Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Schilling - not looking good
Yikes. Between TB and KC. The two worst teams and he has an ERA of about 15.
General Craziness as September Approaches
Giambi is again crushing the ball...Now I have no idea what is happening. I thought it was Yankees Stadium, but he hit two last night in Seattle. That's four in the last two games. To top that off, over the last month Tino Martinez has hit at a +.300 clip. That's excellent production from a spot no one thought the Yankees would get production from this year. Boooooo.
Clement got a much deserved win. That's 4 good outings in a row now. Between him and Wells we do have two good starters...Now if only Schill can put it together...We'll see tonight.
DiNardo is getting the start on Thursday...What??? Why not Papelbon again? Nothing like being in a pennant race with a slim lead and throwing DiNardo. I understand Papelbon has been used quite a bit in the pen, but make him unavailable until Thursday and start him.
The light throwing Alvarez got knocked around. Where's Delcarmen?
Foulke is back on Thursday. Even if he doesn't close, but is effective....Even if...
746 runs scored for the Sox and counting...This offense is insane.
16 of 17 at Fenway (and they blew the only loss)...
Bellhorn to the Yankees...
We picked up Chad Harville on waivers. Does anyone know why Houston let him go? He seems like he's pretty solid.
What about all this talk regarding Youkilis for Trachsel? I don't see why the Mets would want Youkilis. They have Wright at 3rd. They could use a 1B, but would you want Youk to be your 1B of the future? Doesn't make sense...Plus, is Trachsel all that good?
40-man roster upcoming. I think the Sox should bring up no position players and 15 pitchers...If they can each get an out per game our starters will only have to go 4 innings and will be rested for the playoffs...That's a joke, by the way...Sort of...I think we'll see Delcarmen, Hansen, Foulke, Lester, Ramirez...not sure who else. One thing is for sure, I don't want Jimy Williams type lineups by Francona to "give the young guys a chance". We need to win the vast majority of our remaining games to guarantee a playoff spot.
Clement got a much deserved win. That's 4 good outings in a row now. Between him and Wells we do have two good starters...Now if only Schill can put it together...We'll see tonight.
DiNardo is getting the start on Thursday...What??? Why not Papelbon again? Nothing like being in a pennant race with a slim lead and throwing DiNardo. I understand Papelbon has been used quite a bit in the pen, but make him unavailable until Thursday and start him.
The light throwing Alvarez got knocked around. Where's Delcarmen?
Foulke is back on Thursday. Even if he doesn't close, but is effective....Even if...
746 runs scored for the Sox and counting...This offense is insane.
16 of 17 at Fenway (and they blew the only loss)...
Bellhorn to the Yankees...
We picked up Chad Harville on waivers. Does anyone know why Houston let him go? He seems like he's pretty solid.
What about all this talk regarding Youkilis for Trachsel? I don't see why the Mets would want Youkilis. They have Wright at 3rd. They could use a 1B, but would you want Youk to be your 1B of the future? Doesn't make sense...Plus, is Trachsel all that good?
40-man roster upcoming. I think the Sox should bring up no position players and 15 pitchers...If they can each get an out per game our starters will only have to go 4 innings and will be rested for the playoffs...That's a joke, by the way...Sort of...I think we'll see Delcarmen, Hansen, Foulke, Lester, Ramirez...not sure who else. One thing is for sure, I don't want Jimy Williams type lineups by Francona to "give the young guys a chance". We need to win the vast majority of our remaining games to guarantee a playoff spot.
Monday, August 29, 2005
AAAHHHHHHHHH
If this comes back to bite us on the ass, I swear I'm off the Theo bandwagon. Hell, I'll even take down that full-size poster of Theo that's currently on the ceiling over my bed. (Wait, did I just type that? I meant to only think it. Crap.)
Wells Loses Appeal
David Wells will begin his suspension tonight. He was denied because he bumped an umpire that came over to break it up...
So, let's get this clear...
He gets thrown out of a game by an umpire that had nothing to do with the confrontation.
He gets suspended for 6-games (notice that MLB didn't give him the average 5-game/one start) for bumping an umpire that stepped in front of him. Perhaps the ump bumped him?
Now, I think he should have been suspended, but now it is a 6-gamer. While that only pushes his second start back a day, it makes the Sox have to start someone in his place twice.
He will return Sunday against Baltimore.
My guess is that Papelbon goes back to the mound. So our rotation rounds out like this for now.
Schilling
Clement
Wakefield
Arroyo
Papelbon
That doesn't look that bad until you realize that Schilling is not Schilling right now. It also leaves, yet, another hole in the pen...
So, let's get this clear...
He gets thrown out of a game by an umpire that had nothing to do with the confrontation.
He gets suspended for 6-games (notice that MLB didn't give him the average 5-game/one start) for bumping an umpire that stepped in front of him. Perhaps the ump bumped him?
Now, I think he should have been suspended, but now it is a 6-gamer. While that only pushes his second start back a day, it makes the Sox have to start someone in his place twice.
He will return Sunday against Baltimore.
My guess is that Papelbon goes back to the mound. So our rotation rounds out like this for now.
Schilling
Clement
Wakefield
Arroyo
Papelbon
That doesn't look that bad until you realize that Schilling is not Schilling right now. It also leaves, yet, another hole in the pen...
All Important Games
I will say this...Yesterday's game was very needed. That was an old-fashioned drubbing. The pitching looked solid and the offense looked, well, like the offense we are pretty much used to seeing. We are still 2 up in the loss column...
Remlinger is gone and Alvarez has been called up...I don't think this makes us any better but I don't think it makes us any worse.
I just checked the Yankees schedule and they have a fairly easy go of it from this point out. They do have a lot of road games, though...And they play Tampa a fair bit, and they've had a very tough time with them, as well.
Back to us...
Foulke is throwing in the minors...Fine...but...we have Alvarez and Papelbon in our pen...Time for a major league arm to come back up even if not at 100%...
Papelbon should head to the rotation, Arroyo to the pen.
How weird was it that we couldn't block a Yankees' waiver move? Hopefully that trend can continue.
You know what else sucks? Embree is now rounding in to form. His past few outings have been excellent.
Remlinger is gone and Alvarez has been called up...I don't think this makes us any better but I don't think it makes us any worse.
I just checked the Yankees schedule and they have a fairly easy go of it from this point out. They do have a lot of road games, though...And they play Tampa a fair bit, and they've had a very tough time with them, as well.
Back to us...
Foulke is throwing in the minors...Fine...but...we have Alvarez and Papelbon in our pen...Time for a major league arm to come back up even if not at 100%...
Papelbon should head to the rotation, Arroyo to the pen.
How weird was it that we couldn't block a Yankees' waiver move? Hopefully that trend can continue.
You know what else sucks? Embree is now rounding in to form. His past few outings have been excellent.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Rule 6.08(b)2
The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when he is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempting to hit unless the batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball; If the ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a strike, whether or not the batter tries to avoid the ball.
Just got back from the Astros-Dodgers game. I was saddened to see Craig Biggio not in the lineup. But then he pinch hit for Roger Clemens, and on Jeff Weaver's first pitch, was hit in the elbow! I jumped up, screaming (most Dodger fans thought I was nuts); and then began loud booing when they called him back. The ruling was that he didn't make an effort to get out of the way, so it was just ball 1. I'd like to see the replay. But I hate when rules are enforced selectively. I know once this season a batter was called back when he was hit by a Wakefield "fast"ball, but it's pretty rare. The Astros probably would've scored if he'd been awarded the base (final score: Dodgers, 1-0). But even sadder, I missed the chance to witness history: if Biggio had been hit, he would've moved up to 2nd place all-time in HBP. Very sad. I swear, I've never booed so hard in my life.
Just got back from the Astros-Dodgers game. I was saddened to see Craig Biggio not in the lineup. But then he pinch hit for Roger Clemens, and on Jeff Weaver's first pitch, was hit in the elbow! I jumped up, screaming (most Dodger fans thought I was nuts); and then began loud booing when they called him back. The ruling was that he didn't make an effort to get out of the way, so it was just ball 1. I'd like to see the replay. But I hate when rules are enforced selectively. I know once this season a batter was called back when he was hit by a Wakefield "fast"ball, but it's pretty rare. The Astros probably would've scored if he'd been awarded the base (final score: Dodgers, 1-0). But even sadder, I missed the chance to witness history: if Biggio had been hit, he would've moved up to 2nd place all-time in HBP. Very sad. I swear, I've never booed so hard in my life.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
One and a half...and shrinking...
Never would I have thought being in first place could feel so hopeless. Sox have lost 3 of their last 4, to the two worst teams in the AL Central; even their one win, a 9-8 slugfest, was hardly convincing. When you can't beat the Detroit Tigers even when you score 8 runs, you know you're in trouble. Hopefully this is just a rough patch, but we'll see. I'm tempted to declare the season over, but I'll give them a few more games. I mean, you can't call a first-place team out of contention...can you?
The bullpen scoreless-less streak is up to 21 games. Keep it up, boys!
Papelbon's been hit, hard, his two times out of the bullpen. Have hitters figured him out, or is he just better as a starter? Given that three of our current five starters are shaky at best, I'd like to see him get one more chance starting a game.
Meanwhile, the Yankees scored 5 in the bottom of the 9th to beat the suddenly-not-so-pathetic Kansas City Royals. Seriously, when was the last time the Sox went into the bottom of the ninth a couple runs down and you thought they might pull it off? June?
The bullpen scoreless-less streak is up to 21 games. Keep it up, boys!
Papelbon's been hit, hard, his two times out of the bullpen. Have hitters figured him out, or is he just better as a starter? Given that three of our current five starters are shaky at best, I'd like to see him get one more chance starting a game.
Meanwhile, the Yankees scored 5 in the bottom of the 9th to beat the suddenly-not-so-pathetic Kansas City Royals. Seriously, when was the last time the Sox went into the bottom of the ninth a couple runs down and you thought they might pull it off? June?
Uh oh.
The Yanks just got Matt Lawton. The guy's not great, batting .268 this season and the same over his whole career. But I have a bad feeling about this -- remininscent of the late-season acquisitions they made around '99-'01, who totally overperformed and really helped pick up the rest of the team. Hell, their acquisitions this year (Chacon and Small, even maybe Leiter) have been surpisingly good. I hope I'm wrong.
In other news, Michael Young has snuck past Johnny Damon for the lead in AL batting. Damon's been hitting .256 in August.
Finally, I've had the word "Crun-chew-eezy" stuck in my head all day. I don't know why, but please somebody make it stop.
In other news, Michael Young has snuck past Johnny Damon for the lead in AL batting. Damon's been hitting .256 in August.
Finally, I've had the word "Crun-chew-eezy" stuck in my head all day. I don't know why, but please somebody make it stop.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Pitching bitching
In August, the Sox pitching staff has combined for a 5.19 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. That's third-worst in the AL, beating only Texas and Kansas City. Even across the entire season, Sox pitching is fourth-worst in the AL, with Tampa Bay also behind them. They have the worst bullpen in the AL, by a fairly wide margin (ERA of 5.36; next worst is TB, with 4.98).
There's been a lot of discussion the last couple weeks on this site as to whether a team can survive the postseason with such glaring problems (for example, here, here, and here). But, with the Yanks only 2.5 games out, making it to the postseason is hardly a forgone conclusion.
If the Sox do make the playoffs, it'll be a pretty rare feat: in 2002-04, all 24 teams making the playoffs were in at least the top 8 in terms of team ERA; most (including the 2004 Sox) were in the top 5 or 6.
Pretty scary.
There's been a lot of discussion the last couple weeks on this site as to whether a team can survive the postseason with such glaring problems (for example, here, here, and here). But, with the Yanks only 2.5 games out, making it to the postseason is hardly a forgone conclusion.
If the Sox do make the playoffs, it'll be a pretty rare feat: in 2002-04, all 24 teams making the playoffs were in at least the top 8 in terms of team ERA; most (including the 2004 Sox) were in the top 5 or 6.
Pretty scary.
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