WAKE UP CALL

As bad as this roadtrip was, it easily could have been worse. This was the first time in a long time that Wakefield has looked this good. Hopefully he'll be able to go on a tear like he has in years past.

A few good things that it was nice seeing, apart from a solid Wakefield:

Johnny Damon hit for power with a double and a homer. Last year he had 20 homeruns and this year he only had 2 going into the 62nd game.

Kevin Youkilis getting some playing time. He went 3 for 5 with his first homer and a double. Good to see the arm hasn't been affected by Reyes...yet.

Good to see Kevin Millar not looking like a fool.

Seeing Manny Ramirez hit a homerun after a long drought.

Doug Mirabelli back on the team. He is an improvement over Wooten and Shoppach and he allows Varitek to stay fresh.

Seeing the bullpen go 2 scoreless innings allowing only one hit.

The Man of the Game is Wakefield who went 7, allowed only a run and only 4 hits. He went 1 for 4 at the plate with an RBI. He didn't walk anybody and only threw 86 pitches. Had the score been tighter, he probably could have gone 9.

Interleague play continues as the Sox host the Reds and Pirates. They should win 5 of these games. They should be doing alot of things though.

BOSOX BLOW IN CHICAGO

This game was simply pathetic. The Sox go up 4-0 early. Then Miller gives up 3 in the 2nd, then 1 in the 4th. Meanwhile, the Red Sox haven't added to their lead. Miller gives up the lead in the 6th. Then the pen comes in after Miller went 7. The bullpen, Mantei really, gives up two more runs. The Red Sox rally in the 9th, kind of, but the 1 run they score isn't enough.

Renteria, Ortiz, and Ramirez went a combined 0 for 10. This team cannot win games with a gaping hole in the middle of the lineup. We simply don't have the pitching or the bottom of the lineup hitting to do so with any consistency.

This article on RedSox.com really pisses me off. How could it not be time to panic? This team cannot win on the road. This team hasn't won three straight games since the 11th of May when they swept the Oakland Pathetics at Fenway. The team is 4.5 behind Baltimore, 1 ahead of Toronto, and only 2 ahead of the struggling Yankees. So what should happen? What moves can the team make to improve itself?

The team has had a few injuries, but it hasn't been as plagued as the Cubs team that has beaten us twice. Losing Schilling hurts, but there are so many other flaws. Our $10M shortstop isn't doing anything. Our $20M left fielder is in a slump and hasn't hit for average all year. Our $13M Ace hasn't pitched a quality game for us. The bullpen, except for Timlin and Myers, has been consistently bad. The bench is nowhere near as good as last season. Bellhorn and Mueller haven't been producing as much as they did last season. And Millar has been a laughable player all year.

The Red Sox could theoretically make some moves. If they traded for Mike Sweeney, I think they would have a solid 5th hitter and a productive first baseman that isn't a defensive liability. Although the move itself would benefit the team, it wouldn't put us into position to win it all. We'd still lack bullpen pitching and a bench. And we'd have to spend alot on Sweeney. The move might also irritate Francona who seems to be in love with Millar.

The Red Sox seem to have a crop of good prospects that are nearly on the verge of breaking into the majors. Youkilis has already proven he can play. Shoppach has been putting up big numbers in AAA. Ramirez and Pedroia are doing well in AA. In a few years, the Red Sox may have a team with young, developed players. I don't think we should abandon this, trade all our prospects, just for a slim chance at winning it all. The players we already have, perhaps with a new reliever added, will have to do it on their own.

The Man of the Game for Saturday's 7-5 loss is Todd Walker who went 3 for 4 with a triple, 3 runs scored and an RBI.

The Bitch-Goat shall be divided thusly:
Miller: 0.3 - 7 IP, 5 ER
Mantei: 0.4 - IP, ER, Inherited runner scored
Renteria: 0.1 - 0 for 3, 3 LOB
Ramirez: 0.1 - 0 for 4, 2 Ks
Ortiz: 0.1 - 0 for 3

Wakefield is set to blow up Sunday and the Red Sox will be swept in their first ever series at Wrigley.

CUBS GET REVENGE FOR 1918 LOSS

The Cardinals won their rematch of the 2005 World Series earlier this week. The Cubs were the losers the last time the Red Sox won the Series and they won Friday afternoon. The Sox beat their 1912 opponents (now the San Francisco Giants) in their first rematch last season. Boston also won their rematch against their 1915 opponents the Philadelphia Phillies in 1997. The Sox also beat the Dodgers in their first meeting since the 1916 Series. In 2003, the Sox and Pirates played for the first time since the 1903 World Series and the Red Sox won. Weirdly enough, all but one of these rematch series have been on the road.

Anyway, this game was not gonna be easy to win against Massux who improved to 5-0 in his career against us. Nevertheless, allowing 14 runs is simply inexcusable. And what the hell has happened to Bronson Arroyo? He started the season and looked like he could be a solid #2 starter. Now he is on the same undependable level of Tim Wakefield.

The bullpen also continued to sruggle. Francona didn't bring in a dependable pitcher in Timlin until the 8th inning when it was 14-3 in favor of Chicago. Theo has got to go out and get something to help the bullpen. Theoretically it might improve once Schilling returns but God knows if Schilling will even be effective. With Schilling returning, there will be more demand for middle releif. We need to get a guy who can pitch alot of innings and have an ERA under 4.70.

The Man of the Game is Greg Maddux who went 6 and two thirds allowing three runs. He also hit a homerun off John Halama.

Here's the Bitch-Goat:
Arroyo: 0.7 - 4 IP, 7 ER
Halama: 0.3 - 2 IP, 4 ER

WELLS WORTH THE WAIT

The Red Sox have gone through three periods this year. Each of these periods have been marked by a different leader in the pitching staff. Different Ace dynasties. At first it was Arroyo. Then it was Clement. Now it is Wells. This was David's third start that was solid or better.

Wells went 8 innings allowing only 4 hits (would have been 3 if not for Millar's lack of ability in left field), 0 runs, 0 walks, and 0 extra base hits besides the double that should have been a flyout. He threw 94 pitches, 74 of which were strikes. That's 78.7%. 8 out of 10 pitches thrown were strikes. And he wasn't exactly getting a wide strike zone.

How many times in baseball history has the game been shorter than the rain delay?

Renteria had a homerun that must have been satisfying to hit. Ortiz had a big homerun. Tek went 2 for 4 with a 2 run double. Bill Mueller was 1 for 3 but he made a pair of amazing plays at 3rd.

Foulke continued the pattern we've seen all year. He'll look amazing and then all of a sudden will look very beatable. He got 2 very quick outs, getting ahead in the count, and getting outs. He then lost it, falling behind in the count, and giving up hits. He settled down inducing Edmonds to fly out to center.

For some reason, Francona sat down Manny Ramirez and played Kevin Millar. I don't know what it is between Millar and Francona. I know Manny hasn't hit a homerun in about 50 at-bats, but if Francona can give Millar 180 at-bats to get out of a slump, how come he can't give Manny 50? If Francona was going to sit anyone down, he should have sat down Damon who has poor numbers against Carpenter in his career. Before the game he was 5 for 32 I believe.

The Man of the Game is David Wells. He went 8 scoreless and probably could have gone 9. He threw 94 pitches, 74 of which were strikes. If he had a real outfielder playing behind him in left, he would have allowed a mere three singles.

The Sox have a day off for the arduous 300 mile journey up I-55 to Chicago. The schedule makers this year are really doing a bad job if you ask me. Here are the pitching matchups:

Game 1. Friday 2:20 PM: Arroyo vs. Maddux
Game 2. Saturday 3:05 PM: Miller vs. Zambrano
Game 3. Sunday 8:05 PM: Wakefield vs. TBD

We're somewhat lucky that Prior and Wood are on the DL among with a number of other Cubbies.

SOX CRASH ON MEMORY LANE

Tim Wakefield is deifnately the worst pitcher in the rotation at the moment. Right now I think he is on the bubble of the rotation and will be the guy to go to the pen when Schilling returns.

The Red Sox were outplayed both Monday and Tuesday. Small things adding up together. The Cardinals stole 3 bases, took extra bases when they could, and never made a defensive misplay. Meanwhile, the Sox played their typical station-to-station baseball, Renteria made an error, and Varitek allowed a passed ball.

The Man of the Game for Monday is Matt Morriss who went all 9 allowing only 1 run off 4 hits. He only walked one batter. He threw a mere 101 pitches. He also knocked in a run.

The Bitch-Goat shall be divided thusly:
Wakefield: 0.5 - 5.2 IP, 4 ER
Renteria: 0.2 - 0 for 4, 2 LOB, 2 GIDP, Error
Nixon: 0.1 - 0 for 3, LOB
Payton: 0.1 - 0 for 3, LOB
Mueller: 0.1 - 0 for 3, LOB

Tuesday's game was even more an example of a few little things combining to make a blowout victory. The Cardinals won this game in the 2nd, and the Red Sox lost it in the 6th.

After a pair of quick flyouts in the 2nd, Clement walked #8 hitter Yadier Molina on 5 pitches. Walking the eighth hitter in NL ball is not a good thing with 2 outs. It allows the pitcher to come up in that inning instead of leading off the next. Suppan, who isn't that good of a hitting pitcher, took 2 balls. Dave Wallace then came out to talk to Clement. Suppan knew the next pitch would be a strike and he lined it into left field. Had Ramirez been playing slightly more shallow or had more range, the inning would have been over. Instead it continued. Eckstein hit a gorunder into left field for a single. The slow footed Molina tried to score. He hit third base when Ramirez had the ball in his glove. All Manny had to do was make an average throw to end the inning and keep the game 2-1. Instead he threw a double bouncer and Varitek couldn't tag Molina. Clement gave up a 1 run single and a 2 run double before striking out Edmonds.

The Sox were down 7-2 in the 6th and began to rally only to have it crushed quickly. Renteria his a single, as did Ortiz. Manny then hit into a devastating 6-4-3 double play. Nixon popped out. The game was effectively over.

The whole beanball war was interesting because it started over nothing. Halama didn't seem to hit Walker with any intent but Tony LaRussa is known as one of those "hit my guy and we'll retaliate even if you didn't mean it." So Al Reyes hits Varitek, the next best thing to hitting the pitcher. Mantei then hits Grudzelanik, and Walker getting ejected along with Francona. Neither one seemed inentional, especially the second one. Then Al Reyes takes it to a completely classless level hitting Youkilis in the arms. Reyes, you may or may not remember, is the same guy that hit Nomar on the wrist, permanently altering his career. That injury took a long time to become apparent and God only knows what might be wrong with Youkilis after that pitch.

I thought National League baseball was supposed to be free of beanballs.

The Man of the Game is Varitek who went 3 for 3 with a homerun.

The Bitch-Goat shall be divided thusly:
Nixon: 0.1 - 0 for 3, 2 LOB
Mueller: 0.1 - 0 for 3, 2 LOB
Renteria: 0.1 - 1 for 4, 2 GIDP, 2 LOB
Ramirez: 0.1 - 0 for 2, LOB, GIDP
Clement: 0.6 - 4 IP, 7 ER

The first day of basbeall's draft was today. With the 26th pick the Red Sox selected Jacob Ellsbury, an outfielder from Oregon State. Here's what ESPN and Baseball America said about him:

Ellsbury has few holes in his game and is capable of beating teams in a lot of ways. He has excellent makeup and instincts. His best tool is his speed, and it's evident both on the bases and in center field, where he catches everything hit his way. He has been clocked in 6.55 seconds over 60 yards. He has become more patient, rarely swings and misses and is comfortable hitting with two strikes. His style of play and physical appearance have drawn comparisons to Johnny Damon at a similar age, but scouts say Ellsbury has a better swing. They question whether he'll grow into the same power, though.

With the 26th overrall pick, the Sox got righthander Craig Hansen out of St. John's:

Hansen pounds the strike zone with a fastball that has been clocked consistently in the mid-90s and tops out at 97 mph. The velocity on his slider has been even more impressive, sitting at 85-86 mph with a high of 90. Though his fastball command wavers, he has an excellent approach to pitching and isn't afraid to go right at hitters. He should be even more effective against wood bats. He's suited to be a closer because of his temperament, short arm stroke and full-effort delivery.

A 90 MPH slider? DAMN! With the 42nd pick the Sox got an outfielder from Angelina College. With the 45th pick, they got Jed Lowrie, a second baseman out of Stanford. With the 47th pick they got a high school pitcher. They got a high school catcher in the 2nd round, a high school pitcher in the 4th, a high school outfielder in the 5th, an outfielder from UFA in the 6th, an outfielder from Florida International in the 7th, a pitcher in the 8th, a catcher in the 9th, a pitcher in the 10th, a pitcher in the 11th and 12th, an outfielder in the 13th, a shortstop in the 14th, a pitcher in the 15th, third baseman in the 16th, a shortstop in the 17th, and a catcher in the 18th. Definately an emphasis on outfielders.

BACK TO WHERE IT HAPPENED

Remember this? I always will. The moment was frozen, I was frozen. The 1,000 or so Red Sox fans at Ithaca College celebrated on the quad. I couldn't sleep afterward. At 2 AM me and 2 friends drove back to Boston. somewhere around Worcester at about 6 AM, "We Are the Champions" was played on some radio station. It hit me right then and there. It was done. No more curse, no more losing, no more being pathetic.

On Monday, the Red Sox will return to the spot where it ended. Where Renteria hit a grounder back to Foulke, where Mientkiewicz stepped on the bag. I don't care if they tear Fenway down, but I will shed a tear when Busch Stadium is imploded.

Anyway, back to the present. Another quality start by Miller. Another great outing for Mike Myers. A good outing for Timlin. A perfect inning for Foulke. Another great game for Millar. Another clutch hit for Ortiz. Another fine display of professional hitting from John Olerud. Throw them all together and you get a 6-3 win and a 2-1 series victory over a solid Anaheim, I mean Los Angeles team.

The Man of the Game is Kevin Millar who went 2 for 3 with an RBI double.

Now we go back to NL baseball for the first time since October. It worked out pretty good last time, hopefully we can beat them again.

EMBARASSMENT

What an embarrasing performance. Bad defense, poor clutch hitting, and absolutely no bullpen pitching beyond Myers. Furthermore, Francona must didn't seem to be thinking too clearly with some of his decisions both before the game and during it.

Why did he decide to rest Renteria and Varitek on the same day? This meant that Vazquez and Shoppach would come up back-to-back. Essentially, there was a built in 0 for 8 to the lineup. The one hit Vazquez got was a flukey one. Why did Francona eventually pinch hit for Shoppach, but not Vazquez? It just seemed really weird.

Allan Embree is no longer a pitcher. Last season he was a fastball pitcher who could blow it by people at 94-96 MPH and mix in a few sliders to keep batters honest. Now, he has no fastball. It comes in at 88-91 MPH. He can't blow people away. Something is wrong with him and I don't know if it will ever be fixed. Before the Red Sox address the 1B situation, they need to resolve the bullpen problem. Because even if they reincarnate Lou Gehrig and play him at first, this team cannot win a playoff series without a bullpen.

Here's a question. What does Ramon Vazquez contribute to the team? He can't hit, run, and he's an average fielder. He's a pinch bunter, basically. The need for a quality backup infielder also needs to be addressed if Francona wants to give 2 or 3 players a day off everyday.

Where is Kevin Youkilis? He can play 1B, 2B, 3B, DH and can pinch hit. Yet he hasn't see much of the light of day. Thankfully Millar is hitting just as we go into interleague play and he goes to the bench where he has belonged for a month.

The Man of the Game is Garrett Anderson who went 4 for 6 with 2 singles, a triple, and a homerun. He scored once and knocked in 4.

The Bitch-Goat shall be divided thusly:
Embree: 0.6 - 0.1 IP, 4 ER
Mantei: 0.3 - 0.1 IP, 4 ER
Ortiz: 0.1 - 0 for 5 - 3 K

Rubber game Sunday afternoon between Jarrod Washburn and Wade Miller.

The US beat Costa Rica 3-0 in a World Cup qualifying match.

SOX BEAT LA/OC/CALIFORNIA/ANAHEIM

This was a good win for the Sox but I think we got somewhat lucky with Guerrero being on the DL and Escobar still recovering from injuries. Escobar dominated for 6 innings. The Sox were able to get to the bullpen, but had a bit of a scare in the 9th inning. The good news about the 9th inning was the the Angels didn't really hit the balls all that hard. A basehit, an infield single, a grounder to left field and then Foulke was still able to get the strikeout. Wells looked good for most of the game except for the 5th inning. He settled back down after that though and if it hadn't been for the way Myers matched up with the Angels in the 8th, he probably would have at least started the inning.

Wells can be a decent 4 or 5 starter with this club. He can give us innings and keep the team in the game. He won't go out every 5 days and throw gems, but that's the job of a 1 pitcher, not a 4 or 5 guy.

Johnny Damon had a better game than the 1 for 5 suggests. He hit the ball directly to Erstad twice and would have had more RBI and hits if it weren't for this. He has been a big catalyst to this team's offense. The offseason may be interesting with Damon but until then, I'm just gonna enjoy watching him produce.

Mike Myers has been a great role-player with this club. The Sox have lacked a good situational lefty in the past few years and have paid for this fact.

It was good to see Millar start the big rally in the 7th and it was good to see the bottom of the order contribute to the offense.

A few random things. Wells became the 60th player to reach 2,000 career strikeouts. Trot Nixon stole his first base since July of 2003. Including the playoffs, this was the 10th straight Fenway win against the Angels. I really liked the ovation welcoming Orlando Cabrera back to Boston.

The Man of the Game is Kelvim Escobar who went 6 innings allowing only an unearned run off 3 hits. He struck out 8. If he wasn't still on the recovery path from some injuries, he would have gone at least 7.

YANKEES AND O'S STRUGGLING
The Yankees were on a tear this time last week. After starting off poorly and falling to 4th place, and even losing 3 of 4 to Tampa, they began to win. What no-one on SportsCenter or Baseball Tonight ever mentioned was the quality of the teams they were playing. New York took 2 of 3 from Oakland, swept Seattle, swept Oakland, and then took 2 of 3 from the Mariners. They took 2 of 3 from a good team they've always dominated in the New York Mets but then Boston came to town. The Yankees beat the then struggling Red Sox 6-3. The next day they lost 17-1, then lost 7-2. They then got swept by the Kansas City Royals, the worst team in baseball. It was only the 3rd time the Yankees have EVER been swept by the team with the worst record in baseball. As I type this, they have just lost 6-3 to the Twins. Steinbrenner is getting pissed and when he gets pissed, he does something big and stupid like sign Jose Conseco or fire a manager.

The Orioles are also struggling. They lost to Detroit tonight and have lost to the Tigers the last 4 times they've played them. I don't think they're going to last. Their pitchers are good only against us. The Lopez injury will catch up to them. Sosa isn't really doing that much. Roberts is an unkown. This team has little experience of playoff contention baseball. Alot of the players, the pitchers especially, have little experience of scoreboard watching and how to win those tight games in September.