Youk, Lowell, Beckett and Ellsbury

Much going on in the World of the Red Sox. Let's take a look at some major players.

Kevin Youkilis. Bum thumb places our most valuable hitter on the DL. Dear Baseball Gods, Whyyyyyyyyyy! This injury stuff is getting way out of hand. 55 games to play. Each game gets more and more important.

Mike Lowell. I see a Lifetime movie in his future. Left like a discarded old toy in the trash heap, Lowell is awaiting his fate (trade -- not to the Yanks, designated for assignment, cut) when Youk goes down and Lowell becomes the first baseman. Steps to the plate after getting a standing ovation and deposits one in the stands. Good story. Let's hope he can help the offense.

Josh Beckett looked awesome again last night. His ball has been exploding. Good sign. Benches cleared last night after Beckett threw inside twice. The Indians futile attempts to retaliate angered the Sox. The guy they threw at (Adrian Beltre) would not have beeny choice. Ever see the scene in the dugout when VMart touches his head? He would have snapped. Sox in a brawl I would avoid -- Beltre, Youk, Beckett, Kalish, Varitek, Lester and Papelbon.

Jacoby Ellsbury. The teen heartthrob returns. Scutaro will move to the bottom of the order. This should be huge. I'm really torn on this which of the great divide between Ellsbury and management I'm on. The bottom line is we could really use this guys speed on the base paths and defense in center. The eyes of Red Sox Nation will be on #2 tonight.

Big game tonight.

Another wild one

Another solid win. Clay Buchholz was fantastic. He was bumping 93-95 MPH with some serious movement. Very impressive performance. Of course, Jonathon Papelbon coughed it up in the ninth. First pitch fastball to Miggy Cabrera = two run double. Jonny Peralta same pitch RBI single. He is not fooling anyone any more. My boy Slut (it is like calling a big kid Tiny) wants Bard already. Patience is needed in Red Sox Nation.

Four game series versus Cleveland. Three out of four is needed.

HUGE!!!!

Big win this afternoon. Hopefully, this win can give the offense some momentum heading towards the dog days of August. Gotta love seeing the team celebrate a Papi walk off hit.

A couple of BTW's ...

• awful angle taken by the Tiger left fielder on Papi's game winner
• good move designating Hermida. He was given ample opportunities.
• Ramon Ramirez fooled me. I truly thought he was going to be very good for the team. I have a hunch he does well for the Giants
• not sold on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's ability
• Ryan Kalish looks like he can swing it.
• can't blame Leyland for intentionally walking the go ahead run in the ninth. Coke versus Papi is a good match up. Plus, the strategy worked in the seventh.
• the Yankees get their guys when they need them. Cashman gets big props.

WSTD

As the trade deadline draws near, What Should Theo Do????

Most reports have the Sox doing something very small if anything at all. A bull pen arm perhaps. But there are at least ten other teams looking for the same thing. Toronto asked for Casey Kelly for their lefty reliever Scott Downs. Way too much.

I guarantee you big time prospects Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo and Jose Igelesia are not going anywhere. Theo's track record shows he does not trade away the upper echelon prospects.

Today looks like a quiet day.

Game Notes Sox @ Angels Wednesday 3:30 PM

Pregame --

• Joel Pinero not starting for the Angels. Advantage Sox.
• Glen Ordway on WEEI called today's game "important". His reasoning was completing the sweep, finishing 6-4 on the trip and Beckett's second start since returning from the DL. I gotta agree.
• JD Drew is out again with a hamstring. Anyone that has ever had a pulled, strained or cranky hamstring knows that it is not a joke. You cannot push off of that leg at all.
• Jed Lowrie not in the line up? He's a little young to need a day off after a night game. VMart is back behind the dish.

Game --

• I'm officially annoyed with the constant camera shots of Mike Scioscia in the dugout whining about balls and strikes.
• Jeremy Hermida is awful. He laid up on the sinking line drive in in the second inning leading to two runs. Feel free to give an effort. Then he strikes out on six pitched balls with two in.
• How many famous white guys are named Reggie?
• I remember the Red Sox in the early eighties using three relievers every once in a while for a game. I believe Dick Dragoo started and pitched three followed by another three inning stint from some one else. Pretty effective. Gotta think it makes it harder for a hitter.
• Remy needs to beat down The Thumb. The Opposable one just called Remy "old". BTW -- How about the Curse of the RemDawg? Ellsbury changes his number and now turns into Dave Chappelle.
• You gotta think that old man did not know the swarm of bees were beneath him. Why wouldn't the fans that left that section tell him? California. They were all probably high on their medicinal marijuana.
• Two (back to back walks) on no outs in the eighth. You MUST bunt Eric Patterson. I know the team has struggled with guys in scoring position but you play the percentages. Patterson reaches any way.
• Scutaro goes ya ya for the grand slam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fernando Rodney is sick to his stomach.
• I hope no one has Rodney or Ortiz on their fantasy teams. Papi just went down with his 4th strikeout in the game. 3 k's is a "hat trick", 4 k's is a "golden sombrero". What do you call a game where you strike out five times? Never saw nor heard of that.
• Beckett out after seven solid innings. Very workman-like effort. Here comes Manny DelCarmen. I won't review his recent struggles. This might get interesting. There was a report that Bard and Papelbon are unavailable for this series finale.
• Bill Hall. Big time play. DelCarmen's career can be summed up in that inning. He looks absolutely filthy at times and absolutely feeble at times. Wakefield's warming to pitch the ninth.
• Ramirez pitches the ninth. Smooth.
• Very good win to end the road trip.

One back ...

Review from yesterday's Red Sox happenings --

VMart returned, Ellsbury began his rehab assignment, Papi broke out of his HR Derby slump (predicted), Buchholz was solid, Atchinson -- not so much, and Paps got the dreaded 4 out save.

Hopefully, the team can get through this road trip with a winning record.

Lackey returns home tonight to pitch against his former team, he better bring it.

LET"S GO SOX!!!!!

Beckett Returns

Josh Beckett's return last night is hopefully a sign of things to come. The Sox are four games out of the wild card spot. These injuries have certainly caught up to the team. Beckett's performance last night serves as some much needed hope to the team and its followers.

The starting pitching staff is now in its original form. The bullpen certainly could use a boost. Tim Wakefield's arrival there should help. The team was without a long set up man. Michael Bowden looks like he may help. What we desperately need is for Hideki Okajima to find his groove.

Offensively, the losses of Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez, Jeremy Hermida, Jacoby Ellsbury and to a lesser extent Jason Varitek has been crippling. Hermida returns today and Martinez is not too far behind. When Pedrioa returns we won't have to stomach seeing Daniel Nava, Eric Patterson or Darnell McDonald batting in the two hole. As far as Ellsbury is concerned, anything he can give us at this point is a plus.


Brighter days are on the horizon. We can only hope that by the time the team is at full strength, the sun has not set on the season.