"Down goes Beckett, down goes Beckett"

The news that Beckett was placed on the 15 Day DL is not welcomed news. We went from "he slept on it wrong" to "he'll skip one start" to "a tingly feeling" to "he'll return on Friday" to "bull pen session went well" to "elbow inflammation" to "15 Day DL" to "Dr. Andrews says there is nothing structurally wrong".

If you had to choose the one guy that made the 2007 World Championship possible, it was Beckett. He was as dominant as any pitcher in recent postseason memory. Granted Beckett did not pitch the team to a title by himself, he definitely set the tone. This year Dice-K and Lester look to be poised to elevate themselves over the latter part of the season. Wakefield is just coming off the DL, Colon is still on it, Buchholz has been sent down, Paul Byrd has kept us in the games he has pitched and Michael Bowden (which I am excited about) gets the start tomorrow. Needless to say, the Sox would like to have Beckett as close to 100% as possible. But what happens if he is not?

Can the Sox hold to the wildcard without him? What do our playoff chances look like?

My view is the Sox can still make the playoffs but will be hard pressed to get through the Angels without him. Anything could happen. Dice-K and Lester could carry the load. This injury puts a serious dent in our curve.

Please vote in the poll on the blog page. I'm anxious to see what the readers of the blog think.

"DYN-O-MITE !!!!!!"

Good Times -- Chicago 1974 - 1979

Any time you meet a payment. - Good Times.
Any time you need a friend. - Good Times.
Any time you’re out from under.
Not getting hassled, not getting hustled.
Keepin’ your head above water,
Making a wave when you can.
Temporary lay offs. - Good Times.
Easy credit rip offs. - Good Times.
Scratchin’ and surviving. - Good Times.
Hangin in a chow line - Good Times.
Ain’t we lucky we got ‘em - Good Times

Spoken by John Amos: "Good Times was taped in front of a live studio audience."

Good Times New York August 27th 2008

Any time Johnny Damon has to throw a ball from the outfield - Good Times.
Any time Jason Bay is up with men on base - Good Times.
Any time the crowd leaves early.
Sox fans not getting hassled and the Yanks not hustling.
Pushin' the Yankees heads under water,
Making Hank sulk cause we can.
Pedroia hits a granny - Good Times.
The Yanks complaining to the umps - Good Times.
Winnin' and surviving.
Hangin' in the playoff race - Good Times.
Ain't we lucky we got'em - Good Times.

Spoken by Jack Nicholson : Good Times was viewed in front of a live Yankee Stadium audience.

Tonight's Line Ups and Analysis

Boston:

Ellsbury -- RF
Pedroia -- 2B
Ortiz -- DH
Youkilis -- 3B
Bay -- LF
Lowrie -- SS
Crisp -- CF
Bailey -- 1B
Cash -- C

Wakefield --P

New York

Damon -- CF
Jeter -- SS
Abreu -- RF
A Rodriguez -- 3B
Giambi -- 1B
Nady -- LF
Matsui -- DH
Cano -- 2B
Molina -- C

Pettitte -- P

Holy mismatch, Batman! The Sox are in trouble tonight.

Wakefield's first game off of the DL. The Yanks NEED to win. No JD Drew, again. Our last three batters -- Crisp, Bailey, Cash --are simply not good. Pettitte always seems to "bulldog" versus the Sox (he'll bend but not break). Boston's last trip to Yankee Stadium ever. Jeter and Damon have been on fire. Seriously, how does Beattle Bailey get a start tonight? Molina has shut down the Sox running game this year.

The Red Sox have no shot tonight. For entertainment purposes only, they are bigger underdogs than the twenty-four pounds of king crab legs at a buffet that Oprah has stumbled in to after Stedman has told her to just stop talking for the fifty-second time over the last week.





I'm hoping I jinx the Yanks like I did Lester on Saturday.

Update: The time is 10:33 PM on Tuesday, August 26th. Chalk this upset right up there with the 1980 USA hockey team winning the gold, Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson, Chaminade beating the Ralph Sampson led #1 ranked Virginia, a little, slow, Italian guy named Rocky beating the vastly more talented Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang, Ivan Drago and Tommy Morrison (pre-HIV) , Lyle Lovett marrying Julia Roberts, Villanova over Georgetown and the American colonists winning independence from Great Britain.

At the conclusion of the game, I actually yelled "Do you believe in miracles?"

As expected, Wakefield was rusty. Lopez, Masterson, Delcarmen, Okajima and Papelbon all got it done. The bottom of the order (Bailey, Crisp, Cash) had some timely hits and some great base running. Bay didn't seem to be fazed. Pettitte (after calling this a must win) was awful. ARod and IRod both got booed.

A great night to be above the ground!!!

Crucial Stretch

Today's finale in Toronto, three games in New York and three home games against the White Sox make this a crucial stretch in the season.

Toronto is playing very well. The Yankees are trying to go on one more run and stand just five games behind the Sox in the wild card. The Chisox trail the Sox by only a half game also.

The sky is not falling, yet. However, with the pitching looking thin and Drew and Lowell not in the line up, things could go wrong very quickly. I'm not saying it will but it definitely could.

Dice-K goes today after I jinxed Lester yesterday. We could use six innings (he averages 5.2) from him and then hand the game over to Masterson, Okajima and Papelbon. Wakefield gets the start on Tuesday. This is a huge start for him and the team. Byrd and Lester finish the series in NY.

Beckett returns on Friday versus the White Sox. The news that he slept on his arm "wrong" and felt a tingling was replaced by inflammation in his elbow. This is truly scary stuff.

The dog days of August are about to be replaced by the importance of September baseball. The Sox look to be limping into this crucial stretch. Let's hope the pitching holds up and the line up produces some timely hitting.

BTW -- Sox win in Toronto??

Much needed win last night in Toronto. Paul Byrd was okay. Bullpen was great. Pedroia, Varitek (?) and CoCo (??) led the offense.

BTW -- observations

• The Blue Jays' throwback powder blue uniforms are pretty sweet. If these are replicas of those uniforms worn by players in the late eighties and nineties, today's ball players are smaller and in better shape because those unis sure are baggy.

• Sox are looking much better on the road of late. They have won 10 of their last 13 games away from Fenway. A good sign. Still, they are something like 0-13 in their last one run road games.


• Paul Byrd's head size is huge. I think the team took the hat off of the old bullpen car to accommodate him. If a player's dome size is an indicator of performance enhancing drug use, Byrd took HGH far more than once.


• These injuries are becoming a concern, Lowell, Wakefield, Beckett, Lugo, Drew all are on the shelf and the team seems to not miss a beat. This is a reflection of the depth that the organization possesses. Claymation gets sent down and the injuries to two other starters for any other franchise would be panic time but Red Sox Nation says, "Colon is ready and I want to see what Bowden can do." Also, Daniel Bard (teammate of Norwich's Andrew Carrigan at UNC) is throwing bullets as the AA closer. He was clocked twice at over 100 MPH last week. Granted that number is more than likely exaggerated (there are two different radar guns that are around 3-4 mph different). Please no more Charlie Zink.


• Good to see Varitek breaking through of late. Three games, three homers. He was swinging and missing so often, it was almost as if he was pulling a Manny and trying to not get resigned. Now we all know Tek is far too competitive to ever do such a thing. I'm Boras is relieved.


• Lester vs. Litsch today. Advantage Sox. Some idiots wanted to trade Lester away in the off season. Idiots like that should never be allowed the opportunity to voice their opinions. This guy will be our second starter in the playoffs (if we get there).


• Okajima has turned himself around very nicely.


• Is Southington's Carl Pavano really starting for the Yanks today? I remember being upset he chose the Pinstripers over the Sox. Don't sweat the small stuff. It would be an act of the supernatural if he goes more than five innings.


• I like the idea of instant replay on home runs. I am opposed to the idea of replay for all other instances.


• Is Pedroia going to win the gold glove? It seems he makes every play. Did anyone catch what he said to the home plate umpire in Baltimore that got him ejected? Pretty good. That same umpire yelled at hitting coach Dave Magadan to stay away from the caffeine when he was chirping from the dugout.


• Theo looks like a genius again for not trading away Coco. For a fourth outfielder he has played an awful lot.


• Good luck to local guy Scott Chiasson in his quest to get back to the majors. Chiasson was recently signed out of the Mexican League by the Orioles and basically has about ten days to prove he can still get it done. If he does not get called up by Sept. 1st he will be released. Scotty, we are all rooting for you.

Batting ninth and playing second base ...

Bobby Doerr (1937-1951)

9 time AL All star

Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame -- 1986



Doerr was signed on the same scouting trip that produced Ted Williams. Doerr's fourteen year career totalled some impressive numbers; 1094 runs (5th in team history), 2042 hits (6th), 223 home runs (8th), 1247 runs batted (5th) in and a .288 batting average. Other than batting average, these stats rank him a top the all-time list for second baseman in Sox history. These numbers are even more impressive when you consider Doerr's career was cut short due to injury at the halfway mark of what proved to be his last season.

There is really no one else to consider in Sox history for this spot. Doerr's number 1 was retired and adorns the facing of the right field roof facade.

So here's our starting batting order:

Wade Boggs 3B
Tris Speaker CF
Ted Williams LF
Manny Ramirez DH
Jimmie Foxx 1B
Nomar Garciaparra SS
Dwight Evans RF
Carlton Fisk C
Booby Doerr 2B

In the coming weeks we will name the starting pitchers, relief pitchers and reserve players.

Who does Jason Bay resemble?

A loyal reader of this blog and a friend of mine are in a debate over this question. You can decide for yourself. Jason Bay is the one in the Pirate hat.

If you can name the other three men, that would be semi-impressive. Hint two of the three are dead.

Where to go with Lugo?

Nomar Garciaparra, Orlando Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, Alex Gonzalez, Julio Lugo, Jed Lowrie.

Six starting shortstops over the past five seasons. Jed Lowrie has certainly made a statement over the past twenty-five games. He has played (.300 average, most rbi since all star break for a shortstop and no errors at shortstop) his way into the starting shortstop position for the next four to five years. Not since Nomar have the Sox had a shortstop that combines ability, performance and a team friendly contract that allows fans to envision a shortstop of the present and future.

Then there's Julio Lugo. The good news for the Sox is Lugo's injury allowed management to promote Lowrie permanently and give him a chance to play everyday. The bad news is Lugo is rehabbing and will probably be added to the big club after the rosters expand on September 1st. What will the team do with a guy who they are contractually committed to for the next two seasons at roughly $9 million per year?

Due to the high price tag, the Sox will have to be creative in moving Lugo. But trading Lugo this coming off season is what they will like to do. My feeling is they will need to "eat" a good part of his contract like the Sox did when dumping Rent-a-Wreck after the 2005 season.

Before signing with the Sox, Lugo was traded to the Dodgers in 2006 for the pennant chase. He was used as an utility player appearing in games as shortstop, third base and the outfield. Lugo struggled with this role and consequently became disgruntled. I mention this for two reasons.

#1 If the team does not trade him, Lugo could be a great bench player seeing time at third base, shortstop, second base and left field. He would also be a running option off of the bench. For this reason, I can see him staying with the team through next year.

#2 Will Lugo be able to handle a non-starting role? He didn't in LA. Lugo seems to enjoy his playing experience in Boston. He will be paid like an everyday starter. The Red Sox do not need any clubhouse distractions during their quest to make the playoffs.

The remainder of the season will prove to be interesting as afar as Lugo is concerned.

"You had a bad day ..."

Looks like this one is over early at Fenway. End of the third and the Sox are down 8-0. Beckett's day is done after two and a third innings.

Over the past three or four years, the Blue Jays have given the Sox fits especially up in the "North Country". Today they jump on Beckett and Marcum is dealing.

Let's hope something good can come out of this. Let's get Buchholz in the game and allow him work some stuff out.

I can't watch this anymore .... I'm going to the beach to finish a good book.

BTW ....

• Why did the Sox wear their 'reds" yesterday? I guess37 runs in three games wasn't good enough
• This Youkilis for MVP stuff is just going to get our hopes up. Quick who was the last 2 MVPs the Sox have had? (Answer at bottom)
• Do we really need to remove a 16 year old kid for "interfering" with Papi's disputed double on Tuesday. If Francona is going to argue it was a homer, 38,000 people are screaming the same, video replays say it is a toss up why not let the kid stay. Four umpires say he interfered so the kid is kicked out. "You're not god. You're just a high school football coach."
• Who do you trust out of the bullpen? Starter goes seven + Masterson in the 8th + Papelbon in the ninth = a winning % of .950. Anyone else added to the equation effect the winning percentage as follows; Timlin (-.300), Aardsma (-.500), Okijima (-.050), Lopez (-200), and Delcarmen (-250). Reminds me of a hefty lefty reliever back in the early 90's named Joe Price. The Sox winning % when he appeared in a game was like .350
• Bought the wife a pink Red Sox hat up at Fenway and she said she preferred a red one. Found a solid red hat at TJ Maxx in Norwich for $5.
• Message to Boras and Varitek -- the contract is 2 years for $19.5 million. Take it or leave it.
• Who the heck does Jason Bay look like in the face? I can't seem to place it.

Answer = Mo Vaughn in 1995 (Albert Belle was robbed) and Roger Clemens in 1986. If you said Mike Greenwell in 1988 you get a quarter of a point (he was the runner up to a juiced up Canseco)

"Ding dong, the witch is dead" ??????

The New York Post has pronounced the New York Yankees dead. Hank "the boss" was recently quoted as saying "wait 'til next year".









The question is : Are the Yanks so far behind that they cannot recover?

My gut tells me the Yanks still have a run in them. Sitting six games behind the wild card leading Red Sox, the Yankees return home from a road trip that included stops at division leading Anaheim and Minnesota. The NY Post is looking to sell newspapers. Why Hank would say such things, no one knows. With forty some odd games remaining, this upcoming home stand is crucial.

I know the injuries are piling up. Posada and Matsui are done. But, Jeter will be fine. The line up will produce. Mussina and Pettitte will have to carry the starters. Rivera is automatic (Yes, I know he blew a save in Minnesota). The big question is will Joba return. If he does, I think it shows the team is not quitting. 50,000 people a night at the stadium can't be thrilled paying big bucks for a seat with the team packing it in.

I hope the Yanks pack it in because it will benefit the Red Sox but I doubt it happens.

I'm wondering what Yankee fans are thinking about this. In all my life I have never heard a Fan of the Pinstripers say, "We are all done".

The Game of the Year

Last night's 19-17 win is to date the game of the year. Last year's GOY was the Mother's Day Miracle win over Baltimore. Lucky enough to be in the crowd, I had the full range of emotions.

Rookie Charlie Zink starts the game against the powerful Ranger line up and mixes his knuckle ball with a 80-82 mph fastball. Top of the inning goes well bottom of the inning is unbelievable. Papi hits a missile deep into the right field grandstand seats with two on. Lowrie hits a two run double. Papi hits a bomb to the triangle in center another three run homer. Let me tell you, the crowd was going nuts. Sox fans, unlike Laker fans, always show up for game time. Myself and my three buddies all joked that we should had home because the game was over with a 10-0 lead after one inning.

Lead was 12-2 when Zink started to get tattooed. He was not fooling anyone. Javier Lopez enters and departs giving up a run and getting one out. Aardsma gets an out but gives up four runs. Delcarmen gets rocked. Elation turned to desperation. Double, single, walk, double, single, double, single, Kinsler's moon shot!! A 10 run lead becomes a 16-14 deficit. Unreal. Crowd actually turned and started booing the relievers.

Pedrioa's double that scored Ellsbury from first got the Sox within 16-15. Okajima actually pitched a perfect inning in the eighth. Then you have Youkilis' homer that he crushed. To top it off Paplebon closes it out with the entire place standing.

This was one of the most memorable regular games I have ever witnessed firsthand. Thirty-six runs and a ten run first inning don't happen everyday. This would have been a devastated loss. Instead we can hope that this propels the team to more wins. The time is now.

Good Time to Make a Run

Nice job by Beckett and Drew last night. We definitely needed that one.

The Rays, finishing up a trip on the west coast, placed both Evan Longaria and Carl Crawford on the DL. The Yanks are in a funk playing the Angels and Twins. The Sox return to Fenway for a six game home stand versus Texas and Toronto.

The goal over the course of 162 games is to make the playoffs. I don't care if it is a wild card or division champ. Naturally, we would like to win the division and get home field advantage in the first round. A hot streak would go a long way to solidifying a playoff spot. The timing is right for the Sox to gain on Tampa. Longaria and Crawford are two of the most important guys in their line up. The Sox have been monsters at home.

We all know the Yankees are going to make their own run before this year is over. Their line up is way too good to struggle as they have of late. The fact that they are looking for help from none other than Carl Pavano is pretty comical.

Anything less than a 4-2 record on this home stand will be disappointing.

B.L.O.B.

The Body Language of Buchholz (B.L.O.B.) absolutely sucks!!!!! Staked to a three run lead he gives up three homers and can't get out of the fourth inning. All the while his shoulders are slouched, his eyes are anywhere but focused and his body tells us he wants no part of of being out there competing.

Now, I realize he is still a young player for the team. With the news that Wakefield will miss at least one start due to shoulder stiffness (same injury that kept off of last year's postseason roster), the Sox need Clay right now.

I also realize all human beings go through periods of time where our confidence is shaken. Dealing with these instances gets easier as people mature.

The BLOB should be manageable for this young man. Former NESN studio analyst Bob Tewksbury is the team's sports psychologist. This man needs to earn his money and work this mental aspect of the game out with Buchholz. Obviously, it will take some work but it is painful watching him pitch right now.

You can tell by the BLOV (body language of Varitek). He was very antsy behind the plate and even on one occasion looked to the dugout to let them know Clay was done.

I am not bashing Clay. I hope he can get through this. He is immensely talented and seems to be a good guy. I am not sure if management will have too much more patience.

Colon pitched today and did well but he still at least 10 days away. I'm hoping Michael Bowden gets the start on Tuesday.

Sox vs. Sox

Dice K was the best he has been all year last night. His slider was filthy, his change was diving away from lefties and he spotted his fastball. Why is he not in the discussion for the Cy Young? 13-2 with a 2.92 earned run average. I realize that he has walked way too many guys but his overall numbers are as good as many in the American League. Lackey, Halliday, Mussina (?), should be his main competition but the writer's will probably vote for K-Rod. Fransisco Rodriguez has been absolutely lights out this year closing for the Angels

Does NESN have a thing for Ozzie Guillen or what? They have a camera on him at all times for this series. I know some people don't like him but I appreciate Guillen's candor. Remember in the 2005 World Series when he walked to the mound and summoned his hefty closer Bobby Jenks by making a big belly sign and not tapping his right arm? Or how about, this year's tirade about how the media in Chicago give the Cubs much love and the White Sox get none even after winning the World Series? His most recent outburst focused on his pitchers throwing at hitters. All good stuff.

JD Drew batting lead off has not been too bad but the Nation must be hoping Ellsbury's recent surge gets him back to lead off. The line up gets far more balanced with Drew in the 5th or 6th spot.

Does anyone really care that Julio Lugo is rehabbing? Jed Lowrie is doing just fine thank you.

What exactly is Brian Giles thinking? He could have come to Boston and been in the middle of a playoff race and gotten two million extra dollars to boot. Instead he stays in San Diego as their fourth outfielder, trying to hit in the most pitcher friendly park in all of baseball. Good luck!

After the dust has settled ...

After the dust known as the trade dead line has settled, it looks as if the new team to beat in the American League is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

During the last seven days of July the Angels made three very big statements.

Shout Out #1 -- Went into Fenway and swept the Red Sox. After taking three games in Anaheim before the All Star break, the Angels rode into the Fens and swept the Sox. They outslugged, outpitched, outhit and simply outplayed the home team.

Shout Out #2 -- Went into Yankee Stadium and were disappointed in splitting four games. After taking the first two they lost the last two including the final game surrendering a three run lead.

Shout Out #3 -- Traded for Mark Teixeira. Casey Kotchman and a minor league pitcher for an All Star, middle of the order switch hitter was an absolute steal.

While the Red Sox have had the Angels' number of late in the playoffs, it looks like the West Coasters have passed their nemesis by adding Teixeira. The Sox losing Manny does factor into this but even before that I thought they had closed the gap. The starting pitching, defense, and closer all look to be even. The most glaring and obvious advantage is in middle relief. One could argue this was the case in 2004 and 2007 also.

I am not handing the Angels the pennant. There is still plenty of time for the Sox to find some consistency in middle relief (Is Timlin getting hot again?) and get the offense going (Calling Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz). It is clear the Sox have some catching up to do.

My AL Rankings (chance of getting to the World Series) as of August 6th;

1. Angels
2. Red Sox
3. Rays
4. White Sox
5. Yankees
6. Twins

Are We There Yet?

The calendar reads August so I guess this is the time we figure out what teams are for real and what teams don't have what it takes.

The Sox open a seven game road trip out in Kansas City tonight. KC has been playing well of late. Clay Buchholz starts the opener. Clay needs a good showing. He has struggled mightily this year. He always seems to have one bad inning a game. The other starters (Beckett, Dice-K, Lester and Wakefield) have been solid. With Bartolo Colon rehabbing in AAA Pawtucket this week, Buchholz's regular starts may be coming to an end.

The team is now built around pitching and defense. Regardless of whatever people are saying, the offense did take a step back last week with the trade. It sure would be nice to see Buchholz get the team off on the right foot to begin this road trip.

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

I have been away on vacation the past couple of days, my apologies for the lack of a post.

We need to step away from baseball for a post because I had an urgent request from a reader.

Dear Dr. Phil:

I am still in love with my partner of the past eight years but am finding it more and more difficult to put up with their constant lack of consideration for my feelings. This situation seems unmanageable. Do I hold on and try to make this work? I really feel that we have enough to make one more go at it.

Please help me.

Frolicking at the Fens

Dear Fens'


Sometimes the best thing to do when in a relationship that is not working for either side is to sever ties completely. You may think you and your partner can relive the glorious days gone by but quite simply there is too much baggage.

You know your significant other far too well. You remember when they were not there for you when they were desperately needed. You recall how they "quit you" back in 2006. Recently, you see how they treated your elderly grandparent when they did not get their way. Before that they even got physical and slapped a trusted friend. How about their appearance? They seem to not care about how they look and have come far too complacent. To top it all off, they say things like; "you don't deserve me", "I just want to know where I stand", "I'm sick of you. You're sick of me", and "You are trying to paint me as a bad person". All of your sweetheart's co-workers have had enough of the unprofessionalism, laziness, selfishness and the "I don't care how the company performs"-ness.

What to do you do? You get rid of this person. You two had a great run. Many happy times that will be forever captured in the digital camera that is your heart and soul will remain but it is time to move on. You know both of you will be better off without each other. Your former significant other had some qualities that will be impossible to replace but you move on.

There might be a nice Canadian that just moved in down the street. He or she is from the Niagara Falls region your friends wouldn't know them. This person may not be what your ex is but they can fill the void. I only hope your ex does not hook up with your hated rival next spring. Seeing someone you had such strong feelings for at least nineteen times in the arms of another that you have such animosity for would be almost too much to bear.

Yours in all that is love,

Dr. Phil