Untitled: Sox-Royals Gamer III

I wracked my brain for a good minute and a half and couldn't think of a good game thread title.  This is the best I could do.  Beckett goes for the Sox, and someone I can't think of goes for the Royals, as the Sox aim for a sweep of the team we wish we played 19 times a year.  Have at it.

Comments

[Nick-YF]

"Waiting for Beckett" as in he's been a big disappointment and will he ever arrive as a good pitcher with the Sox?

[Paul SF]

I guess it depends what you're definition of "good" is. I still find it hard to categorize him as a disappointment, considering he's one win shy of matching his career-best total from last year and has been healthy.

On the other hand, he gives up tons of homers and has had some truly horrific starts. He's certainly been inconsistent -- which isn't "good." So I dunno. Still won't say I'm disappointed though.

[Paul SF]

Certainly not disappointed with retiring the first six batters of the ballgame...

Unfortunately, the Sox can't take advantage of Ortiz's BUNT SINGLE to put two on with 1 out int he first -- Manny lines into a double play, with Loretta being doubled off second.

Papi's got a stolen base and a bunt single in the same series. In other news, the apocalypse has arrived.

[Paul SF]

Kapler and Mirabelli in the lineup today. Where is Wily Mo??

[Nick-YF]

Randy Johnson has 10 wins and to me he's been a big disappointment. It just demonstrates that wins and losses can be misleading as stats. Young Josh and Randy are having very similar disappointing seasons. I think that's an undeniable statement at this point.

[Paul SF]

I know wins are misleading, but they're still wins. They're not good indicators of how good a pitcher is or how well he'll do in the future, but they are a key factor in determining whether your team wins or not. And Beckett's gotten wins, so that's good. And he's healthy, so that's good. He's thrown about 60 percent of his starts like he's the next Pedro Martinez. It's that other 40 percent.

I'm an optimist, so I guess I look at that 60 percent and say, "We've got a great young pitcher who's only gonna get better and reduce that 40 percent," and I don't feel disappointed.

Johnson, otoh, hasn't been as good as Beckett in his good starts, and he's not exactly expected to get any better (career-wise). So yes, they've been similar -- inconsistent, very bad followed by very good -- but not necessarily on the same level in terms of expectation and disappointment...

[TheTree1918]

Paul:
I see willy mo on the bench right now, they aretalking abotu kapler and willy on NESN...but I got distracted by work ;)

[Paul SF]

Another baserunner with fewer than two outs. Another runner stranded in the same spot at the end of the inning.

Frustrating.

[Paul SF]

Only six batters in this time before Beckett gives up a hit. Just as well... I'd get no work done today if he was going for a perfect game or no-hitter...

[sf rod]

did anyone notice how nicely a-rods nipples are waxed? cause i didn't.

[sf rod]

beckett gets out of a self imposed basesloaded jam with a fly out to center.

[sf rod]

the sox continue to make redman look like the allstar he is. six strike outs through six with a boatload of bad at bats.

[Paul SF]

Just got back... Apparently while I was eating lunch, I was transported through time and back to last night's game. Wgat the crap?

[Paul SF]

Papelbon out to save the 1-0 lead in the ninth... It would be three saves in three games for him.

[Paul SF]

Uh oh... Leadoff walk...

[Devine]

Holy crap, runner steals second, on the strikeout for the second out. Big at-bat here. Way to go, by the way, Beckett.

[Devine]

Done! I guess as far as the offense goes, the only thing to be glad about is them going quiet is that we didn't need more than one the last couple days.

1-0 twice. Gah. Too heart-trying. But I like this pitching/defense crap. Reminds me of what the first 10 or so days of the year looked like.

[Paul SF]

Ballgame!

Another 1-0 win, a fantastic start by Beckett, and another save by Papelbon.

Meanwhile, paging the offense. Helloooo?

[Laura]

Wow. The Sox just won their second straight 1-0 game. Although we really should be scoring more than one run a game against the Royals, I can't say I'm dissapointed. Just an overall great series. And we really needed these pitching performances from Lester and Beckett.

[Paul SF]

Now if the M's can hold a lead -- and the umpires can make sure they do their jobs properly -- the Sox will have a cushion again...

[NeffSox]

How do we score 7 runs in a three game series against the Royals...and still sweep, a wins a win. Hopefully the offense can get through this slump

[Mayday Malone]

Beckett signs 3-year deal

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/

[sf rod]

mayday beat me to the beckett re-up.

now that this ones over will someone please put up the Post photo pronto.

[T-sf]

globe now saying wake has a broken rib...

[Paul SF]

And Wakefield has a fractured rib.

Theo...

Theo...

[Laura]

Ugh. And it says Gabbard will be pitching on Saturday. I was just at the Pawsox game last night, and saw him pitch. he was far from impressive, and his numbers are not great this season at AAA. Oh well. Let's just hope Theo does something soon. He really has to at this point, doesn't he?

[T-sf]

redman looked ok today...

[Paul SF]

Yeah, I mind much less the idea of trading for Redman -- a 5+ ERA is still better than 7+, the ERA of Kyle Snyder.

[T-sf]

and more importantly, he won't cost us anything significant.

[yankeemonkey]

YES! Please trade for Redman ;-)

[T-sf]

yep it's pretty bad these days. i'd like to say i've been drinking but, alas, that is not the case. there were people on SOSH talking about letting tavarez start some games...i'm not THAT crazy...

[Paul SF]

YM,

Redman > Ponson
Redman > Pavano
Redman > Small
Redman > Chacon
Redman ~ Johnson

Maybe the Yankees should trade for him...

[yankeemonkey]

Hmmm....let's see.

Pavano hasn't thrown a pitch in a year. Small is back in AAA where he belongs. Chacon is...actually I'm not sure what he is at the moment, but he's not in the starting rotation. Ponson was pretty good yesterday and Johnson was great today. What's your point?

[yankeemonkey]

Oh, and:

Redman > Snyder
Redman > Jason Johnson
Redman > David Wells v. 2006.

[Nick-YF]

and Redman > Clement and DiNardo

but much < Arroyo