FRUSTRATION

Why can't we beat the Blue Jays? We finally get to Roy Haladay, but at the same time the Jays get 4 off Beckett and get him out after 5 innings, then they get to our previously perfect closer.

The Sox lost last night because it wasn't an all around team effort. Some players had fabulous performances (Manny, Varitek, Lowell, Pena, and Timlin) but we also had some bad performances (Beckett, Foulke, Papelbon, Youkilis, Loretta, and Ortiz).

Youkilis, Loretta, and Ortiz combined for an 0 for 14 night. The only time one of them got on base was when Youkilis walked. Manny went 3 for 4 without a single RBI because these three guys weren't getting on base in front of him. The back end of the lineup was great with the 4 thru 8 hitters combining for a 12 for 22 with a pair of doubles. Had the 1 thru 3 guys gotten on base, or if we had a better #9 hitter, we would have scored 4 or 5 runs more.

And can we move Mike Lowell up in the lineup already? The guy's batting .326 with 11 doubles. Varitek is batting .260 with 6 extra basehits total. Moving Lowell up would allow us to capitalize on his power. As it is right now, if the #8 hitter doesn't knock him in after he gets on, he won't score because Gonzalez is a hole at the end of the lineup. Move him up and allow him to knock in Manny and Nixon, then get knocked in by Varitek and Pena.

Are we going to explore other options other than Loretta in the #2 spot in the lineup. I think when Coco comes back, Youkilis should be the #2 hitter. Loretta and his .207 average and .267 OBP is killing us at the top of the lineup. Just look at the numbers, every 25 plate appearances, he's recording 18 outs. He's not striking out a lot, but nor is he walking that much (8 BBs, 8 Ks). He also isn't working the count that much. He sees an average of 3.78 pitches per plate appearance. Youkilis, for instance, sees 4.35. That doesn't sound like much, but that adds up over the course of a game.

The pitching is to blame for this one, as well. You score 6 runs, you should win the game. Beckett has fallen considerably from his first 3 starts. He could only give us 5 innings of work, and allowed 4 runs in those 5 innings.

Tavarez was shaky but was saved by Foulke in the 6th. Then Foulke fell apart in the 7th. It seems like when Foulke has to start another inning, he looks a little bit off. Hillenbrand hit a 2 run shot off of him to give the Blue Jays a 6-5 lead.

Timlin was good enough to pitch a scoreless 8th which allowed Mike Lowell to tie it with an RBI single, knocking in Tek. The Sox could have had more after Pena singled, but Gonzalez popped up a bunt, Youkilis grounded into a fielder's choice, then Loretta struck out.

The Sox went to Papelbon in the 9th. Being a tied home game in the 9th with no chance of there being a Save situation in the game, this made sense. However, it says a lot about our middle relief that Francona didn't trust them to pitch.

Overbay led off with a single, Hillenbrand lined out, then Zaun singled. Russ Adams hit a double to knock in the go ahead run. It was the first run Papelbon has allowed all season. His ERA is still an impressive 0.55.

The good news from the inning was that Papelbon stayed settled. He induced a pop up then an inning ending ground out. He gave up the go ahead run, but he kept the Sox as much in the game as possible after doing so.

The Red Sox were given an opportunity by the Blue Jays in the bottom of the 9th. Ortiz and Manny were retired. Mohr struck out but reached 1st on a passed ball. Harris came in and stole 2nd, and got to 3rd on a Zaun throwing error on the play. Varitek just had to hit a single anywhere to tie it up, but he struck out on three pitches.

The Man of the Game is Lyle Overbay who went 4 for 4, with a double, an RBI, 2 runs scored, and a walk. It was his single that sparked the Toronto rally in the 9th.

The B*tch-Goat:
Beckett: 0.3 - 5 IP, 4 ER
Foulke: 0.2 - IP, 2 ER
Papelbon: 0.2 - IP, ER
Youkilis: 0.1 - 0 for 4
Loretta: 0.1 - 0 for 5
Ortiz: 0.1 - 0 for 5

Towers vs. Clement tonight to end the two game series.

SINCE WHEN IS IT DISGRACEFUL TO BOO?

Of all the things fans have done to players, from charging the field, from those two idiots who attacked a first-base coach, to fans throwing batteries, booing and jeering seems relatively mundane.

However, a great many people are appalled that Red Sox fans booed a former player that went to the arch-rival Yankees for more money.

This is what Sean McAdams of the Providence Journal and WEEI said:
"As a reward for his on-field excellence and unselfish behavior, Damon was treated like some common criminal Monday."

A common criminal? Opening your mouth and booing is treating someone like a common criminal? I think we need to look at the big picture here. The center-fielder for the New York Yankees got booed in Fenway Park and we're shocked? Yes, he helped us win it all in 2004, but after last year he decided to play for the Yankees. If fans don't like this decision, isn't it within their rights to boo?

Maybe fans are upset because Damon said "There is no way I can play for the Yankees." Are we surprised that a former Red Sox star plays for a rival after saying they would never do it?

Even if there were no reason to boo Damon, there are greater tragedies in life than a millionaire athlete having to listen to people boo him for a few seconds.

We cheered Damon because of the B on his hat, with an NY up there, he is going to get booed.

SOX/YANKS RAINED OUT

Tonight's Red Sox/Yankees game was postponed due to rain. The makeup is scheduled for August 18th as part of a day/night doubleheader. This, of course, means that the Red Sox swept the Yankees.

RedSox.com says Clement will go against Roy Haladay and the Blue Jays tomorrow, but I have to believe the Sox will simply push Clement back a day and pitch Beckett tomorrow night.

STILL YOUR PAPI

Solid pitching, good defense, and timely hitting. That's how you win ball games. Having David Ortiz doesn't hurt, either.

The Sox looked kind of out of this one early after squandering a golden opportunity in the 1st and falling behind 3-1. In the 5th, Manny had a bases loaded single and Trot grounded out to knock in a run to tie the score at 3. The game went scoreless until the bottom of the 8th inning. Loretta had an RBI single to give the Sox a lead. The Yankees then brought in former Sox lefty specialist Mike Myers to face David Ortiz. Papi launched a shot to right center into the bullpens to give the Sox a 7-4 lead. Papelbon pitched yet another scoreless inning to end the game.

The game saw the return of three former Sox to Fenway. The aforementioned Myers did not fare well, neither did Johnny Damon, who went 0 for 4 in his Yankee debut in The Rivalry. Doug Mirabelli also returned literally just in time. He was traded in exchange for Josh Bard, Cla Meredith, and cash considerations. He didn't allow a passed ball and he threw a runner out.

The Man of the Game is David Ortiz, who went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI, a homerun, and a walk. The reason Ortiz is such a big guy is that he eats the Yankees pitchers alive.

Beckett vs. Chacon tomorrow.

SOX SKID INTO YANKEES SERIES

The Sox ended April on a down note, losing 2 of 3 to Tampa, losing 4 of their last 6, and going 3-6 on their 9 game road trip. They go into May and their first series with the Yankees in a virtual tie for 1st.

The Sox just look bad. There is no other way to put it. They aren't getting the phenomenal starting pitching they got earlier in April. Their starting pitching hasn't even been much above average. The offense is struggling, as well. The Sox are finally starting to hit homeruns, but far too many of them are solo shots. We aren't putting up big innings, or getting clutch extra basehits. We aren't making too many valiant comebacks late in games, either.

Thursday night's 15-3 loss to Cleveland was quite embarrassing. We couldn't get to Paul Byrd, of all people, and Josh Beckett seemed to miss his spots on every single pitch. He gave up 3 homers and walked 5. He threw 100 pitches in 3.2 innings, only 57 of which were strikes. Even his strikes were missing. Four of the 6 hits he allowed were for extra bases.

The position players didn't do much better. We could only get two extra basehits, and left 9 men on base. Six of those nine left were in scoring position.

Thursday's Man of the Game is Ben Broussard who went 4 for 5 with a pair of homers, including a Grand Slam in the 1st inning on the first pitch he saw. He had 8 RBI and 10 total bases.

The B*tch-Goat:
Beckett: 0.8 - 3.2 IP, 8 ER, 9 R, 3 HR, 5 BB, 6 H
Youkilis: 0.1 - 0 for 4, 3 K
Eamirez: 0.1 - 0 for 4, 3 LOB

The Red Sox flew down to Tampa, normally a place where we're guaranteed to win a series. However, to quote Joe and Jerry "They're not pushovers anymore."

We lost to Casey freakin Fossum Friday night. Lost badly. Clement was poor, giving up 5 thru 6. Timlin and Papelbon kept us in the game with scoreless relief, but our offense fell way short. We left 14 men on base, 9 of whom were in scoring position. We also grounded into 2 double plays.

The Man of the Game is Casey Fossum who went 6 scoreless.

The B*tch-Goat:
Clement: 0.5 - 6 IP, 5 ER
Loretta: 0.2 - 0 for 5, 6 LOB
Pena: 0.2 - 0 for 4, 7 LOB
Ortiz: 0.1 - 1 for 4, 5 LOB

The Sox turned their ship around late in Saturday's game. A 9th inning 4 run rally gave the Sox a 9-6 win. The Sox bats came alive and made up for some below average pitching. Ten hits, 7 walks, and a hit batsman gave the Sox 18 baserunners. They made the walks hurt late in the game with a solid rally in the 9th. Papelbon recorded his 10th save of the season by striking out the side in the bottom of the inning. If it weren't for Papelbon and our pen, we'd be in really rough shape.

The Man of the Game is Kevin Youkilis who went 2 for 3, with a double, 2 walks, and 2 RBI.

Sunday's game appeared to be heading in the same direction with the Red Sox rallying in the 9th inning.

Schilling didn't have his best stuff on Sunday. He still pitched well enough for a win, though. Seanez was once again terrible, allowing 2 runs in the 7th inning, turning a 3-2 game into a 5-2 game. The deficit was too much for the Sox to overcome.

Pena and Lowell both homered in the top of the 9th, but neither one was with a runner on. The Sox got the tying run to 3rd with 1 out, but Youkilis struck out and Loretta grounded out to end the game.

The Man of the Game is Scott Kazmir who owns us for some reason. He went 7 and only allowed 1 run.

The B*tch-Goat:
Schilling: 0.4 - 6 IP, 3 ER
Seanez: 0.3 - IP, ER
Youkilis: 0.2 - 0 for 5, 3 Ks, 5 LOB
Ramirez: 0.1 - 0 for 4, 2 Ks

The Sox begin a two game series against New York back in Friendly Fenway. Chien-Ming Wang goes against Tim Wakefield in the first game. Shawn Chacon goes against Josh Beckett on Tuesday. Let's try not to go too crazy after this series if we sweep, get swept, or split. It's a 2 game series in early May. That's it.

SOX OUTCLASSED

There are some games in which you're beaten and there are some games in which you are really beaten. This was one of those second games.

The Indians scored 3 in the 1st inning off a homerun that came after a walk and an infield single. That was all they needed, but it wouldn't be all that they got.

Pena hit a solo homerun after Mike Lowell grounded into a double play in the 4th.

Victor Martinez got the run back in the bottom half of the inning. He reached on a walk, stole second, got to 3rd on a single, and scored on a passed ball.

In the 6th, Martinez came around to score again thanks to an Aaron F Boone double. The Indians got 2 more off Manny Delcarmen in his first MLB outing of the season.

All and all, a pretty poor night for the Red Sox.

The Man of the Game is Cliff Lee who went 6 innings allowing a sole earned run. He pitched around 4 hits and 4 walks with the help of 2 double play balls, and 7 strikeouts.

Here is the B*tch-Goat:
Wakefield: 0.5 - 5.2 IP, 5 R, 3 ER
Bard: 0.2 - 4 passed balls, 1 for 3
Youkilis: 0.1 - 0 for 4, K
Ortiz: 0.1 - 0 for 3, 2 K, 4 LOB
Lowell: 0.1 - 0 for 4, 3 LOB, GIDP

Beckett against Paul Byrd tomorrow night in the rubber game. I'm too bitter right now.

34 days until Roger Clemens is available to pitch (June 1).

THE MANNY BEING MANNY TRILOGY

THE GOOD

THE BAD

THE UGLY

Manny Ramirez was everywhere in this game. His baserunning error crushed a rally early, his homerun gave the Sox a lead, and he scored thanks to a dropped ball at the plate.

This game was a lot like Manny's night. Sometimes players made great plays, sometimes they made bad plays, and sometimes they made ugly plays.

Schilling was good, bad, and ugly. He had a season high in strikeouts with 8, but he also had a season high in earned runs with 5. He should have been pulled before the 7th as he was 110 pitches deep and didn't look that sharp. The bullpen was fresh after an off day, so bringing in Foulke, Timlin, and Papelbon would have made sense. But Francona decided not to do it.

Foulke and Timlin had similar good, bad, and ugly pitching performances. Foulke got win #1 of the season, and Timlin got his 6th Hold. Papelbon was flat out good in the 9th with a perfect 1-2-3 inning and keeping the ball in the infield the entire time. Papelbon seems to excel when the game is close. He tied a Major League rookie record for Saves in a month with 9.

Manny had a huge night and will take down his 2nd Man of the Game of 2006. Yes, he screwed up on the bases, but he made up for it at the plate with a huge 3 run homer, his 10th, 11th and 12th RBI of the year, and 3 hits. He also walked.

Tomorrow night, Wakefield faces off against 1-1 Cliff Lee.

CRISP TO RETURN IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY

It's going to be about 3 more weeks of watching Willie Harris and Dustin Mohr strike out before Crisp returns to the Red Sox, according to Francona and the Globe. Francona said in Toronto that he expects Crisp to return somewhere in the middle of May.

So far, Crisp's replacements are batting a combined .164 with a .220 OBP, and striking out more than once every three times at-bat. Compare that to Crisp who was batting .333, with an OBP of .385 and striking out once every four at-bats before he got injured.

The offense has struggled this season, scoring only 90 runs in 19 games (4.7 runs per game) compared to last season when we scored 910 runs (5.6 per game). Part of it is the lack of production from center-field.

Lately, the production from Crisp's replacements has been practically nothing. Harris and Mohr combined for an 0 for 12 in the Toronto series, with 6 strikeouts. Crisp's replacements are 3 for their last 35. With Loretta and Varitek slumping, Gonzalez a non-factor on offense, and the center-field spot giving us nothing, we have 4 holes in our lineup. Our pitching has been able to carry us, but we're starting to see some chinks in that armor with Beckett collapsing on Friday, Clement not giving us a Quality Start, and DiNardo looking terrible on Saturday.