Beckett. Byrd. I am tired and have nothing else to add. Chat away.
Go Ahead, Leave MORE Men on Base: Sox-Indians Gamer III
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Beckett. Byrd. I am tired and have nothing else to add. Chat away.
Next post: Rubber: Yanks-Rays Gamer III
Previous post: Rudy, Toot-Toot?
I never thought I’d be so happy to see Wily Mo Pena in center field…
I think I’ll be around for this one, guys. Who’s with me?
While we’re waiting, I wanna get this off my chest:
STOP BLAMING JOSH BARD!!!!!
Look at this paragraph from the Herald today:
“Wakefield’s season of frustration took another unwanted step last night, when personal catcher Josh Bard committed four passed balls, leading to a pair of unearned runs and a 7-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field.”
Funny. If you take away those unearned runs, we still lose, 5-1, so I’m not clear how those PBs “led” to the loss. In fact, I’m pretty sure if you took away all Wake’s unearned runs that came from passed balls, his record would still be 1-4. The problem is simply that we have scored two runs in Wake’s last three starts, five in his last four.
Even the Globe, which focused more on the bats, still treated the offense as a side problem to Bard’s troubles. The kid’s a rookie, people. He’ll get better. And right now, he’s not the reason we’re losing.
Unless, of course, you have confidence that Mirabelli would somehow be hitting better than Bard’s .300 clip thus far and magically drive in all the runners the Sox left on base by himself.
I just want the Knights of the Keyboard to lay off a little on the kid. Is that too much to ask?
Yeah, the Sox lost regardless of the passed balls. But he has TEN in five games, on a pace for SIXTY if he doesn’t improve much and continues to catch Wakefield. It’s gotta be dealt with, sooner or later, whether through vast performance improvement or personnel change. It’s not a good situation, Paul. Just because the PBs didn’t hurt last night doesn’t mean they won’t in the future. They will. Just a matter of time.
Off for a quick run, back soon. Hold down the fort!
Three quick groundouts… Off to a rip-roaring start against the pitcher with a 9 ERA…
Does anyone think Bard is going to have 60 passed balls? I agree it is frustrating to watch your team give up runs, and it’s only a matter of time before Bard costs us a game, and I’ll further guess that he will likely break the team record for PBs in a season, but I also think we’re at the lowest point. I predict improvement from here on out.
If we’re still having this convo three starts from now, then yes, let’s talk about Huckabee or the other guys catching at AAA or throwing wads of cash at SD for Mirabelli.
Yeah, I’d think we could do a little better against Paul Byrd. Let’s see what Josh does first, though.
Well that wasn’t a great way to start the game.
Beckett gives up a hit…
Nice K.
Paul-
Team record for PB in a season is 28, I believe. I’m sure he’ll improve as the season goes on, but it wouldn’t be a stretch to see that number eclipsed.
Huckaby is on the DL in AAA.
We just picked up one Corky Miller who has caught knuckleballers in the past, and caught Zink the other day. Miller is 1-55 in the bigs since september ’03.
I’ll take my chances with Bard (or a trade for ‘Belli that dosen’t involve any prospects whatsoever)
I think Huckabee came off today or comes off tomorrow…
Beckett’s falling behind hitters, although that last pitch shoulda been a strike…
22 pitches in the 1st so far… He’s gotta work on his first-inning gameplan…
Crap.
Ugh. Just tuned in… Grand salami off Beckett. 4-0 in the 1st, even worse start than last night.
I have no confidence that our offense can make up that deficit. None.
Bad call by the ump on the Youk stretch…
Finally we’re out of it… Beckett has really got to do something about the first inning… 2 Ks, but 2 walks, and a lot of the time it seemed he was trying to nibble the corner instead of using his curve and fastball to actually thow strikes and fool hitters…
Effing eff.
According to NESN, Tek signalled to Francona that the ump was right and not to contest it.
this game sucks
Interesting… Hard to say on replays, but it sure looked like he had the bag when he caught it…
Officially a bad call on Nixon’s ground ball. He was safe, clear from the replays…
Nixon was clearly safe.
The universe has turned upside down, with Byrd (one of the worst ERAs among starters) cruising and Beckett getting mashed.
Well this is pathetic.
It sounds like the run I went for was exponentially better for my heart than the first inning, and only slightly more enjoyable, that’s for sure.
SF, did you run around the block to pick up more barbeque? That was quick. ;)
Nope, just a quick 2.5 miler. I can run fast for a fat(ish?) guy!
Ugh, The Sox are in FUGLY mode. I think I might take a week off from watching them.
Aw, geez. This is horrible. Why is Cora even on our team?? He can’t hit, and his glove isn’t as good as Gonzalez’s. So what is the point of him?
2.5 in 25 minutes. Not bad.
SF–I did take a week off from watching them (it was actually involuntary, sort of). This is only my third game back. And I really want to hurt something right now.
Another walk. Yuck.
In fact, it was 2.5 miles in 23.5 mins, by my watch. Even better!
It’s only April…it’s only April…it’s only April…
57 pitches from Beckett… Get ready for the even more alarming middle relief corps later tonight.
Hey, only one run that inning! Nice job, guys!
Finally. But Beckett’s pitch count is up to 58. And I highly dount he’ll be throwing 133 pitches tonight.
A shot to right, but straight at Nixon, inning over.
Maybe Beckett will bear down… And our offense will miraculously produce 6 runs off the untouchable Byrd.
That’s doubt, not dount.
Laura, Francona’s been acting funny this year. Beckett might just throw 150.
So it’s only the second inning and the only hope we have of winning this game is for our offense to wake up, most specifically the bottom half, AND for Beckett to throw a few 3-4 pitch innings.
I thought this was going to be the game that we got back into our groove.
Nick, if it means I don’t have to see Rudy Seanez tonight, I might jut support that decision.
In better news, the Rays are still tied with the Yankees, 0-0, in the 4th, and Baltimore is up 3-2 vs. the Jays in the 2nd… The most I’m hoping for tonight is for the Sox to maintain their lead on New York and Toronto.
Well, Pena got a hit. That’s good. But here comes Alex Cora, oh joy.
Hard single by Wily Mo.
Did Alex Cora really just get a hit???? I’m amazed. Maybe I should bash all of our batters tonight.
Single moves WMP to second, and ups Cora’s average from .143 to .200.
Youk sucks! (I’m just kidding here, but I’m willing to try anything at this point.)
Sox could sure use a bomb from Youks right here.
Nope. K.
So much for reverse-rooting, I suppose. Back to my normal habits. Go Loretta!!!
At least it wasn’t a DP. Now let’s go Papi!!
5-6 groundout, runners at 1st and 3rd, 2 out for Ortiz.
And that’s that.
Flyout, 2 stranded.
Two more left on. Come on. We had two men on with no outs and couldn’t score. And it wasn’t even the fault of the bottom of the lineup. I hate this.
Beckett needs a quick inning here. Our bullpen has been way overused as of late.
That looked much better off the bat on the little MLBtv screen. I thought it was gone at first. Stupid miniature television sets!
You have got to be kidding me.
Okay, in terms of LOB . . . is there any real reason for this? Other problems I can see having causes, but this just seems like terrible luck. Yanks had the same thing last night, I think it was 20 LOB. We’re making it more of a habit. Any reasons?
Nother dinger for Broussard. They’ve never seen Beckett before, but they seem to like his stuff.
Another Broussard homer off Beckett, who simply stinks tonight.
Since when is Ben broussard this good????
nice pitch, blister boy… 6-0
Pena got some exercise finding that fly ball.
Beckett’s at 67 pitches through 2-1/3.
Yeah, I’m really not too hot on the idea of Pena playing center at fenway, what with the triangle and the garage door and all.
Another one hit hard. This one caught by Manny though.
Another long fly, this one to left, thankfully caught by Manny.
I’m sure this is a managing no-no, but I’d almost be tempted to lift Beckett right now, then start him again a game early.
Definate managing no-no, Hudson. And he would just be giving Wake an extra day off. He wouldn’t have enough rest to take Lenny or Clem’s spot in the rotation for a day.
Dinner time. Back later. Maybe.
Dinner at 8:20, SF? But I think I’m going too. I have to take the AP US History exam next Friday and need to study as much as I possibly can.
Tek Ks, but it’s a wild pitch and Tek runs it out; then scores from first on double by Lowell.
6-1.
Wow. We actually scored a run. Amazing.
Lowell! Breaks the shutout.
Wily Mo K-ena. High heater.
And he smoked a single earlier. And his average is .273 now. But yeah, I cringed when he K’ed.
Two more two-out walks by Beckett. WTF?
Another 3-run home run. 9-1.
Seriously, what was the point of keeping Beckett in there? A comeback is now pretty much entirely out of the question, in just the 4th inning.
I ain’t watchin’ no mo’. I’ll see if the Red Sox have miraculously revived in the 8th.
Well, I walked back into work just in time to watch the latest blast sail into the left-field bleachers off Beckett… Yay.
A strange thing about leaving runners on: More than a few times, it’s been the unlikely people (Bard, A-Gon, etc.) getting on, and then Youk, Loretta and Ortiz stranding them…
There’s really nothing left to this game anymore…
Why do they do this when they’re on ESPN2 and I can actually watch the game? *Pout*
I predict Seanez K’s 15 more guys in a row to finish the game…just to spite us.
Well…twelve considering the bottom of the 9th ain’t happening.
Beckett’s line is ugly. His ERA balloons to 4.50
Cora: Walks on 15-pitch at bat. Very nice, except that I’d like this game to be over…
Two games in a row on ESPN, combined score (thus far): 16-2. I hereby christen the ESPN Curse.
Paul, just out of curiousity, are there other games on ESPN going on. I’m about to head to the gym and can watch ESPN there. Want to know my options.
No, ESPN has SportsCenter on…
Ever the optimist… If Manny jacks one, it’s a 9-5 game in the 5th, which isn’t horrible…
Ever the optimist… If Trot jacks one, it’s a 9-5 game in the 5th, which isn’t horrible…
Optimism sucks.
I can’t even watch right now. I just turned on the Food Network. They’re making giant gingerbread houses. Neat stuff. I normally wouldn’t skip baseball for it, but I really need a break, and the last ten minutes of Survivor didn’t last long enough for me.
At least I don’t have to feel guilty about watching TV at work… There’s no point now.
You see? You see?! Seanez becomes Cy Goddamn Young with a 7-run deficit!
Baltimore still leading Toronto 3-2, but the Yankees now lead TB 3-1, both games in the 7th inning.
Wily Mo K-ena, Take 2.
I like that: Wily Mo K-ena… Better than Whiffy-Mo…
Baltimore has opened up on Toronto. 7-2. And Seanez proves me wrong and begins to suck.
Bags loaded *again*. Tavarez could really send this game into la-la land by giving up another grand slam.
Not a home run, but another two come in on a single by Broussard. 11-2 Tribe.
Broussard breaks his personal best RBI record with a single. Wow. What a train wreck.
Complete trainwreck tonight.
After tonight, with the Sox’s team average and team ERA, it’s hard to imagine Boston staying in 1st place for much longer. There’s no one who lends much confidence right now except Schilling and Papelbon.
Jinx, Devine. We both had derailed locomotives on the mind.
I’m done with this game. It was so horrible I couldn’t look away, but enough is enough now.
Oh, I wouldn’t say that. Nothing’s clickin’, but a nice little Devil Rays series could revitalize the team…just in time for the Yankees…
Man, I have never liked Delcarmen, since his shakiness last year (in my recollection), and the last two nights are not improving my opinion. I’m sure he has “great stuff” and whatnot but…blahhh.
It really is amazing that the first-place team we’re watching in this series has been the Red Sox…
I mean seriously, it’s like gasoline on a fire.
Did you know the Indians have scored in every inning except one? Did you know that an offense scoring in every inning is even more rare than a perfect game? Granted, that hasn’t happened here, but it’s a pretty good indication of how severe a spanking this has become.
Ouch. Just plain ugly. I give props to everyone who managed to keep watching tonight. I’m going to bed now. I’d say have fun, but uh, I don’t think the end of this will be much more fun than the fist seven innings. So, good night. Better luck this weekend against the D-Rays.
I somewhat anticipated a score like this (15-3 in the 8th), but with a Beckett-Byrd matchup, I expected it to be the other way.
Well, at least Foulke is doing his job very well, but…why is he in this game again?
Wily Mo ends his night 2/4, with 2 K’s. I could live with that every night (it’s sure as hell better than the other centerfielders have been doing).
Mercifully, it ends.
It’s finally over.
Delcarmen’s ERA is now 21.60. That helps make Beckett’s new ERA of 4.50 seem a bit more respectable.
The wheels have really come off the Sox train in the past week. Let’s hope it’s a temporary slump, but how many times can we say “just wait ’til Coco gets back”?
I still am waiting to see how Theo & Co. will handle Boston’s #5 starter slot. There is no end in sight to the Dinardo era.
I’ll go out on a limb and say a K is better than a grounder to the pitcher (*cough* Harris *cough*) every time.
This game was just a wreck, and those happen throughout the season. It would be a bit more palatable if it hadn’t occurred on the heels of a series of simply horrendous games, both wins and losses. This just seems like the natural conclusion to what this whole week was leading toward.
Maybe now that we’ve got it out of the way, we can cure our ills on the D-Rays and warm up for the MFY…
Thank goodness it’s over. It’s only one loss, no matter how many they scored. Man, that was a harsh last couple of days, though.