laura and the red sox

My Heart Just Broke

2009-10-14T23:14:00.001-04:00

As I was reading this,

"While A-Gon comes with a reliable glove and a dependable bat in the No. 9 hole, keeping him in the Hub isn't going to be as simple as RSVPing to an Evite. Alex Gonzalez has a $6 million option for 2010, which the Sox aren't likely to pick up. In this era, $6 million sounds like a bargain, right? Wrong,"

I slightly died.

Please don't take my Gonz away from me. Please?

The End of the 2009 Season

2009-10-11T22:14:00.003-04:00

Well.

What a day.

Up 5-1 and then lose 7-6. That was not what I was expecting.

Everything had been going so well. Pedroia had a 2 RBI double, Drew hit a HR, they grabbed an insurance run in the 8th to go up 6-4....and Papelbon was coming in to pitch the 9th, after picking off some dude at 1st to end the 8th.

And then....the world fell off its axis and the Red Sox lost as Papelbon gave up 3 runs.

Still in shock. I thought for sure I'd have a Sox game to watch tomorrow night.

Did I say I liked the Angels before? Well, I think I changed my mind.

And P.S. What the HELL was up with the umpires this series? These fools are supposed to be the best of the best? Sad.

Oh, and....I'm not mad at Papelbon. I don't know what the hell happened to him, but I'm not mad. Shocked is still the only word I can come up with. No one is more mad at Papelbon than Papelbon...he doesn't need us fans mad at him, too.

Cool Tidbit

2009-10-04T23:57:00.001-04:00

Victor Martinez hit his first career grand slam yesterday.

Jed Lowrie hit his first career grand slam today.

When was the last time two teammates both hit their first grand slam on back-to-back days? Very neat.

A Loong Time

2009-10-02T21:53:00.003-04:00

I am deeply ashamed for not posting during the entire month of September. Really, it wasn't the greatest month for Boston, but I could have at least said something, right. It's amazing, medical school takes your soul and doesn't let go...but I get in as much baseball as I can.

Anyway, in the long absence, Boston got the wild card and the Yankees, who are losing 12-1 right now (yes it means nothing but hey, it's a nice thing to look at), are champs of the A.L. East this year. And honestly...and please know that this pains me...they are a really freaking good team. I still have 100% confidence that the Sox will beat them in the postseason (unless of course NY doesn't make it to the ALCS!) despite the couple of sweeps we've had to suffer through of late. October is a whole different animal...and this last series will be nothing but a distant memory...kind of like any memory of my normal life...

Youkilis just got a couple RBI to put Boston up 6-2 against the Indians. Nice!

So we are playing the Angels in the ALDS next week (next week!), which is NEVER a bad thing. How much have we owned L.A. over the years? Haven't they won one game in 4 series? And that, my friends, is a trend that never needs to end. What are the chances Detroit or Minnesota can stop the Yanks? I don't think it's too likely, but that makes it all the more interesting. Who doesn't love a Boston/NY ALCS matchup*?

*Yes, I know, a lot of people. But they are just mad because their teams didn't make it. Obviously.

Nick Green Can Pitch

2009-08-28T11:24:00.003-04:00

So I wasn't paying too much attention to the game last night because I had a quiz this morning I had to study for, and we were losing so bad it didn't seem to matter. Two things piqued my interest:

1) Ellsbury was replaced without me noticing. So when I looked at Gameday it said he'd been out at home...of course my immediate thought was F!--injury? Then I read this:

"Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury suffered a mild left high-ankle sprain in Thursday's 9-5 loss to the White Sox, and his availability for Friday's series opener against the Blue Jays is uncertain." Francona said this: "We're certainly going to check with him. I don't think it will be anything more than a nagging thing, and I'm glad we took him out. Got some ice on it, got it treated, and I'm hopeful that it'll be fine.''

Jacoby Ellsbury cannot sit out. Final decision!

2) It was weird looking over at the game to check the score and seeing Nick Green pitching. So I had to stop studying and watch his 2 innings--he was not too shabby! Walked a couple guys but got out of his innings unscathed. Some comedy was even gleaned from the situation:

“After I got behind hitters the first inning I kind of got a little nervous because I just didn’t want to walk everybody,” he said. “I mean, I know how it is as an infielder to sit back there and watch ball, ball, ball, so I didn’t really want to do that and I did. The only reason I was successful is because my ball moved a little bit, but I didn’t know it was going to move. I was trying to throw it straight.”

And Youkilis, of course (backstory: Green had a ball come right back to him and nailed that sucker to Kotchman at first, which I immediately noticed and commented on. Apparently I was not the only one): “He’s gonna have to work on his PFE’s (pitcher fielding exercises) in spring training. That was ridiculous. I’m glad I wasn’t at first base. I probably would have thrown it back to him as hard as I could.”

He did it again: “I felt like I waited for him about 15 minutes to get over to first base, so when I catch the ball at shortstop to throw it over there he’s there. I’m like catching it and I’m like ‘Get over there!’”

The point of this long post: Ellsbury better be fine and Green can pitch in an emergency.

And I had Really good pictures to go with this post but Blogger sucks and I can't upload them. Time to change, I think!

That WAS what I was Hoping For!

2009-08-23T10:46:00.005-04:00

Boston was really pissed yesterday, and they showed it with a frickin awesome 14-1 win over the Yanks. Youkilis, Pedroia, Martinez, Ortiz, Bay--they all had an awesome game and Youk even hit 2 home runs. They scored 13 out of their 14 runs with 2 outs!

And Tazawa? After complaining about Red Sox pitching yesterday, this guy made me unbelievably happy by throwing 6 shutout innings and even though he let some NYers get on, he never let them cross home plate. It was a great outing indeed.

And....this dude is my new favorite Yankee :)

So, let's talk negatives for a moment. The game was on FOX. So Tim McCarver talked (and went on for a good 10 minutes about his poorly hidden Derek Jeter love) nonsense, including these gems: "Tazawa's stuff is nowhere NEAR as good as A.J. Burnett's"--as Boston is up 7-0 against Burnett. He also tried to sound smart by saying the Food and Drug Act was passed in, what, 1906? Umm...I don't know where he was going with that, actually. But my favorite idiot saying came from his partner, Kenny Albert (what, no Joe Buck? What a shame...), when he said this, IN THE FIRST INNING: "Red Sox scoring all three of their runs in this inning."

I hate FOX!

That was Not what I was Hoping For

2009-08-22T10:26:00.003-04:00

Red Sox

pitching

sucks.

Yes, this man especially.

Look at Brad Penny as he hides his face in SHAME.

Did anything good happen last night? Why yes, Ellsbury stole his 54th base, tying the club's record for most SB. And today he shall break it! The crowd gave him a wicked long standing ovation, it was so cool.

This link sends you to an article that features a video with two of my favorite people in the whole world: Harold Reynolds talking about Jacoby Ellsbury. Ahh, Harold...I love that dude.

REMY

2009-08-21T19:01:00.002-04:00

Wow it is so good to see Remy back on my TV (okay, computer).

Welcome back RemDawg! It is going to be a good night now!

...definitely from the booth. Hopefully, from the field too.

Go Buchholz

2009-08-20T12:32:00.002-04:00

Buchholz beat Halladay last night.

That is pretty much the most awesome thing to happen.

Oh, and they're one game up over Texas now.

Good day!

Congratulations!

2009-08-18T22:21:00.001-04:00

Congratulations go out to Dustin Pedroia and his wife Kelli, for it is my understanding that they now own a child.

Also, congratulations to the Red Sox, as it looks like they might win a game tonight. Yay!

Bad Luck for My Teams

2009-08-15T23:33:00.004-04:00

This has not been the best couple of days. Witness:

-Sox lost tonight. Brad Penny was again, not good.
-Oregon lost (Little League World Series) tonight.
-Rhode Island lost (LLWS) today (to Massachusetts, so it wasn't all that bad).
-Virginia (LLWS) lost yesterday (man, I am really bad at picking LLWS teams this year! Bring back Lake Oswego!)
-Novak Djokovic lost to stupid Andy Roddick yesterday.
-Roger Federer lost yesterday after being up 5-1.
-David Wright (I like him, but I don't know why) got hit in the head today.
-I lost my tennis match today!

However. All of the bad stuff was made okay with the sight of Alex Gonzalez back in a Boston uniform tonight. Yay! And if Blogger wasn't so mean to us FTP-ers, I would have that picture right here.

OH MY GOD

2009-08-14T19:12:00.001-04:00

THE GONZ IS BACK!!!!

YAY!!!!

THE GONZ IS BACK IN BOSTON!!!

Oh I have missed Alex Gonzalez!!

P.S. May I direct you to this post from July 31, where I talked about missing the Gonz. I think I am having another psychic moment (or was having, I suppose, since the last time I talked about him was September 2007).

Youkilis

2009-08-12T13:53:00.003-04:00

Do I even need to say anything?

Just that...I loved it. And it so needed to be done!

P.S. Remy is back for a couple innings on NESN....I miss him so!

Chad (Not)Fairchild Needs a Firing

2009-08-08T00:22:00.004-04:00

I don't know if we're gonna win this game or lose it, but J.D. Drew just made one of the best catches I've ever seen in the bottom of the 14th with 2 on. If we do end up winning, it's because of him.

And seriously, WHAT THE HELL is wrong with Chad Fairchild, home plate umpire? I haven't seen this many bad calls since the Tampa Bay/Boston game last postseason. I feel bad for Tazawa, he's made some good pitches that were CLEARLY strikes that this damn fool called balls. Not just him, either, but most of the other Boston pitchers got screwed too. Pitches on the outside corner that were strikes earlier in the game are now balls. At least be consistent with your skewed strike zone, come on.

Whoa Melky Cabrera almost won the game with one down the 1st base line....JUST foul. Wow!

What a game. Into the 15th inning now. Reddick just struck out on a pitch that was a ball for us but a strike for NY. THIS IS NOT RIGHT! This idiot needs to be fired, like NOW.

"Classy"

2009-08-06T22:35:00.002-04:00

Leave it to the Yankees to go for Pedroia's head (TWICE) when they're winning 13-4.

And they call this team classy?

What The Mother

2009-08-06T21:00:00.000-04:00

John Smoltz and Billy Traber--what a combo.

This day SUCKS.

I Was There...and on TV!

2009-08-03T14:44:00.003-04:00

I was at the game in Baltimore yesterday, where I witnessed some really bad pitching and some really great offense (I suspect due to the pitching). I got a lot of pictures which I will have to post in a separate entry, and we had some fun getting yelled at. Let's see...

We got there early to see batting practice, which didn't happen because of the rain. The forecast had rain all afternoon, but there was only one brief spell of rain during the game, which was so awesome. It turned out to be a little hot even, which was unexpected but welcomed. So we were behind home plate waiting for BP to start, and time is going by, and no one is coming to take our seats....and Ellsbury was up, Pedroia, Martinez...and we got on TV a little (on MASN the camera only showed us twice, I was seen clapping when Ellsbury walked and when they zoomed in to start the game. On NESN they showed the same 2 views then my mom got on a couple times) and then we proceeded to get reprimanded by an employee showing the 2 people with the tickets to their seats. Turns out those were Cal Ripken's seats....next time we'll have to be a little less greedy and aim for the 4th or 5th row.

So we get taken to our seats, which were extremely poor compared to where we had been sitting. Spoiled, I suppose. But we got a 4-hour game of nothing but hits. We saw Josh Reddick hit his first career home run, Victor Martinez go 5-for-6, 23 total Sox hits, Buchholz give up 7 runs and Boston still won easily, Casey Kotchman's 1st Red Sox at-bat, the Orioles manager getting kicked out....it was a great game.

So the highlight of the day really was sitting behind home plate for a few batters.....getting kicked out was a little embarrassing, I heard a few "Nice try"s as I exited the good seats...and wouldn't you know, those people left early. F.

P.S. We were all wondering why Reddick ran off in the middle of the inning and came back a few minutes later. Now I see!

Very Busy Days

2009-07-31T22:47:00.004-04:00

So today was a big day, being the Trade Deadline and all. By 4:00, we knew that we had acquired Victor Martinez and Kotchman, but we lost good old Justin Masterson, who I just might miss. He'll be good someday. Like Cla Meredith, who we used to own. Saw him pitch for Baltimore tonight, and he was pretty good. Unlike when he pitched for us--I distinctly remember calling him "Clah" because I thought his name was weird and he sucked so much he didn't deserve the correct pronunciation.

So anyway (I ramble way too much), it was a productive day (did you see Ellsbury rob that home run today? AWE-SOME). Unlike yesterday, when the news about Ortiz broke. And frickin Dan Shaughnessy, whom I no longer like, pretty much ripped him a new one in the paper today. Said of the '04 Boston/NY series, "Our cheaters were better than your cheaters." He really tore into him, which kinda sucks, until we have the results of just what he took. It's so easy to knock A-Rod and Giambi for using, but now that the tables are turned...well, it really sucks. I wish he hadn't done it, but I won't be saying much more about it until we have more to go on.

Speaking of the 2004 World Series, I am watching the DVDs right now....Game 6, to be precise, and it is so ass-kicking to see all the "old Sox." Like my old favorite Mark Bellhorn, #15 Kevin Millar, my beloved Trot Nixon....oh man it is so exciting. And Bronson was on the team back then... I won't lie, when Ortiz came to the plate I was a tad sad, wondering....

But hey, watching the 2004 Sox/Yankees games never fails to put a smile on my face. And I need one now!

P.S. What I really need to watch is some 2006 footage with the Gonz. Man, I loved that foo.

WTF

2009-07-29T00:22:00.003-04:00

Are you even serious with that game? 7-4 going into the 9th and they lost it? Papelbon blew a 3-run lead?

What the hell just happened?

Goddammit, the Yankees lost tonight, too. Just as the offense was coming to life, the pitching decides to suck. Ohh, we needed that one...

Starting to Get Annoyed

2009-07-27T13:25:00.004-04:00

Many fans and sportswriters are saying that we should all start to get just a little worried about this horrible skid we are witnessing. Me, I prefer to be annoyed. It's better than worry, after all. I haven't lost the belief that the Sox will get better and come out of this, as worry would indicate. But since I am going to a Sox game in less than a week, I do NOT want this trend to continue--I would be very ANNOYED if they lost in such a pathetic fashion again. The one time I went to a Baltimore game and the Red Sox lost, the Orioles fans were simply too....irritating to bear again. The other 5 times when Boston won--those were good times.

If there's one good thing to be said, it's that Ellsbury had a good series in the leadoff spot. Apparently, Friday was the first time since July 3rd that the Red Sox leadoff hitter had a two-hit game. Eek.

Hey, maybe we'll get Roy Halladay? And Smoltz can take a rest for a few months. Though even if they can muster up some good pitching, it won't do much good with the offense sitting these games out. Oh, and the Yankees strictly kicking ass.

Not Doing So Great

2009-07-22T12:11:00.003-04:00

Taken from an article in The Providence Journal, I found this bit to be very interesting:

-- Jacoby Ellsbury, who missed two games in Toronto because of the flu, is 1-for-12.

-- Dustin Pedroia is 5-for-18.

-- Kevin Youkilis is 7-for-19. (.368)

-- David Ortiz is 5-for-19.

-- Jason Bay is 2-for-16 (though with four walks).

-- J.D. Drew is 0-for-18.

-- Mike Lowell is 6-for-14. (.429)

-- Jason Varitek is 1-for-13. (.077)

-- Jed Lowrie is 2-for-10.

-- Nick Green is 0-for-7.

I guess this is what you call a team slump. Youk and Lowell hitting well cannot make up for the rest of the team hitting like crap. However, like Varitek said, it can't get much worse than this, so let's hope they work out of this one soon. I hate not being in first place!

I was hoping Ellsbury being back in the leadoff spot would spur some offense, but it was not to be. Not yet, anyway. And now Wakefield is on the DL, which sucks (never thought I'd say that)....but Buchholz being in the rotation is definitely not a bad thing. HOWEVER---

If anyone recalls, everytime I go to see the Red Sox in Baltimore, it seems like Wakefield pitches. I think I saw Beckett once, but I want Lester or someone new. So anyway, I'm secretly kind of excited because now Wakefield won't be pitching when I go August 2nd. And I'm reading this article about Wakefield going on the DL, and life is going great, until I hit this bit:

"The earliest Wakefield can be activated is Aug. 2, when the Red Sox complete a three-game series in Baltimore."

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS

Outrageous

2009-07-15T16:06:00.003-04:00

That's the best word I can come up with to describe the All-Star Game last night--outrageous. More specifically, Joe Maddon, the crappiest ASG manager ever. I don't even remember the last All-Star Game (did Beckett start?) but I am certain Joe Maddon sucks at life and really sucks at managing.

Now, anyone who reads this blog even semi-regularly knows I haven't always been easy on Tim Wakefield. But you have to respect someone who leads the league in wins and has been pitching for 17 years. His first All-Star game and he doesn't get to throw a single pitch? He's 42 years old, his chances aren't too hot that he'll get a repeat trip next year. And the man brought a special glove for his catcher to use. I get so sad when I think about that!

But wait! Mariano Rivera, who has pitched in at least 4 games that I know of, gets to throw. Of course.

And Angels fans must be pissed too, because Maddon didn't use either of their guys. Beckett, another one with 11 wins, wasn't used either. I'm not AS mad about that, since he has pitched an ASG before. But it still sucks.

Joe Maddon, you should be ashamed. Wakefield was so excited to be there, and then you screwed him. Nice.

Question for Anyone Reading

2009-07-03T23:07:00.004-04:00

I want to order some vanity plates for my car, and I have gone through all of the Red Sox (RDSX, BOSOX, B RD SOX, etc) combinations I can think of. None of the good ones are left. However, I can get....

PEDROIA

Weird? Or cool? Need help, can't decide on my own.

Back in a Big Way

2009-06-22T14:04:00.000-04:00

Big Papi is, that is. He is definitely looking like he is getting his groove back, and man, is it a welcome sight.

Who is doing just the opposite? As in, not grooving. That would be Matsuzaka, who has been pretty much a disappointment this season. After being moved to the 15-day DL yesterday, Francona had this to say: "This is not going to be a two-week DL. We have to figure this out. We have a lot of work ahead of us to get him back to being Daisuke."

Sounds bad. Shoulder weakness, they are saying. So that opens the door for John Smoltz to come waltzing in, right? And conveniently, "Topping out the radar gun around 91 mph, slightly slower than he's known for, Smoltz threw six innings of one-hit, one-run ball as the Pawtucket Red Sox edged the visiting Durham Bulls, 2-1, at McCoy Stadium." He threw 74 pitches, 51 for strikes. It's like it was all planned. As long as he does good, right.

What else is going on? Nick Green hit a walk off HR last night, and it was awesome. One pitch in the bottom of the 9th was all he needed, and after a pretty interesting game, with Bobby Cox and Chipper Jones getting thrown out after J.D. Drew RBI'd after taking what was clearly strike 3 and the ump called it a ball; and Ortiz getting on (and then scoring later) after a little pop up landed between the miscommunicating Jones and shortstop. You kinda felt bad for the Braves, really...never enough to want them to win, but you know. Sucks to play like that.

That's about it for now. I haven't been updating (why is summer never as relaxing as it should be?) but I have been watching the Sox, never fear :) And now Wimbledon is starting, and Nadal isn't playing...and life should be good for the next couple weeks.

Beckett Ruled

2009-05-23T21:33:00.002-04:00

Tonight, Josh Beckett was awesome. And he was slightly more awesome than Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey. Beckett gave up 1 run in the first and then none over 8 innings, and Pelfrey gave up 2 runs in the first and then none over 7. Definitely a pitchers' duel, and man, Beckett just had a great night. Loved it.

So, Papelbon came in to secure the game, and he first walked a guy, SO, SO #2, then he let a dude hit a home run and take the lead. Instant replay sucks when it goes against us. So Beckett was awesome for nothing. F. He was looking like, "You have GOT to be kidding me." Poor guy.

P.S. Go Denver and Cleveland! Somebody that I like needs to win tonight, so it's up to the Nuggets.