Ray Day, Ray Day: Sox - Rays Gamecast

I'm thankful that the Victor Martinez era is off to a great start for the Red Sox (62-42) and their Nation. But gone are the Orioles, Royals and A's as the Sox head into an intense rivalry week, which includes a short two game series versus the Usain Boltian Rays (58-48) and a 4 gamer against the pinstripers at New York. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that this week's road trip is the most important stretch of games this year for the Beantowners, considering that they are facing the two elites that stand in the way of a divisional crown. There are a combined 18 games remaining with the Yanks and Rays, and each game will be more important than the next as the Sox will try not to be the odd team out in this divisional version of musical chairs. The Sox begin the week virtually tied with the Yankees and are five games up on the defending AL champion Rays. However, we are going to a venue (Tropicana Field) in which we've won only 2 out of our last 14. We have an exciting Game 7 rematch upcoming as Jon Lester (9-7) will take the hill for the Sox in St. Pete as he looks for his first win since September of last year against the Rays as well as to correct a trend of recent poor performances against the fishy foes (1-4, 29 2/3 IP, 6.38 ERA, 1.55 WHIP in last 5 starts including playoffs vs. Rays). On the other side of the coin, we have Matt Garza (7-8), who just seems to save his best whenever Red Sox are in front of him (4-0, 38 2/3 IP, 2.10 ERA, 31 Ks, 1.09 WHIP in last 6 starts including playoffs vs. Sox). The key in this short set of matchups is to keep any and every Ray off the basepaths, considering what Mazz pointed out that we are facing the team with the most steals in the bigs. Meanwhile, the Sox have been the least effective against thefts. In my opinion, 'Tek has as much of a chance in throwing out Carl Crawford as Chewbacca winning the Miss America pageant. So it's imperative that we keep the bases as clean as possible. In the grand scheme of things, we begin the true first day of the rest of the season at the Trop. And yes, I'm hoping for less cowbell.

7:11 PM - Longoria drops a foul pop-up. With Longoria's trend against us, it will probably be his only mistake of the day. Cowbell already getting annoying and it's like the 4th minute of the game.

7:12 PM - Zobrist makes a solid play up the middle to throw out the speedy Ellsbury. He has been nuts on my fantasy team this year. I'm thinkin' "Zo-Beast" for a nickname. Says it all right there. Thoughts? All suggestions will be listened to.

7:16 PM - Here comes Victor Martinez. Baltimore wasn't bad, but it would be a great breakout week for him to come through in rivalry weekend. Also hear from Orsillo that he kills Rays pitching. I wish that you can see the smile on my face.

7:18 PM - Matty Garza is out of the 1st inning. Have to get to him before he gets all cool-headed and starts throwing his curveball like it's out of style. Mission: Get Garza back to his iPod as soon as possible. Also would be great to have him throw a Gatorade cooler or two. Due to his intensity, he's always been my candidate to go 'Zambrano' and become the Sportscenter blowup of the year (Crossing my fingers).

7:23 PM - Crap! Crawford slaps a single. Having flashbacks of his 6 stolen base performance early in the season. Just found out he has more stolen bases than 4 MLB teams this year. Not exactly following the game plan here.

7:24 PM - V-Mart just let a foul pop-up play him. Welcome to playing in a dome. Why doesn't Tampa have one of those retractable domes. I mean, it's only 90 over there today. Can't give Longoria second chances.

7:26 PM - Longoria strikes out. Sweet breaking ball thrown by Lester. "Zo-Beast" steps to the plate.

7:27 PM - In a not so surprising news flash, Crawford steals another bag, his 50th of the year. Still waiting for Chewbacca to accept the Miss America Pageant title so Varitek can throw somebody out.

7:28 PM - On consecutive pitches, Crawford steals another bag. Didn't know that Rickey Henderson was still playing. 'Tek didn't even think of throwing, which might have prevented him from scoring. Maybe that's what they mean by he calls a good game. Mine as well dust off home for him.

7:29 PM - "Zo-Beast" walks, putting men in the corners. Cowbell just doesn't sound good with Flo Rida on the speakers, just saying. Can Lester ever beat this team again?

7:33 PM - Lester strikes out the sneaky-dangerous Willy Aybar to strike out the side and escapes some damage in the process. Hoping for the bats to plate a few runs this half-inning.

7:37 PM - The red-hot Yoooooooouk homers! Upton ain't getting this one. Too bad Garza has no earplugs to throw in frustration, but still clutch to score first. Anticipating him throwing at someone in the near future. Another Sox-Rays fight perhaps?

7:39 PM - Ortiz hits a potential catwalk shot to right, but old friend Gabe Kapler comes up with it. Stupid cowbells starting up again = my brain is about to explode.

7:44 PM - G.G. (Glass Groin) Drew strikes out on a curveball. Get the infirmary ready, I may have heard something pop excessively. Oh wait, it's the irritating cowbells at the Trop. 2 down.

7:46 PM - 'Tek lines out to "Flash" Crawford to end the inning. It's sad when the only recent positive credentials that an announcer can say about you as a player is that you were in the Little League World Series. Can we say he's past the twilight of his career?

7:49 PM - Learning from my girl Heidi Watney that Dice-K has thrown from 120 feet today, and a side session may follow. Can't believe that I'm psyched by this news. But if you see the probable matchups for the next 2 games, you would completely understand.

7:55 PM - Lester throws a clean inning in the bottom of the 2nd. Maybe silence is the best sound. Still have a long way to go before these palpitations go away.

8:00 PM - Anticipation, over. Nick Green gets plunked on the knee. Garza most likely didn't do it on purpose, but somehow knew it was coming eventually. Still waiting for that meltdown, although history tells me it won't happen against us.

8:05 PM -Grounder in the hole eats up Bartlett, resulting in a Pedroia base hit with two down. Great opportunity here with 2 on base. C'mon V-Mart! Make me a prouder man that we got you!

8:06 PM - The Garza Groove Meter is building up as Martinez is retired on a weak pop-up to right. Can't let these chances get away, for we may never get them again (having awful flashbacks of last year's Game 7).

8:10 PM - Bartlett gets a base hit to the opposite field with 1 out. He's just so stingy beyond belief. Drives me a crazy like the incessant noise of a ringing cowbell. Must have an .800 batting average against us along with Longoria and Crawford. Speaking of the devil......

8:15 PM - After a lengthy at bat, Crawford pops out to foul territory in left field. It doesn't get easier as homer threat and Desperate Houseray Evan Longoria steps between the lines. 2 down.

8:19 PM - Lester picks up his 5th K with the whiff of Longoria. Good to see him neutralized, although you never know when he will heat up. He has that Giambi appeal in that the remote is always beside just in case he hits that 450-foot bomb, and that doesn't go away after 2 hitless at bats in three innings.

8:23 PM - After a few close pitches, Youkilis walks to lead off the inning. I think I see an unhappy face coming from Mr. Garza. Hoping Papi hits a catwalk here to widen the gap (not in his teeth).

8:25 PM - What was that? Papi swings at a 58-foot slider, bringing back the "he's off his cycle" jokes all across the nation. G.G Drew steps in the box.

8:27 PM - Double play thwarted as a Bartlett throw skips off Peña's glove. The Glass One moves to 2nd with 2 down. How come I feel like it's a cloudy day all of a sudden? Oh yeah, Varitek is up.

8:30 PM - I don't think I have to say what just happened. If you heard some loud screaming, that wasn't me. That was my mom screaming at 'Tek in the other room. Walking the tightrope going into the bottom of the 4th.

8:38 PM - Lester now up to 7 Ks as he finishes off Peña to end the 4th inning. Not really helping the Bubba Gump Shrimpz here. But as I always say, reality team first. Absolutely neeeeeeeeeeeeeeed to get to Garza this inning.

8:45 PM - Garza breezes through his end of the 5th. Nervousness not exactly going away at this point. However, this Corona commercial with the blue water is putting me into a Zen-like trance. Reminds me that my dinner has been ready for an hour. Ummmmmm, after this inning!

8:52 PM - After retiring 7 in a row, Lester allows a single to a member of the '04 Free Drink Club, Gabe Kapler. The pesky Bartlett will now attempt to make my brain explode into ten thousand small pieces.

8:58 PM - Mission, complete. Bartlett walks on a questionable call, making Lester a weeeeeeeee bit more confused about the strike zone. Crawford steps up to threaten my life.

9:00 PM - Crawford hits a hard grounder on the 1st pitch to Youk, who takes it himself to third. Almost lost consciousness for a moment. On that note, time to get my food.

9:03 PM - WOOOOOOOHOOOO! Just came back in time to see the Pedroia homer. 2-0 Sox. I should get dinner every inning, or at least a strudel. Must be the cheesy potatoes (Yes! Avoided a Dan Quayle scenario).

9:06 PM - Carlos Peña makes a Web Gem on the dugout railing to retire Youkilis. Also gets those bells ringing again. This 2-0 lead is still too close to my liking. All those boos must mean Papi is up.

9:09 PM - The Big Man walks, giving G.G. Drew a chance to extend Garza's pitch count some more.

9:10 PM - Drew hits a towering pop-up, but it's only a long third out. Got some insurance there, but still not comfortable, considering Longoria leads off the next inning. Now must dive into the comfort food.

9:14 PM - STRIKE 3 ON LONGORIA! The Desperate Houseray gets the unwanted hat trick, while Lester receives his 9th strikeout on the night. I think I see fire coming off of his arm like in the NBA Jam video games.

9:19 PM - Another K for Lester. Make that another double-digit day for the lefty. Don't know if his day will continue, considering he has 109 pitches after 6 innings. His line right now: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 0 ER and 10 Ks.

9:23 PM - Little delay as home plate umpire Jerry Layne gets stuck on the arm by a Reddick foul ball. I wonder if it is a little karma for not giving Lester the outside corner tonight.

9:29 PM - Garza gets out of another inning unscathed. May be done for the day (or at least that's my hope). His line: 7 IP, 3 H, 2BB, 2 ER, and 6 Ks, making only 2 mistakes with those solo bombs. Found out the NBA season will start on my birthday as the Celts will play LeBron and his Cavs in the opener. Sweetness!

9:32 PM - Lester comes back, but immediately hits Aybar on the 1st pitch of the inning. I think "On Fire" mode is officially off. Promptly gets taken out by Tito. In comes the Oki-Doke.

9:36 PM - Upton singles to right. Here comes the Big Ray Machine. Still don't know why Francona didn't put the hard-throwing right-handed Bard in against the right-handed Upton. Not liking this one bit.

9:37 PM - DOUBLE PLAY! The defense was expecting the bunt, but I'll take it! Maddon's mystic wisdom bit him in the rear, considering Navarro is batting .224 on the season. Almost out of this.

9:40 PM - Looks like we'll see Bard in this inning as Okajima walks Kapler. Feel somewhat at ease. A .182 average against and a 2.01 ERA will do that to a fan.

9:43 PM - Well, I guess I'm getting brain surgery. Bartlett gets a base hit in the shortstop hole. Lead cut in half. Someone should remind me that I should do a jinx alert before I write anything like the excerpt above. Here comes Crawford (sigh).

9:45 PM - Sox get out of the inning on an extremely close play at 2nd base. I think I spit out a few peas on that play. Off to the 8th frame, ladies and gents. How many ways can I say, "another run please"?

9:49 PM - It's the Micro-Manage Bowl at the Trop as lefty Brian Shouse was in just to retire Ellsbury. Dan Wheeler is the next contestant to come ooooooooon dooooowwwwwwn (I miss the old "Price Is Right").

9:54 PM - An acrobatic play by Wheeler ends the top of the 8th. Im pleading for another run, especially if or when Papelbon comes in the game. Never though I would feel the way about Papelbon like I did about D-Lowe in '01.

9:56 PM - And what did I say about Longoria? Not a moment after the commercials, Longoria shames the young Bard by hitting a towering blast to center. Bad timing to give up your 1st homer of your major league career. All tied up at the Trop, and I'm feeling that some cheesy potatoes might be making a return.

10:00 PM - "Zo-Beast" walks. Slowly blacking out here as Aybar steps to the plate.

10:01 PM - Aybar lays a perfect bunt, followed by an errant Bard throw. Men on 2nd and 3rd after the ball gets stuck somewhere around the rightfield wall in foul territory. Could this be a break? NEEEEEEEEEEEEEED a strikeout here with Peña coming up.

10:06 PM - Another walk. All loaded up with the mighty B.J. Upton at the plate. How did I know that this game would get out of hand? Oh yeah, because it always does against the Rays! Long gone are those days when we just pounded them mercilessly. This just hurts so bad. I need a Vicodin or something

10:10 PM - Full count here to Upton, as he is probably sitting dead-red on a 98 MPH fastball (stop shaking, stop shaking, stop shaking).

10:11 PM - HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGE K FOR BARD!!!!!!! Still have a mess out there on the bases, with Manny Delcarmen coming out (GULP). Thank God that there are only short bridges in my town. Gas is way too expensive to drive to a taller one.

10:14 PM - GABE GROOOOOOOOOSS STRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIKES OUT!!!!! C'MON GUYS!!!! Would be clutch if we get out of this jam (knocking hard on my bed post now).

10:16 PM - YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! I'M STILL ALIVE (I think). Sox get out of the bases loaded, no out jam. Hope this momentum carries to our bats. I think we might need a little Jobu magic, or at least a sacrifice of a full KFC bucket.

10:21 PM - Wheeler is gone after getting Youk to ground out. Lefty J.P. Howell will now take over on the bump to battle Ortiz and Drew.

10:23 PM - Ortiz grounds right into the shift. 2 down with the cowbells ringing loudly. This is what hell must feel like.

10:24 PM - Drew lazily flies out to Longoria for the 3rd out. Trying desperately to find a silver lining here, but the Rays just find a way, especially in their house. A 1, 2, 3 inning could be good here, for it could prevent me from spontaneously combusting.

10:29 PM - Delcarmen promptly walks the leadoff batter. Hint: This usually never turns out well, especially late in games. To make things worse for my blood pressure, Crawford is up, who is 6 for 8 against Delcarmen for his career.

10:31 PM - PHHHHHHHEEEEEEW! Looked like Crawford went deep for a moment, but the ball stops right into the glove of Ellsbury about 10 feet short. Delcarmen out (phew), and Ramon Ramirez in. Also in is Evan Longoria. Crying might actually be the manly thing to do now.

10:34 PM - Well, the game is closer to over as Varitek fails to throw out another base stealer (Is this Groundhog Day?). Man on scoring position and less than 2 outs. Intentional walk is on for Longoria. Zo-Beast will step to the plate with the chance to become the hero for the night.

10:36 PM - DOOOOOOUBLLLLLLLLLLLLE PLAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!! Sox out of another jam! On to some free baseball as we head into extras. Ladies and gents, I don't know if I'm gonna make it.

10:42 PM - After a 'Tek pop-up, the rookie Josh Reddick lines a double to make things interesting. Could we actually win this thing?

10:44 PM - Lowell in, and promptly walked intentionally by Howell to get to Ellsbury. Promptly taken out for Lowrie as a baserunner. 1st and 2nd with 1 out. Let's go, Jacobes!

10:45 PM - EVERYONE'S SAFE ON THE INFIELD SINGLE!!! Bases loaded and 1 out for Pedroia. I think Casey Kotchman may have sacrificed that chicken.

10:48 PM - Nothing kills a rally like a double play. Rays pull off the balancing act by doubling up Pedroia to end the inning. I'm considering washing my hands and putting them on my electric bug-zapping racket as opposed to watching this game. I'd get roughly the same results I think.

10:51 PM - Joe Dillon (Yeah, exactly) gets a base hit to begin the inning. Peña coming up to the plate (remote in hand).

10:53 PM - Peña hits a rocket double off the rightfield wall. 2nd and 3rd with nobody out. Really getting ready to put an L next to this game. We can't get out of that many jams, right?

10:57 PM - Upton walks. All loaded up for Gabe Gross. I just hate playing this team.

10:58 PM - 2-0 count. 2 balls closer to being 1.5 games back as I just found out the Yanks just beat Halladay. Wow.

10:58 PM - Shallow pop-up hit by Gross. 1 out and yet ANOTHER chance to get out of a mess.

11:00 PM - ANOTHER POP-UP!!! Michel Hernandez lifts one up to Pedroia. 2 down. But here comes my personal arch nemesis Jason Bartlett. Did I say how much I hate playing this team?

11:02 PM - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND FOUL! Close one down the rightfield line. How much would I pay for this strike? $50,000? $100,000? My left kidney?

11:03 PM - BARTLETT STRIKES OUT!!!!!! I don't wanna get all Al Michaels on all of you, so I won't say it. But you know what quote I have in mind right now. I can't believe it! I mean, we got out of two, count it, TWO bases loaded, no out jams today. Anyway, who wants a kidney?

11:06 PM - YES! V-Mart starts the 11th with a base hit to center. Good timing to snap an 0 for 4. Here comes YOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUK.

11:09 PM - Youk strikes out, with annoying circus music in the background. I don't think blood can boil at a higher temperature than mine is right now. Ortiz coming up. Desperately need some clutch here.

11:12 PM - Big Papi.....sooooooooo close to hitting an opposite field shot. If only the air conditioning was on high at the Trop. 2 down. G.G. Drew up to bat.

11:15 PM - Drew ends the inning by grounding out. I wonder how much money we pay for each groundout? At least we're paying for a "quality" .248 batting average. Just found out that Papelbon is coming in the game. Now shopping for my own coffin. I can't take this anymore.

11:20 PM - Big out recorded as Crawford grounds out to Youk. Still in prayer position as Longoria steps to the plate. I'm surprised that my dinner has stayed in my stomach throughout all of this.

11:24 PM - Longoria swings and misses on a fastball in a favorable location. I think I felt my heart go in my throat.

11:26 PM - LONGORIA STRIKES OUT! That's the golden sombrero for him. Zo-Beast will step up, creating an interesting dilemma for my fantasy team.

11:28 PM- Aaaaaaaaand we're out of it. Papelbon gets out of the inning scot free, and surprisingly with efficiency (at least by Papelbon standards). He's usually 25-35 pitches an outing anyway. So why not another inning? I can't get anymore tense.

11:32 PM - Reddick reaches the golden sombrero as Balfour has retired 5 in a row. He's just money right now.

11:34 PM - Lowrie pops out of the inning. Looks like Saito is coming into the bottom of the 12th with no replacements behind him. It's looking like one of those specific moments that trading Masterson might have been a reeeeeeal bad idea.

11:37 PM - Saito promptly walks the allegedly dangerous Joe Dillon. Carlos "I Wish We Kept Him Just So He Wouldn't Torture Us Constantly With The Rays" Peña steps in the box. Yowsers.

11:41 PM - Phew! Peña pops up to Youk. 1 down. The mighty B.J. steps to the plate (Somehow, that just doesn't work).

11:42 PM - WHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIFFFFFFF! Great job by Saito to stay away from Upton's wheelhouse. Still wondering what the plan is after Saito. I mean, doesn't he have a worrisome elbow? If Casey Kotchman comes out to the 'pen, I might just have to end this gamecast prematurely due to the constant F-bombs that will be written. On a side note, Casey Kotchman has got more references on this gamecast than some of the people that have played. Be proud Case, be proud!

11:48 PM - Just found out that Buchholz is in the pen. The F-bombs may still fly after all.

11:49 PM - Saito strikes out Gross on a sick breaking ball. We seriously need some Incan ritual to wake up this offense. Ooooooh, that Corona commercial is back on. Which reminds me that alcohol would have been a good thing to have on hand. Hmmmmmm, maybe not.

11:52 PM - B.J. glides under the Ellsbury liner on a 3-1 count from Lance Cormier. Finding a virgin fly in the house I could sacrifice. MVPedroia steps up.

11:55 PM - Lazy pop-ups are the theme of the day as Pedroia is retired. Where's the clutch? V-Mart coming to the plate as my buddy P-Mac is calling his shot.

11:56 PM - Base hit up the middle for Martinez. Must take advantage of Cormier's wildness. PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE YOUK! PLEEEEEEEEEASE COME THROUGH!!!!

11:58 PM - Longoria makes a grab on the liner and robs a possible double. The thought of Buchholz coming in places images in my head of fire and needles poking through my skin.

12:01 PM - O.K. I guess Saito is back out. So much for protecting the arm, because we're in a pennant race!

12:02 PM - Another lead off guy put on by the Sox, with Jason Bartlett coming up. Hey, you're not a true Red Sox fan if your blood pressure is not 2,483/1,789 at all times due to moments like this.

12:03 PM - Bartlett sacrifices to bring the winning run over to scoring position with 1 out and the Crawford/Longoria duo coming up. God, just take me.

12:05 PM - Crawford grounds out to 1st. 2 down, but my worst nightmare personified (Evan Longoria) comes to the plate.

12:06 PM - Did I ever mention how much I hate playing this team? Longoria just made my nightmares come true with a 2-run bomb over the leftfield wall. Only a guy with 4 strikeouts in the game will sting us not once, but twice in the game. Who's idiotic idea was it to pitch to him anyway? Make that 13 times in the last 15 games that we have been defeated in this dump known as the Trop. Considering how many baserunners we left on base today, there is a lot we can take out of this game in terms of our bullpen. However, it is hard to believe that this is a moral victory considering we've virtually lost all close games played against this team in the past 2 years. Due to the fact that we started out with one of our two studs in the rotation, this should have been a game that the Sox took in this tough stretch. Instead, it's another thorn on the heel added by this Rays team that absolutely will not go away. It is hard to build confidence in the matchup tomorrow as the inconsistent Brad Penny will take the mound against another Game 7 hero, David Price. There's always tomorrow, but it's one of those losses that just keeps on hurting, especially in a tight race such as this. Where's the Advil?


Mochaman's Fantasy Baseball Report
- Bubba Gump Shrimpz - 129-91-18 (2nd, Steroid Freaks' Anonymous, 4.5 GB)
Barely survived a week against the 3rd place team, but surviving came with a cost as I lost the top spot. I stood pat at the league trading deadline, but starting to regret it seeing Dan Haren's last couple of performances. Hoping the offense can carry this team on a day that's not the weekend. Have to keep in mind: 5 weeks + last week series with the current top team = plenty of time.

- Mocha Sox - 79-84-7 (7th, Yahoo Public 38095, 13.5 GB)
Can you say a 10-0 week? A team that was once considered as dead as Jimmy Hoffa (allegedly) has emerged into arguably the best team in the league (48-19-3 in last 7 weeks). Needless to say, I'm not concerned of the recent release of Tommy John surgery victim Edinson Volquez. My case for GM of the year grows stronger, however the competition gets stronger as the season wanes. Facing the 1st place team this week, making this a crucial matchup not only in terms of making up more ground, but making a bigger statement in the league. Looking to pull off some more Mocha Magic in '09.

- Firehawks - 75-83-12 (9th, Yahoo Public 162279, 19 GB)
Won the series last week, but barely made up any ground to ease the pain of this recent nosedive. Offense still not impressive, however I have been redeemed for my decision for putting Adam Jones in the lineup. Picked up Nyjer Morgan to get some necessary stolen bases, because I need every clot to stop this bleeding. Hoping for my whole team to catch some "fire" in the few upcoming weeks remaining (Uh-oh, I'm getting excessively punny. Pour some water on me, hahaha!).