by Tony Dejak - AP

Bad mojo? Think again. His team has already clinched their playoff spot. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

View full size photo »

This is it. Rubber match. This determines something something something something. Oh yeah. A win and we can at least claim the season series over the Yanks. A loss and we're tied and they clinch the East tomorrow.

Magic number still at 3.

Been awhile since I've been around, been awhile since I've done one of these. My apologies for that. Work has been a something. 

Let's be honest. A win would be nice but I kinda would just like Paul Byrd to look like a big-league pitcher.

More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

Woonsocket's own... (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Browse more photos »

Well if that isn't a relief.

In his first start in the bigs since late last season, Paul Byrd threw six shutout innings and needed only 83 pitches to do so. It was quite encouraging considering the issues Junichi Tazawa had last time out and Tim Wakefield's continuing back problems. If two nights ago was the real Clay Buchholz then we should be in pretty good shape.

The rest of the staff pitched 3 scoreless innings following Byrd to finish the shutout. Manny Delcarmen, Billy Wagner (3 Ks!), and Takashi Saito (2 Ks!) combined on some excellent work. 

Did those names look like some of the least important members of the bullpen? Good. Cause they kind of are. And how was it that we were able to use them instead of say, Daniel Bard or Hideki Okajima? A well-balance offensive attack, that's how.

Everyone but ['Empty] reached base. Kevin Youkilis went 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs, Rocco Baldelli hit a HR and Alex Gonzalez was 2 for 3.

On Roy Halladay day, it was quite encouraging to put up such a good effort on offense to go along with Byrd's big day. We can only hope the momentum can be carried with us to Tampa. 

More photos » by Chris O'Meara - AP

Apparently the only way we can win is if his pitch count is 200 or so. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Browse more photos »

13 innings. I could've been doing a lot of things aside from following most of a 13 inning game that we ended up losing.

But enough about me. This one is about the guys who really stunk up the joint. We had only three players reach base more than once, with Victor Martinez, DP, and Youks accomplishing this most difficult of feats. This game had it all though. Varitek hitting for himself late in the game, a misuse (in my opinion) of Mike Lowell, and Paps throwing a 1-2-3 inning...and nothing else.

For their part, Jon Lester and Matt Garza tried to make it about their pitcher's duel. Garza went 7 while allowing only two solo home runs (one to Youks and one to DP), while Lester went 6 plus, allowing one run and striking out 10. But, alas, starting pitching was not the story. It was the bullpen. 6 scoreless innings from the Rays' assortment of RPs and a not-so-scoreless effort from ours.

Recent superman Daniel Bard was brought back to Earth, Hideki Okajima was eh, MDC suffered a rare bout of effectiveness, and Ramon Ramirez was clearly working from the Daisuke Matsuzaka playbook. In an absolutely stunning move, Jonathan Papelbon came into the 11th and did not walk the leadoff man. Saito was his usual effectively wild self in retiring the Rays' in the 12th, and his usual ineffectively wild self (along with questionable decision-making on the part of Tito) in taking the loss in the 13th on an Evan Longoria the Devil himself HR.

In short, this is a painful painful loss, not mitigated by the fact that all of our RPs were used and Brad Penny takes the mound tomorrow. Can't imagine Saito or Ramon being available. Probably not Bard either.  

More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

The Youk is not happy about extra-inning losses to Oakland @ Fenway. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Browse more photos »

I am tired of Jonathan Papelbon. There, I said it. Blame Nick Green all you want; Paps allowed 3 hits (one a double) and a walk in one inning of work. That ain't got it for your closer, and it's the kind of results we've been getting all season. Tito and Theo were man enough to change the guard after Foulke had done more than most to win us a World Series. Can they be again?

Among all of our RPs, Paps is first fourth in FIP, first fifth in WHIP, first fourth in K/BB. Of all of our relievers, the only categories in which he is first are LOB% and difference between ERA and FIP. On some teams, such a RP would be in a 6th inning or long relief role. 

And while we're at it, Nick Green. Two errors, one of which was completely his fault, and one (the Mark Ellis GB) where someone should've been screaming their lungs out for him to not throw. The ball was down, his head was down, it's up to someone (I don't care whoTF gets that responsibility) should be telling him to eat the ball.

Jason Bay still doesn't play shallow enough in front of the monster. Also, would be nice if he went on a streak soon.

People get way too pissed about J.D. Drew these days. When I read that Nick Cafardo wants to trade him to the Tigers straight up for Magglio Ordonez (of the .689 OPS and the -10.9 UZR/150 this season), it made me want to punch somebody. Preferably, in this case, Nick Cafardo. Obviously I'm joking, but apparently Cafardo was not, and that's a problem. I understand he's been slumping, but hey, has anyone been suggesting that we trade Jason Bay off lately? He's been in a longer slump. Don't take this the wrong way; I'm not suggesting it. But it's just as logical a suggestion in my opinion. Maybe we should just throw Daniel Bard and Jon Lester off a bridge as well?

Starting pitching? Beckett, Lester, and Brad Penny can all leave the room. All right. WTF are you guys doing? Clay: Throw strikes. You've got the stuff, everyone pretty much agrees on that. It's way too early to be giving up on you, but you're definitely making it difficult to not want to. Smoltz? Good peripherals, bad results. The results are bad enough that another sub-par start should make us start looking at other options.

It's been highlighted a lot lately, but if you're mad about Jason Varitek's inability to throw runners out, then I don't know where you've been the last few years. This has been a significant problem for him for awhile, and it's not helped by the fact that we simply don't have many pitchers who think a lot about the running game. Anyway, the point is that it's a complaint that we just need to swallow; there's no solution for right now or the near future.

Yes. I realize this is all very reactionary, and I'm likely to be accused of such. That's okay. In balance, I'll try to get a much more positive post up in the next few days.

More photos » AP

They will be wearing different hats later this afternoon. (AP Photo/File)

Browse more photos »

Purely a depth move here, as Brian Anderson has been struggling to hit in Chicago. 

Once again. Depth. Insurance for Baldelli. We didn't acquire a guy with a .652 OPS over 862 PAs in order to trade Jacoby Ellsbury. 

In exchange, the White Sox will receive $$ and Mark Kotsay to bolster their bench. No official announcement to the effect has been made yet, but Anderson should be headed to Pawtucket unless someone is injured.

More photos » by Charles Krupa - AP

DP... Makin' S. happen. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Browse more photos »

What happens when your ace is dealing and your lineup is clicking on all cylinders?

Answer: Only good things.

A very encouraging win for the Sox tonight, soundly defeating the Oakland A's 8-3 at Fenway.

Athletics vs Red Sox boxscore

Athletics Nation

Josh Beckett went 7 plus, allowing 8 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 10 A's hitters. Daniel Bard followed, allowing one inherited runner to score (Scott Hairston, who had tripled with no outs) but escaping any further damage while racking up 2 Ks of his own. MDC cleaned it all up with a clean 9th on 11 pitches.

The runs came aplenty, and these kinds of games have been rare for the Sox lately. New addition Adam LaRoche started at 1B and doubled twice, DP went 2-4 with a HR, while Jacoby Ellsbury went 3-5 from the top spot with a triple. Only David Ortiz and Jed Lowrie failed to reach twice, and everyone in the lineup had a hit. 

Can't worry about what the MFYs did tonight; it's great to get a win after a very disappointing loss. 

Sox and A's again tomorrow. Clay Buchholz gets another shot to prove his value to the Sox, whether here or elsewhere. He'll be opposed by Vin Mazzaro, who hasn't had a win since June 7th. No reason for such an excellent streak to end tomorrow.

More photos » by LM Otero - AP

Yeah. My thoughts exactly. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Browse more photos »

I don't even know what to say about this one. Looked like a decent pitching duel (helped along with some baserunning/decision-making errors by the Sox) until the 6th, when the Rangers just hammered the f. out of Smoltz's pitches. The wheels came off the 2-1 victory wagon and it fell into a 6-2 loss ravine.

Consolation? Good bullpen work tonight, as Delcarmen, Saito and Masterson combined for 2 1/3 scoreless after Smoltz departed. 4 strikeouts and 3 baserunners allowed by the trio. And really, Smoltz was excellent until the 6th. But that's kind of like saying my work softball team was decent after the first inning last night, where we had the small problem of only managing one base runner and allowing ten runs by the other team. Can't erase it, and f' if it didn't ruin the outcome of the game quite significantly.

The offense was just a mess. DP and Ells (back in the leadoff spot) combined to reach base once, while Bay and Drew continue to battle (mini) slumps. I don't care how deep 'Tek's 2B was, sending Lowell home from first at most any time seems foolish. Lowrie is still working his way back. Lowell, Papi, Youks, and 'Tek are the only hitters who shouldn't have had required batting practice after the game. 

Good pitching from the Rangers, as Millwood was effective if inefficient, and C.J. Wilson shut the door with 1 1/3 scoreless innings for his 8th save.

On the plus side, it's one game. The first of the series which, yes, we can still win.

Beckett goes tomorrow, and I have no doubt he brought his a-kicking shoes. Wakefield on Wednesday, and while I have reservations based on the environment, he has been pretty steady and reliable for us this season. 

More photos » by Charles Krupa - AP

There is something to be said for the fact that this IS exactly the guy we want on the mound after a big-time meltdown from the bullpen.

Browse more photos »

No getting around it.

Despite what we might've thought was in everyone's best interests, the Sox didn't pack up their gear and leave town after last night; we've got another game with the O's this afternoon @ 1:35 EDT.

At the very least, the members of our bullpen should get some hearty cheers at any moment that they step on the field; whether sarcastic cheers from the O's fans or...sarcastic cheers from visiting Red Sox fans.

Josh Beckett takes the mound this afternoon, and that's quite a relief. No offense to Wake or Brad Penny, but he's simply THE guy we need out there when we're feeling iffy about the pen. His opponent is Brad Bergesen. I know nothing about Brad Bergesen. That's about to change for all of us:

Not bad. Actually, a great line overall if you can get around the fact that we normally see good starters as being able to get strikeouts, and Bergesen really doesn't.

Use some listerine to get that bad taste out of your mouth from last night, and comment away.

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

Let's try to remember a better time. Like yesterday, when this guy pitched.

Browse more photos »

So, allow me to tell you a short story.

A team is cruising to victory, with almost a double-digit lead. The offense is clicking, and the future HoF starter threw 4 innings before the game was delayed for rain. A young reliever comes in, and resumes pitching brilliance for 2 innings.

Then, something disastrous happens; the opposing team forgot that they were supposed to lose this game, and the first team (our heroes) reminds us all that an entire bullpen can have an off-night. I'm not sure there's anymore I want to say about this game.

We wish for Adam Jones to be okay, and for a better day for Josh Beckett tomorrow.

If you'd like to relive the crapfest, follow along after the jump...

Continue reading this post »

Lowell has been placed on the DL due to lingering hip issues, apparently the injection he received was not immediately helpful. Jeff Bailey takes his place on the roster, and Youks becomes the everyday 3b for awhile.

Extra Bases.

It's as good a time as any for this to happen, as Lowell had been struggling and we all have seen how his range at 3b has been limited this season. 

This could definitely open up more trade talks, as we might seek some help depending upon whether or not this could last longer than the required 15-day stint. Nick Johnson, anyone?