SoxSpace News

Change Is Good by Jared Carrabis
Sox shuffle proves to be trouble for Jays

Congratulations, Terry Francona. You've finally done it.

After dropping the first two games of the series in Toronto, Red Sox manager Terry Francona shuffled up the lineup, and the results were like night and day. Just days after dropping David Ortiz to the sixth slot and moving JD Drew to bat third, Fracona finally parted ways with his favorite "left-right-left" pattern that he likes at the top of the Red Sox lineup.

The most noticeable change would be dropping lead-off hitter, Jacoby Ellsbury, to the eighth spot, while Dustin Pedroia was bumped up to the top spot in the batting order. Jacoby Ellsbury's speed was arguably what kept him in the lead-off spot for so long, but aside from stealing bases, the stat that is going to keep a hitter in the lead-off spot is simple: OBP.

Coming fresh off a 200+ hit season in 2008, Dustin Pedroia is hardly ever seen making his way back to the dugout after an at bat. He ranks second on the team in OBP (.416) behind Kevin Youkilis (.478), ...READ MORE!

Published on May 31, 2009 See Comment(s)

Captain Hook by Jared Carrabis
The captain gets the hook, but hits two bombs before departing to split series

It's been a few days since I've posted a blog, and I do apologize for that. However, it was for a good reason. My mini leave of absence was to put the finishing touches on my book, "One Fan's Story: If This Hat Could Talk." For those of you who are familiar with my book, the release date has not yet been announced, but there will be one coming really, really soon. The editing process is finally complete. It took about four months or so, but she's all edited up and almost ready to hit the shelves. For more information on my book, you can click HERE.

Now, onto the Sox game, which was the final game that Boston will ever play at the Metrodome.

Josh Beckett got the ball on Thursday and turned in his second consecutive impressive start. In his last start against the Mets, Beckett was robbed of a win when Papelbon coughed up a two-run blast in the ninth inning that erased the victory for Bec...READ MORE!

Published on May 28, 2009 See Comment(s)

Back To Normal by Jared Carrabis
First-hand account of Sox taking first place

Seated comfortably in Section 10 where no rain could reach me, I watched the Red Sox leap over the Toronto Blue Jays and into first place in the American League East.

I had a feeling that it was going to be a good day before a pitch had even been thrown. Why you ask? Well, less then 24 hours prior when Josh Beckett turned in arguably his most impressive start of the season, aside from his 10 K performance on Opening Day, I felt that the baseball Gods punished Red Sox fans rather harshly by handing us a crushing defeat after such a brilliant performance. Papelbon's first blown save of 2009 led to an unfortunate loss for Boston, after he had begun the inning with two promising strikeouts.

Needing a win to avoid the sweep, I, along with SoxSpace contributor, Mike Ghika, made our way to Fenway Park for Sunday's day game (separately). Now, when the Sox need a win, you need to put tickets in our hands. In games that we've both attended, (doesn't even have to be together, just in the ...READ MORE!

Published on May 25, 2009 See Comment(s)

Sox Go Down With The Ship by Jared Carrabis
The captain responsible for all the runs, but no victory to show for it

Defeating Johan Santana is no small task, but tonight he was beatable.

Santana took the mound at Fenway Park for the first time since September 21, 2006. The left-handed ace, formerly of the Minnesota Twins, logged 219 innings in 2007, but managed to steer clear of Fenway Park in his final year with the Twins. Entering Friday night's match up, Santana had his struggles at the Fens, going 1-3 with a 6.89 ERA, but his troubled past at Fenway did not repeat itself.

Santana entered the game with a 5-2 record and a 1.36 ERA. His opponent, Daisuke Matsuzaka, was making his first start since being placed on the disabled list in mid-April. The Japanese right-hander retired the first three batters he faced, including consecutive strikeouts to open the game.

In the bottom half of the first, Jacoby Ellsbury extended his Major League-leading hit streak to 17 games. Ellsbury kept his streak alive by chopping an infield single. He finished his night going 1-for-5.

The Mets struck first...READ MORE!

Published on May 23, 2009 See Comment(s)

So Close We Can Taste It by Jared Carrabis
Sox complete the sweep, get within half-game of first place

The Yankees are surging, the Blue Jays are falling and the Red Sox are now within a half-game of first place.

Coming off back-to-back rough outings, Jon Lester took the mound for Boston with hopes of getting back on the right track with a win. The left-hander started his night off with a scoreless inning in the top of the first, as the Boston bats went to work in the bottom half. Jacoby Ellsbury wasted no time extending his hitting streak to 16 games by ripping his eighth double of the season into right field.

Ellsbury would come around to score after consecutive ground outs by Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz. Kevin Youkilis later reached base after an eight-pitch walk to put a runner on for the red-hot, Jason Bay. With a 3-1 count, Bay rifled a 91 MPH fastball to the opposite field that bounced off the top of the wall and landed safely over the bullpen for a two-run shot. The history-making homer put the Sox on top by a 3-0 score.

The Sox tacked on another run in the bottom...READ MORE!

Published on May 22, 2009 See Comment(s)

Ortiz Lifts Sox To Victory by Jared Carrabis
Pigs fly and so do the balls out of Fenway

The wait is over; David Ortiz has done it.

After waiting 40 long games into the 2009 season, Red Sox fans finally saw what they have been waiting to see. It may have taken far longer than any fan ever could have expected, but nonetheless, it came.

As the saying goes; hitting is contagious, and that saying proved itself to be very true on Wednesday night. The Red Sox began their hit parade in the bottom of the third inning when the captain, Jason Varitek, connected for a solo shot over the Green Monster to make it 1-0, Sox. Later in the inning, Boston plated their second run after Dustin Pedroia grounded into a double play; no RBI was credited to Pedroia.

With Brad Penny putting up goose eggs for Boston, the Red Sox went to work in the bottom of the fifth. For the second time in the game, Jason Varitek led off the inning with a solo home run. Only this time, the home run sailed on a line drive to the center field bleachers. Later in the inning, David Ortiz came to the plate, ...READ MORE!

Published on May 21, 2009 See Comment(s)

Wake Up Call by Jared Carrabis
Blue Jays get reminder that they're still the Blue Jays

Dorothy said it best, there's no place like home.

After wrapping up their final road trip out on the west coast on Sunday, the Red Sox opened up a six-game home stand on the one-year anniversary of Jon Lester's no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals. With a win on Tuesday, the Red Sox could improved to 14-4 at Fenway Park, but this would be no easy task, as the Sox welcomed the Toronto Blue Jays to the Fens. The Jays were winners of their last four games entering the first game of this series and sat atop the American League East, a division that they were not expected to contend in, with the like of the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays roaming within the same division.

Player A has a 5-2 record in 2009 and will make $20 million this season, $21 million in 2010, $22.5 million in 2011, $24 million in 2012, $25.5 million in 2013 and has a club option for $25 million in 2015 with a $5.5 million buyout. Player A's club option becomes a player option if Player A wins the Cy Young award a...READ MORE!

Published on May 19, 2009 See Comment(s)

Sweepless In Seattle by Jared Carrabis
Sox drop 2 of 3 against Griffey & Co., head home for six games

The Red Sox have officially wrapped up all of their regular season games on the 2009 schedule out on the west coast.

After dropping the rubber game against Ken Griffey Jr. and the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, the Red Sox fell three games behind the scorching-hot Toronto Blue Jays. Coincidentally, after an off-day on Monday, the Sox head back to Fenway Park where they will welcome the Blue Jays to Boston for a three-game set. The six-game home stand will feature the first place Jays and the Sox' first taste of interleague action against the (as of right now) first place New York Mets. The Red Sox may be 13-4 at home this season, but they certainly have their work cut out for them in the next six games.

The biggest news to come out of Boston's three-game series with the Seattle Mariners would be the absence of David Ortiz. Red Sox manager Terry Francona removed his designated hitter from the lineup for the entire series in Seattle, with the extra day of mental vacation coming on M...READ MORE!

Published on May 18, 2009 See Comment(s)

Tito, I Think It's Time by Jared Carrabis
Sox suffer frustrating loss in twelve, strand 34 men on base

The Red Sox had just about as many opportunities to win this game as Manny Ramirez has games remaining on his suspension, a lot.

"I know we stranded a ton of guys. Up until the end, we've got Pedey and David at the plate with guys on base," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "I thought we were going to win. We had a lot of opportunities. We couldn't cash in. On the road, that makes it even harder. But no, I thought we were still going to win."

In the twelve-inning marathon between the Red Sox and Angels on Thursday, Boston stranded 34 men on base and went an abysmal 3-for-22 with runners in scoring position. Regardless of the fact that they out-hit the Halos 15-11, more often than not, you're not going to walk away with a victory when you go 3-for-22 with RISP on the road.

Before I get into the game, I think it's time to address an issue that I've been shying away from in hopes that it would no longer be an issue, but after today, I don't think it can be ignored any longer...READ MORE!

Published on May 14, 2009 See Comment(s)

Road outlook from Anaheim by Mike Ghika
Recapping my first visit to Angel Stadium

A night after all of you appreciated readers were responsible for SoxSpace being named Best Sox Blog at the 2009 New England Sports Blog Awards, I took in Game 2 of the Sox-Angels series Wednesday night at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

For one, traffic from the 10 to the 405 to the 105 to the 710 to the 91 to the 5 (umm, yeah seriously, right?) at rush hour was just dreadful, and it took about an hour and 15 minutes to get to the park from my vacationing spot in Santa Monica. Know how the surrounding lots at Fenway charge anywhere from $20 to $40 for parking? Well I parked not even a half-mile away for a mere $3. A closer lot was still just $5, and stadium parking was only $8. Try finding prices like that in Boston.

Upon arrival, I bought an Angels Magazine for just $3 to score the game. While a program from vendors outside the ballpark at Fenway is just $2, an actual Red Sox Magazine is somewhere near $10. Another price that caught my eye was the price of beer, whereas at Ang...READ MORE!

Published on May 14, 2009 See Comment(s)

Bay Can't Do It By Himself by Jared Carrabis
Jay-Bay homers again, but Palmer retires last 19 in CG, Bard makes debut!

Looking to secure their second win in as many tries against the Angels this series, the Red Sox' chances were looking good as the team came into the game hitting .308 in the past five games.

Eyeing win number 22 on the season, things got off to a great start for Boston. With Angels' starter the unbeaten Matt Palmer recording the first two outs of the game consecutively, David Ortiz dropped a base hit into center field for Jason Bay. Bay snapped a three-game homerless streak by crushing the first pitch he saw, an 88 MPH slider, into the stands in left field. The two-run blast for Bay increased his team-leading total to ten home runs on the season.

The Sox picked up their second pair of runs the very next inning when Nick Green scorched his eighth double of the season into left field to bring Jeff Bailey around to score. The very next batter in Jacoby Ellsbury grounded out to the right side of the infield, allowing George Kottaras to come in through the back door to up Boston's l...READ MORE!

Published on May 14, 2009 See Comment(s)

Captain Clutch by Jared Carrabis
Tek drives in game-winner, Sox take series opener

If you don't live in Boston, you wish you did.

Chalk up another sweep for Boston, as the Boston Bruins topped the Canes to force a game seven by a 4-2 score, the Boston Celtics edged out the Magic to take a 3-2 series lead with their 92-88 win, and the Boston Red Sox stole a 4-3 comeback victory in the ninth inning against the Angels. Oh, and by the way, SoxSpace took home some hardware by winning Best Red Sox Blog at the New England Sports Blog Awards. Let me say that one more time; you are officially reading the Best Red Sox Blog, as voted by the best fans in all of baseball.

With the Red Sox becoming the second team in the American League to reach 20 wins, Sox fans are being blinded by this team's success. What Boston fans fail to realize is that this team is nowhere near 100% and that the role players on this team have contributed a great deal to keeping this team on track. With Jed Lowrie on the shelf until the All Star break, Nick Green has performed above a...READ MORE!

Published on May 13, 2009 See Comment(s)

Motherly Love In Boston by Jared Carrabis
It was no miracle, but a win's a win

What can I say? Mother's Day is our thing around here.

Fenway cheered loudly when the men behind the Green Monster inserted an "F" to indicate that the Boston Bruins 4-0 shutout of the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 had gone final. In the top of the eighth inning, Pat Burrell had to step out of the batter's box, because he couldn't figure out why Fenway Park was erupting into cheers. With TV monitors all over the ballpark, the Fenway Faithful was celebrating the game-winning buzzer-beater hit by Glen "Big Baby" Davis to sink the Orlando Magic in Game 4 to even their playoff series.

If the Red Sox wanted to make it a perfect 3-0 in the City of Champions, they had some work to do against Matt Garza, who nearly had a perfect game in his last start against Boston. Tampa Bay got on the board against Josh Beckett in the first on an RBI single by Pat Burrell, but the Sox didn't wait long to strike back.

Bottom of the second, guess who? Jason Bay rocked his seventh double of the seas...READ MORE!

Published on May 11, 2009 See Comment(s)

Sox Score 7 For Number 7 by Jared Carrabis
Bay, Drew help put seven runs on the board to complete DiMaggio tribute

It wasn't a record-setting twelve-run inning for the Sox in the sixth inning for the second consecutive night, but an offensive outburst in the very same inning on Friday was all the Red Sox needed to bury the Rays.

Entering Friday night's match up, the Red Sox had manhandled all of their opponents, except for the Tampa Bay Rays. Dating back to 2008, including the ALCS, the Rays had won six of their last eight games at Fenway Park. It looked like it was going to be more of the same when the Rays attacked Red Sox starter, Brad Penny, for a run in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by free agent acquisition, Pat Burrell, to drive in Carl Crawford. The Rays continued to tack on one run at a time when in the top of the third, the speedy Carl Crawford legged out a three-bagger to set up a sacrifice fly off the bat of Evan Longoria to up the Rays' lead to 2-0.

In the top of the fourth, Jason Bartlett roped his sixth double of the season off the base of the Green Monster to...READ MORE!

Published on May 09, 2009 See Comment(s)

This One's For Remy by Jared Carrabis
Sox hand a record-setting beat down to the Tribe

With Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz sitting on the bench due to day-to-day injuries, their match up with the Cleveland Indians was surely in the Tribe's favor. Good thing this offense doesn't rely on just one bat.

In the sixth inning of Thursday's match up between the Red Sox and Indians, the Boston offense knocked a record-setting twelve runs across home plate before an out was recorded. The twelve runs scored by the Red Sox with not a single out being recorded set an American League record, and tied the Major League record that was set by the Brooklyn Dodgers way back on May 24, 1953.

"It was crazy," said Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell. "Twelve runs, let alone 12 guys getting on base [without an out], that's kind of ridiculous. I just think it's one of those fluke things. We put together a lot of good at-bats. It was nice to blow the game open."

Had it not been for the twelve-run bottom of the sixth inning, the Red Sox would have dropped this game by a ...READ MORE!

Published on May 08, 2009 See Comment(s)

Blogging on the latest, greatest Manny saga by Mike Ghika
Manny taints legacy in using women's drug

Recall how we all were mortified when Theo Epstein not only dealt Boston’s best hitter to Los Angeles, but he also agreed to pay the remainder of his 2008 salary as a Dodger AND included two quality prospects in the deal for Jason Bay?

Doesn’t seem so bad now does it?

I won’t even mention that Bay is hitting .299 with 16 home runs and 62 RBIs in his first 77 games as a member of the Red Sox. (Okay, so maybe I absolutely wanted to mention that). Sure, Theo had reasons to get Manny out of town. He was a team cancer, refused to play hard, and seemed to fake injury after injury. In addition, he was going to hit the free agent market and change teams following the season anyways, so the obvious impulse was to acquire someone else with the best interests of the organization in mind.

No one doubted management for ridding themselves the burden that was No. 24, and no one doubted the caliber player that Bay was, but paying the rest of Manny’s salary and letting Craig Hansen and Brando...READ MORE!

Published on May 07, 2009 See Comment(s)

Mannywood* by Jared Carrabis
Manny Ramirez tests positive for performance enhancing drugs

(Photo on left taken by Bugsy)

The Los Angeles Times has broken a story that has sent shock waves across the baseball world. Manny Ramirez will serve a 50-game suspension after testing positive for a performance enhancing drug.

Ramirez will be forbidden from putting on a Dodgers uniform until the eve of our country's Independence and will begin his suspension immediately. The Dodgers have taken a mighty hit, as they have gone from the top to rock bottom. Just last night, Joe Torre and the gang were celebrating their thirteenth consecutive victory at home to open the 2009 season. The 10-3 victory over the Nationals set a modern Major League record for most consecutive wins to open a season at home.

Less then 24 hours later, Dodger fans, players, coaches and management were stricken with news that likely seemed surreal, as I know it did to me. Red Sox Nation likely reacted...READ MORE!

Published on May 07, 2009 See Comment(s)

A Day We'd Like To Forget by Jared Carrabis
Sox drop first game of home stand, Jerry Remy announces leave of absence

Don't you wish we could play the Yankees every day?

After improving to 5-0 against New York on Tuesday in the Bronx, the Red Sox headed back home to Fenway where the boys from Boston had won their last nine home games. The 5-0 start against the Billion Dollar Babies is the first for the Red Sox in the past 24 seasons of baseball. Returning to Fenway for the first time since throwing together a perfect 9-0 home stand, the Red Sox looked to continue their winning ways on Wednesday when they sent Justin Masterson to the hill against the Cleveland Indians. Entering Wednesday's start, Masterson was 5-0 at Fenway Park (7-0 including the playoffs) with a 3.10 ERA in five starts during the regular season.

The Sox got off to a great start, plating two runs in the bottom of the second inning. With Jason Bay getting things going with a leadoff walk, Mike Lowell ripped his ninth double of the season through the left side to put two men in scoring position for Jason Varitek. The captain jum...READ MORE!

Published on May 07, 2009 See Comment(s)

House Warming Party by Jared Carrabis
Sox top the Yanks in first game at new Yankee Stadium

On Monday night, the New York Yankees welcomed the Boston Red Sox into The House That Jeter Built for their very first match up in the brand spankin' new Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees were hoping that the ghosts of Yankee past would follow them to the $1.5 billion Stadium, but in game one of this series, they could barely even get their own fans to follow them. The official attendance is listed as 46,426, but after a two-hour and twenty-minute rain delay, there were no more than 15,000 baseball fans left to enjoy the luxurious seating in the Bronx (tear). And I say "baseball fans", because Red Sox Nation was well represented well after the near two and a half hour rain delay.

If you don't mind, I'd like to refer back to a quote from Sunday's blog leading into this series, "If Lester can get back to being the consistent top of the rotation starter that we all know he can be, the Yankees will be in for another long night against the left-hander." Well, how does striking out ...READ MORE!

Published on May 05, 2009 See Comment(s)

Randomocity meets curiosity by Mike Ghika
Thoughts on A-Rod's book, Strasburg, Beckett, and more!

•Johnny Damon blasted Red Sox’ management over the Jason Varitek talks from last winter, saying that he “couldn’t believe that they were letting [Varitek] walk and try to find a team.” He also said that that was the difference between New York and Boston – apparently because the Yankees are so committed to players that have been mainstays within the organization. Concerning Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Jorge Posada, Damon noted, “It goes to show you something about how the Yankees think, and how many Yankees players have been exclusive with one team. They keep them forever.” Apparently Damon forgets that the Yankees essentially ignored Bernie Williams’s (.297 in 16 seasons with New York) desire to return to the Yankees after the 2006 season. They went out and signed the former Sox centerfielder to a four-year deal instead. Is he bitter the Sox didn’t outbid the Yanks or what?

•Okay, if you haven’t been paying attention to San Diego State starter, Stephen Strasburg, it’s time t...READ MORE!

Published on May 04, 2009 See Comment(s)

Rays Steal The Game, Series by Jared Carrabis
Behind six steals from Crawford, Tampa takes series 3 games to 1

After 36 innings of baseball, the Red Sox walked away from Tropicana Field with just one win and an uncountable amount of frustrations.

Boston came into Sunday's game against the Rays looking to earn a sweep against the pesky team from Tampa Bay. After Sunday's loss, the Red Sox dropped to 2-5 on the season against the Rays, while owning a 13-5 record against the remainder of their opponents to start the 2009 season.

Brad Penny got the start against "Big Game" James, who has struggled in his past against the Red Sox. James Shields entered the game with a 2-5 record against Boston in his career with a 5.59 ERA. In his nine starts against Boston, Sheilds served up eight home runs to the slugging Sox in 46.2 innings. In his two starts against the Red Sox in last October's ALCS, Shields was 0-2 in two starts with a 3.46 ERA. On Sunday, "Big Game" James finally lived up to his name.

After struggling mightily against Boston since his arrival in the Majors, Shields pitched into th...READ MORE!

Published on May 03, 2009 See Comment(s)

Power Outage by Jared Carrabis
Sox manage one hit in 13-0 blowout

Well, that certainly wasn't how the Red Sox wanted to finish the month of April.

Since stringing together eleven straight victories, the Sox have now lost two of their last three games. The reason for that has been horrendous starting pitching. Although Matt Garza was nearly perfect on Thursday night, any offense whatsoever would have saved the series opener between Boston and Tampa Bay from being an embarrassment. The Sox entered their series opener at the Trop ranking fourth in the American League in ERA. After Beckett was handed his second shelling in as many starts, the Red Sox dropped to seventh best in the American League in ERA.

In Beckett's last two starts, he has given up 15 earned runs in 9.2 innings. Beckett started off hot, striking out seven in the first three innings (including striking out the side in the second). In the midst of striking out the side once again in the third inning, the right-hander fell apart by giving up four hits and allowing two walks. One of...READ MORE!

Published on May 01, 2009 See Comment(s)