If you are going to lose... LOSE!

Even Tim Wakefield seems to be having a laugh over this one.

Seriously, THIS is how you lose a game.

As of this writing, the Red Sox are losing 10-0 in the 6th inning and Roy Halladay has let up 1 hit.

That's not a nail biter. That is a classic "We're not even showing up today!" game.

That being said, I'd like to see a few W's on the board.

Assuming this game is in the L column, the losing streak will go to 6 with 4 games left.

Call me crazy, but I don't want to end the season with a 10 game losing streak!

Let's get a win SOMETIME. 

As Tessio would say "For old time's sake."

2007 was a long long time ago

In 2007, the Rockies, Diamondbacks and Indians were all in the League Championship Series.

Each had young hungry teams filled with terrific talent and seemed to be poised to contend for many years to come.

And each had a steady manager at the helm. Clint Hurdle with the Rockies, Bob Melvin with the Diamondbacks and Eric Wedge with the Indians.

So how did it work out?

Well with today's firing of Eric Wedge, all three managers have been fired less than 2 years after their improbable LCS berth.

It's sobering, especially when you think about teams that are trying to build something positive for the long term, knowing that you don't even get 2 years credit for a solid and unexpected finish.

But as I said about the Rays at the end of last year, it's dangerous to try and predict who will have long term success.

Give Pesky an at bat

Seriously. If the Sox are just going to phone in the next few games... why not have 90 year old Pesky go up there and take a cut or two?

Give the fans something to cheer about!

The Red Sox might give Roy Halladay the ultimate parting gift

Historically Roy Halladay has had some trouble at Fenway Park. But tonight, in what very well could be his last start in a Blue Jays uniform, the Red Sox are starting their Junior Varsity line up.

The result?

Well 4 innings into the game he has a no hitter.

Wouldn't no hitting the Red Sox increase his trade value and maybe even get him a few more Cy Young votes?

Never mind that he's mowing down Geoge Kottaras and Josh Reddick!

Are the Red Sox playing a split squad game?

Seriously... have you seen the starting line up for tonight's game?

Joey Gathright leading off?

Josh Reddick batting second?

Casey Kotchman in the #3 hole?

George Kottaras batting 6th?

Lowrie at third? Woodward at second?

Look, I know they clinched and all, but when I see this kind of line up, I think "I guess the other guys are in Sarasota playing some other team's split squad."

Fernando Cabrera is already in the game.

I hope a parent in the stands says to their son and daughter "If you are lucky, you might see Hunter Jones and Dustin Richardson pitch tonight!"

Um... hooray?

The Red Sox clinched a playoff spot last night... so I should be celebrating, right?

Maybe that is a bad way to phrase it.

The Rangers were eliminated by the Angels.

That's more like it.

The Red Sox didn't win ANYTHING last night.

They haven't won a game in nearly a week.

I know that in the end it doesn't matter. They did what I wanted them to do. 

They have a playoff spot with nearly a week to go. They can line up their rotation anyway they want. They can have their bullpen rested and ready and give anyone in their lineup  a day to catch their breath.

But it's hard to fist pump in the middle of a 5 game losing streak.

It's hard to say "Woo Hoo!" when the team seems to be going through the motions.

I wanted a clinching game. Was that too much to ask for?

Well, I am going to call this the last teeth grinder of the year... because the rest of the games of the regular season are literally meaningless.

The Sox are the Wild Card team. 

The Yankees are the top seed in the AL but they can't play each other in the Division Series.

The Angels will have the second best record, ergo play the Red Sox for the 83rd year in a row.

If the Sox win all of their games or lose all of their games, nothing will change that scenario.

The only games that matter are the Twins and Tigers games... and figuring out which one has a better shot against the Yankees.

So here we go... the final Dodged Bullet/Teeth Grinder tally.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 26

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.)

July 30 - 8-5 win against Oakland. (Ortiz tests postive then hits a 2 out 3 run go ahead homer.)

July 31 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Youk's 2 run homer saves Smoltz from another bad start.)

August 10 - 6-5 win against Detroit. (Sox snap 6 game losing streak with 7th inning rally.)

August 14 - 8-4 win at Texas. (Victor Martinez hits a 2 run 2 strike 2 out double to take the lead and make up for Buchholz's baserunning mishap.)

August 18 - 10-9 win at Toronto. (Ortiz homers and the Jays defense collapses, saving Beckett from a bad start.)
August 24 - 12-8 win against White Sox. (Red Sox overcome early 4-1 lead and a bad Buchholz start.)

August 25 - 6-3 win against White Sox. (Red Sox win with 4 unanswered runs despite some sloppy defense.)

August 26 - 3-2 win against White Sox. (Wakes pitches 7 strong and Papi homers twice including a walk off)

August 28 - 6-5 win against Toronto. (Sox come back from early 3-0 hole and Paps wiggles out of a bases loaded jam in the 9th.)

August 29 - 3-2 win against Toronto. (Buchholz dominates but needs help from Paps to finish the 9th)

September 1 - 8-4 win at Tampa Bay. (Papelbon enters the game with the bases loaded, nobody out and go ahead run at the plate... and gets a 2 innings save.)

September 9 - 7-5 win against Baltimore. (Martinez's double gives the Sox the lead and Papelbon wiggles out of two jams.)

September 13 - 3-1 win against Tampa Bay. (Pedroia's 8th inning homer off of Matt Garza breaks a 1-1 tie)

September 16 - 9-8 win against the Angels. (Red Sox make three comebacks including a rally with 2 outs and nobody on in the 9th.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 28

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.)

July 21 - 4-2 loss at Texas. (Beckett loses a complete game and the Yankees take over first.)

July 22 - 3-1 loss at Texas. (Sox are swept for the first time all season.)

July 28 - 9-8 loss to Oakland. (Sox blow 3 run lead in 9th. A's rally with 2 outs in 9th and 11th.)

July 29 - 8-6 loss to Oakland. (Down 5-0 in the first, Sox comeback falls short)

August 4 - 4-2 loss in Tampa Bay. (Longoria hits 13th inning walk off with first base open.)

August 5 - 6-4 loss in Tampa Bay. (Sox gets swept in a 2 game series with the tying run at the plate).

August 7 - 2-0 loss in New York. (A-Rod's walk off with 2 outs in the 15 ends a teeth grinding marathon.)

August 9 - 5-2 loss in New York. (4 outs from avoiding a sweep, Bard lets up back to back homers to Damon and Teixeira.)

August 13 - 2-0 loss to Detroit. (Verlander wiggles out of early and late jams.)

August 16 - 4-3 loss at Texas. (Red Sox can't rally and fall behind the Rangers in the Wild Card race)

Setpember 2 - 8-5 loss at Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox recover from a bad Beckett outing to tie the game in the 8th, only to give back the lead the next inning.)
September 17 - 4-3 loss to Angels. (Tek allows tying run to score on a wild third strike. Sox lose in the ninth.)

September 21 - 12-9 loss in Kansas City. (Sox blow an 8-2 lead in the rain.)

September 26 - 3-0 loss in New York. (Sox waste terrific 7 inning performance by Dice-K)

Setpember 27 - 4-2 loss in New York. (Yankees rally to clinch division and Sox fail to win the season series.)

Setpember 29 - 8-7 loss to Blue Jays. (Youk strikes out with the winning runs on base, spoiling the chance of an on field celebration.)

So it finishes up at -2.

Which means of the 91 regular season wins, 26 of them were games they pulled out of the fire and 65 of them were not exactly suspenseful.

And of the 66 losses, 28 were games they should have won and 38 of them were no brainers.

I wonder if other teams have a similar ratio.

Something to ponder in 2010.

10 year veterans in search of their first World Series ring

The Sully Baseball “Who Might Get A Ring” obsession continues with a look at which veterans have a shot at a ring after 10+ seasons.

Which ever team wins in any year, there is inevitably a veteran who put in long years who finally won the big one… and it is hard to not smile when you see them win.

I remember being thrilled for former Red Sox hero Don Baylor when he got his ring in 1987 with the Twins.

It’s hard not to have goose bumps when you see Dave Winfield drive in the World Series winning runs in 1992… or Paul Molitor score on the Joe Carter homer… and even though he was hurt and not available, the White Sox win in 2005 must have been especially sweet for Frank Thomas.

And it isn’t always for the superstars. All time journeyman Mike Morgan finally got his ring in 2001.

And last year Jamie Moyer and Matt Stairs won it all with the Phillies.

Who will get the sentimental attention when the champagne pops this year?

Which player who made their debut at least 10 seasons ago will really cherish the final out, all the while looking at the rookie on the roster and think “You have no idea how lucky you are!”?

My criteria for this list is the following:

The players had to make their Major League debut in 2000 or sooner. (Sorry Hideki Matsui and Takashi Saito… I’m not counting the Japanese Leagues.)

If they missed some time due to injury, that’s fine, as long as their debut was 2000 or sooner. Rick Ankiel is on the list even though he had to go back to the farm to become an outfielder (and find an extra boost.)

They need to be in the organization now, even if they are hurt or won’t play. Lest we forget, Matt Clement and Royce Clayton got World Series rings in 2007 even though Clement played in as many games as I did that year and Royce Clayton’s only contribution was the funny “I didn’t get my taco” exchange with Coco Crisp.

There are four fomer MVPs and no shortage of former All Stars. The Dodgers have the most… the Twins have the fewest.

So let’s see who the sentimental favorites will be…

ATLANTA BRAVES

Tim Hudson – 11 seasons (Debut in 1999)
Greg Norton – 13 seasons (Debut in 1996)
Javier Vazquez – 12 seasons (Debut in 1998)

BOSTON RED SOX

Paul Byrd – 14 seasons (Debut 1995)
Billy Wagner – 15 seasons (Debut in 1995)
Chris Woodward - 10 seasons (Debut in 1999)

COLORADO ROCKIES

Jason Giambi – 15 seasons (Debut in 1995)
Todd Helton – 13 seasons (Debut in 1997)
Matt Herges – 11 seasons (Debut in 1999)

DETROIT TIGERS

Carlos Guillen – 12 seasons (Debut in 1998)
Aubrey Huff – 10 seasons (Debut in 2000)
Magglio Ordonez – 13 seasons (Debut in 1997)
Placido Polanco – 12 seasons (Debut in 1998)

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

Bobby Abreu – 14 seasons (Debut in 1996)
Kelvim Escobar – 12 seasons (Debut 1997)
Vladimir Guerrero – 14 seasons (Debut in 1996)
Torii Hunter – 13 seasons (Debut in 1997)
Gary Matthews Jr – 11 seasons (Debut in 1999)
Darren Oliver – 16 seasons (Debut in 1993)
Justin Speier – 12 seasons (Debut in 1998)

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Brad Ausmus – 17 seasons (Debut in 1993)

Casey Blake - 11 seasons (Debut in 1999)
Juan Castro – 15 seasons (Debut in 1995)
Rafael Furcal – 10 seasons (Debut in 2000)
Mark Loretta – 15 seasons (Debut in 1995)
Eric Milton – 12 seasons (Debut in 1998)
Guillermo Mota – 11 seasons (Debut in 1999)
Vicente Padilla – 11 seasons (Debut in 1999)
Jason Schmidt – 14 seasons (Debut in 1995)
Jim Thome – 19 seasons (Debut in 1991)
Randy Wolf – 11 seasons (Debut in 1999)

MINNESOTA TWINS

Ron Mahay – 14 seasons (Debut in 1995)
Joe Nathan – 10 seasons (Debut in 1999)

NEW YORK YANKEES

A. J. Burnett – 11 seasons (Debut in 1999)
Jerry Hairston, Jr. – 12 seasons (Debut in 1998)
Alex Rodriguez – 16 seasons (Debut in 1994)

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Paul Bako – 12 seasons (Debut in 1998)
Raul Ibanez – 14 seasons (Debut in 1996)
Chan Ho Park – 16 seasons (Debut in 1994)

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Rick Ankiel – 7 seasons (Debut in 1999)*
Mark DeRosa – 12 seasons (Debut in 1998)
Ryan Franklin – 10 seasons (Debut in 1999)
Trever Miller – 11 seasons (Debut in 1996)
Joel Pineiro – 10 seasons (Debut in 2000)
Dennys Reyes – 13 seasons (Debut in 1997)

*Ankiel missed the 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006 MLB seasons.

Rings for Don Mattingly? Terry Pendleton?

Were there ever two players that had worse luck for winning a World Series ring than Don Mattingly and Terry Pendleton?

I wrote last year how Mattingly's career was perfectly wedged between two great Yankee eras.

Terry Pendleton's career was no less agonizing in terms of getting a ring. He was part of two Cardinals teams that lost game 7 of the World Series, including the Don Denkinger game of 1985.

And as a member of the Braves he was the MVP of their miraculous 1991 pennant run. But they lost THAT series in 7 games... and lost the World Series in 1992 and the NLCS in 1993. Pendleton went to the Marlins in 1995 as the Braves won the World Series. He returned to Atlanta the next year, only to see the Yankees pull off one of the great upsets in World Series history... the year after Mattingly retired.

Well guess what?

Both of them are coaches on teams that might very well be playing deep into October.

They can get their belated World Series rings THIS year!

If the Dodgers win it all, Mattingly would finally have a ring.

If the Braves win it all, Pendleton would get his at long last.

And there are other ringless veterans on almost every coaching staff that has either clinched or is in contention.

Glenn Hubbard was played 12 seasons but was cut from the 1989 World Champion A's team in midseason.

Tony Pena would have been the 1987 World Series MVP if the Cardinals could have held onto their game 7 lead.

Andy Van Slyke not only was on that same 1985 Cardinals team with Pendleton but also played for the Pirates team who had their World Series dreams dashed by Francisco Cabrera.

Interestingly, each member of the official Cardinals coaching staff have already won a World Series ring as a player or as a coach (or in the case of Hal McRae, both.)

Coaches don't get the attention that the players nor manager get... but for sentimental reasons let's take a look at which former Major Leaguers currently on coaching staffs might finally earn that World Series ring at long last.

ATLANTA BRAVES

Glenn Hubbard – 12 year career (1978-1989)
Terry Pendleton – 15 year career (1984-1998)

BOSTON RED SOX

Tim Bogar – 9 year career (1993-2001)

COLORADO ROCKIES

Bob Apodoca - 5 year career (1973-1977)

Tom Runnells - 2 year career (1985-1986)

Jim Tracy, Manager - 2 year career (1980-1981)

Jim Wright - 2 year career (1981-1982)

DETROIT TIGERS

Jeff Jones - 5 year career (1980-1984)

Gene Lamont - 5 year career (1970-1975)

Lloyd McClendon- 8 year career (1987-1994)

Andy Van Slyke - 13 year career (1983-1995)

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

Mike Butcher – 4 year career (1992-1995)
Orlando Mercado – 8 year career (1982 – 1990)

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Don Mattingly - 14 year career (1982-1995)

MINNESOTA TWINS

Scott Ullger - 1 year career (1983)

Jerry White - 11 year career (1974-1986)

NEW YORK YANKEES

Dave Eiland - 10 year career (1988-2000)

Mike Harkey - 8 year career (1988-1997)

Mick Kelleher - 11 year career (1972-1982)

Tony Pena - 18 year career (1980-1997)

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Pete Mackanin - 9 year career (1973-1981)

Do you know what is great about living on the West Coast?

9 AM start times for critical late season ballgames!

The first game of the Twins/Tigers double header started while I was still driving TO work!

Most of the time I'd be listening to sports talk or a book on CD.

But today I get to hear two teams going at each other for first place on the last week of the season!

9 AM start times was worth the life of EVERY settler who took the wagons west!

Stumbled across a factoid while writing another post...

Building up for the post season, I was planning on writing a series of obsessive lists about players and coaches who are looking to win their first World Series ring.

I have a fixation with people getting their World Series ring as I can only imagine it would be the apex of anyone's career... and NOT winning one must be a never ending source of frustration.

So I was looking up info on the coaching staffs of the teams that have either clinched a spot in the post season (Yankees, Cardinals, Dodgers, Angels) those who will clinch in the next day or so (Red Sox, Phillies) and those still fighting for a spot (Tigers, Twins, Rockies, Braves) to see which  coaches are looking for THEIR first ever World Series ring.

And the bit of trivia I have discovered was this...

All the managers of the teams still with October aspirations already have a World Series ring... except for Rockies manager Jim Tracy.

Joe Girardi of the the Yankees won as a player during the Joe Torre era.

Terry Francona of the Red Sox managed the 2004 and 2007 Red Sox teams.

Mike Scioscia of the Angels won as a player with the 1981 and 1988 Dodgers and as a manager with the 2002 Angels.

Jim Leyland of the Tigers managed the 1997 Marlins.

Ron Gardenhire of the Twins earned a ring as a coach for the 1991 Twins.

Charlie Manuel of the Phillies managed the 2008 World Champion Phillies.

Tony LaRussa of the Cardinals managed the 1989 A's and the 2006 Cardinals.

Joe Torre of the Dodgers managed the 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000 Yankees.

Bobby Cox of the Braves managed the 1995 Braves.

Which means Tracy stands alone as a ringless manager.

And if the Braves pass the Rockies for the Wild Card, then this whole "winning a ring" would be old hat for ALL the managers.

Angels and (Devil) Rays do the Red Sox dirty work

OK, that title would have worked better if they were still called the Devil Rays.

But the Red Sox have acted ever since the beginning of the Yankee series as if the Wild Card has been clinched.

Star players have been rested.

Starters have been taken out and today the Sox started Michael Bowden over Josh Beckett.

I've been advocating the Red Sox clinch as quickly as possible so the regulars can recharge...

And evidently the Sox have decided to not wait to clinch.

Pretty dangerous gamble... except that it is working.

The Rangers lost their last two and now a single win or a single Rangers loss will send the Sox to the playoffs with a rested and ready rotation.

Normally I would say this was putting the cart before the horse... but lest we forget Francona resting Ramirez, Dice-K and Okajima down the stretch in 2007 despite a late season charge by the Yankees.

It worked out.

I know not to question Theo or Francona.

If Andy LaRoche is on your fantasy team, I hope you didn't bench him today!

Seriously, I hope you actually USED his 5-5, 2 homer 6 RBI performance today.

Special kudos to the 96 loss Pirates for basically saying to the Dodgers "You will NOT clinch in OUR empty stadium!"

Since the Dodgers took a 3 run lead into the bottom of the 9th in yesterday's potential division clincher, the Pirates outscored the Dodgers 15-1.

That's about as big a statement as these Pirates could make.

The Dodgers head to San Diego to try and clinch there.

Wouldn't it be something if the Pirates victories came back to haunt the Dodgers?

That won't happen of course... but it's nice to see the Pirates show a little backbone.

Tampa Bay squeezes SOMETHING positive out of this weekend

Let's all admit it, Red Sox fans... when you saw the Rays were winning by 3 in the 9th inning, you thought "Holy Crap! This is the worst case scenario for this weekend!"

A sweep by the Yankees would be enough.

Watching the Yankees celebrate a division title was brutal.

Knowing the Yankees prevented the Sox from winning the season series was insane.

But having the Rangers sweep the Rays and move to 5 games out?

That would have been a kick to the fruitstand!

But the Rays rallied and oddly a 4 run 9th inning in Arlington makes the agony of the weekend almost irrelevant.

The Red Sox will win a game against the Blue Jays.

And the Angels can win the Division with a single win against the Rangers, so they will be motivated.

And if those two things happen, the Sox are in the playoffs and all of this agita is moot... until the Red Sox face off against the Yankees.

I just threw up

Since June 11th, I've been waiting to rub the Red Sox winning the season series against the Yankees into the nose of my friend Eddie Pepitone.

The Sox were up 8-0 in the season series. There were 10 games left... if they avoided being swept in each series, they'd finish with a 11-7 head to head record.

All they needed to go was 2-8 in the remaining games.

With all of the post all star game whuppin' by the Yankees, the Sox STILL could have won the season series with a win today.

And instead I have to watch the Yankees celebrate the division title... their first since 2006.

The season series? 9-9.

Maybe it is best because crowing about a 10-8 season series would feel hollow and empty because the Yankees are so clearly the superior team right now.

But man... I was waiting 3 1/2 months to run that in Pepitone's face! 

And I am a hollow and empty man!

Let's update the tally

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 26

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.)

July 30 - 8-5 win against Oakland. (Ortiz tests postive then hits a 2 out 3 run go ahead homer.)

July 31 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Youk's 2 run homer saves Smoltz from another bad start.)

August 10 - 6-5 win against Detroit. (Sox snap 6 game losing streak with 7th inning rally.)

August 14 - 8-4 win at Texas. (Victor Martinez hits a 2 run 2 strike 2 out double to take the lead and make up for Buchholz's baserunning mishap.)

August 18 - 10-9 win at Toronto. (Ortiz homers and the Jays defense collapses, saving Beckett from a bad start.)
August 24 - 12-8 win against White Sox. (Red Sox overcome early 4-1 lead and a bad Buchholz start.)

August 25 - 6-3 win against White Sox. (Red Sox win with 4 unanswered runs despite some sloppy defense.)

August 26 - 3-2 win against White Sox. (Wakes pitches 7 strong and Papi homers twice including a walk off)

August 28 - 6-5 win against Toronto. (Sox come back from early 3-0 hole and Paps wiggles out of a bases loaded jam in the 9th.)

August 29 - 3-2 win against Toronto. (Buchholz dominates but needs help from Paps to finish the 9th)

September 1 - 8-4 win at Tampa Bay. (Papelbon enters the game with the bases loaded, nobody out and go ahead run at the plate... and gets a 2 innings save.)

September 9 - 7-5 win against Baltimore. (Martinez's double gives the Sox the lead and Papelbon wiggles out of two jams.)

September 13 - 3-1 win against Tampa Bay. (Pedroia's 8th inning homer off of Matt Garza breaks a 1-1 tie)

September 16 - 9-8 win against the Angels. (Red Sox make three comebacks including a rally with 2 outs and nobody on in the 9th.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 27

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.)

July 21 - 4-2 loss at Texas. (Beckett loses a complete game and the Yankees take over first.)

July 22 - 3-1 loss at Texas. (Sox are swept for the first time all season.)

July 28 - 9-8 loss to Oakland. (Sox blow 3 run lead in 9th. A's rally with 2 outs in 9th and 11th.)

July 29 - 8-6 loss to Oakland. (Down 5-0 in the first, Sox comeback falls short)

August 4 - 4-2 loss in Tampa Bay. (Longoria hits 13th inning walk off with first base open.)

August 5 - 6-4 loss in Tampa Bay. (Sox gets swept in a 2 game series with the tying run at the plate).

August 7 - 2-0 loss in New York. (A-Rod's walk off with 2 outs in the 15 ends a teeth grinding marathon.)

August 9 - 5-2 loss in New York. (4 outs from avoiding a sweep, Bard lets up back to back homers to Damon and Teixeira.)

August 13 - 2-0 loss to Detroit. (Verlander wiggles out of early and late jams.)

August 16 - 4-3 loss at Texas. (Red Sox can't rally and fall behind the Rangers in the Wild Card race)

Setpember 2 - 8-5 loss at Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox recover from a bad Beckett outing to tie the game in the 8th, only to give back the lead the next inning.)
September 17 - 4-3 loss to Angels. (Tek allows tying run to score on a wild third strike. Sox lose in the ninth.)

September 21 - 12-9 loss in Kansas City. (Sox blow an 8-2 lead in the rain.)

September 26 - 3-0 loss in New York. (Sox waste terrific 7 inning performance by Dice-K)

Setpember 27 - 4-2 loss in New York. (Yankees rally to clinch division and Sox fail to win the season series.)

Down to -1.

Let's hope this is the low point.

You do know it is over, Giants fans...

It was a great run...

But a loss tomorrow puts the Giants in 5th place in the Wild Card.

It's tough to jump 5 places in the standings in 6 games.

LET'S GO A'S!

OK, my preseason pick of the A's to win it all didn't come true... at all.

But here's something that could make me look slightly less stupid for picking them:

They haven't clinched a losing record!

They have 7 games left.

If they win all 7, they will finish the season 82-80.

Granted, that will still fall far short of a division title... but at least they aren't going to be a 90+ loss debacle.

OK, fine. The pick sucked.

I hear you Papi

This picture says it all...

There were a few points today that I thought "Man... it's going to fall into place for the Sox!"

Dice-K wiggling out of potential Yankee rallies while matching Sabathia zero for zero.

No inning better than loading the bases with nobody out and having A-Rod dribble a ball about 3 feet for a spectacular out by Victor Martinez.

And seeing Brett Gardner getting caught in a potential rally killing run down made me think "Oooo. This could end well."

Then Chris Woodward dropped the ball... literally.

And I stopped watching the game.

A great effort for Daisuke blown...

And after an 8 game head start the Sox might not even win the season series?

You are DAMN RIGHT I am grinding my teeth!

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 26

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.)

July 30 - 8-5 win against Oakland. (Ortiz tests postive then hits a 2 out 3 run go ahead homer.)

July 31 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Youk's 2 run homer saves Smoltz from another bad start.)

August 10 - 6-5 win against Detroit. (Sox snap 6 game losing streak with 7th inning rally.)

August 14 - 8-4 win at Texas. (Victor Martinez hits a 2 run 2 strike 2 out double to take the lead and make up for Buchholz's baserunning mishap.)

August 18 - 10-9 win at Toronto. (Ortiz homers and the Jays defense collapses, saving Beckett from a bad start.)
August 24 - 12-8 win against White Sox. (Red Sox overcome early 4-1 lead and a bad Buchholz start.)

August 25 - 6-3 win against White Sox. (Red Sox win with 4 unanswered runs despite some sloppy defense.)

August 26 - 3-2 win against White Sox. (Wakes pitches 7 strong and Papi homers twice including a walk off)

August 28 - 6-5 win against Toronto. (Sox come back from early 3-0 hole and Paps wiggles out of a bases loaded jam in the 9th.)

August 29 - 3-2 win against Toronto. (Buchholz dominates but needs help from Paps to finish the 9th)

September 1 - 8-4 win at Tampa Bay. (Papelbon enters the game with the bases loaded, nobody out and go ahead run at the plate... and gets a 2 innings save.)

September 9 - 7-5 win against Baltimore. (Martinez's double gives the Sox the lead and Papelbon wiggles out of two jams.)

September 13 - 3-1 win against Tampa Bay. (Pedroia's 8th inning homer off of Matt Garza breaks a 1-1 tie)

September 16 - 9-8 win against the Angels. (Red Sox make three comebacks including a rally with 2 outs and nobody on in the 9th.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 26

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.)

July 21 - 4-2 loss at Texas. (Beckett loses a complete game and the Yankees take over first.)

July 22 - 3-1 loss at Texas. (Sox are swept for the first time all season.)

July 28 - 9-8 loss to Oakland. (Sox blow 3 run lead in 9th. A's rally with 2 outs in 9th and 11th.)

July 29 - 8-6 loss to Oakland. (Down 5-0 in the first, Sox comeback falls short)

August 4 - 4-2 loss in Tampa Bay. (Longoria hits 13th inning walk off with first base open.)

August 5 - 6-4 loss in Tampa Bay. (Sox gets swept in a 2 game series with the tying run at the plate).

August 7 - 2-0 loss in New York. (A-Rod's walk off with 2 outs in the 15 ends a teeth grinding marathon.)

August 9 - 5-2 loss in New York. (4 outs from avoiding a sweep, Bard lets up back to back homers to Damon and Teixeira.)

August 13 - 2-0 loss to Detroit. (Verlander wiggles out of early and late jams.)

August 16 - 4-3 loss at Texas. (Red Sox can't rally and fall behind the Rangers in the Wild Card race)

Setpember 2 - 8-5 loss at Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox recover from a bad Beckett outing to tie the game in the 8th, only to give back the lead the next inning.)
September 17 - 4-3 loss to Angels. (Tek allows tying run to score on a wild third strike. Sox lose in the ninth.)

September 21 - 12-9 loss in Kansas City. (Sox blow an 8-2 lead in the rain.)

September 26 - 3-0 loss in New York. (Sox waste terrific 7 inning performance by Dice-K)

Back to Even.

The Yankees are going to clinch the AL East.
I'd rather it not be in front of the Red Sox

Shame on Jim Riggleman

That's right Riggleman. You had better hang your head.

You took over the worst team in baseball and they are indeed going to finish this season as one of the worst if not the worst team in the game.

That's not why you should hang your head.

We are at the end of the season.
The Nationals have only 9 games left.
They've already lost 101 games.
Needless to say they don't have a lot of meaningful games left.

Yet the Nats find themselves in the middle of a pennant race. Maybe not for themselves, but they are playing the Braves 7 out of the last 10 games of the season.

And with the Braves now only 3 back in the loss column for the Wild Card, each one of these games affect Atlanta and Colorado.

They also affect who plays whom in the Division Series. A Braves Wild Card would mean the Dodgers would play Atlanta in the Division Series while the Phillies and Cardinals would face off.

A Rockies Wild Card would mean the Dodgers and Phillies would meet in the Division Series and the Cardinals would go to Colorado.

These games could affect the balance of the NL playoffs.
These games could affect which teams would be resting starters and which ones would be going at full speed in the last week of the season.

So what did Riggleman do today?
He is resting Ryan Zimmerman!

The Nationals are practically fielding a AAA line up and just about the only hitter who could make any difference on his roster is taking a breather... a week before he takes a 5 month break.

Um... WHAT IS HE RESTING FOR?

Shouldn't he put a lineup on the field that, I don't know, could beat the Durham Bulls?

In a game that could have a chain reaction affect on the National League playoffs, Riggleman said "You know, now could be the day to give Pete Orr some at bats!"

This is a disgrace and if baseball actually had a commissioner, then he would have been fined.

Hey Rigs!
The Nats play the Mets next week. Those games will be played in front of friends and family and won't even affect the Nats nor the Mets.

You can send Zimmerman to Bermuda for those games.
How's about he plays in the games that matter?

Get up Jon!

Not Lester!

Please don't have Lester be hurt!

This is the whole hope for having a meaningful October.

Beckett's improvement... the development of Buchholz... Dice-K's unlikely comeback... the deep pen...

All of that is great but first and foremost the Red Sox need Jon Lester being an ace in game 1 of any playoff series.

It didn't even occur to me to be worried about THAT!

Then one Melky Cabrera line drive later he's being carried off the field.

PLEASE... PLEASE... Don't be hurt Jon.

If the Red Sox don't have Jon Lester available, they might as well start Willie Tyler and Lester.

Well MY night has been made easier

When Hunter Jones is pitching in the third inning for the Red Sox, it is time to turn the radio off and spend time with the family.

No need to watch the Yankees blow out the Red Sox.

Besides, in about a week and a half, the playoffs start. I had better store up as much good will as possible before parking my butt in front of the TV and get hooked on a Dodgers/Phillies game.

OF COURSE Joba is lights out the same week I compared him to Matthew McConaughey!

The pennant race is THAT way

Who would have thought that a Braves vs the Nats game in late September would suddenly be meaningful?

But while the Giants couldn't get out of their own way and the Marlins just couldn't put together a long enough win streak, the Braves find themselves just 3 back in the loss column of the Rockies.

And the Rox play most of the season against the Cardinals and Dodgers... the best teams in the National League

And the Braves play 7 of their last 10 games against the Washington Nationals... the worst team in baseball.

Can you imagine Bobby Cox going to the playoffs without Glavine, Maddux OR Smoltz?

Time to do the unthinkable... check with interest on a Washington Nationals game!

Eric Wedge is still employed... isn't that strange?

They've lost 11 in a row...

They very well might end up being the worst team in the American league this year...

2 years ago they had a 3-1 lead in the ALCS.

This year they will be in the position to pick #2 in the draft next year.

I'm just saying he should be checking Craigslist these days for job openings.