SawxBlog

Cliff Lee is the Beast Master

_{Cliff Lee is living on a planet by himself right now, as he has no equal. (AP Photo)}

Calling Cliff Lee a Beast would be an insult. He's more akin to a Beast Master right now, and he's making professional ballplayers across the league look like a bunch of lost little leaguers who are still learning the game. Lee baffled the Red Sox all night long, mixing his pitches to perfection, while giving up only two hits for his third consecutive shutout. On the other side of the mound Beckett looked rusty after his long layoff, and didn't live up to the billing of this pitchers duel.

The Sox are on a skid now, they've lost six of their last ten games, and are now looking towards - gulp - John Lackey to be their stopper tonight, which means in order to win, they'll have to score a lot of runs. The Yankees are 1.5 games ahead of the Sox in the AL East, which also means Phase 3 has officially been haulted.

Two observation from last nights game:

1. Thank God almighty Lee didn't sign with the Yankees. Once  again, a big THANK YOU to those Yankee fans who harrassed his wife last year.
2. The Red Sox lineup is severely hurting with Crawford on the DL and J.D. Drew deciding to retire. I'd honeslty rather see Papi in LF than Darnell McDonald batting fifth (half kidding here), his OBP is below the Mendoza Line for Christs sake, I mean, there's a reason he spent 10 years in the Minor's and was only given a chance to start during the Zombie infection of 2010.

I could go on and on, but something needs to give, Nick Cafardo wrote on this today, and I agree that a real solution in RF is needed - it's a weak link, which is doubley exposed when Papi has to sit when playing in NL ballparks.

I have a lot to say on J.D. Drew too, but that needs to wait for a post of its own...

Red Sox Salvage a Game in Pittsburg

_{David Ortiz slides past Eric Fryer to score yesterday in Pittsburg. (AP Photo)}

The Red Sox avoided being swept by the Pirates yesterday afternoon with a 4-2 victory after another solid start by Andrew Miller. Miller pitched good enough for the win, and has been a pleasant surprise for the Sox thus far. After two starts Miller has a 3.09 ERA with 10 K's and 5 BB's, and has done a serviceable job of holding the line with Dice-K being out for the year, and Buchholz on the DL.

The real story for the Sox as of late has been their disappointing play against weak National League Teams. They just lost four out of six games to two Clubs with a combined record of 73-83. I understand hiccups are going to happen during the year, but the Sox should still win both of these series at the least. Instead, they allowed the Yankees to leap frog them in the standings, and killed some of the momentum they had riding through most of June. You hope playing a "real" team like th Phillies will better prepare them to play, because something definitely seemed to be missing this weekend.

John Lacking

_{Tito visits the mound to save John Lackey from himself. (AP Photo)}

The Red Sox Terror Level has been raised to Blue, and John Lackey has a lot to do with that. Of the Soxlast six series they've only lost one, and that was yesterdays finale against the San Diego Padres, a Team the Sox should never lose a series to, especially at home.

John Lackey only make it through 3.1 innings giving up 5 ER and 4 BB. His ERA is now a large 7.36 on the season, and opponents are hitting a neat .291 off him. Lackey was a complete mess out there, and hurt his own chances more than anyone, throwing pitches with no command throughout the start. He threw a wild pitch to allow a run to score, and also hit Jason Bartlett with the bases loaded to bring home another run. Sure the conditions were bad yesterday, with rain causing four separate delays, but that's no excuse, he's supposed to be a Pro. 

Padres pitcher, Clayton Richard, had a bases-loaded jam of his own. But he was able to induce David Ortiz to hit into an inning ending double play, and not hit him, at least giving his defense a chance to make a play. but it must have not of been raining that half of the inning...regardless, John Lackey is still the new sad face.

Happily I Drowned

_{New York looming from the roof deck of The Gem Hotel in Chelsea. (D. Hixon - Photo)}

Don't worry my friends, I'm not wearing any pinstripes. Nor have I been converted over to the Dark Side by some drunken backroom promises that were filled with greed and fear - I'm just enamored by the unique buzz that a night in New York City can provide. I'm now on the Acela speeding back to my cherished city of Boston, but the trip home is always filled with a tinge of loss. I was in the City because on brief business, and was able to meet up with my good friend Josh for some drinks, and of course, the Sox.

We went to  Professor Thom's to watch the game, and it was a total trip being there. The instant I walked in all I could hear was the soothing voice of Don Orsillo bouncing about the dimly lit air as I became awash in a wave of surreal. The wall's were adorned with Boston sports paraphernalia, and most people belly up to the bar were donning Boston gear. If I didn't know better, I would have thought I was in a bar on Landsdowne, and instantly I was mooning about the place with a dumb grin on my face while soaking it all in. 

With each Red Sox hit the patrons cheered as if it were a playoff game, and the barkeep rang a bell whenever the Sox crossed the plate. I was lucky enough to meet a fellow Red Sox blogger on his home turf in John Quinn. John's the Lieutenant Governor of Red Sox Nation in New York, and it just so happened to be his trivia night at Professor Thom's. So Josh and I jumped right in, and were joined by the talented and hilarious Kelly and Lindsey - who have a comedy show at Thom's this Friday night, which you should certainly go to if in the City. The Sox ended up losing the game, and we didn't win at trivia either, but we definitely won on the night, as Thom's played the perfect backdrop to my brief New York adventure.

As I stumbled into my cab I fell in love with New York City and all that it can stand for. Professor Thom's is a perfect example of what makes that town so great. No matter what your interests are, where you're from, or what your nationality is - there's something for you in New York. And it won't just be there, but it'll also be authentic and a perfect taste of wherever you're from. They city really does have it all. For some people it's the food that brings them back, but for me - it's the Sox, and having the safety net of home juxtaposed against the randomness of New York does anything but bring me down. I may hate the Yankees, but Goddamn, I sure do love New York.

New York, I love You but you're bringing me down
Like a death of the heart...Jesus, where do I start
But you're still the one pool where I'd happily drown
- LCD Soundsystem

Seven Ten Split Spares Red Sox

_{Dave Roberts acknowledges the crowd at the start of the sixth inning. (AP Photo)}

The Sox and Padres were squared-off in a tight contest last night at Fenway Park - then the seventh inning happened, where the Red Sox bats unleashed a fury of runs that left the Padres stunned and at a loss. The offense exploded for ten total runs total in the bottom of the 7th, turning the close affair into a laugher, while sending the Faithful home happy. The final score was 14-5, and again the offense was the story, which is turning into something of a beautiful broken record. The Sox have now scored 10 runs or more in five of their last ten games, and as I tweeted the other day, if you're heading to Fenway anytime soon, you may want to wear a flame retardant suit so you don't get burned, because the Sox are fire hot right now.

I'd be remiss to not mention how great it was to see Dave Roberts back in Fenway. With all he's had to deal with during his battle with cancer, it was great to see his smiling face back in Boston. He was a little brutal as an announcer when filling in for Remy on NESN a bit back, but I'm pretty sure he gets a free pass on pretty much anything as far as Sox fans are concerned. Without Roberts, 2004 may not have such a holy ring to it, his energy, enthusiasm, and professional demeanor helped lay the seeds of success for where the franchise is today. And I believe I speak for all of Red Sox Nation when I say he's welcome back anytime, my only complaint is that he's not a base-coach for us.

I'd also like to give a shout-out to Andrew Miller, who was very serviceable in his first start for the Sox, throwing 89 pitches over 5.2 innings, while giving up 3 ER. I equate Miller and his career path along the same lines as Salty. They both were highly touted prospects who flamed out and are looking for redemption. Miller was the number six overall pick in the 2006 draft, and is a typical Theo Epstein signing, low cost, high reward type of guy. And much like Salty, this may be his last real chance to prove he belongs in the Big Leagues, and I hope last night the first step in him proving just that.

One Final Victory Lap

_{The Bruins celebrate their Championship in front of the Fenway Faithful. (AP Photo)}

Yesterday afternoon started off with a final victory lap for the Bruins and Stanley Cup at Fenway Park. The sports fraternity in Boston is a club where all members stand on equal footing, and each is a Champion. From a fans perspective, it's really cool to see these two worlds collide. It's like seeing Batman and Superman hanging out over a coffee or beer, and helps them realize that while they may play different sports, they're really on the same Team.

The pre-game festivities carried over into the first inning, where the Red Sox scored six runs, highlighted by a KevinYoukilis three-run blast, effectively ending the game before it started. The win gave the Sox their fifth series win in a row as their bats continue to scorch., Their offense is now ranked first in the Big's in runs scored, batting average, and on-base percentage.

Tim Wakefield received the much deserved win, and is now only nine wins away from having the most wins in Red Soxhistory. He's currently at 183, and trails only Roger Clemons and Cy Young. He'd have to have one heck of a run to get the record this season, but if he can find a way to come back next year, it could be his. That's asking a lot from the oldest player in the Big Leagues, however, I'm sure while aware of the record, Wakefield only cared about theSox getting the win, and not himself, and that's why he's an all-time great for us.

Happy to Be Home and Rolling

_{All smiles. Big Papi greets Gonzo at home plate after his opposite field blast. (AP Photo)}

The Red Sox came home to Fenway Park last night after a nine game road trip that saw them go 8-1, while gaining control of the AL East. They also came home to a ravenous fan-base that's been worked up in a fervor due to the Bruins winning the Stanley Cup. The Red Sox didn't disappoint the Faithful last night, as they went on to handily defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 10-4.

During their torrid run the Red Sox have had some amazing pitching (not including Lackey of course) - but it's been their offense that has really carried them, as they've developed into the mashers we all believed they would be at the start of the season. The Sox now lead the Major's in runs scored with 367, and they have the second largest run differential, at +76.

Looking back at their last ten games they've gone 9-1 and have averaged an amazing 7.7 runs per game. During this recent stretch they've scored at least 10 runs four different times which is truly incredible. The only thing that could slow the Sox down is injuries, and I've gotten some nasty flashbacks to the 2010 Zombie Sox, as four starters have left games in the last two days. We're entering the Dog Days, and you just hope that the Sox can keep it rolling, much like the parade that happening downtown right now.

Red Sox Win One, Lose Two

_{Jonathan Papelbon celebrates his 13th save of the season. (AP Photo)}

The Red Sox won the game and series against the Rays last night, however, they may have lost two key players in the process. Clay Buchholz, who has been struggling with lingering back issues left the game after only 81 pitches. It's a shame to see Clay with an injury such as this, especially since it's a back issue, because he's been pitching so well for the Sox. Over the past two months he's stymied opposing hitters, with them hitting just .204 in May and .234 in June.

It's a nagging back that's been the same since last year, I feel like I was in a better position tonight to come out a little early and not put anymore stress on my body than I had to. The way we're playing right now, nobody wants to go on the DL. That was my first thought, I've got to get through five innings. -Clay Buchholz

The other player to go down was Jed Lowrie, who said he felt like his shoulder came out of the socket while striking out with the bases loaded last night. Yikes. Jed was a pleasent suprise early on for the Red Sox, as his hot bat forced his way into the everyday lineup. He also spawned one of funniest Twitter Handles of 2011, JedLowrieLegend - which is basically a Chuck Norris rip-off, but pretty damn funny, as attested by this DL tweet.

Jed has noticeably cooled down though. He was hitting .368 in April, but has steadily seen his average drop hitting just .261 in May, and .114 in June. Marco Scutaro, who basically lost his starting job to Lowrie, is the one now swinging the hot bat, and in 29 AB's in June he's hitting .379, so in reality this may be an upgrade for the Sox. A little competition never hurt too, and with both of their infield versatility, Tito should be able to find a way to get both of them AB's when healthy.

 

Gluttony Never Tasted So Good

_{The Boston Bruins did it like all great Champions do. Together. (AP Photo)}

Josh Beckett pitched the game of the year for the Red Sox last night, and I'm not sure if any Red Sox fans saw a single pitch. For the city of Boston has been infected with Stanley Cup fever these past two months, and last night the cold finally broke. I'm honestly still at a loss on how to express my feelings on all this. I've had time to digest, but am still pretty numb to it all. The Bruins have won the Stanley Cup. That sentence seems unbelievable, and it has to be read over and over again to assure that it's indeed truth.

I feel lucky as all hell. After graduating from college nearly a decade ago I moved to Boston, and during my time living in this great city I've seen 3 Superbowls, 2 World Series, an NBA Title, and now a Stanley Cup Championship. Boston is Rome at it's peak, and gluttony never tasted so good. There have been some tough losses for us fans over the years. The 2003 ALCS, the 2008 Superbowl, the 2009 NBA Finals, and the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals. But in order to compose a good story you have to have a proper arc, and that means a low point needs to be attained, and last year the Bruins attained this with their choke-job vs. the Philadelphia Flyers. But they rebounded like the Champions they now are, and they earned every inch of this Cup, together, as a Team.

That's what I'll remember most about this Bruins Team years from now. How as a whole they absorbed the tough times, and came out not just on top - but even more importantly - they came out together, as a single unit. Without adversity life wouldn't be a challenge, that's one of the reasons I think Heaven would be boring. But the Bruins showed the grit, moxie, and guts of a true Champion, and last night they reached Heaven their own way, and now the Stanley Cup is firmly in their grasp, hoisted above their heads.

The Bruins have won the Stanley Cup. Read it again.

Bastard's No More

_{The Prudential building in Boston showing its hockey allegiance. (Carl the Photographer Photo)}

The above photograph was snapped by a coworker of mine from the tenth floor of our Kendall Square offices just before Game 6 on Monday night. The Pru is on the Mount Rushmore of Boston landmarks, along with the Citgo Sign, Fenway Park, and the Old North Church - And there it stood, with a halo of gold beaming stark against the black night, urging the Bruins to glory on the ice. This image is a surreal one to process for those fans who've been paying attention to hockey for the past few years, and is especially strange for those who never stopped paying attention throughout the decades.

Boston sports fans allegiance have been aligned in a Holy Trinity for years between the Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots. There's no denying that the Bruins and their fans have consistently been on the outside looking in. The forgotten bastard children of our rooting interest. Looking at that picture you can see that the playing field has been leveled. The past few seasons the Bruins have been chipping away at the ice of our interest, and like any successful sports franchise, winning is what eventually cracked through to the general populace.

I don't think this is a bad thing, and if anything, the hockey purists in Boston should embrace this attention, and do whatever they can to help convert more puck heads. We're an Original Six City, we have to embrace that, take pride in who we are, where we've been, and where we're going.

Hockey is the last game played by men. The players run around the ice with knives on their feet while using their fists, and not a third party, to mediate any differences. The game is violent, no way around that, but it carries with it a great deal of honor and grace that the other three sports can't touch - baseball included. It's a beautiful sport, and it's finally getting the attention it deserves in the Hub.

Winning the Cup tonight would be the ultimate for the Bruins and their fans, but regardless, they now know they can look you in the eye, for they're bastards no more.