I feel bad for Carlos Fisher

The Phillies wound up beating the Reds in 19... and I want to talk about one of the pitchers of record.

Everyone is talking about Wilson Valdez and his win out of the bullpen. Yeah, it is great and cool that a utility infielder got the win as a pitcher.

But about about some love for Reds pitcher Carlos Fisher?
Can you imagine how frustrated he must feel tonight?

He wasn't expected to pitch tonight. The Reds looked like they had a win in the 10th inning.

Instead it went on... and in the 14th inning Fisher came into the game and batted in Ramon Hernandez's 6th spot with reserve catcher Ryan Hanigan coming in.

Every pitch he threw could have won the game for the Phillies.
He threw a 1-2-3 14th inning.
Then a 1-2-3 15th inning.
He worked around a Wilson Valdez hit in the 16th (he wasn't yet pitching.)
He worked around a Ryan Howard walk in the 17th.
Then he got out of the 18th despite another Wilson Valdez hit (this one was a double.)

Valdez seemed hell bent on winning the game. Little did he know he would be CREDITED with the win.

Meanwhile, despite Fisher keeping the Reds in the game, Cincy couldn't push a run across the board.

And they couldn't even score when Valdez was one the mound... a move by Phillies manager Charlie Manuel that literally says "It's worth more for us to lose this game than to wear down our pen."

Valdez was the human white flag.
And the Reds couldn't score off of him.

Finally he let up a game winning sacrifice fly, giving him line of 5 2/3 Innings pitched and 1 run.

It was the longest outing of his career. (Only once in his 60 previous games had he gone even 4 innings.)

He lasted almost as long as the starting pitcher. (Reds starter Travis Wood lasted 6 innings.)

He pitched his heart and guts out.
And for his troubles, he got the loss. It is first decision of the season.

You deserved better, Carlos.
Please accept this blog post as a consolation prize.

Rise and Shine! There is baseball to be played

Hey Phillies.
I hope you weren't wiped out after a 19 inning marathon the led to your utility infielder pitching and winning.

Hey Reds, hope you weren't too frustrated after blowing a 10th inning lead only to lose the game 9 innings later.

Hey Marlins, hope the roller coaster of blowing a 4 run 9th inning lead only to win in extra innings wasn't to taxing.

Hey Giants, I hope the highs of the 9th inning come back wasn't too high and the remorse following Buster Posey's injury isn't too severe.

Because you have to shake it off!
You have a day game right after overwhelmingly emotional extra innings games.

SOMEONE is going to get blown out today.

I can feel it.

Buster Posey is hurt. Naturally I see the glass half empty

I already talked about this today.
When I talked about Pedroia and the Red Sox, I said that I always expect the worst news.
And almost always the player comes right back.

So now I see Buster Posey, a player the Giants can't survive without, being carried off of the field.
And my first thought is "Man, such a promising career has been cut short."

He'll probably play on Friday.

Wait... The Giants and Marlins are STILL PLAYING?

I finished watching the end of the 19 inning game in Philadelphia and I saw the Marlins tacked on some insurance runs at AT&T Park.

So I took out the trash, emptied the dish washer, went upstairs to bed.
I checked the scoreboard to see tomorrow's schedule... and I saw it was 6-6 in the 11th inning.

Man, I wonder if THIS will go 19 innings as well!

(I smell another walk off win for the Giants.)

They are at 19 innings in Philadelphia

I really really REALLY hope it goes 27 innings.
The longest big league game in terms of innings was the 26 inning affair between the Brooklyn Robins (now the Dodgers) and the Boston Braves.

Actually we'll never know how long that game would have lasted because it was called after 26 innings because of darkness.

Well it is dark now in Philadelphia.
And off they go to the 19th.

I just told my wife that they were going to the 19th.
Her response?
"Oh come on. Nothing is worth playing that long."

I told her the Phillies were using a second baseman to pitch.
She said "Really people?"

Come on Reds and Phillies bullpen.
Hold them!

I know I've been writing a lot about the Red Sox

Forgive me!
I'm a Red Sox fan! And the Red Sox have been surging so it has been fun to talk about them. Contrary to popular opinion, at least THIS Red Sox fan enjoys talking about the team WINNING more than LOSING.

And also I've been working a lot on my latest video. But scrolling down my last bunch of posts, it HAS been Red Sox focused.

So here's my promise.
For the next 30 days, for every Red Sox post I write, I will do 2 on other teams.

Coming up soon... my thoughts on the Mariners, who could be surging or could have just played a crappy Twins team.

(But seriously, Go Sox.)

So I take it Pedroia is OK

I am such a pessimist when it comes to injuries.

Whenever I see someone carried off the field, I automatically think "Oh no... their career might be over."

I know that was what I thought about Dustin Pedroia, especially after all the time he missed LAST year.

Well, I guess I was off. Instead of missing the rest of his career, he missed one game and homered in his first at bat back.

I guess people should be glad I am not in the medical field.

Either way, anytime my team can go into the home of the team with the best record in the league and take 2 of 3 (especially after losing the first one in teeth grinding fashion) I am fine with it.

And living in California made it especially sweet. With the Red Sox first inning explosion, I saw my team were up 7-0 before it was 9:15 AM. Not a bad cup of joe.

The Sox are 1 game back in the loss column from the Yankees.
Let's hope they can get into first by June.

And let's not have any more career threatening injuries.

Lobster salad

Jason Varitek hitting a clutch homer?
Jason Varitek throwing runners out?

What can be used to explain such a resurgence?

They are testing for stuff now, so it probably wasn't injected?
I guess they invested in a Time Machine.

Either way, VIVA LA LOBSTER!

And it is time to update the tally.

DODGED BULLET GAMES - 14

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.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 14

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.)

Back to Even.

Win the series tomorrow and try to move into first place in Detroit.

And who knows?
Maybe the Lobster has his claws back!

New Sully Baseball Video - "Strike Zone Clarity"

In the latest Sully Baseball Video, I ask the simple question: Why can umpires have different strike zones?

It's a logical question... I wonder if I will get a logical answer.

To see previous Sully Baseball videos, click here.

I got cocky... I never learn

I saw the Yankees lost...
I saw the Rays lost...
I saw the Red Sox had a lead in the 8th with Buchholz on the mound.

And I did the math. I figured out that if the Red Sox held on to their lead, the magic number to win the Division would be 116.

Then the roof caved in. Or at least a 2 run 2 out rally. And a Carl Crawford game ending double play with the tying run on third (Crawford homered... I can't get on him TOO much.)

I should NEVER start writing a blog post as if the Sox won BEFORE they win!

Better update the tally.

DODGED BULLET GAMES - 13

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.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 14

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.)

-1?

Not only are the Red Sox not in first place, they are -1 in the Teeth Grinder/Dodged Bullet tally.

Man... this Cleveland team is good!

Liam McEneaney joins The Sully Baseball Show

Comedian, writer, co creator of the up coming comedy concert film Tell Your Friends and Mets fan Liam McEneaney joins the podcast this evening.

He was on the street when he called in... expect to hear lots of sirens.

Listen to internet radio with Seamheads on Blog Talk Radio

Wakefield keeps climbing

The Knuckler from Melbourne Florida has 180 wins as a member of the Boston Red Sox.
He got #180 yesterday against the Cubs.

He he gets 12 more in a Red Sox uniform, then he will have tied Cy Young and Roger Clemens for the most wins in franchise history.

If he gets 13 wins, he will be the All Time Red Sox wins leader.

He's signed with the Red Sox forever. Maybe if he gets a win a season by 2024 he'll pass Cy and Rocket.

He'll probably be pitching then.

How can you NOT be rooting for him to do it?

Tim Lincecum is the best .500 pitcher in baseball

For anyone who still uses wins and losses as the main frame of reference to judge the quality of a pitcher, may I present Tim Lincecum.

Yesterday he threw a complete game shutout where he let up 3 hits and no walks. And nobody was stunned by that performance.

He averages 7 innings a start, the league is hitting .202 against him. He has logged more than a strikeout per inning and his ERA is 2.06.

I did not throw a single new fangled stat.
Logging tons of innings. Striking out tons of batters. Keeping the opposition from getting his and giving up very few runs.

His record is 4-4.

I am sure there is someone out there who would see his record and say "Man, he's off to a mediocre start."

Maybe we should just let 1918 go

Seriously, what good has 1918 done for us Red Sox fans.
Yeah they won the World Series that year... but it was a joyless World Series played in September. The season was cut short that year because of World War I and not a lot of attention was paid to the games.

And now we find out that THAT series might not have been on the level and the Cubs might have taken a dive?

And for years we had to hear Yankee fans chant 19-18 and have it be a reminder of generations of futility (and Yawkey ownership.)

So naturally when the Red Sox and Cubs dressed up in their 1918 garb to honor an infamous series, something crappy happened to the Red Sox.

It looked like, with a 3-1 lead in the 8th, that their winning streak was going to reach 8 games and with the Rays loss, the Sox would be in first place by themselves.

Then... vomit.

Start chanting 19-18.

And update the tally.

DODGED BULLET GAMES - 13

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.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 13

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.)

Back to even.

Can we get back to MODERN DAY uniforms please?

Can the Angels work something out with Anaheim?

I really like the old fashioned L.A. hats on the Angels. They look cooler to me than the all red hat with the A on it.

To be fair, I liked the hat with C-A on it, but seeing that they are never going to go back to being the CALIFORNIA Angels, I guess the point is moot on that hat.

Now I know they have to include "Of Anaheim" in their team name, but can't they sneak "LA" back onto the hat?

Just a thought.

Another day... another walk off win for the Giants

Seriously, I just expect every Giants win to include a mob around first base where the guy who drove in the winning run gets pounded.

It's almost startling when they DON'T win in heart stopping fashion.

The editor of the team's highlight reel has their work cut out for them.

We're going streaking!

Remember when the Red Sox were 3 games under .500?
They had dropped 2 in Toronto and were heading to New York. They looked rudderless.

7 games later the Red Sox have 7 more wins and right now are the third best team in the American League and tied in the loss column with the first place Tampa Bay Rays.

And tonight was an old fashioned ass whuppin'. Even a subpar Lester performance couldn't damper the Sox spirits.

If the Sox win tomorrow and get a little help from the Marlins and Mets, they could be in first place by the end of tomorrow.

Imagine if I told you that was possible a week ago!

I'm glad I saw the Red Sox win 2 World Series before the Rapture

I guess I am a glass half full kind of guy.

Sucks for Indians and Cubs fans.

The 6 game losing streak has been neutralized

6 game losing streak?
Meet 6 game winning streak!

And the Red Sox are doing it with a flair for the dramatic. Great pitching by Beckett, power from Papi and a clutch hit off of the bat of Carl Crawford.

Yeah Bard sucked but who cares? The Sox are a modest win streak and a short Rays losing streak from being in FIRST PLACE!

Like ANY of us were thinking that when the first week of the season came and went without a win.

Let's update the tally.

DODGED BULLET GAMES - 13

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.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 12

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.)

+1!

What bad start?

This looks like it REALLY is it for Okajima

Hideki Okajima was designated for assignment... again.
And I am betting he has pitched his last game for the Red Sox.

Then again, I made that bet LAST December as well.

I can't say good bye too many times.
But everything I said in my tribute to Oki last December still stands.

Let us salute a very valuable member of the 2007 World Champions.