MLB 2008

[Dan Gould]

Couldn't care less about that sort of memorabilia.

[papsrus]

Nice! One-hitter by Garza today to give the Rays a sweep of the Marlins, who looked like anything but a contender during that series, anyways. I sure hope they've found some serious MoJo heading to Pitt and then home for the BoSox, which has all the makings of a great series. Don't know where the rotation will be at that point, but it would be nice to see Kaz get a start.

[Dan Gould]

Nice! One-hitter by Garza today to give the Rays a sweep of the Marlins, who looked like anything but a contender during that series, anyways. I sure hope they've found some serious MoJo heading to Pitt and then home for the BoSox, which has all the makings of a great series. Don't know where the rotation will be at that point, but it would be nice to see Kaz get a start.

Kazmir goes Saturday, which means he misses the Red Sox by a game. It will be Masterson vs Shields, Wakefield vs Garza and Dice-K vs Jackson. And for what its worth, its virtually a certainty that Coco's appeal will be decided today or tomorrow, meaning that unless it is reduced from 7 to five games, he will miss the entire Rays series. So hopefully Papelbon will get the memo, and everything will proceed properly.

I learned in today's Globe that it is somewhat impressive that with a less dominating bullpen and starting rotation, and major injuries to critical players, the Red Sox are, at the half-way mark, 1 game off of the pace they set last year. The difference between last year's 50-31 and this year's 49-32? Oh, only ten full games in the standings. Last year they had a 10 1/2 game lead over the Yankees and Jays and this year it is a 1/2 game lead over the Rays. And let's put the Rays in perspective, too. Last year, the halfway point for the Sox came on July 2nd. On that date the Devil Rays were

33-48 17 games back

So, with the Red Sox playing essentially as well as last year, the Rays are 47-31, virtually a complete reversal from last year, 16 1/2 games better.

I'd say the name change worked.

[papsrus]

Nice! One-hitter by Garza today to give the Rays a sweep of the Marlins, who looked like anything but a contender during that series, anyways. I sure hope they've found some serious MoJo heading to Pitt and then home for the BoSox, which has all the makings of a great series. Don't know where the rotation will be at that point, but it would be nice to see Kaz get a start.

Kazmir goes Saturday, which means he misses the Red Sox by a game. It will be Masterson vs Shields, Wakefield vs Garza and Dice-K vs Jackson. And for what its worth, its virtually a certainty that Coco's appeal will be decided today or tomorrow, meaning that unless it is reduced from 7 to five games, he will miss the entire Rays series. So hopefully Papelbon will get the memo, and everything will proceed properly.

I learned in today's Globe that it is somewhat impressive that with a less dominating bullpen and starting rotation, and major injuries to critical players, the Red Sox are, at the half-way mark, 1 game off of the pace they set last year. The difference between last year's 50-31 and this year's 49-32? Oh, only ten full games in the standings. Last year they had a 10 1/2 game lead over the Yankees and Jays and this year it is a 1/2 game lead over the Rays. And let's put the Rays in perspective, too. Last year, the halfway point for the Sox came on July 2nd. On that date the Devil Rays were

33-48 17 games back

So, with the Red Sox playing essentially as well as last year, the Rays are 47-31, virtually a complete reversal from last year, 16 1/2 games better.

I'd say the name change worked.

Coming into June -- which I saw as a fairly tough schedule for them -- I figured the Rays would be fortunate to go .500 in the month. Sweeping the Cubs and now the Marlins really helped. Losing the series to Houston hurt. But they're 13-9 in June so far, and July looks a little less rigorous. After the BoSox (which will be tough) they play KC, the Yankees, Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, and finish with KC and Cleveland again. No gimmes, especially with the Sox, Yanks and A's. And even the Royals are playing better. But not as tough as June looked.

BoSox and Yanks tangle for two series in July. That'll be key.

[Patrick]

another tremendous night for the NL

[zen archer]

another tremendous night for the NL

I'm getting tired of interleague play , i thought the Sox were playing the Rays this weekend? ...but NO

its the Astros .

This is way too many interleague games .

[Dan Gould]

Astros then seven games with the Rays and Yankees. A huge road trip. They can return still in first place with the Yankees falling behind, or could find themselves in a battle with the Yankees for second place.

[papsrus]

another tremendous night for the NL

I'm getting tired of interleague play , i thought the Sox were playing the Rays this weekend? ...but NO

its the Astros .

This is way too many interleague games .

I agree. Inter-league is nice for putting together regional match-ups -- Yanks-Mets, Rays-Marlins, Cubs-ChiSox -- but things like a Mariners-Nats or Phillies-Rangers series have little appeal, IMO.

[Dan Gould]

Interesting point raised on a Red Sox blog today - where would Minnesota be if they had pulled the trigger on a Santana for Ellsbury, Lester, Masterson and Lowrie trade? Let's see:

Ellsbury - on pace for 68 steals, has given the Sox a previously unimaginable speed component to go with their usual slugging

Lester - ERA+ of 138, threw a no-hitter

Masterson - ERA+ of 126

Lowrie - OPS+ of 113 in his first major league cameo

(if you don't know, "+" signifies that the statistic has been normalized against the rest of the league - 100 is league average, above 100 is better than league average, on a percentage basis. So Lester's ERA is 38% better than the average pitcher.)

[Dan Gould]

If you collected baseball cards way back when, then you'll enjoy this piece by the aformentioned Red Sox blogger, Chad Finn.

[HolyStitt]

Interesting point raised on a Red Sox blog today - where would Minnesota be if they had pulled the trigger on a Santana for Ellsbury, Lester, Masterson and Lowrie trade? Let's see:

Ellsbury - on pace for 68 steals, has given the Sox a previously unimaginable speed component to go with their usual slugging

Lester - ERA+ of 138, threw a no-hitter

Masterson - ERA+ of 126

Lowrie - OPS+ of 113 in his first major league cameo

(if you don't know, "+" signifies that the statistic has been normalized against the rest of the league - 100 is league average, above 100 is better than league average, on a percentage basis. So Lester's ERA is 38% better than the average pitcher.)

I would have preferred a Red Sox trade for those players but I would have liked to have seen Santana in a Red Sox uniform and playing with David Ortiz. Also, when they won the World Series we could say that 3 former MN sports figure went all the way with Boston area sports teams! I will see where I am in a couple of years but so far I am still happy with the Met's trade. Go Go seems to working out and they are having a fun run right now.

Another interesting perspective to add to would be if the Twins had kept Garza and not traded him for Delmon Young.

[Tim McG]

OK....I can die now. I've heard everything:

Tigers' Inge loses battle with pillow, placed on DL

Detroit Tigers' Brandon Inge is on the disabled list after a freak injury involving a pillow.

BY JOHN LOWE • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • June 26, 2008

For the past three weeks or so, the rigors of baseball couldn't aggravate Brandon Inge's side injury enough for him to be placed on the disabled list.

What those rigors couldn't accomplish, a pillow did.

"It was the stupidest, most freakish thing," Inge said Wednesday, explaining why he had just been placed on the 15-day DL with the pulled side muscle (oblique) he suffered 3 1/2 weeks ago.

"I have a 3-year-old son who sleeps in the bed with my wife and me," Inge said. "I was trying to push the pillow down behind his head (two nights ago), and when I did ... I repopped (the strained muscle).

"You take swings in baseball, and it's not as bad as pushing a pillow down."

Upon hearing this story, manager Jim Leyland said, "That's a first."

[Dan Gould]

Well, in somewhat of a surprise, Bob Watson reduced Crisp's suspension to 5 games from 7. But usually when that decision comes down, the suspension is served immediately thereafter. But instead, they are starting the suspension on Saturday, meaning that he misses all three games of the Rays series. And that I think is the rub - Watson said OK, you convinced me to knock a couple of games off the suspension but I'm not going to take the chance that something happens in Tampa. You can play tonight, and you miss the Tampa series.

I guess that is helpful actually because it means that for one game in Houston, they've got a full roster for making double switches. Because Manny is supposed to start in LF since he can't DH. So Coco can come off the bench later in the game and go in for Manny when they'd want to take him out anyway.

[Soulstation1]

Dan

What's the word on Masterson?

He is a big kid @

6'6'' and 250 lbs

[Dan Gould]

I think he's a potential #2 starter though some say he is more of a highly effective setup man. He's got a Wang-like sinker that he throws at different speeds, which I think makes it potentially an even better pitch. He also strikes out people at a much higher rate than Wang, another important difference. Strong deception in his delivery to righties, because he's so big and comes in at a sort of 3/4 version of the Eckersley delivery. But lefties seem to get a better look at his pitches from that angle.

I like Masterson's stuff and I really like his poise. If he makes a bad pitch or gets into trouble, he never looks fazed or scared. He just goes on to the next batter.

[Dan Gould]

Motherfucking Christ we're in deep trouble.

Dice-K makes his return - and barely gets out of the first inning, down 4 runs, and stranding runners at second and third. He can't throw over 89. He cannot fucking be right in the shoulder. How can you take an extra ten days after you are eligible to come off the DL and be back throwing softer than before? And with less command.

I better fucking pray that Houston somehow wins again tonight - just like Cincinnati managed to beat the Yanks two in a row.

Otherwise its sayonara to first place.

Whats wrong with Dice-K ??????......this is NOT good news , 7 earned runs ?

Well, I'm relieved to report that Dice-K was much closer to his normal self in his second start - five shutout innings, only a couple of hits and three walks. And I saw on the Astros broadcast that he was popping the glove at 94-95, much better than the 89 he was laboring to attain in that disastrous start.

I guess his shoulder really wasn't still hurting, and that's excellent news going forward.

Oh yeah, and the Sox are the first team to 50 wins. If they'd only get Okajima straightened out (or get some more bullpen help) I'd feel like they'd have an excellent shot at repeating.

[Soulstation1]

the tribe = a disappointment

they damn near have the worst record in the AL

[Tim McG]

the tribe = a disappointment

they damn near have the worst record in the AL

My Giants beat them, so I'm OK with it

[Dan Gould]

MOTHERFUCKING CHRIST THEY SUCK DONKEY DICKS.

First Lester blows a four run lead, and all on two out hits. They battle back. And they blow a fucking three run lead.

And if you fucking need proof they have no faith in Okajima, they left Delcarmen in to face to face Lance Berkman, who is only hitting .384 against righties. The result? A MOTHERFUCKING TWO RUN DOUBLE.

SEVEN RUNS in leads given back. MOTHERFUCKING NAUSEATING.

And now all that the Rays need to do is to finish off the Pirates and its sayonara to first place.

[Tim McG]

MOTHERFUCKING CHRIST THEY SUCK DONKEY DICKS.

First Lester blows a four run lead, and all on two out hits. They battle back. And they blow a fucking three run lead.

And if you fucking need proof they have no faith in Okajima, they left Delcarmen in to face to face Lance Berkman, who is only hitting .384 against righties. The result? A MOTHERFUCKING TWO RUN DOUBLE.

SEVEN RUNS in leads given back. MOTHERFUCKING NAUSEATING.

And now all that the Rays need to do is to finish off the Pirates and its sayonara to first place.

A bit, um...nonplussed, are we?

Tell us what you really think, Dan

[Dan Gould]

I can handle blowouts. What I can't stand is fucking away games against utterly crappy teams. Two separate 3+ run leads? And there is no explanation for leaving a righty to face Berkman with the winning run at second base. It was like FranCOMA had money running on this game - and I haven't had cause to call him Francoma in a long time.

Still pisses me off just thinking about it. But at least the Pirates somehow got a walk-off win to keep the Rays out of first place for one more day.

[Dan Gould]

Hey Paps, the Rays didn't want to play Boston without Kaz so they swapped him with Jackson. And for what its worth, after the Sox and the Yankees, the Rays get KC, who have started to play significantly better of late. We'll see if they carry it over from interleague or not but I at least feel a little better about their chances to win one or two than I would have a few weeks ago.

The Indians after?

[papsrus]

Hey Paps, the Rays didn't want to play Boston without Kaz so they swapped him with Jackson. And for what its worth, after the Sox and the Yankees, the Rays get KC, who have started to play significantly better of late. We'll see if they carry it over from interleague or not but I at least feel a little better about their chances to win one or two than I would have a few weeks ago.

The Indians after?

Dice K vs. Kaz. That'll be a treat. I hope the Rays bats are patient. ... And I hope Kaz can keep his pitch count low enough that he'll last more than 5 innings.

[GA Russell]

I thought you guys would be all over this:

Angels no-hit Dodgers, and lose!

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsBaseball/home

Fifth time in major league history.

[Dan Gould]

I thought you guys would be all over this:

Angels no-hit Dodgers, and lose!

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsBaseball/home

Fifth time in major league history.

But its not an official no-hitter because the Dodgers didn't bat in the ninth. so its more of a curiosity than a real feat.