BBTF's Game Chatter Discussion :: RedSox (78-50) @ Rangers (74-56), Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 7:05pm

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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

RedSox (78-50) @ Rangers (74-56), Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 7:05pm

BOS: Josh Beckett (31, RHP, 10-5, 2.46)
TEX: Matt Harrison (25, LHP, 10-8, 3.28)

The Primer Chimp Posted: August 24, 2011 at 01:00 PM | 130 comment(s)
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1. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:18 PM (#3908160)

This is almost the lineup, again. Of course, "the lineup" is sort of composed of all lefties. It would have been nice to fit Lavarnway in there somehow, but it doesn't appear he has a position yet.

2. Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:21 PM (#3908163)

Scutaro sucks. Why's he hitting 2nd. Shocknig that everone else did something productive so far...

3. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:23 PM (#3908165)

Bah, Lowrie so unlucky there.

4. Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:23 PM (#3908166)

Harrison certainly is serving them up...

5. Dan Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:24 PM (#3908167)

#### luck there for Jed.

6. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:24 PM (#3908168)

Wow, why send Ortiz there, especially given that he's recovery from some heel thing?

7. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:25 PM (#3908170)

Mike Scioscia just watched that and said "I told you so!" Then he put Jeff Mathis and his .479 OPS into the lineup.

8. Dan Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:26 PM (#3908171)

That was a ####### terrible send. Lucky as #### that Napoli couldn't handle the throw.

9. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:27 PM (#3908173)

Ortiz looked surprised to be sent as he rounded third.

10. Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:28 PM (#3908174)

Wow, why send Ortiz there, especially given that he's recovery from some heel thing?

Did you watch the next PA?

11. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:30 PM (#3908175)

Did you watch the next PA?

The odds of Varitek getting a hit were probably higher than the odds of Ortiz scoring on that, but my commented was mainly because of the heel thing.

12. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:32 PM (#3908178)

Wasn't there a play like a week or two ago where Ortiz induced a dropped ball by the catcher? Maybe 270 lb guys barreling down the line are the new market inefficiency.

13. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:33 PM (#3908179)

I read the Sox are thinking of having a double-header on Friday or Saturday, due to the hurricane that's gonna hit Boston on Sunday. For folks in Boston, that's probably a great way to get Sox tickets.

14. Dan Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:42 PM (#3908182)

Putting 2 men on ahead of noted Red Sox killer Mike Napoli strikes me as an exceptionally poor idea.

15. ray james Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:44 PM (#3908186)

But he strikes him out.

16. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:45 PM (#3908187)

Oof, a 40-minute 1st inning? This should be quite a game.

17. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:45 PM (#3908189)

I read the Sox are thinking of having a double-header on Friday or Saturday, due to the hurricane that's gonna hit Boston on Sunday. For folks in Boston, that's probably a great way to get Sox tickets

Phew, I'm going to be in Pittsburgh this weekend. From what I just checked, the hurricane shouldn't go that far inland.

18. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:51 PM (#3908195)

Safe? He looked like he was gonna be out... nope. Ellsbury stole that with brute speed.

19. Dan Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:52 PM (#3908196)

Luckily I'm living in Florida instead of Massachusetts, so I'll miss the hurricane.

That's irony.

20. Dan Posted: August 24, 2011 at 11:52 PM (#3908197)

Scutaro has no business batting 2nd.

21. ray james Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:02 AM (#3908201)

To be fair, his bat broke.

That looked like a maple bat and I'm wondering if the modest gain in compression is worth the loss of a sure hit because the bat splits along the grain more often than an ash bat.

22. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:33 AM (#3908214)

Okay, anyone watching on NESN: does the image from the CF camera look hinky? The catcher, batter and ump all look vaguely grayed out -- like maybe something isn't working right with the virtual ads behind them. (Any other angle showing the batter looks perfectly fine.)

23. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:35 AM (#3908217)

I'm watching the NESN feed on MLB.tv, and I don't see that. However the virtual ads aren't displaying; I'm just seeing the green screen on the ad behind home.

24. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:37 AM (#3908218)

I see the ads Dan, but they're not entirely steady and even seem sortof pixelated (not quite the right word) around the edges. It's driving me to distraction.

25. PJ Martinez Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:41 AM (#3908219)

Kudos to whomever at WEEI just led into this half-inning out of commercial with Television's "Venus de Milo."

26. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:41 AM (#3908220)

Do the Sox have any shot at getting Joe Nathan in a waiver deal? Or would he be claimed before reaching the Sox?

27. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:41 AM (#3908221)

Napoli is really letting it go with that jersey.

28. Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:44 AM (#3908222)

Napoli is really letting it go with that jersey.

Seems to be working...

29. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:44 AM (#3908223)

Wow. That pitch was a foot above the strike zone and Napoli crushed it.

30. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:44 AM (#3908224)

####### Napoli.

31. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:45 AM (#3908225)

Dunno Dan, but then how did Heath Bell make it all the way to the Giants?

32. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:45 AM (#3908226)

33. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:45 AM (#3908227)

Apparently the Yankees claimed Carlos Peña, but the Cubs seem inclined to hold onto him. Good. He'd be scary as a DH in that park IMO.

34. Dale Sams Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:46 AM (#3908228)

See the diff between Red Sox and Yank fans, is that right now Yank fans would be screaming to put one in Mathis's ear.

35. Dale Sams Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:46 AM (#3908230)

I mean Napoli

36. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:48 AM (#3908233)

If anyone's going to put one in Napoli's ear it's Beckett, but I seriously doubt that'll happen.

37. Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:50 AM (#3908234)

I mean Napoli

Putting one in Mathis's ear actually works a lot better for me...

38. ray james Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:52 AM (#3908235)

Sac bunting with a 6-1 lead? WTF?

39. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:54 AM (#3908237)

I guess the sac bunt worked there, but seems like that violates some unwritten rule...

40. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:55 AM (#3908238)

Wow, Napoli couldn't hang on to the ball that time either.

41. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:56 AM (#3908239)

Actually looked safe to me. Also Crawford hit that fly on a rope. Is he warm again?

42. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:57 AM (#3908240)

Yankees take a 2-1 lead on a Swisher solo shot. Rays also hold a 2-1 lead. Good thing the Sox gained games on each last night, and are winning tonight. Not that the Rays are a threat, but it'll be nice to put even their faintest hopes to bed.

43. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:59 AM (#3908241)

Varitek looked safe, but whatever. Not an egregious call.

44. Dale Sams Posted: August 25, 2011 at 12:59 AM (#3908242)

why when I see Ortiz barrell home, do I hear "Buck Buck number 1! Hey hey hey, get out of my way!"

45. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:01 AM (#3908244)

@42 I still want the division, but mostly I'm just happy that our bats seem to be firing again.

46. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:01 AM (#3908245)

Putting one in Mathis's ear actually works a lot better for me...

Especially if it's a moth. Or a roach.

47. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:02 AM (#3908247)

Oh hey, I just noticed that the Red Sox actually decided to score runs for Beckett tonight. Hooray for him!

48. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:03 AM (#3908249)

Why would you try to bunt here? That is dumb.

49. Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:04 AM (#3908251)

why when I see Ortiz barrell home, do I hear "Buck Buck number 1! Hey hey hey, get out of my way!"

Personally, I hear Ride of the Valkyries...

50. Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:06 AM (#3908253)

Why would you try to bunt here? That is dumb.

Cause the guy is hitting .059?

51. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:06 AM (#3908254)

Seeing Ortiz run reminded me that I was at this game in 2004: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS200407221.shtml

It was Abe Alvarez's first start and Ortiz hit two triples.

52. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:08 AM (#3908256)

Can't believe he caught that...wow.

53. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:08 AM (#3908257)

Beckett is lucky that didn't hit him and that he caught it.

Tigers tie up the game in St. Pete on an Alex Avila homer.

54. Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:09 AM (#3908258)

Tigers tie up the game in St. Pete on an Alex Avila homer.

Yanks are about to put their game to bed.

55. ray james Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:11 AM (#3908261)

Personally, I hear Ride of the Valkyries...

Isn't it Flight of the Valkries?

Then again, considering it Ortiz we're talking about, maybe flight isn't the right word.

56. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:11 AM (#3908262)

Even if it were to stay just 2-1, that Robertson/Mo Combo is so f'ing good.

57. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:11 AM (#3908263)

I think I'd tell Beckett to hit the showers after this inning. He's been laboring all night in the Texas heat while throwing a lot of pitches in each inning. And those last two outs were rockets.

I'm sure Francona will try to steal an extra inning, which probably won't be a big deal with a 6 run lead.

58. Dale Sams Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:12 AM (#3908264)

So nice to be wrong and see that the Rangers *don't* have some kind of mystical stranglehold over the Sox. Should they meet in the playoffs, I might even go see a game.

59. Dale Sams Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:14 AM (#3908265)

When Ortiz runs home, that look on his face just screams, "Ha HA, I am *so* out!...oh, awesome."

60. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:14 AM (#3908266)

Even if it were to stay just 2-1, that Robertson/Mo Combo is so f'ing good.

I would take this year's iterations of Bard and Papelbon over them. Bard allows way fewer base runners than Robertson, and Rivera has seemed to be living a lot more on getting his HOF strike zone than by dominating hitters this season. Obviously both bullpens have great back ends. For a while Albers was a lights out third guy, but that seems to be over. And Soriano was struggling, but that also seems to be over, so the Yankees have a better overall bullpen, but if we get it to the 8th (or to 2 outs in the 7th), I'm going with Boston's guys.

61. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:15 AM (#3908267)

Obviously Mo/Robertson vs. Bard/Papelbon is a question with no wrong answers.

Jacoby with the BOMB!

62. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:15 AM (#3908268)

Ellsbury is just insane this year.

63. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:15 AM (#3908269)

They're baaaaack.

64. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:17 AM (#3908270)

I've said this before, but Els just cries out to have some awesome, old-school-style nickname.

He's just been a joy to watch.

65. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:19 AM (#3908274)

Wow, the A's held the Yankees at 2 runs despite runners at the corners with no outs and Fuentes coming in? I am legitimately shocked.

66. Dale Sams Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:19 AM (#3908275)

I don't know what the hell Granderson is talking about, re: the Ranger crowd.

67. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:20 AM (#3908276)

Decided to look at Ellsbury's batted ball data on Fangraphs. The only real difference between him this year and in other years is that he's hitting the crap out of the ball when he pulls it, and he swings and misses more often. This suggests to me that teams shouldn't tell their strong and fast hitters to try to slap the ball. Just let 'er rip.

68. Dale Sams Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:23 AM (#3908279)

I've said this before, but Els just cries out to have some awesome, old-school-style nickname.

Tacoby Bellsbury doesn't cut it?

Well if it's old-school it would have to be something racist.....I wonder if players like Ortiz get to get away with calling him 'chief'.

69. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:24 AM (#3908282)

Oakland ties it up!

70. Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:25 AM (#3908283)

Obviously Mo/Robertson vs. Bard/Papelbon is a question with no wrong answers.

Apparently there is, and Girardi just found it. It's called CC Sabathia.

71. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:26 AM (#3908284)

Tie game in NY on a Sizemore double. Robertson coming in with 1 out in the top of the 8th and the go ahead run in scoring position.

72. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:27 AM (#3908285)

Have at it:

http://www.bronsonbattlecreek.com/services/birthcenter/nativeambabynames.shtml

BIDZIIL: Navajo name meaning "he is strong."
NIYOL: Navajo name meaning "wind."

73. Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:27 AM (#3908286)

Wow, the A's held the Yankees at 2 runs despite runners at the corners with no outs and Fuentes coming in? I am legitimately shocked.

Can't a guy get some credit for a nice reverse-jinx?

74. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:27 AM (#3908287)

ELLSBURY! He ####### deserves a gold glove this season too.

75. ray james Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:28 AM (#3908288)

Well if it's old-school it would have to be something racist...

Chief Ellsbury.

76. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:28 AM (#3908289)

FWIW, at least Girardi seems to show the same stupid tendencies as Tito.

77. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:30 AM (#3908293)

Robertson comes in and walks the first hitter (Weeks). He just allows too many base runners, like I said upthread.

78. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:31 AM (#3908294)

Oakland takes the lead on a dribbler.

79. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:31 AM (#3908295)

And A's lead 3-2 on a single by Crisp.

80. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:32 AM (#3908297)

I actually think Ellsbury looks like the young Benny the Jet Rodriguez from the Sandlot. He does not look like the grown man with the mustache however.

81. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:35 AM (#3908302)

And the Yankees get out of the inning on a line-into-double play. Robertson just doesn't impress me the way true shutdown relievers do.

82. Dale Sams Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:36 AM (#3908304)

Jeter with an actual good defensive play. since his 3,000th hit, he must be stealing Colon's supply of stem cells.

83. ray james Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:37 AM (#3908306)

Nice.

84. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:37 AM (#3908307)

Maybe Crawford is truly getting hot now?

85. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:38 AM (#3908308)

Crawford?!

86. Dale Sams Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:38 AM (#3908310)

He does seem to be seeing the ball better.

87. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:39 AM (#3908313)

Maybe Crawford is truly getting hot now?

Imagine that - he's put some good swings down lately though

88. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:39 AM (#3908314)

And the A's blow it in 1 hitter.

89. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:41 AM (#3908318)

Ugh, Teixeira just crushed that ball.

90. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:44 AM (#3908322)

Funny thing is that I was actually resigned to Crawford just stinking today in the other thread.

91. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:45 AM (#3908323)

Ugh, Teixeira just crushed that ball.

He shits me sideways more often than not

92. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:47 AM (#3908325)

Maybe Crawford is truly getting hot now?

Every time we kinda think that, it turns out not to be the case.

93. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:48 AM (#3908326)

When was the last time Beckett had this much run support? Great to see

94. Joel W Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:49 AM (#3908328)

I mean the first time we thought that about Crawford, he got hurt.

95. Dale Sams Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:51 AM (#3908329)

Every time we kinda think that, it turns out not to be the case.

Im basing it on him not swinging at everything since his homer in KC. Course, that was just 4 days ago.

96. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:52 AM (#3908330)

Damn, Mike Flanagan dead. There goes one of the few New Hampshire native baseball players. My dad has some pencil drawn portrait with him, Steve Balboni, and Mike Lavalliere.

97. ray james Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:53 AM (#3908331)

Damn, Mike Flanagan dead.

WTF? What happened???

98. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:57 AM (#3908336)

The thing about Mark Teixeira is that he has turned from a high 270s-280s hitter with walks and power into Adam Dunn with solid defense and as a switch-hitter. Now an Adam Dunn who doesn't suck on defense and who can hit lefties is a solid player, but it's hard to put up an OPS over .900 when you're batting .240.

99. Dan Posted: August 25, 2011 at 01:59 AM (#3908339)

Teixeira posted ~6 WAR in his first season in NY (and in his contract year), last year he was ~4 WAR, and this year he's on pace for ~3.5. That's kind of concerning for a guy on a $180M deal, IMO. The low average is killing his value.

Gonzalez is really feeling it now. God that's so good to see.

100. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 25, 2011 at 02:00 AM (#3908340)

WTF? What happened???

No idea, they announced it a few minutes ago on NESN and I didn't catch the cause of death (if it's known).

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