BBTF's Game Chatter Discussion :: Orioles (63-90) @ RedSox (88-66), Wednesday, September 21, 2011, 7:10pm

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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Orioles (63-90) @ RedSox (88-66), Wednesday, September 21, 2011, 7:10pm

BAL: Tommy Hunter (24, RHP, 4-4, 4.81)
BOS: Josh Beckett (31, RHP, 13-5, 2.50)

The Primer Chimp Posted: September 21, 2011 at 01:00 PM | 262 comment(s)
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1. tfbg9 Posted: September 21, 2011 at 03:42 PM (#3931902)

This is a big game. Vegas has the Sox at 75% to win.

2. tfbg9 Posted: September 21, 2011 at 04:54 PM (#3931963)

And I now see the line is moving the O's way...Sox now at 71.7%...uh-oh!

3. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 21, 2011 at 10:52 PM (#3932397)

This is going to be the longest day of my life - not much chance to chatter - which is good for you guys I think...

Go Sox - keep giving us all a heart attack - it's been great fun.

4. Dale Sams Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:11 PM (#3932406)

Not trying to be a negative nelly here in view of our hopes of Beckett and Sabathia winning, but with Wake and probably Lackey starting in NY there is a not insignificant chance of being swept there...so let's not buy those playoff tickets yet.

5. Gamingboy Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:13 PM (#3932407)

I heard somewhere that Beckett's wife is very pregnant and could conceivably pop during the game. Did anybody else hear that?

6. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:14 PM (#3932408)

Beckett looks really, really good so far.

/Dr. Jinxtable

7. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:16 PM (#3932409)

I can make bad things happen with my mind.

8. Dale Sams Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:17 PM (#3932412)

I heard somewhere that Beckett's wife is very pregnant and could conceivably pop during the game. Did anybody else hear that?

Quite decent of Josh to be here instead of at the birth of his first (im guessing) child. I couldn't blame him if he missed the game, what with it being a game and all.

9. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:17 PM (#3932413)

Please - no more jinxes !!

10. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:18 PM (#3932415)

It didn't look like it surprised Gonzalez. It looked like he didn't catch a ludicrously routine throw. This team, criminy.

11. Rafael Bellylard: The Grinch of Orlando. Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:18 PM (#3932417)

This is going to be the longest day of my life - not much chance to chatter - which is good for you guys I think...

Personally, I enjoy watching you lose your mind, or shitting sideways (however that works).

12. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:18 PM (#3932418)

Josh Beckett don't give a ####. Beckett throws what he wants.

13. Bote Man Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:25 PM (#3932422)

I'll just leave this here for the humor/exasperation factor: the Rays TV broadcast during Game 1 today posted an announcement regarding the sale of post-season tickets. No, I'm not kidding.

14. Dan Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:26 PM (#3932423)

They've been doing that for like a week.

15. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:27 PM (#3932425)

Personally, I enjoy watching you lose your mind, or shitting sideways (however that works).

I'll be in and out - baseball might be the only sane thing for me today - we've never organized a concert this big before

16. Dan Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:35 PM (#3932430)

Hooray, an early deficit in the one game all week where we have a matchup advantage!

17. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:35 PM (#3932431)

How in the hell did that get out? It looked like he hit it straight up into the air. I guess he actually hit it a very long way.

Not good, Becks.

18. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:35 PM (#3932432)

Good to see these two lemons are on the same page early - put it on a ####### tee next time Josh - saves the hassle of shaking off Captain Useless

19. Dan Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:37 PM (#3932433)

The fact that Beckett insists on Varitek catching him and then spends 30 minutes of the game shaking him off makes no sense whatsoever.

20. Dale Sams Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:37 PM (#3932434)

What's the longest Sox have shut-out an opponent since Toronto? 3 innings?

21. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:40 PM (#3932437)

What's the longest Sox have shut-out an opponent since Toronto? 3 innings?

The one win against Tampa featured six consecutive shotout innings - three from Beckett and three from the bullpen.

22. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:42 PM (#3932439)

Hunter's just pounding the zone with his fastball. He actually looks pretty good.

23. Dan Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:44 PM (#3932440)

Not to start the game, and thus not to actually shut them out. Yeah, they held them at 3 runs, but they scored 2 in the first inning. That's what he means.

24. Darren

Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:44 PM (#3932441)

You know what the problem with this team has been? Pedroia has been batting too high in the order. For a while, it looked like bumping him back to 4th would do the trick, but it didn't. Hitting 5th may do the trick. That way, we can get a guy with a high Temperature Gauge in the two hole!

25. Dan Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:46 PM (#3932443)

You'd think a manager whose main strength is supposedly keeping an even keel would resist knee-jerk lineup changes like that, no?

26. Darren

Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:52 PM (#3932446)

He doesnt look fast

27. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:52 PM (#3932447)

I really thought we would see so many more ####### triples from Crawford this year

28. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:53 PM (#3932448)

I'm sure Crawford still is fast, but yeah, he doesn't really look that way.

29. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:54 PM (#3932449)

He doesnt look fast

He really doesn't. It's so weird.

Like, when Kenny Lofton stopped being the fastest man in baseball, he became a normal really fast guy. Crawford doesn't look any faster than Scutaro or Drew or McDonald. It's so weird.

30. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:54 PM (#3932451)

A double play here scores a run!! Go Tek - you can do it!!

31. Darren

Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:54 PM (#3932452)

K, DP.

32. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:55 PM (#3932453)

He really doesn't. It's so weird.

6 more years!! Excited

33. Dan Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:55 PM (#3932454)

He doesnt look fast

He didn't look like he was going to try for three until Markakis bobbled it a bit.

Tampa Bay's Crawford would've had a triple on that even if Markakis played it perfectly. He's just not playing with confidence and not playing like the same guy. He's gone from confident that he can take third on balls like that to afraid of making the out at third.

34. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:55 PM (#3932455)

I'm sure Crawford still is fast, but yeah, he doesn't really look that way.

I don't think he is. Triples down, steals down, infield hits down, range numbers down - he's really been not fast. It's hard for me to come up with a good narrative for this other than injury, so maybe there's some reason to hope for next year.

Crawford still has hitting skills, and should be hitting .290 with power even without his good speed, but he needs the speed to be a star.

35. Darren

Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:56 PM (#3932457)

Which is the guy who makes routine flies look like HRs?

36. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:56 PM (#3932458)

K, DP.

That's why I want a DP now from Tek

37. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:56 PM (#3932460)

He's just not playing with confidence and not playing like the same guy. He's gone from confident that he can take third on balls like that to afraid of making the out at third.

I don't think fear or lack of confidence can explain Crawford running not very fast. If he were making lots of bad decisions, I could see the case, but running slow has to be a physical thing.

38. Dan Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:57 PM (#3932461)

Varitek has 1 hit this month.

39. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:58 PM (#3932463)

Even better - well done!!!

40. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:58 PM (#3932464)

Hey, good call by Francona to start the runner. right guys?

41. Dan Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:58 PM (#3932465)

Could it be a mental block due to being afraid of pulling his hamstring again? He seemed faster, if not as fast as usual, before that injury.

42. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 21, 2011 at 11:59 PM (#3932466)

Well, it could also be that his hamstring is injured.

43. Dan Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:00 AM (#3932467)

Varitek seems like he's completely worn down in September despite only playing 2-3 times a week. And his defense has gone from below average to just terrible. If they bring him back for 2012 I am going to be very angry.

44. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:01 AM (#3932468)

How does Scuti not score there?

Ah, he got a bad read off the bat, was moving back to second in case the liner was caught.

45. Darren

Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:01 AM (#3932469)

Remember Lofton had that year he was traded to Atlanta, his first time away from his original team, and was 27/47 in SB? Then he went back to Cleveland and rebounded. So if we ignore everything else, we can agree Crawford will be great.

46. ray james Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:02 AM (#3932470)

What the #### is Scutaro looking at? The ball is sailing by his ear into center field and he's standing there to makes sure it isn't caught.

47. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:02 AM (#3932471)

Missed the Ellsbury hit - was it a rocket?

48. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:03 AM (#3932472)

I think/hope it's a combination of lack of confidence and just not having his head in the game. The fact that nearly every aspect of his game is hurting leads me to think that there's some weird mental block beyond some possible injury.

He's obviously not a star now - he's not even replacement level.

49. Dan Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:03 AM (#3932473)

GOd forbid you take 10 seconds to show a replay before going to your commercials, NESN.

50. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:03 AM (#3932474)

Aviles looked very safe to me there

51. Famous Original Joe C Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:04 AM (#3932475)

He was safe according to the radio guys, obviously so.

52. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:04 AM (#3932476)

Yeah, looked safe to me, too...

53. Dan Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:04 AM (#3932478)

I thought he was safe on live but wanted to see a replay before commenting, but NESN decided 10 seconds of ad revenue was more important.

54. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:04 AM (#3932479)

Judging by 46 - Seems it wasn't - seems that Scuraro is a ####### idiot - another day another #### up from a Sox player - so sick of this ####

55. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:05 AM (#3932480)

Safe - ####### kill me - this is infuriating

56. ray james Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:06 AM (#3932481)

Missed the Ellsbury hit - was it a rocket?

Yes, hard hit line drive right over second.

57. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:06 AM (#3932482)

He was safe, but it's closer than I thought.

58. Famous Original Joe C Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:06 AM (#3932483)

"By a good step" according to Joe Castiglione.

59. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:06 AM (#3932484)

Just a shockingly bad call

60. Dan Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:06 AM (#3932485)

Wow, he was safe by a TON.

Francona has to get himself ejected there. I know the effect of managers getting themselves tossed is overblown, but he needs to try anything to get this team out of this rut.

61. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:07 AM (#3932486)

It was very bang-bang, but the bang of Aviles' foot is definitely there before the bang of the ball in the mitt.

62. Dan Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:07 AM (#3932487)

It's a good thing every close call goes our way, right guys?

Where's Gaelen now?

63. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:08 AM (#3932488)

I could see the case, but running slow has to be a physical thing.

I don't know. Obviously a lot of it is physical, but lots of it can be mental. Did you read this NY Times article recently? There's significant mental stuff involved in physical performance.

64. Dan Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:08 AM (#3932489)

To be fair though, I guess that actually wasn't a close call. It was an obvious call that was blown.

65. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:09 AM (#3932490)

He was safe, but it's closer than I thought.

It's really not that close in my opinion at all - but what can we do - hopefully this really gets them going

66. Dan Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:10 AM (#3932491)

Even how the hamstring feels can be mental. If you aren't confident that your hamstring is healthy, any little twinge or anything is going to freak you out and cause you to hesitate from running all out.

67. ray james Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:11 AM (#3932492)

I'm watching the O's telecast and Palmer is saying the O's caught a break, that he was safe and it wasn't all that close.

68. Famous Original Joe C Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:12 AM (#3932493)

Where's Gaelen now?

Begging for attention somewhere else, I'd presume.

I will say - having an actual pitcher start the game tonight is pretty cool.

69. Dan Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:12 AM (#3932494)

The umpires are really doing an amazing job at being bad enough at their jobs to basically force MLB's hand in expanding the use of Instant Replay.

70. Dan Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:13 AM (#3932495)

I will say that Gonzalez's defense is a bigger upgrade on Youkilis's than I was expecting. He is just superlative over there.

71. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:13 AM (#3932496)

3-1 in the game with the good umpiring.

/Dr. McWhinypants

72. Dan Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:14 AM (#3932498)

Really the only knock against Gonzalez is that he is not very tall and not very flexible, so he's not as good at stretching for throws as a guy like Teixeira. But his range on defense puts Teixeira to shame.

73. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:17 AM (#3932501)

The only knock on AG for me is that he literally can not run

74. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:17 AM (#3932502)

That is foul by inches - ####### inches - #### this is becoming an utter joke

75. Dale Sams Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:18 AM (#3932503)

3-1 in the game with the good umpiring.

/Dr. McWhinypants

2-1?

76. Darren

Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:18 AM (#3932504)

I thought he missed 2nd and I thought he was safe at 1b.

Hey, BTW, it's a game of inches.

77. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:19 AM (#3932505)

How does he not score there - so freaking slow

That was in the air for ages - they better ####### score a ####### run here or I will ####### lose it

78. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:19 AM (#3932506)

That's our Petunia, taking the eyeball-high fastball and putting it on the Monster. Now, a clutch hit. Go!

79. Darren

Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:19 AM (#3932507)

The Sox have some realllllly slow baserunners.

80. ray james Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:19 AM (#3932508)

Even though he's slow, he's usually not this slow, Phil. He's nursing a calf injury.

81. Dan Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:20 AM (#3932509)

####### seriously? That gets caught?

82. Dale Sams Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:20 AM (#3932510)

AGon? Seriously? come on guys...have you ever played in this park before?

83. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:20 AM (#3932511)

This is a ####### joke - another missed opportunity

84. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:20 AM (#3932512)

Hey guys.

Just scanned the thread: the winner for hilariousness is the kvetching that Crawford didn't run confidently enough (or whatever) on his stand-up triple.

85. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:20 AM (#3932513)

Reddick hit it on the screws. We are seriously not catching the breaks tonight.

86. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:21 AM (#3932514)

AGon? Seriously? come on guys...have you ever played in this park before?

I'm stressed and irrational guys - we all know that

87. Famous Original Joe C Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:21 AM (#3932515)

Whew! Carl!

88. Darren

Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:21 AM (#3932516)

ho many liners do they hit at people?

Crawford, threatening to get his OBP up to .300!

89. ray james Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:21 AM (#3932517)

Finally they catch a break. That was almost caught.

90. Dan Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:21 AM (#3932518)

Nice day for Crawford!

Hunter seems better suited to relief. He was good the first time around the order.

91. Dale Sams Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:21 AM (#3932519)

Thank you Carl, and thank you LFer.

92. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:22 AM (#3932520)

the winner for hilariousness is the kvetching that Crawford didn't run confidently enough (or whatever) on his stand-up triple.

no, really. The ball was bouncing around in the corner- Papi would have had a stand-up triple. He was not showing any meaningful speed.

He was, however, producing all of the runs for the Red Sox tonight. Clutch Crawford!

93. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:22 AM (#3932521)

Clutch Carl!!

And I agree that he doesn't actually look that fast; probably because he doesn't look smooth or something. I wonder if they understand, biomechanically and such, why certain guys are as fast as they are.

94. Dale Sams Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:22 AM (#3932522)

AGon? Seriously? come on guys...have you ever played in this park before?

I'm stressed and irrational guys - we all know that

No, no. I was agreeing with you. I was referring to Scoot and AGons failure to score.

95. ray james Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:24 AM (#3932524)

Crawford looked really fast once he rounded first.

I'm wondering if he's been nursing an injury all year. That would explain the lack of stolen bases and plate production.

96. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:24 AM (#3932525)

Crawford kinda runs weird. He also, (to me) looks a little cross-eyed. And his momma dresses him funny.

97. Darren

Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:25 AM (#3932526)

Benji, he didn't look fast. You can just whine about everyone else's comments being whining, but that's just whining.

98. Dale Sams Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:26 AM (#3932528)

Crawford kinda runs weird. He also, (to me) looks a little cross-eyed. And his momma dresses him funny.

And he looks very confused when he looks to the bench for signals, and I don't know if you guys have been following very closely but his apologizing and diary entries are getting crazy.

99. ray james Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:28 AM (#3932529)

Hey, Reddick read a trajectory properly!

100. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: September 22, 2011 at 12:28 AM (#3932530)

no, really. The ball was bouncing around in the corner- Papi would have had a stand-up triple. He was not showing any meaningful speed.

Okay so I just rewound and timed it.

From the crack of the bat until Crawford reached 3rd base was ~11.3 seconds. That guy at BP who does the Tater Trots thing (times all HR trots) clocked Els' inside-the-parker at 14.83.

I think Carl was motoring just fine. He hit that hard.

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