SawxBlog

Order Restored in Universe, Red Sox Back in First

Josh Beckett throws a pitch home against the Rays last night. (AP Photo)

The Boston Red Sox and Josh Beckett (6-4) took care of business once again last night as they went on to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1. This was a game that seemed to be filled with a little more tension then normal, and it all started in the bottom of the first when Dustin Pedroia was robbed of a homerun that clearly wrapped itself around Pesky's Pole. For the most part Pedroia and the Sox kept their cool, and went on to cruise to a fairly routine win.

I'd be the first to admit that the Rays are one of the better stories thus far in the 2008 season, I mean it's June right now and they're still 6.5 games ahead of the Yankees, you just gotta love that right? But to honestly think that this young inexperienced team will be able to hang with the Sox down the stretch of the grueling upcoming summer months just isn't very realistic. You could see their frustration boiling over last night with Coco's totally legit slide into second. In the end they don't have the arms or true offensive firepower to sustain their run. Eventually they'll start cooling off at home and will start looking a whole lot more like the Devil Rays and not the Rays. Their run differential is only 22 runs right now as opposed to the Red Sox at 48. And they haven't really had to go through any true injuries to the team. Again the Rays are a great story, and will be a threat for years to come, but right now in my eyes, they're not even close to a threat to the Sox.

The Sox game has been moved up an hour today so that Boston fans can watch the game tonight without having to channel flip as the start will now be 6:05pm. Let's hope they can get the sweep, and more importantly, LET'S GO CELTICS!!!

Red Sox Win Game & Home field Advantage Throughout the Playoffs

J.D. Drew slapping fives with part of his posse. (AP Photo)

So Wednesday it is for the Red Sox and their 2007 Playoff run after J.D. Drew, who's getting pretty darn hot at the right time, helped spark the Red Sox to victory with a three run homer in the bottom of the seventh. The Red Sox chose to start the playoffs Wednesday instead of Thursday because it will give them an extra days rest during the series. I think the Red Sox match up great against the Angels, and espeically with it being a short series. I would not want to have to face Sabathia and Carmona in a five game set, either way though, it's the playoffs and the intensity is going to be cranked up for sure. We'll have a lot more analysis on the playoffs in the coming days, but for now it's nice to have accomplished all the regular season goals we could have, so lets sit back, and look back on the AL East Champs one more time.

Red Sox AL East Celebration Part 1

Red Sox AL East Celebration Part 2

Red Sox AL East Celebration Part 3

Red Sox AL East Celebration Part 4

Red Sox AL East Celebration Part 5

Boston Red Sox 2007 AL East Champions

2007 is the new 1995, not 1978. (SawxBlog Illustration)

Wow. Not only do the Boston Red Sox get the game, but they also get the division in an electrifying night at Fenway Park. How the Red Sox won the division is absolutely sweet. Dice-K pitched another solid game for the Sox, our offense did their job, Paps got his 37th save, Mariano Rivera (who resounds no fear in me at all anymore) gives up a bases clearing triple to Jay Payton to tie the game with two outs in the 9th, Orioles win with a walk-off bunt to A-Rod in extras. Hells Yeah.

This is step one of hopefully three more celebrations for the Red Sox as we now can ease into the playoffs fully rested and ready to kick some ass. We sill have a chance at the best record in the bigs (right now we're tied with the Indians), but either way it was just a sweet night that's going to get us on the good foot heading into the playoffs.

Think about it, Papelbon was in the middle of Fenway tonight in his underwear doing an Irish Jig. As if Papelbon had to do anything additional to endear himself to Red Sox Nation. So lets celebrate Boston and New England, first with a look back to the past, and then a look back to last night.

Below is one of my all-time favorite Red Sox moments. The year, 1990. The pitcher, Jeff Reardon. The catch Tom Brunansky. Nuff' Said.

Now some pictures to prove it on a great night in the Fens. Congratulations to your...

2007 AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST CHAMPIONS BOSTON RED SOX!!!

Dice-K poppin' the bubbly. (AP Photo)


Papelbon hanging out in his underwear. Froto being short. Drunk Sox. (AP Photo)


This picture says it all to me. The separation between fan and player is non-existent here. Great shot. (AP Photo)


After last night I now know what I thought, Papelbon is a madman. Look how happy everyone is in the background, watching the Sox celebrate is one of my favorite things to do in the world. From Yaz to Pedro to Paps, it just never gets old. (AP Photo)


Big Papi getting owned by some sham-paug-nay. (AP Photo)


I got one word for ya, YYYYYYYYYYOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKKKK. (AP Photo)

Thoughts On Last Nights Game, The "Presidential Race" for Red Sox Nation, Sawx vs. Yanks & More

(SawxBlog Montage)

The Red Sox magic number remains stagnant after a night where the club lost an interesting game to the Minnesota Twins 5-4. The Yankees also won down in Tampa to help keep apply any pressure there is on the Red Sox and their division hopes. I thought last nights game was actually a pretty fun one to watch. I was in my apartment with Jeannine doing laundry, eating Red Sox peanuts, and cookin' hot dogs, just like being at the ballpark (minus the laundry which I avoid doing like the plague).

It'll be curious to see how much Beckett's sub-par outing last night will effect his chances in the Cy Young race, I hope not too much, but ya' never know. I do know that if he went out there and had a dominant performance he would have been a cinch for the Cy but oh well.

I really thought the Sox were going to come back there at the end, it just seemed like it was going to roll into one of those classic Fenway Park Red Sox wins, we just couldn't push that final runner across the plate. Hats of to V-Tek though on his HR to help us pull within one. Even though it seems like it's been rather frustrating to see Varitek at the plate this year with his strikeouts and all, he has been having some pretty clutch hits down the stretch here (he had that HR in Tampa when we came back) and I'm pinning him right now as my dark horse candidate to be the hero of the playoffs for the Sawx. Speaking of candidates that leads me to my next topic of discussion...

The Red Sox Nation Presidential Race is A Sham & a Joke

I loathe this "presidential race" and think it's a complete and utter joke which helps make real Red Sox fans (and I'll include myself in that category) looked dumbed down in this post 2004 world in which we live in. First off we have all these b-list Boston only celebrities running for the title of President of Red Sox Nation who in the end are trying to jump start their name into our consciousness...kill me now. And Sorry Sam Horn, you may have a great message board named after you in the vein of Sam Adams (whose birthday was yesterday by the way), but honestly, we don't need you to be "our" president, when in the end it's just a career move for you. Which brings me to Remy.

Don't get me wrong here, I love listening to Remy on the air. I love the fact that a lot of the time it seems as if he just took a few pulls on a phat spliff with "the Don" before going on the air, but if I have to listen to him plug his (no offense) sh!tty website or talk about this "presidential race" more then the ACTUAL PENNANT RACE the Red Sox are in then I'm going to get all mid evil on my television set. I would much rather have Curt Gowdy pushing Narragansett Beer on Red Sox fans then Remy trying to shove sausages and Wally down our throats. Stick to what you're good at, you're spreading yourself a little too thin buddy. And Tim Russert, did you really monitor this? Wow, Tommy W has a lot more pull then I ever thought I guess...

If they really wanted a real president then they should have gone to real fans. I think I, Peter N, Soxy lady, the fellahs at Surviving Grady, or any of the other wonderful Red Sox blogs out there would have been a much better choice then the flipping owner of the ducks tours, I mean, really?!? The issues I care about are small but universal among Sox fans. Solve the ticket problem, all your season ticket holders are scalpers and vice versa. Give us beer vendors.

Red Sox vs. Yankees inevitable in ALCS?

Talking about this is like talking about your chickens before they hatch, but it is Friday, so what the heck. As a Sox fan I never would want to face the Yankees in the playoffs, however even as I type that I know I'm lying. There's a part in every Red Sox and Yankee fan that yearns for it more then anything. Nothing is more fun then a Red Sox vs. Yankee ALCS, not even the World Series. Both sides of fans live off of it and root harder then ever, and that's what makes them so fun. Here's two e-mail's I've received (of many) from Yankee fans that makes me love and hate them in the same breath.

"The Evil Empire is coming to get you!!!
 
:-)
 
Signed,
 
Derek Vader"

And....

"Derek,

Its a GREAT Game.

Its a long season

Its the BEST Rivalry in ALL of sports.

This will be a FANTASTIC weekend of baseball for Boston and New York.

Looking forward to October.

Maybe the next time I am in Boston we can meet.

Take care,

Scott"

RSN to Choose Greatest Games in Fenway History for DVD Collection

I don't think this is launching until 10/1 however sounds pretty interesting and fun, see the press release below:

As the Boston Red Sox begin their pursuit of the 2007 World Series championship, A&E Home Video, MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, and Major League Baseball Productions invite the membership of Red Sox Nation and baseball aficionados everywhere to help create history by selecting the greatest games played at Fenway Park for inclusion in an upcoming DVD set.  From October 1 through October 22, Red Sox Nation members will have the opportunity to cast their votes for the most memorable home games over the past 40 years of the storied franchise, exclusively at RedSox.com/greatgames.  The six games that garner the highest vote totals will then be assembled into a special collector’s edition DVD entitled BOSTON RED SOX: GREATEST GAMES IN FENWAY PARK, a 6+ DVD set scheduled to be released in 2008.

On the “Great Games” voting page, Red Sox Nation members will be prompted to select six games from over 20 hand-picked from the Major League Baseball archives. Members will be able to relive the sights and sounds from these memorable games as each will feature a special video presentation along with a detailed synopsis.  To help diversify the set, the games will be separated into three distinct categories (1967-1986, 1987-2002, 2003-present), and members will have to select at least one game from each of the three eras but no more than four games per era.  Every Red Sox Nation member will be allowed to vote up to 25 times during the three-week balloting period.  Baseball fans can keep tabs on the results with periodic voting updates on RedSox.com.

Iron Mike Lowell Is Waiting For Your Challenge!!

I just bought Punchout! for my Wii and it was a very solid decision. (SawxBlog Illustration)

The Red Sox magic number is down to two games which means that the Red Sox could clinch the AL East as soon as tonight. The Red Sox have no one to thank more this year (aside from maybe Beckett, not a bad trade there huh?) then Mike Lowell for being in the position they're in. In a year where Manny and Papi didn't put up the numbers we've come to expect (although Papi's numbers are still pretty sick) and where J.D. just didn't protect like he was supposed to, Mike Lowell was the rock of our offense.

This shown through once again last night as Mike Lowell went 3/5 with 5 RBI and 1 run scored. I know it's been debated at length on SawxBlog over having A-Rod or Lowell next year but goddamn, I love Mike Lowell. The dude's just a total gamer who plays the game hard and with class. Yeah A-Rods a better player, but I'd rather spend the $30 million on more then one player. Lowells veteran leadership, solid defense, and great stick seem to fit in perfectly with this team. No one could have ever replaced Bill Mueller aside from Lowell, and I fear who'll have to someday replace Lowell. This is all for another day in the off season though.

The Red Sox have a division they're about to win, and they're still only 0.5 games behind the Indians for the best record in MLB and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. You've seen the last two nights how well the Red Sox play at Fenway, so lets hope they assure the most home games possible come playoff time.

It's a Good Thing We Don't Believe In Curses...

...because Sports Illustrated just put the full court press on Paps. (SI Cover Photo)

I'm sure a lot of you out there have already read this article on Papelbon, but in case you haven't I highly recommend it. I read it this  afternoon on my lunch break and I forgot how good of a writer Tom Verducci was until reading this. This gives you not only a nice peak into the life of our your flamethrower of a closer, but also into the Red Sox as an organization, which I once again, have gained some serious respect for. Also, this gets you pretty freaking pumped to see him doing his thing come playoff time, I can't wait.

The Red Sox Have Manny Reasons to be Happy

Seeing Manny (Along with his royal Youkness) is certainly a sight for sore eyes. (AP Photo)

Last nights game was a great game to attend and once again the No Scalp Zone at Fenway came through in the clutch. I was scouring all day on Craigs List for a good deal, however everyone on Craigs List are still trying to make a profit, and I'd rather keep my money where it belongs, in my pocket. So I went to the no scalp zone and bought for face value ($45.00 each) two LF Grandstands in section 31, which was perfect because it gave us a good view of the field and the man they call Manny. I'd rather sit in the LF Grandstands any day of the week instead of the RF Grandstands just because it's more enjoyable to watch the game from there, and speaking of the game, lets talk about that huh?

The last time I was at Fenway I saw Curt Schilling lose in a 1-0 duel against that pesky Scott Kazmir. What I noticed in both contests is that Curt Schilling still has it. The Big Schill still has that aura of confidence around him when he's on the hill and that was very present last night. A great start for Curt.

Last night also saw the re-emergence of two of our fallen heroes, Mr. Manny Ramirez & Mr. Kevin Youkilis. Having these two guys on their way back is beyond huge for the Sox and their post season chances. I think by letting them rest and assuring that they're healthy for the playoffs was the wisest thing to do, however at times when our lead was shrinking it was a little hard to swallow. Manny looked very balanced up at the plate which means we just injected a nice fat amount of Bad Ass back into our lineup.

The race for the best record in MLB is now most realistically a two horse race with Boston squaring off with Cleveland. Cleveland is in the lead now with a 0.5 game lead over the Red Sox and the Angels are still within sniffing distance at 2 games. The big difference here is that all the Angels and Indian games that are left are on the road, and as we know from yesterday's post, all of the Red Sox are at home.

If I had to pick who the Sox would play I'd pick the Indians just because of the shorter travel and the known difficulties the Yankees have with the Angels. The Indians have the far superior pitching when compared to the Angels, however I think our lineup could crack it. Talk to me tomorrow on this because either way, it's not going to be a fun ALDS. What a week.

Red Sox Win, Yankees Lose, Life is Good

I'm always afraid Papi's one hard forearm away from sending Pedroia to the DL. (SawxBlog Illustration)

I just got back from the game at Fenway and even as I type this I still have a slight buzz from that oh so expensive $7.00 Fenway beer and via talking to my Dad in the cab on the way home and watching SportsCenter as I update this site I've come to the realization that not only did the Red Sox win, but the MFY lost to the D-Rays, hells yeah!!! And yes that was quite the run-on sentence. The AL East is ours now, first time since 1995, we're now playing for the best record in baseball, high time in Boston indeed. More to come tomorrow after a nice nights rest. Lets Go Sox!!!

Manny Ramirez Back in Lineup Tonight!!!

Sign of the times... (SawxBlog Illustration)

Now that's what I'm talking about! Manny's starting tonight in LF and batting second of all places...I wonder the last time that happened.

Oh Canada! Jays Beat Yanks, Sox Lead Back to an even 2

Curtis Thigpen helped the Red Sox increase their lead to 2 games in the East. (AP Photo)

Whenever the Red Sox have an off day you sort of get the feeling that you're a child again, gripped in a moment of fear as you wonder around the supermarket looking for your parents whom you've become separated from. That may be a little extreme, but it is disappointing when you know that the Sox won't be on the tube on any given night. The nice news from yesterday came from those spoilers we like to also call the Toronto Blue Jays. Not only did they sweep the Sox in a three game series last week, but they they took 2/4 from the Yanks in a series they could have easily won more then 2 games. Pretty impressive run for them, I just wish they didn't play so well against the Sox...or maybe it was the other way around...

Anyways, having our lead be at two games instead of one is beyond an advantage at this stage in the season. The Red Sox have six games left on their schedule and if they can win four out of the six they should be your 2007 AL East Champs. The Yankees have six games left as well, and they'd need to sweep to win the division in that case. Again this is all assuming the Red Sox win four games, which is anything but a given, so lets take a look at what both the Red Sox and Yankees are facing down the stretch.

As you can see the Yankees have the easier schedule as far as their opponents records, however the Red Sox have the advantage of playing all of their remaining games at home (even though there will be more Yankee fans at Tropicana Field then D-Ray fans). The Yankees games are split, three to three between the Devil Rays and Orioles, the bottom feeders of the AL East. Divisional games are tricky though, but I'd expect nothing short of the Yankees coming out swinging as they try to bury these weaker teams with the power of their line-up.

The Red Sox games are split up with two against the A's (who are coming across the country which is good for us) and four against the Twins. These teams are definitely stronger then the Yankees opponents, however we'll have the Fenway Faithful as a tenth man to rely on, and you'd have to guess you'll finally see Youk and Manny take some live swings before the playoffs. Seeing how management approaches the Red Sox line-ups (as well as how they use their pitchers) will really tell us if the Sox are aggressively going after the AL East, or preparing for the playoffs. I'd hope they'd be doing both because having the home field advantage in Fenway Park would seem to be a distinct advantage for the team. Either way this is going to be a fun week as we see things and teams fall into place. Let's Go Sox.