Of Dice and (First Base)men: Sox-Rockies Gamer III

Denver and Boston are two of the only multiple-newspaper cities left in America. As such, there's really no excuse for any of us not to know the themes going into tonight's ballgame.

But we're all about the information at YFSF, so in case you've missed it, let's recap:

• The Rocky Mountains are really tall.
• Humidor.
• Kevin Youkilis.
• Daisuke Matsuzaka + thin air = ?
• "Back against the wall," "in a hole," "must-win situation."

You are now prepared to watch tonight's game and discuss it authoritatively.

Consider this a dual pregame and in-game thread for your comments. Away with them!

Comments

[SF]

WIN!

Go Sox!!!!!

[FenSheaParkway]

Very nice. Now where were you when I was in college and needed a concise and thorough summary of the Pentagon Papers situation?

Go Sox!

[sf rod]

If any of you are fans of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, or laughing your ass off, check this out. It's Carls myspace page with an audio diatribe on the state of the yankees. If you are as big of fan of Carl as i am, check out his goodbye to Torre video here. Very few things have ever made me laugh so hard.

[AndrewYF]

Oh my god, is this the worst ever World Series preview?

[Rob SF]

Fox winning hearts and minds again.

[Rob SF]

Rockies being introduced to disco music.

[pastorsteve]

Why does he sound like he's doing introductions for the WWE?

[NJsf]

"Oh my god, is this the worst ever World Series preview?"

You didn't need someone to tell you that the Rockies would really like to win this game?

[Jackie (SF)]

Ugh, more rally towels. Did you idiots learn nothing from Cleveland? RALLY TOWELS = PLAYOFF DEATH.

At least, that SHOULD be the rule.

[Rob SF]

The Fox music they are playing everytime they come back from a commercial is horrible. Sounds like funeral music or some type of woe is me theme.

[Rob SF]

Interesting that Ellsbury is leading off tonight.

[Jackie (SF)]

Holy geez that outfield is huge. Also: that graphic was actually a little bit useful! The apocalypse is nigh.

[Rob SF]

McCraver:

"String them together like a fisherman does fish."

Funny, most of the time when I fish I try to string beers together.

[Rob SF]

Ellsbury with a single halfway up the third base line.

[Rob SF]

Pedroia fouls off a pitch as Ellsbury breaks for 2nd.

[Rob SF]

Pedroia with a single to short. Elssbury safe at 2nd.

Papi up.

[Rob SF]

Papi goes right after the 1st pitch.

[Rob SF]

Ortiz strikes out on a pitch tailing away.

[Jackie (SF)]

Where is everyone??

Got to see that slow CO infield grass on Jacoby's not-quite-a-bunt.

[Rob SF]

Fogg worked Papi away and now appears to being doing the same with Manny.

[rootbeerfloat]

Do they now wave hankies everywhere but Fenway and Yankee Stadium??? How irritating.

[SF]

This looks like a potential squander, but Fogg has basically had bad luck, the Sox haven't really done anything to him despite the threat.

[Rob SF]

Manny flies out to left.

Runners still at 1st and 2nd.

[Rob SF]

It appears the strikezone is going to be a little expanded tonight. Let's hope Dice-K gets the same one.

[Rob SF]

Lowell flies out to center, both runners stranded. The only positive to look at is that Fogg threw 27 pitches.

[YF]

Nice work from Fogg to get out of that. Wide strike zone today.

[Rob SF]

Matsui doubles on the 1st pitch.

[Rob SF]

Should have been a single, JD blacked out in right field due to thin oxygen in the air.

[Jackie (SF)]

Ugh.

[Rob SF]

Tulowitzki strikes out.

[Rob SF]

Holliday grounds back to Dice who turns quickly to start the run down to get Matsui.

2 down.

Very nice play there by Dice.

[sf rod]

it kinda feels like the crowd is on a teleprompter.

[Rob SF]

Helton grounds to Lowell, throws to 2nd. Inning over.

Dice with 15 pitches.

[Rob SF]

sf rod, they do seem confused when to cheer or boo.

[Jackie (SF)]

re: teleprompter - if they have rally towels, they almost certainly have an LCD screen somewhere that says "MAKE SOME NOISE!!1!!" *flash flash* "GET ON YOUR FEET!!!!!" etc.

[Rob SF]

Drew grounds the first pitch to 2nd.

[sf rod]

they got all randy on 2-0 strike down the middle to manny. he had no intentention of swinging. it was a big moment for them....i guess.

[Rob SF]

Low strike zone there to Tek.

Tek hits one back up the middle shattering his bat, Fogg having to dance out of the way of the bat.

Tek thrown out at 1st by Tulowitzki.

[sf rod]

thanks for breaking down how the NL works tim mccarver.

[Rob SF]

Lugo with a two out double to the gap in right center.

[Jackie (SF)]

Lugo doing something useful!

[Rob SF]

Matsuzaka looks at the bat in his hand like "what the hell is this?"

[rootbeerfloat]

Anyone know if they use a DH in Japan?

[Rob SF]

Atkins hit by Dice K.

[Rob SF]

RBF, supposedly one of the leagues in Japan does use one.

[sf rod]

rbf- they use both. two leauges there two. most other countries use the DH as a standard.

Hawpe strikes out. Three straight fastballs.

[Rob SF]

Torrealba flies out to left.

[Rob SF]

Sullivan grounds to short, Lugo throws to 2nd to end the inning.

[Jackie (SF)]

So it's official - I definitely am going to have a heart attack any time a ball goes to left for the next 2 (or 3) games.

[Rob SF]

Ellsbury with a shot past Atkins, and slides into 2nd just beating the throw for a leadoff double.

[rootbeerfloat]

poor coco

[Rob SF]

Just drink Jackie. It will make things easier for you later in the game.

Pedroia with a nice bunt that he beats the throw on. Helton had to jump to catch the ball.

Ellsbury on 3rd.

[Jackie (SF)]

"Let's go Red Sox" chant... man, Rockies, that's just embarassing.

ORTIZ!!!

[Rob SF]

Ortiz doubles, Ellsbury scores, Pedroia to 3rd.

1-0

Poor Coco?

[sf rod]

i've been following a rockies blog. needless to say...they hate all things sox. i don't post there but other sox fans are starting to needle in their gamers.

[Jackie (SF)]

You're probably right, Rob (re: the drinking)...

[Rob SF]

Intentional pass to Manny.

[Jackie (SF)]

Aw. That's just poor form... no wonder they hate Sox fans.

[rootbeerfloat]

Given Jacpby's performance, I think Coco is going elsewhere...

[Rob SF]

Rod, I read Lohud, but don't post. I get irritated seeing Sox fans act like asses on other teams blogs.

[Rob SF]

Lowell back up the middle. Pedroia and Papi score. Manny held at 2nd.

3-0

[Tom sf]

3-0. Josh Fogg. Heh.

[rootbeerfloat]

still no outs

[Rob SF]

I think so RBF, but I think before everyone thinks we have the second coming of sliced bread, Ellsbury is still a rookie and could still start in the minors next year.

I think he will be on the big team, but anything could happen.

Drew pops out.

[Tom sf]

The Sox have 3 doubles. Seems like the Rockies outfielders are having trouble covering that large outfield.

[Tom sf]

Manny was clearly safe.

[Rob SF]

Tek singles to left, Manny thrown out at home.

Manny appears safe. Blown call by the home plate umpire.

[Jackie (SF)]

That's a bad call. Oh well, doesn't matter to me if we win 8-0 or 7-0. :P

[Rob SF]

Manny needs to quit that helmet shit rounding third.

[Tom sf]

So according to Fox, Manny was out because of his dreadlocks.

[academic-SF]

I think Manny was out. The glove looked like it hit his hip before Manny got his hand on the plate.

[Devine]

That was the shit.

[Rob SF]

DICE K WITH A TWO RUN SINGLE!!!!

[Tom sf]

5-0. It's time to say it. The Rockies suck.

[academic-SF]

DICE-K!!!

[Jackie (SF)]

I don't know why Manny even has the helmet on in the first place.

Also, 2 RBI for Matsuzaka!!! LOL!

[rootbeerfloat]

dice-K!!!

[Devine]

Matsuzaka, that is.

[SF]

YES YES YES!!!!

What a hit!!!!

[rootbeerfloat]

Suprised Clayton didn't mention his tacos.

[SF]

The Manny out wasn't a bad call - the ump was either right or wrong, based on the replay, so it's just bad luck. Impossible to tell what happened, it sure looked plausible that Torrealba nicked Manny's thigh. Cannot complain, it was a near-impossible call, and he might even have gotten it right, and he made the call quickly. That was good umpiring, in my book.

[rootbeerfloat]

I almost hate to see Dice-K running around the bases at this altitude. Will he be able to pitch now?

[academic-SF]

What kind of polar bear jacket was Royce Clayton wearing?

[SF]

I also have no internet where my TV is tonight, so I may not be commenting too often, unfortunately.

[Rob SF]

Ellsbury with an RBI. Just under Sullivan's glove.

Two doubles in the same inning. Pedroia coming up and Jason "Dragon Slayer" Fogg just got ate.

Bullpen in use already for Colorado.

[mp (SF)]

NL = JV

[academic-SF]

Jesus, that's 10 Red Sox hits in 2 2/3 innings.

[Jackie (SF)]

Yeah, SF, I didn't see the tag on the thigh, but Manny definitely did tag the plate... hard call to make.

[Tom sf]

Jackie said when Manny was called out:

"Oh well, doesn't matter to me if we win 8-0 or 7-0. :P"

Nice call!

[SF]

"Oh well, doesn't matter to me if we win 8-0 or 7-0. :P"

Nice call!

OK, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Seven at-bats left for the Rox IN Colorado. No jinxes, please?!

Use discipline.

[dknyc]

Man, those of us looking for a tight series are being let down...

[Jackie (SF)]

Thanks! Still early though. Could be 11-0 instead... ;)

[academic-SF]

I wonder why Hurdle put in Morales (his long guy) rather than a short reliever to replace Fogg. That would have allowed the Rox to use a pinch-hitter to lead off the 3rd.

[Rob SF]

Nice time for Dice to knock his first runs in this season.

[Jackie (SF)]

Seven innings, you mean?

Not being jinxy (at least not on purpose) just a little silly. I know full well that the Rockies can come right back with a few off of Matsuzaka.

Still, it's getting harder to be pessimistic about this series.

[Hudson]

Wow, just checking in... DiceK with two RBI? Youkilis who?

[Rob SF]

Matsui strikes out.

[Rob SF]

Dice is looking pretty good so far.

[Tom sf]

Sorry SF, but this team is just not competetive with the Red Sox the way they are playing. They are starting to remind me of St. Louis in '04. I'm not saying sweep necessarily, but the Rockies are NOT going to win the World Series. And don't bring up the Sox comeback against the Yankees. That was once in a lifetime, and these Rockies are not the '04 Red Sox.