Eric But With a K: Sox-O's Gamer IX

Erik Bedard, pitching against the Red Sox tonight, spells his name a bit differently. He replaces the "c" with a "k." I've always liked this spelling of Erik -- mostly because it's the same as the man who legendarily haunted the Paris Opera House and captured a young singer named Christine Daae -- a story that has the rare trick of being among my favorite novels, movies (silent category) and Broadway plays of all time.

He is aptly named. The moniker Eric-with-a-K is of German heritage, and it means "rich in honors." Bedard could certainly be that, and sooner rather than later. He's having a Cy Young-caliber year. Not only that, he's just 28, has lowered his ERA every year since his first fullish season in 2004, and raised his win totals accordingly (assuming he manages four victories in the final six weeks). Bedard certainly seems primed, with 27-year-olds Josh Beckett and Chien-Ming Wang and 23-year-old Scott Kazmir, to compete as the AL East's divisional ace for years to come.

His opponent tonight might have something to say about that. He's just 26 himself, and is in contention for a few honors of his own, including AL Rookie of the Year. Daisuke Matsuzaka needs no introduction, and the game tonight could be an epic pitchers' duel.

The Sox very much need to win. They enter a soft part of their schedule just as the Yankees enter somewhat more treacherous waters than they've been enjoying recently. The Orioles have been the Sox' whipping boys in recent years, but Bedard is anything but. Opening the series with a win off Baltimore's best pitcher could well set a tone for the coming weeks.

Comment away!

It's too early for lineups, so here's a look at your ideal lineup based on stats since July 1:

1. 2B: Dustin Pedroia -- .339/.397/.441
2. SS: Julio Lugo -- .312/.365/.432
3. DH: David Ortiz -- .322/.426/.548
4. LF: Manny Ramirez -- .320/.395/.608
5. 3B: Mike Lowell -- .341/.389/.477
6. CF: Coco Crisp -- .306/.392/.476
7. 1B: Kevin Youkilis -- .252/.359/.411
8. C: Jason Varitek -- .261/.358/.326
9. RF: J.D. Drew -- .242/.342/.347

Lots of on-base from this lineup, but where's the slugging? Wow.

Comments

[Atheose]

I applaud you for throwing in a Phantom of the Opera reference. Last year on August 19 I took my girlfriend to NY to see Phantom on broadway for her birthday, and it was amazing. It was my 3rd time, but her first.

Unfortunately by the time we got back on Sunday the Yanks had swept the Sox in the 5-game series. I still blame myself for not watching any of the games.

[Atheose]

And how the hell do both Pedroia and almost Coco have higher slugging percentages than Manny?

[Brad]

okay. Let's get this bitch rolling.

[Brad]

CB Buckner is not good news for Dice-K.

[Brad]

CB Buckner has to be the absolute worst umpire in all of sports. At least two of those pitches were strikes. Unbelievable. Seven walks for Dice_K tonight.

[Atheose]

The pitches against Ortiz? Yeah, gameday showed them as being REAL close. I hope Daisuke doesn't get squeezed.

Though personally, a squeezing umpire might help us against Bedard more than it helps the Orioles against Daisuke.

[Dionysus]

My laptop is here! Yay real typin... still I cant promise I'll be around for the whole game. If things get ugly... I can hear the siren song of Half-Life 2 (never played!) calling to me.

[Atheose]

Sure enough, Daisuke gettin squeezed. He still manages to strike out Markakis though, who doesn't lift his bad for 6 pitches.

[Dionysus]

PLus there's Psych tonight...

[Atheose]

Dion, you've never played HL2? It's AMAZING. One of the best games of the last 10 years.

[Dionysus]

Ugh, run in.. but still nice play to get the out at 2nd.

[Atheose]

Patterson scores but Manny guns down Miggy at 2nd. Gotta love him.

But once again, Daisuke's walks end up damaging us.

[Dionysus]

Atheose.. until today my desktop was a 7 year old dionsaur. 900 MHZ processor.H Half-Life 2 would have made it catch on fire.

My new laptop should be capable of playign even Oblivion. Its catch up time.

Hal-Life 2
Oblivion
Indigo Prophecy
Doom 3 (just .. cause one must)
And anythign else I need to catch up on!

Oh theres that.. Sherlock Holmes/Lovecraftian game...

[Dionysus]

Manny didnt gun him down. Manny's toss went home and was WAY off line. Tek tossed it to secodn to get Tejada

[Dionysus]

God, Bedard is nasty, nasty, nasty

[Dionysus]

Come on guys.. if you can't score on him, at least drive his count up so we canget to there bullpen.

Youk gets the walk. Orioles announcers are calling foulplay.

That was an amazing cutter for strike 2.

Come one Lowell...

Screw you Mikey.

[Atheose]

Lowell grounds into a DP damnit.

What did the Orioles announcers call foulplay for?

They implied that Bedard was beign given a smaller zone than Daisuke.

Bedard is getting squeezed big-time, Atheose. They've got reason to complain.

[Atheose]

Ahhh. Yeah, sorry I'm blacked out since I live in VA. The worst part? The game isn't even on TV!

Is Daisuke getting squeezed? That ball 4 to Huff is close on Gameday.

Hard to say, Atheose; it's early, and Dice-K has gotten a couple of pitches called his way. My feeling is he's getting squeezed a little, but not as bad as Bedard.

[Atheose]

By the way, remember how biased and annoying the Cleveland fans were when we played them last week? ARod just hit a homerun and the Cleveland fans reacted as if he was playing for Cleveland, excited and whatnot.

Mora strikes out. Come on Daisuke, we need your A-game tonight.

[Atheose]

Damnit, 1st and 3rd with 2 outs. Redman gets his first AB of the season. Finish him, Daisuke.

[Atheose]

YES, Redman strikes out. 4 K's for Daisuke so far.

Fausto Carmona is getting zero support from his team. Both middle infielders have made errors so far, though neither was scored such.

[Atheose]

Time to mention that Bedard has a no-hitter going. Go-go-gadget JYNX!

[Atheose]

Oh god, I just noticed Wily Mo is in the lineup.

Notch up another K for Bedard. I'm gunna skip this at-bat and go get another beer.

[Hudson]

Sure enough, Wily Mo K-ena lives up to his name.

Pena and Tavarez: What do they *have* on Tito?

Im gonan skip this game and play Half-Life 2, I think

[SF]

Any time the Sox want to sack up against a good pitcher is fine by me. This game has followed a predictable script, and I am so sick of it.

[Atheose]

I'm outta here, this game is starting to look sad. G'night everyone.

[Dionysus]

WOW! That was close. Lugo waqs goign to third on Pedroia's hit.. and got freaked out and ran back and then Pedroia had to. Pedroia almost got thrown out, but made it back.

Two straight hits. No outs.

[Dionysus]

Chris Ray's wife is pretty hot.

[Hudson]

Gotta rough up Bedard here, big chance for Big Papi...

[Hudson]

Arrgh, Ortiz Ks.

Papi called out ona 3-2 pitch. That was a ball. Even the Os announcers agree.

DAMMIT. DP.

And its Half-Life 2 time.

[Hudson]

And Manny GIDPs. Now I'm *really* frustrated.

[brooklyn SF]

WTF was up with that Ortiz call?

[Hudson]

Quick 4th for DiceK, now it's turning into a quick 5th for Bedard...

[SF]

Yanks winning against a good pitcher, Sox losing against a good pitcher. Shocking.

[SF]

I still don't understand why more Sox fans aren't worried about our team.

[SF]

Orioles are 38-12 when ahead going into the sixth inning, the Sox are 8-33 when going into the sixth behind. There should be very low expectations for Sox fans right now, particularly with Bedard throwing pellets.

The Sox are in deep shit.

[Ayuh - SF]

SF- why do you watch this team? It gives you no joy at all. All season, you've complained about how this team has underperformed, despite the fact they have the best record in baseball. Do you even enjoy the game?

[SF]

I have said for a while that this is the most frustrating talented team I have seen in many years of watching the Sox. I do enjoy it, but this year, the last two months especially, has been beyond painful to watch.

[Hudson]

This is a high-quality outing by Matsuzaka, it shouldn't be wasted.

[Hudson]

Youks Ks to lead off the 8th.

The only hope today would seem to be a lucky solo shot to send this to extras and get past Bedard. I'm not optimistic. But it's just one run...

[Hudson]

Lowell walks! Go ahead run at the plate (a highly theoreticalbut technically accurate observation, I know).

[Hudson]

Tek singles. Holy cr@p.

Please, Coco, get a run home before WMP comes up.

[Hudson]

Bedard's at 107 going into the Crisp at-bat.

[Hudson]

Nuthin' doin', Crisp grounder erases Lowell, still 1st and 2nd but two outs for the Wily One.

Pinch hitter? Please? Or does Tito want to give him a shot at redemption?

[mp]

God hates us

[pale blue eyes]

Runners on first and second, two out. Willy Mo up. This is where we miss Jermaine Dye.

[Hudson]

WILY! NO WAY.... It's a 1-1 game.

[pale blue eyes]

Wow, Willy Mo comes through. Ties the ball game!

[Atheose]

Oh my God. Oh my god! OH MY GOD!

Wily Mo got a hit with RISP! Tie game!

Come on Lugo, help us give Daisuke the win. He deserves it.

[Hudson]

Bedard's at 114, looks like he's coming out (I'm on GameDay only today). Wow.

[Hudson]

Yup, it's Chad "Reno 911" Bradford coming in.

(See his Gameday portrait for nickname explanation. The ump should check him for a concealed weapon.)

[pale blue eyes]

So for all his good work Erik Bedard gets a no decision ... or maybe even a loss if Lugo drives Coco in.

[Atheose]

Who do the Sox have up in the pen? Is Daisuke coming back out for the 8th? I know he's at 113 pitches, but he's gone past 130 before.

"In Play, run(s)" ! I don't know what it is, but I can't stop jumping up and down with joy!

[Hudson]

Wish I had been watching this on TV to see Wily Mo's expression after he hit that one. I've always wanted to see what a blind squirrel with a nut looks like.

[Atheose]

A bunt single? Holy shit Lugo you're amazing. Poor Bedard went from pitching an 8-inning 2-hitter to now facing a Loss.

[Hudson]

Gotta go to Oki and Paps here, right?

[pale blue eyes]

Lugo bunts him in!!

holy shit, Lugo with a perfect bunt single to bring in the leading run.

Gagne is warming up in the pen

[Hudson]

JLug!

[Hudson]

Oh, man, I'm sorry but Gagne makes me nervous. He's let some runs in so far with the Sox.

So long as Oki's ERA stays so freakin' low, I think the Sox need to stick with performance over history in these situations.

[DW-sf]

D-ped singles!

[Hudson]

Bags loaded for Papi. C'mon, put this AWAY.

[pale blue eyes]

Bases loaded for Papi!

[Atheose]

Bases loaded for Papi. I can't remember the last time he had a clutch late-game hit. Would LOVE one now.

[Hudson]

Perfect chance for Ortiz to "respond" to Gordon Edes here.

[DW-sf]

All he needs is a base hit. It will score two.

[Atheose]

Wow, Jamie Walker's Gameday portrait is amusing. He looks like someone famous, but I can't think of who.

[DW-sf]

YES! I love you, Joe Torre! Mariano is in with a 5 run lead. [Actually Joe is suspended for the night but I assume that Mattingly is channeling Joe....]

[Hudson]

One hopes that after ~8 innings of Bedard, everyone else's pitches will look like softballs. So far so good... Curse you, pitching changes, the suspense is killin' me.

[DW-sf]

Yay! [Pats self on back for "predicting" the base hit.]

[Atheose]

IN PLAY, RUN(S)! YEAH PAPI!

[pale blue eyes]

Papi drives in two - feel better now, SF?

[DW-sf]

Sorry, Hudson. Tizzle singled two in.

[Hudson]

TEEZ

[DW-sf]

Manny!

[Hudson]

DW-sf, why sorry? I'm thrilled.

[DW-sf]

I [heart] the Orioles bullpen.

[DW-sf]

Sorry because I didn't elucidate. Just emoted.

[Atheose]

Holy crap, it just doesn't stop! Manny with a single too!

Looks like Daisuke is buying dinner for everyone tonight.

[pale blue eyes]

Base hit Manny, another run - what a turnaround!

[Hudson]

Jamie Walker <<<>>> George Walker Bush?

[Hudson]

Now check out Jim Hoey's picture on GameDay. Whoa.

I'm pretty sure I saw that guy operating the tilt-a-whirl ride at the county fair...

[DW-sf]

Okay...now what? MDC in the 8th and Gagne in the 9th? Gagne in the 8th and Oki in the 9th? Vice versa?

[Hudson]

MRAM

[Atheose]

His name is Jim HOEY, and he has an ERA of 40.50?

Jesus christ. This pitcher's duel has turned into a circus.

[pale blue eyes]

Yankees win 6-1. Not what I'd hoped for against Carmona.

[Atheose]

Who is warming up for us?

[Atheose]

Oh shit son, Gagne-Papelbon combination tonight. Best one-two reliever punch in baseball?

[DW-sf]

It was MDC and Gagne. Gagne is in right now.

[DW-sf]

Alas...Gagne is very hittable. Huff smacks a double.

[Hudson]

>>>Gagne-Papelbon combination tonight. Best one-two reliever punch in baseball?

I think Oki-Paps is better.