Not So Dirty Sanchez

The second Sanchez struck out Everth Cabrera to seal his no hitter last night, I called my buddy Greg Lee, the second biggest Giants fan I know (after my dad.)

I assumed he was somehow following the game. He wasn't.

I said "How about Jonathan Sanchez?"

He said "Did he win?"

I said "He threw a no hitter."

There was a pause.

Then Greg said "Shut... up."

That pause said it all and illustrates the repercussions of Jonathan Sanchez's no hitter.

As I wrote last night, Sanchez was the least likely Giants starter to do this.

But imagine this scenario Giants fans... what if this gives Sanchez confidence?

Derek Lowe threw a no no in 2002 and wiped away a horrific 2001 to have a Cy Young worthy season. And NOBODY's confidence was lower than Lowe's!

People have never doubted Sanchez's stuff, it was always his head that seemed screwed up.

What if his head is now screwed on tight?

Can you imagine a pitcher with his stuff and thinking right in the #4 spot in a rotation?

Lincecum is probably winning the Cy Young again.
Cain is a legit All Star.
Zito has been up and down but pitching better recently.
Sadowski has pitched well since being recalled.

And then Sanchez (with Randy Johnson lurking on the DL.)

They already have a 2 game lead for the Wild Card and with that starting staff they are not going on any prolonged losing streak.

Now... Giants fans... allow yourself to imagine that rotation in a short playoff series.

If pitching wins series, who could beat San Francisco in a best of 5 series that has Tim Lincecum pitching twice?

And then has Matt Cain lined up with the other team's #2 starter and either Sanchez, Zito, Johnson or Sadowski against another team's #3 or #4 starter.

Will you allow yourself to imagine them not just being happy with the post season but actually having the arms to pitch into October?

I know Giants are tormented and underratedly so.

But let yourself imagine a long October in China Basin... and who knows? Maybe last night was the turning point.

Unhittable Arroyo

Tonight was a great night for pitching.

Obviously you had Sanchez's no hitter...
Jeff Niemann threw a complete game shutout for the Rays
Danny Haren threw a complete game shutout for Arizona.

Plus 8 shutout innings from Jon Lester in the Red Sox win (and 7 2/3 terrific innings from Bannister in the same game.)

Edwin Jackson threw a terrific game for Detroit.
Derek Lowe was solid for the Braves.
Brett Cecil was solid for Toronto.

And there was a fourth complete game shutout... and I am almost reluctant to bring it up.

I love Bronson Arroyo. He was a great 2004 Red Sox. He pitched well and stuck his hand out for A-Rod to slap it in the playoffs.

And he signed for less to stay with the Red Sox and the Sox repaid that loyalty by sending him to Cincy.

He stinks now. He may get some wins but his ERA would be a good credit score.

And he threw a complete game shutout tonight.
4 hits and no walks.

His ERA is 5.38 AFTER the shutout.

So why would I be reluctant to bring it up?

It was against the Mets.

Their lineups look like a split squad spring training line up.

The season is more than half over and they could be ten games under .500 before August 1.

How bad is their line up?

Bronson Arroyo throwing a complete game shutout against them is a pretty good barometer.

A suggestion to the Giants...

Bring Jonathan Sanchez's dad to every game. 

Seriously... 100% the games he's seen his son start in the bigs, he's thrown a no hitter.

Now of all the pitchers on the Giants rotation, he's the last you'd pick throw a no no.

Lincecum, Johnson and Zito all have Cy Youngs on their mantle and Cain is an All Star... and Sanchez can write "trade bait with potential" on his tax return.

I would have expected a no hitter from Jonathan Winters before Jonathan Sanchez.

His dad shows up... and suddenly he becomes another ace.

Seriously, put him on the payroll and have him show up to the rest of Sanchez's starts.

Right now the percentages look pretty impressive. And the magic number for a Giants playoff spot is 75. (Zito's number.)

BUCK BUCK NUMBER ONE COMING IN!

I'm sorry... the image of Bill Cosby wearing a Red Sox uniform is putting me into "Childhood happiness overload!"

And I guess Cos showed up at just the right time... one night after a teeth grinder, he evidently gave Pedroia some hitting tips. And with 2 outs in the 8th of a scoreless tie, Pedroia made Cosby proud!

Couple that with Joba Chamberlain getting slapped around in Anaheim and the Red Sox are back in first place where they belong and the magic number is 76.

Now let's update the board.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 12

April 17 - 10-8 win against Orioles. (Overcame 7-0 deficit.)

April 24 - 5-4 win against Yankees. (Bay homers off of Rivera in 9th to tie it.)

April 25 - 16-11 win against Yankees. (Overcame 6-0 deficit.)

April 29 - 6-5 win at Cleveland. (Overcame 5-0 deficit.)

May 12 - 4-3 win at Anaheim. (Down 3-1 in the 8th.)
June 11 - 4-3 win against Yankees. (Down 3-1 in the 8th. Rallied against Sabathia.)

June 12 - 5-2 win at Philadelphia. (Overcame Ryan Howard's 9th inning shot to win in 13)

June 21 - 6-5 win against Atlanta. (The wind turns Nick Green's fly ball into a walk off shot)

June 27 - 1-0 win at Atlanta. (Masterson and Papelbon wiggle out of late jams.)
July 1 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Sox score 4 in the 9th and Lugo wins in in the 11th)

July 8 - 5-4 win against Oakland. (Wind keeps Hairston's 9th inning go ahead homer in the ballpark)

July 10 - 1-0 win against Kansas City. (Pedroia drives in the only run with 2 outs in the 8th.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 12

April 14 - 6-5 loss at Oakland. (Sox blow early 3-0 lead. Lose in 12)

April 28 - 9-8 loss at Cleveland. (Sox blow early 5-1 lead. Lopez drops 3rd out.)
May 14 - 5-4 loss at Anaheim. (Ortiz goes 0-7 stranding 12 runners.)
May 15 - 5-4 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox blow their second 4-0 lead in three days.)

May 17 - 3-2 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox strand two in the 9th. Lose in the bottom of the 9th.)

May 23 - 3-2 loss to the Mets. (Papelbon lets up a 2 out 2 run homer in the 9th to Omir Santos)

June 18 - 2-1 loss to the Marlins. (Rain washes out a tight game after 5+ innings.)

June 28 - 2-1 loss to the Braves. (Tying run on base in the 9th. Solid Penny outing wasted)
June 30 - 11-10 loss at Baltimore. (The Red Sox blow a late 10-1 to the lowly Orioles.)
July 3 - 7-6 loss to Seattle. (Red Sox comeback in the 8th only to lose in the 11th.)

July 4 - 3-2 loss to Seattle. (Saito walks three in the 9th as the Mariners rally to win)

July 9 - 8-6 loss to the Royals. (Bullpen blows early 4-0 lead.)

Back to Even. And I am sure the rest of the season will be smooth sailing... RIGHT!

C'MON SOX!!!!

Lester's thrown 6 shutout innings and you can't score a run????

I have a flight tonight and I do NOT want to land in San Jose and find out the Red Sox have lost 1-0.

I can't keep grinding my teeth like this!!!!

ARRRRRGH

This was a loss?

Seriously? Big Papi homered in the first and Pedroia launched one in the fifth and I relaxed thinking “OK, this one is in the bag.”

I turn my back and suddenly they lost.

And oh yeah, because the Twins decided to not show up in their 7 games against the Yankees, the Red Sox are tied for the first time in more than a month.

That’s worth grinding some teeth over!

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 11

April 17 - 10-8 win against Orioles. (Overcame 7-0 deficit.)

April 24 - 5-4 win against Yankees. (Bay homers off of Rivera in 9th to tie it.)

April 25 - 16-11 win against Yankees. (Overcame 6-0 deficit.)

April 29 - 6-5 win at Cleveland. (Overcame 5-0 deficit.)

May 12 - 4-3 win at Anaheim. (Down 3-1 in the 8th.)
June 11 - 4-3 win against Yankees. (Down 3-1 in the 8th. Rallied against Sabathia.)

June 12 - 5-2 win at Philadelphia. (Overcame Ryan Howard's 9th inning shot to win in 13)

June 21 - 6-5 win against Atlanta. (The wind turns Nick Green's fly ball into a walk off shot)

June 27 - 1-0 win at Atlanta. (Masterson and Papelbon wiggle out of late jams.)
July 1 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Sox score 4 in the 9th and Lugo wins in in the 11th)

July 8 - 5-4 win against Oakland. (Wind keeps Hairston's 9th inning go ahead homer in the ballpark)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 12

April 14 - 6-5 loss at Oakland. (Sox blow early 3-0 lead. Lose in 12)

April 28 - 9-8 loss at Cleveland. (Sox blow early 5-1 lead. Lopez drops 3rd out.)
May 14 - 5-4 loss at Anaheim. (Ortiz goes 0-7 stranding 12 runners.)
May 15 - 5-4 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox blow their second 4-0 lead in three days.)

May 17 - 3-2 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox strand two in the 9th. Lose in the bottom of the 9th.)

May 23 - 3-2 loss to the Mets. (Papelbon lets up a 2 out 2 run homer in the 9th to Omir Santos)

June 18 - 2-1 loss to the Marlins. (Rain washes out a tight game after 5+ innings.)

June 28 - 2-1 loss to the Braves. (Tying run on base in the 9th. Solid Penny outing wasted)
June 30 - 11-10 loss at Baltimore. (The Red Sox blow a late 10-1 to the lowly Orioles.)
July 3 - 7-6 loss to Seattle. (Red Sox comeback in the 8th only to lose in the 11th.)

July 4 - 3-2 loss to Seattle. (Saito walks three in the 9th as the Mariners rally to win)

July 9 - 8-6 loss to the Royals. (Bullpen blows early 4-0 lead.)

Down to -1.

So the Red Sox and Yankees are going to play a 77 game season... winner gets the division...starting....NOW!

Hey Twins... Thanks for nothing!

Seriously Twins? You are a team that many people (including me) picked as a playoff team and you couldn't win ONE GAME against the Yankees all year?

Let's say the Twins had a losing season against the Yankees... 3-4... the Red Sox would have a 4 game lead right now.

Don't you realize that all teams play at the pleasure of Red Sox fans?

I guess the Rangers aren't dead after all

On June 29th, I wrote that the Rangers 2 ½ deficit was the beginning of the end for the Rangers and basically said they were probably going to fall to third.

Well I need to give the Rangers credit where it is due.

They beat the Angels 4 out of 6 times and swept Tampa. 2 ½ behind became a 1 game lead in 9 days. And they can go into Seattle and crush the Mariners dreams starting tomorrow.

Who knew Andruw Jones had a three home run game in him? How ironic he’d do that against a Los Angeles team after he hit three home runs all last year for the Dodgers?

Give the wind a save

The save technically went to Jonathan Papelbon tonight.

And the win went to Tim Wakefield, giving him more wins than any pitcher in the AL (how odd is THAT?)

But please, the Red Sox won this game because of the wind.

Any Red Sox fan watching that game all thought the same thing with 2 on, nobody out and Scott Hairston at the plate... they thought he hit a three run homer to give Oakland the lead.

At the very least a game tying double.

Nope... the wind kept that SOB in the park and two batters later, the Red Sox won the game and the series.

Hey the weather conspired against us on June 18th against the Marlins so the Red Sox were owed one!

So it's time to update the board.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 11

April 17 - 10-8 win against Orioles. (Overcame 7-0 deficit.)

April 24 - 5-4 win against Yankees. (Bay homers off of Rivera in 9th to tie it.)

April 25 - 16-11 win against Yankees. (Overcame 6-0 deficit.)

April 29 - 6-5 win at Cleveland. (Overcame 5-0 deficit.)

May 12 - 4-3 win at Anaheim. (Down 3-1 in the 8th.)
June 11 - 4-3 win against Yankees. (Down 3-1 in the 8th. Rallied against Sabathia.)

June 12 - 5-2 win at Philadelphia. (Overcame Ryan Howard's 9th inning shot to win in 13)

June 21 - 6-5 win against Atlanta. (The wind turns Nick Green's fly ball into a walk off shot)

June 27 - 1-0 win at Atlanta. (Masterson and Papelbon wiggle out of late jams.)
July 1 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Sox score 4 in the 9th and Lugo wins in in the 11th)

July 8 - 5-4 win against Oakland. (Wind keeps Hairston's 9th inning go ahead homer in the ballpark)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 11

April 14 - 6-5 loss at Oakland. (Sox blow early 3-0 lead. Lose in 12)

April 28 - 9-8 loss at Cleveland. (Sox blow early 5-1 lead. Lopez drops 3rd out.)
May 14 - 5-4 loss at Anaheim. (Ortiz goes 0-7 stranding 12 runners.)
May 15 - 5-4 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox blow their second 4-0 lead in three days.)

May 17 - 3-2 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox strand two in the 9th. Lose in the bottom of the 9th.)

May 23 - 3-2 loss to the Mets. (Papelbon lets up a 2 out 2 run homer in the 9th to Omir Santos)

June 18 - 2-1 loss to the Marlins. (Rain washes out a tight game after 5+ innings.)

June 28 - 2-1 loss to the Braves. (Tying run on base in the 9th. Solid Penny outing wasted)
June 30 - 11-10 loss at Baltimore. (The Red Sox blow a late 10-1 to the lowly Orioles.)
July 3 - 7-6 loss to Seattle. (Red Sox comeback in the 8th only to lose in the 11th.)

July 4 - 3-2 loss to Seattle. (Saito walks three in the 9th as the Mariners rally to win)

Back to even.

And good job for the Sox for winning the series after losing the first game.

Four against the Royals... let's see 3 out of 4.

Welcome to CitiField... home of the Mets and shrine to the Dodgers

Seriously Dodgers… the taxpayers of New York paid good money to build this shrine to the Dodgers past. Hope you feel at home.

New Yorkers have such warm and fuzzy feelings for the Dodgers that it is kind of sad. There are many people in Brooklyn who still wear Dodger caps and the Cyclone logo is designed to resemble to old Brooklyn caps.

In 2007 I wrote about how insane the design of CitiField was. It is a shrine to a team that ripped the heart out of Brooklyn and ignores the history of the team that has to actually play there.

I had equated the Mets with a husband who pines for his hot ex girlfriend while ignoring his plain Jane but loyal wife.

I think it might be even more pathetic than that.

I think the Mets are kind of like Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character in Boogie Nights and the Dodgers are Dirk Diggler.

Remember when he bought the Transam because he wanted to impress Dirk Diggler and Dirk doesn’t care at all?

That’s what’s happening here.

The Dodgers will be looking at the stadium, not really caring, then the Mets would awkwardly butt in and say “Can I kiss you on the mouth?”

And after the awkward exchange, the Dodgers remain cool but the Mets sit outside, crying and muttering I'm a fuggin' idiot. I'm a fuggin' idiot. Fuggin' idiot, fuggin' idiot, fuggin' idiot.

Trust me… that analogy makes sense!

I hate to say it... but Manny did it right

I hate to say it... mainly because I've been a Manny apologist for a while now... so I am expected to catch some flack for this.

But Manny has been the strange model of how to deal with being caught with steroids.

Seriously, think of it. He was caught... he never denied it. He never fought it.

Oh yeah, his handlers and Scott Boras tried to make us believe that Manny was taking fertility pills. But did you notice Manny himself shrugged and took the suspension.

Now look, I am not trying to equate Manny with St. Thomas More... but serving the suspension and not denying it will go a long way of making people forget it.

There was no vague apology a la Giambi.
There was no denial of Bonds.
There was no odd legal phrasing like McGwire.
There was no finger waggling of Palmeiro.
He didn't suddenly forget how to speak English like Sammy Sosa.
There was no grandstanding (and throwing his wife under the bus) like Clemens.

Now of course being caught as a 'roids user is no longer shocking. And he didn't break any Holy baseball records.

But I'm telling you, Manny living on his own planet in the end will be as big as an asset as steroid fatigue.

When he comes back to Los Angeles he will be treated like Lindbergh returning from Paris.

(Remember, these are the same fans who vilified Bonds all of those years.)

So you superstars who test positive in the future, be like Manny and just take the punishment and hurry back.

THAT'S ENOUGH, NOMAR!

Hey Nomar...

I asked Red Sox fans to give you a standing ovation... and they did.

And I'm you expressed a sadness that you never got to say good bye to the fans of New England.

But NOBODY asked you to get an RBI single and help the A's beat the Red Sox.

Seriously... knock it off.

Cain is able

I wonder how many times Matt Cain has heard that?

Probably daily. Oh well.

I'm just happy that stories about Matt Cain no longer have include the phrase "pitching better than his record would indicate."

In fact he is the walking proof that Win Loss record can be overrated.

He posted sub 4.00 ERAs the last two seasons (3.65 in 2007, 3.76 in 2008.) On a team that could score 4 runs a game, he'd be a 15-16 game winner easily.

But on a team that considered Randy Winn its big run producer, he would put up 7-16 and 8-14 records.

Well now he's a 10 game winner and an All Star. And the Giants, as my dad keeps reminding me, are a playoff team with terrific pitching (throw in this Ryan Sadowski kid who might be for real!) and suddenly Cain might be pitching in October.

My dad said "Cain's the ace of the team."

I reminded him that not only was Lincecum the defending Cy Young award winner but leads the league in strike outs, innings pitched, complete games, shutouts and second in the league in ERA."

My dad said "Cain has more wins."

I let it slide. Cain was underrated because of his win loss record, so I suppose he could be overrated a little for the same reason.

Tough decisions for the Mariners

Ohhhhh I am glad am not Jack Zduriencik, the Mariners' general manager right now.

First of all, I am glad I didn't have to learn how to spell Zduriencik when I was 3 or 4 years old.

Secondly, he is in a crossroad right now... and by crossroad I don't mean Ralph Macchio dueling with the devil with his guitar.

The Mariners, fresh off of a 100 loss season, looked like a team in transition. 

They were loaded with veterans but with a new GM and a new manager it looked like they could head in a new direction. But 2008 was not a contending year.

Zduriencik (I'm just cutting and pasting his name now) did the smart thing by bringing Junior back, giving fans a reason to show up to the ballpark. And no doubt he figured when July came around, he could start dumping older players to build up the farm. 

Jarrod Washburn would be a perfect piece of trade bait.

A lefty starter with World Series experience would be a terrific fit for a contender.

Last night's complete game 1 hitter against Baltimore seems like a perfect audition for a playoff team.

Miguel Batista would be a terrific trade chip for a team looking for bullpen depth.

And as I wrote a few weeks ago, Adrian Beltre would be a great fit for the Cubs or the Cardinals... or maybe even the Red Sox with Mike Lowell on the DL.

But there's that little problem. The Mariners are in contention.

They are only 3 1/2 back. They are within striking distance.

The Rangers are showing surprising resilience but probably don't have the horses.

The Angels have stormed back after a tragic first quarter of the season but are relying on too many unproven talents.

And yet the Mariners are in third. They probably need both teams to stumble and will have to make up 4 games in the loss column and then stay in first with an overachieving team.

All the while knowing that Washburn, Beltre and Batista won't be trade chips after July 31 when the trade deadline passes.

Is it worth passing up on dealing those three guys and miss the chance to put 2 or 3 new young prospects into the system to go for it this year?

But if you trade those three and wave the white flag, and then see the Rangers wilt in the heat and injuries catch up with the Angels, would you have passed up a chance to make the playoffs? With JUNIOR back on the team no less?

A GM's job can be filled with devastatingly tough choices that look unpopular at first but help the club in the long run.

Dealing Randy Johnson midway through the 1998 season (fresh off of the 1997 division title) was unpopular... but it yielded Freddy Garcia, John Halama and Carlos Guillen, who all contributed to the 2000 and 2001 playoff teams.

Now none of the players I listed above are as valuable a trade chip as the Big Unit, but they could fill needs for potential playoff teams... and teams on the cusp of a pennant are prone to make desperate moves. 

Don't believe me? Check out the trades that sent John Smoltz, Jeff Bagwell, Jason Varitek, Derek Lowe and Jay Buhner.

But could a playoff team with Junior and Ichiro create the greatest memory in the history of Seattle sports? Remember how unlikely teams have stormed all the way to the World Series in recent years? And remember how badly Seattle fans need something to cheer about?

It's your call Mr. Zduriencik. (Apple C... Apple V.)

Red Sox fans... let's see a very long ovation for Nomar

Seriously... I want a very long standing overation.

Yeah I know it didn't end well... but he played his guts out for the Red Sox (OK, except for that game in Yankee Stadium.)

He loved being a part of the Red Sox.
He got it.

He just never got a ring.

Get on your feet, Sox fans.

Nomar's name was a rallying cry.
Do it again!

NO-MAHHHHHH!

Roy Oswalt of the Astros... for some reason

Roy Oswalt shut down the Giants yesterday.

He looks like he is only getting better.

In fact he looks like that most rare of commodities... AN ACE!

So why haven't the Astros traded him yet?

Seriously, I wrote about this last week and with each win, I am more and more convinced I am 100% correct!

Come on Astros! You are one bad season away from being what the post Cal Ripken Orioles turned into... a team with a great new ballpark and old players and empty seats.

And like the Orioles (who should bring back the smiling bird) the Astros need to bring back the orange rainbow unis.

Hey Mets! Nice sense of urgency

Last Tuesday I wrote a post that basically said the Mets aren't winning it in 2009 so don't bother making a trade.

I often get a lot of traffic from Mets fans so I was expecting a lot of hits.

I got a lot of hits.

I was expecting some comments and some private e mails.

I got them.

I was expecting them to be insulting and cursing me out and informing me that the Mets were only 2 games out with half the season to play.

I was wrong.

EVERY SINGLE comment and e mail I got was agreeing with me, that the Mets were dead in the water. Some actually insisted that I was too light on the Mets.

You can't accuse Mets fans of being overly optimistic I guess!

And you also can't accuse the Mets of panicking. You CAN accuse them of phoning it in!

Seriously, when you are stumbling to stay at .500 and are going to play your chief rival... the one that you blew the division to the past 2 seasons... the one you NEED to play well against in head to head match ups... you should do better than 3 runs.

They scored 3 runs against the Phillies. Not per game, that would be sad enough. TOTAL!

They are now 4-6 against the Phillies. Gee Whiz, I wonder if THAT will come back to haunt them.

Oh yeah, they start tomorrow against the Dodgers who now have Manny back. Tomorrow will be the official halfway point of the season for the Mets and they have clinched a losing record for their first 82 games.

Somewhere Willie Randolph is laughing his butt off!

I'm not putting that in the Dodged Bullet category

Yeah, I know the Red Sox came from behind late in the game... but I never got the sense that the game was 100% over.

OK, I'll level with you. I didn't watch the game.

I was in Palo Alto with my kids and I spent yesterday in a playground with them and their grandma (and my mom.)

So forgive me Sully Baseball readers... yesterday was daddy time.

But I confess, I did check my phone a couple of times for the score. When I saw they won, I gave my fist a little pump and went back to being a good dad.

One thing about the Red Sox in 2009 that is very heartening... they haven't been swept yet. Their pitching staff has been damn good obviously and the longest losing streak they've gone on is 3 games.

So even with a couple of back to back teeth grinders, I still feel confident with this crew. Confident enough to go play in the park with my kids.

THEO PICKED UP A NEW LEFTY RELIEVER!!!!

Oh wait... it's Mark Wahlberg.

(I can't believe we all have agreed to no longer call him Marky Mark!)

Either way, let me ask you honestly Red Sox fans... who would you rather see on the mound?

Mark Wahlberg
or
Javier Lopez?

I know... I know... Javy has been gone since May 11. I should just let it go.

23!

There's another "23" for Jim Carrey to stupidly get all paranoid about.

The 23 straight scoreless innings thrown by Tim Lincecum.

I'm not sure how this connects to Hitler, the Freemasons, Hiroshima, and the day the Mayans believe the world will end...

Let's hope Lincecum throws at least one more scoreless inning so we won't find out why.

A series lost and teeth ground

Hey Takashi Saito! Here's a tip...

When you come into a tie ball game in the 9th inning, try not to walk three batters in one inning. 

Bad things tend to happen... like the winning run scoring.

And for the first time since early June the Red Sox have lost a series. And with the Blue Jays not putting up a fight themselves, the lead is down to a single game over the Yankees.

Seriously, when I say the Yankees/Blue Jays match up was Halladay versus Wang, I figured that was a Toronto win!

Instead another late inning 1 run loss for the Red Sox.

You know what that means!

Teeth will be ground as we celebrate independence. 

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 10

April 17 - 10-8 win against Orioles. (Overcame 7-0 deficit.)

April 24 - 5-4 win against Yankees. (Bay homers off of Rivera in 9th to tie it.)

April 25 - 16-11 win against Yankees. (Overcame 6-0 deficit.)

April 29 - 6-5 win at Cleveland. (Overcame 5-0 deficit.)

May 12 - 4-3 win at Anaheim. (Down 3-1 in the 8th.)
June 11 - 4-3 win against Yankees. (Down 3-1 in the 8th. Rallied against Sabathia.)

June 12 - 5-2 win at Philadelphia. (Overcame Ryan Howard's 9th inning shot to win in 13)

June 21 - 6-5 win against Atlanta. (The wind turns Nick Green's fly ball into a walk off shot)

June 27 - 1-0 win at Atlanta. (Masterson and Papelbon wiggle out of late jams.)
July 1 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Sox score 4 in the 9th and Lugo wins in in the 11th)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 11

April 14 - 6-5 loss at Oakland. (Sox blow early 3-0 lead. Lose in 12)

April 28 - 9-8 loss at Cleveland. (Sox blow early 5-1 lead. Lopez drops 3rd out.)
May 14 - 5-4 loss at Anaheim. (Ortiz goes 0-7 stranding 12 runners.)
May 15 - 5-4 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox blow their second 4-0 lead in three days.)

May 17 - 3-2 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox strand two in the 9th. Lose in the bottom of the 9th.)

May 23 - 3-2 loss to the Mets. (Papelbon lets up a 2 out 2 run homer in the 9th to Omir Santos)

June 18 - 2-1 loss to the Marlins. (Rain washes out a tight game after 5+ innings.)

June 28 - 2-1 loss to the Braves. (Tying run on base in the 9th. Solid Penny outing wasted)
June 30 - 11-10 loss at Baltimore. (The Red Sox blow a late 10-1 to the lowly Orioles.)
July 3 - 7-6 loss to Seattle. (Red Sox comeback in the 8th only to lose in the 11th.)

July 4 - 3-2 loss to Seattle. (Saito walks three in the 9th as the Mariners rally to win)

Now it's -1. 

And there has been a lot of teeth grinding recently... 4 of the last 6 games have been dangerous to my molars. 

Let's avoid a sweep. The Sox haven't been swept all year... Hopefully that streak will stay alive.

Can you dodge a bullet and grind your teeth in the same game?

Games like tonight's game piss me off.

The Red Sox had a great comeback in the 8th inning and blew it in the 11th.

I feel like that is a late innings comeback wasted!

Let's have no more of that.

The Yankees have found their groove and this year, and this season is promising to be Sox and Yankees swapping first place at least 3 or 4 more times.

Doesn't mean I can't be grinding my teeth tonight.

Let's update the board.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 10

April 17 - 10-8 win against Orioles. (Overcame 7-0 deficit.)

April 24 - 5-4 win against Yankees. (Bay homers off of Rivera in 9th to tie it.)

April 25 - 16-11 win against Yankees. (Overcame 6-0 deficit.)

April 29 - 6-5 win at Cleveland. (Overcame 5-0 deficit.)

May 12 - 4-3 win at Anaheim. (Down 3-1 in the 8th.)
June 11 - 4-3 win against Yankees. (Down 3-1 in the 8th. Rallied against Sabathia.)

June 12 - 5-2 win at Philadelphia. (Overcame Ryan Howard's 9th inning shot to win in 13)

June 21 - 6-5 win against Atlanta. (The wind turns Nick Green's fly ball into a walk off shot)

June 27 - 1-0 win at Atlanta. (Masterson and Papelbon wiggle out of late jams.)
July 1 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Sox score 4 in the 9th and Lugo wins in in the 11th)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 10

April 14 - 6-5 loss at Oakland. (Sox blow early 3-0 lead. Lose in 12)

April 28 - 9-8 loss at Cleveland. (Sox blow early 5-1 lead. Lopez drops 3rd out.)
May 14 - 5-4 loss at Anaheim. (Ortiz goes 0-7 stranding 12 runners.)
May 15 - 5-4 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox blow their second 4-0 lead in three days.)

May 17 - 3-2 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox strand two in the 9th. Lose in the bottom of the 9th.)

May 23 - 3-2 loss to the Mets. (Papelbon lets up a 2 out 2 run homer in the 9th to Omir Santos)

June 18 - 2-1 loss to the Marlins. (Rain washes out a tight game after 5+ innings.)

June 28 - 2-1 loss to the Braves. (Tying run on base in the 9th. Solid Penny outing wasted)
June 30 - 11-10 loss at Baltimore. (The Red Sox blow a late 10-1 to the lowly Orioles.)
July 3 - 7-6 loss to Seattle. (Red Sox comeback in the 8th only to lose in the 11th.)

Back to even.
Penny tomorrow... we had better win or the Sox will lose their first series since June 5-7 to the Rangers.

Fish

The Florida Marlins are tied for first place.

Did you know that?

How odd is the NL East?

The Phillies, the defending World Champs, have been in first place most of the year and are currently tied for first with the aforementioned Marlins.

The Braves are two games under .500 and yet are only 2 games out.

The Mets are a disgraceful mess at even .500, and only a game out of first.

Let's play out a scenario that is within the realm of possibility:

Let's say the Mets win 2 of 3 from the Phillies.
Let's say the Pirates beat the Marlins 2 of 3.
Let's say the Braves sweep the lowly Nationals.

If that happens then the Mets, Braves, Marlins and Phillies would all be one game over .500 and all tied for first place.

That's worth rooting for.
That's potential anarchy.

NOT THE BEES!

I am having a really hard time figuring out what is the strangest thing about the San Diego Padres/Houston Astros game being delayed because of a swarm of bees filling the ballpark.

I mean that statement above is strange enough.

But isn't it odd that they swarmed NOW and not in all of those years before when the Padres wore yellow uniforms and kind of looked like bees?

And were they expecting this? I mean do all ballparks have a beekeeper guy complete with the outfit ready to go in the event of this emergency.

Ah well... the weather is perfect in San Diego, so I guess they needed a drawback.

Swarms of bees will do.