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Sunday, Weary Sunday: Brewers-Sox Gamer III

Late last night Mike Timlin closed out a sweep of Milwaukee in clean, efficient fashion, the tidiest accomplishment in an ugly nightcap (seven errors between the two teams) easily forgotten by lovers of slick baseball everywhere. On short sleep the Brewers and Sox retake the field at Fenway in what is probably a bit of a daze, the likelihood of good fundamental baseball tempered by sleep deprivation. On "good baseball"'s side we have ace Josh Beckett leading the way - it is a game in which seven solid innings from the Bosox' stopper would seem imperative.

Use this thread for all commentary.

Let's Play Two: Brew-Sox Gamers I/II

The last time the Milwaukee Brewers played at Fenway Park, Butch Henry picked up the win behind two home runs by John Valentin -- two of six hit by the Red Sox on the day. Here are the six home runs, and the last time we heard of these players:

• John Valentin (2): Retired after playing a season for the Mets in 2002.
• Wil Cordero: 29 games for the Nationals in 2005 with a -14 OPS+
• Troy O'Leary: 93 games with the Reds in 2003,.
• Bill Haselman: 3 at bats on a very brief return jaunt with the Red Sox in 2003.
• Jeff Frye: That was one of the three home runs he hit al year and the 16 he hit in his eight seasons. Played 74 games with Toronto in 2001.

A six-homer attack would be more than welcome today. Comment on both games here!

In Progress: Sox-Os Gamer II

A leadoff single and stolen base by Ellsbury off of Daniel Cabrera was followed by a double from Dustin Pedroia to give the Sox a 1-0 lead. They are now in the bottom of the second, Lester on the mound.

Comment away..

Josh Beckett Fighting for His Job: Sox-O's Gamer I

A few weeks ago, after a couple rocky starts by Jon Lester, the media howling in Boston was that he was all but losing his job to Bartolo Colon. A couple good starts later, and that talk has vanished.

No surprise, then, to see the references cropping up today after a second poor start from Clay Buchholz.

Buchholz, who threw only 37 fastballs among his 90 pitches, would appear to be fighting for his major league existence every time out because of Colon's presence ...

Extending this meme, I can only conclude that if Josh Beckett struggles in Baltimore tonight, he'd better start looking over his shoulder. A former Cy Young winner is pitching mighty well in Pawtucket.

Watch the edge-of-your-seat action here, and comment away!

One Is the Luckiest Number: Sox-Twins Gamer IV

Admit it. You're a little relieved. The Red Sox are now just 7-5 in one-run games. They're outperforming their Pythagorean record by just one game. So, despite three one-run losses in their last five contests, the Sox still sit in first place -- in the division, in the league and in the game -- with a 24-16 record. Better for the correction to happen this way than it did last year, when it came during the heat of a Yankee winning streak.

Clay Buchholz looks to put the Sox back on the winning track tonight. He got blasted around last time out but has been pretty solid otherwise. He faces Livan Hernandez, who is having a fine season himself. Hernandez is facing the Sox for the first time since 2006 and just the third time overall. In each of his other two starts (1999 and 2006), Hernandez allowed eight hits and six runs. Sounds good to us.

The first game of the PTE (Post Tavarez Era) begins shortly. Comment away!

How To Make Your Team Worse In One Day: Sox-Twins Gamer III

The Red Sox activated Alex Cora from the disabled list today, sending Jed Lowrie to the minors. I understand the need for Lowrie to play every day, and that Cora as a defender and fairly competent bat-handler is probably more valuable than not to this ballclub. But with Julio Lugo not expected to miss any more time than yesterday's and today's games, why not wait a day and give Lowrie one more start in the bigs? I am firmly convinced the Red Sox are a better team with Jed Lowrie in the lineup than Alex Cora. Apparently, the Red Sox are not as convinced.

Hey, what do I know? Maybe Cora will finish the year 1.000/1.000/1.000. It's about as likely as Coco Crisp and Jed Lowrie hitting back-to-back home runs...

Comment on tonight's ESPN-fueled Sunday night action here. I'll be at everyone's favorite chain sports bar, watching the Sox on live TV for the first time this season, thankfully immune from Joe Morgan's color commentary.

I Have An Idea! Let's Win Games When We Have a Lead In the Bottom of the Ninth: Sox-Twins Gamer II

OK, I'm bitter. I have no right to be, it's not rational, and my midn tells me this is what the Sox get for playing with the fire that is one-run games this season.

Still. Instead of going for a ninth straight win, the Sox are for the second time in three days hoping tor ebound from a heart-breaking loss in the bottom of the ninth. Damn.

Comment away!

On Mini-Golf and Guys Named Boof: SoxTwins Gamer I

The Red Sox are known as a team that doesn't like playing in the Metrodome. There's the thought that they don't do particularly well there (despite winning the series there last season); then there's the strange catwalk system that cost David Ortiz a home run there in 2006. You remember that one. Ortiz hit a bomb that clanged off a speaker and turned into a single.

Terry Francona was a bit peeved after the game.

"It's like playing putt-putt golf, you've got to go around the windmill," Francona said. "This is Major League baseball. That's embarrassing."

You know what else is embarrassing? Being named Boof.

You know what's even more embarrassing? Choosing the name "Boof." Yes, Bonser actually changed his name from John Paul Bonser to Boof Bonser. (The more you say "Boof Bonser," the more it sounds like you're trying out some barely understood Australian colloquialism).

Bonser has had a career that is practically the definition of mediocre, but that hasn't stopped the Red Sox from losing to him both times they've faced him. Perhaps tonight, they'll give Jon Lester a hand and boof Bonser all over the park ... whatever that means.

Comment away!

Greek God

"He just beat our brains out." -- Jim Leyland

No Splits: Sox-Tigers Gamer VII

Tonight the Sox look to take three out of four in Detroit. Chat away here.

(sorry about the brevity, posting from an Apple telephony product!)