BULLPEN BARELY SURVIVES DOUBLEHEADER

If game 1 had been played by itself, I probably would have complained about Daisuke giving up too many hits, the Red Sox leaving too many men on, Papelbon giving up a homer, et cetera. But compared to the sloppiness of the night-cap, game 1 was a clinically precise display of quality baseball.

But what matters most is that the Sox won both games. They took game 1 by out-hitting and out-pitching the Brewers. They took game 2 because the Brewers out-errored and out-squandered them.

The lack of bullpen depth on this team was brutally exposed in the night game. Okajima was unavailable with a sore wrist, Papelbon and Delcarmen worked in the early game, and there really wasn't anyone reliable left. Aardsma allowed some inherited runners to score, Hansen gave up 3 unearned runs, Lopez escaped thanks to a nifty double-play, and Mike Timlin was brought in to get a save in a 7-6 game.

A few fun facts:

Mike Timlin recorded his first save since May 2nd of 2007, and his first 1-run save since September 29th, 2006. Despite never being the official closer of the team, Timlin has recorded a save every season he's been with the Red Sox.

In game 1, Kevin Youkilis made an error for the first time in 94 games. BUT, it was made while playing third base. This means his errorless streak at first base is now at 222 games.

In game 2, Kevin Cash didn't get a hit or a walk. It's the first time he hasn't reached base safely since April 15th. Douggie who?

Jacoby Ellsbury stole his 16th base of the season, and 25th of his career. He still hasn't been caught. The record for most stolen bases made without getting caught to start of a player's career is 27, held by Tim Raines.

Beckett goes Sunday afternoon against Carlos Villanueva, which in Spanish means Charlie Villanueva.



Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
Jim Rogash/Getty Images

CAVS 74, CELTICS 69

This post-season, the Celtics have been two different teams. At home, they shoot well, defend well, don't make mistakes, and they win. On the road, they shoot poorly, make big mistakes, and they lose.

Kevin Garnett had a good night with 25 points and 8 rebounds. Pierce added 16 points. But after that, the Celtics had next to no offense in this game. Ray Allen was 3 for 8 from the field 0 for 3 from beyond the arc, and only had 9 points. After a career night in game 5, Rondo only had 2 points to go along with 3 turnovers. The bench could only muster 12 points. Glen Davis (2 for 8 shooting) looked horribly awkward and clumsy in the 4th, missing shots down low, and fumbling rebounds.



The officiating didn't help much. An insanely incorrect charging call on Pierce with 0:49 left zapped any momentum the Celtics might have had. LeBron James slid into Pierce's path, and was knocked down with his feet still moving. Cleveland drained 21 seconds of clock with their ensuing possession. And with 0:14 left, Joe Smith appeared to travel after receiving an inbound pass. Instead, a foul was called on Rondo, and Smith's free throws essentially ended the game.

BUT, the Celtics should have taken care of business on their own. Defensively they had a phenomenal game, holding Cleveland under 75, and to 32.9% from the field; but offensively they just couldn't get right. They went on some big runs to make it close, but could never quite get over the top.

Now it's time for another game 7 in Boston. Hopefully the Celtics we know and love will show up. 3:35 PM, Sunday afternoon.

Apparently the bleach blond, spray-on-tan Tara Reid look is popular in Cleveland.



Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images
AP Photo/Tony Dejak

5 REASONS WHY THE CELTICS MUST WIN TONIGHT

5. The obvious reason: the series would be over and the Celtics would advance to the Eastern Conference final.

4. All the "experts" on ESPN would no longer be able to drone on and on about how the Celtics haven't won a road game in the playoffs.

3. Another game 7 means another opportunity for Dan Shaughnessy to write a column about how ashamed the Celtics should be for not winning a series in less than 7 games.

2. The very vocal, and very small number of Doc Rivers bashers won't have any solid material to spew when they're out drinking Friday and Saturday.

And #1...

No more LeBron James ball-washing!!!

Take a look at this clip:



The day after Mother's Day, LeBron berates his mother for trying to protect him, and all the announcers can talk about is how wonderful LeBron is for talking to Paul Pierce after the play. Everything LeBron does is some magical, beautiful experience for the national sports media. Pretty soon, ESPN will break the story that LeBron's shit actually doesn't stink.

Prediction: Celtics 92, Cavaliers 87

RALLYING POINT

The C's may be winless on the road this post-season, but they've turned the Garden into a fortress. And if they do figure out how to win outside of Suffolk County, the rest of the NBA has no chance.

Cleveland busted out to a 14 point lead in the 2nd quarter, but the Celtics went on a tear to make it a 46-43 game and a 3 point deficit at the break. A dominating 3rd quarter, and a solid 4th sealed the deal, and a 96-89 Celtics victory.

Paul Pierce exploded for 29 points and 7 rebounds. Kevin "A-Rod" Garnett had 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists. Rajon Rondo had the game of his life with 20 points and 13 assists. He was finally given an overwhelming majority of playing time at point guard.



My favorite stat of the night: 5, as in the number of minutes Sam Cassell played.

Game 6 is Friday night in Cleveland. If there is a game 7, it will be on Sunday, time to be determined. Let's hope that they don't have to determine it. Otherwise, we'll all have to suffer through another evening of hearing about how amazing LeBron is.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AFP/Getty Images/File/Elsa
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

BUCHHOLZ ON 15 DAY DL

The Red Sox placed Clay Buchholz on the 15 day DL with a torn fingernail on his pitching hand. But if JD Drew and Coco Crisp hadn't left the Sox lineup Tuesday night, this move would not have happened. Buchholz will be fine, and could use the off time to let his finger heel. And replacing him on the 25 man roster is outfielder Jonathan van Every. Van Every was hitting .287 in AAA Pawtucket and made his Major League debut (after 7+ minor league seasons) last night in Baltimore, going 1 for 3.

Sources:
Boston.com
MiLB.com

SOX FIND ANOTHER WAY TO LOSE

Despite Manny Ramirez's impressive and funny catch, a couple of homers by Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek, and a solid start from Lester; the Red Sox found themselves on the wrong side of a 6-3 score. The inconsistent Sox have now lost 4 in a row, and 5 of their last 6.

Once again, the Orioles did their damage with 2 outs. Lester was pulled after 6, and Javier Lopez got the first 2 men he faced in the 7th. After an infield single, Craig Hansen came in and sucked, giving up a walk and a basehit to load the bases. Then Okajima was brought in. Okajima must hate every other Red Sox pitcher, because he seems to love inflating his teammate's ERAs by allowing inherited runners to score. He gave up the Grand Slam that put Baltimore on top 6-3. Hideki has inherited 11 runners this season, and 8 of them have scored. He only let 4 inherited runners score on him in 2007.

The Sox have a 10-14 record on the road, and an 8-11 record against divisional opponents. This is the third series that an AL East team has swept from the Red Sox.

But the club has a much needed day off, and will begin Interleague Play on Friday. Daisuke Matsuzaka goes against old friend Jeff Suppan of the Brewers.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Nick Wass

BOSTON HERALD APOLOGIZES

The Boston Herald first "broke" the story about the Patriots taping the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough before Super Bowl XXXVI. And now, they're admitting that they were wrong. They based their report on a "credible" source, that has proven to be incredibly NOT credible. This is the latest example of a sensationalist newspaper hearing a juicy piece of gossip (one that cannot be confirmed), and deciding to run with the story. This is what blogs are accused of doing.

Here is the apology. Unfortunately, like most media retractions and apologies, it won't get nearly as much attention as the initial story.

ANOTHER TOUGH LOSS TO SWALLOW

I'm running out of headlines that basically say "That was a frustrating experience." After going up 3-0 in the 1st, the Red Sox fell behind 5-3 in the 3rd, and that was about it. A Sox run in the 8th made it a 5-4 Oriole win.

Another point of frustration was the way guys wearing Red Sox uniforms dropped like flies out of this game. Francona didn't manage (although his absence was due to his mother-in-law dying, so that's not frustrating), JD Drew sprained his wrist in the 3rd inning. Coco Crisp left with a tummy ache in the 6th, and Ortiz was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the 9th.

Beckett had an uncharacteristically poor outing, giving up 11 hits and 4 runs in 5.2 innings. The big hit was a 3 run Luke Scott homerun with 2 outs in the 3rd. In fact, every Oriole run came with 2 outs.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox had trouble delivering with 2 outs. Mike Lowell was 0 for 5, and left 3 men in scoring position with 2 outs. As a team, the Sox left 10 men on base.

But on the bright side, Delcarmen pitched a scoreless 1.1 innings, and Aardsma tossed a perfect 8th, so things aren't all gloom and doom from this irritating defeat.

Jon Lester goes against Daniel Cabrera Wednesday night. This might be a tough one as Cabrera is 3-1 with a 3.54 ERA

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Nick Wass