“Stumblin’ Into The Break”

The Red Sox limped into the All-Star Break having gone a disappointing .500 over their last ten games. This included a recent homestand where they split four with Texas, swept Tampa Bay, and then were swept in Detroit over the past weekend.

Four At Home With Texas:

In the series opener (Game 78, Fri. N, 6/29/07), Wakefield’s knuckleball was fluttering and dancing the tango all night, as he shut down the Rangers over 6⅔ innings en route to a 2-1 win. The Sox picked up their first run in the fourth when Manny Ramirez was hit by a pitch leading off. Drew hit a ground-rule double, and with one out Wily Mo Peña hit an infield single, scoring Manny. Texas tied the score in the fifth on Hairston’s sacrifice fly driving in Melhuse. But the Sox went ahead for good in the bottom of the inning when Manny’s fielder`s choice scored Youkilis.

Manny Delcarmen came on in the seventh with two outs and runners on first and second. He walked Michael Young before striking out Sammy Sosa. It was a first-class piece of relief work and Red Sox fans can look at Delcarmen’s K as the moment he finally arrived as a major leaguer. Okajima had a 1-2-3 eighth and Papelbon came on for the ninth and ran into a little two-out trouble before striking out Young to end the ballgame.

On Saturday night (Game 79, 6/30/07), Josh Beckett looked to run his record to 12-1. Tonight’s game was the Major League debut of Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston’s prize centerfield prospect. Crisp had a mild thumb sprain and was scheduled to be unavailable for a few days. Unfortunately, the Red Sox offense sputtered at critical times and they lost 5-4 in very frustrating fashion. Boston started out like a house afire, picking up two in the first. Pedroia and walked and Ortiz drove in Pedroia with a base hit to right. With one out and the bases loaded Lowell’s sacrifice fly scored Kevin Youkilis. The Sox put up two more in the second when Cora led off with a triple and came in on Youkilis’ two run shot. So, the Sox were up 4-0 with their ace on the hill. Easy pickin’s, you say? Think again: In the fourth, Beckett had a meltdown and when the dust cleared it was a tie ballgame. Sosa and Catalanotto singled with one out. Byrd singled to right, scoring Sosa. Wilkerson doubled, scoring Catalanotto and Byrd. With two outs Lofton drove in Wilkerson with a game-tying single. In the fifth, Sosa hit a one-out homer and that was the difference.

The Sox had a runner on third and failed to score in the fifth. “Hey-Hey” Mahay came on for Texas and was a real stopper. In the eighth, Pedroia doubled with two outs and Lugo was sent in to pinch-run. The guy is in a historically-dreadful slump and tried his best to make something happen. On this night, his best wasn’t very good as he was thrown out trying to steal third. He tries, but at $8M/yr, one can only wonder when he’s going to turn things around—it had better be soon. “Game Over” Gagné closed things out for the Rangers, looking very much like the dominant closer he once was in LA. That was a toughie to lose, blowing a four-run lead.

On Sunday Afternoon (Game 80, 7/1/07), the Red Sox’ bats remained ice cold; as Texas chipped away a couple of runs in the middle innings for a 2-1 win. Tavarez got the start for the Sox, and once more pitched well enough to win, save for Boston’s inability to execute offensively. Youkilis’ ground-rule double in the first was wasted when “Boras” Drew hit a weak come-backer to the mound. The Sox were “done in” by a compound error in the fourth. Sosa singled to lead off and Catalanotto reached on Cora’s error. On the play, Sosa wound up scoring on Drew’s fielding error. Comedy is not a pretty thing. In the fifth, Cora singled leading off, and Pedroia singled with one out. Youkilis drove in Cora with the tying run on a base hit to left.

The sixth proved to be Yo-Yo’s bad inning. Catalanotto walked to lead off. With one out Wilkerson doubled to left, scoring Catalanotto. After walking Melhuse, Tavarez was excused for the afternoon. The Sox had two aboard in the seventh, but Ortiz struck out. They put two more on in the eighth, before Gagné was summoned to snuff out another potential rally. He retired Cora on a ground out. In the ninth, the Mighty Ortiz popped out to first to send everyone home with glum faces.

In the series finale (Mon. N. Game 81, 7/2/07) Kason Gabbard (filling the #1 spot in the rotation) got the call against Brandon McCarthy (who really struggled against Boston earlier in the year). There were no problems with the offense tonight, as the Sox pounded out ten hits en route to a 7-3 win. The Sox broke the ice in the bottom of the third when Hinske and Ellsbury started things off with back-to-back singles. Lugo’s sacrifice bunt put the runners in scoring position, and they came around on Pedroia’s ground-rule double to right. With two outs, Manny doubled to center, scoring Pedroia with the third run. In the fourth, the Sox picked up another run when Ellsbury singled, stole second. After Lugo walked, Ellsbury scored on a wild pitch.

Texas came back to within a run in the fifth courtesy of Wilkerson’s three-run homer, and there was a sinking feeling that Boston would collapse as they had on Saturday, Such fears were unfounded as the offense went into high gear in the bottom of the inning and blew the game out of reach. With one out Manny and Drew walked. With two outs, Varitek singled to load the bases. There was a collective sigh when Hinske arrived at the plate because he has not hit well at all in limited duty. The only reason he got the call tonight was the club wanted to rest Youkilis (who has been playing with injuries of late). Hinske responded with a bases-clearing triple over Lofton’s head and into the centerfield triangle, making it 7-3 Red Sox. The bullpen was solid once more as Timlin, Lopez, Snyder and Okajima shut down the Rangers, allowing Boston a split of the series.

Three With Tampa Bay:

One of the quirks of the schedule is that the Sox have yet to face the Rays this season until this series. With half of the schedule remaining, Boston will play Tampa Bay 19 times, or about 25% of the time going forward. The Rays are in the midst of another interminable losing streak. One of these years, it’s all going to come together for this team, but until they build a credible pitching staff, it’s going to be a long crawl out of the cellar.

The series opener (Game 82, Tue. N. 7/3/07) featured Matsuzaka (looking for his 10th victory) against the Rays’ ace, Scott Kazmir. On this night, Daisuke was seriously on his game, going eight shutout innings for the win. The Sox went up early and never looked back. In the second Manny and Youkilis and Lowell all reached on walks to start the inning. Varitek grounded out 4-3 and Manny came in with the first run. With two outs, Lugo lined a base hit up the middle, scoring Youkilis and Lowell. Lugo looked as if he had the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders. It was the first real offensive contribution he made since the “Mother’s Day Miracle” game last month.

Things remained 3-0 until the sixth, when with one out, Youkilis and Lowell hit back to back singles. Both runners moved up on Iwamura`s throwing error and Varitek’s sacrifice fly brought in Youkilis with the fourth run. The highlight of the evening occurred in the Rays’ eighth when (with a runner perched on third) Daisuke struck out Iwamura looking to end the inning. Carlos Peña ruined the shutout with a solo homer off of Papelbon in the ninth, but all in all it was a very nice night for the home team.

The middle game of the series (Game 83, Wed. Aft. 7/4/07) was played amid all the pomp and circumstance attendant to July 4th. A large American flag was unfurled over the Green Monster to honor the holiday. The skies were threatening and it would rain on the huge crowd gathered at the Esplanade for fireworks later in the evening, but there was no problem with getting the ballgame in. Wakefield got the call against Edwin Jackson (one-time prized Dodger prospect) and he had his second straight terrific outing. The Sox didn’t waste anytime getting to Jackson. Crisp led off with a triple to right and scored on Cora 1-3 sacrifice bunt. The Rays’ tied it in the second on Casanova’s homer (this was Casanova's first home run since 1957…). The pitch was a knuckleball that didn’t float. On a windy day, such pitches are likely to be gopher balls.

The Sox put up a nice crooked number in the fourth, putting them comfortably ahead. Ortiz lead off with a base hit to right. With one out Lowell singled, putting runners on first and second. With two outs, Ellsbury drove in Ortiz with a double to the gap in right-center (his first career extra-base hit). Mirabelli (finally)followed with a single scoring Lowell and Ellsbury, making it 4-1 Sox. In the fifth, the Sox appeared to have blown the game open, plating three more runs. With one out Cora doubled to right. With two outs Drew doubled in Cora and he scored on Lowell’s two-run homer.

Maybe the Red Sox and their fans thought that the game would play out with relative ease at 7-1, but the Rays had other ideas. In the seventh, Wakefield loaded the bases with one out. Lopez was summoned to extinguish the rally, but all he did was to throw petrol on the flame. A double, a strike out and a single later, the Rays managed to plate four runs. Manny Delcarmen entered the fray and nailed Jonny Gomes on a called third strike. Papelbon came on for the ninth and strike out two, picking up his 20th save.

The series finale (Game 84, Thurs. N. 7/5/07) presented no such comebacks for the Rays, as their losing streak reached into double digits. The Sox pounded out 21 hits and 15 runs along the way to an easy win. Josh Beckett looked to rebound from his last start and pitched very well, going six innings while allowing three runs, no walks and nine strikeouts. The Sox blew the lid off the game in the first inning scoring six runs off of JP Howell (who only lasted ⅔). Drew and Pedroia each singled to start things. With one out Manny’s base hit brought in Drew. Lowell followed with a base hit to load the bases and Varitek walked, scoring Ortiz. Crisp smacked a grand slam to left. Before the crowd had a chance to get comfortable in their seats (if such is possible at Fenway) the Sox were up 6-0. In the second, Ortiz led off with doubled to left and Manny walked. Lowell followed with a three-run homer to make it 9-0.

Tampa Bay came back two score a pair of runs in the top of the third, but the Sox came back with four more in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Ortiz singled and Manny doubled to left center. Lowell singled, scoring Ortiz. Varitek singled to load the bases. Crisp walked, scoring Manny. With two outs, Lugo singled up the middle, plating Lowell and Varitek. The competitive phase of the game ended with the Sox up 13-2. The Sox picked up two more in the sixth, but it was garbage time all the way as the starters had an early night. It was one of those rare nights when everything clicked, and the team left for Detroit in high spirits.

“Mashed in Motown”

The Sox closed out the first half of the year with a weekend set in Detroit (their only visit this year). Prior to leaving Boston, Ellsbury was returned to Pawtucket and Jeff Bailey (a long-time minor league power bat) was recalled. It was an utterly forgettable weekend for the Sox, as the Tigers beat them in every phase of the game. Julian Tavarez got the call in the opener (Game 85, Fri. N. 7/6/07) and pitched well until the fourth. With the Sox up 1-0, the roof caved in on the Sox, with Detroit scoring eight times in two innings, winning in a breeze, 9-2. There’s something in Yo-Yo’s makeup that makes it difficult for him to rebound from adverse pitching situations. When the train is on the track, he’s a perfect #5 guy, but as soon as Just as the Sox had their blowout the previous night, games such as these are quickly forgotten. On Saturday night (Game 86, 7/7/07), the Sox went to 13 innings before bowing out 3-2. Ortiz hit a two-run homer to start off things, and Kason Gabbard was terrific until the sixth when he allowed the tying runs to score. Either side could’ve won the game, but the Sox were at a disadvantage due to the machinations of the chain-smoking genius in the Detroit dugout. Both teams left a ton of runners on base in the later-to-extra innings. Detroit executed a little bit better than Boston; that’s all. Ivan Rodriguez went 3-6 in the game including driving in the winning hit off of Papelbon.

With one game remaining before the break (Game 87, Sun. Aft. 7/7/07), the Sox looked to squeak out of town with something positive. Unfortunately, on a brutally hot Michigan afternoon Daisuke did not have his best stuff and the Red Sox were robbed, 6-5. Sheffield hit a solo homer in the first but the Sox came back in the third to grab the lead.

With one out Lugo walked, stole second and made it to third on (backup catcher) Rabelo’s bad throw. Crisp and Pedroia walked to load the bases. Ortiz was plunked and Lugo came in with the tying run. Lowell hit a sacrifice fly to left and Crisp scored the go-ahead run. Such good fortune was short-lived, as Detroit scored four times in the bottom of the third, including homers by Thames and Guillen.

The Sox picked up a pair in the seventh when Jeff Bailey and Lugo hit back-to-back homers to start the inning. It must’ve been a wonderful moment for Bailey, who was up for a cup of coffee to spell Youkilis for the weekend. At 27, he’s probably covered about a million miles on minor-league bus trips, so he can be justifiably proud of this great accomplishment.

With one out, Pedroia reached on Guillen’s error. After a pitching change, Pedroia went to second on a wild pitch and Ortiz walked. After another pitching change, Varitek came up with two outs and hit a long fly deep to left center that appeared as if it had the distance to put Boston ahead. The Tigers’ centerfielder Curtis Granderson (who is amazingly fast) gave chase, went to the wall, leaped and pulled in the baseball just as it made it beyond the fence. It was the fielding play of the year, just amazing (but enormously painful to watch). The Sox pulled to within a run in the eighth when Lugo doubled in Drew, and in the ninth had a golden opportunity to at least tie the score. Pedroia singled off of Todd Jones to start things. With two outs, Varitek singled and Pedroia scooted to third when Monroe muffed the ball. Pedroia stood ninety feet away from tying the score as Drew fouled out to third to end the game. What can you say? $14 million just doesn’t buy what it used to. Thank goodness there wouldn’t be any Red Sox baseball until Thursday, because the weekend in Detroit was an exercise in frustration.

ASB Report Card

The All-Star break is generally a good time for fans to step back and analyze their favorite team in depth. Despite their record, the Hometown Nine have not played consistently good baseball since the beginning of June. They spent the better part of the month on the road, which included two west coast trips. The casual fan may look at the standings and breathe easy while knowledgeable fans look at the team with a critical eye. The more reputable pundits have provided a more in-depth analysis in their report cards (which is fine, considering they’re getting paid for their opinions). But this is the way I see their performances:

A+ Okajima

A Youkilis, Beckett

A- Matsuzaka, Papelbon

B+ Cora, Pedroia

B- Varitek

C+ Wakefield, Lowell

C Ortiz, Ramirez, Schilling, Crisp and Donnelly

C- Hinske

D Drew, Pena and Piniero

F Lugo and Mirabelli

Inc. Timlin and Delcarmen