Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - July 18, 2013

 With no games being played yesterday nor today, what can should I do for today's episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast?

Honor Derek Lowe and watch Xanadu, of course!

No games were played yesterday, so nobody owned baseball.

To see the up to date tally of "Who Owns Baseball?," click HERE
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - July 18, 2013
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - July 14, 2013

 It is the Sunday Request on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast!

@sullybaseball You're team/pitcher, throwing a No-hitter. I just witness my first one, with Bailey's no-hitter.
— Richie Devotie (@mrbaseballman) July 14, 2013

So what are my thoughts of seeing MY (the Red Sox) throw no hitters?
And I share a recording of my dad and I listening to the end of the Lincecum no hitter.


AJ Griffin, Didi Gregorius, Lonnie Chisenhall and I suppose Tim Lincecum  all owned baseball on July 13, 2013.


To see the up to date tally of "Who Owns Baseball?," click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.

Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - July 14, 2013

Derek Lowe = My Annoying Ex Girlfriend

Long before I met my wife, I dated a woman for a while. In retrospect it was one of the most annoying relationships I ever had because I could never get a handle of where we stood.

Sometimes things would seem wonderful, then instantly it would become miserable. Every time I said "That's it. We can't continue this! It's awful" it would suddenly get wonderful and fun again.

Then whenever I thought "Man, this is working out. This could be the one!" it would become miserable. And there was no transition period. It would just go back and forth between "floating on a cloud in love" and "I feel like I am stuck on Shutter Island."

The best way I could describe the roller coaster of dating this woman is to show you the career of Derek Lowe.

As a Red Sox fan, I remember him being a good middle reliever, sometimes starter and sometimes closer between 1998 and 1999. That was the flirting and getting to know you part of the relationship.

Then he became an All Star lights out closer. He led the league with saves in 2000 and was super reliable. That was the whirlwind beginning of the romance where everything was new and exciting and sexy.

Then in 2001 he began to crash and burn as the Red Sox closer. He lost his first few games. By the end of May, he had as many losses as he had saves. He was no longer effective and lost his closer job, all the while fighting with pitching coach and eventual manager Joe Kerrigan. That was the "Why are you acting so crazy? Everything was so nice before you lost your mind" part of the relationship.

Sox fans had all but written Lowe off when he was put into the rotation in 2002. Then on April 27, 2002, he threw a no hitter in Fenway Park against Tampa. The place went wild and Lowe acted humble and apologetic to the Red Sox fans for his subpar 2001. The one time closer became an ace along side Pedro and won 21 games in the process and finished third in the Cy Young vote.

That was making up with her. And it also was her admitting that she was acting crazy and she changed her attitude and became even more loving than before. And I felt "Wow, we went through a lot and we're stronger than ever!" Maybe it was time to start looking at rings.

In 2003, it was a little shakier with Lowe. Sure he won 17 games but didn't look as strong as he had the year before. The ERA jumped by nearly 2 runs and he didn't have the same swagger. But he did come out of the bullpen in the down to the wire Game 5 of the Division Series in Oakland. With the A's one swing away from winning the series he struck out Adam Melhuse and Terrence Long to clinch the series. He gave an obscene gesture to the A's and was piled upon during the clinching celebration. His great highlight was as a closer, NOT a starter.

This was when the two of us were getting a little tense. But then, out of the blew she did something that reminded me of those exciting first days and we stayed together.

In 2004, Lowe was a borderline disaster. Sure he won 14 games, but his ERA was more than double his 2002 numbers. He finished the year with a 5.42 ERA and was removed from the rotation, all the while feuding with Francona. But, amazingly, he found his groove in the playoffs. He won the clinching Game 3 of the Division Series out of the bullpen. He threw 6 innings of 1 hit ball on two days rest in the clinching Game 7 of the ALCS and threw 7 shutout innings to win the World Series clinching Game 4. He went from being the odd man out to being the ace clinching the Championship.

Likewise, me and the unnamed girlfriend squabbled, fought, couldn't stand being in the same room with each other and I couldn't wait to see it end. Then she took me on a weekend trip that was the most romantic and fun time of the entire relationship. (Unlike Lowe, I didn't get a ring.)

Over the next few years, Lowe fluctuated between really effective years (including 2006 when he led the National League in wins with the Dodgers) and less than stellar years (like last year when he led the league in losses and posted a 5.05 ERA with the Braves.)

And I kept bouncing between fun moments and agonizingly petty and passive aggressive crap with my girlfriend. Eventually I got out of it. She broke up with me and found a new guy to torment.

After last year, I thought Lowe was at age 38 done.

And here we sit in 2012 and Lowe entered today's game with the most wins and the lowest ERA in the American League with Cleveland, a new fan base for him to tease.

When Lowe had marital problems a few years ago, I read the story with great interest.
I had to see if Lowe was involved with my ex.

It wasn't her.
It's too bad.
They'd be the perfect couple.


  

Wait... are the Indians good?

The Cleveland Indians season is little less than a quarter over. And as I type this post, they are in first place with a record of 20-16. They are scored 4 first inning runs against Felix Hernandez, so barring a lousy outing by Ubaldo Jimenez, they will go 21-16. Currently only the Orioles, Rays and Rangers have a better record than Cleveland in the American League.

What are we supposed to make of this?

At this point last year, the Indians were building up a lead the swelled to 7 games in late May. They were in first place by themselves after the All Star break.

Then after July 18, their last day on top by themselves, they went 29-38 the rest of the way and finished below .500.

So there is a lot of time for the Indians to stub their toe and wet the bed.
And all of the empty seats at the Jake (sorry I still call it the Jake) show that Cleveland fans just aren't biting.

They are a strange team to figure out. Their stats don't blow anyone out of the water and when Derek Lowe is their biggest star, that's a problem.

But Shin Soo Choo and Asdrubal Cabrera are starting to hit and whoever Jason Kipnis is, he seems to always be involved in a win.

There are 125 games to go.
There is a lot of room for this team to be awful.

But the first quarter doesn't look so bad.

I don't want Cleveland fans to get too excited.
But get a LITTLE excited. Maybe this won't be THE year... but did anyone expect Arizona to do squat last year?

I can't figure this team out.
But for now, they are fun.

  

Sully Baseball Salutes... Danny Clyburn

One time Baltimore Oriole and Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Danny Clyburn was shot dead this week in South Carolina. Police are investigating the murder.

Virtually every single article on line about Clyburn is now about his murder and no doubt more will be written as facts come to light.

Clyburn played 41 games in the majors. Chances are that's 41 more games than you ever played in the Show.

And today, instead of focusing on the tragedy, let's look at his greatest moment on the field.

On April 11, 1999 the lowly Tampa Bay Devil Rays were playing the Boston Red Sox in St. Petersburg. The D-Rays jumped ahead to a 4-0 lead against Pat Rapp but Wilson Alvarez , Esteban Yan and Rick White couldn't hold it.

Jeff Frye's 2 out RBI single in the 7th tied the game and it became a battle of the bullpens.

In the 8th inning the Devil Rays sent up three seasoned veterans to face Red Sox reliever Derek Lowe. Jose Canseco, Fred McGriff and Wade Boggs all batted that inning. Lowe retired each of them.

But sandwiched between McGriff and Boggs, Lowe had to pitch to Clyburn.

He responded with a 2 out solo home run to give the Devil Rays a 5-4 lead.
Roberto Hernandez pitched the 9th inning, striking out Nomar Garciaparra to end the game.

I don't remember that game specifically but no doubt I followed it somehow. (Probably on an AOL Sports ticker in 1999.) And chances are I said "Damn it. We got beat by Danny Clyburn? Are you kidding me?"

Nope.
Not kidding.

For at least one night Clyburn was not only a big leaguer but a clutch slugger in a line up filled with All Stars and a future Hall of Famer.

And I hope he is remembered more for that homer than whatever details surface from this investigation.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Clyburn.

GET A HIT, GIANTS!

I love you Derek Lowe... but I do NOT want you throwing a no hitter tonight.

The way the Giants bats have been all year, it is almost startling to realize that they haven't been no hit yet.

It's a clinching game, Giants.
Bat on the ball... let's go!

I am getting in my car to go home now. By the time I get home, I expect to see a few hits on the board.

Daisuke Matsuzaka is Japanese for Derek Lowe

One game Daisuke Matsusaka is coughing up 5 runs in the first to the Yankees… next thing you know he’s throwing a no hitter into the 8th inning in Philadelphia… next start he can’t get out of the 5th against the Royals.

Isn’t that a microcosm of the Dice-K era in Boston?
Every time you say “I think Dice-K is going to pitch like an ace now” he wets the bed.
Every time you say “Oh man, it was a huge mistake bringing him here” he throws a great game.

Sound familiar?

That was Derek Lowe to a T!

Remember how he blossomed and became a great reliever for one season in 2000? We all thought “Holy Cats! We’ve got a classic shut them down closer!”

Then the next year he was so bad he nearly torpedoed the season all by himself.

Then the next year, 2002, he threw a no hitter in April, became a 20 game winner and nearly won the Cy Young Award.

Then his ERA jumped nearly 2 runs the next year. Man you can’t rely on him in the big game.

But he came out of the bullpen and shut down the A’s in that amazing Division Series. He’s back!

Then he lost 2 starts against the Yankees in the ALCS. He’s done.

Then 2004 he was so awful that his ERA was over 5 and he wasn’t even in the post season rotation. He sucks. He’s a mop up man.





Then he won all three clinching games in the 2004 playoffs, including 6 innings of 1 hit ball in the Bronx to win the pennant and 7 shutout innings in St. Louis to win the World Series.

He left perfectly. He left with everyone remembering him as a playoff hero. He got the wild standing ovation during the ring ceremony in 2005 even though he had split for the Dodgers.

It’s like people remembering the Belushi/Chevy years of SNL. They only remember the good parts… not the many unwatchable episodes.

And so it is with Dice-K.

We’ve got the next great pitcher in baseball!

Oooo. He’s not that good. He might suck.

Oh my God! He clinched the pennant! And he got 2 RBI in the World Series and won his game!

Holy Cow he’s an 18 game winner and nearly threw a no hitter in the ALCS against the Rays!

Oh man, he blew his arm out pitching in that stupid World Baseball Classic.

He stinks, he let up 5 runs in the first.

Holy Crap! He’s throwing a no hitter! He’s awesome again! Who needs Beckett?

He’s walking the Royals with the bases loaded… why did we sign this guy?



Going up and down that fast will usually give a guy the bends!

Rooting for these guys was kind of like yelling “No Whammys!” while playing Press Your Luck. There’s no rhyme nor reason and you are either going to be thrilled or incensed.

Let’s hope Dice-K has another string of post season luck in him.
There’s only 14 more years left on his contract.

Good Job Everyone At Fenway

Good job Fans at Fenway giving Derek Lowe the warm reception he deserved.

Good job Derek Lowe tipping your hat and then throwing a darn good game.

But most importantly...


Good job Josh Beckett!

A complete game shutout?

Wait! They let him pitch 9 innings? I thought it was a league rule to take the pitcher out after 7 innings in a close game!

A 2:11 minute game at Fenway?

Remember when Beckett had a 7.22 ERA?

Me neither.

I expect a REALLY long standing ovation for Derek Lowe tonight!

Derek Lowe gave Red Sox fans a lot of joy...

As an All Star reliever and then being an All Star starter.

He was a post season hero as a reliever by closing out the 2003 Division Series and winning the clinching game of the 2004 Division Series.

Then he threw the remarkable 1 hit performance at Yankee Stadium to clinch the pennant and finish the greatest comeback in baseball history (or the biggest collapse depending on who you talk to.)

His last game in a Red Sox uniform? He pitched 7 shutout innings and the Red Sox clinched the World Series.

Not a bad last game.

Now as I wrote in my reunions post, Lowe gave us agita as well... but he had the good sense to leave on top.

He deserves a very very long ovation... and then hopefully he loses to Beckett.

Actually I hope the bullpen blows a lead for him. I can't root for a 2004 Red Sox to lose.

Reunions? There are lots of ex Red Sox out there... should any come back?

I had used The Godfather reference when saying Theo Epstein is as sentimental as Michael Corleone during the baptism.

Well, referring to the Corleones, I guess I am more like Vito.
Remember when he said to The Turk "I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them as you can see"?

That's how I feel about the Red Sox and their players.

I tend to be sentimental and want them to return... even if letting some go turned out to be the best in the long run.

Well this year's free agent class has a lot of old friends available.
Let's see who should come back...

PEDRO MARTINEZ
You'll find no bigger Pedro fan than me.
Lest we forget for 7 seasons how much excitement there was every time he took the mound.
Remember how he pitched with such a fun cockiness and a flair for the dramatic.
Yeah he was a prima donna... but he was OUR prima donna! And guys like that are fun when they are winning games for your team!
Nobody wanted him signed to a long term contract more than me (and I think that cost the Red Sox a division title in 2005.)

But in the end after 4 seasons, he gave the Mets 1 good one.
And this past season he was worthless for the Mets... finishing 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA lasting 5 1/3 innings a start.

I love Pedro, but I also love that the last image we have of him pitching in a Red Sox uniform is throwing 7 shutout innings in game 3 of the 2004 World Series and not being lit up and released.

VERDICT: DON'T BRING HIM BACK



DEREK LOWE

Remember at the end of Annie Hall when Alvy remembers all the good times with Annie? That's all he can recall. And he doesn't remember the arguing, the break ups and the misery.

That's the Red Sox fan relationship with Derek Lowe.
Yeah we remember him being an All Star reliever in 2000 and throwing a no hitter and starting the 2002 All Star Game.
We remember him coming out of the bullpen and closing out the 2003 Division Series against the A's.
We remember his heroic 2004 playoffs where we won all 3 clinching games, including 6 innings of 1 hit ball on two days rest in Yankee Stadium and then winning the World Series clincher in St. Louis.

What we forget is his pitching so badly in 2001 it took the Red Sox out of the playoff chase and essentially got Jimy (sic) Williams fired.

We forget his going 0-2 in the 2003 ALCS against the Yankees.
We forget his pitching so badly down the stretch for the 2004 Red Sox that Francona took him out of the rotation.
We forget what Bill Simmons dubbed "Derek Lowe face"... that psychotic meltdown expression that gave Red Sox fans as much confidence in Lowe as Lex Luthor had for Otis.

Let's keep the memories good ones.
LA DEE DA.

VERDICT: DON'T BRING HIM BACK


KEVIN MILLAR

Innnnnteresting.
The stupid frat boy spirit of the Red Sox hasn't been the same since Millar was sent packing after the 2005 playoffs.
I know... boo hoo. We Red Sox fans had only a World Series title and another trip to the ALCS to comfort us.

But there is something to be said for Millar's prescience on the team.
AND if Lowell is hurt and slow to come back, why not move Youk over to third, recall Lars Anderson and have him platoon with Millar.

Let's face it, Millar will have a career at NESN and get standing ovations for the rest of his life in Boston.
He might be like Remy in terms of being a beloved funny figure in Red Sox history.

Why not take a flier?
The worst thing that happens is you have him in the clubhouse.

VERDICT: SIGN HIM TO A ONE YEAR DEAL





DOUG MIENTKIEWICZ

The guy did what everyone in New England wait their whole lives for:
He recorded the putout that won a World Series for the Red Sox.

And then inexplicably was given sh-- from Red Sox fans for not giving the ball back right away. No wonder people hate Red Sox fans.

The potential slow recovery of Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis' ability to play third makes a player like Mientkiewicz interesting.
He still has a solid glove at first and his .277 average each of the last two seasons shows he isn't a 100% automatic out.

If the Sox decide against Millar, what would be the harm of having a solid glove off the bench?

VERDICT: INVITE HIM TO SPRING TRAINING. MAKE HIM RETURN THE BALLS USED DURING INFIELD PRACTICE



ORLANDO CABRERA

There's something we don't know about Orlando Cabrera.
He came to the Red Sox in the Nomar trade... played great defense, fit in perfectly in the clubhouse, had a terrific playoff, seemed to love Boston... and they let him go.

I refuse to believe it was just because Theo was enamored with Edgar Renteria. He must have done something or said something.

Either way, the contract that he should have signed with the Red Sox is up... and for what the Red Sox spent on Renteria and Lugo, they could have had Cabrera this whole time.

Oh well. Either way, the shortstop job is Jed Lowie's now.
Cabrera will have to be content with standing ovations the rest of his life.

VERDICT: DON'T BRING HIM BACK



NOMAR GARCIAPARRA

Remember him?
The guy who was the face of the franchise from 1997 until the middle of the 2004 season?

Remember his 6 MVP caliber seasons?

Remember how his very name (plus the accent) became a rallying cry?

Man he had Don Mattingly's luck in terms of getting to the World Series.

Like Fred Lynn, his Hall of Fame career has been derailed by injuries while on the West Coast.
He can play first, however.
And while I prefer Millar as a part timer, it might be nice to see Nomar's saga in Boston have a happier ending.

VERDICT: WAIT AND SEE... KEEP HIS NUMBER HANDY





GABE KAPLER

The Red Sox made Kapler manager of the Greenville Drive in 2007 only to see him return as a player in 2008 with Milwaukee.
I was as surprised as anyone.

From all accounts he is a great teammate and managerial material.
Not sure what he offers as a player anymore.


VERDICT: THE MANAGER OF YOUR LOWELL SPINNERS!


TROT NIXON

Trot has expressed interest in returning to Boston after a year in Cleveland and a kind of sad cameo with the Mets.

I'm sure he might come back but at this point, he isn't worth much in the field and his bat has slowed down.
(Funny... another power hitter from the late 1990s/early 2000s whose bat has slowed down... I wonder why).

I guess the Red Sox could use a left handed bat off of the bench.
Even if he makes the team, I don't see him making it through the year.
Maybe he just wants to retire as a Red Sox.

VERDICT: SIGN HIM TO A MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT AND INVITE HIM TO SPRING TRAINING



ERIC GAGNE

Ha!
Just checking to see if you were reading.

Tom Doyle sang is best with the Eric Gagne Song.


VERDICT: FORCE HIM TO GIVE HIS RING TO YAZ



ALAN EMBREE

The man who got the last out against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS is out there...
A man who has worn 9 uniforms and played in the post season for 5 different franchises in his 15 year career.

It didn't end well in Boston for Embree as he was cut midway through a dreadful 2005 campaign and was picked up by the Yankees.

There's water under the bridge and a bullpen to shore up, and you never know which set up man is going to be effective.

VERDICT: INVITE HIM TO SPRING TRAINING



KEITH FOULKE

Seriously, of all the heroes of the 2004 post season, Foulke is by far the most underrated.
The guy basically risked his career by giving the Red Sox everything he had and then some.

With the Red Sox on a verge of being swept, he saved the day in game 4, throwing 2 2/3 shut out innings allowing the Sox to go to extra innings where they won it on Papi's homer.

The next day he pitched another 1 1/3 shut out ball, setting up the 14 inning win. The day after that, he threw a shut out ninth to send the series to game 7. Without his heroics, there is no Roberts slide, there is no Papi homers, there is no bloody sock, there is no A-Rod slap.

And then gave Red Sox fans the highlight we all imagined but were never sure if it was going to come true: A World Series clincher.

The fact that it ended bitterly at all is disgraceful.

That being said, he had a mediocre year in Oakland and doesn't look like he has much left.

VERDICT: DON'T SIGN HIM... BUT SOX FANS NEED TO GIVE HIM A STANDING OVATION ANY TIME HE COMES TO FENWAY



MANNY RAMIREZ

Oh, was I supposed to ignore Manny?
Remember him?

Yeah I know it ended really badly.
Like REALLY badly.

But call me a sentimental old fluff... but I'd still have him back.
I know it isn't happening, but I'd hate to see the MVP of the 2004 World Series as a villain.

Maybe he can play first!
(Come on... that would be fun!)

VERDICT: OH COME ON! IT'S MANNY!!!! LET'S BRING HIM BACK!

So there you have it...
Maybe some of them will be back, or maybe Theo will continue to have ice water in his veins.
Heck.
It's worked so far.

I'm sorry dad... but GO DODGERS!

My dad is as big and passionate Giants fan as you will ever meet.
How passionate is he? When we were reading the sports section this weekend, he was breaking down why he still thinks the Giants have a shot.

THIS YEAR!!!

It is late August, the Giants are 19 games back in the loss column, and my dad is not prepared to wave the white flag.

Well it pains me to tell me dad… and my many other Giant fan friends… that the entire staff of Sully Baseball has unanimously decided to root for the Dodgers in the NL West.

And I would argue that all Red Sox fans should do the same.
Let me count the ways

1. Nomar deserves our love.

Yeah it ended badly, but he played his butt off when he was with the Red Sox and carried the offense alone some years. He was the Fred Lynn of the 1990s and 2000s… a Hall of Fame caliber player derailed by injuries who saw only flashes of brilliance when sent off to his native Southern California.

It would be nice to see Nomar back in the playoffs.



2. Manny deserves our love.


Yeah it ended REALLY badly and maybe there isn’t enough distance from the nasty split. But come on! He was a great player for 7 and a ½ seasons in Boston and lest we forget he was the 2004 World Series MVP! That should buy a lot of love.

Plus it would be worth seeing him in the playoffs if for no other reason than to see if he tries to take a leak in the bullpen during pitchers warm ups.

3. Derek Lowe deserves our love

Yeah it ended badly… no wait it didn’t! It ended wonderfully!
It ended with Lowe winning the clinching game of the Division Series, ALCS and World Series in 2004.

He should be worshipped (and the fact that he blew tons of games as a reliever and pitched himself out of the regular season rotation in 2004 should be long forgotten)

4. The Grady factor

There are still people who think Grady Little got a raw deal in Boston. Last year’s Dodger club house which resembled Lord of the Flies should have put that to rest. But seeing them go to the post season AFTER Grady left should finally put that
nonsense to bed.

Speaking of the manager…



5. Yankee schadenfreude

Come on Yankee haters!

What would be more glorious than seeing the Yankees miss the playoffs all together? How about Joe Torre leading the Dodgers TO the playoffs! Get the Yankee second guessing machine going. Get Hank Steinbrenner to think they made a huge mistake.

And know Joe would be laughing his classy ass off.

Instability in Yankee land gave us the 1980s and early 1990s when the Yankees spent every October playing golf from 1982 to 1993.

6. You can’t POSSIBLY want to see Arizona

For Christsake, even the people of Arizona don’t want to see Arizona in the playoffs!










7. More Awkward Celebrity Sightings

Besides John McCain, who the hell are you going to see at a Diamondbacks game? And I think he is going to be a smidge busy this October. Plus with all of his houses, who knows where he is actually staying these days.

Fox can send their entire fall line up to sit in Dodger Stadium. Awkward to be sure… but what if you saw the dude from Hell’s Kitchen hit by a foul ball? Come on that would be good TV!





8. It’s more convienent for me!

I just got a place which is a 10 minute drive to Dodger Stadium.
I want to be able to see some playoff games live!

(OK, I confess, that one was more for me.)

In honor of Derek Lowe...

Who had one of the strangest careers in Red Sox history...
Everytime you thought you could count on him, he'd stink...
Everytime you write him off, he'd be dominant...
And when his 7 years in Boston ended, he was an All Star closer, started an All Star game, saved 42 games one year, won 21 games 2 years later...
Threw a no hitter...
Clinched the 2003 Division Series out of the pen...
And won all 3 clinching games of the 2004 playoffs...
And whose last game as a Red Sox was clinching the World Series (what a way to go!)...

THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 32