Wait, These Count?: Sox-A's Gamer III

OK, we're finally ready for baseball season. It's hard to admit, but this season couldn't come slowly enough. We've enjoyed being a fan of the World Champs. And though that title won't necessarily be passed on (and if it is not for several months), it had been enjoyable to know that nobody was playing baseball, and nobody, therefore, could distract us from a simple fact (Mitchell Report and Hankosity notwithstanding): we root for the best. Now, it's all muddled. Who is the best? Who's on first? Who's IN first? We are, to an extent, back to the grind. A beautiful, exhilarating, frustrating, comical, romantic grind, but nonetheless a grind.

Tonight the Sox (and A's) return to the domestic regular season, and I imagine they are happy to be back grinding it out on familiar soil. Not because they disliked Japan or because it wasn't a rewarding trip, but because playing regular season baseball, making road trips around the US and Canada, playing games that matter just about every night in the grand pursuit of being the best, is what they love. And what we love too. So welcome back, guys. And take us for another great ride.

Discuss tonight's game here.

Comments

[mattymatty]

I got my MLB.tv set up, the myriad plug-ins are downloaded, the beer is cold, the wine is room temperature, the wife is asleep, the chips are stale, and I'm ready to go.

PLAAAAAY BAAAAAALL!

(oh, and Go Sox!)

[Dionysus]

I will only be ble to catch an hour of the game. I have to work at 6am, thus be up at 430

[YF]

Beautifully said, SF.

[Paul SF]

Well, the Yankees won, so this, obviously, is a must-win. ;-)

Lineups:

SAWX

1. Jacoby Ellsbury-RF
2. Dustin Pedroia-2B
3. David Ortiz-DH
4. Manny Ramirez-LF
5. Mike Lowell-3B
6. Kevin Youkilis-1B
7. Jason Varitek-C
8. Coco Crisp-CF
9. Julio Lugo-SS

Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP

AYS

1. Travis Buck-RF
2. Mark Ellis-2B
3. Daric Barton-1B
4. Jack Cust-DH
5. Emil Brown-LF
6. Bobby Crosby-SS
7. Jack Hannahan-3B
8. Kurt Suzuki-C
9. Ryan Sweeney-CF

Joe Blanton-P

[mattymatty]

Each year its hard for me to make the transition from playoff baseball, where every game matters, and NFL football, where every game matters, to the baseball season, where losing isn't really that big a deal. At least not now.

Anyway, heres to 161-1!

[Paul SF]

Pedro went down with an injury tonight -- hamstring. No word that I saw on the severity, but he left after 3.1 innings...

[TJ]

got my mlb game tracker and ready to go......

[Dionysus]

Poor Pedro. *sighs sadly*

Anyway, Mosiac is down until 10:05pm according to the Customer Service lien if anyone else is suddenly having issues

[SF]

Shit, that stinks about Pedro. I think if I can pick just one thing to go right for either NY team this year, it is for Pedro to have a great comeback season. I hope he's ok.

[A YF]

What's the over/under on Dice-K's walks tonight? ;)

[Paul SF]

Former Red Sox manager Dick Williams throwing out the first pitch. The horror! The outrage! Karma and payback better be a bitch tonight!!

Oh, he managed the A's, too? Nevermind...

[mattymatty]

If I could pick one thing to go right for a NY team, it would be for Chamberlain's pitches to go right... over the wall.

I've got 10:08 and MLB.tv is showing me a beautiful blue and red logo. Anyone got anything? Has the game started yet?

[mattymatty]

What?!? No Remy?!?

[Dionysus]

A YF, Im gonna go with.. 3 walks over 6 innings.

I've got 10:03, matty

[Paul SF]

2 walks. Call me an optimist (I am, generally), but I think he rebounds tonight without the attendant Japanese jitters.

[Paul SF]

9:06 for me... They're still reading the lineup on XM, which is giving me the A's radio network.

[TJ]

1 walk 9 Ks

[mattymatty]

I think thats Dick Van Dyke doing color for the A's broadcasts.

[mattymatty]

Whoops. Must have a fast clock here. Thanks, D.

[mattymatty]

Between Ellsbury and Drew we're going to lead the league in grounding out to second base.

[Paul SF]

Time to break that 0-fer, Papi.

[Dionysus]

So much suck. God freaking dammit. I'm gonna go vomit.

[Paul SF]

Yuck, just 8 or 9 pitches for Blanton in the first. Woulda been nice to strike first and get some stateside momentum.

Up to you, Dice!

[mattymatty]

After this broadcast A's fans are going to think Ellsbury's first name is "Thespeedy."

[Dionysus]

We coulda had Johan. We coulda had Johan. *throws empty ginger ale can*

[mattymatty]

Only took three outs to make Dionysus puke. Good job, Sox!

[Dionysus]

*predicts DISASTER* WHY WILL NO SOX WORK THE COUNT?

[A YF]

Lots of optimists here! What's the over/under on Yankee wins this year? ;)

[Paul SF]

Ten pitches. My bad... Funny how a lineup that can look so good in October can look so bad the next April.

[Dionysus]

????? Where's the signal? Anyone have any word on where MLB.tv went?

[Paul SF]

All right! K to start the game for Matsuzaka!

[Dionysus]

K!

[mattymatty]

Dammit. Not an inning into the season MLB.tv just went down.

[Dionysus]

I lost sound... anyone else having issues?

[Paul SF]

Last time Papi went at least 0 for 8 -- last May, when he went 0 for 11 from May 4-8. He's actually 0 for his last 10 dating back to the last regular season game of '07...

[Atheose]

Im watching on Gameday, and there's no sound! Anyone else having this problem?

[Paul SF]

Dice-KK!

[Dionysus]

K the second!

[mattymatty]

Got the picture back, but no volume. Good enough for now, I guess...

[mattymatty]

Theres K #2. I think I'm about a minute and a half behind Dionysus.

[Paul SF]

Ugh, there's the 3-1 count we'd all like to see go away.

[SoxFan]

This game isn't on national TV like ESPN is it?

[Dionysus]

Pop up to Mikey! 1-2-3! Not great at limiting PC but, still, effectiveness!

[Paul SF]

Well, 17 pitches for Matsuzaka. A little high, but 2 Ks and a foul out ain't shabby. Certainly better than 30!

[Bullfrog]

Anybody else attempting gameday audio? I got some error telling me that they couldn't process my payment, which is funny, because I have my credit card statement right in front of me. I'm assuming MLB is off to their usual fast start with customer support, as it's been half an hour and counting on hold.

[mattymatty]

Just got volume back.

[Atheose]

Hooray, sound is back now. Three up three down, lets see some run support for Dice-K!

[Dionysus]

No it isnt, SoxFan, sorry.

[Paul SF]

Manny is on FIRE! Breaks his bat and gets the hit!

[mattymatty]

Bullfrog- theres been problems with MLB.tv all night long, so I'm not surprised they're having issues on the radio side as well.

[Atheose]

Does anyone else think Joe Blanton has quite possibly the fattest, ugliest face in baseball?

Broken bat single for Manny, barely drops into center field. We'll take 'em any way we can.

[Dionysus]

Manny drops one in there. Base hit! I'll take it!

[Paul SF]

Manny loooves the A's. Lifetime .332/.436/.651. Adds to that tonight.

[Paul SF]

Now Manny to second on the wild pitch! Drive him in, Mikey!

[Dionysus]

Wild Pitch. (I beleive) and Manny makes it to second. 3-1 on Lowell. He swings at Ball 4 and its 3-2.

[Paul SF]

Or ground out and fail to advance the runner. Whatever's cool with you.

[mattymatty]

Hey gang, just figured out (maybe everyone else knew this) that MLB Extra Innings on cable is having a free preview. Its channel 778 on my cable network (Comcast). The upshot is, if you have cable you probably have this game.

[Dionysus]

Dammit... Mikey grounds out to third and Manny can't advance.

Youk, help please?

[Paul SF]

Diving play by Hanahan, but he who hesitates cannot get the runner at first. Corners with one down. Varitek up to ground into a DP.

[Dionysus]

Wow! Youk rips one up the thridbaseline, but the 3rd basemen gets hit and looks to third, but no one covers. Everyone is safe!

Now its the Kaptain.

[Paul SF]

Well, popup's better than a DP. Now Crisp is up. *sigh* This reminds me too much of last June through August.

[Dionysus]

God DAMMIT Tek. Seriously. Freakin' A. Drop him to 9th, I'd rather see LUGO.

[Paul SF]

Ugh, Coco K's. Missed a chance there. I hope it doesn't come back to bite us.

[Dionysus]

DAMMMIT! I think I just broke my chair....

[Dionysus]

I bet it will, Paul. I blame the Kaptain the most. Swinging at the first goddamn pitch.

[Dionysus]

Mets/Marlins in extra innins right now. Isnt that like the 5th extra innign game already this season?

[Dionysus]

Oh son of a BITCH, this is feelign familar.

[Dionysus]

I bet Dice-K tunrs into Dice-BB now

[Atheose]

Coco K's, and then a leadoff homer. Goddamnit.

[Dionysus]

3-0. I hate being right. I think its time for bed.

[Bullfrog]

Yeah, some very harried customer service guy got me hooked up just in time to hear Daisuke give up the Cust shot. Grrrreat.

[Dionysus]

Thank GOD for Youk's mad ability to pick.

[Dionysus]

Pop up ends the inning. Fraking Cust. Frankign Daisuke. Fraking Kaptain. Fraking Coco.

[Dionysus]

I'm REALLY starting to dislike Hanahan.

[Bullfrog]

Battlestar fan, D?

[Dionysus]

FIRST PICTH? This is what we gave up Johan for?!

[Atheose]

What's the deal with everyone popping out on the first pitch tonight?

[Atheose]

Pedroia fouls off four in a row, the first batter to really grind Blanton down. Please just get on base for Ortiz. Nothing makes me angrier than seeing Ortiz or Manny leading off an inning.

[Dionysus]

Pedroia grounds up but at least he got some damn pitches. We're supposed to be known for our patience, what is this tripe?

[TJ]

Dionysus dont rip Ellsbury, not after what he did in the World Series for us. All will be well dont worry.

[Atheose]

Great dive for Coco, and he (luckily) nabs it. Could have been an in-the-parker there if he hadn't.

[Dionysus]

Nah Atheose. Jacoby was right there backign up him.

[Dionysus]

K the third. I'd LOVE a double play ball in a short count right now.

[Atheose]

Daisuke blows one by him for K #3. That's a good sign--usually this is the point in the game where he walks the bases loaded.

[Dionysus]

OR THAT! Caught Stealing!!!

[Atheose]

Holy crap, Varitek throws out a stealer. Looked safe, but the replay shows he clearly got him.

[Dionysus]

Come on Daisuke.. K the fourth!

[Atheose]

Another K to end the inning. Come on Ortiz/Manny/Lowell, lets get some runs.

[Dionysus]

I think even Papi thought he was Ked there. Doesnt matter as he grounds out because we can't buy a goddamn hit.

[Atheose]

Ortiz grounds out, then Manny flies out on the first pitch. This is DEFINITELY feeling like last July/August.

[Dionysus]

et tu Manny?

STOP

FIRST

PITCH

SWINGING

[Dionysus]

What a gift.

[Atheose]

Wow, some guy named ANdino hit a walk-off homer for the Fish in the 10th.

AHAHAHA, error made by Barton. The announcers jynxed it by saying "That'll do it" before he caught the ball.

[SF]

Looks like I chose the wrong inning to tune in. The small sample I just saw was stupendously stinky!

[Dionysus]

Lowell Ks. Blanton's been nasty.

[TJ]

what a pathetic strike zone this umpire has

[yankeemonkey]

Dio, you gotta take it easy...there's a season full of frustration out there for you still, you have to pace yourself ;-)

[Dionysus]

Jayme Siree = Hot. Very nice.

[Dionysus]

I think I spelled that wrong.. but anyway. A's chick. If you got MLB.tv, you know what I mean.

K the 5th.

[Atheose]

Daisuke blows it by him for his 5th K. He's pacing himself well too, his pitch count estimates he'll go 7 if he doesn't blow it all.

The announcer just said: "I think I would call Daisuke a strikeout pitcher". The sad thing was that HE WASN'T BEING SARCASTIC! He actually had to consider whether or not Daisuke is a strikeout pitcher! Pathetic.