Yay for August 2nd!

Where will I be Sunday, August 2nd?

Why, in Baltimore, for my annual road trip to see a Red Sox/Orioles game!

(Except last year it didn't happen because my tickets were for mid-August and I was in school. But that doesn't count.)

ALL I WANT IS WAKEFIELD NOT TO PITCH. I swear he is out there EVERY time we see a game (except once, I think Schilling pitched). And I want them to win, otherwise those Orioles fans are quite rude.

Drama!

Some drama! Schilling has been advised not to have shoulder surgery for his pained shoulder and this will be keeping him out until at least the All-Star break (opens up a pitching spot...). Schilling's doctor, Dr. Morgan, says NO, he needs the surgery! This dude says without surgery, Schilling won't be pitching at all this season, which is quite a bit different from what the Sox are saying.

Hmm. I'm sure Schilling's shoulder injury is more serious than mine, but the whole rest/relaxation/strengthen thing does work (if you keep at it, which I have not been doing..). Hopefully he'll be able to pitch this season, but he's gotta fix that stupid shoulder. They hurt when they're injured :(

Schilling's Back

Curt Schilling signed a one-year deal worth $8 million that could be worth as much as $14 million should he reach all the incentives in the package. That's good, hopefully he will have another good year...but maybe with a better win-loss record.

In other news, Kevin Youkilis won a Gold Glove for his awesomeness at first base. It was expected and totally deserved. He only had like 429088 consecutive error-free games...or something like that. Where is Lowell's, though?

Days I'm looking forward to:
11/12: Pedroia wins AL Rookie of the Year
11/13: Beckett wins the AL Cy Young
11/14: Lowell wins AL MVP

Yes, they will all win. Well, they SHOULD.

Only 2 More to Go

That game made me a lot more nervous than Wednesday's game, but I do have to admit to something: I kind of fell asleep.

It was either the 7th or 8th inning (I was so tired I can't even remember!) and Schilling had pitched a good one, Okajima was doing his usual awesomeness, and then...I couldn't keep my eyes open! There is no excuse for falling asleep during a Red Sox World Series game, so I will not offer any. But I did wake up in the 9th. And I saw Papelbon was in, I knew we'd win, and....I fell back asleep. I KNOW IT IS WRONG but I have to get up early yo!

Okay, but what I did see was pretty funny. They showed the Holliday pick off (great article detailing the Rockies' suckiness here) on replay and that was some pretty good stuff. Not too many hits from Boston last night, but apparently we had enough: usually 2 runs on 6 hits isn't enough to win a ballgame, but it is when you play against a very disheveled Colorado Rockies team.

Let the dominance continue as they head to Colorado. Actually, it might be nice to lose a game so Fenway can celebrate Boston winning. Yes, that might be nice. The way they're playing though...we'll be celebrating in Colorado for sure.

Pics time!Looks like my advice to Mrs. Papelbon was taken! Much, much better.

That is just way too cute not to post!

AL MVP, right here.

I never need a reason for putting up a Dustin Pedroia picture!

Yo Drew

J.D. Drew just hit a grand slam!!

Yo, it could not have been better scripted! He needed that in a big way for his confidence...and we needed it too! What a great way to start the game!

Hopefully when it ends we'll be as excited as we were when it began!

EDIT #1: 9:02: SCHILLING GIVES UP HR, NO SURPRISE THERE

EDIT #2: 10:01: 10-1 lead this is awesome!!

EDIT #3: 12:58: Game over! Huge 12-2 win. Schilling was so much better than I had even hoped for (7 strong); everyone was hitting, especially the bottom of the order (Lugo hit a beauty down the 3rd base line)..it was such a great game to watch. Funniest moment: Youkilis getting plunked on the head in a rundown (and he ended up safe!).

Game 7 time. Be there or be--wait, where else are you gonna be?!

Oh, Gagne

I am sure Eric Gagne is a very nice man.

I bet he is a lot of things, actually: maybe he can cook, maybe he's a really good dad, maybe he does a lot of charity work..

But I know one thing he can't do: close games. Wait, close games in a GOOD way.

It's a 6-6 game. Each team has played really well, actually, clawing their way back whenever they've been down. Papelbon has pitched more than he's pitched at any one time the whole season. Who is left in the bullpen? Eric Gagne, Javier Lopez, and Jon Lester. Who is the one man you don't pick in a 6-6 game in the 11th inning? Gagne. Who did Francona pick? Gagne.

He got one out, and I was thinking maybe I shouldn't have been so hard on him. Then Grady Sizemore swung his bat and from there, everything came crashing down. By the time Lopez came in to relieve Gagne, it was way, WAY too late.

I don't know. I feel bad for him, since he knows that every time the fans see him come in, we know we're gonna lose. He must feel like crap right now, I'm sure it isn't easy being called on in the 11th, knowing you haven't been throwing your best stuff for months now. But something has to happen to make him the way he used to be. He's like the Alex Rodriguez of Boston: get in a must-win situation for a major team in the playoffs and he chokes.

One thing I did NOT like last night: the booing. People, I know he sucked and he blew the game but you must not boo! That is certainly not how fans react to struggling players (and yes, I realize he's been struggling since he came to Boston), and the booing DOES NOT HELP.

By the way, Curt Schilling was so not great last night. A better outing from him would have gone a long way. The 3-run HR, that we could have done without. And I don't want to overlook Ortiz' hustle to get to 1st, followed by a Manny home run and a Lowell home run that without, we wouldn't have even gone to extra innings. So kudos to them, sorry it ended the way it did. And they were all so happy until the end...

It is Done

That's it, we are going to the ALCS!

The Red Sox just completed a 3-game sweep of the Angels, quite easily, to the tune of 9-1. A 7-run 8th inning sealed the deal for us. Those other 2 runs came early in the game from 2 solo home runs from Mr. Ortiz and Mr. Ramirez.

The Player of the Game was the starting pitcher, Mr. Curt Schilling, who went 7 innings and allowed absolutely nothing. Well, 6 hits, but nothing of meaning on the scoreboard. It was a really great outing from him, and with his postseason performances of past, it was expected!

Do you feel a ring??

Djokovic!!

Djokovic just beat Federer. Djokovic just beat Federer. Djokovic just beat Federer. Djokovic just beat Federer!!! He's gotta be the first guy to ever beat Nadal and Federer in the same tournament, right?

What a great, great match that was. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about Boston's game today -- they were of course winning, then late in the game they blew it and Kevin Millar hit a stupid walkoff home run. Kevin! You are supposed to be our friend!

And what's the deal with the supposedly really good bullpen? Schilling left poised to win it, and as soon as I saw Timlin in I knew the game could be lost. BUT TIMLIN DIDN'T LOSE IT!! (shock) Okajima, Gagne, and Snyder all gave up runs to get us yet another loss. Surprisingly, Timlin and Delcarmen were the ones who pitched well. I feel another late season collapse coming on and this is a really bad feeling :(

No More Injuries, Thanks

This game has been quite good, except for the 6th inning slip up when Toronto tied the game. But then in the bottom of the 6th we scored 5 runs so that little problem was quickly taken care of. Crushing the opponent's hopes, that's what I like to see.

David Ortiz, Brendan Donnelly, Curt Schilling, J.D. Drew, all hurting... it is starting to feel reminiscent of last season's injuryfest and this is a BAD feeling! Hopefully they are getting all the injuries out of the way now before playoff time comes around.

At least we have Dustin Pedroia, whose performance this season has been a most pleasant surprise. And he will only get better!

Schilling Was Superb

Could it be? The Red Sox won a game!!?

Of course, there has to be bad news: Curt Schilling came within one out of tossing the first no-hitter in his career. He'll probably always twitch when he hears the name 'Shannon Stewart.' But it was an incredible pitching outing when we really, really needed one. Plus, Boston only got one run (a HR from David Ortiz, of course) so it was the perfect time for Schilling's near-perfect game.

And Draft stuff: Boston selected University of Washington lefthander Nicholas Hagadone with the 55th pick of the draft. They took Ryan Dent, a high school shortstop out of Woodrow Wilson High School in California with the 62nd pick.

Never Leave a Red Sox Game Early

..because if you do, they will score 5 runs in the 8th inning. All on singles, too.

Something about Schilling I've noticed: he gets a little complacent when he's up in the score. He gives up runs when he's in the lead - Boston scores 1, he gives up 1 the next inning; Boston scores 3, he gives up 3 the next inning (which, okay, he didn't exactly do since he was replaced, but he had 3 earned runs there nonetheless). It is weird, but at least he never blew the lead.

Today's Game:
A not-so-great outing by Beckett, who left in the 5th due to a "finger contusion." Not this again! We do not need anymore blisters on this guy, as you all remember how many he had last year.

Some 9th inning excitement: Started out losing 5-0, got a run in (Coco reached then scored on an Ortiz double), then the bases were loaded with only one out (Ortiz at 3rd, Pena at 2nd after he singled, Drew at 1st after he was walked) - then our friend Chris Ray walked Youkilis for a run! And Varitek made it even better by RBI-doubling TWO runs! Ray intentionally walked Hinske to try for the double play, so Cora was up. I won't lie, I was nervous. So he hits it to Roberts, who throws home, and the umpire called Youkilis out but even the MASN guys said he was safe!

CONSPIRACY.

However, Julio Lugo (who made the first out of the inning) hit a crappy one that the pitcher managed to misplay that made Lugo safe and 2 runs were in and WE WON THE GAME!! And that means Beckett won't get a loss :)

6 runs in the bottom of the 9th to win 6-5. THAT is how we do!

Keep it Up

What's this I see? Another Boston victory? And it was a beatdown as well? 9-3! And the best part is it was Matsuzaka pitching - 7 innings, 5 hits, 1 run. MUCH better!! Maybe he is finally getting in a groove.

A lot of HRs from our team tonight: Ortiz, Lugo, Manny, Lowell. I love it when the HR Bug bites these guys. Papi was 4-for-5 tonight, Pedroia was 2-for-4, and Lowell was 3-for-4. I hope it's like this forever and no one gets hurt to screw it up.

The Curt Schilling comments and subsequent apology? He says things all the time, you have to learn when to ignore and when to pay attention. Francona thought it was important, but me? I just ignore, ignore, ignore until I hear Bronson's name, or Trot's. I miss them.

Just My Luck

This is a perfect example of my luck: The very first Baltimore/Boston game of the season, the first time we have MASN and MASN2 in my area and I'm all excited about watching the game tonight - AND THEN

the power goes off today at 1 pm.

ONLY in my neighborhood, and then ONLY on my SIDE of the road.

It didn't come back on till almost 10.

So I missed the game, except for the 9th inning so I know they won and quite easily. I know Schilling was great, and Youkilis, Ortiz, Ramirez, and Cora all had good nights...and you know what else I know?

The Yankees are in last place in the AL East!

Is Rivera on NY's Payroll....Or Boston's?

Because that man has given us so many wins, I've lost count.

But let's start from the beginning. Varitek got off to a good start, hitting his first home run of the season. Of course, Rodriguez had to hit two HRs tonight, both off Schilling. Schilling actually wasn't too great today, but he didn't do too terribly. Just really not his best.

Now I'll skip everything else and get to the good stuff. Down 6-2 in the 8th. Ortiz gets on with a double. Manny went from an 0-2 count to get walked (patience pays!). Then Drew made an out but moved both players up a base (Drew had a pretty good night, actually, except for some bad attempt at base stealing). Lowell hit one through the hole to make it 6-3, then in came our good friend Mariano Rivera. Tek hit an RBI and then...the best moment of the night. COCO CRISP TRIPLED and in came 2 runs to make it 6-6. You all have no idea how happy I am for him...and you know, I told you he was coming! Just don't prove me wrong and go back to being bad, Coco.

Then Cora even got in on the action and hit an RBI single. 7-6. And Mariano, we thank you deeply.

I thought Papelbon would close it out, but Francona went with Okajima. He got his three outs and I tell you, the smile on his face could not be contained. Everyone was so happy, and why shouldn't they be? They had one hell of a comeback and man, was it enjoyable to watch.

And they wore the great green jerseys with the Virginia Tech logo on the sleeves and also on their hats. It was really nice to see.

I Was Duped

Hey! The game was on FOX! I was Gameday-ing it until the bottom of the 2nd inning when my mom informed me of the great news. Of course I still had GD up because it does provide some good stats. Like how Schilling only threw 14 pitches through the first 2 innings.

Mike Lowell made a really nice diving catch in the 3rd, then in the bottom half of the same inning Hinske started things off with a triple off the wall. It was pretty, especially because Ortiz and Manny were right behind him in the lineup. But...they did nothing. Drew walked, and then Lowell was walked but the umpire was drunk and called the 4th ball a strike, but he did walk eventually. So they had bases loaded in the 2nd and nothing happened, now the bases were loaded again (remember last season how many, MANY times they loaded the bases and did nothing?)..Varitek hit a hard ball to Matthews in center field, and it looked like Matthews might have it but the ball went right off his glove and 2 runs scored!

Another run scored in the 4th on a wild pitch. LA's 3rd pitcher of the day and he'd only thrown like 2 pitches.

The 6th inning was a pretty good one for the Sox - the first 2 men in the order made outs, so it didn't look like it would be very special. Then came the magic: 2 walks readied things for Big Papi, who RBI-singled to Vlad. Not to be outdone, Ramirez also RBI-singled in a run to make it 5-0. J.D. Drew couldn't keep it going, but at the end of the inning, things were looking pretty good for another Boston victory.

And it was David Ortiz who made the day with an 8th inning 3-run home run to make it a little worse for the Angels.

Schilling pitched a fabulous 8 innings and allowed no runs at all. I was hoping he'd come out for the 9th, but it was not to be. Donnelly closed out the game by pitching a scoreless one.

Another huge win for Boston. Man, what has gotten into them lately? Whatever it is, I like it. And they should most definitely keep it up.

Who Had a Good Night?

All the Red Sox players did! Schilling, Ortiz, Papelbon...they all had great nights. Ortiz had a 2-home run evening (contributing all 3 RBI), Schilling gave up one earned run in 7 strong innings, and Papelbon got the final 5 outs in dominant fashion.

Who had a bad night? The Rangers. Too bad.
The Yankees had a bad day courtesy of Baltimore, which was cool with me.

Timlin also had a good day, since he might be ready to pitch by Tuesday. What that means for us is yet to be determined, because who knows what kind of outings he will have.

Off day tomorrow, with Opening Day on Tuesday. Beckett vs. Seattle. Be there or be square. I, of course, will be working till forever, so I am very, very square.

Oh yeah, and congrats to Zach Johnson for winning the golf thing. I was watching it while I was cleaning, and while I wanted Rory Sabbatini to win, I was happy for Johnson. I kind of like watching golf. But only like 2 or 3 times a year, any more than that I can't do.