As you can probably figure out, I haven't been too proud of my Red Sox (55-37) lately. After a win in Buchholz's 2009 debut at the Rog, the Sox have dropped the last three, including last night's 6-3 loss in Arlington. This brings the team's record to an abysmal 8-14 against the AL West in '09, a division which for some reason has been our kryptonite. The offense has been stagnant at best, with only 10 runs scored in the four games since the break (Magadan job watch is on!). What's more significant is that this recent skid has brought the red-hot Yankees back on to the top of the mountain in the AL East. The 6th inning home run derby-like hiccup marked the first time Smoltz has allowed three homers in a frame in over 15 years. I have to admit, I'm recovering from the hangover brought on by the Smoltz Kool-Aid, who was recently referred to in the Boston Dirt Dogs site as "Smoltzuzaka." Fellow Texan Josh Beckett (11-3) takes the mound tonight in the role of the stopper as he tries to halt another Sox skid. He goes up against the 6'3'', 255 lb. righty Tommy Hunter (1-1), who is making only the 8th start in his major league career for the Texas Rangers (50-41). Feeling a little nervous, considering we haven't exactly done well against rookie pitchers lately. At this point, I would pay for Nick Johnson's flight and drive him over to Fenway personally. Just found out that Wakefield's annual trip to the DL has started today, allowing the Nation to see more of the whiz kid Buchholz in the near future. Really hoping that the offense has saved up their 2nd half surge for this Hunter kid, because my Jeep is ready for the call. Play ball, my friends!
8:11 PM - Well, Tommy Hunter is on his way to a Cy Young Award as he retires the 1st 3 Sox hitters in order on 11 pitches. I feel as if I can go to my high school's baseball team, put an MLB uniform on anyone of them, and they can toss 6 solid innings against this lineup. Obviously not confident right now.
8:14 PM - Kinsler hits a double down the line after Orsillo jinxed Beckett by talking about his success in Texas. I'm feeling that Beckett can't afford to allow more than 2 runs today, especially early.
8:17 PM - Drew catches a sinking liner from Young. 1 out and still in prayer position. Big slugger and Bubba Gumper Josh Hamilton to the plate.
8:19 PM - Hamilton strikes out. Sort of bummed out for my fantasy team's offensive production, but it's always reality team 1st. 2 down.
8:23 PM - A Jones walk and a double steal later, things are looking mighty interesting. Not only are the Rangers filled with sluggers, but they are 3rd in the league in steals.
8:24 PM - Well, Beckett has reached his runs allowed limit. Blalock singles in the first 2 runs of the game. 2-0 Rangers. Chuck = rabidly angry.
8:25 PM - After 21 pitches and a newly cracked remote control, the Rangers rush to a 2-0 lead, forcing us to play a nearly impossible game of catch-up the way the offense has been performing. Is this gonna be another long night?
8:28 PM - After a solid hit, Ortiz decided to trust his inner Rickey Henderson, and paid the price mightily. Not even close at 2nd base as he was out by 10 feet and 2 years. Even Kevin Millar said he had no chance. 1 down.
8:35 PM - Sox can only muster a Bay walk in the top half of the 2nd. Talking myself down with the fact that it's still early and that there's a rookie pitcher on the mound. Oh wait. We've been dominated by rookies this season? Let the anxiety continue.
8:41 PM - Beckett eases his way to a very efficient inning in the bottom half. Can't afford anything but a money performance from here on out. 'Tek, Lowrie and Ellsbury due up for the Sox.
8:45 PM - Lowrie hits a solid liner to right and easily makes it to second. 1 out and a runner in scoring position. I'm cleaning my eyes as I type this. Shouldn't keep going with this semi-sarcasm, because I might be jinxing something.
8:48 PM - Too late on the jinx bit. Catfish.....errr...Tommy Hunter puts up another 0 on the scoreboard next to the Boston name. Hearing a clock ticking louder and louder.
8:49 PM - Just finished watching the Denis Leary commercial on how he and his son watched the playoffs in the same seats in their house during the magical '04 season. The good ole days. Remembering how my buddy Billy Budd played "Dirty Water" in our floor after every win from Game 4 of the ALCS till the end. Speaking of comebacks, I wouldn't mind one right now. If we can only bring Dave Roberts out of the booth and have him start the top of the 4th leading off 1st base.
8:53 PM - Beckett breezes through another inning, and officially is starting to enter "machine mode". Totally lovin' it. As for our bats........
8:59 PM - 1, 2, 3 inning for Walter John.....umm Tommy Hunter on our 3-4-5 hitters. Who would've guessed? Just shocking! At least Beckett didn't have to sit around long. He's probably on the rail of the dugout waiting to get right back on the field at this point. In other breaking news, I just discovered a hangnail.
9:06 PM - Another 0 thrown by BecKKKKett, as he's probably returning to his rail spot in the dugout. Maybe he's deciding to go express and just stand on the stairs. Bet you can tell I'm reeeeeeeaaaaal excited (Wink, wink!) for our bats to come up.
9:12 PM - STRIIIIIKE 3 on 'Tek. If Beckett is on "machine mode", Fernando Hunterzuela must be on beast mode right now. Also see that the Yanks are just cruisin' against the O's.
9:14 PM - I love these "Most Interesting Man in the World" commercials. Just genius stuff. It's like Dos Equis's response to the Chuck Norris fact sites, and it may arguably be better with lines like, "People hang on his every word, even the prepositions." Just classic! Has given me my only wide smile in the past hour and a half. Thank you Dos Equis.
9:17 PM - Beckett now up to 13 in a row retired. Slowly reaching "most interesting man" status. However, he isn't even the most interesting man on the mound tonight as Cy Hunter is outdueling him. Somebody unfreeze Ted Williams!
9:26 PM - After 2 outs and a 10 pitch at-bat, MVPedroia wins the battle with base hit to the opposite field. Could this be more to come, or do we have to suit up Yaz for the later innings? C'MON YOOOOUK!
9:29 PM - AND YOUK PUTS THE SOX ON THE BOARD!!! Looks like the MVP's at-bat sparked something as Youkilis hit an opposite field double to cut the Ranger lead in half. Lookin' for Ortiz to pull through in the clutch (fingers crossed).
9:33 PM - DAMN! Hunter out of it after 26 pitches in the inning. So much for the clutch hit, but at least we got to Tommy Hunter. I can't believe I just said that! Am I on Planet Earth?
9:36 PM - STRIKE 3 on Kinsler. 5 Ks for BecKKKKKett as he made Kinsler look like an idiot on a high fastball. 14 in a row retired.
9:37 PM - And you can thank me for the jinx. Young singles to center to break up the run. Only the 3rd hit allowed by Beckett all game. Sorry Red Sox Nation. Feel a double play coming up, I swear.
9:38 PM - And what did I say? Clutch double play pulled off by the Sox off the bat of Hamilton. J. Bay Bay up to lead off the 7th, who is desperately in need of a clutch at-bat right now. His .254 average is making me look waaaaaaaay past his 20 homers.
9:43 PM - Bay leads off with a walk thrown by new pitcher Jason Jennings. Christy Mathewhunter now tensing up in the dugout as his win dangles in the balance. I don't care how we drive Bay in as long as we do it. C'MON DREW!
9:47 PM - Smart 3-2 count hit and run as Kinsler can only throw to 1st to assist in the put out of Drew. Time for Mikey Lowell and his leaking hip to become a hero. Realizing that 'Tek is on deck, making me extra tense to the 200th power. C'MON MIKEY!!!
9:50 PM - Mikey walks. Now our .232 hitting captain steps to the plate. Having a sudden change of mood. Heading into the Prozac zone!
9:52 PM - And in the most shocking news in the history of the universe, Varitek strikes out on 3 pitches in a clutch situation. Such a non factor. In fact, he's a sub non factor if there is such a thing.
9:53 PM - Lowrie weakly pops out, snuffing out a potential rally for the Beantowners. Trying to stare at the satellite box right now until it blows up just so I don't have to watch this. I remember seeing Freddy Lynn in the celebrity softball game at the All-Star break, and he could still rake. Who would you bet your life on in the clutch right now, a 57 year old former ballplayer who plays in primarily softball games, or Jason Varitek? I think I already know your answer.
9:57 PM - The Rangers have struck with two straight hits, putting men on the corners with Marlon Byrd coming to the plate. (Buh buh buh buh Byrd Byrd Byrd, Byrd is the word.) It doesn't take much to get that song stuck in my head. Desperately need a happy moment as I feel first place slowly slipping away.
9:59 PM - Byrd ain't the word right now! Huge K for BecKKKKKKett. David Murphy, the former Sox outfield prospect steps up. Trying to shoo away the "former player/vengeance for letting me go" karma.
10:02 PM - The karma bites again as Murphy hits a sac fly, driving in Andruw Jones. This 3-1 lead mine as well should be a 3,682,185-1 lead, which probably matches our odds of scoring another run. Just frustrating.
10:05 PM - Beckett tosses his 7th K to end the inning, with gum launching out of his mouth in pure anger. At least someone on this team has a pulse. Someone give that man a bat! Hey, he has more of a chance to hit the ball than any of the 7-8-9 guys in our lineup.
10:13 PM - Three flyouts recorded in the 8th. Just pathetic. Already accepting the phrase, "1st place Yankees" into my 2009 baseball vocab. Funny how we can beat them, but can't beat anyone in the AL West (3 outs away from being 8-15 against the division). Need a shot and a cigar right now.
10:17 PM - In another shocker, somebody steals a base off 'Tek! The victor, Elvis Andrus. Varitek throwing out a base runner is this year's Loch Ness. People have sworn they've seen it, but the evidence is probably recorded on some grainy film somewhere.
10:22 PM - After a Kinsler moves over Andrus on a fly ball, Lowrie gets him out at home, moving Michael Young into scoring position. Just one more out before the rally caps.
10:22 PM - Hamilton comes through by putting a knife in the proverbial jugular of the Red Sox. That base hit up the middle makes it 4-1 Rangers. Rally cap has been thrown across the room. Besides, it's just as useful hanging on my window curtain as it is on my head.
10:23 PM - 3rd out recorded, but the damage is excessive. I think a Nationals 10 game win streak is more likely than the Sox getting 3 runs right now.
10:27 PM - Ortiz weakly grounds out against C.J. Wilson, who is making his third outing in as many days for the 1st time this year. 2 outs away from looking up at the Yankees.
10:28 PM - Bay promptly walks on 4 pitches. The hope-o-meter is barely ticking. Give me credit, it's still ticking, even with our $70 million dollar, .234 hitting right fielder coming up. I wonder if Dewey Evans can still play?
10:30 PM - Bay steals 2nd. The team is finally showing a pulse. Just chip away, boys!
10:31 PM - Wait, what pulse was I talking about? J.D. Drew strikes out looking. I think I'm seeing smoke. Oh wait. I think it's John Henry just burning Drew's check in one of the owners' boxes, along with the Lugo stack. 2 down.
10:31 PM - Mikey Lowell drives in Bay on the 1st pitch. I actually just did a slight fist pump. Now I see Varitek is coming up. I think I'm gonna have a stroke. Put me on health alert!
10:33 PM - Well at least Tek didn't strike out, but he wasn't our savior either. Sox lose 4 straight for the 1st time this year, and the 1st game that Beckett has lost after a Sox defeat. Give the victory to Tommy "Roy Halladay" Hunter as the Sox are looking up in the division for the first time since June 7th. I bet the Sox are desperately looking forward to going back to Fenway and facing Orioles' pitching to recharge their dreadful offensive production (.195 average, 12 runs in 5 games,). I know I am. If Beckett and Lester can't get run support to pull the Sox off the skids, I sense more trouble for the Sox in the future. I know it's only July, but with the Yankees continuing their white-hot play (5-0 since the break) and the Rays charging hard behind us (4-1), it's totally feasible that the Sox could easily fall out of playoff contention if they don't pull off a move for a catalytic force before the trading deadline. Roy Halladay is looking more like a suitable option every day, but if we can't hit, he will be as useful as a Miata in a New England winter. I'm not pressing the panic button yet, but October is less of a certainty at this point. Mr. Johnson, my car is warming up.
Mochaman's Fantasy Baseball Report
- Bubba Gump Shrimpz - 117-76-17 (1st, Steroid Freaks' Anonymous, 5 UP)
Survived the 4 day All-Star week with a sizable victory. Pitching again solid while my offense successfully held on for dear life. Made another solid pickup with Kendry Morales, who has first base and outfield eligibility. Hoping to increase this slim lead with a big win this week.
- Mocha Sox - 65-78-7 (10th, Yahoo Public 38095, 20.5 GB)
Make that 5 series in a row for the Sox! More encouraging is that I moved up another spot, nearing closer to playoff contention. The pitching, which was in shambles about 2 months ago, is now the fine-tuned engine running the machine thanks to some smart trades and pickups. Feeling more confident by the week.
- Firehawks - 69-71-10 (7th, Yahoo Public 162279, 14 GB)
Weird week (3-4-3 series record) with me moving up one notch in the standings while falling 2.5 GB. Offense continuing its run of futility, and willing to consider trading a quality arm to correct the problem. Enormous week, as I'm in a matchup with the 1st place team. Jason Bay needs to come back to solid form if this team is to go anywhere. The promise that this team once had is slowly fizzling.
R.I.P. To Uncle Walter
Walter Cronkite Jr. (Nov. 4, 1916 - July 17, 2009)
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