SawxBlog

D-Rays Top Sox 5-4, AL East Lead Shrinks...Again

Cora catches another amazing Mirabelli toss. (AP Photo)

The Red Sox lost their final game against the D-Rays of the season 5-4 yesterday afternoon. Wakefield wasn't his normal dominate self against the D-Rays as he only went 5.0 innings giving up 7 hits and 4 ER's in the process. The one bright spot of the day in my eyes was the continued emergence of RHP Bryan Corey. Corey went 1.2 innings giving up 0 hits and only 1 walk with the super-slim number of only 16 pitches thrown. I know Tito wants to count on Gagme in pressure situations in the playoffs and *gulp* use him as a bridge to Papelbon, but I think Corey and Delcarmen should get some serious consideration when looking to preserve a lead. In the last 7 games Corey has pitched in he's pitched 7.1 innings, given up 3 hits, K'd 5, and walked 3. These numbers have to eventually get someone's attention. It should matter how much money you're making, it should matter how you're performing, and the kids been performing. Sure he may look a little funny, but that fits him perfectly in a bullpen that includes Tavarez & Gagme.

With the Yankees outlasting the Blue Jays the Sox lead is now down to 1.5 games. The Yanks play today at 1:05pm, and before all is said and done, they could be only one game back of the Sox by sunset, and yes that's scary. I honestly don't think the Red Sox are aggressively going after the AL East anymore because of the lineups I see us throwing out there. Yesterday Wakefield had 4 out of the 9 players starting who are normally bench players. Yes I still think the Sox should be able to beat the D-Rays in a game that still means something in later September, however much like I wrote yesterday, I think they'd rather have a healthy Youk, Manny, Pedroia playing in the playoffs, then playing in Tampa Bay.

The Sox have an off-day today and when Francona was asked if Youk or Manny would be available Tuesday he said, "Probably not", which is a little worrisome because you'd like to see these guys get some at-bats before the playoffs. You work so hard to make the playoffs, it seems silly to ice your own players. Either way, the Jays could give us a little breathing room with a Burnett on the mound, we'll see, should be an interesting week.

Playoffs?!? We're Talkin' 'bout Playoffs! Red Sox clinch spot in Post Seaon

Cheers Boston, we're in the playoffs. (SawxBlog Illustration)

You know what I love most about the above picture? Manny Ramirez's enthusiasm. I, like a lot of Red Sox fans out there, was starting to question the validity of Manny's injury, it's hard not to. Given his past of questionable injuries, and coming fresh off of last year where it was reported that some players in the clubhouse believed Manny gave up on them, it was especially hard not raise and eyebrow ad look over in Manny's direction. It would have hurt that much more this year if Manny was "packing it in" because we're right in the midst of a pennant race, have the best record in MLB, and a really good team to boot. Two things in the past two days have happened that made me feel as if Manny wants to be out there.

If you look back at Beckett's 20th victory game you'll see that the very first person (aside from Francona) to congratulate Beckett upon him coming out of the game was Manny, which I thought was just awesome. There's no way you can say he's being a poor teammate when you see him doing things like that. And yesterday was another clear example that Manny is into the pennant race, and into his team winning ballgames. He was on the top step with everyone else, and was right there slapping fives and hoopin' and hollerin' it up with the boys.

His oblique injury is obviously something that is transparent in ways where you can't really see what's wrong, but it's apparent it's serious. There's been numerous players around the league who've been shut down for the year with the same exact injury this season, so maybe the Sox and Manny are just playing coy and resting it as much as possible. These games truly are important, but would you rather have a semi-healthy Manny playing the field and swinging a bat and playing the field to win the division, or a healthy Manny swinging a bat and playing the field to win some playoff games. I'd take the latter thank you.

Getting away from Manny now, how the Red Sox clinched a playoff spot last night was in one of the best ways possible for the team. Look at who your immediate heroes are. J.D. Drew, Julio Lugo, and Jason Varitek. All players who've definitely had their fare share of struggles with the bat this season, however they all have been showing significant improvements with the stick, and if they get confident heading into the playoffs your Boston Red Sox start looking awfully dangerous.

On the other side of the ball Daisuke Matsuzaka looked solid for his second strait start help silence the critics of his that thought he was out of gas. Also Eric Gagme looked good again...but I'll be riding him for the rest of the season regardless, I think the guy may need it. And Paps looked like Paps in the 9th closing out the game for us.

Time is on the the Sox side right now, and if they keep takin' it one day at a time the AL East may be soon to follow. It'll be interesting to see how we manage the team now that we're in the playoffs, either way though, it feels like the Sox are in a whole different place then they were in just four days ago, showing us all once again, how fragile and baseball season can be.

Thanks to Josh Beckett Red Sox Fans Can Step Back From the Ledge

And like that, it's easer to be optimistic and a Red Sox fan. (SawxBlog Illustration)

Even on a night when it looked like Josh Beckett wasn't going to have his best stuff, he manned up, stepped up to the mound, and pitched one hell of a game for the Red Sox. Beckett pitched six tough innings while working against a high pitch count brought on by the D-Rays lineup. Beckett gave up only 4 hits and struck out 8 all the while giving up only one earned run to help solidify his run at the Cy Young Award, and become the first 20 game winner in MLB since 2005. I feel like after every start Josh Beckett makes I'm stating how awesome it's been to see him step up to the role of the ace on the Sox, as well as become a stopper when the Red Sox have needed one. And that alone is why I think he's the Cy Young this year, he's been a rock for us from April to September.

The other great sign from tonight for me was how good Manny Delcarmen looked. Manny was nasty for the Sox earlier in the year. Manny hit a lull about half way through the year, however now it looks as if he may be starting to hit his stride again. His 10 pitch 7th inning was just what the doctor ordered, and alloted for him to come in and get an additional out for the Red Sox in the 8th.

On the other hand seeing Eric Gagme come into the game still made me nervous, even with it being 8-1 Sox. He looked OK out there, but again he had a flippin' 8-1 lead. It's going to take a lot more then some garbage mop-up duty for me to feel any semblance of confidence when he enters the game. Much like the win though, I'll take what I can get.  It was a clean inning though, and those have been a rare sight with Gagme on the mound.

I have to admit though it's getting harder and harder to see a lineup without Manny or Youk in it, and even though this game wasn't pretty, it was a hard fought win for us, and honestly, I'll take any 'W' I can get at this point in the season. Like people have been saying, the Red Sox control their own fate with the division, not the Yankees, and if they can just take care of the game that's on the schedule today, the rest will hopefully take care of itself. We need to get Youk and Manny healthy though before the playoffs, and I'm just hoping it's sooner then later. Great win for the Sox though (how 'bout Papi clutching it up?), only eight more games to go.

The Boston Dead Sox Are Coming! The Boston Dead Sox Are Coming!

Whatever you do right now, make sure that you're not blaming our starting pitching on what's happening. The Red Sox are getting quality start after quality start and their bullpen is pitching with absolutely zero confidence. After Papelbon's blown game against the Yankees you can chalk that up to being just "one of those games", however after last night you can chalk it up to "not being able to handle the pressure of a pennant race".

Thanks to all who came out to The Avenue last night for an impromptu SawxBlog gathering, however it looks like that wasn't enough. I'm honestly still too pissed to even write a real post right now. You know things aren't going too well when you start imposing a Sportscenter ban on yourself, and I'm there this morning. Oh, and in case you didn't know, it's completely OK to slam down that panic button now, the Red Sox look like a Dead Team Walking....

(SawxBlog Illustration)

Eric Gagme Is Going to Cost the Red Sox the AL East

I hate this guy, Eric Gagme is about as useful as case of hemorrhoids. (SawxBlog illustration)

Last nights game was ridiculous. Of all the games I watched over the year seeing Gagme stumble through the eighth inning was way worse than seeing the two losses to the Yankees over the weekend. The reason why it pissed me off so much is because this guy hasn't had a freaking clean inning since coming over to Boston. Gagme's blown a number of games for the Sox and he just looks awful everytime he's in the game. When Remy was saying that Gagme will be the bridge to Papelbon in the post season I seriously threw-up in my mouth. This guy is complete garbage and he certainly doesn't look like he did in 2003, but he's doing a hell of a job to help make 2007 look like 1978.

Lets look at Eric Gagme's stats in the past 10 games:

10 IP, 12 hits, 7 runs, 5 BB's, 10 K's, an average of 19.6 pitches per inning.

Translation, this guy's been horrendous. With Gagme and Oki both on the lamb now we need someone more than ever to step up and step up quick. (I'm looking your way Delcarmen and Timlin)

Our lead in the AL East is now 2.5 games, which is the closest anyone in the division has been since April 25th. APRIL!!! If we lose the division I'll be absolutely rip sh!t. At that point making the playoffs is a mute point. Our momentum is nill, and there's only 10 games left on the schedule, which is probably a good thing. We can't tie the MFY in the regular season because they won the season series by taking 5 of the last 6 against us (good job guys!). Things are looking bleak and if we lose tonight I will officially take my hand out of my pocket and SLAM down the panic button. Ladies and gentleman, your 2007 Boston Dead Sox.

Franky & the Jays Beat Back Peddling Red Sox 6-1

It was all smiles for Frank and the Jays yesterday. (AP Photo)

Do you hear that? If you listen closely it's almost impossible to miss. That drum beat that you're starting to hear  is a Red Sox Nation (who're about to vote for that useless President garbage...) that's officially worried. Amazing how fragile the psyche of a baseball fan can be huh? All it takes is losing a weekend series to the Yankees in a series that very easily could have been a Red Sox sweep, and therefore, no nervous fans. But that's not what happened, what's happening is a mounting fear that will continue to swell over until the Sox win a game.

Personally I'm not freaking out by any means, however my eyebrows are a little raised now. I mean, we do still have the best record in MLB by 1.5 games, however the old playoff adage is you'd rather be hot then good heading into the playoffs, and I think we all know who's hot right now, and who's not.

The Red Sox have 11 games left on their schedule and of those 11 games 6 are in Fenway Park. Our combined record against the remaining teams (Toronto, Tampa, Oakland, & Minnesota) on our schedule is 24-16 (a percentage of .666....is that a bad record to have because of the whole sign of the beast thing, Ha!) which is definitely in our favor. I think we need to take some breaths here and relax.

Lester takes the mound tonight against Burnett, which doesn't exactly get me excited, however September has been all about the kids, I have faith in Lester even though a lot don't. He had an AWFUL first inning last time out but settled down nicely after that. So I'd keep an eye on him the first couple innings, and if he can get out of that I expect nothing but a win.

Yankees Beat Red Sox in Classic Duel, See ya' in the ALCS

Jeter watches his game winning 3-Run HR sail over the Monster. (AP Photo)

Derek Jeter ended what was a great pitched game by Curt Schilling as the Yankees defeated the Red Sox 4-3. Last night was a typical Red Sox vs. Yankee game with its intensity and changing plot lines. Both Schilling and Clemens pitched impressively yesterday, even though in the end, it was Schilling who was the most effective going deep on a low pitch count.

The Red Sox just couldn't crack the Rocket, and that's especially evident when you have J.D. Boo and Varitek looking completely inept up at the plate. All I'm saying is that when Manny is healthy again J.D. and Ellsbury should be splitting time at the worst. I understand we've invested both (a lot say too much) time and money into J.D. Drew, but it's now September looking at October, and I'd think you'd want your best players out there on the field, not the ones who make the most money.

Aside from the Red Sox losing, I found the game last night to be pretty fun to watch. Seeing the transformed smart pitchers that both Schilling and Clemens have become is fascinating to say the least. It does make you question the investment in Clemens though if you're paying $1 million a start for a "contact" pitcher, but either way, the old man's still effective.

Another positive to take out of the game last night is knowing that we can still get under the skin of our old friend Mariano Rivera. Although it doesn't seem like Varitek can get big hits any more, he can still put in good at bats, and his walk to start the ninth was a great at bat.

The real losers of this weekend are the Detroit Tigers who actually seem to be realizing that they were fighting for a playoff spot. The Red Sox and Yankees are most likely going to be finishing exactly where they are (Red Sox AL East Champs, Yankees Wild Card) and sorry Tigers, but when you're counting on other teams to help back door you in, you've put yourself in a position you don't want to be in.

Tim Wakefield looks to help the Red Sox shorten their Magic Number as we hit the road and take on the Blue Jays.

Eric Hinske and Red Sox Roll Over Yankees, 10-1

Yesterday's win was without a doubt a catalyst of the effort made by Eric Hinske throughout the game. The most obvious example of this was in the bottom of the sixth inning when Hinske bowled over Yankee catcher Jorge Posada. (Every single replay was an absolute treat to watch) It was a clean, be it very hard, play and it seemed to inspire the rest of the Red Sox (even though he was out) as they went on to score three more runs in the inning en route to a 10-1 blow out. For those of us who've been watching the Red Sox all year this is yet another example of how it seems as if every guy who wears a uniform knows their role within the club and relishes the moments they have to be part of the team and prove themselves on the field. Be it Eric Hinske, Alex Cora, or whoever else. They're professional ballplayers who want to impact the game as much as they can when given the opportunity. Hinske didn't just level Posada, he also had a solo jack and moved over from LF to 1B and played a great first base in replacement of Youk. An honorable job and day for the role player.

Aside from the inspired play of Hinske there are two other stories of importance here. The next being Cy Young front runner (along with C.C. Sabathia) Josh Beckett. Beckett proved to be the better pitcher between Wang and himself yesterday as he only allowed 3 hits from the potent Yankee lineup and improved his record against teams with winning records to 11-2. He also became the first player in MLB with 19 wins and is having just a career year. Beckett has proven it over and over again, but it really showed yesterday. He's the man. He's our Ace. He's our Number One. His enthusiasm and competitiveness is eaten up here in Boston, and he's developed into a player the fans trust, count on, and really enjoy rooting for. I hope that Beckett get the Cy nod this year, it's tough competition with C.C., however he for sure knocked Wang out of that discussion.

The other player that I just can't seem to get enough is is Jacoby Ellsbury. This kid is taking over Boston and Fenway by storm. EVERYBODY loves this kid. From his blazing speed, clutch hitting, superb defense, enthusiasm, and yes guys, the chicks are certainly digging on him. J.D. Boo, although he had a decent game, has to be looking over his shoulder at this kid. He didn't even start the game, however when called upon after Youk's injury he came in and went 2/2, with 2 runs, and 3 RBI. It's unbelievable the impact he's making on every game he's in, and there hasn't been this much buzz about a September call up since Nomah. I knew he was special when earlier in the year he scored from second on a past ball. Now that's some crazy Ty Cobb sh!t.

Looking at the good young players the Red Sox have now is really, really good to see. Between 2007 Rookie of the Year Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelban, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Manny Delcarmen, Brandon Moss, and Jacoby Ellsbury the Red Sox front office has shown that they're not only creating a World Series contender today, but they're also making sure we'll be in contention down the road. And that's an impressive difficult thing to do.

The AL East is all but a lock now with the Magic Number now in single digits and with limited games left. Honestly the Yankees and national media should be a lot more worried about the Wild Card then the AL East, as the Tigers seem to finally have their heads out of their...ah...tails.

Tonight should be fun as Rocket takes on the Big Schill. I hope Roger gets a warm reception, even though he is mercenary who ended up going to the highest bidder. My remote is sure to be in overdrive as I switch between the Sox and Pats with a ferocity. A great day for sports.

Red Sox Pull An '04 Yankees, And Choke Like A Chicken

The Red Sox bench looks on as the game slips away. (SawxBlog Photo - Jeannine Booton)

Some Observations From the Game Last Night

• It's official, every single time the Sox and Yanks play each other at Fenway the game's bound to last a minimum of 16 hours. Watching these game is like running a freaking marathon, except you consume a lot more beer, and do a heck of a lot more cheering, yelling, and cursing.
• Dice-K is by far the biggest positive to come out of last night. He wasn't absolutely brilliant or anything, but he got out of a heck of a lot of jams and pitched very effectively. It seemed as if every strikeout he recorded came at a pivotal moment in the game.
• Ms. SawxBlog (Jeannine) was able to go to the game last night and had seats in the players wives section. She ended up meeting Manny Ramirez godson (Sammy) and according to him Manny won't be playing until Monday in Toronto. Take that for what it's worth, but I wouldn't expect to see him play in this series.
• On the other side of things, it was really nice to see the Sox get to Pettitte finally.
• If NESN shows their stupid freaking NASCAR crap anymore during the games I don't even know what. Note to the Red Sox owners, the GREAT majority of Red Sox fans could give two flying craps about NASCAR. And we really don't want to be introduced to it during a Red Sox vs. Yankee game in September.
• Seeing the celebrities at these games makes me pretty angry. There were times when Fenway seemed really complacent and they should have been more into the game. But as my friend Josh pointed out, that's what you get when everyone getting these tickets isn't a real fan.
• To say seeing Oki and Paps implode like they did would be a complete understatement. It was completely shocking. They've been as solid as solid is though, and I'll give them a pass on this one.
• I love Jacoby Ellsbury, te kid does something good (usually numerous times) every time he plays.
• Although rumors have been floating around on this, it appears that in fact, J.D. Drew does not have a posse.
• This loss really hurt, however all we have to do is win today and the wounds will begin to heal quick. You're only as good as your last game, and the Tigers are still closer to the Yankees then the Yankees are to the Red Sox. We win today the lead's back to 5.5 games with only 9 games left on the Yankees schedule.
• These games are extremely manic, fun, nerve wracking, and intense. Good or bad, it's the funnest time to watch either of these teams play.

Scenes From Around Fenway Last Night

(SawxBlog Photo - Jeannine Booton)
Tom Caron and Tom Werner on NESN during the pre-game show.

(SawxBlog Photo - Jeannine Booton)
The scene on Yawkey Way before the game.

(SawxBlog Photo - Jeannine Booton)
The view from Jeannine's seats last night.

(SawxBlog Photo - Jeannine Booton)
Derek Jeter digs in against Dice-K.

Krazy Kris: Let It Be J.D. Drew, Not J.D. Boo

I know D-Hix doesn't normally do link posts, but I read this article this morning and felt compelled to comment:

The Eagle Tribune: Don't Boo Drew

In it, Varitek implores the whole of Red Sox Nation to cut J.D. Drew some slack and even, heaven forbid, root him on once in a while. It struck a chord with me because, like Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo, Drew's been a player I've been watching intently all season, hoping for a dare-to-be-great situation. He's had a few keys hits lately, but his presence must be felt this weekend at Fenway, in what is arguably the biggest series to-date. Which brings me to my point: setting aside the obvious fickleness of your average Red Sox fan, why is it so hard to refrain from booing one of our own players?

Admittedly, Drew isn't having a stellar, or even average season. But as Varitek points out "He's not only our right fielder now, but he's going to be here awhile." Look, if you consider yourself a fan of the Sox, then as a fan it is your duty to support the team. In every way. Sure, we're allowed to disagree with a roster move or a trade, but if we are truly committed to this team the way each and every player is (and believe me, they are) it is our obligation to support each and every part of the team.

Drew may have a break-out year next year, or even a great run through the playoffs this year. But he needs us now, just as much as the Red Sox need him to step up. So, take 'Tek's advice: don't boo the Drew. Cheer him on as though he were Manny, or Papi, or anyone else we as a Nation have deemed fit to receive our applause. Because, after all, he is a part of this team, and we support this team 100% or not at all. Save the boos for A-Rod and Judas.

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Derek back here, I'm going to comment on this in the comment section just because...well, I usually don't have that opportunity! But I will try to revive the J.D. Drew Has A Posse mantra...ya' never know, right?

(SawxBlog Illustration)