Papelblown Loses Game for Sox, Actually I Blame Tito There, & Jason Varitek Dating Heidi Watney?

Jonathan Papelbon reacts after his nightmare of a ninth inning. (AP Photo)

Hindsight's always a funny thing, however in last nights case I think it's something that's necessary. Yes it's a nine inning game, and yes focusing on one inning isn't looking at the whole picture, but trust me, come October the ninth inning is all that matters when you have a one run lead at home. The shaky (or can we start calling that consistent?) start of Dice-K is gone, the heroics of Manny Delcarmen and Jason Bay are past, it's down to just those three outs, and that's all that matters. Three outs. That's how close the Boston Red Sox were to re-claiming, what once looked like was too far out of reach, first place in the AL East. Papelbon just didn't look himself, and he fell behind early to Dan Johnson which is an uncharacteristic trait of the closer.

Even the casual Red Sox fan could tell that Papelbon didn't have it last night, and for good reason. After being extended for four outs the prior day, and pitching for the third day in a row you can't really expect too much of a guy in such an emotionally charged game. What gets me, is why in the hell did Papelbon pitch against the Rangers Sunday? It was a 7-2 game and I know he "needs his work", but seriously, if he has to pitch three games in a row, or "get his work in", shouldn't that be against the team we're trying to catch in the East? I'm just saying....

And about the bottom of the ninth, man...Tito was really at his worst there. Kotsay gets a lead off walk which is like gold when trying to score a run, I'm too lazy to look up the statistics right now, but trust me, the rate of those runs scoring are very high. Remember the 2004 ALCS? Percival was all over the place and could NOT find the plate, so what does Francona do with very good and eligible left handed bats on the bench? He sends Mr. Watney, I mean Jason Varitek, up to bat. Yup, Mr .225 himself. And he doesn't even send him up there to swing, he sends him up there to BUNT. Like Cora or Jacoby wouldn't be more serviceable in that situation. AND we also have TWO catchers on the bench who can come in the tenth and hit .225 for the Sox. Awful. So Varitek and Tito know that Troy boy can't find the plate and continue to try and bunt at balls that aren't even around the plate, and one that literally would have hit him. First and second with no out and Papi up, sure sounds nice huh? Then to cherry off the at bat Jason Watney watches the only strike thrown to him backdoor him out as he tries to complain about God knows what to the ump.

Now if Jacoby's quad was serious, cool. I get not pinch hitting him to bunt, or run. But why do it all of a sudden with two outs? Is his quad magically healed? Shouldn't he have been in there at worst as a decoy and distraction to the pitcher right after Mark was walked? I vote yes. He goes on to go to third on a stolen base, but Tito it was all way too little, and way too late. Everyone has an off night I guess, but man, I still feel hoarse from yelling at the TV.

And about the Mr. Watney comments, rumor has it from a fairly reliable source of mine that Jason Varitek is dating NESN "host" Heidi Watney. Yeah she's hot and all, but if this is true it shows you the good ol' boy attitude the major media has towards the captain. If he were in NY this would be all over Page Six. Not that I expect Tom Caron to cover this on NESN, but man, pretty bad that this is a non-story. The family man divorces his wife, can't hit his way out of a wet paperbag, and now dates the new floozy anchor host who apparently got fired from her last job for dating Jake Peavy (can't confirm this last part, help?). Either way, it's interesting how little mention there's been of this, and in the end who cares as longs as he's playing good ball...and yeah, hitting "OK" for two weeks isn't good ball, I don't care how "good of a game" he calls. My source said the Red Sox organization isn't too happy with either parties, but you can't control who you love right?

Sigh, glass is half empty today.

Comments

[Melissa]

I didn't even know Tek got divorced?! That's my very 1st comment, about Tek and his divorce, LOL. If he is dating Watney, I am pretty disappointed in ya Tek!!! You need to be focusing on getting some damn hits and raising that average ABOVE .230. You have a contract that is up this year, what the hell you doing dude. Get your damn head in the GAME or I am going to start calling you Jeter. I am on a roll today, because I'm pissed at Tito this morning. What the hell was he thinking, Pap needs a day to freakin rest, what did Tito expect last night seriously. Can we say overworking our closer?! Or is it just me?!

Bay's shot to the green monster was pretty cool though, it mattered up until the 9th inning, then it was all down hill from there. Dang it Red Sox!!!!

[SoxyLady]

Great post, Derek.
I'd comment more, but every point you bring up gets me all fired up.

[RationalSoxFan]

I just finished a post, and stopped by. We wrote practically the same thing. I'm with you 100%. They may have lost anyway, but the bottom of the 9th was not handled well at all.

And, what the heck is Varitek doing going out with my girlfriend!

[Melissa]

I just read a past article on bostonglobe.com about the Varitek's divorce. Wow, never even knew. Is that why he is playing the way he is?! He best step it up, Theo and Co. are not going to give him what the Yankees gave Jorge, that's a fact.

[NCSox]

Mellisa, he is not divorced, at least not yet. According to news reports, he was separated for the majority of the summer and only filed for divorce in July, which is probably the reason for his slump this summer. Derek is just a bit ahead of himself on that. And there is no proof to the rumor that he is dating Heidi Watney. At least none yet! People just choose to believe everything they read on the internet from anonymous sources who always seem to be "in the know", but yet still remain anonymous.

[Melissa]

NCSox

I am not believing everything I read on the Internet, I do believe Boston globe though when they say the papers have been filed. That's a true fact. And when our catcher our CAPTION is hitting .225 on the season with 12 HR's and 38 RBI'S in September and his contract IS UP THIS YEAR I say something is going on!!!!

Just my 2 cents tho.

[NCSox]

Uh, Melissa, you need to read my post again! I didn't say he wasn't getting divorced, I said he was not divorced yet, that the papers were just filed at the end of July! I also said that his marital problems were probably the reason for his slump -- too much on his mind! Read it again!

Derek,

The stories about him and Watney are just that - stories - everyone has heard them from someone who heard it from someone else...exactly what all those links suggest!

[Melissa]

NCSox-

Irregardless of what is going on his personal life, his bat has been needed this year, and he has not done anything with it. I am a HUGE Tek fan and have been a big supporter of him, even through his verrrry long slump this year, if the Red Sox decide to not give him another contract in the off season I for one am not going to be too heart broken. Jason has had a great career in Boston, and Red Sox Nation will always love & admire him, but I think it's time we go in another direction for a catcher. It's about time we see what George Kottaras can do for this team. That's all I'm saying, no need to be mean, we all root for the same team here.

[NCSOX]

Who is being mean? I just told you to re-read my initial post...but how can you be a "HUGE" Tek fan and not know about a divorce that was made very public in all the papers and on the internet over a month ago and at the same time say that if he is not given another contract in the off season, "I for one am not going to be too heart broken".

Yeah, you sound like a "HUGE" fan of his.

George Kottaras? you're kidding right?

[Melissa]

NCSox-

For 1 I did not know that Varitek and his wife were divorcing because I was too busy watching baseball, not reading about his personal life.

2nd I am a Tek fan, and who are you to say that I am not. Excuse me for saying it, but Varitek is 36 years old, when they start playing the 2009 season he'll be 37. He is a catcher, and all the abuse he puts on his body being the starting catcher for the Sox has put a toll on him. Do you actually believe that Theo and Co are going to sign him to a deal like Jorge's? Because there not going to, the Red Sox will be doing some wheeling and dealing in the off season, and I don't believe Varitek is going to be a part of any of it.
3rd no I am not going to be heart broken if they give up Tek in the off season. He has had a great career in Boston, players get traded all the time, it's a fact of life. That does not mean I am not a fan of his, because I won't be all sad if they don't resign him, it maybe Jason's time to go. Who knows, you or I are not the ones to make that decision.

And yeah I am a fan of George Kottaras, sorry if that bothers you.

And again I state like I already did. We both root for the same team!!!!