The End of Interleague Play - Finally

We were only able to take 1 of 3 from the lowly Houston Astros over the weekend. Our first game had DiceK going his usual 5 innings and getting the win. This time, he only walked three batters but he raised his record to 9-1. It is amazing to me that he has 9 wins. He rarely goes beyond 5 or 6 innings, it seems he walks more than he strikes out and he is always pitching out of trouble almost every inning. The thing is, he pitches out of the jams almost every time. His pitch count is huge early on, usually 60 to 70 pitches after 3 innings. I know he seems to always get the win, but I feel that he needs to get his control down, minimize his pitch count and throw more fastballs and less off speed stuff. Recently he is pitching off speed stuff and nibbling around the plate, giving up walks and only then focusing on getting people out.

Game 2 we lost 11-10. I thought I was watching a Yankee game. You know, we score a lot of runs but have no pitching and still lose the game - like the Yankees do. Lester was on pace to get the win even though he allowed 6 runs over 5 innings, but our bullpen couldn't hold the lead. Delcarmen couldn't get anyone out in the 8th and he gave up 3 runs and took the loss. It was nice to see our offense coming together though. Lowell had 4 hits including a home run and everyone on the team either had a hit, scored a run or had an rbi. Oh everyone except Tek again. He went 0-4 and his batting average is now .228. I like Tek and we need him as our catcher, but he really needs to get something going offensively soon.

Game 3 we wrapped up interleague play with a 3-2 loss. Beckett pitched well, went 7 innings and gave up 2 runs, but our bullpen blew it again in the 8th. Okajima allowed an inherited runner to score the winning run again. Jima is going to lose his set up role soon. He just isn't the same pitcher he was last year. Manny and Pedroia hit home runs to wrap up our only scoring. And Tek went 0-4 again tonight. Not looking good considering we are now going to Tampa Bay to face 3 tough pitchers, hopefully we can score a couple of runs and win at least a couple off of them.

In other news, we had to say goodbye to Hazel Mae. She will no longer be hosting sportsdesk on NESN. First Tina and now Hazel. I don't know how NESN allowed her to leave. They never cleared this move with me. Maybe Katheryn Tappen will now be the host which is fine, but we will still miss Hazel.

Snakebitten by the Diamondbacks

We took 2 of 3 from the Diamondbacks while our pitching still looks good but our offense is still a little problematic. We lost game one 2-1 in a game where we lost Youkilis to a black eye after he got hit warming up the infield between innings. Beckett pitched a strong 8 innings and took the loss while striking out 8. Our offense could only produce 4 hits and our only run came with a Drew sacrifice fly. Tek looks lost at the plate, hope he turns it around soon. We need to get Papi back soon. Our offense needs him.

Game two of the series we won 5-4 scoring 4 runs in the 8th inning. Youk sat out the game only coming into the game in the ninth for defensive purposes after we had the lead. Our offense was shut down all night until our outburst in the 8th. Pedroia and Lowell came up big when we needed them. I am always amazed at Pedroia. He is becoming my new favorite on the team. He seems to always get the clutch hit when we need him to and he seems to always be giving everything he has out there. I hope he makes the allstar team this year. Paps came in and got the save to close the door on the Backs tonight.

Game three we won 5-0 on the pitching performance of Wakefield. He went 7 innings and gave up only 2 hits. Our offense was still sputtering along until the 8th inning again when we scored 3 runs on Cash's 3-run home run to put us up by 5. Youk was back playing first and Pedroia had another 3 hit game. Our bullpen almost blew it in the ninth and we actually had to have Papelbon come in to save the game for us even though we were up by 5 runs.

Now an off day then we start a big road trip to Houston, Tampa Bay and New York. These upcoming games are very important. We can increase our lead in the division or possibly fall into third place if we don't win at least half of them. Hope our bats come around soon.

Not Quite Like in '04

St. Louis took 2 of 3 from us over the weekend in a weekend where our only win came in extra innings after Paps blew a save. On Friday night we lost 5-4. Wake pitched well but we just could not ever get the lead. Everytime we got close, the Cards would score and add to their lead. Wake went 7 innings giving up 3 earned runs and took the loss.

On Saturday we were excited to see DiceK back on the mound. That didn't last long as he went just one inning and gave up 7 runs toward our 9-3 loss. We learned that Timlin is going on the DL now but it looks like Papi will be coming back soon as they have cleared him to start taking swings again while his wrist heals.

On Sunday, our game was blacked out here so I had to watch the game on the computer. We came back down 2-0 to take a 3-2 lead in the eighth. Paps came in and blew the save in the ninth and allowed the Cards to tie the game up. We went extra innings until the bottom of the 13th when Youk hit his second home run of the day to win it for us.

Tampa Bay lost so our lead in the East is back up to 1.5 games. The Yanks have now won 8 of their last 10 and are only 5 games back now. Next week is going to be very important as we have 7 games all on the road against Tampa Bay and New York. If we don't do well over those two series, we could be in third place by the end of next weekend. Hopefully, we will get Papi back by then, DiceK will find his groove, and all will be well.

Over the weekend we also learned that Schilling will have surgery and probably won't be back. He hinted that it looks like he may have thrown the last pitch of his career. If Schilling never pitches again, his last start will wind up being Game 2 of the 2007 World Series, when he led us to a 2-1 victory over the Rockies. He left open the possibility that if he recovers well enough, and there is no pain in his shoulder, he would like to pitch in 2009. He is a free agent this year and I don't see the Sox signing him for another season even if he does recover fully so I think his days with us are over.

I will always remember that night he was in the bullpen in New York getting ready for game 6 and the camera showed the blood coming through his sock. I looked over to my wife and told her, "We have to win this thing now...". With each inning, as he hobbled off the mound, I told her that he is giving up his career for us to win. I remember what he said the day we signed him in 2003. He said, "There is nothing he would like more than to make 55,000 fans from New York shut up." On that night, in game 6, he did just that. And those Yankee fans haven't said much since. I remember the blood coming through his sock again in the World Series, and in his post game interview talked about his drive to the ballpark, where he saw signs on every street corner from his house to the stadium telling him that he could do it. How he started to tear up in the interview because I think he knew that what was happening to him and to all of us who are Red Sox fans, will be remembered forever.



He was never as effective after that World Series game. He pitched well but he was never the old Curt Schilling he used to be. He really did give something of himself that he never quite regained. There was more than just blood on that sock. It was his heart. And it was the heart and tears of every Sox fan that ever cheered and dreamed of a World Series win. So, to Curt, I would like to say that with each pitch, I felt your pain, just like I imagine you felt the pain of all of us who were yearning so much to see just one championship in our lifetime. Because of what you did, you made that happen. I would like to say that you have no idea how important that win was for us, but I think though that you really do. You taught us to say, "Why Not Us" instead of, "Why Us" and if in fact you have thrown your last pitch in baseball, or at least your last pitch for us, I want to say thank you for what you have done for all of us in Red Sox Nation. We never could have done it without you. You will forever be the ultimate Red Sock.

In The Land of Rocky

We took 2 of 3 from the Phillies in Philadelphia during the week. We left Philly with Colon on the DL, Coco has hurt his wrist, Schilling looks like he might not be back, and Manny is in the lineup then out of the lineup. JD Drew is still hitting though and he has filled in nicely for the Big Papi who got his cast removed during the week.

On Monday, we lost 8-2 and Colon got hammered with 2 first inning home runs and left after giving up 4 runs over 4 innings with a sore back. Our bullpen held them - other than Timlin who once again gave up 4 runs in 2/3 of an inning. Pedroia and Drew went back to back in the 5th inning to make the score 4-2, but after Timlin came in and gave up 4 runs, we were out of it.

On Tuesday, we won 3-0 on the pitching of Lester and the 2 run home run of Coco Crisp. Lester had another excellent outing going 7 innings of shutout baseball and gave up just 6 hits while striking out 5 over those 7 innings. Papelbon came in and struck out the side in the 9th to close it out.

On Wednesday, we won 7-4. JD Drew went 4-5 and had a home run in the first inning to give us the early lead. He went on to have 4 rbi's in the game and Brandon Moss had 2 rbi's with 2 outs to add to our lead. We jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the 1st and lead 7-1 after 4 inning. Hanson had some trouble in the 7th but we held on and Paps got another save coming in the 9th. Manny was out of the lineup with a tight hamstring and Coco injured his wrist.

As a team, we are getting banged up pretty bad, but it seems we keep on winning and somebody is always stepping up to fill the void of an injured player. We are pretty deep all around and hopefully we can make it through all these injuries. Tampa Bay is still hanging in there with us which really surprises me. New York is starting to come on as they always seem to do. This year it might be a three team race for the East. Now an off day then 3 against the Cards in Boston. I am sure there will be a lot of talk about the 2004 team this weekend - which is always fine with me.

Back in Cincinnati

Friday nights game against the Reds didn't go as planned. Masterson pitched really well and as I was watching the game, it seemed like he was striking out everyone. He pitched 6.2 innings and struck out 9, but we didn't give him the run support he needed and we lost 3-1. I really like watching Masterson pitch, he reminds me a little of Dennis Eckersly the way he slings the ball to home. Saturdays game I won't be able to watch because Fox is showing the Cardinals here where I live and Fox has exclusive rights on Saturday afternoon. It is just as well though. I can't stand to listen to the Fox guys anyway. If it can't be the Remdawg and Orsillo and Heidi, there is no need to watch!

Saturday's game we won 6-4 in 10 innings. Once again, our bullpen couldn't hold the lead and this time, Paps gave up the tying home run in the bottom of the ninth. Okajima gave up a run again - I am now really starting to worry about him. Wakefield did well giving up just 2 runs in 7 innings. Our starting pitchers always seem to get the job done - I am happy with our rotation and we will be getting DiceK back soon. Youk and Crisp hit home runs in the 10th to give us the win.

Sundays game we won 9-0 on the pitching of Beckett and the offensive performances of Coco, Jacoby, Drew and Pedroia. Manny sat out again with his sore hamstring, but I think he should be back for our series in Philly. Beckett went 6 innings striking out 6 so once again, our starters are doing a great job.

Today was fathers day and over the last week or so we have been moving things around to get my son his own room. We bought a new bed for him and he now has his own "Red Sox Room" full of pennants and plaques and baseball cards and signed baseballs. As we were moving things around, I came across a poem I had written to him back in October 2003. He was just a couple of months old and evidently, I had written it soon after Boone beat us. I remember thinking to myself, especially after that game, that I should keep him away from the Red Sox and not let him get involved with all this Red Sox stuff. That it always turns out bad and I didn't want him to have to hurt like I did after the end of each season.

I remember his first jersey he got for Xmas. Now most parents love the day they get to put their favorite teams jersey on their newborn, but for me, I remember it wasn't that fun. I remember I put the jersey over his head and onto his shoulders and then I stopped. I started to have second thoughts. I knew that once I put it on him, there was no going back. I whispered into his ear, "I'm sorry Austin", and slipped his body into the jersey. I wanted him to like the Sox like I did, I just didn't want him to cry like I have had to after each heartbreak. I held on to the belief that maybe one day the Sox would win it and he would thank me for giving him his own Red Sox addiction.

And now today, I see the championship pennants in his room, his baseball cards are stacked up in the order of his favorite players, and his Sox hat hanging on the corner of the bed. We have come a long way. The Red Sox and us. He loves the Red Sox and even at 4 years old, knows the lineups and positions of every player. He likes his red glove because it is like DiceK's and he gives "mean eyes like Papelbon" when he throws the ball. He swings and strikes a pose like Manny when he swings the bat, and when I tell him not to throw a ball in the house, he always asks, "Can I just underhand to first like Faulke"? How can you say no to that?

I am so glad that I put that jersey on him almost 5 years ago. It really was all about faith. I lost faith every now and then, but I had it when I needed it the most, that minute I put his jersey on him. Sometimes he asks me to tell him about when the Red Sox would always lose, back when I was a little boy. I say no, why don't you tell me about when they won. And he can. I look forward to him telling his little sister about when the Sox won too.

Here is the poem I wrote back in October 2003. I must have had that song "Never Been to Me" in my mind because it kind of goes along like that song...

Hey Austin, you Austin, just starting out your life,
You were brought into this world, another Boston Red Sox fan,
Now I have no doubt what you have seen, had surely broken your heart,
But I wish someone would've talked to me about this right from the start.

We cheered for Manny and the Big Papi, and cowboyed up with Millar,
We took the hand of the Pedro man, with him we went so far,
But we ran out of pitches in that evil place - Grady kept him in too long,
We were five outs away, but we didn't win it all.

Please Austin, please Austin, don't just walk away,
Because I have this need to tell you why I'm still waiting today,
I don't want the pain in me to go on living in your eyes,
You shouldn't share a part of this Boston heart that's been broke a million times.

I cheered for Yaz and Dewey and Lynn, and I waved it fair like Fisk,
I moved like Boggs and threw like Clemens, that summer of '86.
I cheered for Bob Stanley, and I have seen some things that a young fan shouldn't have to see,
I was one strike away, but I didn't win it all.

Sometimes I have been to crying for game seven losses that might have made me complete,
But I cheer for the Red Sox, I'll never know what it's like to win the series.
I spent my life waiting in anticipation of something that still eludes me.
Hey Austin, we were 5 outs away, but we didn't win it all.
I was one strike away, but I'll never win it all.

Happy Father's Day to both of my children - thanks for liking the Sox as much as I do and sharing them with me everyday.

Wrapping up the homestand 7-2.

Our first game against Baltimore, Beckett allowed 4 runs in one inning but we came back to take 6-4 lead in the 7th. Okajima then quickly came in, gave up 3 runs and walked 2 in only 1/3 of an inning. I am not sure what is wrong. Sometimes he is like the Oky from last year and then he is like how he was today. I am starting to think we should have held on to Tavarez. Drew has filled in nicely though since Papi has been out of the lineup and I hope he continues to hit well in Papi's place at least for another couple weeks.

Game 2 of our series with Baltimore continued Colon's strong efforts and he went to 4-1 on the season. He allowed just 1 run in 6 innings and struck out 7. We scored all the runs we needed in the first inning scoring 5 runs including three off of Teks first inning homer. I still get nervous about our bullpen. Yesterday in was Okajima, today it was Timlin. With a 5-1 lead, I thought we were ok, but before I knew it, Timlin had allowed 2 runs and Paps had to come in to get the last out. It worked out ok but it sure raises my stress level.

We won the rubber match 9-2 on the home runs by Youk, Drew and a grand slam by Lowell. Lester pitched a great game giving up just 2 runs in 7 innings. We finished off our homestand with a record of 7-2. We now are on the road with more interleague play against Cinci and Philly. This will be our first trip into Cincinnati since the 1975 world series. The series that started it all off for me. I think we will do well, Cinci has a lot of problems, if we can just win 2 of 3 from them, I will be alright with that. - Go Sox!

2 of 3 at Home

On Friday we lost 8-0 to Seattle. Colon took his first loss of the season and didn't help himself out much by committing two throwing errors. Outside of Sean Casey, our offense went to sleep. The aftermath of the fight yesterday is now coming out. Eight players are going to be suspended, three of which are Sox players. Coco will be suspended 7 games (he is appealing.) John Lester was given a 5 game suspension for intentionally throwing at batters. I don't understand this one at all. If the umpires thought he was throwing at people, they would have ejected him from the game while he was in there pitching. Sean Casey was suspended for 3 games for fighting as well.

The Rays suspensions are a little stiffer. Shields, who hit Crisp on the right leg, received a six-game suspension. Johnny Gomes, one of the biggest aggressors during the fight, got a five-game punishment. Crawford, who Crisp accused of pulling his hair, got a four-game suspension. Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura received three games for fighting. And the whole team has to live with the fact that they are still the Tampa Bay Rays which should be punishment enough for most of the players.

On Saturday we won 11-3 and Wake pitched very well giving up just 2 runs in 7 innings. Manny was back in the linuep and quickly hit a home run that cleared the monster in his first at bat. Kevin Youkilis committed an error at first base which ended his errorless streak. The number was 238 games, stretching 2,002 fielding attempts dating back to July 4, 2006 -- both Major League records. In the ninth, a dropped throw from second baseman Alex Cora ended the record errorless streak.

On Sunday, we won again 2-1 on the pitching of Justin Masterson. He went 6 innings giving up just 3 hits and 1 run. Paps got another save and Okajima pitched well which was good to see.

Now an off day and then three with the O's again, this time at home.

Let's Get Ready To Rumble!

On Thursday night, I was getting the family together to take my son to his first Tee Ball practice and as we were getting everyone together, my son said, "Daddy, Coco is fighting", and he pointed to the TV. Although we knew Coco was going to get hit, I thought it would happen later in the game, but it came in the second inning. I hit record and left for the practice, and came home to finish watching the game. We ended with a sweep of Tampa Bay and a lead in the AL East.

On Tuesday we won 7-4 scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the 6th. With this win, we moved to a half game of first place Tampa. Masterson got the win and we got clutch hits by Coco and Varitek in our 4 run 6th. Lowell and Drew homered as well and Paps got save number 17.

On Wednesday, we won 5-1 and never trailed in the game. Beckett went 6 innings giving up only 1 run and picked up his 6th win of the year. With this win, we have now moved back into first place over Tampa. We are now 23-5 at home. We love to play in Fenway.


Round one.

On Thursday, we won 7-1 but the big story was the fight between Coco and the Rays. On Wednesday, Coco slid hard into second and the Rays took exception to it and there was a shouting match between Coco and the Rays. That carried over to todays game and in the second inning Coco got hit in the leg by Shields and Coco charged the mound. Coco, Shields, and Jonny Gomes were all ejected. Talking about Gomes, he was in there throwing some wild punches at Coco while he was down. I am sure there will be suspensions and fines but I think Tampa will get the worst of that. I don't understand why they hit Coco so early in the game. They were down 3-1 at the time in the second inning. Why didn't they wait until later in the game, on Coco's last at bat or something to do it. This in effect took their starter out of the game and put 8 innings of work to their bullpen. Coco was saying after the game that they had him down and was pulling his hair and scratching like a bunch of little girls. It is times like now I wish we still had Pedro. I can just see him now, standing on the dugout steps yelling at every Ray player and pointing to his head letting them know he saw what just happened. There were 5 hit batters in the game so I am sure this thing is not over with yet. We play them again June 30-July 2 in Tampa. I am sure the fireworks will come early this year.

In the background of the fight, Ellsbury had to leave the game early when he injured his wrist on a diving catch in the outfield and Manny had to leave the game also with an injury. Now is not the time to start getting everyone injured.


Jonny Gomes hitting Coco like a girl while Coco is being held to the ground.

Manny gets 500!

Manny finally got number 500 on Saturday night. We were at a friends house playing baseball in their backyard and watching the game through the window of the house. Everytime Manny batted, we stopped and watched. He did it and now he can start working on 600!

On Friday night, we had to go 13 innings to finish the O's off. Losing 5 of our last 6 games, it was nice to get back on the winning track. And it took some luck. Manny got on in the 13th on an error, and Lowell followed it up with an RBI single to break the tie. Then another error later in the inning allowed two more insurance runs and we won 5-2. Our bullpen pitched 7 innings without giving up a run and Beckett was lights out once again. He went 6 innings and struck out 10. Timlin got the win although he scares me to no end when he comes in in the later innings in a close game. Paps got his 15th save and we set a team record with 6 stolen bases in the game (Ellsbury with 3 of them). We now have speed, I never thought I would say that about my Sox.

On Saturday, it was all about Manny getting number 500 but under the radar should be Ellsbury who once again stole 3 bases. He has 6 stolen bases in the first two games of the series and he led off the 7th with a triple and later scored the go ahead run on Papi's sac fly. After Papi's sac fly, it set the stage for Manny to be Manny once again. He hit number 500 to put us up by two. Paps got his 16th save as he pitched the ninth to shut the door. The only blemish was that Papi hurt his wrist in the ninth and had to have Casey pinch hit for him. Hope the injury is OK.

On Sunday we won again 9-4 to take the first 3 games of the 4 game series against the O's. Manny hit number 501 and Colon went to 3-0 on the season. We strung together 16 hits and the O's were never really in it. One more game and we will get the sweep. I love playing the Orioles!

On Monday, the sweep was denied and we lost 6-3. We had a one run lead in the 8th but Okajima pitched horribly and gave up 4 runs to take the loss. Manny did hit number 502 so he continues to hit well. Papi has been out of the lineup, I hope his injury won't keep him out long, we need him and Manny hitting together!