s the Royal castoff Snyder. At least we get to see what Pedroia might be all about.
Let’s just say that expectations for a result tonight are low…
How long is Manny going to be off?
Well not much choice tonite with Manny out you need Youk lower. Though with the Angels starter being a rookie, I would have atleast considered throwing Pedroia right in in the leadoff spot.
Manny is listed as day-to-day
Has Pedroia been playing short in the minors? Isn’t he natural 2b? Tough to throw a kid into his first start in the bigs out of position, and at short at that.
Pedroia was converted to 2B from SS last year after the Renteria signing, Hes played a lot of 2B and SS this year as well as some 3B lately because of Lowell’s nagging pains.
Yes, but with one game we should be able to make a judgment on whether or not he will be a productive player for the next ten years, at his natural position or not.
Seriously, I think Pedroia was brought up as a shortstop, then moved to second. So he’s back at his original position.
here’s a good article on the Sox
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14471572/site/newsweek/
plus pulling Loretta and having Cora play SS doesnt seem an ideal situation either
globe: “Pedroia has played both shortstop and second base regularly for Pawtucket, with a few games at third base thrown in when Mike Lowell was down after fouling a ball off his foot. Pedroia is batting .305 with 50 RBI and 30 doubles in 111 games with the PawSox.”
Pedroia basically is playing split time in AAA because Boston is unsure what direction they will go next year. Loretta or Gonzalez will probable retained with Pedroia playing the position thats left open.
With that lineup, if Ortiz sees anything resembling a strike in a close game, Mike Sciosia should be canned on the spot.
Boston getting plenty of help tonite…
Detroit 4 Chicago 0 6th inning
Baltimore 6 Minnesota 1 6th inning
Baltimore 6 Minn 3 Final
Detroit finishes off Chicago 4-0.
updated Wild Card standings
Chicago…… —
Minnesota…. .5
Boston…….3.5
sox should send a little thank you note to Nick Markakis who hit three solo dings tonight in the O’s win over the Twins. not bad for a rook. kid can play.
I hate West Coasters.
Well, it’s started well at least.
Covelli has 18 doubles? Who knew?
18 quietest doubles in baseball.
Wow, do the Angels really have the worst D in the AL? Didn’t realize that.
Leadoff double wasted.
Good to see nothing has changed.
Sox 0-3 with RISP already!
Ugh.
Alright, K-Snyde, let’s roll!
At least they made the rook throw 18 pitches. But I’d feel better if Covelli was seeing more than 2-3 pitches per at-bat.
Um, does Snyder not have a pic with a Sox hat on? Because the Gamecast pic has his KC pic. But whatever.
IBB in the 1st? To face a red-hot Anderson? Ummmmmm
Double steal. Ugh.
double steal… storm clouds….
Double steal! Rules! Haloball!
GA strikeout. Boo.
25 pitches, but he got out of it.
Time to get the pen going.
Snyder won’t make it to the sixth.
Snyder pitched a good inning, save for the jam almost entirely created by Tito’s stratemagizing.
oh, and the 25 pitches. that’s not so good.
Stratemagigizing, yes Homer, but at least it’s not 2-0.
Oh look, Wily Mo’s on second. Let’s see if we can strand him, too.
Go Pena.
Mariners lead the bad guys 2-0
Lowell with the single. First and third, none out.
Who is the Bozo starting for the Yankees?
Vote now: Red Sox waste another RISP w/ 0 out, Yes or no?
yes
Belli walks. Bases loaded, none out.
yes
no.
Kappy k’s. Two more outs til I’m screaming at the TV.
airK, we might be wrong.
I’ll take it.
Troup bitching about RS fans chanting “Yankees Suck.”
Troup: Shut up.
Joe C: “It’s not true.”
Yankee starter Jeff Karstens looks uglier than TJ Beam in Gameday mug. He gave up 2-run homer to Adrian Beltre, threw 27 pitches in the first.
apologies for the double post – typepad acting up
no. oh, wait, Gabe is up. yes!
ok Dustin lets knock em in qith ur first at bat :)
OK, DP, I need a hero!
Kapler is really terrible, isn’t he?
oh dear
DAMN IT
Ready to throw something.
Ok, so the verdict is in, and we still can’t do a darn thing fundamentally right. G’night, everyone!
Tonight, Dustin Pedroia officially became a Red Sox.
Well, Jaun Rivera just helped my fantasy team.
Hey, I’m trying to look at the positives here, okay?
You want a positive? If Beckett was pitching, he’d be behind 4-0 by now. So we’ve got that going for us.
Um, well, okay then Bill.
How many pitches before Covelli makes an out?
Three is the winner!
Our leadoff hitter has seen a whopping SIX pitches tonight.
Lo with the single. He’ll be stranded though.
Gee, why would you think that, laura?
Our leadoff hitter also went 1-for-19 this past wekkend. Oh, Tito, Tito, what are you doing to us?
Oh, I don’t know Bill. this team is just so fantastic at scoring runners, I just thought they would hit a bad streak at some point.
the only thing worse then a yankee fan is a sox fan who complains about everything his team does.
It ain’t Tito. Who is he supposed to bat No. 1? If Yooks leads off, when who bats No. 5?
Tito has no choice. At some point, the responsibility to perforn falls on the players.
Well, gee, TJ, what have the Red Sox done since the All-Star break that’s not worth complaining about?
Yes, but you can bat Lowell 5th and Pena 6th. If the leadoff guy can’t get on, then Ortiz and manny have no one to drive in. Coco hasn’t been performing and so shouldn’t be in the leadoff spot.
Why dont you look towards the positives. Sure the season is in trouble, but we didnt add 20 million next year with Abreau or give up half the system for Andruw Jones, sit back and enjoy the fact that for the pains we will go through right now, Theo is building a team that can go on an Atlanta Braves type run.
TJ, at this point, we’re allowed to complain. I can deal with getting swept by KC. But that show we put on this past weekend at home was just disgraceful.
And I didn’t start complaining until Sunday.
I’m happy to look at the positives, TJ, but this team is too good to play the way they have. It’s unacceptable, and I’m fed up with it. It’s getting to the point where I expect them to lose every game. It’s pathetic. They are too good to play the way they have.
2-1 Sox on the Chone Figgins error.
And the Yankees are now winning 3-2. That sucks.
He could, Laura, but Lowell hasn’t been good in the No. 5 hole and Wily Mo really needs to be 7 or lower to develop.
It’s up to Covelli to learn how to be a leadoff hitter. And that starts with more plate discipline. He HAS shown flashes, but must be more consistent.
Makes you realize that even though Papi is probably the AL MVP, who is the real MVP of this team? Jason Varitek
They are, but Karstens threw 48 pitches through 2, so they’ll be in the pen soon. We need that.
I’m not following the game… I’m not following the game… I’m not following the game…
OKAY, I ADMIT IT, I can’t resist following the game. Even though I’m thoroughly disgusted and dispirited after this weekend.
TJ, that’s a given almost every year. … And get ready for Jeter to be voted the MVP.
Yes, but are we better off with a leadoff hitter who can’t get on base or a five hitter who doesn’t hit that well? Tek and Trot weren’t really performing from the five hole either. If no one is getting on infront of them, Ortiz and Manny don’t need protection. The worst they can do is hit a solo shot.
Coco has the potential to be a great leadoff hitter. But he’s not going to learn how overnight.
Hudson, I knew you wouldn’t let us down. Relax, buddy. We’re all on the same team.
It’s up to Covelli to learn how to be a leadoff hitter. And that starts with more plate discipline. He HAS shown flashes, but must be more consistent.
I’d be surprised if Boston don’t eat a portion of his salary to get rid of him this year like they did with Renteria last year.
3-3 in Seattle now.
Laura, you’ve just hit on the $64 million question. You might as well call it a chick-egg debate. …
what’s the score? Gameday still stuck on WMP, run-scoring play. I think the error really confused someone.
Varitek can bat .000 for the whole season and still be the teams MVP for how he calls a game behind the plate.
It has been clear this month how valuable his game calling is.
Now 2-2.
Both GameCast and GameDay seem to have stalled out at Wily Mo’s at bat. And I can’t get my freakin’ MLB.tv to work now. Arrrrgh! How can I chill if I can’t even tell what’s going on?
But thanks, Bill… I’ll try to go easy.
There was a collision with Kappy, Youk, and Lo in short right which resulted in no injuries but the Angels ended up with cabby and Vlad on second and third. Cabby scored on a ground ball, I think.
Gameday moving again. Lowell is batting. Good to see it’s working well.
Inning over. Still 2-2. Gamecast seems to be getting back on track.
Hudson, TJ just chewed on me for complaining too much. Warranted or not, we’re all venting a bit here.
Am I the only one who is actually watching the game?
Belli strikes out to begin the fourth.
Kasrstens up to 58 pitches thru 3; Baek at 70 for seattle. Doubleplay-Rod has 2 Ks in 2 AB.
What is the evidence that Theo is building a team “that can go on an Atlanta Braves type run”?
We have no bullpen and no rotation.
I moved to Brooklyn last summer, ugh.. so ya games on tv are few and far between.
Maybe Jane Fonda has Red Sox season tickets.
Those of us without audio/video access tonight are waaaaay behind on the action, Laura, due to GameDay/Cast problems.
You don’t want to go on an Atlanta Braves-type run. They’re a lock to get booted in the first round every year.
Gameday caught up now.
YAY PEDROIA!
DP!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Yeah, I’ve got Gamecast up for quick access to stats and scores, so I can tell your behind. It’s actually up to date at the moment though. Coco is in fact batting at the moment.
Oh look, another stranded runner! What a shock!
Can I say it?
CAN I SAY IT???
Lester, Papelbon, Hansen, Delcarmen, Alvarez, Martinez, DiNardo, Pedroia, Elsbury, Machado, Pauley, Van Buren, Moss, Murphy
Yes some of them we havent seen yet, others have struggled, but thats to be expected when your forced to the bigs too soon, you end up learning under the pressure of Boston.
BTW, have you seen how well Papelbon’s brother has been doing at Lowell along with a number of the other pitchers taken in this years draft?
Three ABs for Covelli, NINE pitches.
WORK THE COUNT!!!!!
Any word on whether Sox signed Josh Bard today? If he’s not signed and reports to class at UNC, they lose him.
>>> Lester, Papelbon, Hansen, Delcarmen, Alvarez, Martinez, DiNardo, Pedroia, Elsbury, Machado, Pauley, Van Buren, Moss, Murphy <<< I'm trying to contain my enthusiasm.
IF someones watching the game if they show Theo on cam I guarantee he’ll be on the phone trying to get Bard done.
Yeah, TJ, some of those names are really lower level prospects. Nothing to get excited about.
Papelbon, Lester, Hansen, Pedroia, Elsbury, Murphy. Those are the only guys on that I have any confidence in at all of truyl making an impact on the major league level. The rest may be servicable players, but some of them are definately AAAA guys.
Buehrle knocked around for CWS again today. I thought he had it back together.
Don’t expect Ellsbury and Murphy to be ready until 2008.
3-2 Angels on the Figgins single.
Why would Philly trade away Abreau and Lidle, then trade for Jamie Moyer?
Cause they can’t decide if there season is over or not.
Globe reported that Philly also renegged on a deal in principle to send Lidle to Boston when Cash demanded they include lidle in the Abreau deal. …
Herald reports that DiNardo knocked around in Portland today in rehab assignment. …
Lopez sent back down. Thank God.
Atta boy, Kyle!
That’s about the best they could expect from him tonight.
hmm our radio guys renamed the team?
“The Red Sox of Boston and New England”
A knock at LA Angels of Anaheim. …
Sh!t, Doubleplay-rod 2-run homer.
Come on, let’s get to this guy NOW!
Wily Mo picked off first. Ugh.
From man on 1st/no outs to bases empty/2 outs, just like that.
Scioscia bringing in new pitcher to face Kapler? Why?
Come on, DP.
I need a hero!
7 lobs.
OK, boys. You’ve had the pitching to keep you in the game. Let’s thenk them with some runs.
Oh, my God, Covelli to see more than three pitches. … Four.
Four AB 13 pitches, one hit.
Finally! Yooks doubles home Papi, 3-3; WMP up.
Troup sez Angels’ bad defense has come into play on all three Boston runs, but they also have taken away three hits, one that would have plated two runs.
WMP swings at ball four, strikes out, leaves Yooks stranded at second.
But now we’re tied, 3-3.
Cabrera grounds into key doubleplay after leadoff walk. Guerrero up.
DP turns his first major league DP.
Theo: Re-sign Loretta to a 2-year deal, let A-Gon walk. DP is your starting SS next year. This is a good middle IF.
Sexson drive in a run w/2 out, 5-4 NYY, RISP.
After Anderson puts Angels up, 4-3, Ibanez sigles off Villone to tie it, 5-5.
Gabbard replaced by MDC, who gets the third out.
I should be in bed, but I see the Sox are actually not being blown out…
Gabe Kapler, down to a miserable .224. Should we not see Eric Hinske here?
Should have. Kapler Ks on three pitches. Good work, bottom of the lineup!
Kapler was 3-3 against Shields before this. Playing percentages?
Why am I trolling in a Sox thread? *slinks away*
Sox, incidentally, are 0 for 9 with RISP tonight, with one walk.
lol It’s cool, YM, we seem to be the only ones awake anyway… Francona might have been playing percentages, but only a fool would play percentages based on a three-AB sample size — oh wait…
I’ve been all alone for a while, Paul.
I saw you had been here, Bill, but you didsappeared right after I started talking… Maybe you just don’t like me :-)
Top 2nd: Boston
– W. Pena singled to right, W. Pena to second advancing on throw
– M. Lowell singled to left, W. Pena to third
Granted it wasnt a run scoring hit, but it was a hit with RISP
Manny has a bat, might pinch hit for Covelli in the ninth.
Nice job by MDC. Got all four batters out.
What’s wrong with Manny, anyway?
Oh OK, TJ. My GameCast didn’t have Pena moving to second on that play — just said Lowell singled, moving Pena to third… In that case, 1 for 10 with 1 walk and the two-run error.
I went to put a bandage on my finger, Paul.
YM, hamstring cramped on him mid-game yesterday…
So where was this 3 IP, 1 ER relief during the Yankee series?
Manny tweaked a hammy, I think.
You havemn’t resorted to cutting yourself, have you, Bill? It’s not as bad as all that. Really it isn’t…
Haha, Paul, I was thinking the same thing….you gotta remember these aren’t the Yankees, though. Halos are free swingers.
No effin sh!t.
This makes no sense to me at all. Why not pinch hit Manny for the outfielder with the sub-.250 average, s opposed to the kid who can use as many ABs as possible?
Cut myself washing a knife after fuming over another out w/RISP.
Leadoff man Coco’s road OBP? .299. Freakin hell…
Do you want a kid in his first ML game batting against K-Rod?
Covelli saw a whopping 13 pitches first 4 AB.
Holy cow, a big hit from Covelli.
Timlin warming.
Gotta face him sometime. I figure Pedroia’s got a better chance than Kapler does to get a hit, no matter who the pitcher is…
Coco might be above the .300 line now with that infield single!
Paul, Manny can’t play OF. So at least you have Cora at SS in Bottom 9.
Hargrove is managing this game like it’s game 7 of the World Series. You’d almost think Seattle was a contender…
Oh yeah, didn’t think of Manny’s fielding what with the hammy…
Not sure I like that steal.
If ML doesn’t get on, they walk Papi.
Oopsie, wrong thread. Sorry.
YM, you starting pitcher tonight has a worse mug than TJ Beam.
But if Loretta gets a single, the game is tied… Play for the run, not the miracle…
Well, NOW they’ll probably walk Big Papi. Really thought Loretta mighta come through there after working back from 0-2 to fill the count…
Bill, he’s not very photogenic, I agree. No so bad in real life though.
Yes, but you have a better shot to score with Papi.
ground out, Papi walks, it’s up to Yooks.
Having Youkilis up here isn’t bad though. He’d actually be one of my top choices outside of Papi and Manny…
He and Beam have serious eyebrows.
Joe and Troup REALLY pissed about the Loretta out. Say Quinlan was off first.
They’re rocking the Ted Lilly eyebrows….Can a bloodied nose for Joe Torre be far behind?
I think someone does the Yanks mugs bad intentioanlly. Abreau’s mug isn’t flattering, either.
SH!T. Another very winnable game.
At least you can be pretty sure you won’t lose ground tonight.
And that’s a wrap. 1 for 12 tonight with two BB, w/RISP. Shouldn’t be surprised with the 7-8-9-1 of that lineup…
To bed, then. *sigh* Good night all…
At least this one wasn’t embarrassing.
If not for the timing, it’s not a bad loss.