Fenway West - The Boston Red Sox Western Home: 4/27/08 - 5/4/08

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Sox Win Big...Moss Sent To Hospital

This time the Red Sox got the best of Rays' pitchers and scored 12 runs on 15 hits. Beckett pitched well and the offense provided plenty of support. This is looking more like the Rays we know and love. Brandon Moss was taken to Mass General before the game and had surgery to remove his appendix; A roster move should be coming soon. The Sox go for the sweep tomorrow against Kazmir who will be making his first appearance of the season.

Sox win 12-4 BOX SCORE

Tonight's Lineup 5/3 vs. Rays

J.D. Drew is back, Coco is still out.

Jacob Ellsbury CF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
David Ortiz DH
Manny Ramirez LF
Mike Lowell 3B
Kevin Youkilis 1B
J.D. Drew RF
Jason Varitek C
Julio Lugo SS

Josh Beckett SP

The Sarasota Sox?

The Red Sox may move their spring training from Fort Myers to Sarasota. The Reds are leaving Sarasota to move their spring training to the Cactus League but the Sox do not want to use their abandoned stadium, they may build a "mini Fenway" that will seat up to 11,000 fans.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Sox Bats Wake Up....Beat Rays 7-3

The Red Sox bats came alive tonight to get 13 hits and score 7 runs against the Rays. Pedroia went 3 for 5 with 5 RBI's, Lowell, Moss, Tek and Lugo each had 2 hits. Buchholz went 5 1/3 giving up 1 earned run and getting his second win. For the first time in a long time the Red Sox had good pitching and good offense. The rain delay made it tough on the fans but everyone is happy with the outcome. Free iced coffee for all at DD....life is good.

Sox win 7-3 BOX SCORE

Dumbass Hank Strikes Again

Hank Steinbrenner may have had his best quote yet today when he said the following:

“We just can’t win one out of five games, every time Wang pitches, it’s not going to work. It’s not a good win percentage.

Wow, I would have thought that 1 win every 5 games would be good, thanks for pointing that out Hank.

Schilling Gets Closer To A Return

He is not about to rejoin the rotation but Curt Schilling is just about ready to resume throwing. If he can throw without pain he could be back with the Sox before the All-Star break. Maybe he can start earning some of that $8 million soon.

Tonight's Lineup 5/2 vs. Rays

Ellsbury is back, Drew is still out. It is raining at Fenway, looks like a delayed start.

Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Ramirez LF
Lowell 3B
Youkilis 1B
Moss RF
Varitek C
Lugo SS

Buchholz SP

Where Did The Bats Go?

The Sox offense was nonexistent last night against the Jays getting just 3 hits (4 if you count the extra out given in the 9th). Lowrie taking strike two and three to end the game summed it up; they do not have confidence in their bats right now. The Red Sox seem to hit better when Pedroia bats second and Youk bats behind Manny, once the injuries are over they can go back to that lineup. Wake did not pitch great but he did keep the Sox in the game.

Sox lose 3-0 BOX SCORE

The Sox now face the red hot Rays and will see Scott Kazmir's return this weekend.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

The 6 Man Rotation Revisited

Before the start of the season there was a great deal of talk about a 6 man rotation, but that ended once Curt Schilling's injury was announced. Yesterday Bartolo Colon announced he would move his opt out clause to June 1st leaving the Red Sox with a tough decision. If Colon pitches well with Pawtucket the Red Sox are going to have to bring him up and give him a few starts to see what they have. In early April it looked like Colon would be needed to replace Buchholz or Lester, but with both of them pitching well recently a replacement is no longer necessary. Boston does not have the option of keeping Colon in Pawtucket if he is pitching well because he could opt out of his contract and sign with another team. The Red Sox might go with a 6 man rotation that includes Beckett, Dice-K, Lester, Wake, Buchholz, and Colon, assuming no injuries and continued good pitching from the youngsters. The bullpen has been the weak point of the team this season but none of these pitchers seems like a good solution for help in that area. A 6 man rotation will give the pitchers extra rest and keep the arms fresh for the second half....now what do you do when Schilling comes back?

Tonight's Lineup 5/1 vs. Toronto

Coco is in center, we'll see how much ground he can cover. Drew and Ellsbury are still out so Moss gets another start. Coco's knee must still be hurting somewhat to have Pedroia in the lead-off spot. Lugo is also an emergency outfielder so that may explain the start for Lowrie at short.

Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Brandon Moss, RF
Coco Crisp, CF
Jed Lowrie, SS
Kevin Cash, C

Tim Wakefield, SP

Now Crisp is Hurt

Everyone in the outfield has some sort of injury except Manny. In yesterday's game Coco Crisp "tweaked his knee" and cannot run at full speed. Jacoby Ellsbury said he was feeling better yesterday but he is still not 100%. J.D. Drew is still day to day, none of the outfielders is going on the DL but the Sox will not have much speed in the lineup until some of the starters get back to 100%.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Sox Do It Again in the 9th

The Red Sox won their second consecutive game with a walk off hit; today it was Tek who came through. Dice-K continued the recent great pitching by Sox starters going seven scoreless innings and only giving up 2 hits. Big Papi hit a solo home run to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead in the 7th. The Sox pen gave up a run on a sac fly to tie the game at one in the eighth. The game looked like a carbon copy of last night when Moss singled up the middle sending Lowrie for home but he was tagged out at the plate. When Varitek got his hit Manny was just able to beat the tag and score the winning run. Boston has made up for the close loses last week to get some big wins with key hits. Sox go for the sweep tomorrow.

Sox win 2-1 BOX SCORE

Tonight's Lineup 4/30 vs. Toronto

New look lineup with Pedroia leading off. Ellsbury and Drew are out.

Dustin Pedroia 2B
Kevin Youkilis 1B
David Ortiz DH
Manny Ramirez LF
Mike Lowell 3B
Brandon Moss RF
Jason Varitek C
Coco Crisp CF
Julio Lugo SS

Daisuke Matsuzaka SP

NESN Will Relaunch Website Next Week

The all new NESN website will debut on Monday, May 5th. The new site will include more video clips and according to Multichannel.com : "an interactive section called The Playground, which will allow registered users to participate in live chats with NESN personalities and read exclusive blogs." I am sure there will be plenty of people logging on to chat with Heidi Watney. The site will also include more previews for Sox games.

Injury Update

Jacoby Ellsbury - missed last night's game with an aggravated groin, Brandon Moss will be the extra outfielder while Ellsbury is out. Looks like he may be out at least 1 more game.

J.D. Drew-left last night's game with tightness in his left quadriceps, he should miss a few games. With Ellsbury also out look for Moss to get the start in right.

David Ortiz- still showing signs of the knee bruise but should be in the lineup tonight.

Alex Cora- has begun a throwing program but is still at least a week away from returning.

Bartolo Colon-will start for the Paw Sox on Monday.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Sox End Losing Streak With A Great Win

Jon Lester pitched 8 scoreless innings only giving up 1 hit before Papelbon relieved him in the 9th. With 2 outs he gave up a double giving the Jays their first runner in scoring position all night. The next batter hit one up the middle but Pedroia made an outstanding diving stop and threw on to first for the final out. In the bottom of the 9th Halladay made quick work of Crisp and Pedroia bringing Papi up with 2 outs. After hitting a foul ball out of the stadium Big Papi walked, Ramirez followed with a single off the fists. Youk came through with a walk off single allowing Ortiz to score from second.

Halladay seemed to be matching Lester pitch for pitch and only gave up 3 hits before the 9th. Tito looked like the better manager by going to the closer with a tie game before his starter faded. This is a win the Sox needed; if they did not come through it would have been especially hard considering the recent loses. David Ortiz did seem to be limping after he scored the winning run. I'll check for updates and post any injury news if it becomes available.

Sox win 1-0 BOX SCORE

Tonight's Lineup 4/29 vs. Toronto

Coco is back in the lead-off spot, Lowell and Papi return to the lineup. No Jacoby.

Crisp CF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Ramirez LF
Youkilis 1B
Lowell 3B
Drew RF
Varitek C
Lugo SS

Lester P

Corey Designated For Assignment

Pitcher Bryan Corey was designated for assignment to make room for Mike Lowell on the roster. His second time with the Sox was not much better than his first.

Manny To Star in New ESPN Commercial

Manny Ramirez is going to be in a new Sportscenter commercial for ESPN. In the ad the Sportscenter anchors wait for Manny to do something Manny-like but he acts like a normal person.

Manny (02)
by bsap11

RemDawg Takes Over

Over at Boston Daily they explain how Jerry Remy is taking over everything Boston/Red Sox related. The President of Red Sox Nation is now opening a new restaurant near Fenway Park.

Welcome Back Mike Lowell

Mike Lowell has finished his rehab with the Paw Sox (3-13) and will be in the starting lineup tonight against the Jays. His return will put Youk at first base and move Lowrie into the utility infielder role until Cora comes back form the DL.

Wake and Tek Host Golf Event for Charity

Yesterday Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek hosted a golf tournament to raise money for Pitching for Kids, Wake's charity. Watch some highlights below.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Recalling the 78 Sox

Sports Illustrated has been running an SI Vault series that goes back in the archives and reminds us of some key times in sports history. They are currently running a May 1, 1978 article by Peter Gammons titled, "These are the Boston Manglers - The Red Sox have been crushing the ball and Jim Rice and Butch Hobson are the Main Marauders."

The article will bring you back 30 years to one of my favorite all-time Sox teams.

Beckett Whines About Schedule

There were no complaints about the Red Sox schedule early last week when they were winning games but there is nothing like a 5 game losing streak to bring the issue back up. The ProJo has an article that quotes Josh Beckett complaining about the schedule so far. Here are some highlights:

“There’s nothing you can do, Tito’s hands are tied. It’s going to be nice to get Mike Lowell back pretty soon. (MLB) makes the schedule and it’s not just the 20 games in a row we play — 8 o’clock getaway games in Oakland. There’s not enough [complaining] and moaning that goes on to get it changed. I don’t know what we can do. That’s what strings guys out, It’s tough playing 20 in a row, anyway, but whenever you get Sunday night baseball here and Sunday night baseball there, it’s at 8 o’clock and you don’t get home until 5 in the morning. Then you’re right back out there the next day.”

Note to Josh: The Oakland games were almost a month ago and baseball has a 162 game season. If you want a day off every three days the season will go until Christmas. The schedule is not the reason the Sox have lost 5 in a row; the lack of clutch hitting and poor pitching late in the game is. Mike Lowell, Ortiz, Cora, and Casey did not get injured because of the schedule. The Sox have had some injury problems and the flu has run through the clubhouse, deal with it and move on, other teams have the same problems. (look at the Yankees with Posada) A day off may be what the Sox need to right the ship but don't blame the schedule, blame some members of the bullpen.

Roger* Gets More Bad Press

Roger Clemens* has found his way back into the papers, this time for having a 10 year long affair with country singer Mindy McCready. The affair is said to have begun when Roger* was on the Sox and McCready was 15. Woops, seems like Roger* made the wrong choice when he filed the defamation of character suit against McNamee. One of McNamee's lawyers responded to the news by saying: "If it's proved that he's a philanderer, his reputation is already damaged. When you sue for defamation, you put your whole reputation in the community at issue. Anything is fair game, including his claim of sanctimonious purity."

No word yet if McCready had taken steroids to improve her singing career.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Sox Offense Is MIA in Sweep By Rays

It took just 98 pitches for Shields to defeat the Sox in a 3-0 shutout today. Josh Beckett had a career high 13 K's (the most for and Sox pitcher since 2004) and gave up just 4 hits in 7 innings. He was cruising but the Sox bats did not wake up and give him some support. Lugo and Pedroia had the only hits for Boston. Ellsbury's streak is over and Youk is in the middle of an 0-13 slump. The Red Sox leave Tampa Bay after losing 3 games they could have easily won and wasting two great performances by their pitchers. The losing streak is now at 5.

Sox lose 3-0 BOX SCORE

Today's Lineup 4/27 at Tampa Bay

Jacoby Ellsbury, LF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
J.D. Drew, RF
Manny Ramirez, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Coco Crisp, CF
Jason Varitek, C
Jed Lowrie, 3B
Julio Lugo, SS

Josh Beckett, SP

Big Papi to Sit Again

David Ortiz will be out of the lineup for the second game in a row. He bruised his knee in Friday's game and has a sinus infection. Hopefully the day off is just a precaution and not a sign of a more serious injury.

Youk Sets Another Record

In the seventh inning of yesterday's game Youk set the record for most consecutive chances at first (1,701) without an error. Youkilis almost threw the ball into the crowd because it was the third out.

"I didn't even know when I did it, I just go out there to play the game. It's not a big deal to me. Hopefully that's it. Are there any more? I'll keep throwing the balls up into the stands. I don't know any better. It's always good when I don't know."

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