Behold! What Is This Fiery Orb Which Burneth My Eyes? Sox-A's Gamer IV

Daylight!

After two games begun before sunrise in the states, and a third ending well after sunset, today is a game that will begin and end completely in daylight in all four continental American time zones. No sleepy morning tomorrow, no turning the volume down to avoid awaking the wife and/or kids. Just good, old fashioned, sureptitious GameDay observation when the boss isn't around. Daytime baseball and pretending to work -- two old-fashioned American traditions!

So enjoy the sunshine -- you know, theoretically, from inside your cubicle -- and comment away!

Sox' lineup (Drew in, Ellsbury out):

1. 2B-Dustin Pedroia
2. 1B-Kevin Youkilis
3. DH-David Ortiz
4. LF-Manny Ramirez
5. 3B-Mike Lowell
6. RF-J.D. Drew
7. C-Jason Varitek
8. CF-Coco Crisp
9. SS-Alex Cora.

Comments

[Atheose]

No sleepy morning tomorrow, no turning the volume down to avoid awaking the wife and/or kids.

It'll be nice to not have to do a silent fist-pump when something good happens. I had to practically cover my mouth when Tek was robbed of a homerun last night.

[Micah-SF]

Ah, a return to Gameday At Work. I am so productive.

Living in LA, I was horribly ticked off that they didn't show the game on TV last night. It's one of the few times I could actually get home to watch it in time and they couldn't be bothered to air it!

I'd get Extra Innings, but I'm just not home before 7 PM PST and would miss the vast majority of games. It's annoying.

[Bob]

I understand that Coco provides a lot of value with the glove and that the team wants to showcase him for trades, but I don't see any real reason to start him over Jacoby today. I think the Sox need to give him the Pedroia treatment and stick with him even though he's had a slow first few games. Even with his struggles he's still hitting better than Crisp.

[LocklandSF]

"the team wants to showcase him for trades"

That's why, especially in, around, near, trade markets.

[Paul SF]

Incidentally, Youk sets the all-time record for consecutive errorless games at first if he makes it through today cleanly.

[Atheose]

Im going to be very sorry to see Coco go. I feel like he has been underappreciated and will bounce back this year, and I'd hate to see him do it for another team.

[Atheose]

Paul, you do realize you just jynxed Youk right?

[TJ]

if he did, we will hunt him down and tar and feather him :p

[Paul SF]

Pssh. I'm also hoping the Sox win today. Oh no! I jinxed them! Now they will lose! I can't ever say anything good about any of my favorite players, otherwise they will suck!

Sorry. Outside no-hitters/perfect games, I'm not really on the jinx bandwagon...

[Paul SF]

Blech, I hate this anticipation of the game. Seems like the last 30 minutes take forEVER...

[Atheose]

I used to be the same way Paul, until announcers started jynxing things all the time. "You know Beckett hasn't given up a homerun in 24 innings." BAM! Homerun. it seems like nowadays whenever the announcers say one thing the opposite happens.

And anyways, I'm just joking around with you ;-) This game needs to start NOW. This has been the longest day of work since waiting for Game 1 of the ALDS to start.

[Paul SF]

Lester has walked at least three batters in four straight regular-season starts. Average game score: 47. Not good. At least he's got the World Series start to break things up, though he still walked three in that game, too.

[TJ]

2 BB and 8 Ks from Lester today

[Atheose]

BASEBALL BABY!

Pedroia singles, great way to start things off.

[TJ]

come on Papi give us a fast start today

[LocklandSF]

Good start! 2 on, no out.

[Paul SF]

Lester is the first Red Sox pitcher in 35 years to begin his career (min. 100 IP) with a BB/9 of at least 4.6...

Sure would be nice for Papi to break out here.

[Atheose]

Bases loaded for Manny. Hells yes.

[Dionysus]

Latye to the party, but here I am! Just got out of work an hoppe into a local cafe!

[LocklandSF]

Jesus, this kid can throw hard, 97 on the gun.

[Atheose]

It's great to see everyone being patient at the plate, though Manny just struck out.

Come on Lowell!

[Paul SF]

You gotta be kidding me. Although this sounds familiar: Bases loaded, quick outs by Manny and Lowell, J.D. Drew up to the plate...

[Atheose]

DAMNIT, Lowell down swinging too. Let's go Drew!

He's really throwing hard Lockland? Gameday only has him hitting 92.

[Atheose]

Sigh, I want to throw my office chair. Drew down on the first pitch.

[Dionysus]

My god. I hate this team.

[LocklandSF]

You really got a hold of that one Drew, first pitch, good thinking.

[Dionysus]

Is it too late to become a Royals fan?

[Atheose]

It's a good thing we won last night, despite the missed opportunities.

[Paul SF]

Terrible inning. When you have the bases loaded, none out, against a pitcher like Harden, you have to capitalize. How incredibly frustrating.

[TJ]

the offensive juggernaut Detroit lost to KC 4-0 lol

[Brad]

Is it too late to become a Royals fan?

nope.

[academic-SF]

"My god. I hate this team."

My god... it's APRIL. At the very least, you have to wait until May for hate to build up.

[YF]

"When you have the bases loaded, none out, against a pitcher like Harden, you have to capitalize. "

Easier said than done. Yanks stranded JD at third after a leadoff triple last night against Halladay. That's why they pay 'em the big bucks. (Except in Oakland, so....nevermind?)

[Atheose]

KC has some great pitching this year with Grienke, Meche and Bannister. A very tough top of the rotation, if they can get some run support.

[Dionysus]

Watch the frakin As show the Sox how to knock men in now. *may have to go home.. doesnt want to break the cafe's dishes*

[Atheose]

Lester has gotten to a 1-2 count on all three batters so far. That's encouraging.

[Paul SF]

Well, two down. Let's go, Lester!

[Paul SF]

Jack Cust bails us out!

[Atheose]

Strike 3 to the steroids user! It's VERY nice to see Lester getting ahead of each hitter, rather than falling behind in the count like he did often last year. Keep it up Jon.

[academic-SF]

Lester induces a grounder from Sweeney and K's Cust after Barton doubles.

Ha! The A's can blow run-scoring opportunities too!

[Atheose]

Varitek sees all of 2 pitches. Come on Coco, up your value so we can trade high.

[Atheose]

Yeah Cora!

[Paul SF]

Mr. April, Alex Cora.

[Paul SF]

Well, Harden at least seems more hittable today, and Lester's looked a lot better. So maybe we can overcome the HUGE squander.

[Atheose]

Funny Paul, cause I saw the Sox play the Orioles last April and Cora hit a 2-run homerun.

Pedroia flies out. Youk-Ortiz-Manny up in the 3rd, hopefully we can get something done this time.

[Dionysus]

I'm worried abotu Lester's PC. Its pretty high and he just walked Crosby.

[Atheose]

Lester falls behind to Brown and Crosby. Brown bails him out by lining out, whereas Crosby walks on four pitches.

Come on Lester, this is 2008! Don't fall back to the 2007-Lester!

[Devine]

BAM goes the DP. At least Lester could make it a reasonable 6 at this pace...

[Atheose]

Lester heard you, Dio. Double-play leaves Lester at 33 pitches, while Harden is at 38.

[Dionysus]

Lester nibbles like Daisuke, but with out being as good as Daisuke, he doesn't end up getting the Ks.

Hooray for the Double play!

[Paul SF]

Lester not as clean that inning. 2-0 and 3-0 counts, plus a walk.

[Atheose]

Youk's beard is truly ferocious.

[Atheose]

BOOOOO, Ortiz called out on a ball that looked both high and outside according to gameday.

[Dionysus]

God dammit, Papi.

Manny, if you swing at the first pitch....

[Atheose]

Manny walked on 4 pitches. Might as well have been intentional.

[Dionysus]

Manny walks. Mikey.. please? Pretty pretty please?

[Atheose]

Lowell grounds out. 5 stranded runners after 3 innings, on track for 15 in the game.

[Dionysus]

Screw this. Screw it all to hell. I'm so mad. If we lose this game because of that first inning squander, I dont know what I'll do. Someone may get hurt.

[Atheose]

Don't worry Dio, I was thinking the same thing last night when Varitek's homerun was robbed by the umpires. Thankfully it ended up not mattering.

Hannahan (stupid name, btw) singles. Come on Lester, let's see another DP.

[Dionysus]

I HATE HANNAHAN

[Paul SF]

Yeah, the DP! Lester learning the value of trusting his defense!

[Atheose]

BOOYA! Some guy named Denorfia GIDP. Very nice Lester.

[Dionysus]

God, I love double plays.

[Paul SF]

... right before he decides to nibble again. 3-0.

[Atheose]

And then Lester says "Screw you guys, I don't want a quick inning" and walks Ellis on 4 pitches.

[YF]

Dio! At this rate you're gonna be in a rubber room by May 15!

[Dionysus]

But I HATE walks

[academic-SF]

So far, Lester has been more efficient with his pitches than Harden.

[LocklandSF]

I'm really worried about this team when they have to face a real MLB team.

[Atheose]

Thank goodness Barton pops up on the first pitch, 43 pitches after three for Lester (56 for Harden). Both teams' hitters are giving a clinic on plate patience tonight, it appears.

[Atheose]

Drew gets a hit!

[TJ]

I think its a bit of an overraction at this point. If these issues persist come the Toronto series perhaps concern should then be shown, but right now there just getting settled into everyday meaningful games.

[TJ]

***plants a sign in RF...HIT IT HERE***

[Dionysus]

Probably, YF. Probably sooner if we keep up the LOB game at this rate.

To be fair, Hannahan robbed us all night with the glove last night and tied up the game off Snyder in Game 1, so its reasonable to get pissed when he hits.

[Dionysus]

....

*vomits*

[Atheose]

Gameday is still frozen at "In play, out(s)" for 'Tek. PLEASE tell me he didn't GIDP.

[Atheose]

Goddamnit.

[Atheose]

Yep, both teams definitely trying to show how not to win a ballgame.

[TJ]

ok, he didnt but im lying lol

[TJ]

OK MEN, Who wants it less? lol

[Atheose]

Technically he didn't, TJ. He LINED into a double play, whereas I said ground.

[Atheose]

Hey, silver lining: we didn't leave anyone on base that inning!

[Atheose]

Sweeney walked on four pitches. Sigh.

[Dionysus]

Oh God, Lester's lost the strike zone. This sucks. We're doomed

[Atheose]

Has Lester forgotten how to throw his other pitches? He has thrown nothing but heat to the last few batters.

WHEW, Cust strikes-out for the 2nd time. Let's see a DP!

[Dionysus]

Wow! Nice play/bad baserunning and we get the unconvential DP!

[Atheose]

What just happened? It says he FLEW into a DP, Drew to Youk. Did Drew make an amazing catch or something?

[rootbeerfloat]

From your fingers to God's ear, Ath.

[AndrewYF]

Up until that pitch, Lester had thrown more balls than strikes.

Did anyone see Brian Bannister and the KC pen shut out the 'greatest lineup in history'?

[rootbeerfloat]

Yes, Drew made a catch that looked unlikely but Sweeney should have been paying more attention.

[Lar]

Harden has a much harder lineup to face.. =P

[Dionysus]

Ath, Drew came charging in on a shirt fly. Sweeney assumed it would drop and was all the way to second when the ball landed in Drew's glove.

[Atheose]

KC has some great pitching, both in their top three starters (Meche, Bannister and Grienke) and their bullpen. They'd be a good team if they spent a little money and got some good hitters.

I'm still waiting for an explanation as to what just happened in the bottom of the 4th.

[Atheose]

Ahhh, thanks Dio. And good job to Cora for drawing a walk. Let's see some OFFENSE!

[Dionysus]

Leadoff walk. Lots of walks in this game. How about a run, Pedroia?

[Dionysus]

Edes omn Audio (video laggy here at the cafe). He makes me sad as he says the reason he isnt sold on the Jays as a contender is that they lack 'star power'. Apparently Gordon didn't learn anythign from Moneyball and Billy Beane. If you put together a GOOD team of unknowns and they perform, the unknowns become stars. *sigh*

[Atheose]

Pedroia and Youk both down swinging. PLEASE help us out Papi!

[Dionysus]

Alright Papi. Please please pretty please. An RBI right now will make us all feel better about you.

[Paul SF]

As for facing a "real" MLB team, I think this does a disservice to Rich Harden, whose only concern in his career has been health. He is an ace, and it's no shame to struggle to score against him (though that first-inning squander was ridiculous). Likewise, Joe Blanton is very good in his home ballpark, so to win one from him when he was obviously on his game strikes me as a good sign, not a bad one.

I just don't know that Jon Lester is yet capable of winning a pitchers' duel against Rich Harden though. That first inning gets larger and larger.

[Atheose]

Oh thank goodness Papi got a hit.