The first of only 3 remaining weekday games at Fenway this afternoon, Dice-K goes for AL leading 8th win as he inches closer to snatching the ERA AL leader spot from the Indian's lefty Cliff Lee.  The Sox are looking for their 7th consecutive victory and a series sweep before heading out to the doldrums of10 PM EST starts-- otherwise known as a road trip to the AL West.

Its been 7 days since Manny's last homerun, so all eyes will be on #24 as he tries to join the 500 club before his 36th birthday next Friday. He's homer-less in 26 at bats going into this afternoon's game-- with 3 consecutive strike outs last night. WTG Manny!!

Do you think the pressure's on??

Continue reading "Dice-K Preview!"

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.

This afternoon's slugfest rang up a combined 19 runs scored, 27 hits and 1 error with JD Drew & Mike Lowell both hitting grand slams.  Bill Buckner & Tony Armas were the last two Sox to hit 2 grand slams at Fenway on August 7, 1984. Youkilis moved into the #3 spot for AL league leading hitters at 320.

The funniest thing I've read all week is how Jacoby Ellsbury dressed up as Johnny Damon for Halloween--though it didn't specify which Damon, the long haired leading idiot of 2004's world series champions or the short haired New York Yankee.

Continue reading "Slugfest at Fenway!"

Wakefield's sink or swim starts continued last night as the knuckleball proved ineffective; The Sox found themselves down 7-0 by the top of the 4th inning as Wakefield allowed 8 runs and 8 hits over 5 innings. Going into his 16th season in the majors at the age of 42 this summer, one has to wonder how much longer the 2nd most senior member of the Sox pitching staff can be effective.

Pine Tar proved to bring about the strangest event of the night when Boston hitting coach Dave Magadan was ejected in the top of the 6th inning for arguing with home-plate umpire Tim Tschida. In an effort to keep MLB games moving, pine tar has to be ready before the bat boy cones out.

The night owls will be anxiously waiting to see if Beckett in back to his old pitching self as he goes for his 6th win.

Continue reading "Knuckle Ball sinks"

Lester takes the mound this afternoon, pitching to prevent a sweep in Oakland as the Sox wrap up their final series in McAfee Coliseum.  Duchscherer's no-hit bid late last night was spoiled by an Ortiz single hit to right field, what proved to be the only Sox hit of the night.

Manny watchers had to wait another day for HR #499; given the night off due to as his .189 batting average in his last 23 at-bats, we'll wait and see if this small break breathes new life into bat.

An FYI for 3 more rules to watch the umpires to begin enforcing in an effort to speed up the games are how far a batter can stray outside the batter's box, how long a pitcher can take between pitches and how quickly a reliever enters the game from the bullpen.

Continue reading "Swept in Oakland??"

The Sox ended their road trip woes late last night as Jacoby Ellsbury made his major league debut in his hometown city; perhaps the cheers of all of his family & friends helped Bartolo Colon pitch seven innings of one run baseball. Dustin Pedroia ended the Sox offense slump with a 2-out ground rule double in the 8th inning followed by single from both Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell.

The Red Sox now find themselves with the 3rd best record in baseball, trailing behind the Tampa Bay Devil Rays & the Florida Marlins, respectively. Since when did the sunshine state start producing not one but two good baseball teams??

Dice-K goes for a league leading 9th victory tonight against the Mariner's right handed starter Miguel Batista, currently holding a 9.90 ERA at Safeco Field.

Continue reading "End to the road trip skid..."