OK, we’re finally ready for baseball season. It’s hard to admit, but this season couldn’t come slowly enough. We’ve enjoyed being a fan of the World Champs. And though that title won’t necessarily be passed on (and if it is not for several months), it had been enjoyable to know that nobody was playing baseball, and nobody, therefore, could distract us from a simple fact (Mitchell Report and Hankosity notwithstanding): we root for the best. Now, it’s all muddled. Who is the best? Who’s on first? Who’s IN first? We are, to an extent, back to the grind. A beautiful, exhilarating, frustrating, comical, romantic grind, but nonetheless a grind.
Tonight the Sox (and A’s) return to the domestic regular season, and I imagine they are happy to be back grinding it out on familiar soil. Not because they disliked Japan or because it wasn’t a rewarding trip, but because playing regular season baseball, making road trips around the US and Canada, playing games that matter just about every night in the grand pursuit of being the best, is what they love. And what we love too. So welcome back, guys. And take us for another great ride.
Discuss tonight’s game here.
I got my MLB.tv set up, the myriad plug-ins are downloaded, the beer is cold, the wine is room temperature, the wife is asleep, the chips are stale, and I’m ready to go.
PLAAAAAY BAAAAAALL!
(oh, and Go Sox!)
I will only be ble to catch an hour of the game. I have to work at 6am, thus be up at 430
Beautifully said, SF.
Well, the Yankees won, so this, obviously, is a must-win. ;-)
Lineups:
SAWX
1. Jacoby Ellsbury-RF
2. Dustin Pedroia-2B
3. David Ortiz-DH
4. Manny Ramirez-LF
5. Mike Lowell-3B
6. Kevin Youkilis-1B
7. Jason Varitek-C
8. Coco Crisp-CF
9. Julio Lugo-SS
Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP
AYS
1. Travis Buck-RF
2. Mark Ellis-2B
3. Daric Barton-1B
4. Jack Cust-DH
5. Emil Brown-LF
6. Bobby Crosby-SS
7. Jack Hannahan-3B
8. Kurt Suzuki-C
9. Ryan Sweeney-CF
Joe Blanton-P
Each year its hard for me to make the transition from playoff baseball, where every game matters, and NFL football, where every game matters, to the baseball season, where losing isn’t really that big a deal. At least not now.
Anyway, heres to 161-1!
Pedro went down with an injury tonight — hamstring. No word that I saw on the severity, but he left after 3.1 innings…
got my mlb game tracker and ready to go……
Poor Pedro. *sighs sadly*
Anyway, Mosiac is down until 10:05pm according to the Customer Service lien if anyone else is suddenly having issues
Shit, that stinks about Pedro. I think if I can pick just one thing to go right for either NY team this year, it is for Pedro to have a great comeback season. I hope he’s ok.
What’s the over/under on Dice-K’s walks tonight? ;)
Former Red Sox manager Dick Williams throwing out the first pitch. The horror! The outrage! Karma and payback better be a bitch tonight!!
Oh, he managed the A’s, too? Nevermind…
If I could pick one thing to go right for a NY team, it would be for Chamberlain’s pitches to go right… over the wall.
I’ve got 10:08 and MLB.tv is showing me a beautiful blue and red logo. Anyone got anything? Has the game started yet?
What?!? No Remy?!?
A YF, Im gonna go with.. 3 walks over 6 innings.
I’ve got 10:03, matty
2 walks. Call me an optimist (I am, generally), but I think he rebounds tonight without the attendant Japanese jitters.
9:06 for me… They’re still reading the lineup on XM, which is giving me the A’s radio network.
1 walk 9 Ks
I think thats Dick Van Dyke doing color for the A’s broadcasts.
Whoops. Must have a fast clock here. Thanks, D.
Between Ellsbury and Drew we’re going to lead the league in grounding out to second base.
Time to break that 0-fer, Papi.
So much suck. God freaking dammit. I’m gonna go vomit.
Yuck, just 8 or 9 pitches for Blanton in the first. Woulda been nice to strike first and get some stateside momentum.
Up to you, Dice!
After this broadcast A’s fans are going to think Ellsbury’s first name is “Thespeedy.”
We coulda had Johan. We coulda had Johan. *throws empty ginger ale can*
Only took three outs to make Dionysus puke. Good job, Sox!
*predicts DISASTER* WHY WILL NO SOX WORK THE COUNT?
Lots of optimists here! What’s the over/under on Yankee wins this year? ;)
Ten pitches. My bad… Funny how a lineup that can look so good in October can look so bad the next April.
????? Where’s the signal? Anyone have any word on where MLB.tv went?
All right! K to start the game for Matsuzaka!
K!
Dammit. Not an inning into the season MLB.tv just went down.
I lost sound… anyone else having issues?
Last time Papi went at least 0 for 8 — last May, when he went 0 for 11 from May 4-8. He’s actually 0 for his last 10 dating back to the last regular season game of ’07…
Im watching on Gameday, and there’s no sound! Anyone else having this problem?
Dice-KK!
K the second!
Got the picture back, but no volume. Good enough for now, I guess…
Theres K #2. I think I’m about a minute and a half behind Dionysus.
Ugh, there’s the 3-1 count we’d all like to see go away.
This game isn’t on national TV like ESPN is it?
Pop up to Mikey! 1-2-3! Not great at limiting PC but, still, effectiveness!
Well, 17 pitches for Matsuzaka. A little high, but 2 Ks and a foul out ain’t shabby. Certainly better than 30!
Anybody else attempting gameday audio? I got some error telling me that they couldn’t process my payment, which is funny, because I have my credit card statement right in front of me. I’m assuming MLB is off to their usual fast start with customer support, as it’s been half an hour and counting on hold.
Just got volume back.
Hooray, sound is back now. Three up three down, lets see some run support for Dice-K!
No it isnt, SoxFan, sorry.
Manny is on FIRE! Breaks his bat and gets the hit!
Bullfrog- theres been problems with MLB.tv all night long, so I’m not surprised they’re having issues on the radio side as well.
Does anyone else think Joe Blanton has quite possibly the fattest, ugliest face in baseball?
Broken bat single for Manny, barely drops into center field. We’ll take ’em any way we can.
Manny drops one in there. Base hit! I’ll take it!
Manny loooves the A’s. Lifetime .332/.436/.651. Adds to that tonight.
Now Manny to second on the wild pitch! Drive him in, Mikey!
Wild Pitch. (I beleive) and Manny makes it to second. 3-1 on Lowell. He swings at Ball 4 and its 3-2.
Or ground out and fail to advance the runner. Whatever’s cool with you.
Hey gang, just figured out (maybe everyone else knew this) that MLB Extra Innings on cable is having a free preview. Its channel 778 on my cable network (Comcast). The upshot is, if you have cable you probably have this game.
Dammit… Mikey grounds out to third and Manny can’t advance.
Youk, help please?
Diving play by Hanahan, but he who hesitates cannot get the runner at first. Corners with one down. Varitek up to ground into a DP.
Wow! Youk rips one up the thridbaseline, but the 3rd basemen gets hit and looks to third, but no one covers. Everyone is safe!
Now its the Kaptain.
Well, popup’s better than a DP. Now Crisp is up. *sigh* This reminds me too much of last June through August.
God DAMMIT Tek. Seriously. Freakin’ A. Drop him to 9th, I’d rather see LUGO.
Ugh, Coco K’s. Missed a chance there. I hope it doesn’t come back to bite us.
DAMMMIT! I think I just broke my chair….
I bet it will, Paul. I blame the Kaptain the most. Swinging at the first goddamn pitch.
Mets/Marlins in extra innins right now. Isnt that like the 5th extra innign game already this season?
Oh son of a BITCH, this is feelign familar.
I bet Dice-K tunrs into Dice-BB now
Coco K’s, and then a leadoff homer. Goddamnit.
3-0. I hate being right. I think its time for bed.
Yeah, some very harried customer service guy got me hooked up just in time to hear Daisuke give up the Cust shot. Grrrreat.
Thank GOD for Youk’s mad ability to pick.
Pop up ends the inning. Fraking Cust. Frankign Daisuke. Fraking Kaptain. Fraking Coco.
I’m REALLY starting to dislike Hanahan.
Battlestar fan, D?
FIRST PICTH? This is what we gave up Johan for?!
What’s the deal with everyone popping out on the first pitch tonight?
Pedroia fouls off four in a row, the first batter to really grind Blanton down. Please just get on base for Ortiz. Nothing makes me angrier than seeing Ortiz or Manny leading off an inning.
Pedroia grounds up but at least he got some damn pitches. We’re supposed to be known for our patience, what is this tripe?
Dionysus dont rip Ellsbury, not after what he did in the World Series for us. All will be well dont worry.
Great dive for Coco, and he (luckily) nabs it. Could have been an in-the-parker there if he hadn’t.
Nah Atheose. Jacoby was right there backign up him.
K the third. I’d LOVE a double play ball in a short count right now.
Daisuke blows one by him for K #3. That’s a good sign–usually this is the point in the game where he walks the bases loaded.
OR THAT! Caught Stealing!!!
Holy crap, Varitek throws out a stealer. Looked safe, but the replay shows he clearly got him.
Come on Daisuke.. K the fourth!
Another K to end the inning. Come on Ortiz/Manny/Lowell, lets get some runs.
I think even Papi thought he was Ked there. Doesnt matter as he grounds out because we can’t buy a goddamn hit.
Ortiz grounds out, then Manny flies out on the first pitch. This is DEFINITELY feeling like last July/August.
et tu Manny?
STOP
FIRST
PITCH
SWINGING
What a gift.
Wow, some guy named ANdino hit a walk-off homer for the Fish in the 10th.
AHAHAHA, error made by Barton. The announcers jynxed it by saying “That’ll do it” before he caught the ball.
Looks like I chose the wrong inning to tune in. The small sample I just saw was stupendously stinky!
Lowell Ks. Blanton’s been nasty.
what a pathetic strike zone this umpire has
Dio, you gotta take it easy…there’s a season full of frustration out there for you still, you have to pace yourself ;-)
Jayme Siree = Hot. Very nice.
I think I spelled that wrong.. but anyway. A’s chick. If you got MLB.tv, you know what I mean.
K the 5th.
Daisuke blows it by him for his 5th K. He’s pacing himself well too, his pitch count estimates he’ll go 7 if he doesn’t blow it all.
The announcer just said: “I think I would call Daisuke a strikeout pitcher”. The sad thing was that HE WASN’T BEING SARCASTIC! He actually had to consider whether or not Daisuke is a strikeout pitcher! Pathetic.
strong work from Dice there. Really good stuff.
But Blanton is probbaly in line for a complete game, isnt he? I dont have his PC available
Youk on! Here comes the K-aptain though.
I saw her D. It was glorious.
Youk slaps one into right. Please dont GIDP ‘Tek.
Someone get Tek a lighter bat please. Good God.
Joe Blanton’s contact just came out! Time to strike while he’s vulnerable!
So.
Mad.
Finally. My 10-week-old daughter got her first shots today. She’s finally settled down and I have my hands free.
Tek just hit one REALLY hard, about two yards away from a homer. Right fielder made a great catch to rob him.
Way to sell yourself to the Cubs, Covelli.
Hey Mr. McNeal lol
Coco… you DO want to be a starter somewhere right? You know you have to NOT suck to do that, right?
Congrats on the baby, Bill!
Lugo gets himself an infield hit!
Come on Jacoby, show us why we don’t have Santana please.
Infeild hit, Lugo.
Alright Ellsbury.. channel your World Series mojo, please.
YOUK IS CALLED SAFE! YOUK IS CALLED SAFE!
GREAT call by the ump. Suzuki never tagged Yook.
YES! Jacoby knocks YOuk home, who is called safe at the plate.
The announcers are annoyed because Youk “went back to touch home,” even though his foot clearly slid across the plate. The tag NEVER HIT YOUK. Crappy announcers.
Anyways, way to earn your money Jacoby.
Actually I disagree with the broadcasters. I think that first swipe went OVER Youks foot.
Still, huge break.
Thanks, YM. Her name is Charlotte Grace. She weighed in at 12lb 13oz today. Gained 3 lbs in a month. I think she’s gonna be a redhead.
OK papi break the drought!
Pedroia walks on 5 pitches, bases loaded for Ortizzle. Papi bobblehead is in my hands for good luck.
Pedroia draws the walk! (Shut up, Youk was safe)
Alright Papi.. chug a slumpbuster and do some good.
Papi mojo time.
0-2. Shit shit shit.
DAAAAAMMMMMMMIT!!
Crap. What’r the odds the RS lead the league in LOBs again this year?
Papi still slumping (if you can really call it that), grounds out to first. Three stranded.
God I’ve missed the frustration that is baseball season. At least the game tomorrow is in the afternoon.
Positive: We’re tied and Blanton is at over 80 pitches
This blog really is the only way to do West Coast night baseball.
I would not bet against it, Bill.
I’m gogin to bed, period, at midnight. I need at LEAST 4 hours of sleep and Red Bull to be functional
K the sixth!
By the way, anyone catch Biff at Yankees spring training the other night on Letterman? He asked about Yankee Stadium secrets. Some old woman said she banged Moose Skowron on the elevator.
Maybe I only think that’s funny because the Moose lives not far from here, in St. Charles, Illinois, I think. He does a lot of local charity events.
The joys of unemployment – West Coast and Tokyo games affect me not at all.
That’s the problem with a moneyball team: TONS of stranded runners.
Whoever guessed Daisuke would have 1 walk and 9 K’s looks to be on the right track.
I hate 3-1 counts.
K the seventh!
K number 7. It’s a damn good thing he’s doing well, with Schilling out and Beckett having not thrown a real pitch yet.
ya, but i dont mind if im wrong and he doesnt walk any lol…
And This is the Dice K I wanna see all season lol
Runs please.
Okay Manny, you’re allowed to swing at the first pitch it you drive it 300 feet.
Um, Manny … see the note on your previous at bat and CUT OUT THAT CRAP.
Manny… but… what…
What did I say about the first pitch?!
Idea! Tito should lay down an ultimatum. For every time Manny makes an out on a first pich, Terry cuts off a dread-thingy of Manny’s hair.
YOUUUK.
Did YOUK just triple? O.O
Good news: Youk triples
Bad news: Varitek.
Dammit. Not the K-aptain. *dreams of Jarrod*
No deal. That’s a tater, baby.
I take it back! 2-run homerun! (at least it better be called one)
TEK!!!!!!!!!!
gonna get jobbed here.
OH OH OH, thats a homer. Please reverse it
Robbed. >(
Goddamn umpires. Tek deserves a homerun.
WTF? The f*****g Oakland announcers are too busy sucking Dick Williams’ dick to tell me what’s going on. Anyone? Anyone? That was a tater.
Coco… please? Are you gonna let Jacoby show you up? ARE YOU?
Yes you are. You jerk.
Fraking umps.
Is it me or does this BS happen to Boston more than any other team?
Rough night for Tek. First, robbed of extra bases by Buck, then robbed of a homer by the umps. Even the A’s radio guys — who are actually very good — said it was gone…
Anon was me.
Is it me or does this BS happen to Boston more than any other team?
Bill, it was indeed a tater, but none of the umps were in a position to get an accurate sight on it, so it remains a double. Infuriating.
Hard not to want replay on an obvious missed call like that. That just took a run the Red Sox earned off the board.
And Coco just looks awful…Ugh…
I will accept (barely) the umpires’ explanation that they didn’t see it and screwed it up. But, $h!t, that cannot happen again.
It’s just you Atheose. It SEEMS like it does because we care, but Im pretty sure it’s evenly distributed.
0-2 as Suzuki swings at a mistake.
OH god. Lopez in the pen. I feel the vomit returning.
Come on Daisuke.. get through the inning.
Dion, have faith. He’s not the Javy Lopez who REALLY sucks.
K the Eighth!
K number 8. Woohoo.
Hopefully Lopez is just out in case Daisuke doesn’t make it through the 6th. I would hope to see Delcarmen-Okajima-Papelbon for the 7th-8th-9th.
That breakign ball was a thing of beauty for strike one.
Strike 2. When Daisuke has command of his breaking stuff, he’s practically another pitcher!
HIGH HEAT! K THE NINTH!
K number 9! Congrats on a great prediction, TJ.
Ryan Sweeney, a fellow native Iowan, strikes out swinging. Then Diceman gets Buck for 9th K to end the sixth. He is DEALING!
Only 88 pitches. We could conceivably send Daisuke out for another inning. Or at least a batter or two, especially if we get some insurance here
Please, God, let the be the Dice-K we’ll see all season. Please, please, please, please, please.
my next prediction this weekend Clay will make it back to back starts with no hitters :P with what, 6 months between? :P
RS fans, I want the truth. What was your first thought when you heard that Gagne gave up three runs in the 9th at Wrigley yesterday?
I laughed my a$$ off.
i just heard now and im laughing my ass off lol
Quit while you’re ahead, TJ. But I like how you think.
We should definitely send Daisuke out for the 7th, and pull him if he allows a baserunner. I’d love to see him get a few more K’s–he seems like he’s gotten better as the night has gone on.
Jacoby Ks on a good pitch. Still, nice at bat.
Dustin, get on so we can get some insurance.
I smiled inside, Bill.
HEY! HEY! What the hell was that?!
well u know my predictions have a tendency to come true…. last April i picked Sox vs Rox world series on my blog….. :)
I was playing MLB The Show 2008 today and I was down 3-2 in the ninth… Ellsbury led off with a single and Pedroia came up and parked one into the monster seats and stood there and watched it go like he was Manny…. man I laughed for a few minutes at that
Re: Gagne
I admit it, I grinned. 10 million was a reeediculous investment considering what he did for us. I liek the Brewers, but that could turn out to be a HUGE error
*needs a paper bag to breath in when he learns Cust will be coming up*
A’s have 0 LOBS.
Cust homer and Suzuki CS, 2-6.
HAHAHA TJ that’s hilarious.
The best part about The Show (I’ve only played 2007) is playing “Road to the show”. Starting off in the minors and working your way up, especially as a pitcher. It’s a lot of fun.
dont worry Mr. 164 Ks in 395 ABs is due to swing and miss
Ellis out.
Oki and Lil’ Manny in the pen
ya i played 2007 on PSP i was a 3B and i tormented Liriano and Santana :D i just got the new version for PS2 its great, havent tried the road to the show yet, wanted to sim and oplay a season first…. in August,… Ellsbury is batting .305 with 9 HRs :) Papi is around 40 everyone else is sucking but im in first lol
On Clay is 11-5 :D
Hey Daisuke, give him something high and tight please.
Nevermind, Francona is out and Okajima is coming in. I can live with that.
6.2 innings, 9 K’s, 1 ER. Very good outing.
Right to Youks. Two down. Cust up. Feeling ill…
Thats it for Daisuke. Oki time (for four outs? Or are we gonna try Manny in the eight?)
Great start, Dice-K. But he won’t face the Mitchell Report guy again.
I only have the Wii and PS2 so I cant get The Show. I do plan to pick up 2k8 for the Wii.
A season later and that delivery still weirds me out.
My guess is Delcarmen in the 8th
they have the show 08 for PS2 at Circuit City for 39.99
ugh. 3-1. I’m ascared.
FRAK!
First walk of the game by the Sox. DAMMIT. I’m gonna throw up
I thought the Show was only Microso-oh wait. Its only SONY.
Silly me.
Oki saves our asses last year, but I’m not so keen on him this year. I fear he had only one good season in him.
i feel a francona rant building up inside.
Oki.. find the zone right the hell now.
Pop up. Dustin’s got it..
*exhales*
Thank goodness he pops up, cause Oki was struggling with his command.
Oki likely will pitch the 8th, and Paps the 9th. Unless we explode for 8 runs between now and then.
Re: THe Show and 2k8
I think I’ll still get 2k8. While I hear Theh Show is a better game overall, the reveiws Ive read say that 2k8’s pitchin mechanic on the Wii is the best one in any game ever, which makes me want to try it. I cant afford both at the moment.
I have to wake up in 5 hours, so I’m officially going to bed now. Night guys, see you tomorrow at 3:00!
I bet MDC gets the 8th.
Insurance please?
I’m worried about Papi.
AGAIN MANNY? Thats the THIRD time. Now this is ridiculous. What the hell is wrong with you?
Three in a row.
I fear Hannahan this inning. He’s been a thorn all the way back to Japan.
Oki it is, but I imagine on a short leash
OH Sh1t.
Bad positioning by Lowell.
Is Delcarmen loose?
F*&^$*% FRANCONA
why send him back out when hes wild last inning?
nice play, Mike Lowell!
Nice job, Mikey.
Two down. Not liking Oki right now…
Sweeny subbing for Sweeny!
And.. Papelbon time? Appears so.
Honesty Time: Is anyone nervous? I will admit that I am.
If Papa is in im NOT nervous
dontbeupdontbeupdontbeup
Whew
SOX: RUNS NOW OR ELSE BURNING
OK!
Another hit for Tek? Nice.
Just … just … just don’t suck, Covelli.
Bunt single.
He didn’t suck! He didn’t suck, Bill!
Gapper, loogie. C’mon.
quick Crisp is batting .286 TRADE HIM
That could have been ALOT worse. Damn Hannahan is a vacuum tonight.
No, he didn’t. OK< Jacoby. just a flare.
Full count.
Crap. just hung up there.
Yeah. That sucks.
*dry heaves*
C’mon, Paps. 8 LOBS. Would be a shame to blow this one.
On the other hand, Paps will face batters that are a combined 0-9 tonight.
FEAR
C’mon, Paps. Three outs.
Considering that the Sox have had 11 baserunners to Oakland’s 4, this game is closer than it ought to be.
Got Him!
One.
Travis Buck 7 Ks in 14 ABs so far lol
stopbeinghighstopbeinghigh
Two down.
K.
K.
One more… Oy.
GOT HIM!
Two!
Enoughb of this hgih shit.
I wonder if something is off in his mechanics.
NICE!
YESSSS!!!!!
3-1. I HATE 3-1
3-2.
GOT HIM!
THREE!!!!!!!!
3-2 count…
..
….
….
…. .. .. . . . . . . . . . AND HE GOT ‘EM!
Paps strikes out the side. 2-1 record, tied for 1st.
Struck out the side!
Anyone else think Girardi today looked like he thinks he’s in over his head? He looked so intimidated at the end of the game.
Hopefully Lester can make similar tweaks as Daisuke did. If so, well then… weee!
Tomorrow, then, men.
Nice win there. I wasn’t a big fan of lifting Matsuzaka when he was clearly cruising, had two outs in the inning and was under 100 pitches, but all’s well that ends well.
If the Matsuzaka we’ve seen over the last 8.2 innings (12 Ks, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 R) is the real deal, this will be a very good season indeed.
Hmm, that should obviously be 1 R…
To paraphrase a lyric from a famous song by Robby Van Winkle (aka Vanilla Ice):
Dice Dice baby!
I went to bed but good to see TJ won the prediction. Nice job!
Indeed, good call TJ. Glad to see Paps struck out the side after I went to bed. I was afraid I’d wake up and see that he’d given up another run. Very nice to see that he’s back to his old form here in the States.
“…Anyone else think Girardi today looked like he thinks he’s in over his head?…:
no
Guys….
I’m not in love with this “« older | newer »” addition to the comments section. For long threads, it takes a lot of clicks to get to the last comment.
I was at the game last night and when Paps came in, the 10 Oakland fans around me got up and left! The other Sox fans in the area all turned to each other and said, “They KNOW.” Cracked me up.
# TeamPayroll – 2008
# N.Y. Yankees $209,081,579
# Detroit $138,685,197
# New York Mets $138,293,378
# Boston $133,440,037
# Chicago White Sox $121,152,667
Just a fun fact, discuss…
Yeah, there needs to be a “newest”, and “oldest” button, I’d say. Maybe even a series of page numbers you can click on individually.
Devine, Lock:
Sadly, this was not our choice. This is a new Typepad “feature” foisted upon all the blogs that use it as a host site. It sucks. You’ll get no disagreement from any of the authors. We’re trying to figure out a way to be rid of it, one way or another.
It’s nice to know the Sox are 4th in payroll. That at least takes some of the heat off of us for “buying a championship”, which we’ve been accused of for the last few years.
By the way, I’m bored at work and itching for some baseball. Two-and-a-half more hours is too long to wait!
By the way, I’m not dumping on Girardi. He’s a good baseball guy and actually a friend of a friend (fraternity brothers at Northwestern). Never heard a bad word about him.
There was just something about the look in his face when the game ended yesterday that I found startling. He had this expression in his face that, to me, looked like he thinks he might be in over his head. Maybe it was an opening-day thing. Maybe I’m too accustomed to the stoic calm of Tito and Torre. But there was an unexpected and constant expression on his face that struck me as odd.