One for the Bulletin Board: Sox-Rays Gamer II

Not that taking a two game lead back to Fenway isn't enough to motivate, but the t-shirt above, for sale at mlb.com, ought to add a little to the drama. Somebody order Dustin Pedroia one in XS.

Chat about tonight's game here.

(h/t Deadspin)

Comments

[YF]

If you need a bulletin board at this point....

I guess they meant regular season? They are the Rays. Cut'em some slack! I'd bet 50 percent of their fans don't even know what "dynasty" they've conquered. Anyway, if you wanna believe Buster Olney the last night of that dynasty came when Evan Longoria was still in elementary school.

[Bkln-SF]

Did they conquer a dynasty?

[SoxFan]

I have to say that shirt is really an intimidating powerpuff baby blue.

[YF]

fudge.

[Paul SF]

I love Jason Bay. So much. And Beckett looks good tonight, too...

[YF]

LONGoria! It's a ballgame!

[Paul SF]

No sooner do I say that... *sigh*

[rootbeerfloat]

dammit.

[YF]

Man, he was fooled on that pitch, way out front of it, and still jacked it.

[Micah-SF]

Beckett leaving fastballs over the heart of the plate. Ugh.

[sf rod]

well...josh didn't walk anyone...and he did throw 18 less pitches than kazmir...so there's that.

[Paul SF]

It sucks because Kazmir looks good, and until Beckett gave up that homer, it looked like 2-0 could have been enough for the whole game.

Also doesn't help that with Drew sitting, the Sox are unimpressive from 6-9.

[Micah-SF]

Jacoby does not seem to understand that we need long at-bats. Ugh.

[SF]

Dusty!!!!

[Micah-SF]

ABOUT TIME HE WOKE UP!

[SF]

Papi walks - Kazmir looks a little out of sync.

[Micah-SF]

Ugh, wasted chance to really work his pitch count even more there. It should be 80, not 71.

[YF]

in other news, that reese witherspoon-vince vaughn flick looks like a major dog.

[Micah-SF]

Beckett just isn't right. At this point I'm doubting he's going to be right for the rest of the playoffs.

[YF]

Ball really carrying tonight....in the dome.

[SF]

oof, Upton loses one. Beckett is just not healthy, no way.

[SF]

Beckett once again appears to have absolutely nothing.

[SF]

lucky that one didn't leave the park too.

[Micah-SF]

Do we put in Paul Byrd? At this point they're lucky if Beckett gets through 5 without giving up another three or four runs.

[SF]

This makes me wonder if Beckett shouldn't just be shut down for the playoffs. I don't see how these kinds of efforts are good for the team - this isn't rust, as some people thought after Game 3 of the LAA series. He's gotta be hurt.

[YF]

If either of these 2 starters gets through 5 it'll be impressive. Beckett looks the more likely, after that pickoff, but....

[Micah-SF]

Agreed, SF. He's not right, and it's actively hurting the team.

I feel a lot less better about our chances right now than I did an hour ago. Lester's going to have to keep being perfect.

[dc]

paul at 8:34pm: "...And Beckett looks good tonight, too..."

sf at 9:22pm: "...Beckett once again appears to have absolutely nothing...."

how quickly things change:
i'll say it again...you guys will win...you suck, but you'll win...it's in the stars...i feel it, after watching the angel series, and game 1 here...you trade the best hitter in baseball, but it won't matter...the baseball gods love you right now...you know i don't [didn't] believe in luck, but you're quickly making a believer out of me....

[michael]

Is it me, or are the TBS announcers a whole lot more excited when the Rays score than when the Sox do?

[Paul SF]

This is 2006 Beckett -- strikes out half the batters, gives up bombs to the other half. The only redeeming virtue is that we're facing 2008 Kazmir.

Too bad the black hole of suck part of our lineup now at the plate.

[SF]

No, it's not 2006 Beckett, Paul. 2006 Beckett was absolutely lights out for entire games that season, and horrid in others. This is the 2006 Beckett in those bad games only: he's not going to turn it around - that year he wasn't injured, he was just erratic. This postseason his velocity is down, he's hurt. I don't see a lights-out game 6 performance, if it gets that far. I see him getting bombarded again. He doesn't have ANYTHING. It's not just a lack of control, it's a lack of velocity and movement. Much, much worse.

[dc]

"...are the TBS announcers a whole lot more excited when the Rays score than when the Sox do?..."

no, you just miss don orsilly-o and jer "i'm tryin' to sound impartial" remy... [insert giggle]...

[SF]

how quickly things change

You cite two different posters, dc. Last game Beckett had nothing. This game, to me, he has nothing. We have contradicted each other, but that's because I have my thoughts, and those opposed are Paul's. Paul's opinion is someone else's, you realize?

[Micah-SF]

The problem with this game is I pretty much feel like it's entirely up to Pedroia, Ortiz, Youk and Bay to score. The whole rest of the lineup ranges between "bad" and "automatic out". And I don't think Beckett can hold them at 4.

[dc]

all kidding aside sf, do you really believe he's hurt or is the law of averages catching up with beckett?...for me the guy who seems to be the defying the laws of physics [or any science or math of your choice] is dice-k....that cat has 99 lives...

[Paul SF]

In my defense, Beckett looked good for two outs in the first, and in the second. So in the second, the problems of the first could be viewed as a couple mistakes. He looked atrocious in the third, which makes the first appear completely different than it did an inning ago.

Good God. Another homer.

[Micah-SF]

Tito. Take him. The fuck. Out. Of. This. GAME.

[dc]

"You cite two different posters, dc. "

you're sharp sf...i said as much...i'm just saying that things change as do opinions...you don't think it's wierd that paul thought he was on and you didn't? ...i commented on the timing...if that's not relevant, then that's really wierd...

[SF]

He's hurt dc. Where have you been? You think the team is faking his injury? You think his velocity and movement is down even though he's fully healthy? The idiots who think that the Yankees used injury as an excuse for Hughes and Kennedy were right, then? That line of argument was preposterous then and it is now.

Beckett, had he been healthy, would have started Game 1 of the Angels series, no questions asked. But he didn't start until Game 3. He's hurt. And his pitching results are showing that. He's topping out at 91-92, max.

[dc]

paul, no need to defend, he did look good early...i was just surprised that you and i saw it differently than sf...ok, with that, i'll go away...yf's don't belong here...our team is a loser...

[SF]

you don't think it's wierd that paul thought he was on and you didn't?

No, I don't think that's weird at all. We all see different things watching the same game, almost all the time.

[Paul SF]

Also, re: Beckett in 2006, I'll point to April 27 -- six strikeouts in 3.2 innings, but three home runs and eight earned runs. Or May 30, seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings, but four homers and seven earned runs. Or Sept. 27, when he struck out eight in 6.2 innings, but gave up two homers and eight earned runs.

[YF]

Could someone explain the awful Trop home run music/sound effects production? it's what i'd expect to hear at an s&m club crossed with a weigh station on 1-95.

What happened to our great pastoral game???

Anyway, i'll live with it if the Rays keep torching Beckett.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Jesus. They're teeing off on Beckett like they know what's coming. Or his pitches are just flat.
Yech.

[dc]

ugh...goodnight sf

[SF]

it's what i'd expect to hear at an s&m club

Um, what?!

[Micah-SF]

dc, I think we're all a little on edge - we're realizing that instead of a rusty but generally healthy Beckett, we've got nothing, and that leaves us with Lester and Dice-K (who is still just as likely to have a five-inning start as to repeat last night) as our only good pitchers.

SF's right. I haven't seen Beckett top 93 on Gameday, he's leaving meatballs in the middle of the plate, and he's got little to no movement. He has to be hurt.

[YF]

you know, expect to hear. the trop is "the vault" of mlb.

[Paul SF]

At this point, I have more confidence in Paul Byrd than Josh Beckett. That's no situation you want a playoff team to be in.

[SF]

Uh, how do you know what the music sounded like in The Vault?

Do tell.

[Micah-SF]

At least Pedroia's woken up. Damn, it's nice to see him do that.

[YF]

Channel J? Didn't you live in Chelsea for a decade?

[SF]

What's the most years/money people would be willing to have Tek come back? I am curious. He's excruciating to watch at the plate. His value to the team is not measurable by any metric we know, other than statistics.

I say one year, 4 mill. For that, he can come back, we can make up the offense elsewhere. Is some stupid team going to give him 2 or 3 years and 15-20M over those years? I wonder what Boras has on his mind right now...

[YF]

At this rate, Kazmir and Beckett are going to be trading dingers during Weekend Update. Gah.

[SF]

Channel J was before my time, though I know about those old cable boxes. And yes, I called Chelsea home. But not that part of Chelsea, other than for an occasional Florent run.

[dc]

ok, sorry micah...i understand...clearly beckett isn't on his game, whether from injury or just being "off"...and i still love sf...not sure how i'd react either if my team was in this game and a star wasn't performing like one...i just thought it was interesting that 2 knowledgeable sox fans saw beckett's outing so differently, at that point in time anyway...

[SF]

It's also pretty clear that Papi isn't quite there. He's obviously dangerous, but he has missed a TON of cookies these last few weeks in the games I have seen.

[SF]

Happy New Year!

[Paul SF]

Pedroia's homer was exactly why I said to myself when Ellsbury was up, "Just take the walk, and let Pedroia give us the lead." Instead, he made an out, and the Sox are merely tied now...

[Micah-SF]

I can't justify anything beyond a one-year contract, SF. Yes, he's been The Captain and all, but his contributions at the plate are actively hurting the team, and he's going to be 37. It's likely that he's never going to get it back.

I think we have to trade for one of Texas' young catchers. We can have Tek mentor him, but beyond the one year he needs to go. I don't want to see a 2/20 type deal just because of his past history.

Also, YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUK! Hopefully Beckett doesn't come out this inning, because he'll give that right back.

[SF]

Does Tito have the balls to bring Beckett back out and squeeze an inning, with the top/heart of the order coming up? Tempting fates, big time.

[YF]

Good lord make it stop.

Florent. What I wouldn't give for an evelyne's salad, a plate of rilletes, some of that warmed baguette, darinka at the door, and a nice full glass of wine right now. Bah.

[SF]

And the coffee, YF...perfect.

[SF]

holy CRAP!

[Micah-SF]

Okay, you know, when I said I only trust Pedroia, Ortiz, Youk and Bay to get us runs, I wasn't quite expecting 3 of them to hit solo HRs. But, uh, I'll take it.

[Paul SF]

Have I mentioned how much I freaking love Jason Bay?

So what do you do here? Beckett for one more and hope he can at least make it a four-inning game for the pen? Or try to string together five innings of pen work? I'd start with Masterson for two, and see how it goes from there...

[SF]

Now dc, THIS might be regression to the mean for the Rays' Balfour...

[YF]

yeah. that great coffee. the chicoree made it. nowhere else in the city with anything like it.

send a cup to balfour, for god's sake, this is pitiful.

[Paul SF]

Also, I'd sign Tek for two years with the understanding that it will be a transition to more of a player-coach role, particularly in the second year. But that depends on the money. 2 years/$10-15m? I'd do that.

I agree with Micah that if a deal for Saltalamacchia or Teagarden can be done, then it needs to get done. At this point, it's a huge hole for Boston -- moreso than starting pitching, which means I think I'd give up Buchholz in a trade like that.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Methinks Pedro saw the T-shirt.

[Paul SF]

Surprised to see Varitek in the lineup ahead of Kotsay...

[SF]

NIce at-bat from Tek, for once.

[Paul SF]

Wow, even Tek working the walk. Let's go, Kotsay!

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Balfour drops an F-bomb in Australian.
Here comes Howell, the third Texan to pitch in this game.

[Paul SF]

The cowbells are "mysteriously" silent in the Trop. Imagine that.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Kotsay, like Papi a few batters before, just missed that. Just.

[Micah-SF]

Oh well. At least Coco made him work.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

That's close to 80 total pitches between the 1st and 5th innings for Tampa.

[SF]

7-8-9-1 for the Sox is 1-11 with one BB.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

And we're well into the Tampa pen.

[SF]

126 pitches for the Rays so far, IBM.

[SF]

Josh on the hill. Ugh.

[Paul SF]

If Beckett holds them here, he'd be in line for the win. Crazy game, this baseball.

Of course, that's a big IF.

[Micah-SF]

I'm hoping to get out of this inning tied. Which is a tremendously sad state of affairs.

[SF]

This is a real "faith" move, leaving Beckett in.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Get Beckett out of there. Now.

SF, I meant in just the 1st and 5th combined.

[Micah-SF]

Grady Francona. Jesus FUCKING Christ.

[SF]

Why is Beckett STILL FUCKING PITCHING?

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Shit.

[Micah-SF]

If we lose tonight it's entirely on Tito. I am utterly disgusted with this. There is no defensible reason to let him pitch to Longoria a third time. None.

[Micah-SF]

I'm going to take a break before I put my fist through the monitor.

[YF]

I get the feeling this thing ends 16-14. No idea who has which number.

[SF]

Probably Tito's worst postseason performance. Unbelievable. What fucking game was he watching? I mean, there's not a single valid explanation for trotting Beckett back out, much less letting him face Pena AND Longoria. Just abominable stuff.

[Jackie (SF)]

Why, God, why?

At least it's only the 5th inning.

[SoxFan]

If the Red Sox come back and win this game, it will be a back breaker for the Rays--at least that one's optimistic way of looking at it.

[dc]

"...Probably Tito's worst postseason performance...."

regression to the mean...

[SoxFan]

Got one run back at least.

[YF]

I think the Sox got robbed on that blown call, and the tv crew won't address the obvious. "A bang bang play always goes to the runner" says Darling. BS. Anyway, umps are trained to tell you there's no such thing as a tie, and that didn't look like one in any case.

[YF]

Where are all the SFs!?

[Paul SF]

Dinner-slash-wife-slash-baby called... and are calling. I'm checking in for frequent updates as XM babbles on in the office...