“There’s No Place Like Home? Says Who?”

“Four With The Blah Jays”
The Sox began a nice eleven game homestand with four against Toronto. The Jays were expected to contend but were decimated by injuries, especially with their top line pitchers. Any team that can roll out Roy Halladay is always a threat. And their ace got the call in the series opener (Game 88, Thurs. N. 7/11/07) against Wakefield. What was also different was the appearance of Vernon “Sluggo” Wells in the leadoff slot. The move paid immediate dividends as he scored on Frank Thomas’ sacrifice fly to center.

But this was not Halladay’s night, as the Sox, as Boston scored four times in the first and never looked back, winning easily, 7-4. Drew singled to right to lead off and Pedroia walked. Ortiz banged a single to right, scoring Drew. Manny doubled to left, scoring Pedroia. Youkilis grounded out 4-3, and Big Papi came in with the third run. Lowell followed with a base hit, and Manny scored to make it 4-1. The Sox picked up another run in the second on Manny’s sacrifice fly to right, scoring Drew, who led off the inning with a walk.

Toronto scored once in the fifth on McDonald’s sacrifice fly to center, bring in Hill, and two more times on back-to-back solo homers by Stairs and Rios. The Sox put the game away in the bottom of the inning with a little two-out lightning of their own. Pedroia singled, Ortiz doubled him in and Manny’s RBI single put a nice bow on the night’s scoring. Manny Delcarmen pitched a perfect seventh, Okajima came on for the eighth, and retired Johnson on a close 4-3 play that caused Jays’ manager Gibbons to be ejected. Papelbon entered in the ninth, allowed a one-out double to Zaun, but otherwise got through unscathed, picking up save #21. T’was a nice way to start the homestand.

Friday night (Game 89, 7/13/07) would prove to be unkind for the Red Sox. Yo-Yo went off the rails early in this one, and Sox blew leads two different times, going down in flames, 6-5. Manny hit a two-run homer, his 12th, in the first and things appeared to be going along just fine until the Jays’ third. With one out Tavarez hit Johnson. Rios doubled to right. Johnson scored on a wild pitch (this is generally the point in the story where things take a bad turn for the ill-fated Yo-Yo). Thomas walked. Glaus drove in Rios with a single to right. Overbay’s single scored Thomas. Hill`s 5-4 fielder`s choice scored Glaus. It’s hard to see the team going on much longer with this.

The Sox came back with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Drew doubled to lead off. With two outs, Manny singled to left and Drew scored. Youkilis then reached Glaus` fielding error. Lowell followed with a triple into the centerfield triangle, driving in the tying and go-ahead runs.

Tavarez start ended in the fifth, after allowing a lead off single. Kyle Snyder came on and got through the inning before unraveling in the sixth. With two outs Wells walked. Reed Johnson followed with an game-tying RBI double to right. Rios then hit an RBI double of his own, putting the Jays up for good.


Saturday’s matchup (Game 90, 7/14/07) was payback for the Sox, as they scored early and often en route to a 9-4 thrashing of the Jays. Daisuke was sharp in the early going before hitting a wall in the sixth. Ortiz hit a solo homer in the first to get things rolling. The Sox went up 3-0 in the third when, with one out Lugo singled and scored on Crisp’s triple to the right-center gap. With two outs, Ortiz bopped a ground-rule double over the low wall in right scoring Crisp.

The Jays got one back in the fourth, courtesy of Glaus’ solo bomb to left, but the Sox countered in the bottom of the inning when former Blue Jay (and AL Rookie of the Year) Eric Hinske deposited one into the bullpen in right. That must’ve felt pretty sweet. Toronto tied the ballgame at four in the sixth when Thomas doubled to lead off. Glaus doubled in Thomas. With one out, Hill hit a two-run homer to tie things up.

It didn’t stay tied for very long. In the bottom of the sixth, Lowell singled to lead off and Varitek smacked a two-run homer. After a pitching change, Lugo reached on a bunt single with one out and Crisp walked. Pedroia single to center drove in Lugo. The Sox pulled a double steal with Pedroia and Crisp. When’s the last time that happened? Ortiz was intentionally walked. After another pitching change, Manny hit a sacrifice fly to center and Crisp came in to make it 9-4.

Daisuke was through after six innings and 104 pitches. Delcarmen pitched a clean seventh and eighth and Okajima had another nice inning of scoreless work. Who’s been the MVP on this team so far? Boston’s lead in the East would be precarious at best without this guy.

The series finale (Game 91, Sun Aft. 7/15/07) may have been one of the singularly most frustrating losses the Red Sox have endured in quite awhile. Give credit to Toronto’s starter, Jesse Litsch, for pitching a whale of a ballgame, but this was more a case of the Red Sox beating themselves. Beckett got the start for Boston, and he too, had a dominant performance save for a couple of bad pitches in the second.

The game started auspiciously for Boston, as Manny made a nice rolling catch of Reed Johnson’s liner to left to start things off. The Sox left two runners on base in the first, and that lack of execution generally follows with the opponent taking advantage. With two outs Overbay doubled to center. Hill doubled to left scoring Overbay. Clayton singled to right scoring Hill. That was it, in a nutshell.

The Sox hit into double plays in the second and third, left a runner in scoring position in the fifth before finally scoring in the sixth, even then, there was the potential to put up a crooked number that fizzled out. Cora doubled to center to lead off and scored on Ortiz’ double to the gap in right-center. With one out, Youkilis walked. With two outs, Hinske singled to right. Ortiz tried to score from second, but was thrown out at the plate. He was out by at least five feet. Duh! Third-base coach, where were you? Big Papi is slower than molasses going uphill with two good wheels, let alone trying to make it around the bases with a bad knee! The rest of the game was a waste of time. The positional players ought to hang their heads in shame whenever Beckett walks past them. The Sox had every opportunity of taking three of four and they handed Toronto a split.


“How Blue Can You Get?”
Following yesterday’s ultra-frustrating loss, Kansas City came to town for the only time this year, and the weather was perfect. In the opener (Game 92, Mon. N. 7/16/07), Kason Gabbard got the start for the Red Sox (2-0, 4.87). He had a nice outing in Detroit nine days ago and hopefully his good run of starts will continue. He easily retired the first three Royals’ hitters to get things rolling.

Rookie Brian Bannister (5-5, 3.71) started for Kansas City, and Tony Peña, Jr. made a beautiful leaping stab of Ortiz’ liner to end the first. Lugo was the first baserunner of the ballgame when he grounded one into the hole in the third and barely beat Peña’s throw to first. Lugo’s trip aboard was brief however, as Bannister promptly picked off the bag.

Gabbard hit DeJesus with a pitch to start the fourth. But he was able to get Grudzielanek to ground into an unusual 4-3-6 twin killing, so through 3 1/2, both pitchers faced the minimum. With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Pedroia used an uppercut swing and banged a homer into the Monster Seats. With two outs, Manny took another Bannister fastball and drove it way back into the upper row of the Monster Seats to the right of the centerfield light tower, a prodigious shot to say the least.

Emil Brown picked up KC’s first hit, a single to right with one out in the fifth. With one out, Gabbard walked German, struck out Alex Gordon and hit Buck to load the bases. Peña followed with a hard grounder that Pedroia picked awkwardly and barely nipped Peña with an across-the-body throw. Lowell led off the bottom of the inning by hitting a lazy pop to leftfield. Emil “Mr. Cool” Brown jogged in and tried to make like Roberto Clemente and the ball popped out of his glove. Brown’s error, while embarrassing, proved harmless. With one out in the sixth, Pedroia lined a single up the middle and Ortiz took a changeup from Bannister and wrapped it around Pesky’s Pole to put the Sox up 4-0.

Game 93 Tue. N. 7/17/07: There was nothing positive that happened tonight as Wakefield stunk and the Red Sox left ten runners on base as they lost 9-3. They had chances galore to break the game wide open early but once more fell prey to the double-play ball and baserunning blunders. No one wants to admit the obvious, that it’s looking like 1978 redux. The game was scoreless until the fourth when Grudzielanek and Teahen hit back-to-back singles with one out, and both scored on Butler’s double off the wall. Leo Nunez made his first MLB start for KC and did an admirable job. The Royals made it 3-0 in the fifth when Gordon singled, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Pena’s doubled to left.

The Sox looked liked they were about to get rolling in the fifth. Lugo doubled to lead off and Nunez was lifted for Jimmy Gobble. Drew flied out to right and Lugo tagged and made it to third. Pedroia reached on Grudzielanek`s error Lugo and Lugo came in. Ortiz struck out swinging. Gobble was relieved by Zack Greinke, who walked Manny. Youkilis flied out to kill that chance. The Royals’ seventh was perhaps the ugliest inning of the season to date. Sanders doubled to lead off and Gordon singled putting runners on the corners. Buck doubled to left scoring Sanders and Gordon. With one out, Javier Lopez relieved Wakefield. DeJesus walked. Buck scored on Mirabelli’s passed ball. Butler received an intentional pass. With two outs, Gload singled to left scoring Grudzielanek, but Manny threw out Butler at third to end the inning. By the time the smoke settled it was 8-1 KC, and time to turn out the lights. Since the beginning of June, the Red Sox have gone 20-22. The Yankees won again, cutting the lead to which had been as high as 14 ½, down to eight games. And folks around here are indeed beginning to feel the heat at the backs of their necks. What an ugly night of baseball.

On a gloomy, foggy Wednesday evening (Game 94, 7/18/07), Yo-Yo Tavarez (who has been positively putrid in his last two starts) looked to get his mojo back in the series finale. Manny made a beautiful backhanded catch of DeJesus’ liner to left to open the game. Odalis Perez (4-8, 5.68) got the call for the Royals. With one out in Boston’s half, Pedroia singled than Ortiz (with the shift on) grounded one that was a tailor-made double play ball for the shortstop playing to the right of the bag. However, the second baseman cut in front, mishandled the ball and Ortiz was (generously) credited with a single. Manny popped out to short and Youkilis was called out on strikes, another chance to score down the drain.

Butler singled to lead off KC’s second. Gload struck out swinging, Gordon grounded out to first and Emil Brown grounded out to short. It was quite noticeable that something was wrong with Tavarez’ right leg or groin by the third inning. Even though he struck out the first two batters, one can only guess as to how long he can pitch on a damp evening.

Perhaps the manager ought to re-think his current iteration of the batting order. Drew leads off and Lugo bats ninth, so in those innings where the 8-9-1 or the 9-1-2 batters hit, it is basically a black hole that the batting order. Case in point: in the bottom of the third, Lugo grounded out, Drew flied out then Pedroia doubled. Undue pressure is then placed on Ortiz (facing a lefty) to deliver. Drew and Lugo (combined $22M in payroll/year) have both been in an offensive funk all year. Why is it necessary to have them batting consecutively? If an anonymous fan can see the problem, why can’t the stat geeks burning the midnight oil in the back room figure it out? The solution, faithful reader would be to put Crisp back in the leadoff spot until such time as Drew and Lugo can get on base with a reasonable degree of consistency.

Grudzlielanek and Teahen reached on back-to-back singles to start the fourth. Butler grounded to first and the runners moved into scoring position. Gload hit a sacrifice fly to short right, scoring Grudzielanek. Drew’s throw home was right on the button but arrived about a half-second late. Gordon rapped in Teahen with a single to right, and the Royals went up 2-0 (probably sending the scoreboard watchers in the Bronx into delirium).

Manny led off bottom of the fourth with a single, Youkilis walked and Lowell followed with a line drive base hit to left. Varitek grounded into a 6-4 force and Manny came in the back door. Crisp walked, prompting a visit to the mound from the Royals’ pitching coach, and the boys in the ‘pen began stirring about. Lugo (first pitch swinging) ripped a double to left bringing in Youkilis and Varitek. Drew came to the plate and hit a sinking line drive; Crisp tagged up and came in with the fourth run. Pedroia grounded out to third, he was called out on a bang-bang play at first, where Randazzo took special delight in making the call. Everytime Randazzo’s crew has a Boston series, he seems to be a controversy magnet. Pedroia bitterly protested the call and came perilously close to getting tossed. It was good to see a little P&V out there.

DeJesus reached on a bunt single with one out in the fifth and scored on Grudzlielanek’s wall-ball single (and an E7). At this point, Tavarez was laboring. Lowell booted Teahen’s grounder to third, putting runners on the corners. Butler doubled to the left-center gap, scoring two more runs and putting the Royals back on top, 5-4. Finally, the idiot sitting in the manager’s chair got on the phone to the bullpen. Gordon lined a single up the middle and Butler scored KC’s sixth run. And that’s when the manager came out to ask Tavarez for the baseball. Timlin entered in relief and Gordon was thrown out trying to steal second. What was a two-run lead became a two-run deficit. Manny cut that deficit to a run with a bomb into the centerfield bleachers. Things stayed 6-5 until the bottom of the eighth with two outs when Crisp hit a long drive to right that just missed being a homer. He ended up on third, and Lugo stepped up to the plate and flied out to center.

“Southside Ozzie and His Ragtag Banditos”

The White Sox came to town for the weekend before the Sox hit the road for the better part of the next three weeks. Following last night’s loss, spirits were a little low. The Yankees lost their matinee with Toronto earlier, so at least there were no fears about losing any more ground. People aren’t quite ready to hit the panic button, just yet…

It’s hard to understand why the ChiSox have underachieved so far this year. The core group that won the Series in ’05 remains pretty much intact. With a manager the caliber of Ozzie Guillen, it’s seems inexplicable. Ozzie bears a resemblance to Billy Martin, both fiery competitors on the field and in the dugout. Let’s hope for Ozzie’s sake that the similarities end there, as Billy was consumed by the dragons he battled his entire life.

Thursday’s opener (Game 95, 7/19/07) was delayed for a couple of hours due to on-again, off-again showers in the area. Daisuke got the start and struggled early. In the first with two outs Thome and Konerko walked. Pierzynski singled to right, scoring Thome. The Sox came back with a pair of runs in the second as Lowell and Varitek started things off with back-to-back singles. Wily Mo (filling in for the “hamstring challenged” Drew) grounded into a 5-4 force. Lugo grounded into a 6-4 force, and Lowell came in with the tying run. Crisp singled up the middle, and Pedroia knocked in the go-ahead run with a single to right, but Crisp was thrown out at the plate.

Things stayed 2-1 until Chicago’s sixth. Iguchi and Thome walked leading off the inning. Pierzynski followed with a single to right driving in both runners. That was the night for Matsuzaka-san, as Manny Delcarmen came on and prevented any further scoring.

In the seventh, the Red Sox had a golden opportunity to go ahead. Pedroia singled with one out. After a pitching change, Ortiz singled to center. There was another pitching change and Manny hit a ball about four miles, to the deepest part of the ballpark, where it was just a long and loud out. Youkilis struck out swinging to end the inning. Slam, bam, down went the helmet and bat! With Okajima on for the eighth inning, Konerko hit a lead off homer to put the ChiSox up 4-2. And somewhere short of 1:00 am, that’s how it ended: another sorry night for the Hometown Nine.

The weather for Friday Night’s game two (Game 96, 7/20/07) was perfect. Josh Beckett (12-3, 3.35) got the call against former Yankee Jose Contreras (5-11, 5.32) Beckett easily disposed of Owens and Iguchi before walking Thome and Konerko. Pierzynski went to a full count before grounding out to first, but Beckett threw a lot of pitches in the first.

With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Ortiz walked and Manny was hit by a pitch. Drew followed with a long fly to left that was a home run. The ball struck the low ledge above the leftfield wall where the “Monster Seats” were constructed and bounced back into the field of play similar to many wall-ball doubles. But it’s a ground rule that balls hit there are homers. Nevertheless, since the ledge and padding above the wall are painted the same shade of Fenway Green, it is easy to see how the umpire would have a difficult time determining where the wall ends and the ledge begins. The second base umpired ruled the play a double. Ortiz scored, but Manny was thrown out at home. IT WAS A HOME RUN! The manager came out and vociferously argued the call, and was tossed for his trouble. At least he got his two cents’ worth after the fact. Earl Weaver would’ve been proud of this performance, as Francona rarely gets that excited. Good for him, as perhaps the players will respond by performing with more spirit.

Beckett responded by striking out the side in the second. But in the third, Uribe and Owens hit back-to-back singles to start things off. Iguchi struck out on a filthy curveball, but Owens stole second. It’s good to see Beckett having success with his off-speed stuff. Thome hit a fastball way up into the centerfield bleachers to put Chicago ahead, 3-1. There was nothing chinzy about that one. Great hitters know when to wait and when to pull the trigger. Beckett tried to blow one past Thome and he was waiting on the fastball all the way.

With one out in the fourth, Drew hit another long shot, this one to the deepest part of the ballpark, where the ChiSox’ speedy centerfielder Owens ran it down.

In the fifth, Varitek led off with a walk and Hinske (subbing for Youkilis) laid down a beautiful bunt single to left. Chicago’s infielders had shifted to the right and no one was there to get the ball. Lugo placed a beautiful bunt of his own, midway between the plate and the mound. Contreras picked up the ball and threw it to first just a wee bit to high and Lugo was safe (ruled a single). Crisp followed by scorching a grounder down the rightfield line. Dye gave chase but by the time he was able to get to the ball, three runs scored and the Sox went ahead 4-3. With one out, Ortiz lined a base hit in roughly the same spot where Crisp’s triple was hauled in. Crisp scored on the play, but Ortiz was thrown out belly-flopping into second base. Dye threw a bullet to the second baseman, who was waiting to stick the tag.

By Chicago’s sixth, Beckett had surpassed 100 pitches, so there wasn’t much gas in the tank. The boys in the bullpen were stirring. He did blow away Thome on strikes this time, got Konerko to hit an infield pop out. Pierzynski then hit a ball off the wall, but he met the same fate as did Ortiz in the previous inning. Crisp picked up the ball on the first hop, fired it to second, and the ever-charming Pierzynski was called out (he was actually safe). Beckett roared his approval, and left the field fist-pumpin’ all the way.

Timlin entered in the seventh and pitched another 1-2-3 inning of relief. There were fans in certain quarters (including this one), who already had Timlin penciled in the “dead pool”. But he has really pitched well in the last month since returning from the DL.

It was disconcerting to see Cora pinch hitting for Ortiz in the seventh. When making the ill-advised slide into second it appeared that Big Papi’s left shoulder and knee hit the infield dirt quite hard. He has previously admitted that he’ll probably require knee surgery at season’s end, so they’ll need to nurse him through the rest of the way. He may be a player who goes full tilt, but what is he thinking with the headfirst slide? Manny should’ve disabused him of that notion after breaking a finger a few years back in Seattle. Remember? It was reported that he suffered a “shoulder strain”. If he requires a trip to the DL, it’d be wise to keep the panic button close at hand. It’s clear that they will need to pay dearly for a power bat by the trade deadline on the 31st. Okajima came on for the eighth and had a rockin’ chair 1-2-3 inning.

Guillen kept Contreras out there as if he were a plow mule. Manny led off the eighth with a single up the middle and Drew followed with a wall-ball double. This is the first time anyone can recall Drew hitting to the opposite field. If he can master the art of playing the wall, he would quickly redeem himself in the skeptical eyes of the Boston fans. Lowell walked and Varitek hit a long sacrifice fly to right, scoring Manny with Boston’s sixth run. Youkilis (pinch hitting) was hit on the left wrist. Ozzie came flying out of the White Sox dugout, protesting that the pitch hit the bat. He was told to sit down and shut up. Julio Lugo stepped up and hit a grand slam well into the Monster Seats, to put the Sox ahead, 10-3. Only then did Ozzie come out looking for the baseball.

A sidewinding righty named Wassermann making his major league debut came out of the Chicago ‘pen and struck out Crisp. It must’ve been the moment of a lifetime. With a seven-run lead with which to work, the powers that be deemed it safe enough for Piñiero to step out and get an inning’s worth of live BP. He did well, striking out one in a clean inning of work. The Red Sox won, but the larger question is how much did the victory cost?

On Saturday afternoon’s Fox East Coast Game, (Game 97, 7/21/07), Kason Gabbard looked to build upon his last terrific outing on Monday, and the team desperately needed him to come through, as the Yanks were in the process of sweeping Double-A Tampa Bay in a twin-bill by a combined score of something like 57-2.

Chicago went on top in the second when Konerko doubled to left to lead off and scored on Fields’ double to right. But the Sox went ahead in the bottom half as Youkilis walked to lead off, then with one out and Lowell walked. Varitek followed with a base hit to load the bases and Crisp singled, scoring Youkilis and Lowell.

The Sox put up a pair in the sixth, as Pedroia singled leading off and was forced on Manny’s 4-6 fielder`s choice, Youkilis singled then Drew doubled to right scoring Manny. Lowell received an intentional walk. Varitek grounded into a 5-2 force and Crisp singled to the left-center gap, scoring Drew. Lowell tried to make it home, but was called out on a phantom sweep tag that the home plate umpire swallowed hook, line and sinker.

Not to worry, as the Sox put up a big crooked number in the seventh and blew the game wide open, a big enough hole to drive a bus through. Young Mr. Wassermann came on in relief for the second time in nascent big-league career, and it was an experience he’d most likely just as soon forget. Hinske (pinch hitting) led off with a singled and stole second. With two outs, Ozzie elected to intentionally walk Manny. This did not prove to be the wisest of maneuvers as Youkilis walked. Wassermann was relieved by Boone Logan, who walked Drew, bringing in Hinske. Logan’s stay was brief, as Ozzie asked for the baseball in favor of Dewon Day. Ozzie’s “thinking cap” must’ve been misplaced as none of his decisions were working at all well. Lowell’s walk scored Manny. Varitek’s walk scored Youkilis. Crisp smacked a base hit up the middle, driving in Drew and Lowell. Hinske laced a triple into the rightfield corner driving in Varitek and Crisp. The seven run eruption widened the lead to 11-1. Chicago came back with a garbage-time run in the ninth off of Piñiero, but the story of the day was another impressive outing by Kason Gabbard who ran his record to 4-0 and has admirably filled Schilling’s spot in the rotation.

…Speaking of Big Hoss, he made his first rehab start for Pawtucket earlier today and had an encouraging outing, The plan is for one more rehab outing later next week before joining the big club…and not a moment too soon.

The series and the homestand wrapped up on a beautiful Sunday afternoon for (Game 98, 7/22/07) baseball. This was a game the Sox really needed to take, as the Yankees have gathered momentum and are barreling toward them like a runaway locomotive. Wakefield got the start, and pitched well, taking a lead into the seventh and the bullpen once more kept a lid on the White Sox en route to an 8-5 win.

Manny put the Sox up 3-0 in the first with a three-run blast into the bullpen. Chicago got a run back in the fifth when Dye doubled to left leading off and scored on Fields’ one out single up the middle. In the bottom half of the inning, the Sox demonstrated that they were not in a trifling mood, scoring three more times on Lowell’s three-run pop into the Monster Seats.

The Sox put up two more in the sixth to make it 8-1. Mirabelli reached on a leadoff walk. Lugo also walked. Cora’s 3-1 ground out moved the runners along. Youkilis hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Mirabelli and Manny drove in Lugo with a base hit.

But Ozzie’s boys weren’t ready to roll over just yet, sending ten batters to the plate in the seventh and scoring four times. Pierzynski singled up the middle leading off. Dye followed with a double to left. Mackowiak’s sacrifice fly to right scored Pierzynski. Fields’ single to left brought in Dye. Delcarmen came on in relief of Wakefield and Uribe promptly singled up the middle. Owens walked to load the bases. Cintron’s base hit brought in Fields. Thome walked, scoring Uribe. With two outs, Okajima relieved Delcarmen and struck out Pierzynski swinging. That was it. Papelbon came on for the ninth, allowed the first two batters to reach before striking out Thome and getting Konerko to ground into a double play.

The Sox ended up going 6-5 on the homestand, and truthfully should’ve won eight or nine of these games. After the game it was announced that Joel Piñiero was DFA’d and Jon Lester would be making his first start of the year tomorrow night in Cleveland, and that ought to be something truly special.