Lost in the excitement of the Yanks-Sox series was the elimination of the Toronto Blue Jays officially from contention in the American League East, all but ensuring their rightful return to third place in the division.
In fact, the elimination can be seen in this video representation above — in which the Red Sox (David Spade) and Yankees (Helen Hunt) escort the Blue Jays (the angry passengers) from the division.
The Sox did what they had to this weekend — won one game — and they came very close to a sweep. All told, we’re pretty happy. Now they must avoid malaise against a team with nothing to lose. All the Jays can do now is play spoiler, which makes them very dangerous.
Wakefield v. McGowan. Comment away!
Red Sox
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, LF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Mike Lowell, 3B
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Eric Hinske, 1B
7. Coco Crisp, CF
8. Alex Cora, SS
9. Kevin Cash, C
SP – Tim Wakefield
Blue Jays
1. Vernon Wells, CF
2. Matt Stairs, 1B
3. Alex Rios, RF
4. Frank Thomas, DH
5. Aaron Hill, 2B
6. Gregg Zaun, C
7. Adam Lind, LF
8. Russ Adams, 3B
9. John McDonald, SS
SP – Dustin McGowan
Any word when Ramirez is going to play?
Francona says Ramirez due back Wednesday.
I have a couple of theories on why the Sox have had so many leadoff hitters this season (five of them are in tonight’s lineup!):
Francona constantly switches the leadoff guy by a direct request from Theo to provide data for a leadoff hitter comparison he’s putting together. By studying the trends in this report, Theo can determine exactly who should bat first in the playoffs. So what looks like haphazard lineup construction is actually a precisely calibrated analysis.
My other theory is that Francona is a knucklehead.
I wish every time we lost 2 out of 3 we could say we “almost swept”. Or maybe you meant “almost wept”?
I didn’t say “almost.” I said “very close.” Arguably, they were two pitches away from a sweep. Can’t get much closer without winning two games.
Yankees were 2 pitches away from sweeping the ’04 ALCS. We all know how well that worked out…
I’m two testicles away from being a woman too.
Hehe, so true. It’s all about timing (and whether you have games left afterward).
>>> I’m two testicles away from being a woman too.
Huh?
ym: Men have two testicles, women don’t. It is an ironic remark to underscore that “2 pitches away” is about as far from “sweep” as “two fewer….oh forget it. Your ALCS comment was clearer. Just trying to get a smile out of people while making the same point…
Thomas belts one out, 2-0 Jays. Wakefied sucks again. Time for him to go away. Seriously. I am so sick of this guy’s gasoline, in addition to the Mirabelli mandate. Thank goodness he didn’t pitch this weekend, and I hope he shows up rarely in the postseason. That may sound extreme, but he’s brutal at this point.
We really need Manny back, and bad. Way too many at-bats for Tek, Hinske, the bottom of the lineup moves up a spot, and it kills.
Hopefully the Sox can hang onto the division, but tonight and tomorrow could turn evem that into a dogfight: the Yanks are odds-on to win against the sorry Orioles (any YF who cries about the Tigers as threats is just deflecting from their bloodthirst for the division crown), and the Sox are no guarantee, trailing here already and Lester going tomorrow.
Meanwhile, are we ever going to see Buchholz again? If they are saving him for the playoffs innings-wise, shouldn’t there be a concern about his sharpness? And if they aren’t, then that seems like a colossal waste of a useful arm down the stretch.
I think we see Buchholz or Tavarez on Wednesday, which I think was when Dice was going to pitch again.
19 pitches over the first two innings for McGowan, and Wakey looks like his A-game is back in Boston somewhere. I think I’m turning the game off tonight. See you guys in October.
Cora, Cash, Hinske all in the lineup. Not many division leaders can say they have the luxury of putting out crap like that.
Better inning for Wake, but this lineup now has seven innings to score three while Wake and the pen need to be perfect. That’s a tall order.
The Sox’ bats look, uh, anemic. Really, really bad. Like minor-league bad.
Not many division leaders can say they have the luxury of putting out crap like that.
Not just division leaders–not many of the best teams in baseball can say they’ve put out crap like that.
I’m looking at October so I don’t care. Right now the biggest thing on my mind is the Tigers catching the Yankees. Oh, and I would love to see that Buchholz fellow pitch again in a spot start later this week. Someone told me that kid is good.
Jesus, can we please hit ball more than sixty fucking feet for fucking fuck’s sake?
FUCK.
Thank goodness Coco and Cora saw more than 2 pitches each. Kudos to them for making McGowan pitch more than 10 pitches that inning.
Honestly, I was less upset losing to the Yankees: at least they are a damn good team. But the Sox can’t even muster a goddamned effort (or a major league lineup) against sh*t like the Jays.
So now the Sox need to score three in six while holding the Jays to zero in seven.
The weight is getting heavier.
Maybe the Jays figure McGowan is in a groove, get him back out there fast: three pitches, two outs.
Nice inning for Wake. Time for the top of the order to do their job. Let’s go, Sox!
“So now the Sox need to score three in six while holding the Jays to zero in seven.”
If I looked at every Baseball game this way, I doubt I could survive being a fan. I’d probably take up knitting or something.
The Sox are being perfect gamed. Wonderful.
Wow, a five pitch at-bat from Ells, at least! Holy Crap! MORAL VICTORY!
Foul ball. Six pitches!
Good eye from Ells laying off a changeup at 2-2, the payoff is…a single the other way!
Good piece of hitting by Jacoby. Come on, Pedro!
Detroit/Cleveland tied at 1, for those paying attention.
We got a hit!
No no-no!
Ellsbury is a thick mustache and glasses away from looking like he’s wearing that joke “Schnozz” thing, with those eyebrows.
Pedro grounds to second, but Ells was moving so no DP. Grrr, bad Dustin!
McGowan clearly has a live arm…
The Sox are fielding one of those lineups where if they don’t score by the five hitter, it’s gonna be at least two calendar innings before you think they have a shot again. Depressing.
Papi pops out. My remote control is in serious jeopardy tonight. Not sure I can deal with the frustrations, so I may cut out and check back in in a while.
They are just practicing for if they have to play an NL team sometime in the near future…
Ortiz has become impotent. Can he not hit a single anymore? Why is he always swinging for the fences?
First you think, hey, it’s the Jays, they aren’t very good, we should beat them. Then you look at this lineup and the way Wake has been pitching and you think, hey, it’s the Jays, there’s no way this is going to end well.
Lowell doubles, picking up Papi. 2-1 Jays. Clutch, Mikey. One more knock from JD and it’s a tie game.
Sweet Jesus, we’re on the board.
Drew swings through a pitch right over the plate. Only problem is that it was going 98 mph with a little movement. Nice stuff from McGowan.
WE SCORE!!!
looks like Drew got all of that pitch…
Meanwhile NYY woke up against Baltimore.
I don’t get JD. His huge hit on Saturday was a soft liner to left, going with a pitch. It was a great piece of hitting, clutch and smart. But tonight he’s back to trying to pull everything, grounding to second weakly in the second and now tapping back to McGowan towards the line. Both times he didn’t take what was given him. It seems like textbook overswinging, trying to drive the ball in the pull-field when he’s being pitched to something that he is very strong at: going the other way. Wish this could be rectified.
Pedro makes a nice play up the middle to get Thomas, then Hill (I am quickly growing to hate Aaron Hill) squibs one over Pedro’s head for a bloop single, cheap as shit.
Two pitches later, a DP. Wake has settled in. Maybe someone told him what I typed and it got him angry and focused!
Let’s tie it up, now. Or, at least get it back to the top of the order for the start of the fifth!
I haven’t gotten JD Drew since he lost his swing in May. It’s weird, he started off so well and then completely changed.
Eh, maybe the gun on the Rogers Sports Net broadcast isn’t so accurate, showing McGown hurling a 96mph changeup. That would be something.
Hinske returning to Earth, whiffs. Man, we need Youk back. Glad that Hinske did what he did this weekend, totally grateful, but he’s just not an everyday player.
Hinske whiffs, Coco down on a popup, now Cora ends the inning just so Cash leads off the fifth. Fucking great.
Sorry, make that Cash leading off the sixth. Even better.
I was really, really expecting Hinske to be one of those Florida pharmacy players that were being named every five minutes. Well, him and the rest of the Patriots:)
AJ Burnett tomorrow for the Jays. Hello, 2 game lead in the loss column!
SFs ought to pray that the Tigers keep losing, just to be safe.
Two hits. TWO F*CKING HITS tonight.
Is it malaise? Is it bad luck? Is it no Manny for a month? What is wrong with this team.
No Manny, no Youk, no intensity at all tonight. It’s so f*cking predictable.
And another stolen base off of Wake. Auto-fucking-matic. FDR could have stolen off of Wake.
And now a swinging bunt rolls down the third baseline, first and third now. I quit.
Back later, if at all.
yeah, this game better pick up. It’s boring knowing what’s going to happen..
Franklin Delanor Romonowski…?
Ha. I love Kramer.
Well, in all fairness to Wake, FDR had some wheels.
Thank heavens it’s just the one run and not more damage.
Does anyone else like this commercial with the two kids rapping about Chicken McNuggets? I don’t know why I think it’s cool..ha.
Tigers up by two.
I like that one way better than the creepy Heinekin commercial with the girl pumping her own beer juices… icky.
Dammit Jacoby is hot as hell.
You know what I want to know… When a player says that they get emails all the time about X or Y, I have to wonder, how the hell do all these strangers get your email address?
Yeah, beer robot girl is freaky…
Another quick inning there. Didn’t really see it coming.
ugh.
MANNY, HURRY THE HELL UP!!
Geez, 5/9 of our line up is a black hole. Hey JD Drew, we could really use some damn hits. You’ve had your 5 month vacation, let’s wake up now and earn some of your obscene millions- okay?
Crisp is hitting .300 in September with 11 RBI’s. Don’t call him a black hole ;-)
So what day is Game 1 of the Angels/Sox ALDS in Anaheim?
Jesus christ the Big Hurt is really hurting us tonight. 2 Homers already.
It seems to me that Frank Thomas has been killing the Red Sox my entire freaking life. Check that, he pretty much has.
Also, just for the record: Id rather have AJ perxiznekski and Sheffield on my team than Zaun. In fact, I’d rather have a full team of Shea Hillenbrands than Greg Zaun.
The Red Sox just feel much more comfortable with a wild card berth, I guess. It’s all they know, can’t blame them.
Wake only has five runs to go before Tito thinks of yanking him.
Well, at least Terry Francona is consistent in leaving him in just long enough to make a comeback unlikely. I mean, we wouldn’t want to see if maybe Buchholz or Tavarez could do a better job, right?
Idiot.
Love the fact that so many SFs love Wake and Tek, but these guys couldn’t have shit the bed any messier down the stretch this season. Talk about a September choke job, and Wake and Tek’s name have to come up. But of course, folks would rather bash JD, who has done quite well as of late and did more against the Yankees in one at-bat then Tek did in like 15.
The Soxtober promos on NESN… shudder. What if they tank it and we don’t even go to the postseason.
Brad, one of those two guys (Buchholz or Tavarez) has to pitch on Wednesday. Also, it would be a tie game if not for Frank Thomas. This is one time I don’t think Francona should take him out just yet.
SF, you’re feeling especially glass half empty tonight.
Without Manny and Youk this team isn’t a contender for anything. If this was the team that started the season (without those two guys), I wouldn’t have picked them for the playoffs, even. So if they don’t come back healthy and soon, the Sox are going to be heading on the road for game 1 of the ALDS, with a (negligible but not zero) outside chance at not being around for October at all.
Though, I’m really with you on Wake and Tek, though.
Guy’s they’re not going to lose the division. In fact, I don’t even think they’re going to lose tonight. Or, I have faith in Baltimore. Maybe. Or I’m living the high life right now (yeah, I asked her to pick up beer, and that’s what I got…the four dollar six pack).
SF, you’re feeling especially glass half empty tonight.
No, I am being realistic. A Sox team without Manny, Youk, and even Lugo in the lineup is not a team that can or will contend for anything. That’s not half-fullism, that’s just a fact. What team can thrive with a lineup like this with any consistency? Forget it.
The division lead is down to 2 in the LC, as far as I am concerned, with Burnett going. Anything better will be pleasant surprise. The only worse time for these injuries would be in October while playing a playoff series. Otherwise, you can’t pick a worse time for this.
yeah, A.
I was thinking whoever it isn’t.
Are you going for the anti-jynx, SF? This team has won 6 of their last 10, which matches their season percentage (.600). We also owned the Yankees on Saturday and almost came back last night, both without Manny and Youk. You’re DEFINITELY being far too negative tonight.
Plus, Manny will be back, it’s just a matter of when. I have no doubt that he’ll be with us in October.
Wow, why am I being negative when the division lead could easily be two games as of tomorrow, with the Sox having a far tougher schedule down the stretch then the Yankees, and two of their key offensive cogs out hurt? That’s encouraging? I don’t get it.
I am quite angry right now, totally frustrated at this crap effort, but the reality is that the Sox are putting a team out with a shit pitcher and three lineup spots filled with bench players. There’s no good reason to feel optimism about that.
I am feeling pretty crappy about this. The Yankees are playing puff teams here on out and we’re facing the A’s and Twins to close out the season.
Two demoralizing losses this weekend have to be in their minds somewhere. Drew is worthless, much as I want him to succeed he is not. Cash can only perform half his job. I’m not too optimistic right now.
Eh, I see where he’s coming from. But, I will say this: If Manny doesn’t come back, and come back big, I’m completely done with him forever. I don’t care if they just let him go to waivers. I will never, ever cheer for Manny Ramirez again after two straight years of checking out early – injury or not. It’s fucking September: players on teams in contention play through whatever they have to. I was watching the Angels the other night and Vlad could barely make it to first base; it was evident to anyone with eyeballs that his back was bothering him, but yet, still there he was.
No Manny, or Youk, or essentially Varitek means no big prize, so yeah I agree.
I do happen to think all will be back and swinging this week though. Well, I hope.
I know I’ve posted this before, but it needs to be reminded:
Teams that slump at the end of the regular season always do best in the playoffs.
2006 St. Louis Cardinals: lost 13 of their last 18 games to end the season. Won the world series.
2006 Detroit Tigers: collapsed at the end of the season and took the wildcard (after being swept by the Royals). Went to the World Series.
2006-2007 Florida Gators (basketball): Lost 3 of their last 4 regular season games. Won the SEC tournament and NCAA tournament.
2006-2007 Indianapolis Colts: lost 4 of their last 5 regular season games. Won the Superbowl.
2005 Chicago White Sox: had a huge lead over the Indians going into September, and were almost caught by them, barely winning the division. Won the World Series.
2005-2006 Pittsburgh Steelers: Barely made the playoffs, won the Superbowl.
The list goes on and on. Just sayin’.
Corey.
This should get interesting now.
Oh, and Kazmir Friday, so a game against the D-Rays that basically could be against anyone, such is Kazmir’s general ownership of the Sox. So Burnett tomorrow, Kaz Friday, then the A’s and Twins to finish the season.
Not sure why I should be so optimistic, but that’s just me.
I’m just pissed. They look like they’re the ’05 Indians and going to lose the rest of the season.
with the Sox having a far tougher schedule down the stretch then the Yankees
How do we have a far tougher schedule than them? We play 4 straight series’ against sub-500 teams: Jays, Rays, A’s and Twins.
awesome, the beat goes on.
Great move, Terry. Am I the only one that thinks he should be managing a little less loose? Well, other than SF, who of course infected my mind with the “what ifs”, so now I’m really starting to think the worst.
Not sure why I should be so optimistic, but that’s just me…
nope, it’s not. Those two are basicaly losses before they start.
By the way, those last 2 series’ are at home.
Thank you Cabrera. You’re awesome. Just kill yourself, please. Stop consuming our very precious supply of O2.
6 outs to do something. Let’s go hometown team.
Corey escapes undamaged, thanks to a pair of K’s. Can we wait to yell at Francona until he actually DOES do something stupid? At least Gagne’s not in ;-)
Wow, this has to be the quickest Sox game we’ve played all season. It’s already the 8th?
well, when they forget the bats at home, the game goes warp speed.
nice. Two outs already. I’m glad that this game isn’t important or anything.
Cora doubles!
Hero of the game: Alex Cora for making an effort.
Oh thank goodness Moss is pinch hitting.
Pinch hitting and pinch striking out.
I admit it, I’m totally totally pissed right now.
Geez that slider/curve McGowan throws is nasty.
The female cop working the bullpen seemingly just stepped out of Maxim. On fire, much like the rest of the women in Toronto.
Boy, when you stink- you stink.
again, my whole stinking life.
Has anyone else let out a little chuckle when looking at that horrific shirt the guy sitting behind home plate has on? There is no way that isn’t some kind of Hockey shirt, but man, it’s hard to look at. It’s like some big explosion of red and white.
Not being a jerk, but how did Wake pitch. I see the score, but how much of that was him?
Ugh, this is ugly.
Wake pitched well but McGowan pitched better. It was Wake’s best game since coming off the DL.
There was a thread last week questioning his health, so does this start put that to rest or was it just a so so start?
It was a pretty decent start, he looked alright. Started out rough but went a couple scoreless 1-2-3 innings.
Wake gave up four runs in I think six innings. Not a good start. I disagree with my compadres here. He put the Sox in a two run hole in about five minutes, then held on to pitch a few more.
He need not make another start as far as I am concerned. I’d rather have Buchholz do it.
Did we ever find out if the comment Michael Kay made is true? He said that he talked to Sox people and they said Clay was only allowed to pitch 13 more innings before he reached his limit for the season. Still don’t know if that’s true.
Shame about Wake, I guess you guys were right about him not being right since the back issue. He was having a real solid season.
Glad I didn’t miss anything tonight. Yuck.
http://www.barstoolsports.com/
Red Sox rookie hazing. The best part is Okajima and his interpreter dressed like teletubbies.
The Yankees have now quietly cut the Red Sox lead to 3.5 games.
Isn’t it about time to go into ledge-crawling mode yet?