Jd Drew

One of the most exciting games I’ve seen all year.  If I could compare it to any other game this season, it would have to be one of the two Red Sox-Yankee games back in April.  You can’t beat a walk off homer, but you gotta love pitchers duels that erupt in the late innings, only to have the Sox come back and win it in the 8th. 

Continue reading "“Go Crazy Folks, The Red Sox Win This One!”"

The one game the Sox win this series and I don’t even get a chance to write about it before the Sox lose another one…

Well, that’s baseball for you.  I was actually walking through Boston last night after seeing the National Tour of Spring Awakening (which was amazing, by the way) and caught the score of the Sox game through a restaurant window.  “Oh good!”  I thought.  “We’re up 4-0.”  As it just so happened, I was just in time to see Yuniesky Betancourt hit a two run homer to change the score to 4-2. 

Continue reading "Sox Thoughts - Bad Luck on the West Coast"

Home plate umpire Jim Joyce gave all of us on the East Coast a start last night after jumping up from behind home plate to issue a warning to both ball clubs in the third.  As it turns out, both clubs were informed before the game even started that the umps would be keeping a close eye on them, according to Lyle Spencer from mlb.com. 

Continue reading "I'll give you a warning..."

The first domino - and a hefty domino it was - in the free-agent pitching puzzle fell this morning, with the announcement that C.C Sabathia took a seven-year offer from the Yankees. And with it came news that the Red Sox, apparently, are "very much involved" in discussions with former Marlin and Blue Jay hurler A. J. Burnett.

Continue reading "Burnett to Boston? Thanks, but no thanks"

Baseball is an amazing game: You spend six months falling in love with 25 guys you've never met, spend almost 200 nights tuning in to see how they do, and then with one half-swing by J.D. Drew it's all over.

Continue reading "Warming up the hot stove"

For the last few day the Red Sox looked like a mirror image of the Dodgers.  Dying and quickly being pushed out of post season play.  A finally, a kid from Woodland, Ca battles his way to a two out RBI single and the Red Sox wake up.  Ortiz temporarly breaks out of his slump at the right moment and breathes life back into Red Sox nation.  JD Drew has found a home in Boston and calmly belted one over the right field fence to get the Sox back to within one run.  Drew looked very comfortable at the plate while working Howell to a 3-1 count.  You knew he was going to hit the ball hard somewhere. And he did and Boston will go back to Tampa.

Continue reading "Wow"

I don't know if it's just me, but the playoffs never seem to officially start until the Sox play a game at Friendly Fenway. I mean, I watched the games in LA - or LA of Anaheim, or Anaheim in LA, or Anaheim in LA of California, United States - and came away psyched that the Sox were up 2-0, but it didn't have that playoff feel. It just felt like a road trip to the west coast. Maybe it was the fact that the glamorous LA fans were eating sushi off of asian-influenced rectangle plates instead of toting a steamed dog in one hand and a $7 Coors Light in the other. I don't know.

Continue reading "Feeling Fenway"

Pats, I love you guys...but today is a baseball day. 

Honestly, I have so much trouble watching football in October.  Right now the New England Patriots are losing at half time, and I haven't even watched a kickoff.  That's because when I flip my calendar to October, it's baseball time.  If the Sox aren't in it, well then, I certainly won't object to watching football.  But today is a baseball day.  I was very happy to see the Phillies advance to the NLCS.  I personally don't want Manny Ramirez anywhere near another championship ring, so we'll see how that goes. 

Continue reading "Can't stop thinkin' about the Sox"

Some playoff thoughts to chew on as we wait for the playoffs to start late enough on Wednesday that it's almost Thursday ...

I am hoping I can keep my eyelids open to the final pitch, but given the way playoff baseball goes - you know, with the commercials and the pitching changes and the commercials and the mound meetings and the commercials and the stategy and the commercials - I'm not so confident I'll make it through. Besides, I'm reminded of the last time I stuck out a 10 p.m. start to the finish. It was the first game of the ALDS in Oakland in 2003, and I fought sleepiness and ruined any chance of being productive the following day only to see Derek Lowe give up a walk-off bunt single in extras. I'm not sure I can take that again.

Continue reading "After my bedtime"

The Red Sox entered Friday trailing Major League Baseball's feel good story of the year, the Tampa Bay Rays, by only 1.5 games in the AL East. However, with the Rays winning 11-1 against the Twins, and inching closer to their first postseason berth in franchise history, the Red Sox had the pressure on them to win and keep pace. The pitcher the Red Sox put their hope it to do that for them was Paul Byrd, a midseason acquisition from Cleveland, who has provided the stability in the rotation that they haven't really had since Curt Schilling went down. Byrd faced AJ Burnett of the Blue Jays.

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/19"

Lost in the shuffle of Matt Cassel beating Brett Favre in the most hyped Week 2 game in years around these parts on Sunday afternoon, Jon Lester continued his march toward becoming a truly elite pitcher by outdueling a man largely respected as perhaps the best hurler in the AL, in a game the Sox needed to have. Any question marks that surrounded Lester at the All-Star break have been officially converted into exclamation points. In fact, pencil him in for Game 2 right now - it doesn't matter who we are playing or what Daisuke's record ends up being ... Lester's earned the spot right behind Beckett in the playoff rotation.

Continue reading "Q & A ... well, at least some Qs"

The Red Sox took on the Rangers today looking to win their 5th in 6 games and avenge their loss to the Rangers last night. Also, because the Rays were shutout by the red hot Blue Jays earlier today, losing 1-0, a win by the Red Sox would mean that they would be only 1.5 back of the Rays heading into an intriguing matchup in Boston between the Rays and Sox which begins Monday. The Yankees lost today as well and fell into 4th in the AL East, below the Jays, showing once again that a big payroll does not equal success. They are all but out of it.

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/7"

The Red Sox are off today, but plenty of things that are happening that could affect the Sox playoff chances. The Yankees beat the Rays yesterday which put the Sox back within 3 of the Rays in the AL East. The Twins lost to the Blue Jays as the Red Sox allowing the Red Sox to take a commanding 5 game lead in the Wild Card. As of right now, the Twins are losing 1-0 to the Jays and the Rays have a commanding 5-0 lead over the Yankees in the 3rd.

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/4"

The Red Sox were in action tonight, looking for the sweep of their interdivision foes the Baltimore Orioles and looking to perhaps gain some ground on the elusive Rays in the AL East standings. These games are especially big for the Red Sox because, with the Rays and Yankees playing each other, if the Red Sox win, it would guarantee that the Red Sox either gain a game on the Rays in the AL East or add a game to their lead over the Yankees for the Wild Card.

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/3"

Like a scene from the beloved long-running television drama, I feel like I'm looking through a one-way window at the Boston Red Sox. Indeed, I fear the word "lineup" has taken on a conotation with a decidedly more law enforcement feel at this point. "Mr Francona, take a look at these men and tell me if you recognize anyone."

Continue reading "Law and Order"

So my name is Becky and I'm a huge Red Sox Fan.  And no...I'm not a pink hat.  Anyway, this is my first blog of any kind so bear with me.  Now let's get to the sox!!  So last night they had a great win against the Baltimore Orioles.....in Baltimore I might add.  They seem to be doing better on the road. (I should know I was at the Blue Jays game on the 16th...and they stunk up the place.....fortunately not as bad as they did the next day)  So last night we had a solo home run from our captain Mr. Jason Varitek!  Finally!!  I'm so happy for him.  We all know our captain has been obviously struggeling at the plate.  Now we might know the reason...divorce?  Poor Jason...yet he will prevail!  Anyway, hopefully they pull out another win tonight, even without one of my faves...Mikey Lowell and new hardhitter...JD Drew.  Heal up fast guys!  We need you!!

Continue reading "A Win in Baltimore and a Solo homer ..."

Why do the Red Sox tend to forget that? I'm not taking anything away from their performance at Fenway this weekend. They outright and embarrassingly beat the Sox this weekend, but seriously? The Red Sox just seem to suck game in and game out against the Blue Jays all the time for some unknown reason. They're 2-6 against them on the season. Great! Does anyone know what was Josh Beckett's problem yesterday? Doesn't he realize after the outstanding numbers he put up last year that it's strictly against the rules to suck on any ocassion? Who didn't include him in on that memo? Also, Paul Byrd, your performance has caused me to not make any concrete judgments on you. I'll analyze you at a later date.

Continue reading "THE BLUE JAYS AREN'T GOOD."

Did anyone else get déjà vu today?  Well I sure did after seeing run after run after run – this time against our beloved Sox.  Toronto scored in every inning except for the 2nd and 9th innings.  The 9th was a 1-2-3 inning pitched by closer Jonathan Papelbon, who really was one of the only ones left in the bullpen at that point.  It was the first 1-2-3 inning for the Sox. 

Continue reading "Boston being Texas - Sox loose 15-4"

We all saw Coco Crisp soar through the air and crash into the centerfield wall in Anaheim the other day. We were all in awe of the catch he made - the latest in a long line of remarkable highlights - and we all shouted out loud in our living room even though nobody but family members and perhaps a dog or two were present. (It's OK to admit it. You know you did it).

Continue reading "Serving Coco at The Trading Deadline"

I know it's been awhile since I've posted... sorry, it's been a crazy week. But I've seen every game since my last post and I'm happy to report the Red Sox are BACK IN FIRST PLACE!

After they swept the Twins, the Orioles came to the Fens. And while the Sox dropped the first game against the Baltimore team, they took the next two.

Continue reading "Red Sox Back Where They Should Be"

Just what the Sox need headed into a big holiday weekend 4 game series at Yankee Stadium-- a slump! Never was it more odvious that the Sox middle relief is nearly non-existant than during the 7th inning of last night's loss to the Devil Rays when Craig Hansen walked in a run with the bases loaded and nobidy out. Without a doubt the Sox's worst inning of the season saw Delcarmen & Hansen unable to throw a strike or make an out.

Continue reading "A slump headed into Yankee Stadium...."

So apparently leaving Houston wasn't the cure for what's ailing the Red Sox. All that's happened since they headed to Tampa is back-to-back silent offensive showings (at least through eight innings tonight). In fact, the biggest hit in the series is the one Manny delivered to a club official. Baseball is a funny game. You're going to have stumbles like this during the season, but as a fan they become downright maddening. It's hard to keep perspective that these are just four games out of 162 when JD Drew takes three straight pitches for strikes with a key runner on base in the eighth inning. Swing, JD, swing!

Continue reading "When do we finish Intraleague play?"

Just when I started worrying that JD Drew had cooled off, he planted one in deep right to quell my fears.My dad was worried about Dice-K because of his last outing, but I was more concerned about JD.&

Continue reading "JD Back with a Bang"

THe Sox are the first team in the Majors to reach 50 wins thanks to Dice-K & JD Drew; Dice-K was back for the first time since May 22nd pitching 5 shutout innings of 2 hit, 3 walks & 4 strikeout baseball. As Red Sox nation breathes a huge sigh of relief, JD Drew is showing All Star numbers this with 11 homeruns for the month of June.

Continue reading "Dice-K Returns!"

So there I was, lounging on the couch with my dog, half-way paying attention to Kevin Cash's eighth-inning at-bat Wednesday night. Half-way paying attention, you see, because Cash's last 40 or so trips to the plate have resulted in something of a similar outcome - ugliness. Obviously nobody is expecting a 40-40 season from a back-up catcher, and he continues to do what he was brought here to do - catch Wake - but his swing hasn't exactly been drawing comparisons to Griffey, Jr. of late.

Continue reading "Catching A Break"

Did you see that thing bubble up on poor Youk's face yesterday? What did it take, like, 15 seconds? He misplayed a throw and - BAM - his cheek blew up like a balloon. I wish I could describe the phenomenon with some sort of medical jargon, but I can't. Instead I found myself starting at the TV, mumbling outloud to nobody, repeatedly - Look at Youk's face! I thought maybe he and Manny had another sparring match between innings. What's perhaps most amusing is that the injury was suffered by our gold-glove first baseman, he of the longest errorless streak ever at the position, during warm-up tosses prior to the top of a frame. The dude handled everything hit and thrown at him for more than a full year - scorching liners and off-target throws alike - and lets one of his teammates tag him during break time. He looked like Rocky Balboa at the end of the first Rocky movie.

Continue reading "Kevin Youkilis is smuggling golf balls in his face"

It may have taken 13 innings, but in the end the 1st baseman helped the Red Sox get the win in another walk-off.

And boy was it a nerveracking game.  How many opportunities did the Sox have to finish off this game? Too many. Every inning the Sox had a chance to close the door, but couldn't. It all started in the top of the 9th when Pap should have gotten his 22nd save, but Coco misread the ball and didn't get the jump he needed to slam the door on the red birds. So, that means the bottom of the 9th and extra innings.

Continue reading "Youkilis Avoids the Sweep"

Now before you get excited, or think I'm off my rocker, I know there are waaaaaaaaaaaay more than 10 games the Red Sox need to clinch a playoff spot.  My 10 refers to the fact that Lowell, Youk,

Continue reading "10 is the Magic Number"

Manny helped return normal to Fenway Park this afternoon following the Devil Rays madness & Bartolo Colon's inability to handle the ball Friday night. The Devil Rays are the Sox first AL o

Continue reading "Manny returns Fenway to normal."

The sox can tie Tampa for the lead in the AL East tonight as Beckett takes the mound, going for his 6th win. Ortiz is on the 15 DL with a torn ECU tendon-- known as the extensor carpi ulnaris to us science geeks. Theo & Francona are in agreement that surgery wont be necessary; we'll wait and see if the Vader-like cast will do the trick. JD Drew was the offensive star of last night's win, going 2 for 3 along with Coco Crisp's off the wall tie breaking double.  Dice-K's replacement Justin Masterson allowed four runs on six hits in six innings-- he's 2-0 with a The Rays are 0-4 at Fenway Park this season; 65-88 since their inaugural season 10 years ago. They'll return for a final 3 game series in September following tomorrow nights game.

Continue reading "Beckett goes for #6!!!"

Somehow indeed.  Over 5 2/3 innings the starter not only struck out seven, he somehow only allowed 3 runs over six hits, and six walks.  While it's true the Royals ended the game with 8 runs

Continue reading "Somehow Dice-K Goes 8-0"

The sox now own baseball's best home record of 21-5, surpassed only by 1978's 22-4--sweeping a home stand for the first time in 2 years by clinching the last of a 4 game series against Kansas City.  Dice-K now owns an AL leading 8-0 record,  walking 6 to lead the majors in BBs.  Perhaps Varitek's day off affected his high pitch count (118 in 5 2/3 innings, 67 strikes), since he's not used to Cash.

Continue reading "Slugfest at Fenway!"

Two weeks into the 2008 season and the Boston Red Sox must be pleased with how the season has gone thus far. Granted they are only two games over .500 at 8 and 6 and have split their last 10 games, but things could be much, much worse. When the Yankees went to Japan to open the season, they proceeded to go 11-19 in the first month of the season before finally snapping out of it and going on to win the division. Boston is only half a game out of first place in the tightly packed American League East which is currently lead by the surprising Baltimore Orioles who do not figure to hang around much longer.

Continue reading "Red Sox Should Feel Good About The Season So Far"