You DON'T walk a batter to face Jed Lowrie!

Joe Girardi played with fire tonight.
He walked David Ortiz to face Jed Lowrie in a tie game.

BIG MISTAKE!
He swatted a tie breaking hit in the third inning that gave the Sox the lead. It wasn't the game winning hit. The Yankees would tie and take the lead before homers by Ellsbury and Varitek gave the Sox the cushion for good.

But the Lowrie hit set the tone for me. It was clear that the Red Sox were in a fighting mood.

Let's update the tally for GOOD reasons!

DODGED BULLET GAMES - 43

April 8 - 9-6 win against the Yankees. (The Sox end their 6 game losing streak with a slugfest. John Lackey stinks but Phil Hughes stinks even more.)
April 10 - 4-0 win against the Yankees. (Beckett and Sabathia duel in a game that was 1-0 until the late innings.)
April 20 - 5-3 win in Oakland. (Red Sox survive a lead off homer and two bases loaded situations and facing the tying run at the plate to win their first road game.)
April 21 - 4-2 win in Anaheim. (The Red Sox stranded 15 men on base and Josh Beckett's went 8 strong with no decision. But the Sox rallied in the 11th to win.)
April 22 - 4-3 win in Anaheim. (Peter Bourjos makes a 2 run errors and the Red Sox survive a bizarre passed ball by Jarrod Saltalamacchia that let a run scored from second.)
May 1 - 3-2 win against the Mariners. (Ichiro loses a ball in the sun that turns into a 9th inning triple for Lowrie. Crawford singles him home for the win.)
May 8 - 9-5 win against the Twins. (Dice-K lets up 3 runs in the first but settles down as the Red Sox clobber Carl Pavano.)

May 9 - 2-1 win against the Twins. (A bullpen breakdown cost Beckett the decision but Cark Crawford ended the game with an 11th inning walk off hit.)
May 13 - 5-4 win in the Bronx. (Youkilis homers off of Joba and Bard and Papelbon make it more interesting than it needed to be.)
May 15 - 7-5 win in the Bronx. (Sox fall behind 4-1 but come back as Youk, Papi and Salty all homer.)
May 16 - 8-7 win against the Orioles. (Down 6-0 after 6 innings, the Sox rally and win it with a 2 run walk off double by Adrian Gonzalez)
May 18 - 1-0 win against Detroit. (With 2 outs in the 8th, Salty doubles home Crawford from first for the only run. Papelbon gets himself in and out of 9th inning trouble.)
May 19 - 4-3 win against Detroit. (Bard blows Beckett's lead but Carl Crawford wins it with a walk off hit.)
May 24 - 4-2 win in Cleveland. (Varitek throws two runners out and homers as the Red Sox win their first game against the Indians.)
May 29 - 4-3 win in Detroit. (The Red Sox blow an early 3-0 lead but David Ortiz wins the game with a pinch 9th inning homer.)
June 3 - 8-6 win against Oakland. (Buchholz lets up 4 runs in the first but the Sox come back thanks to Carl Crawford's 2 run single.)
June 4 - 9-8 win against Oakland. (Red Sox blow a 4 run 9th inning lead and trail in the 11th before Ellsbury ties it and Drew wins it in 14.)
June 7 - 6-4 win in the Bronx. (Papelbon strikes out A-Rod to end the game with a runner on base.)
June 9 - 8-3 win in the Bronx. (Down 2-0 to Sabathia in the 7th, the Sox score 7 runs as Papi exacts revenge after getting plunked. A 3+ hour rain delay pushed the game past 1:30 AM)

June 15 - 3-0 win in Tampa Bay. (Youkilis homers in the 7th for the only runs in Beckett's 1 hit masterpiece.)
June 16 - 4-2 win in Tampa Bay. (Papelbon wiggles out of a 2 on, nobody out jam in the 9th thanks to Youk's diving catch.)
June 26 - 4-2 win in Pittsburgh. (The Pirates make 4 errors and the Red Sox score 2 in the 7th to avoid a sweep by the Bucs.
June 30 - 5-2 win in Philadelphia.(An injury to Cole Hamels leads to the Red Sox bats waking up.)
July 1 - 7-5 win in Houston. (The Sox score 6 in the 7th inning to come back and win.)
July 3 - 2-1 win in Houston. (The Red Sox score a run in the top of the 9th on a walk to break a tie.)
July 5 - 3-2 win against Toronto. (Lester gets hurt but Darnel McDonald throws out the tying run at the plate to end the game.)
July 6 - 6-4 win against Toronto. (The Sox score 4 in the 4th to take the lead and Wakefield and company hang on for dear life.)
July 10 - 8-6 win against Baltimore. (The Orioles score 6 runs off of rookie Kyle Weiland in the second, but the Red Sox hit three homers in the bottom of the second to tie the game and hold for dear life.)
July 16 - 9-5 win in Tampa. (Lackey puts the Sox in a 3-0 first inning hole, but 3 Sox homers bring them back for the win.)
July 17 - 1-0 win in Tampa. (Beckett throws a masterpiece and the bullpen throws 8 amazing innings. But the Sox bats go dead, leaving 17 men on base before Pedroia drove in a run with 2 outs in the 16th inning.)
July 18 - 15-10 win in Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 6-2 lead but score 8 runs in the 8th to take the game.)
July 22 - 7-4 win against Seattle. (John Lackey beat Felix Hernandez and Mike Carp's error helped the Red Sox score 5 in the 7th to give them some breathing room.)
July 23 - 3-1 win against Seattle. (Ellsbury gets Beckett off the hook in a tight pitchers duel when he got a 2 out, 2 strike 2 run go ahead single in the 8th.)
July 26 - 13-9 win against the Royals. (The Sox trailed in the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th before the bats exploded in the 5th.
August 2 - 3-2 win against Cleveland. (Youk tied the game with a 6th inning homer and Salty dove home for the winning run in the 9th.)
August 3 - 4-3 win against Cleveland. (Ellsbury hits a walk off shot in the 9th.)
August 7 - 3-2 win against the Yankees (The Sox rally off of Rivera in the 9th and win on Josh Reddick's 10th inning single)
August 8 - 8-6 win in Minnesota. (Down 5-1, the Red Sox rally back, then score twice in the 9th to give the Sox the win.)
August 9 - 4-3 win in Minnesota. (Darnell McDonald's homer ties the game and Ortiz singles home the game winner as Bard worked out of trouble in the 7th.)
August 12 - 6-4 win in Seattle. (Reddick and Ortiz homered to bail out Lackey.)

August 16 - 3-1 win against Tampa Bay. (Pedroia makes a diving catch in the 9th to help preserve the win.)
August 18 - 4-3 win at Kansas City. (Sox hold on despite having three base runners thrown out by the outfielders.)
August 31 - 9-5 win against the Yankees. (Beckett blows a 4-1 lead but homers by Ellsbury and Varitek put the Sox on top.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 36

April 1 - 9-5 loss in Texas. (The Sox tie Opening Day in the 8th with an Ortiz homer only to have Bard implode and the Sox let up 4 in the bottom of the 8th.)

April 5 - 3-1 loss in Cleveland. (The Sox drop their 4th straight as the bats are dead in Cleveland.)
April 7 - 1-0 loss in Cleveland. (Sox blow a great Lester performance on a squeeze bunt and Darnell McDonald overrunning the bag to end the game.)
April 12 - 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay. (A solid Lester performance is wasted as Kyle Farnsworth of all people shuts down the Sox.)
April 15 - 7-6 loss to Toronto. (Bobby Jenks implodes with a 4 run seventh inning as the Red Sox waste Pedroia and Youkilis homers and a clutch RBI double by Scuatro.
April 19 - 5-0 loss in Oakland. (Pedroia gets picked off, the Sox bats go dead and waste a solid Lackey start.)
April 26 - 4-1 loss in Baltimore. (Buchholz pitches tentatively and the Sox let Kevin Gregg of all people to close out the 9th.)
April 27 - 5-4 loss in Baltimore. (The Sox tie the game with a 3 run 8th only to have Bard lose it in the bottom of the 8th.)
April 29 - 5-4 loss to Mariners. (Bobby Jenks blows a 7th inning lead, wasting 2 Mike Cameron homers.)
April 30 - 2-0 loss to Mariners. (The Sox strand 11 runners and let Milton Bradley double home the go ahead run.)
May 4 - 5-3 loss to Angels. (7 hours with rain delays and stranded runners. Marco Scutaro was thrown out at the plate in the 12th)
May 10 - 7-6 loss in Toronto. (8th and 9th inning heroics, including a homer by Adrian Gonzalez, are undone by a walk off sacrifice fly by David Cooper.)
May 21 - 9-3 loss to Cubs. (Up 3-1 in the 8th inning, the bullpen and defense implode. The Cubs score 8 runs while both teams wear their 1918 uniforms.)
May 23- 3-2 loss in Cleveland. (The Sox blow a 2-1 8th inning lead when the Indians rally with 2 outs. Crawford ends the game on a double play.)
May 29 - 3-0 loss in Detroit. (Verlander keeps the Sox off base and prevents the sweep.)
June 1 - 7-4 loss to White Sox. (Konerko drives in three, spoiling a game tying Ortiz homer.)

June 14 - 4-0 loss in Tampa Bay. (Wakefield's solid outing is spoiled. Longoria scores on a passed ball.)
June 18 - 4-2 loss to Milwaukee. (The Brewers hit three homers early off of Lester and hang on.)
June 21 - 5-4 loss to San Diego. (Ortiz hits a double play in the 9th to stifle a potential winning rally.)

June 24 - 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh. (The Red Sox strand 7 runners in scoring position.)
June 25 - 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh. (The Red Sox fall out of first as Pedroia's error leads to a Pirates run.)
June 29 - 2-1 loss in Philadelphia. (Vance Worley duels John Lackey and slumping Raul Ibanez drives in both runs.)
July 4 - 9-7 loss to Toronto. (John Lackey's miserable start puts the Sox in too big a hole to climb out of.)
July 19 - 6-2 loss in Baltimore. (Scutaro gets thrown out stealing and the Orioles tack on 3 big runs late.)

July 25 - 3-1 loss to the Royals. (Scutaro botches a potential game winning squeeze play in the 12th as the Red Sox lose in 14.)

July 28 - 4-3 loss to the Royals. (Crawford's bid for a walk off homer falls just short.)
July 29 - 3-1 loss to the White Sox. (Sox blow a late 1-0 lead and spoil a solid Wakefield start.)

August 1 - 9-6 loss to Cleveland. (Asdrubal Cabrera's second home run was an 8th inning tie breaking shot off of Daniel Bard.)

August 4 - 7-3 loss to Cleveland. (Carlos Santana's homer broke a 3-3 tie.)
August 5 - 3-2 loss to the Yankees. (The Sox leave the bases loaded in the 5th and the Yankees score 3 in the 6th to take the lead.)
August 10 - 5-2 in Minnesota. (The Twins score 3 in the 8th, spoiling Ortiz's game tying homer.)
August 13 - 5-4 loss in Seattle. (Mariners score 5 in the first and the Red Sox come back falls short.)
August 14 - 5-3 loss in Seattle. (The Red Sox comeback falls short as Wakefield loses a complete game).

August 16 - 6-2 loss against Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox pull a triple play but a late rally by the Rays puts the game out of reach.)

August 21 - 9-4 loss at Kansas City. (The Royals' 8 run 6th spoils a 4-1 Sox lead and Wakefield's bid to win 200 games.)
August 30 - 5-2 loss to the Yankees. (Sabathia finally beats the Sox and Cervelli's homer sparks bean balls.)

Up to +7.

MAGIC NUMBER TO CLINCH THE EAST: 26

It's been a while since they dodged a bullet.
It feels good.

Do you know what feels better?
Seeing who is pitching tomorrow.

Jon Lester for the Red Sox. A. J. Burnett for the Yankees.
Set your DVRS!

You don't like a home run celebration? Don't let up home runs!

I sometimes don't agree with the whole "act like you've been there" mentality that some people hold so dearly in sports.

If a player does something positive and wants to celebrate, then celebrate.
If Francisco Cervelli wanted to break dance at home plate, I don't really care.

All I care about is wins, losses and runs scored during the game.

Besides, it's note like Cervelli is going to get to 600 homers in his career. Tonight's blast was the third of his career. So why not celebrate?

I am less concerned about Cervelli acting happy than the 16 runners left on base.

If the Red Sox hit a home run with those guys on base, I'd be celebrating like Cervelli.
Let's update the tally.

DODGED BULLET GAMES - 42

April 8 - 9-6 win against the Yankees. (The Sox end their 6 game losing streak with a slugfest. John Lackey stinks but Phil Hughes stinks even more.)
April 10 - 4-0 win against the Yankees. (Beckett and Sabathia duel in a game that was 1-0 until the late innings.)
April 20 - 5-3 win in Oakland. (Red Sox survive a lead off homer and two bases loaded situations and facing the tying run at the plate to win their first road game.)
April 21 - 4-2 win in Anaheim. (The Red Sox stranded 15 men on base and Josh Beckett's went 8 strong with no decision. But the Sox rallied in the 11th to win.)
April 22 - 4-3 win in Anaheim. (Peter Bourjos makes a 2 run errors and the Red Sox survive a bizarre passed ball by Jarrod Saltalamacchia that let a run scored from second.)
May 1 - 3-2 win against the Mariners. (Ichiro loses a ball in the sun that turns into a 9th inning triple for Lowrie. Crawford singles him home for the win.)
May 8 - 9-5 win against the Twins. (Dice-K lets up 3 runs in the first but settles down as the Red Sox clobber Carl Pavano.)

May 9 - 2-1 win against the Twins. (A bullpen breakdown cost Beckett the decision but Cark Crawford ended the game with an 11th inning walk off hit.)
May 13 - 5-4 win in the Bronx. (Youkilis homers off of Joba and Bard and Papelbon make it more interesting than it needed to be.)
May 15 - 7-5 win in the Bronx. (Sox fall behind 4-1 but come back as Youk, Papi and Salty all homer.)
May 16 - 8-7 win against the Orioles. (Down 6-0 after 6 innings, the Sox rally and win it with a 2 run walk off double by Adrian Gonzalez)
May 18 - 1-0 win against Detroit. (With 2 outs in the 8th, Salty doubles home Crawford from first for the only run. Papelbon gets himself in and out of 9th inning trouble.)
May 19 - 4-3 win against Detroit. (Bard blows Beckett's lead but Carl Crawford wins it with a walk off hit.)
May 24 - 4-2 win in Cleveland. (Varitek throws two runners out and homers as the Red Sox win their first game against the Indians.)
May 29 - 4-3 win in Detroit. (The Red Sox blow an early 3-0 lead but David Ortiz wins the game with a pinch 9th inning homer.)
June 3 - 8-6 win against Oakland. (Buchholz lets up 4 runs in the first but the Sox come back thanks to Carl Crawford's 2 run single.)
June 4 - 9-8 win against Oakland. (Red Sox blow a 4 run 9th inning lead and trail in the 11th before Ellsbury ties it and Drew wins it in 14.)
June 7 - 6-4 win in the Bronx. (Papelbon strikes out A-Rod to end the game with a runner on base.)
June 9 - 8-3 win in the Bronx. (Down 2-0 to Sabathia in the 7th, the Sox score 7 runs as Papi exacts revenge after getting plunked. A 3+ hour rain delay pushed the game past 1:30 AM)

June 15 - 3-0 win in Tampa Bay. (Youkilis homers in the 7th for the only runs in Beckett's 1 hit masterpiece.)
June 16 - 4-2 win in Tampa Bay. (Papelbon wiggles out of a 2 on, nobody out jam in the 9th thanks to Youk's diving catch.)
June 26 - 4-2 win in Pittsburgh. (The Pirates make 4 errors and the Red Sox score 2 in the 7th to avoid a sweep by the Bucs.
June 30 - 5-2 win in Philadelphia.(An injury to Cole Hamels leads to the Red Sox bats waking up.)
July 1 - 7-5 win in Houston. (The Sox score 6 in the 7th inning to come back and win.)
July 3 - 2-1 win in Houston. (The Red Sox score a run in the top of the 9th on a walk to break a tie.)
July 5 - 3-2 win against Toronto. (Lester gets hurt but Darnel McDonald throws out the tying run at the plate to end the game.)
July 6 - 6-4 win against Toronto. (The Sox score 4 in the 4th to take the lead and Wakefield and company hang on for dear life.)
July 10 - 8-6 win against Baltimore. (The Orioles score 6 runs off of rookie Kyle Weiland in the second, but the Red Sox hit three homers in the bottom of the second to tie the game and hold for dear life.)
July 16 - 9-5 win in Tampa. (Lackey puts the Sox in a 3-0 first inning hole, but 3 Sox homers bring them back for the win.)
July 17 - 1-0 win in Tampa. (Beckett throws a masterpiece and the bullpen throws 8 amazing innings. But the Sox bats go dead, leaving 17 men on base before Pedroia drove in a run with 2 outs in the 16th inning.)
July 18 - 15-10 win in Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 6-2 lead but score 8 runs in the 8th to take the game.)
July 22 - 7-4 win against Seattle. (John Lackey beat Felix Hernandez and Mike Carp's error helped the Red Sox score 5 in the 7th to give them some breathing room.)
July 23 - 3-1 win against Seattle. (Ellsbury gets Beckett off the hook in a tight pitchers duel when he got a 2 out, 2 strike 2 run go ahead single in the 8th.)
July 26 - 13-9 win against the Royals. (The Sox trailed in the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th before the bats exploded in the 5th.
August 2 - 3-2 win against Cleveland. (Youk tied the game with a 6th inning homer and Salty dove home for the winning run in the 9th.)
August 3 - 4-3 win against Cleveland. (Ellsbury hits a walk off shot in the 9th.)
August 7 - 3-2 win against the Yankees (The Sox rally off of Rivera in the 9th and win on Josh Reddick's 10th inning single)
August 8 - 8-6 win in Minnesota. (Down 5-1, the Red Sox rally back, then score twice in the 9th to give the Sox the win.)
August 9 - 4-3 win in Minnesota. (Darnell McDonald's homer ties the game and Ortiz singles home the game winner as Bard worked out of trouble in the 7th.)
August 12 - 6-4 win in Seattle. (Reddick and Ortiz homered to bail out Lackey.)

August 16 - 3-1 win against Tampa Bay. (Pedroia makes a diving catch in the 9th to help preserve the win.)
August 18 - 4-3 win at Kansas City. (Sox hold on despite having three base runners thrown out by the outfielders.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 36

April 1 - 9-5 loss in Texas. (The Sox tie Opening Day in the 8th with an Ortiz homer only to have Bard implode and the Sox let up 4 in the bottom of the 8th.)

April 5 - 3-1 loss in Cleveland. (The Sox drop their 4th straight as the bats are dead in Cleveland.)
April 7 - 1-0 loss in Cleveland. (Sox blow a great Lester performance on a squeeze bunt and Darnell McDonald overrunning the bag to end the game.)
April 12 - 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay. (A solid Lester performance is wasted as Kyle Farnsworth of all people shuts down the Sox.)
April 15 - 7-6 loss to Toronto. (Bobby Jenks implodes with a 4 run seventh inning as the Red Sox waste Pedroia and Youkilis homers and a clutch RBI double by Scuatro.
April 19 - 5-0 loss in Oakland. (Pedroia gets picked off, the Sox bats go dead and waste a solid Lackey start.)
April 26 - 4-1 loss in Baltimore. (Buchholz pitches tentatively and the Sox let Kevin Gregg of all people to close out the 9th.)
April 27 - 5-4 loss in Baltimore. (The Sox tie the game with a 3 run 8th only to have Bard lose it in the bottom of the 8th.)
April 29 - 5-4 loss to Mariners. (Bobby Jenks blows a 7th inning lead, wasting 2 Mike Cameron homers.)
April 30 - 2-0 loss to Mariners. (The Sox strand 11 runners and let Milton Bradley double home the go ahead run.)
May 4 - 5-3 loss to Angels. (7 hours with rain delays and stranded runners. Marco Scutaro was thrown out at the plate in the 12th)
May 10 - 7-6 loss in Toronto. (8th and 9th inning heroics, including a homer by Adrian Gonzalez, are undone by a walk off sacrifice fly by David Cooper.)
May 21 - 9-3 loss to Cubs. (Up 3-1 in the 8th inning, the bullpen and defense implode. The Cubs score 8 runs while both teams wear their 1918 uniforms.)
May 23- 3-2 loss in Cleveland. (The Sox blow a 2-1 8th inning lead when the Indians rally with 2 outs. Crawford ends the game on a double play.)
May 29 - 3-0 loss in Detroit. (Verlander keeps the Sox off base and prevents the sweep.)
June 1 - 7-4 loss to White Sox. (Konerko drives in three, spoiling a game tying Ortiz homer.)

June 14 - 4-0 loss in Tampa Bay. (Wakefield's solid outing is spoiled. Longoria scores on a passed ball.)
June 18 - 4-2 loss to Milwaukee. (The Brewers hit three homers early off of Lester and hang on.)
June 21 - 5-4 loss to San Diego. (Ortiz hits a double play in the 9th to stifle a potential winning rally.)

June 24 - 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh. (The Red Sox strand 7 runners in scoring position.)
June 25 - 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh. (The Red Sox fall out of first as Pedroia's error leads to a Pirates run.)
June 29 - 2-1 loss in Philadelphia. (Vance Worley duels John Lackey and slumping Raul Ibanez drives in both runs.)
July 4 - 9-7 loss to Toronto. (John Lackey's miserable start puts the Sox in too big a hole to climb out of.)
July 19 - 6-2 loss in Baltimore. (Scutaro gets thrown out stealing and the Orioles tack on 3 big runs late.)

July 25 - 3-1 loss to the Royals. (Scutaro botches a potential game winning squeeze play in the 12th as the Red Sox lose in 14.)

July 28 - 4-3 loss to the Royals. (Crawford's bid for a walk off homer falls just short.)
July 29 - 3-1 loss to the White Sox. (Sox blow a late 1-0 lead and spoil a solid Wakefield start.)

August 1 - 9-6 loss to Cleveland. (Asdrubal Cabrera's second home run was an 8th inning tie breaking shot off of Daniel Bard.)

August 4 - 7-3 loss to Cleveland. (Carlos Santana's homer broke a 3-3 tie.)
August 5 - 3-2 loss to the Yankees. (The Sox leave the bases loaded in the 5th and the Yankees score 3 in the 6th to take the lead.)
August 10 - 5-2 in Minnesota. (The Twins score 3 in the 8th, spoiling Ortiz's game tying homer.)
August 13 - 5-4 loss in Seattle. (Mariners score 5 in the first and the Red Sox come back falls short.)
August 14 - 5-3 loss in Seattle. (The Red Sox comeback falls short as Wakefield loses a complete game).

August 16 - 6-2 loss against Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox pull a triple play but a late rally by the Rays puts the game out of reach.)

August 21 - 9-4 loss at Kansas City. (The Royals' 8 run 6th spoils a 4-1 Sox lead and Wakefield's bid to win 200 games.)
August 30 - 5-2 loss to the Yankees. (Sabathia finally beats the Sox and Cervelli's homer sparks bean balls.)

Down to +6.

It's tough to grind your teeth at this game. On paper, Sabathia vs. Lackey is a mismatch. And let's face it, we'd all have taken a 4-1 record against Sabathia this year.

But I'm greedy.

Come on CC! Have ONE more bad outing in you

The Red Sox could very well be handing the Cy Young Award to Justin Verlander this year.
Why?
Because CC Sabathia has been so terrific against every other team except the Red Sox.
His numbers are Cy Young contender worthy.
17-7 record. 2.99 ERA. 205 innings pitched. 4th in the league in strikouts with 191.

But his WHIP and BAA fall far short.
And I wonder how much of that (plus his ERA which is good but not top 5) is due to his rancid 0-4 record against the Red Sox with a big fat 7.20 ERA.

If he were merely mediocre against the Sox he'd be a 19 game winner among the league leaders of ERA and maybe a few more strikeouts thrown in there.

Now the law of averages say that Sabathia will be good today.
And the Yankees are facing John Lackey, so his performance will probably be filed under "Who the hell knows?"

That being said...
One more Sabathia loss would not only mean the Magic Number for the Division would be 26 going into September...

Not only mean that the favorable match ups of Beckett vs. Hughes and Lester vs. Burnett would finish the series...

Not only give the Red Sox a 2 1/2 game lead (2 in the loss column over the Yankees)...

But put the ole "We're just not as good" doubt in the Yankees cranium.

That's always a good thing.
Let's play ball.

The Giants just won't make this easy...

Seriously Giants. You can't win a 4 game series AT HOME against the Worst Team In Baseball?

8 runs in 37 2/3 innings?

This was the time the Giants should have been piling up wins and getting ready for next weekend's showdown against the Diamondbacks.

The Giants had 7 games against the team that will end up being the worst in Astros history, and lost 4 of them!

Yeah I know they were down by 6 games to the Padres last year at this time.

Yeah I know THAT team had more experience than this current Arizona team.

Yeah I know the Giants are the defending World Champs.

Does that mean they have to do it the hard way?

Are we REALLY going to watch the Giants play golf in October while the Diamondbacks get thumped by the Phillies?

Only a "Freaky Friday" will keep the Cy Young away from Justin Verlander

I think it is safe to say Justin Verlander is the pitcher to beat for the Cy Young award.

He's already a 20 game winner.

He's already logged 215 2/3 innings, the most in all of baseball.

He leads all of baseball with 218 strikeouts.

He has the lowest WHIP in baseball.

He has the lowest batting average against in all of baseball.

He has the second lowest ERA in the American League.

He's made the most starts in baseball.

He has a 7.4 WAR, which I have no idea what that means but it sounds impressive.

And oh yeah, he threw a no hitter.

An AVERAGE game for him is about 2 runs over 7 1/3 innings.

Plus you can throw in the fact that the Tigers are going to win the Division unless they do a complete face plant and they would never be there WITHOUT Verlander.

No matter if you use the eye ball test, traditional stats or new fangled stats, Verlander is the best.

How could he NOT win the Cy Young?

I think at this point even a mediocre September wouldn't take the award from him.

The only way he can lose it at the point is if Verlander and A. J. Burnett did a sort of Freaky Friday body switch.

And do you know what? That might not even do the trick. Verlander's been that good.

The Old Man Is Snoring

OK, so I was wrong. I didn't want the Red Sox trying to play this second game.

They did... and despite another rain delay the Sox picked up 2 wins while the Yankees order room service in Baltimore.

And these are 2 games the Yankees will have to make up somewhere in a crowded Baltimore (hellllllo A. J. Burnett starts.)

Meanwhile Alfredo Aceves picked up ANOTHER win!

He's 9-1!

Here's an idea for Francona. Put Wakefield in all of Aceves spots. He'll have his 200 wins in a heartbeat.

So now they Red Sox have Sunday and Monday off and be rested and ready for the Yankees.

And while I am at it...

THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 29 TO WIN THE A.L. EAST!

And to get into the playoffs...

THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 22!

Red Sox... are you REALLY playing that second game?

Hey, I love that the Red Sox won the first game today.

I love that they are trying to get these games in NOW instead of filling up the end of the year with a ton of double headers.

I love that the fact that the Yankees need to make up games in September will probably mean a few more A. J. Burnett starts in the back of a double header.

But they got the FIRST game in with a ton of rain delays in front of friends and family.

Why not call it a day and find shelter?

Neither the Yankees nor Red Sox are winning the AL Pennant

Casual baseball fan complain that the Red Sox and Yankees are in the World Series every year.
And they are right when you don't include 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010 in recent years.

But they were ancient history. The Red Sox and Yankees spend the most. They have the best records in the AL and beat up AL West teams last week including the Division Leading Defending AL Champion Texas Rangers.

So it looks like the commuter lane has opened for either the big bad Yankees or the obnoxious Red Sox Nation to be playing deep into October.

Well, I'm not seeing it.
It smells a LOT like 2005 here.

The Yankees are beating up inferior teams and their bats are back. But have you noticed in back to back nights the pitching has let up 9 runs.

CC Sabathia is a great #1 work horse who is having a fine season but hardly last year's Cy Young caliber effort. He has been better than average in the second half and eating up innings. But his August ERA is almost 5. And he not ALL of his bad outings have been against the Red Sox.

After Sabathia, Ivan Nova has had a good year and has picked up the slack in August. But who knows how he will be in the post season. Freddy Garcia has been a savior in the rotation but do you trust his off speed stuff against the Red Sox, Tigers or Rangers bats in October?

Phil Hughes has been brilliant in some games and yet has an ERA over 6. That tells you what he is usually like. He put together some nice starts in a row and then let up 6 runs in less than 3 innings against a not very impressive A's line up.

And A. J. Burnett may get a mysterious injury soon... the kind that claimed Javier Vasquez last year. Tonight's fiasco put his ERA at 5.31. It's late August. That isn't a small sample size!

Yeah their lineup is better now, especially with Jeter back to being a .300 hitter and A-Rod back. But big bats don't advance in the playoffs. Deep pitching does. And if Sabathia is just ordinary they are putting a LOT of pressure on Ivan Nova.

And before anyone accuses me of being a Red Sox partisan here trashing the Yankees, I am including the Red Sox in this mess.

Some days the Red Sox look like world beaters. Other days they look like Egg Beaters.

They can hit with anyone and no doubt Jon Lester and Josh Beckett are as good a 1-2 punch in the AL Playoffs.

And the combination of Eric Bedard, Andrew Miller, Tim Wakefield and John Lackey make the #3 and #4 holes iffy at best and "Oh dear Lord make it stop" at worst.

As the playoffs stand right now, the Yankees would get the Rangers... who have a super deep if not spectacular pitching staff and whose lineup would crush any pitcher NOT named Sabathia.

And if Sabathia is just ordinary in the playoffs, the Yankees exit might be fast.

The Red Sox would draw the Tigers. And Verlander's presence on the team would negate Jon Lester in Game 1... and Game 5 for that matter. Meaning the Red Sox would be in a MUST WIN for Games 2, 3 and 4.

Did I mention their 3rd and 4th starters are questionable?

Doug Fister vs. John Lackey in Game 3 at Detroit. Who would you pick?

I'm not saying the Tigers and the Rangers aren't without their flaws. But they have less to lose. Despite the Rangers being the defending Champs and the Tigers trying to make up for the collapse in 2009, all the pressure is on the Red Sox and Yankees to advance.

And here we sit in late August, and I can't help but think "The ALCS could be Detroit vs. Texas."

And casual baseball fans next year will say "I'm sick of the Red Sox and Yankees every year."

Maybe Tim Wakefield won his last game

Seriously. Nobody thought he was going to get 199 wins in the big leagues.
Maybe 200 is a little bit crazy.

Either way, these last 6 games have been agonizing.
He's pitched well some games. Awfully in others. But tonight was the worst.

When Darnell McDonald pitched the 9th, I thought "If the Sox score 12 runs here, Darnell McDonald and not Tim Wakefield will get the win."

Then it hit me.
Maybe Francona should just put Wakefield in every single tie game in the middle innings.
Luck and circumstance will give him a win eventually!

Then this quest will be over.

2 games tomorrow. Win at least one and get the hell out of the Hurricane's way!

10 Reasons why the Cleveland Indians winning the 2011 World Series would be good for baseball

It is time to continue my series of Why Each Team's Potential World Championship Would Be Good For The Game. Before it is too late, I better do one for the Cleveland Indians.

It is very late August and the Indians, once the best story in baseball have fallen below .500. The Indians have had a very unlikely fun summer, but they are one modest losing streak and one modest Detroit winning streak from calling it a year.

The Tigers sweep of the Tribe was bad. The Indians losing 3 of 4 to the lowly Mariners was worse.

But by the same token, if the Tigers stumble and the Indians go on a winning streak, they could close in. Cleveland play the Royals 6 times and the A's 6 times before taking on Detroit again. They can pile up some wins.

Who knows? This season has been unexpected thus far. So let's get in this entry before they slip away!

10 Reasons why the
Cleveland Indians
winning the 2011 World Series
would be good for baseball

1. A World Series title is the final piece in Jim Thome's career

Jim Thome returned to Cleveland yesterday. All I thought was "Why couldn't have hit his 600th homer as an INDIAN?"

He's back where his wonderful career began. And this might very well be his last hurrah. He has smacked 600 homers scandal free and been as likable a player in baseball. Plus he was a veteran of the 1995 and 1997 World Series heartbreak.

What better way to put a bow on his potential Hall of Fame career than being the most recognizable name on the World Champion Cleveland Indians.

2. A World Series ring for Sandy Alomar, Jr.

Decades of futility started to turn in 1990 when Sandy Alomar Jr won the AL Rookie of the Year. He came over from San Diego with Carlos Baerga and the foundation of the Indians first pennant since 1954 was being put into place.

In many ways Alomar symbolized the changing times in Cleveland. And if the Tribe got those last outs in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, Alomar would have been the Series MVP.

He would get that ring if the Indians win it this year as Alomar is currently Cleveland's first base coach. Better late than never!



3. A championship would bring some credit to an underrated front office

The Indians fell apart after the 2001 season but by 2005 they were contenders again and Division Champs in 2007. They fell apart again but by 2011 they have contended.

Mark Shapiro and Chris Antonetti aren't mentioned as great brain trusts in baseball, but they don't let Indians fans wait long between good seasons. Carlos Santana, Matt LaPorta, Justin Masterson, Chris Perez, Carlos Carrasco, Joe Smith, Michael Brantley, Jason Donald and Lou Marson were all brought into the organization as minor leaguers from trades. They could be creating a nice nucleus for the future while avoiding signing crippling long term contracts.


4. Baseball fans claim they want a low revenue, star free World Series winner NOT from the Northeast. Here you go!

People complain that the Red Sox and Yankees win the World Series every year (even though they don't.) And small budget teams can't compete. (Even though they do.) And simply signing superstars will buy a title. (Even though it doesn't.)

Well imagine the 5th lowest paid team, playing in the midwest with a payroll less than what Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez will make and whose biggest star is Asdrubal Cabrera winning it all.

What would people say? Well they probably would say "The Yankees win it every year."


5. A well deserved title for long time Indians Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner

Both Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner are on the Disabled List now and their seasons are probably over. But for the past 8 seasons they have been teammates on some terrific Indians teams and some lousy ones.

Both came up big in the 2007 Division Series victory over the Yankees. Hafner got the walk off hit in Game 2 (the Midges game) and Sizemore batted .375 with a 1.211 OPS for the series.

Both were stolen from other minor league systems and are "Real Indians" by any definition. Enough real Indians have ended their career ringless. Let's not have Sizemore and Hafner on that list too.




6. We DON'T need another Major League movie.

Seriously, when has a sequel decades after the original worked? ONCE! The Color of Money... and that had Paul Newman, Tom Cruise and Martin Scorsese directing it.

They couldn't even make The Godfather, Star Wars or Indiana Jones work! Now Major League is funny... but it is also available on BlueRay and Netflix. And the charm of the original was that it played off of Cleveland's futility. If a REAL Cleveland team patched together from other teams beats the odds and wins it all, why make a fake movie about it?

Besides, we have been enabling Charlie Sheen WAY too much.




7. Think of all the people a Cleveland championship would let off the hook!

Jim Poole letting up David Justice's homer. Jose Mesa blowing the save in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series. Charles Nagy letting Edgar Renteria smack a 2 out hit to win the World Series. Joel Skinner not sending Kenny Lofton home with the tying run in Game 7 of the 2007 ALCS.

And that's not even counting Craig Ehlo, Red Right 88, The Drive, The Fumble... They would all be relieved of their goat horns.

I've seen it happen. The goats of Red Sox past are absolved. Bill Buckner (who should NEVER have been a goat) received a standing ovation. Johnny Pesky (also an unjustified goat) got his number retired.

It will happen in Cleveland. YES, even for Jose Lima.



8. It could be the beginning of forgiveness and acceptance of LeBron James in Cleveland


I know a lot of Cleveland people will think I am crazy for even suggesting this, but hear me out.

If LeBron had won a title in Cleveland, the whole "Decision" would have been less of a fiasco. It was based upon the idea that LeBron was supposed to deliver that elusive title. The anger came in a not exactly subtle way from that hole in your collective lives. That "We have never seen a title of any kind" agony.

Remove that. Have the euphoria of seeing a championship in Cleveland. And before long you will be able to let go of the anger about LeBron. And eventually you will be able to say "Remember when we had the best player in the NBA? Remember how exciting it was? Remember how much fun we had WHILE he was in Cleveland?"

I know I sound crazy now. Call me 10 years after a Cleveland championship.



9. An Indians championship would mean the Cubs would stand alone

The Cubs used to have lots of company in the whole "Waiting forever for a championship" misery. Forever it was the Cubs, Red Sox and White Sox fans sharing misery.

But when both Sox won, it meant that the Indians and Giants were the only original franchises to NOT win a World Series title since the expansion era. Take the Giants off the board and only the Cubs and Indians remain. The Cubs since 1908. The Indians since 1948.

Remove the Indians and the Cubs' closest partners in misery would be the Rangers and Astros (since 1961 and 1962.)

For fans of Schadenfreude, leaving the Cubs alone in misery would be enough to root for the Indians.



10. It would be the single greatest sports championship parade in American history.

Cubs fans have waited for more than a century, but they have had the Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks win.

Red Sox fans waited forever, but the Celtics won over several generations.

Giants fans agonized about their team but could be consoled by the 49ers.

Imagine the frustration compounded over the decades without ANY kind of release. Especially in a cold weather city where industry has dwindled away and sports means so much. San Diego has waited longer for a title, but when they lose they can go to the beach.

There are people in their 50s with no clear memories of a Cleveland title and anyone born after 1964 can honestly say "It hasn't happened in MY lifetime."

We may never see an outpouring of pure joy quite like a Cleveland title. And I am rooting for it to happen just so I can see it.

And just think of the incredible HBO Sports special they can make!


I really hope it happens for the Indians but it looks remote at best. I've enjoyed writing about Cleveland and making a video about their fans, but eventually the story must end. Maybe it won't be this year, but they are putting together a nice core. Maybe it will be soon. (Where have I heard THAT before?)



If you liked this then go ahead and read the entries for the other teams.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
NEW YORK YANKEES
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

New Sully Baseball Video "I Miss The Astros"

The latest Sully Baseball video is up.

This time I talk about the Houston Astros and why I feel like, in terms of their identity, they are rudderless and should embrace their past which was the future. Trust me, that makes sense.

And as always, you can check out the previous Sully Baseball videos by clicking HERE.

And subscribe to my YouTube page.

It's MILLER TIME

When the Red Sox lost 4-0 in the first of 4 game against the Rangers, I thought they were toast in this series.

I thought they looked lifeless and the Rangers were going run them right over.

After that?

The Red Sox outscored the Rangers 30-7 in the final 3 games.

That's pretty decisive.

And 6 1/3 shutout innings from Andrew Miller hit the spot.

You know there is a lot of talk about how the Red Sox #3 starter role is in flux. And indeed it is.

But just in terms of wins and losses?

John Lackey and Andrew Miller's combined record is 18-10.

I know there are a lot of lucky wins... but I could live with 2 or 3 extra lucky wins in October.

OK, 3 games in 2 days against the A's. Let's avoid the hurricane and win another series!

The Yankees replace Jeter with a .300 hitter

I hate it when reality messes up a perfectly lazy prewritten scenario.
I mean all year haven't we been saying how Jeter is just an average hitter now and that he was dead weight.

And here he is batting .353 since coming off the DL and has his season average at .300.

Damn it. How can we write the same story over and over if it is no longer factual?

As for today's Yankees/A's game. Forgive me if I thought the A's were going to win when they were up 7-1.

I didn't think the Yankees were going to get 3 grand slams in the same game.

I guess we all learn.

See this expression by Tim Lincecum?

This expression basically says "Yeah... I pitched 8 kick ass innings and drove in the second run in a 2-1 victory. Yeah. I have to do it ALL BY MYSELF!"

Maybe Lincecum should bat 5th!

Sully Baseball Salutes Mike Flanagan

Mike Flanagan was found dead yesterday.

That's all I know about his death. No doubt over the next few days we will find out more. And I truly hope none of the details will be lurid. But nothing will be more shocking than his being dead.

When I was just starting to understand baseball and the different teams and their players, Mike Flanagan was a major figure.

He was the Cy Young winner in 1979, the first year that I REALLY followed baseball. And there was a sense that he was quite simply THE MAN.

A left handed stud, he pitched in the 1979 World Series, the first one I remember watching. He was a member of the 1983 World Champion Orioles and, later in his career as a reliever, took part in the last no hitter in Orioles history.

The former All Star pitched with the Blue Jays in the 1989 ALCS but finished his career with Baltimore. He was so beloved by the fans that they chanted "WE WANT FLANAGAN!" during the final game at Memorial Stadium.

He did indeed come out to pitch in that game.

The former U. Mass product and native New Englander was a great basketball player, a husband and father whose daughter was an early test tube baby and the first to be born without a C-Section.

He was known for a fast wit and being loved by his former teammates. He was a Vice President of the Orioles, a coach and a broadcaster in Baltimore.

He had the success and respect and fame that most of can only dream of.

And now he is gone.

According to WBAL TV in Baltimore, Flanagan felt that he was perceived as failing the team during his front office days.

I hope this had nothing to do with his death. He was a real champion and one of the great faces of the last great Orioles team.

And as a child, made a hell of an impression on me.

Rest in peace, Mike Flanagan.
Your legacy is secure with every Baltimore fan.

Before the unpleasant details become known, let's look back at that 1983 team... the team that won it all and made Flanagan a champion then and forever.

Jered Weaver is worth every penny

Jered Weaver said something in his post contract signing press conference that I think every sports fan in the world has thought at one point or another.

He basically said that if he can't make $85 million work over his life then he is just stupid.

Good for him.

Anyone who talks about the money he could have picked up in free agency being in a Boston and New York bidding war is not taking some things into account.

But the BIGGEST thing they are missing is that he gets to stay in the same quality organization, being managed by Mike Scioscia, have a shot at the post season every single year, play near his hometown and make more money than most of us will make in 85 life times!

Yeah. Big sacrifice.

When you get to the point where even after taxes and fees you can still blow a million a year for the rest of your life and leave your kids seven figures, then maybe you should take other things into account. Like "enjoying your situation."

If Weaver spends the entire 5 years with the Angels then he will be a 33 year old man who has spent 11 big league seasons with the same stable organization and be a quick drive from the town he grew up in.

Assuming he finishes in the top 5 of the Cy Young vote this year, he will already have 2 such finishes and 2 All Star berths and 3 trips to the post season.

It is safe to say that he will increase all of those totals after 5 seasons.

And oh yeah... have earned $85 MILLION!

After taxes that would come out to MORE MONEY THAN I WOULD ASK A GENIE!

As for missing the bidding war, ask A. J. Burnett how happy he is. Ask John Lackey if he'd rather be in Anaheim. Sometimes being happy and in a place you love with a good organization can trump that SECOND fortune to go with the first.

I wouldn't know. It just seems that way.

But there is another factor to consider.

Go back the length of his contract and look at recent Cy Young winners.

The 2006 winner was Johan Santana. He was 27 years old and won his second Cy Young Award. He was the best pitcher of the American League and putting together a Hall of Fame resume. Injuries have kept him off the big league roster for the entire season so far at age 32.

The other winner in 2006 was Brandon Webb. He was also 27 years old and putting together a brilliant career. He nearly won it again in 2008. He has pitched a single big league game since the beginning of the 2009 season and hasn't pitched this decade yet.

26 year old Jake Peavy won the Cy Young in 2007. Injuries riddled his 2009 and 2010 campaigns and his 2011 season has been spotty at best with a 5.06 ERA in Chicago.

A Cy Young caliber pitcher's career can derail pretty quickly. And who knows what happens in a year.

When you are playing Deal or No Deal and you open a suitcase that is filled with $85 million and the ability to work where you want to live... wouldn't you say "Take the deal"?

I would.

In fact someone offer me that right now.

He pitched 7 shutout innings for his 15 win tonight and lowered his league leading ERA to 2.03.

And oh yeah, helped the Angels get to 2 games back in the loss column of the Rangers.

It's a good deal. As I said in the Cliff Lee signing... it is easy to walk away from $60 million if you get to work where you WANT to work AND collect $85 million.

I'm With Coco!

I always liked Coco Crisp. He never quite was Johnny Damon's replacement but he was an exciting and fun player with an awesome name. And lest we forget his pennant winning catch in 2007, his epic ALCS extending RBI in 2008 and being a World Champion Red Sox player?

Well today he gave his old friends a little help.

2, count em, TWO home runs including one off of Sabathia and one to win the game in the 10th.

Mix that with the Red Sox drubbing of Texas and a wonderful scenario has transpired.

The Red Sox, who went on the road against the defending AL Champs and current AL West leaders, and the worst they can do is split 4.

And the A's went into Yankee Stadium and won the series.

Thanks for the help Coco!

And the Magic Number?

33!

Dodgers... lock up Clayton Kershaw NOW!

Look, I know the Dodgers are a mess right now.
Frank McCourt took one of the most glamorous and successful teams in baseball history and ran them into the ground.

I am not even sure if the Dodgers have the money to buy those plastic helmets for Ice Cream Sundaes anymore.

But somehow they need to find the money to sign Clayton Kershaw to a long term deal RIGHT NOW.

He hasn't been arbitration eligible yet so this season, that I think will earn him a Cy Young Award or at least SHOULD put one on his mantle, he will make $500,000.

A. J. Burnett will make 32 times that this year.

At age 23, this is Kershaw's second excellent season with the Dodgers and he can be a positive face on the team.

Well guess what?
Someday, and that day may come while I am typing this sentence, a new owner will take over the Dodgers. The new owner has a lot of work to do to restore the fans confidence, but not as much as you would think.

First of all the new owner needs to be better than Frank McCourt. That my friend is a low bar.

But they also need to put together a new positive identity for the team. And guess what? It might already be there.

The great eras in Los Angeles Dodgers history often are symbolized by a pitcher (or two.)
The 1960s Dodgers were best remembered for having Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.

The Dodger teams of the 1970s had the amazing home grown infield of Garvey, Lopes, Russell and Cey. But they also had a future Hall of Famer in Don Sutton in the rotation. They also had Burt Hooton and the great Tommy John.

What player comes to mind when you think of the 1981 World Championship?
I am betting it will be Fernando Valenzuela and Fernando Mania.

How about 1988? OK, it is probably the Kirk Gibson home run.
But the REAL MVP was Orel Hershiser. Do the Dodgers beat the Mets OR the A's without Orel's 3 complete game victories (and a save)?

Even the 1995 Division is best remembered for Hideo Nomo's magical season.

Positive memories for the Dodgers begin with the identity making ace.

And Drysdale, Koufax, Sutton, Valenzuela, Hershiser and Nomo were all home grown Dodgers.
So if Kershaw.

If the Dodgers will turn it around, their home grown Cy Young winner will have a lot to do with it.

This isn't signing a 30 year old pitcher to a long term contract and seeing it blow up in your face.

This is taking a young player and making sure you have his prime locked up!

Sign him to a 6 year deal NOW! That way you know you have him for 10 seasons in a Dodger uniform. Probably will have a Cy Young on his mantle. He already has post season experience. And when the contract is up, he'll only be 30 years old!

Out of all the awfulness of this season, the one thing Dodger fans can even BEGIN to cling to is the obscure hope for a better tomorrow.

The Clayton Kershaw era could be what they are looking for.
Sign him now. Circumvent the arbitration and first round of Free Agency and say to Dodger fans "HERE is a player you can get attached to!"

After this year, the Dodgers OWE this to their fans.

Potential Giant Regrets

There has been a whole lot of strangeness going on by China Basin.
The defense of the Giants' World Championship has hit some unexpected snags.

In late July, the Giants took 2 of 3 IN Philadelphia and took a 4 game lead over Arizona in the West. Then they got Carlos Beltran to spark the offense. Winning the west was merely a formality.

Instead in 17 games, they went from 4 games up to 3 1/2 back of Arizona.

A 7 1/2 game swing in less than 3 weeks!

So after the Braves series, the Giants saw the lowly Astros and the not exactly world beater Padres were on deck. And during those games the Diamondbacks went on a 6 game losing streak.

The Giants won just one game during the D'Backs slide... and they were playing two of the worst teams in the league.

If the Giants don't win the Division, or are scrambling in the last week and throwing Lincecum on short rest, remember August. Remember these series against the Astros and the Padres.

These games count just as much as the games at the end of September.
Let's hope the Giants didn't lose the Division here the way the Padres did last year.