Deep in the Heart: Sox-Astros Gamer II

Dullest gamer intro ever.

Comment away!

Comments

[Atheose]

The stars and stripes, come out at night *clap clap clap clap* DEEP IN THE HEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAART OF TEXAS!

Ahh I miss my lonestar state.

[rootbeerfloat]

You're a Texan Ath? How'd you end up a RS fan?

[I'mBillMcNeal]

All reverse jinxsing aside, Manny is really cold right now.

[Atheose]

Lived in Dallas for the first 12 years of my life (we had season tix to the Rangers, lots of Nolan Ryan memories), then moved to MA for about 2 years. After that moved to Virginia. My dad also lived in Boston for 10 years while his father taught at MIT, so he was already a fan. Seeing Pedro pitch in 98 and 99 certainly makes you a fan real quick.

Wow, Bourn drags a great bunt and there's a runner on already.

[rootbeerfloat]

What is with Manny? Is that hamstring bothering him more than they are letting on?

[Atheose]

Wow that ump is a fucking IDIOT, the runner ran outside the basepaths by practically 10 feet and the ump didn't call him out. Good thing we ended up getting him later.

Lowell giving the ump a piece of his mind.

[Atheose]

Lead-off double by Lowell!

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Manny has been very streaky the last couple of years. And very much so this year.

[rootbeerfloat]

total squander of that leadoff double

Yeah, the Tek-Lugo combo is pretty frustrating.

[Atheose]

^ me

[Atheose]

That's frustrating: Lester gets ahead of Wiggy 0-2 but then gives up a double.

[Atheose]

Lester at 24 pitches after 2ip, despite already giving up 3 hits.

[Atheose]

Pedroia singles! He's getting hot at the right time.

[rootbeerfloat]

I would be nice if Pedroia and Manny got hot at the same time...

[Atheose]

MANNY CRUSHES ONE! It's a foot or two away from a homerun, 2-0 Sox now. Thanks for the reverse-jynx RBF!

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Don't thank me. Just send cash. Preferably large bills.

[Paul SF]

Nice to see the Sox putting some big two-out hits on the board.

Ath, do you still have an accent? I find after seven years of livjng mostly in Texas it's getting harder and harder to keep the accent out of my voice...

[rootbeerfloat]

Actually, guys, that was all me. I got up to use the can and they always score when I do that.

[Atheose]

It's funny Paul, but I never gained an accent in the first place. Neither of my parents had accents, which explains it I guess, but you would still think after being around other Texans I would have some.

I do say "y'all" every now and then, but even then my accent is slight. Where in Texas do you live Paul? I was in Mansfield, which I guess isn't technically in Dallas but whatever.

[Atheose]

By the way, I don't know if anyone here is a videogamer but Diablo 3 was just announced today. If that means nothing to the people here then just disregard it the comment entirely.

[Atheose]

Lester K's Berkman at a great time. Almost out of the inning.

[Atheose]

Damnit, Lester gets ahead of Lee 1-2 and ends up giving up a hit, 4-2 Sox.

[rootbeerfloat]

crap.

[Atheose]

Shit shit shit shit shit Lester's down and possibly injured

[Paul SF]

Lester's apparently Ok. I really thought he was gonna get out of this inning when he Kd Berkman. Ahwell.

I'm in San Angelo, Ath. Wayyy out in West Texas.

And Mark Loretta of all people with the three-run homer. Crap.

[Atheose]

Good, Lester seems to be fine--wait nevermind, 3-run homer. Shiznit.

[rootbeerfloat]

Sheesh. A four run lead just vanishes.

[Paul SF]

This inning sucks. One strike from getting out of it, too.

All nine runs this inning scoring with two outs. Sheesh.

[Paul SF]

I hate listening to the road announcers on XM. These Astros guys are just awful. Over the top homerism. Shouldn't there be some kind of rule against calling your team the "good guys"?

[Atheose]

Yeah, they were ragging on Varitek for making a bad swing, and they bashed someone earlier (Drew?) for not hustling to 1st base, even though he was running pretty hard. They're looking to bash us.

And look at this, the Aflac question of the night: "Why did the Red Sox sell Babe Ruth to the Yankees?"

[Atheose]

Pedroia is on fire.

[Atheose]

Pedroia and Lowell both 3 for 3 tonight.

[Atheose]

Double play, Youk looked safe at 1st. The replay shows it a tie, but the announcers call it a "coin flip". Tito out to argue it.

[Paul SF]

Do you think they'll actually provide the correct answer? (Hint: It has nothing to do with "No No Nanette")

[Atheose]

They said it two innings ago, "To find Frazee's broadway ambitions". So yes, they're saying No No Nanette.

[Atheose]

F*ck Carlos Lee.

[Paul SF]

Lester's pitching better than the box score would indicate. He got pretty unlucky in the third. Lowell booted the slow roller, which went for an infield hit. If that's an out, the inning is scoreless. Then Tejada's single would have been an out had it not hit Lester right where it did.

Although you can't go hitting the pitcher to lead off an inning and expect to get away with it. And now the home run by Lee makes it 6-4. This should have been an easy win for the Sox. Grrr.

[Atheose]

Yeah, despite the bad inning Lester has done a good job of getting ahead of hitters and throwing strikes. Hell, he's only at 74 pitches through 4 2/3. He hasn't been helped by the horrible strikezone either.

[Atheose]

Well apparently Lester's out as Casey pinch-hits.

[Paul SF]

Yeah, the truth is harder to put into a one-sentence summary: "To strengthen an alliance with the Yankees against AL president Ban Johnson, rid himself of a troublesome star and acquire cash to rebuild the franchise over the next decade." Doesn't quite have the same ring to it...

[Atheose]

Ellsbury SMOKES a ball at Hunter Pence, who misplays it and lets it go over his head. Triple for Lugo, 6-5 Sox now.

[Paul SF]

Ellsbury with the triple!!! 6-5 now, and Pedroia up. Would be great to take Lester off the hook here -- or even give him the opportunity for a win...

[Atheose]

Ellsbury SMOKES a ball at Hunter Pence, who misplays it and lets it go over his head. Triple for Lugo, 6-5 Sox now.

[Atheose]

Sorry for the double post.

So can Pedroia make it 4 for 4?

[Atheose]

Wow, Ellsbury only has 2 walks in June. No wonder his OBP has dropped so much.

[Atheose]

Pedroia ties it!

[Paul SF]

Pedroia ties it... Now 4-for-4! Wow.

[Paul SF]

Wow, Ellsbury only has 2 walks in June. No wonder his OBP has dropped so much.

Now, Ath. That hurts. I already posted about that during my first-half wrapup the other day... *wipes away a tear*

Let's go Drew!!!!

[Paul SF]

Drew with the single! Still only one out, and Pedroia's on third for Manny!

[Atheose]

I know Paul, I was just reading that post of yours ;-) I missed it when it was posted the other day.

Hey, we use the hit-and-run and it works! Runners at corners with 1 down, PLEASE no GIDP Manny.

[Atheose]

Manny gets walked, make 'em pay Mikey.

[Paul SF]

Manny walks, now Lowell up with the bases loaded, looking for a 4-for-4 night himself...

[Atheose]

Lowell with the sac-fly. Paul called it earlier, Lester is up for the win now.

[Paul SF]

I think Pedroia was going because it was a 3-2 count with two outs...

Lowell with the sac fly, and Lester now can win the game! Awesome.

Gotcha, Ath. Thought someone might have said the two-walk bit on TV...

[Paul SF]

YOUUUUUK!!! Two-run double!!

[Atheose]

YOUUUUK! He's out at third and he's arguing it (even though he was out), but Manny scores from 1st. Way to hustle!

[Paul SF]

When they said they were waving Manny, I winced. Just knew that was going to be an out. Losing Youk at third doesn't bother me as much. I'd bet money that Varitek was going to make the third out anyway...

[Paul SF]

Wow, Aardsma with two strikeouts in the 1-2-3 sixth. He has been really good for the Sox. A quality pickup by Theo.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

WOW. Took the boy for ice cream after Loretta's homer. Just got back. Missed a great comeback. ...

One of the Astros radio guys is Milo Hamilton. Back in the day he worked for the Cubs and left in a tizzy because they hired Harry Caray, who was long past his prime by that point. milo thought Harry was getting higher billing over him. He's probably still pissed about it. Milo used to be very, very good, although he's always been a homer.

http://astros.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=hou

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Milo also is a native Iowan.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Pitt takes 3-2 lead over TB, looking for more.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Who pitches the 8th?
Don't be Oki.

[Atheose]

Wow I walk away for 30 minutes and we blow the lead. Thanks, bullpen.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Craptastic.

[Paul SF]

Every time the Red Sox score 10 runs or more, they lose. The bullpen is really the Achilles' heel of this team. No way this should have been a loss. Disheartening. Frustrating.

[Atheose]

Wow, the angels have a combined no-hitter going in the 8th inning, AND they're losing 1-0.

[Lar]

Wow, heartbreaker for you guys. Though the Angels game is arguably even more heartbreaking.

[Atheose]

Agreed on both regards, Lar.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

This from today's Boston Globe:

Not so fast...
The Red Sox passed on Joba Chamberlain with the 40th pick in the 2006 draft to take Wichita State lefthander Kris Johnson. Chamberlain went a pick later to the Yankees. But the Sox were - and are - high on Johnson, who has recovered from Tommy John surgery in February 2006. He is 6-3 with a 3.32 ERA at Double A Portland. Johnson was selected as a supplemental pick as compensation for losing Johnny Damon to the Yankees. The 6-foot-4-inch, lanky starter has an 89-93-m.p.h. fastball, a good curve, and very good changeup. He's on a run of 17 consecutive scoreless innings.

We all know how it looks now. How will it look in five years?