http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/ Readin'. Writin'. Red Sox. en Copyright 2015 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 13:18:18 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.37 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/eelogo.jpg Because of my kitten's injury (see "I've Got 99 Problems and a Kitten is One"), trying to train my puppy, and other personal and professional reasons I need to take a break from this blog for now. I hope to return once things have settled. Thank you for all the http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/07/taking_a_break/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/07/taking_a_break/ Meta Wed, 01 Jul 2015 13:18:18 -0500 Just when you thought the Red Sox were spiraling into a tailspin they pulled off a series win against the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays. Boston is eight games back as we near the midpoint of the season. I would settle for a less lofty goal than the postseason, like an http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/justin_time/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/justin_time/ June 2015 Game Comments Mon, 29 Jun 2015 17:55:55 -0500 Wade Miley was the perfect pitcher to start 70s Night at Tropicana Field. He looks like he could have been relieved by Bill Lee. Miley pitched fairly well: six and one-third innings, five hits, two earned runs, two walks, and eight strikeouts. But he was out-dueled by Matt Andriese, who http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/ale-ale-alejandro/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/ale-ale-alejandro/ June 2015 Game Comments Sun, 28 Jun 2015 22:20:30 -0500 While this edition of the Red Sox has been disappointing, at least they don’t play as if there is no hope. In the fourth inning Mike Napoli and Blake Swihart were sent on a double steal. Napoli was safe at home plate but Swihart was out at second. Napoli’s run http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/last_gasp/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/last_gasp/ June 2015 Game Comments Sun, 28 Jun 2015 13:31:29 -0500 Cute kid, huh? Maybe, until you realize what he’s doing is waving goodbye to the Red Sox postseason hopes. Or perhaps he’s like that kid in the Cam Newton Play 60 commercial. You remember: “And be your mom’s favorite player?” This boy has the makings to go toe to toe http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/great_britton/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/great_britton/ June 2015 Game Comments Sat, 27 Jun 2015 23:22:33 -0500 The Red Sox finally came up with a win against their divisional adversaries from Charm City but paid the price. Dustin Pedroia was put on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring, or as my friend Scott would call it, his manstring. Pedroia was running out a single to http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/pyrrhic_victory/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/pyrrhic_victory/ June 2015 Game Comments Sat, 27 Jun 2015 15:12:24 -0500 Joe Kelly didn’t get out of the fourth inning in the series opener against the Baltimore Orioles. He started off the season promisingly enough with a seven-inning victory against the Yankees but since then has struggled mightily. Kelly’s ERA+ is 70, the lowest of his career. Despite his velocity, perhaps http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/how_lough_can_you_go/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/how_lough_can_you_go/ June 2015 Game Comments Fri, 26 Jun 2015 18:18:18 -0500 I’ve been a bit behind in recapping games because I'm taking care of my kitten Kumo. He broke his leg playing on his shiba inu puppy sister’s crate. Please send your healing energy to Kumo. I’ll post game summaries and pictures as I can. Here’s Kumo in his better days. http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/i_got_99_problems_and_a_kitten_is_one/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/i_got_99_problems_and_a_kitten_is_one/ Meta Thu, 25 Jun 2015 19:24:25 -0500 Rarer than a Red Sox fan at Kauffman Stadium is a game where the Boston squad scored double digits this season. In fact, this was only the second game in which they scored 10 runs or more this season. When they scored 10 runs against the Blue Jays on June http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/double_your_fun/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/double_your_fun/ June 2015 Game Comments Mon, 22 Jun 2015 23:11:22 -0500 David Ortiz pulled an “…And Justice for All” in the seventh inning. He fell behind 1-2 with two out but got a single up the middle. Despite the hit Ortiz protested against home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman’s two called strikes by flipping his bat in front of home plate and http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/pure_dreck/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/pure_dreck/ June 2015 Game Comments Mon, 22 Jun 2015 21:27:36 -0500 John Farrell is not shy with his use of challenges. After just one out in the game he asked Tom Hallion’s crew to take a closer look at Mookie Betts’s play at first where the center fielder was called out. The out call was reversed but the Red Sox didn’t http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/vote_royals/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/vote_royals/ June 2015 Game Comments Sat, 20 Jun 2015 18:48:36 -0500 Clay Buchholz twirled another gem: seven innings, six hits, two runs (neither earned), one walk, and three strikeouts. Even better for an American League pitcher in a National League park: he didn’t injure himself in his three plate appearances. He was his own worst enemy in the sixth inning. Buchholz http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/buchholznaissance/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/buchholznaissance/ June 2015 Game Comments Fri, 19 Jun 2015 20:08:08 -0500 John Farrell and Carl Willis weren’t yelling at Pablo Sandoval to get off his smartphone here but rather at Larry Vanover. The first base umpire ruled that Pedro Ciriaco didn’t go around but checked his swing and Farrell strongly expressed his disagreement. What is more disappointing, hopping onto a social http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/instapanda/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/instapanda/ June 2015 Game Comments Thu, 18 Jun 2015 20:16:32 -0500 I’ve been writing this blog for 10 years and in that span of time the Red Sox have not had a player hit for the cycle. Brock Holt ended that drought on Tuesday. He is the first Red Sox player to accomplish this feat since John Valentin did on June http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/brock_of_ages/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/brock_of_ages/ June 2015 Game Comments Thu, 18 Jun 2015 17:55:55 -0500 Raise your hand if you miss Jonny Gomes. His reckless play in the outfield, solid production at the dish, and dynamic clubhouse presence seems to be something lacking in the 2015 Red Sox. I won’t ever forget how he draped the Boston Strong jersey on the 2013 World Series trophy http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/gomes_again_gomes_again_jiggety_jig/ http://www.empyrealenvirons.com/2015/06/gomes_again_gomes_again_jiggety_jig/ June 2015 Game Comments Wed, 17 Jun 2015 23:22:33 -0500