A Beckett And Lugo Stinkaroo Deluxe

4-0 Sox after 3 innings, and I was thinking this - what an easy and enjoyable game this will be. I mean, scoring 4 in the first two innings with THAT Texas starter on the mound meant batting practice for a couple more innings until he was taken out. But our .500 Boston Red Sox had a couple tricks up their sleeves. Beckett imploded in the 4th inning, allowing 4 runs on 6, yes 6, hits. After the ancient Sammy Sosa lined one just over the Wall in the 5th, it was 5-4 Texas, and the whole nature of my Saturday night did a 360 degree turn for the worse. Upside down and inside out. But there was one more whiff of stinkaroo left. Foul, unneeded and foolish, Lugo style.
8th inning, Lugo inserted into the game on second base, Kevin Youkilis at the plate. The choice to insert Lugo at that point was a good one by Tito. A single and we would have had a tie game. But then Lugo pulled one of the most boneheaded moves I've ever seen between the lines of a baseball diamond. And mind you, with Youk batting, you never want to take the lumber out of his talented hands. And that's exactly what Mr. Lugo did. He tried to steal third, and was out by a mile. I wish he had kept running, right out of Boston. In fact, if he had, he'd be near Philadephia by now, or close. Cora would start today at SS, and all would be better. In fact, AC might start at the shortstop position today, anyways.
So instead of 50-29, the Sox are 49-30, still in first place, but they've played sub .500 baseball for the month of June, and THEY'RE BETTER THAN THAT! I have no patience for games like last night, and if the Sox keep up this "win one, lose one" mediocrity, just over their shoulders, 2 or 3 games behind them, will be another team. The Red Sox players, coaches and manager had better shape up and start playing the way they're capable of.
One bright spot was the call-up of Jacoby Ellsbury, a much-heralded rookie centerfielder with blinding speed. He'll provide great defense in centerfield as Coco Crisp slowly heals. And with his motor? Well, he turned a routine grounder to short into an infield hit. "Nuff said. A diss to WMP and his defense?? Yes, deservedly so.
Tavy tries to right this badly leaking Red Sox ship this afternoon at 2pm. After last night, we need a victory, and a good July, especially during this stretch of games preceding the All Star festival. My goodness, we should have a 15 game lead in the AL East. Panic time? Not yet, but another month of "win one, lose one," would be trouble with a capital T. And that rhymes with P, and that stands for POOR.
Click on the title for more on the game, and enjoy your Sunday. I'm still disgusted by last night's farce of a baseball game. It's Sunday...maybe a Bloody Mary? I guess I can wait until game time and crack open a few cold ones. But it's tempting. Julian, give us 6 or 7 strong. The Darkman and Paps are ready and waiting. As am I.