BBTF's Game Chatter Discussion :: RedSox (89-70) @ Orioles (67-92), Monday, September 26, 2011, 7:05pm

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Monday, September 26, 2011

RedSox (89-70) @ Orioles (67-92), Monday, September 26, 2011, 7:05pm

BOS: Josh Beckett (31, RHP, 13-6, 2.70)
BAL: Tommy Hunter (24, RHP, 4-4, 4.86)

The Primer Chimp Posted: September 26, 2011 at 01:00 PM | 477 comment(s)
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1. Gamingboy Posted: September 26, 2011 at 03:39 PM (#3937323)

Even with the one-game lead somehow intact, I don't think this looks good for the Red Sox, since the Yankees will probably keep playing their glorified Spring Training roster against the Rays.....

...while Buck Showalter is probably chomping at the bit at the idea of playing spoiler, to the point where if the Orioles somehow eliminate the Red Sox, he might come out of the dugout and give the finger to the many Red Sox fans that will be in Camden Yards. Buck, you magnificent bastard. (Emphasis on the bastard).

2. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 07:02 PM (#3937586)

I'm with ya' GB. I think the Sox have to wrap this up in Baltimore which means 2 out of 3 at a bare minimum. They're all huge now.

3. Joel W Posted: September 26, 2011 at 07:46 PM (#3937660)

...and the Orioles' spoilers are probably inferior to the Yankees' semi-varsity squad.

The really scary thing is that the Red Sox need to win this thing before a 1 game playoff because then it'd be...John Lackey? going against one of the Rays' starters.

4. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 08:18 PM (#3937720)

Lineups:

1. Jacoby Ellsbury (L) CF
2. Carl Crawford (L) LF
3. Dustin Pedroia (R) 2B
4. David Ortiz (L) DH
5. Adrian Gonzalez (L) 1B
6. Jed Lowrie (S) 3B
7. J.D. Drew (L) RF
8. Jason Varitek (S) C
9. Marco Scutaro (R) SS

1. Matt Angle (L) LF
2. J.J. Hardy (R) SS
3. Nick Markakis (L) RF
4. Vladimir Guerrero (R) DH
5. Matt Wieters (S) C
6. Adam Jones (R) CF
7. Mark Reynolds (R) 1B
8. Chris Davis (L) 3B
9. Robert Andino (R) 2B

Not a fan of the lineup with Crawford batting 2nd and Drew (65 wRC+) playing over Reddick (106 wRC+). And Varitek starting 2 nights in a row against RHP sucks ass. Glad to see Lowrie again, he looked really good last night (and in his previous start before that as well).

5. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 08:19 PM (#3937723)

Meanwhile the Rays have Shields at home against Noesi and a Yankees B lineup:

1. Derek Jeter (R) SS
2. Curtis Granderson (L) CF
3. Robinson Cano (L) 2B
4. Alex Rodriguez (R) DH
5. Jorge Posada (S) 1B
6. Eric Chavez (L) 3B
7. Russell Martin (R) C
8. Eduardo Nunez (R) RF
9. Brett Gardner (L) LF

1. Desmond Jennings (R) LF
2. B.J. Upton (R) CF
3. Evan Longoria (R) 3B
4. Ben Zobrist (S) 2B
5. Johnny Damon (L) DH
6. Matt Joyce (L) RF
7. Casey Kotchman (L) 1B
8. Kelly Shoppach (R) C
9. Reid Brignac (L) SS

6. Textbook Editor Posted: September 26, 2011 at 08:58 PM (#3937768)

#5--I don't know; defensively I suppose it's a B lineup, but offensively it's hardly the worst they could trot out there. In fact, I'd argue that's a far stronger lineup than I thought they'd have, given the circumstances.

I suppose Tito's doubled down on Crawford in the #2 hole for the remainder of the season. Carl may feel more "comfortable" in the #2 hole, but I don't.

7. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 09:05 PM (#3937777)

#5--I don't know; defensively I suppose it's a B lineup, but offensively it's hardly the worst they could trot out there. In fact, I'd argue that's a far stronger lineup than I thought they'd have, given the circumstances.

It's a B lineup, not a C or D lineup. But clearly a B lineup.

8. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 09:06 PM (#3937778)

TE, I know you defended Lackey and his awful year in the past due to your experiences dealing with your son's illness. Do you feel betrayed at all or disappointed now that we know he's divorcing his wife?

9. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 26, 2011 at 10:20 PM (#3937846)

They won a game, so out comes the same exact lineup. It's not terribly surprising, I guess.

Dan, what's your sourcing on the "Lackey cheating on his wife" rumor from the Lackey thread?

10. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 26, 2011 at 10:21 PM (#3937848)

Teixeira, ARod, and Swisher sitting for the Yanks. If Girardi sits three regulars a day, that's a weakened lineup but still a lineup that projects to score a well above average number of runs.

11. Textbook Editor Posted: September 26, 2011 at 10:27 PM (#3937851)

Dan, it's an odd thing... reading the thread about it, I was reminded that while we were in the midst of everything two years ago, a whole lot of people felt an odd compulsion to tell my wife and I that parents of seriously ill children wound up divorcing at a greater rate than parents of non-sick children. (I never did figure out why some people seemed eager to tell us this "stat," which--as far as I can tell from Googling--isn't actually true.)

In any event, what I've tended to find (since we now know a bunch of couples who are/were in the same boat as us) is basically this: if you had problems before your child got sick, it just exacerbated things... the people we know who did get divorced had issues long before their kid got sick.

In Lackey's case, I'll stand by the idea that he's had some #### going on this year, and clearly his head wasn't in the right place. I don't feel betrayed or disappointed, I suppose I just think: he's human. Bad #### happens in your life (whether you caused it or not), you get affected. His misfortune is that his occupation means millions of folks get to find out details about what any of us would consider is a private affair.

12. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 10:34 PM (#3937858)

Dan, what's your sourcing on the "Lackey cheating on his wife" rumor from the Lackey thread?

There was an "anonymous athlete" referenced in a Herald piece that was clearly referencing Lackey cheating. And since then on SoSH I've seen lots of people comment that they have personally seen him out at various bars in Boston without teammates or his wife and with various young ladies.

I suppose that might not be rigorous enough to be convinced, but given what we know about the guy and the general vibe he projects I don't find those things hard to believe at all. Even before the divorce became news I was inclined to believe those reports.

Perhaps it's unfair to him, but I haven't really seen any reason to give him the benefit of the doubt. Even the way he handled it yesterday by lashing out at the sports reporters was pretty lame when it was a gossip rag reporter who harassed him with the text message.

13. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 10:35 PM (#3937860)

And introducing it to that thread without any sourcing was probably a mistake, but I hadn't yet had my coffee and I was genuinely surprised that the topic had not come up. It's not even like the guy tried to be clandestine about his apparent cheating.

14. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 10:36 PM (#3937861)

Teixeira, ARod, and Swisher sitting for the Yanks. If Girardi sits three regulars a day, that's a weakened lineup but still a lineup that projects to score a well above average number of runs.

The Noesi vs. Tropicana Field Shields part concerns me more than the offensive matchup honestly, as far as likelihood of outcomes for that game.

15. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 10:41 PM (#3937864)

That line up is a joke - Crawford is ####### batting two in the biggest games of the year - great.

####### Varitek - jesus - the guy is throwing runs away literally every game - he's a ####### novelty act - much like Wakefield and a few of the other non performers this year that Tito keeps trotting out there...

I'm ####### angry already

16. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 10:43 PM (#3937868)

To try and keep the swearing to a minimum today, I will post the names of songs I know that reflect how I feel to distract me from unleashing - it may - or may not work to keep me calm

17. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 26, 2011 at 10:48 PM (#3937869)

I was just interested. I figured it was a "I / a bunch of people have seen him at the bars" thing. It isn't going to take a lot of rearranging of mental furniture for me to think that John Lackey is a terrible person.

I guess he takes the Derek Lowe Memorial position in my moral evaluation of Red Sox pitchers.

18. Textbook Editor Posted: September 26, 2011 at 10:52 PM (#3937876)

Win 3 games, pop champagne; it's pretty simple.

[/sarcasm]

Dan--I was typing up my post and didn't see all that further stuff you posted... But I suppose I stand by my initial sentiment. When things go south in your life, you're capable of bad things. Perhaps most/many of us would not given in to those things, but people do. I've never been told my wife's had cancer. I'd like to think I'd behave in a standup way about it if I was. I'd like to think I'd be the man I'd want me to be in such circumstances, but I'll never know for sure unless/until it actually happens.

What's the line from Chinatown? "You see, Mr. Gittes, most people never have to face the fact that at the right time and the right place, they're capable of ANYTHING."

19. Esoteric Posted: September 26, 2011 at 10:57 PM (#3937878)

LET'S GO BALTIMORE! ORIOLE MAGIC!

20. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 10:59 PM (#3937881)

Foulke was on the piss in 2005 at various bars as well, IIRC.

21. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:06 PM (#3937885)

Varitek scratched from the lineup.

Maybe there IS a god.;..

22. Miserable, Non-Binary Candy is all we deserve CoB Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:07 PM (#3937887)

Salty now in the lineup.

No Varitek.

23. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:08 PM (#3937890)

No Varitek!!! No Varitek!!!

24. plink Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:09 PM (#3937891)

Phil -- I look forward to seeing the song titles.

25. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:09 PM (#3937892)

I always love it when they tell you how to listen to the game in Spanish and Orsillo says "Enjoy the Game" - that's always close to impossible it seems lately

26. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:10 PM (#3937893)

"Feel The Pain" Crawford batting - his whole season has been a "freak scene"

27. plink Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:12 PM (#3937895)

Egad, anyone with a visual know what's up with Showalter?

28. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:12 PM (#3937896)

Jesus - Showalter looks bad - hope he's ok

29. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:13 PM (#3937898)

Cue shot!

30. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:13 PM (#3937899)

No Showalter fan am I but that was unpleasant to see. Hope he's ok.

31. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:13 PM (#3937900)

Egad, anyone with a visual know what's up with Showalter?

Looked really dizzy and out of it

32. Gamingboy Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:13 PM (#3937901)

What happened to Buck Showalter, from the NESN feed they have on MLB Network it looked like he had had something serious.

33. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:14 PM (#3937903)

And we get a chance to make them pay for a stupid IBB right in the first inning.

34. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:14 PM (#3937904)

What's up with Buck? I haven't seen him yet.

35. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:14 PM (#3937905)

Some early runs would be great

36. Hugh Jorgan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:15 PM (#3937906)

Jacoby Ellsbury (L) CF
2. Carl Crawford (L) LF
3. Dustin Pedroia (R) 2B
4. David Ortiz (L) DH
5. Adrian Gonzalez (L) 1B

WHY? Why do they put Crawford 2nd, WHY? Has anyone else noticed that Scutaro is uh, well, like, hitting pretty well...wouldn't it make sense to put him 2nd? Gonzo 3rd, Pedroia 4th, Papi 5th, then the rest... Am I missing something? Please tell me I'm missing something?

37. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:15 PM (#3937907)

Did Showalter have a heart attack or something?

38. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:15 PM (#3937908)

God I hate Jed Lowrie.

39. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:16 PM (#3937909)

Another Day Full of Dread

40. Miserable, Non-Binary Candy is all we deserve CoB Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:16 PM (#3937910)

Yankees up 1-0.

Cano goes out to CF.

41. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:16 PM (#3937911)

Yankees up 1-0 on a Cano solo shot.

42. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:17 PM (#3937912)

WHY? Why do they put Crawford 2nd, WHY? Has anyone else noticed that Scutaro is uh, well, like, hitting pretty well...wouldn't it make sense to put him 2nd? Gonzo 3rd, Pedroia 4th, Papi 5th, then the rest... Am I missing something? Please tell me I'm missing something?

Makes No Sense At All

43. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:18 PM (#3937914)

God I hate Jed Lowrie.

Lowrie keyed the rally yesterday with a triple off Nova. He's actually been good since coming back from his latest cortisone shot in the shoulder.

44. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:19 PM (#3937915)

Yankees up 1-0 on a Cano solo shot.

We will need them to win all three this week...

45. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:20 PM (#3937916)

And so it begins

46. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:20 PM (#3937917)

This is ####### ridiculous.

47. Gamingboy Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:20 PM (#3937918)

Great baserunning, Charm City.

48. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:20 PM (#3937919)

They executed a rundown without throwing the ball into the outfield!

49. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:21 PM (#3937920)

That wasn't pretty but it'll do.

50. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:21 PM (#3937921)

Did the Sox just get some fundamentals right??

51. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:21 PM (#3937922)

Holy #### we made a heads-up play...and didn't #### it up!

52. Miserable, Non-Binary Candy is all we deserve CoB Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:21 PM (#3937923)

Perhaps the tides of luck have changed ...

53. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:21 PM (#3937924)

Per NESN Showalter suffered a minor ankle injury.

54. Miserable, Non-Binary Candy is all we deserve CoB Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:22 PM (#3937925)

Showalter left the dugout with a "sprained ankle".

Being taped, will return.

55. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:22 PM (#3937926)

That was interesting...like a negative bunt: give up an out, lose a base.

56. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:23 PM (#3937929)

They executed a rundown without throwing the ball into the outfield!

Beckett's throw to 2nd came close.

57. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:23 PM (#3937930)

Hey Josh, look, you can pitch an inning without your binky!!

58. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:23 PM (#3937931)

Another well-executed fielding play! Good things!

59. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:27 PM (#3937933)

Really NOT a fan of benching Reddick to get JD Drew into the lineup. Drew has a ####### .315 OBP this season...

60. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:27 PM (#3937934)

Nice to see those drop-in fly balls happening to a team that's not the Red Sox.

61. Gamingboy Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:28 PM (#3937935)

Showalter left the dugout with a "sprained ankle".

Being taped, will return.

Bull, that just what they say. In reality, he's probably had a heart attack or something but he's filled himself with such rage in his quest to "whip" Theo Epstein that he is just ignoring it. Stubborn old cuss.

62. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:29 PM (#3937936)

And Reddick has a .327 OBP this season.

63. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:30 PM (#3937937)

Wow. Rays had runners on the corners with 1 out and Zobrist grounded into a 3-2 DP.

64. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:31 PM (#3937938)

Wow.

65. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:31 PM (#3937939)

Orioles playing like the September Sox!!

66. Gamingboy Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:31 PM (#3937940)

Nice fielding, Mobtown.

67. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:31 PM (#3937941)

That was comically bad, nice to be on the right side of that one for a change.

68. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:31 PM (#3937942)

What Do You Want Me to Say?!?!?!

69. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:32 PM (#3937943)

The Orioles field like my slow-pitch softball team.

70. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:32 PM (#3937944)

And Reddick has a .327 OBP this season.

Yes, and a 150 point edge in slugging.

71. Gamingboy Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:32 PM (#3937945)

Let it be noted that Matt Wieters was the only Oriole in that play that didn't embarrass himself.

72. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:32 PM (#3937946)

Hunter looks like he may have retweaked the groin,

73. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:32 PM (#3937947)

Rally Killer up

74. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:34 PM (#3937948)

#### Crawford is a ####### waste of space

75. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:34 PM (#3937949)

Crawford batting 2nd is still retarded.

76. Hugh Jorgan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:34 PM (#3937950)

and Carl comes up...and makes an out. Why the f*ck is this arsehole batting 2nd. F*ck, I hate this, it's just dumb.

77. Miserable, Non-Binary Candy is all we deserve CoB Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:35 PM (#3937951)

[63] Not just that. Zobrist smoked the ball down the line so hard that Posada barely had time to move from holding the runner.

He fielded it on a hop, took about 2 steps to the bag and fired a bullet to home ... that nearly nailed Zobrist coming home ... and that one-hopped Martin "in time" to get Upton, WHO DIDN'T SLIDE, at home.

Of course, Upton was probably safe on the throw, getting his leg on the plate before Martin came around with the tag, but, again, HE DIDN'T BOTHER TO SLIDE.

Shades of the other Giambi ...

78. Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:35 PM (#3937953)

A big game from Beckett would be lovely. 8 innings.

79. Gamingboy Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:35 PM (#3937954)

Carl Crawford is actually a double-agent working for the Rays. Only explanation.

80. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:36 PM (#3937955)

3 Left on in Scoring Position already - three total pitches I think as well

81. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:37 PM (#3937956)

Has Beckett gotten even fatter over the course of the year? I thought that was Matt Albers for a minute.

82. Gamingboy Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:38 PM (#3937959)

Matt Wieters' Socks are red with the blood of his enemies.

83. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:38 PM (#3937960)

Beckett continuing to not bring the clutch.

84. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:39 PM (#3937961)

I didn't even flinch when he hit that, man did it carry. Ugh.

85. Phil Coorey. Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:40 PM (#3937963)

A big game from Beckett would be lovely. 8 innings.

I have about as much faith in that as the Sox winning the division by 10 games....

86. Hugh Jorgan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:40 PM (#3937964)

Damn, another homer given up...damn, damn

87. Hugh Jorgan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:42 PM (#3937966)

Carl Crawford is actually a double-agent working for the Rays. Only explanation

Well the cuba gooding theory has been put forward and seems to carry more weight with every suspicious outing...

88. Gamingboy Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:43 PM (#3937968)

What's the Cuba Gooding theory?

89. Dan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:43 PM (#3937969)

Crawford looked like he could have had a shot at bringing that homer back. Not that he SHOULD have caught it, but he wasn't even at the right place on the wall.

I really think he's having issues seeing at night or with his eyesight period.

90. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:45 PM (#3937970)

That ball definitely landed a two rows in - it was unplayable. Crawford played it weirdly, though, getting turned around three times.

91. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:45 PM (#3937971)

That K aside, Reynolds is probably going to have his first full season without reaching 200 K. (That was 191.)

92. Miserable, Non-Binary Candy is all we deserve CoB Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:46 PM (#3937972)

Jim Presley, hitting coach, telling Mark Reynolds, hitter, that he should cut down on his swing with two strikes seems amusingly ironic to me.

Also, Jim Presley, hitting coach???

File that one in the never-would-have-guessed-it file.

93. Hugh Jorgan Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:47 PM (#3937973)

What's the Cuba Gooding theory

That Cuba Gooding is impersonating Crawford AND is a double agent working for the Rays.

Pretty much explains the whole forgetting how to play baseball thing in 2011.

94. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:47 PM (#3937974)

I really think he's having issues seeing at night or with his eyesight period.

I wonder about that too. He looks dazed up there sometimes. I really wonder if there's something else going on.

95. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:49 PM (#3937976)

Pretty much explains the whole forgetting how to play baseball thing in 2011.

Has Gooding remembered how to act?

96. Miserable, Non-Binary Candy is all we deserve CoB Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:49 PM (#3937978)

What's the Cuba Gooding theory?

I'm assuming it's that because Crawford looks so much like Gooding, that they secretly decided to switch places in life this season and the Red Sox ended up with an actor playing LF.

97. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:51 PM (#3937980)

That was not even close to being a strike.

98. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:51 PM (#3937981)

That was 3 inches off the plate.

99. Miserable, Non-Binary Candy is all we deserve CoB Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:57 PM (#3937986)

2-0 Yankees.

Cano with an RBI single.

100. Gamingboy Posted: September 26, 2011 at 11:58 PM (#3937988)

Oh, I thought that the Cuba Gooding theory would have been that that he stopped doing good work after "SHOW ME THE MONEY!"

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