In this day of Wild Cards and "back doors" to the playoffs, one must ask: is it appropriate to put a beer box on one's head and dance a jig after your team reaches the postseason because somebody else beats another team in another city a half hour after you lose to a team eliminated from the playoffs in mid-August? Is it appropriate to hoist midgets vertically challenged Dominicans three feet over one's head in honor of a berth earned due to the rules changes of the modern era? Is it ever wrong to riddle the Kenmore Square sidewalk with Fenway Frank shrapnel tossed forth after drinking a case of warm Hahpoon?
(Man, I miss Boston on celebration nights...)
Tonight we might find out (this author doesn't know the answer, though we're not typically inclined to Riverdancing in a Bud Light case, just as a matter of principle), as the Sox can clinch a playoff spot through the stylings of Josh Beckett and by beating up on a guy whose 2007 career highlight, according to MLB.com, was that he "spent the entire season at Triple-A Nashville".
Comment away here, and let's get that post-season swagger started tonight! Go Sox!
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Joe C. informs the radio audience that JD Drew today had an epidermal. Would that mean that his skin is thicker or thinner?
We love Joe.
Posted by: I'mBillMcNeal | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 07:07 PM
Joe now goes into the home run call on an Ortiz double off the scoreboard.
Posted by: I'mBillMcNeal | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 07:15 PM
Gameday is being lame and not loading. MLB.tv is fine, but I want to keep track of pitch counts at the same time!
Posted by: Atheose | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 07:28 PM
WTF is going on with Beckett? How do you walk Asdrubal Cabrera with the bases loaded? Especially when it brings up Sizemore with the bases STILL loaded? Augh.
Posted by: stuck working | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 07:37 PM
Let's see if Beckett's recovered his command here. I'd really like the Sox to win this one and get this post-season clinching out of the way...
Posted by: stuck working | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 07:44 PM
I was wondering if my Gameday failures were limited to my computer. Apparently not.
Posted by: I'mBillMcNeal | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 07:48 PM
Who wants to pony up $795 for a pair of red Fenway seats? Includes shipping.
Posted by: I'mBillMcNeal | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 07:49 PM
What do you mean, IBM?
Posted by: stuck working | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 07:49 PM
The seats? The Red Sox are selling them. Their way of recycling.
Posted by: I'mBillMcNeal | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 07:52 PM
No, I meant about Gameday problems.
Posted by: stuck working | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 07:52 PM
My Gameday isn't loading.
Posted by: I'mBillMcNeal | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 07:53 PM
In honor of Beckett pitching, I present the following dramatization of Waiting for the Post-Season.
EstragonIBM: I wonder if my Gameday will show up.VladimirSW: When will Gameday arrive?IBM: Should be any minute now.
SW: What's a Gameday?
IBM: I already told you.
SW: Nothing to be done.
IBM: ...
SW: Gameday should be working.
IBM: It isn't.
20 minutes pass.
Both: Who's that approaching?
PozzoAtheose: You guys going to the Laser Show?Posted by: stuck working | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 08:02 PM
Hahaha!
Well Gameday is working now so we can avoid fulfilling the dramatization that Stuck painted for us.
Posted by: Atheose | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 08:11 PM
iwamura singles in two. 2-0 tampa in the 5th.
Posted by: sf rod | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 08:20 PM
Why do the Sox continue to suck against pitchers they should be destroying?
Posted by: Paul SF | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 08:21 PM
Their approach at the plate seems totally incoherent. Sometimes it's swing at the first pitch, othertimes it's taking more, but no one seems to have much of a plan.
This may be me projecting a lot, though.
Posted by: stuck working | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 08:23 PM
they should hide all of teks left handed bats away from him. ;)
Posted by: sf rod | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 08:24 PM
Orioles load the bases with 0 outs against Price.
Posted by: Atheose | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 08:29 PM
Down 4-1, they have to stop the bleeding here.
Posted by: stuck working | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 08:39 PM
The premise of this post is faulty, as the Sox can guarantee a playoff spot today only by winning, not by having someone else lose. The Yankees are the only team still to be eliminated for the wild card, and they don't play today.
Posted by: Ron Newman | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 08:40 PM
Wow, I hope we see "October Josh" next week, because we didn't today. 2 doubles, but no HR bodes well, at least.
Posted by: stuck working | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 08:43 PM
Ron, I think the idea was that we SFs want the Sox to win tonight to head off the possibility of clinching the post-season through a Yankees loss tomorrow, but it was a bit confusing.
Posted by: stuck working | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 08:44 PM
yes, Ron, I know the Twins aren't playing. Artistic license.
And wow, how bad do the Sox look? Yeesh.
Posted by: SF | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 08:47 PM
Son of a bitch!
Posted by: Atheose | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:09 PM
Keep hope alive I suppose...
Posted by: John - YF | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:16 PM
Laser show!
Posted by: Atheose | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:26 PM
lead down to 1.
Posted by: I'mBillMcNeal | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Huge spot here, obviously. I'd be happy with a sac fly...
Posted by: stuck working | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Is that Big Shirtless Ron?
Posted by: I'mBillMcNeal | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Up comes the black hole of the lineup. But Jed has 15 RBI in 14 AB with bases loaded.
Posted by: I'mBillMcNeal | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:34 PM
I'd be happy with a wild pitch right here, too.
Posted by: I'mBillMcNeal | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:35 PM
Lowrie called out on a great pitch on the outside corner. Bah.
Posted by: Atheose | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:37 PM
There goes the sac fly possibility. Kotsay's chance to make his mark with the Sox...
Posted by: stuck working | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:38 PM
It's only 4-3. So there is still hope for a drunken river dance and beer box on somebody's head tonight!
Posted by: SoxFan | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:38 PM
Hey, um, swing the freakin' bat, Jed.
Posted by: I'mBillMcNeal | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:39 PM
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Posted by: I'mBillMcNeal | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:40 PM
Bah.
Posted by: stuck working | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:40 PM
Sick inning from Masterson.
Posted by: stuck working | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:47 PM
Masterson: 9 pitches, 5 outs.
Posted by: I'mBillMcNeal | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:48 PM
time to test out old friend kelly shoppach.
Posted by: sf rod | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:56 PM
With their speed, you shouldn't see those two in a DP too often. At least the right guys are coming up in the 9th.
Posted by: stuck working | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 09:59 PM
Good inning from Oki... his stuff was pretty much unhittable.
Let's go good guys!
Posted by: Atheose | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 10:06 PM
it's always stupid games like this one where our bullpen looks unhittable. the way oki and masterson looked there, we should have won 162 games.
Posted by: sf rod | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Wow, I think that's the first time this season Pedroia has struck out on 3 straight pitches.
Posted by: Atheose | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 10:09 PM
where was that first pitch called strike on dustin? it almost hit his knee.
Posted by: sf rod | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 10:09 PM
come on bay. i've got my empty beer box hat ready.
Posted by: sf rod | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 10:11 PM
the yankees season hangs in jed lowries balance.
Posted by: sf rod | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 10:13 PM
COME ON LOWRIE!
Posted by: Atheose | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Sigh. There's no way we could pull a 2007 Mets, right? Right?
Posted by: Atheose | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 10:15 PM
17 baserunners, 3 runs.
Posted by: Atheose | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 10:16 PM
looks like papelbon will have to keep his pants on for at least another 24 hours...
Posted by: dc | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 10:27 PM
I haven't found the numbers to back this up, but it feels like Boston's one-run losses total for 2008 is nearing or has even surpassed the staggering Grady Little 2003 mark.
Anyone?
Posted by: Hudson | Monday, September 22, 2008 at 11:56 PM
What's even worse is that it feels like we get a RISP for each and every one of those one-run losses, just to tease us a little bit.
Posted by: Atheose | Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 09:30 AM