The Glass Is Half Full ... But Of What? Sox-SatanFish Gamer XIII

There's a number of ways to look at tonight's game. It actually looks something like a childhood game:

• The Red Sox are playing the Devil Rays.
• But Scott Kazmir's on the mound.
• But Kazmir got shelled by the Sox last start (5.2 IP, 6 ER).
• But he has a 2.48 ERA in his last five starts vs. Boston.
• But he's 0-2 with two no-decisions in his last four.
• But the Red Sox are throwing out their B-lineup.
• But the guys who are sitting are actually terrible against Kazmir (Ortiz: .147, Ramirez: .153, Drew: .000), and the guys who are playing are actually pretty good against him (Kielty: .438, Cora: .500).

So who knows. Every cloud has a silver lining. Or is it every silver lining has a cloud? At any rate, it's baseball, and more importantly, it's the Devil Rays. So anything can happen.

All I know is I'd rather enter the weekend's Yankee series in a position where being swept doesn't cut the division lead in half. That can be evinced, starting with a win tonight. Comment away!

BOSTON
1. Lugo DH
2. Crisp CF
3. Pedroia 2B
4. Lowell 3B
5. Kielty RF
6. Youkilis 1B
7. Varitek C
8. Ellsbury LF
9. Cora SS

Schilling

TAMPA BAY
1. Iwamura 3B
2. Crawford LF
3. Pena 1B
4. Upton CF
5. Young RF
6. Harris 2B
7. Norton DH
8. Navarro C
9. Wilson SS

Kazmir

Comments

[Dionysus]

Its the Lugo/Crisp combo at the top again. Tito hates freedom.

[Paul SF]

A Pedroia/Ellsbury top two would be better, with Youkilis/Lowell at 3/4, then Kielty, Varitek, Lugo. Crisp, Cora. Ah well... When you're looking at a lineup like that, I guess it probably doesn't matter much.

[Dionysus]

I'd thin Ellsbury/Pedroia would be better. Uses Jacoby's access to the Speed Force.

[Devine]

Scoreless through 1. Schilling struck out Pena looking to end the 1st.

[Devine]

Oh my bad...thought it was an away game. Only top of the 1st.

[Hudson]

Leadoff single by Lugo, but Crisp Ks and Dustin flies out... Lowell up.

[Hudson]

WP, JLug to second... OK, a single gets the run in...

[Hudson]

Wow, I only just caught on that Lugo is the friggin' DH. That's got to be a first for him, right? Couldn't figure how Lugo, Pedroia and Cor could be in the game together.

[Hudson]

Lowell Ks, 0-0 after one.

[Hudson]

Schill seemed to be paying more attention to the runner on 1st there than the batter, which he walks on 4 pitches, 1st and 2nd, 2 outs.

[Nick-YF]

"Schill seemed to be paying more attention to the runner on 1st there than the batter, which he walks on 4 pitches, 1st and 2nd, 2 outs."

I've noticed this happening with Roger Clemens a lot this season. He pays a ton of attention to runners on base, often throwing over several times. I'm starting to wonder if it's a resting strategy, something that keeps them active while letting them rest their legs for the next pitch.

[SF]

Curveball gets Navarro - Curt really didn't seem very sharp that inning. Not too enthusiastic about the rest of this game going forward if Schill pitches the same way.

[Hudson]

Schilling bears down and Ks Navarro.

WRKO says that the only catcher with more home runs in the A.L. this year is Posada, with a grand total of ... 10. We're a long way from the Bench/Fisk era.

[SF]

That's not right - or I am misinterpreting something - Varitek has 13 homers this year.

[rootbeerfloat]

Lugo the DH? Holy hell. What is going on?

[SF]

Kielty strikes out - I imagine his .400 average against Kazmir is on a small sample. He looks just awful in that PA.

[SF]

Kazmir right around the plate, moving it up/down, in/out with velocity. This is a game against the Devil Rays where the starting pitcher makes his team into something far more than what you see in the standings.

[Hudson]

SF, just repeating what I heard on the radio... Maybe I misheard.

[SF]

Tek is useless, whiffs. As Paul pointed out, Tek's production has been helpful this year, but recently he's looked brutal.

[Hudson]

Yeah, MLB.com shows Martinez (CLE) at 21 homers and Posada at 19, so either I misheard or I'd like some of what they're smoking in the broadcast booth.

Still, Bench had 45 in 1970...

[Nick-YF]

Tek is 6th in the AL on the catcher HR list. Martinez, Posada, Buck, Kenji, and Pyrzinski are ahead.

[Paul SF]

I personally am not a big fan of the pitching-to-contact philosophy Schilling has. I understand he can't blow guys away or strike out as many s he used to, but I'm afraid that sometimes he's just throwing stuff up there and trying to get people to hit it. Too much luck for my taste.

On the other hand, he's an intelligent guy who has talked in the past about studying the finer points of BABIP, so perhaps he's just talking about pitching to better contact than he would if he were still trying to blow everyone away...

[Paul SF]

As I say that, chilling gets his third K in three innings. Great frame from the old man.

[LocklandSF]

Curt ending each inning so far with a K. Keep it up you big blowhard.

[Paul SF]

Entering the game, Kielty is 7 for 16 against Kazmir. 1-for-2 in 2004, 3-for-5 with a HR in 2005, 3-for-6 with a double and a HR in 2006, and 0-for-3 this year.

[Paul SF]

Ellsbury with a 10-game hitting streak since his September callup.

[Paul SF]

And Kazmir retroactively lost his no-hitter anyway. The error on Upton changed to a hit for Lugo.

[Hudson]

Leadoff single by Jacoby! Cora-Lugo-Crisp coming up.

(IDGI. How many bases can one team steal, realistically?)

[Hudson]

Cora FC, JEll out at 2nd.

[Hudson]

I just don't get the notion of *ever* "resting" your DH. It is a restful position to begin with.

[Paul SF]

Except Cora erases Ellsbury on the FC grounder. His average now lower than Lugo's -- continuing to make nearly everyone in Boston look foolish for going all agog when his average touched .406.

[Hudson]

(Lugo flies out, 2 gone.)

[SF]

Cora is hitting like, what, .022 since his hot April/May? I want to punch a wall when I see him come up - not just because he sucks, but because he looks just like Jorge Posada as well.

What a waste of a leadoff single. Jeez. This team showing why they are not engendering great confidence in me for the postseason, doing zippo against a good pitcher.

[Paul SF]

Seems like Papi's really hurting this time, Hudson. Plus he's awful against Kazmir -- like mess-up-your-swing-for-a-week awful.

[Hudson]

Crisp flies out, another runner wasted. To the 4th.

[Paul SF]

Could have used better at-bats from Crisp and Lugo there. Saw a whole three pitches between them.

[SF]

You all understand that Tito wanted to make sure that Ortiz was available to not pinch hit in the seventh tonight as the tying run, right?

[SF]

Pena is going to launch one here, I predict.

[SF]

And I am right! Pena launches a grounder to Pedroia in short right for an out.

[SF]

Delmon Young fists one to center for a single. Two down. Come on, Curt.

[Paul SF]

In his last 43 games, Crisp is .235/.316/.320 with one home run and 18 RBI in 153 at bats.

[SF]

Cora fields the grounder from Harris for the third out. Curt doing his job nicely so far, time for some offense!

[SF]

Crisp has certainly cooled a bit, which is too bad. I am sure his streakiness will be used by many to try to shove him out of town this offseason to make room for Jacoby. That would make me angry.

[Paul SF]

With Drew and Varitek similarly struggling, it's no wonder we have trouble scoring runs. That's a black hole in the 6-7-8 spots in the lineup (when normally constructed). So unless Lowell hits a home run, the runners on base when he's done batting aren't likely to score. Not good.

I sy Crisp needs to be traded this offseason. His perceived value is higher than what he's actually provided, I think -- helped by his amazing defense and the brief hot streak he had in July. Get something useful for him and start Ellsbury in center next season.

[Paul SF]

Haha, I think I just made you angry, SF.

[Paul SF]

Pedroia with the single. Come on, Mikey!

[LocklandSF]

It's looking like this might come down to who will make a mistake first.

[Paul SF]

Looking at it this way, Crisp through his first 64 games this season: .221/.277/.295 with one home run.

Then for 31 games he batted .402/.454/.641 with 4 homers.

Now through 43 games he's .235/.316/.320 with 1 homer.

So basically Crisp has been productive on offense for one month this season. That's not good enough, and unlike Lugo and Drew, he's tradeable with a young replacement clearly ready to go.

[Tom sf]

What are Varitek's numbers over the same time period?

[Nick-YF]

But there are arguments out there that Crisp's defense is worth his so-so offensive output. I actually think his perceived value is lower than his actual value as a result. Who talks about or values defense?

[SF]

Leadoff double, sacrifice to third. One down. Here we come, four-game loss column lead!

Thank god for the Wild Card - not because I think the Sox are destined for it, but because at least it's there as a safety net in case this team skids. I hate to say this, but I really do understand why there is a contingent of Yankee fans who think this Sox squad is eminently beatable.

[SF]

Rays up 1-0 on the sac fly.

[SF]

Schill gets ahead 0-2 on Iwamura, then gives up a 1-2 single. Curt was up 0-2 on Gibson, who hit the sac fly. He just can't put guys away like he used to.

[dc]

sf, honestly, i don't think we can beat you for the division, but i do think we can compete respectfully, in a playoff setting, assuming we can survive the first round [a big if]...

[LocklandSF]

Jesus, how did he hit that?

[SF]

Now 0-2 to Crawford. Let's see what happens.

Of course, Crawford bloops one to center, about 110 feet, for a single. Another hit and this game will be out of reach, considering the lineup.

Have I said how I think this is the most painful good team I have ever watched in my years of rooting for the Sox?

[SF]

Curt getting up there in pitch count, too, in only the fifth inning. If he escapes here, might we see Clay?

[SF]

Big K for Schill, nailing Pena. Come on, offense...

[Denise G]

as a Yanks fan,I not really concerned with winning the division...I mean,that's how the Sox won in 2004, via the wildcard...and oh by the way, the Indians might be our first foe in the ALDS if we secure the Wildcard...and oh by the way, that's the same Indianas that we OWN! GO Indians!!!

[SF]

"Bread next to a red hot coil" walks. Leadoff man on.

[dc]

go indians

[SF]

Jacoby first pitch swinging, force on Tek at second. Good to see Ellsbury trying to fit in with the rest of the guys.

How about some frigging smart baseball for once?

[SF]

Is it too early to pinch hit for Cora?

[Paul SF]

Jason Varitek, same time period: .252/.378/.378, 4 HR. Not good, but not nearly as bad.

One run may be enough to win this game. Why have not Lugo or Ellsbury tried a steal in their times on base? As a lefty, I suspect Kazmir is very good golding runners, but still....

[SF]

Three times the leadoff man has been on for the Sox. Three times he's gotten as far as...first. One more out to change that.

[SF]

Another full count. First to Tek, now to Cora. This is why Ellsbury's hacking pisses me off.

[SF]

Ellsbury doubled off first after Cora lines to center. What a clusterfuck this game is.

[Paul SF]

Geez, nothing going right. Movie night. Ciao!

[LocklandSF]

Man, SF, deep breaths. It's a one run game.

[dc]

sounds like fun...the game, that is...

[SF]

Eh, Lockland, I have global issues with this team that get aired during game threads more extremely than they probably are. I just don't love watching this squad bat. I love the pitching - God knows I'd rather have a team that can shut down an opposition than not, but the offense is so damn frustrating, and has been all season, but for a few bombout games. I find watching the offense totally excruciating.

[SF]

Good inning from Curt. Another starter does his job.

[SF]

Lugo swings and misses for strike three.

[SF]

Third start of five this year against the Sox that Kazmir has held he Sox completely off the board, though of course his effort isn't over yet this evening.

[SF]

Coco lines one through the SS/3B hole for a baseknock.

[LocklandSF]

Well, at least tonight, this isn't the offense you will watch a lot, that combined with us going against Kaz, I would say it's going pretty well.

I agree that our offense is pretty frustrating from time to time, but it's not awful, not even close. The numbers don't lie, it just looks that way.

[SF]

Oh, the offense isn't awful, Lockland, never said that. They are just not fun to watch. It's not just the approach at the plate, really, it's all the baserunning errors and other situational crap that gets me.

[SF]

Pedroia lines one right at a Ray, of course. Grrr.

[SF]

I wonder if Paul noticed that Lowell is now in his patented swoon, 6 for his last 31?

He swings at ball four on 3-0. Nice. Good approach.

[SF]

If we can hold them next inning we have a shot - Kazmir now approaching 100 pitches.

[SF]

Sorry, Lowell 6 for his last 34 after another K. Pathetic. Utterly fucking pathetic.

[Hudson]

Can someone explain how the postseason first-round matchups would work, assuming the top teams stay the same in relation to each others' records?

[Hudson]

(Not only did Lowell K, he K'd after being up 3-0.)

[mike]

who is corey?

[Hudson]

No idea about Corey.

You know, it just doesn't bode well for the upcoming New York series that the Sox are having one-run games against the O's and the Rays...

[Hudson]

According to this article, the Sox got Corey from the Rangers last year:

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060730&content_id=1584649&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

[pale blue eyes]

Hudson, the Sox with the best record would play the wildcard, but since the wildcard comes from the same division they'd play the division winner with the worst record, this being the Indians at the moment. Other series then would be Angels vs Yankees.

[SF]

When Wily Mo left town, did he take Youk's bats and leave his own behind?

[SF]

Fourth leadoff man on for the Sox, going absolutely nowhere at the moment.

[SF]

Yes! A man at second. Tek works a nice at-bat and walks. Ells up.

Whoa, I'm slightly in shock that Tek didn't whiff big time in that at-bat and worked the walk. The Sox are not toast... yet.

Kazmir still in, despite the supposed "strict pitch count" on him.

[SF]

Kazmir about to throw pitch #113.

(SKaz at 112 pitches starting the AB with JEll.)

[SF]

Ellsbury a little overmatched tonight so far...

[SF]

Ooh, high fastball has Ells confused, but it was a tad high. 1-2.

[SF]

Gah, Ellsbury totally fooled on another fastball. Whiff. He looked out of his league in that at-bat.

And Cora bats. Are you kidding me?

[Hudson]

Jacoby Ks on a sick pitch.

C'mon, Francoma, pinch-hit for Cora...

[Hudson]

Somone give Tito a hard poke in the ribs.

[Hudson]

Gah, before I could even type that Cora grounds out. Such a waste.

[SF]

I wish I had posted this as a joke earlier:

"You all understand that Tito wanted to make sure that Ortiz was available to not pinch hit in the seventh tonight as the tying run, right?"

Unfortunately I was dead serious, and Tito comes through like clockwork, sending probably the worst hitter on the team up (save Mirabelli and Cash) with the tying runner at second, a tiring Kazmir, and first base plugged up.