The Usually Punchless Royals Beat Up On Boston At Fenway Park By A Score Of 8-6

This one should have been easy. The Boston Red Sox jumped out to a 4-0 lead over the usually lumberless KC Royals but they could not hold the lead and ended up on the short end of an 8-6 tilt. Starter Brad Penny labored, throwing 97 pitches in only five innings while giving up three runs. With the score 5-3 Good Guys, the Sox bullpen took over in the sixth and Manny Delcarmen surrendered two more runs and, with the "help" of Justin Masterson, the score was 7-5 by the time Ramon Ramirez came in to pitch the seventh and two thirds of the eighth. He ALSO allowed a runner to touch the plate. Daniel Bard, throwing nasty strikes, finished the game untouched but the damage was done and the lead proved to be insurmountable. On the brighter side, Pedey Pedroia, who MIGHT miss the All Star game to be with his wife in her final months of a difficult pregnancy, had another three hit game and Kevin Youkilis smacked the ball solidly, good signs that he is emerging from his mini-funk. But the bullpen, who did not lose a single game between May 29th all the way to June 30th, has lost four of the last nine contests. The All Star break will do them a world of good. Jonathon Papelbon is the only member of the Boston 'pen that will be going to the game and that's just fine with me. Brad Penny had a few thoughts after his pitch-laden performance...

“My job as a starter is to go more than five innings,” said Penny, who allowed the Royals back into the game by surrendering three runs in the fourth. “We have a great bullpen. Nine times out of 10, it’s going to work out.”

Well, it didn't. Red Sox skipper Tito Francona talked about his usually reliable relief squad after the game...

“We go to Masterson and he made a real good pitch on Freel that falls,’’ said the manager. “That to me is a big pitch. He hit it in no man’s land. And then they get a homer. Let’s talk about the bullpen tonight,’ he said. “Our bullpen gave up some runs. When you look for four innings of relief, that can happen. I thought Bard was tremendous [three strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings]. Ramon Ramirez threw a lot of pitches. We’re trying to stay away from Paps until we feel like we’re going to get back into the game.’’

Sure, Tito, anything can and WILL happen in this fickle game we all know as baseball, the game we love. But there's always a tomorrow, at least in the middle of July. Tonight, shortly after 7pm EDT at that gem we call Fenway Park, it will be Brian Bannister facing Jon Lester. Lester, Smoltz and Beckett will be starting the last three games with the crowned ones before the All Star break...it doesn't get much better than that. One of these nights, Smoltzie is going to put it all together and throw a wonderful seven innings. I know, I can see it in my head (among too many other things). Until then, I'm happy you were able to pop in and I want to remind you to simply click on the title of this very post for more Red Sox comings and goings.

As always, BE WELL! It's important...to me and to you. I'll be seeing you. Oh, I'm looking forward to reading a few comments. Hasta manana, if not before.

Eleventh Heaven For Wakefield With Papi and Pedey Power...Boston 5 Oakland 4

Big Papi is back...there are no ifs, ands or buts about it. His three-run tater and seventh inning game winning RBI propelled the Boston Red Sox to a 5-4 win over the visiting Oakland A's. It was another three game series conquest for the first place Red Sox. Papi said this after the game...

“It’s good. It puts you in a good mood for the second half. The second half is what matters for real,” Ortiz said. “I don’t see a team that played good in the first half, and in the second half that is not even close to being in the playoffs. The most important thing for this ballclub through the years I’ve been here is to look forward to winning games in the second half so we can go to the playoffs.”

Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima and Jonathon Papelbon took care of the last three innings after Wakefield's six but Paps labored yet again, throw thirty pitches and giving up a run. Boston manager Terry "Tito" Francona spoke about his closer after the game...

"The thing I've noticed a little bit is command," manager Terry Francona said. "A first-hitter walk in the ninth is not what you're looking for, and it's something you don't see too much. But he is one of the few guys, Mariano Rivera, there's a few — the really good ones — who can pitch out of innings when it's not perfect. It's been hard at times," Francona said. "This league is hard. I don't know that you go out every year and just have eight walks. But he's OK."

OK, but not the same overpowering Paps we know and love. Most likely he won't pitch tonight against the Kansas City Royals, but you never know. Here are the pitching matchups for the final four game series before the All Star break...

Luke Hochevar (4-3, 5.08) vs. Brad Penny (6-3, 4.67) tonight
Brian Bannister (6-6, 3.87) vs. Jon Lester (7-6, 4.16) Friday
Gil Meche (4-8, 4.14) vs. John Smoltz (0-2, 6.60) Saturday
Bruce Chen (0-3, 6.88) vs. Josh Beckett (10-3, 3.62) Sunday

That's a wrap for this gloomy (so far) Thursday. I hope you'll have a great day and I look forward to any and all of your comments. As always, BE WELL. I'll be back. Oh, click on the title for more Sox stuff.

Bay Powers And Beckett Pitches The Red Sox To Victory Over The A's...5-2 Boston

Jason Bay had a home run and two hits and Josh Beckett continued his savior role and pitch the Boston Red Sox to a 5-2 victory over the Oakland A's. In all, he was able to go a dominant 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walking two and whiffing four. He IS the Boston Red Sox ace. His manager and teammate Jason Varitek had this praise...

“He enjoys that responsibility,’’ Sox manager Terry Francona said. "He’s one of the best,’’ Francona said. “He’s fearless. Our guys look up to him. He’s really grown into it.’’

“He’s been our bulldog,’’ catcher Jason Varitek said. “When he’s healthy, he can really do harm with a baseball.’’

What say you, All Star Jason Bay...

"It must be tough for a pitcher, you have to wait five days for a chance, and you feel like you’ve got some gas left when they say you’re done. I think that’s what makes him - he has the stuff and the mentality. In the course of baseball, you have guys who have stuff and not the mentality and vice versa. He’s got the perfect amount of both of them.”

Oakland manager Bob Geren realized that the Red Sox were playing, especially pitching, at a different level last night.

“Beckett’s definitely one of the elite pitchers in the league and he was throwing up to 97 miles an hour with some movement,” said Geren. “He didn’t make too many mistakes, I guess, is the easiest way to put it. He really didn’t.”

Thanks Josh and keep it up. At the near-halfway part of the season, just before the All Star break, you're halfway to a 20 win season. Can you say Cy? We'll see but it's SO great to see you trot out to the mound every five days. See you on Sunday for the last game before the All Star break. Oh, there are rumors that the Toronto Blue Jays MIGHT be willing to trade their ace, "Doc" Halladay, but I'll leave that one alone...for a while.

Thanks again for stopping in and your comments are always welcome and always answered. Please click on this post's title for more Sox stuff and as always, BE WELL. I mean that. See ya.

Nomar Returns to Fenway but Oakland's Anderson Blanks The Sox Completely...Oakland 6 Boston 0

After a rousing standing ovation in the second inning for Nomar Garciaparra by the Fenway Faithful, it was back to work time for John Smoltz and his teammates. That work did not go well for the righthander. He gave up four runs in the fourth inning and that was more than enough for A's starter Brett Anderson, who threw a complete game shutout, allowing only two hits, walking two and striking out nine. Granted, right now the Sox are playing with a depleted lineup but Anderson was spectacular. It was that fourth inning meltdown by Smoltz that effectively ended the game. He said this...

“I felt like I was going to keep putting zeroes up. I enjoy pitching here,” Smoltz said. “In the fourth inning, everything happened pretty fast. It was like ‘Wow, all right, that’s over with. Let’s try to keep it at one run. I felt in control, I threw the ball really well and didn’t have much to show for it tonight,” Smoltz said. “And as mad as I get, I have to make sure to realize that I’m making a lot of progress even though the results don’t look like that.”

The Fenway Park fans and those in the city of Boston showed some real class to Nomar considering his behavior before the club jettisoned him. Remember, he was the closest thing to a Fenway god during his playing times. A wet-eyed Garciaparra had this to say before his team's victory.

“I love ’em,’’ a teary Garciaparra said before the game when asked about Sox fans. “I don’t know how else to put it. I love the way they treated me the whole time I was here. It’s emotional. When I was gone - Boston fans are everywhere and I can’t tell you how many times I heard ‘Thank you. Appreciate everything you did.’ And I can’t tell them what that meant to me. I can’t believe the wonderful experiences that I’ve had here and it’s all because of them.’’

Thanks Nomar, thank you very much. You played your heart out here until, for some reason or reasons, you grew uncomfortable with the intense media scrutiny. It comes with the territory, however. Good luck to you in the future...I mean it. We all do.

Tonight, the Sox, one game ahead of the Yankess, will try to win a game with their ace Josh Beckett ready to go against Dallas Braden. May the force be with him...he was just so-so in his last start and when that happens, he usually bounces back with brilliance. Go Josh. GO SOX.

Have a wonderful Tuesday as the world's eyes will be focused on the California city of Los Angeles. All the major networks will have their lenses there, too, with coverage, complete coverage, starting at 1pm EDT of the Michael Jackson Memorial service, a service that will be filled with music. That was his life. Gone too soon. I'll be watching, on NBC HD.

Oh, I almost forgot, you can click on the title of this post for more Sox coverage, from everywhere. As always, BE WELL, be safe, be happy. I'll see you soon. That's a promise.

Eighth Inning Fireworks Ignite The Red Sox...Boston 8 Seattle 4

It took a while Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park but the Boston Red Sox caught two out lightning by scoring five runs on their way to an 8-4 victory over the visiting Seattle Mariners. Big Papi David Ortiz collected two hits and clobbered another home run and his teammates Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury chipped in with three hits and two hits respectively. It seems that Pedey is heating up. He said this after the game ended...

“To be honest with you, the best I’ve swung the bat all year was today,” he said. “It feels like I really haven’t felt good up there more than one time. I have a good at-bat, then the next one’s not so good. But that happens. I’m kind of a streaky hitter. When I get going, you guys have seen what happens. We’ll keep it rolling.”

And here's what leftfielder Jason Bay, like Pedey an All Star starter, had to say...

“For him to go out and have a game like that and then to see us score runs, that’s a coincidence, maybe. But maybe not,” said outfielder Jason Bay in praise of Pedroia’s table-setting abilities. “You get three hits a day from him, that’s going to put us in a pretty good spot. What he did last year was almost otherworldly. It seemed like three or four hits were the norm. He probably hasn’t played his best baseball yet, and that’s scary.”

Scare me, Pedey. Scare the heck out of me all season long. Jon Lester, the victim of a Pedroia error that led to three unearned runs, gave up only one earned run in 6 2/3 innings. Justin Masterson finished that frame and goose egged Seattle in the eighth and Okie finished them off in the ninth. A good day was guaranteed for all.

The Oakland A's, complete with old friend Nomar Garciapara, invade Fenway for a three game series that starts tonight. Here are the pitching matchups. They look darn good to me...

Brett Anderson (4-7, 5.45 ERA) vs. John Smoltz (0-1, 6.00) tonight
Dallas Braden (6-7, 3.13) vs. Josh Beckett (9-3, 3.67) Tuesday
Trevor Cahill (5-7, 4.55) vs. Tim Wakefield (10-3, 4.30) Wednesday

So there you go. All three Fenway Park games will begin shortly after 7:00pm EDT. Do you smell sweep? I hope so. GO SOX!

You can click on this post's title for more on the All Star selections and just about everything Red Sox. I'd love to read and respond to your comments, too. I had a close call with low blood sugar (Type 1 Diabetes) last night but my girlfriend saved the day by giving me Instant Glucose and calling 911. I owe it all to her and I'm still here to bother you with my morning words. EVERY MORNING. She's the best. You are, too.

Enjoy your Monday and as always, BE WELL.

SIX Boston Red Sox Players WILL Play In The All Star Game...Sox Win 8-4

Hello on this Sunday afternoon. The Boston Red Sox again find themselves behind by a run against the Seattle Mariners (who??), but there is good news just announced. My thanks go to Boston dot com...

"Six Red Sox were named this afternoon to the 2009 American League All-Star team, including 17-year veteran Tim Wakefield for the first time.
Mark Teixeira beat out Kevin Youkilis at first base as a starter, but Youkilis made the game as a reserve. Dustin Pedroia edged Ian Kinsler for the spot at second base in a close vote. Jason Bay, as expected, will start in the outfield. Jonathan Papelbon and Josh Beckett made the game as well as reserves.
The fan voting at both first base and second base proved to be the most interesting to Red Sox fans. At first, the Yankees' Mark Teixeira came back to narrowly edge Youkilis in the voting. On June 30, just two days before the end of fan balloting, Youkilis (1,915,303) had pulled ahead of Teixeira (1,875,256) by 40,047 votes. The week before Teixeira led Youk by a margin of 35,632 votes. In the prior week's update, Youkilis held a slim lead over Teixeira (1,315 votes). The week before that, Youkilis trailed Teixeira by 1,209 votes.
At second base, reigning AL MVP Pedroia (2,163,270) had closed the gap significantly on the Rangers’ Ian Kinsler, trailing by just 6,830 votes of more than 2 million votes cast for each player. Pedroia narrowly edged out Kinsler in the final voting.\
Bay, who will make his first All-Star start for the American League after being named an NL starting outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates three years ago, ran away with the fan voting among AL outfielders. He'll be joined in St. Louis by Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki and Texas' Josh Hamilton.
But the story of the day might have been Wakefield, who made his first All-Star team in 17 seasons in the majors. Wakefield (10-3, 4.30 ERA, 53 strikeouts) was chosen as a reserve by Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon, who will manage the AL team in St. Louis on July 14. In his last outing, Wakefield pitched eight innings against the Mariners Friday, yielding five runs on 10 hits en route to a no-decision.
Papelbon (20 saves, 1,75 ERA) will be making his fourth All-Star appearance in four years with the Red Sox, while Beckett will be making his second All-Star appearance since coming to Boston. Pedroia and Youkilis both made the team last season."

GO SOX...it's close at 3:48pm EDT. BUT NOT ANY MORE! A big 7th inning puts the Good Guys up by a score of 8-4. It's a final score..SOX WIN!!!!!

Lou Gehrig's Farewell Speech...July 4th, 1939

The Boston Red Sox, seemingly lifeless, listless and lumberless, couldn't get the big hit and fell to the Seattle Mariners by a score of 3-2. Brad Penny again was the hard-luck loser and Boston will lose its first three game series in almost a month. Jon Lester will try to capture game three today at Fenway at 1:35pm EDT but right now I'd like to turn to an important piece of baseball history.

Yesterday, July 4th, 2009 marked the 70th anninversary of Lou Gehrig's farewell speech. He was suffering from ALS, now more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a debilitating malady, always fatal, that robs you of any muscle control and eventually will take away everything you need to live, your mind sound but your body worthless. May I suggest that you pick up a book about his life and his career. It's called THE LUCKIEST MAN. A better baseball book has NEVER been written...I know, I've read it twice. I cry every time, too. He spoke in front of a packed Yankee Stadium throng with many of his 1927 teammates tearfully watching. Here are his immortal words, words that will live forever, far longer than any of us...

***************
"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this Earth. I have been in ballparks for 17 years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.

Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky.

When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift — that's something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies — that's something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter — that's something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body — it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed — that's the finest I know.

So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."

***************
Lou Gehrig passed away not long after that impassioned speech...far too soon in an awful and unimaginable way. Please go to Amazon dot com or your local bookstore and pick up a copy of THE LUCKIEST MAN. You will never forget it. That's a promise, from me to you.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend and as always, BE WELL.

Tim Wakefield Sets The Boston Red Sox Starting Pitching Apearance Record In A Losing Cause...Seattle 7 Boston 6

One foot, one darn foot and Nick Green's eighth inning wall-banging double would have carried OVER the Wall and into the seats, putting the Red Sox ahead by a run with Papelbon ready for the ninth instead of tying the game, a game that the Boston Red Sox were defeated by the Seattle Mariners by a score of 7-6 in eleven innings. Instead, Nick's double plated two and led to extra innings. IT ALMOST WENT OUT, but almost isn't good enough in baseball or anything. Nick said this after the game ended...

“I was hoping, but I hit it too high,” he said. “It stinks, because it would have been the ballgame. At least I hit it decent enough to tie the game.”

The Red Sox ended up losing in eleven innings when a Ramon Ramirez pitch, a changeup that he left up in the strike zone, was belted into the rightfield corner by Woodward. RR explained...

“I was trying to throw a changeup down and I left it up and he hit it,” Ramirez said. “That happens in this game. One mistake. Every time I go out there I give it 100 percent, but sometimes things happen.”

Tim Wakefield set the Boston Red Sox record by appearing in his 383rd start, more than any Sox pitcher in history. He also had a few words to say after his quest for his eleventh win went by the boards...

“It was a pretty special night for me tonight,’’ Wakefield said. “It means I’ve been here a long time and been given the opportunity and been blessed to be healthy for as long as I have,’’ Wakefield said. “The organization has been giving me the ball this long. And I’m very, very thankful for that.’’

We all love Timmy but he didn't have enough on this particular night. Coupled with the Yankees victory, what once was a five game lead in the AL East is down to two. Hey, don't worry, Boston is a solid team, top to bottom and in between. And there will be afternoon baseball at Fenway today when Brad Penny will face the lefty Garrett Olson. I think they'll win the next two and earn another series victory. Jon Lester, untouchable as of late, will toe the rubber on Sunday so it's up to Mr. Penny.

I want to wish every one of you a happy and healthy Fourth of July Independance Day holiday as our country celebrates another anniversary. Be safe and as always, BE WELL. Click on the title of this post for more details about last night and leave a comment if you can. I'll see you soon...that's a promise. Buckle up!

The Mariners Sail Into Town...Daisuke Going To Ft. Myers For Conditioning

First up on this sunny (finally) Friday morning, the Seattle Mariners, fresh off an 8-4 drubbing of CC Sabathia and his pinstriped teammates, invade Fenway Park for the three game holiday weekend. Tim Wakefield will start tonight for the BoSox in what will be his final appearance before the Major League NL and AL All Stars will be selected and announced. Right now he has a nifty record of 10-3 with an ERA of 4.18. If he can get that ERA down below 4.00, he stands as an easy pick. Timmy said this recently...

"It would be huge,” Wakefield said recently. “That would really be an honor, just to add to the list of things I've accomplished in my career,” Wakefield said.

His manager, Terry "Tito" Francona, gushed this...

“He’s one of the most consistent starters in the league,” manager Terry Francona said recently, “with an inconsistent pitch.”

In other Sox news, the ailing Daisuke Matsuzaka will travel to the Red Sox complex in Fort Myers, Florida to begin a shoulder stengthening and conditioning program. He and the team want him to be back later this summer even if Boston has a solid five man rotation. I really hope that in the future he will not ruin half of his season by pitching in the World Baseball Classic. Is that selfish of me? NO WAY. The Red Sox are paying him millions of dollars every year. The WBC should not be scheduled during MLB spring training in the first place. OK, enough about that. I went off on a tangent, I guess. Sometimes, it's easy.

The Red Sox are 12-3 in Wake's 15 starts, easily the best stat of the entire starting pitching roster so far. We wish him all the luck in the world tonight and every afternoon and night. If he can keep his dancing pitches fluttering THROUGH the strike zone, he will baffle the opposing hitters once again. GO TIMMY!!

Here are the pitching matchups for the weekend series against the left coast Mariners. Beware of Friday night's Seattle starter, Felix Hernandez. He's one tough cookie...

Hernandez (8-3) vs. Wakefield (10-3) Friday at 7:10pm EDT
Olson (3-2) vs. Penny (6-3) Saturday at 1:05pm EDT
Morrow (0-3) vs. Lester (7-6) Sunday at 1:35pm EDT

I want to wish every one of my Constant Readers a healthy and happy Fourth of July weekend. Have fun, safe fun and as always, BE WELL. Your comments are so welcome and I'll respond to each and every one of 'em. Click on the title of this post for more Sox stuff. Bye.

Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Warm...Boston 6 Baltimore 5

The Boston Red Sox earned revenge after their agonizing Tuesday night surprise defeat with a resounding comeback 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. They recovered from a 5-1 deficit with 4 runs in the ninth and the winning run in the 11th. The Sox, in the ninth, were down to their final out but a bases loaded base hit by Rocco Baldelli plated two and tied the game. Baldelli said this after the game...

“I was just looking for something out over the plate,” Baldelli said. “I got a fastball and it got in on me a little bit and I just tried to stay inside on it. They obviously are in their clubhouse thinking they should have won this game. It was nice to come back and get that one.”

In the 11th, Julio Lugo's base hit pushed the winning run across the plate and in the botton of that 11th frame, Jonathon Papelbon earned his 133rd save, most ever by a Red Sox pitcher, with a 1-2-3 inning. Hooray!!

Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona had this to say after the game...

“I guess, at the end of the year, they sort of seem like they even out - and they probably do. We needed to move on from the previous night and the easiest way to move on is to win.”

Daniel Bard, Ramon Ramirez, who earned the win and Paps put up beautiful goose eggs and the Sox were able to go back to Boston happy and contended, another series win under their belts. SWEET.

2008 AL MVP Pedey Pedroia had three words for Red Sox Nation and the Orioles...

“We’re even now,” said Pedroia, smiling.

Yes, we are, and the lead over the pinstripers stays at 2 1/2. It's a day off today before the Mariners sail into town. So enjoy your Thursday. I'll be watching the one hour Red Sox game recap on NESN HD this morning to relive the joy. You can click on this post's title for more and as always, BE WELL. See ya.

Tit For Tat...Boston 6 Baltimore 5

The Red Sox stage their own comeback win. I'll have a full wrap first thing in the morning.

It Ain't Over 'Till It's Over...Red Sox Bullpen Implosion Leads To A Baltimore 11-10 Win

A quick turn of the page is sorely needed as the Boston Red Sox, who had a nine to one lead after four full innings and a ten to one lead after six and a half, lost their Tuesday night game by a score of 11-10. A rain delay prevented an effective John Smoltz from pitching more than four innings. He was great and proved that he belongs in this rotation. That's the good news. The bad news? OK, here you go. The Orioles scored five runs in the seventh and five runs in the eighth and their bullpen made that slim 11-10 lead stand up for as long as it took to win the ballgame. Holy you-know-what! Boston manager Tito Francona and closer Jonathon Papelbon had these choice words after the demoralizing defeat...

“We just had no answer,” manager Terry Francona said of his bullpen. "We went through just about everybody. That was as bad as we’ve seen. We couldn’t get anybody out.”

“We pretty much imploded,” said Jonathan Papelbon. "I can’t think of any better word to use; it’s just what happened. We went through just about everybody. . . . That was as bad as we’ve seen. We couldn’t get anybody out.”

Justin Masterson was effective for two innings and then he just lost his cool, or his location. It only got worse as Okie, Saito and Papelbon completed the fiasco. It was the biggest comeback by the Orioles since 1956 and the worst stumble by Boston since a game against Toronto in 1989. That's why I opened this post with the words "turn the page."

There WILL be baseball this afternoon at Camden Yards as the Red Sox and the Orioles close out this three game series and finally end their road trip. Home cooking will never taste as good. It'll be Josh Beckett versus Brad Bergesen at 1:35pm EDT. A win will certainly erase the sour taste in the mouths of every Boston player and coach and we have the right guy on the mound to do it. GO SOX.

Click on the title of this post for more of the sordid Tuesday night Red Sox details and as always, BE WELL. Leave a comment if you can. I'll respond to each and every one. I'll be seeing you...really soon.