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Air Ray'd by Jared Carrabis
Sox bullpen falters in loss to Rays
There is more space between Michael Strahan's teeth, than there is in between the top three teams in the American League East.
In typical Daisuke Matsuzaka fashion, the right-hander took the mound in the first and tossed 29 pitches, and walked three batters. Just like he has known to do, Matsuzaka got out of the jam. Matsuzaka entered the night with opponents hitting just .164 against him with the bases loaded in his career, and that number improved in the first.
Daisuke's luck would run dry in the third, when his walk total came back to haunt him. Matsuzaka allowed the first batter to reach on a walk, and then allowed a base hit to John Jaso to put two men on. Two batters later, former Red Sox catcher Kelly Shoppach planted a double off the wall to bring two runs home.
Shoppach later scored on an RBI base hit by Ben Zobrist.
The three-run frame for Daisuke would be his lone blemish, but his high pitch count wouldn't allow much longevity in his outing. Matsuzaka got the h...READ MORE!
Published on June 30, 2010 See Comment(s)
Beware of Beltre by Jared Carrabis
Despite All Star vote totals, Beltre is the man
"Beware of Beltre," a phrase that once was only relevant to forward-charging left fielders, but now is a mental note in the minds of all opposing pitchers when facing Adrian Beltre.
After cracking the ribs of Jacoby Ellsbury and Jeremy Hermida, Beltre turned his focus to cracking the baseball all over parks across America. Boston's new third baseman jumped out to a .338 average in the month of April. Prior to playing in a game for Boston, Beltre was being advertised as a player who was a free-swinger. Despite that reputation, Beltre got on base at a .372 clip in the month of April.
Most were thinking, Great! A hot start for Beltre definitely helps, but then the right-handed batter hit .333 in the month of May, with five homers and 25 RBI in 28 games.
Here we are on the last day of June, and after hitting .378 for the entire month, Beltre currently sits in second place in the majors with a .349 batting average. Just like everyone expected, right?
Beltre hit 8 homers in all...READ MORE!
Published on June 30, 2010 See Comment(s)
The Replacements by Jared Carrabis
Bill Hall, Jason Varitek pick up the slack in Sox' win
Take it easy. We didn't have Dustin Pedroia or Victor Martinez in the lineup tonight. Wait...what? We won anyway? Never mind.
An 11-game winning a year ago, "Big Game" James Shields squared off against the Red Sox' big right-hander, who could have 11 wins not long after the All Star break.
The two right-handers took turns, putting up scoreless innings of work for each of the first four frames. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, David Ortiz broke the scoreless tie with a bang.
Pouncing on the first pitch of the at bat, Ortiz blasted a three-run shot that landed about seven rows deep into the right field bleachers. With a flip of the bat, the Sox had a 3-0 lead. The homer was Ortiz's 17th of the season. Ortiz didn't hit his 17th home run of 2009 until August 18 at Texas.
In the bottom of the sixth, with two men aboard, Jason Varitek lined a base hit into right that brought home Boston's fourth run of the evening. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Dani...READ MORE!
Published on June 29, 2010 See Comment(s)
Move over, Pedroia by Jared Carrabis
Victor Martinez to DL, out of action 'til after All Star break
(WEEI.com) -- Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez will be placed on the 15-day disabled list prior to the start of Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Martinez experienced a slight displacement to the bone on the tip of his left thumb when he was hit by a pair of foul tips in his glove hand on Sunday against the Giants.
If there's any positive that you can take out of this, it's the fact that Victor Martinez will not miss as much time as it sounds like.
With an off-day on Monday, the Red Sox welcome the Tampa Bay Rays to Fenway Park for a brief two-game series to close out the month of June.
The Red Sox are off again on Thursday, before concluding the home stand with a three-game set against the Baltimore Orioles. The Sox then head to Tampa for three games, get another off-day, and finish out the first half of the season with three games in Toronto.
In total, Marti...READ MORE!
Published on June 29, 2010 See Comment(s)
Another day, another X-ray by Jared Carrabis
Victor Martinez fractures left thumb
(ESPNBoston.com) -- Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez suffered a fracture on the top of his left thumb and will be evaluated Monday in Boston. Martinez initially injured the thumb in the second inning when a foul ball off the bat of Pablo Sandoval hit off his thumb before striking his left foot. He was hit on the thumb again in the third inning on a foul ball by Andres Torres. Martinez went out to warm up pitcher Jon Lester for the fourth inning but his thumb had swelled up so much he couldn't stay in the game. An X-ray revealed the fracture.
The pessimist in me is screaming at the sky, "Why! Why us! Why now!"
However, the optimist in me is calmly saying, "Better now than in September." After losing several key players for significant amounts of time -- Josh Beckett (back), Jacoby Ellsbury (fractured ribs x2), Mike Cameron (groin), Jeremy Hermida (fractured ribs), Dustin Pedroia (broken foot), Clay B...READ MORE!
Published on June 27, 2010 See Comment(s)
In a league of his own by Jared Carrabis
Jon Lester out-duels Tim Lincecum, hurls second CG in Sox victory
In one of the top marquee match-ups of 2010, it was Jon Lester who held up his end of the bargain.
The Red Sox got things started with a bang in the top of the first, when David Ortiz destroyed a changeup offering from Tim Lincecum. Ortiz's sixteenth homer of the season splashed down in McCovey Cove. It was just the first time in 2010 that a batter hit a ball far enough to reach water and the seventy-second time in the history of the ballpark, with a majority being hit by the infamous Barry Bonds.
Lester would allow a run in the bottom half of the first, but the Giants found out the hard way that the lefty gets stronger as the game goes along.
The left-hander logged his second complete game of the season, sixth of his career, while striking out nine Giants, coming two whiffs shy of his season high.
Allowing just five hits all evening, Lester retired the last ten batters he faced.
As far as run support was concerned, the Red Sox were all over Lincecum early. The back-to...READ MORE!
Published on June 27, 2010 See Comment(s)
Self-inflicted wound by Jared Carrabis
Pedroia takes laser to the foot, lands on DL
(Boston.com) -- Dustin Pedroia had a CT scan and MRI this morning and doctors discovered a non-displaced fracture of the navicular mid-foot bone in his left foot. He was placed on the disabled list.
Talk about from one extreme to the other.
Less than 24 hours after Dustin Pedroia had himself a career night, going 5-for-5 with 3 HR and 5 RBI, Boston's second baseman was rolling on the ground in pain, after fouling a pitch off his own foot.
Pedroia had been hitting .500 (26-for-52) with 4 HR and 13 RBI over his last 13 games entering Saturday night's freak accident. The night before, he had left the clubhouse with the biggest smile in the world. A night later, he would exit the clubhouse in a walking boot, aided by crutches.
Initial results last night showed that there was no break. Pedroia was scheduled for more tests on Saturday at 10am PT. Red Sox Nation waite...READ MORE!
Published on June 26, 2010 See Comment(s)
San Frustration by Jared Carrabis
Sox may have suffered a loss in more than just the standings
Frustration is defined as "a feeling of dissatisfaction, resulting from unfulfilled needs or unresolved problems."
The "feeling of dissatisfaction" on Friday night would have to be the 2-for-10 performance with runners in scoring position, or maybe it was the thirteen men left on base? If you voted for the three innings that the Red Sox left the bases loaded and did not score, including the ninth inning, then that's also an acceptable response.
Things were looking optimistic in the top of the first, when Kevin Youkilis worked an eight-pitch at bat, and mashed a 92 MPH fastball for a three-run bomb.
For lefty Giants' starter Jonathan Sanchez, the homer should have come as no surprise. Youkilis entered the night hitting .429 against left-handed pitching. After taking Sanchez deep, Youkilis had homered seven times in 50 at bats against southpaws.
In the very next inning, Tim Wakefield's three-run lead was wiped clean. With one out in the second, four singles and a walk had p...READ MORE!
Published on June 26, 2010 See Comment(s)
Rockie Mountain Laser Show by Jared Carrabis
Pedroia belts three homers in Sox' epic victory
I don't remember it being this difficult the last time we were here.
Fresh off the disabled list, Daisuke Matsuzaka was scheduled to make his first start since being scratched in favor of Scott Atchison on June 12. Matsuzaka appeared to be a little rusty in the bottom of the first, allowing a two-run single to Brad Hawpe.
After being silenced through the first three innings, as Rockies start Jason Hammel extended his scoreless innings streak to 28.1 innings, the Red Sox finally cracked the code to the Colorado right-hander.
Dustin Pedroia came to the plate to lead off the fourth and blasted a solo home run to left field to put the Red Sox on the board. A single by David Ortiz and doubles by Adrian Beltre and Mike Cameron plated two more runs in the frame for Boston, as run number four would come home on an RBI base hit off the bat of Matsuzaka himself.
The Boston bats were back at it in the fifth, when Beltre blasted his eleventh homer of the season to deep left, giving t...READ MORE!
Published on June 25, 2010 See Comment(s)
BALCOors Field by Jared Carrabis
Papelbon coughs it up in the ninth, allows walk-off HR to Giambi
That wasn't the way Terry Francona drew it up.
Coming off a tough 2-1 loss the night before, the Red Sox faced a tall task in facing the best starting pitcher that the National League has to offer. Ubaldo Jimenez entered Wednesday night having won 13 of his first 14 starts, with an ERA of 1.15.
Jimenez cruised through the first three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three. While Jimenez was busy doing that, the Rockies were occupied, putting up two runs in the second and another pair in the third.
Among the four runs charged to John Lackey was a two-run blast by Miguel Olivo, who is having an All Star-worthy season for himself behind the plate.
Trailing by four in the fourth, Daniel Nava, batting out of the six-hole, rocked a two-run double off of Jimenez.
Not only can he pitch, but Jimenez got it done with the stick in the bottom half of the fourth, when he singled up the right field line to bring home Clint Barmes, who had doubled before him. Barmes co...READ MORE!
Published on June 23, 2010 See Comment(s)
What's that you say? by Jared Carrabis
The Red Sox are a half-game out of first place?
What's that you say, AJ Burnett? The Red Sox now trail the New York Yankees by a half-game?
Wait a second! I thought the Red Sox were mathematically eliminated when they were 8.5 games out on May 23rd?
Ohh! They still had 117 games left to play at that point? Oh, all right. I was just making sure. I was just confused, because the general consensus among national baseball analysts was that the Red Sox were dead and had no chance of sniffing the postseason this year.
All it took was four home runs at a combined distance of 1,674 feet against the Yankees on Monday night, and now, realistically, the Red Sox can take possession of first place in the American League East for the first time since Opening Night, on April 4th.
I should also note that the Red Sox only entered a game as a first place team just one time this season. With 91 games remaining, the Red Sox by no means are at the "finish line," but it's a good feeling to know that those who doubted this team could not hav...READ MORE!
Published on June 22, 2010 See Comment(s)
How awesome is Dustin Pedroia? by Jared Carrabis
Pedey tells media to shove premature articles of poor offense up their...
How often is one of the best players on your team, if not the best, one of the coolest players your team? Answer: not often.
How would you like to be a Yankees fan, where you have a total clown like Alex Rodriguez to "look forward to" for the postgame interviews? Every single one is the same. Rodriguez stresses, "team, team, team," while I say, "liar, liar, liar."
Or even better, how about the biggest phony of them all: Mark Teixeira. I would rather watch grass being watered, than listen to Teixeira the big phony speak after a game.
With Pedroia, not only do you get a great player, but you get someone who speaks his mind with the utmost honesty. If you don't like it, then that's your fault for asking a question, or should I say, provoking the answer you knew you would get.
This video below is a complete gem that went under the radar. While watching the NESN postgame interviews following Pedey's walk-off on Saturday, they only showed the beginning of this video:
...READ MORE!
Published on June 21, 2010 See Comment(s)
Catchin' some Rays by Jared Carrabis
Sox sweep Manny, Dodgers to tie Rays for second in AL East
How quickly things can change.
On May 17, the Red Sox fell 8.5 games out of first place. They would remain 8.5 games out over the course of the next five games, or until their beat down of former AL East foe, Roy Halladay, on May 22.
After the series finale against the Dodgers, the Red Sox have played in twelve interleague games in 2010 to this point. With a win on Sunday Night Baseball, they have now won ten of those twelve games.
Eying a sweep of one of the National League's best, the Red Sox sent one of the American League's best to the mound. Clay Buchholz entered his outing with a chance to join David Price of the Rays and Phil Hughes of the Yankees, as the only 10-game winners in the American League.
Before the season even began, Buchholz wasn't even a sure thing to be a part of this rotation, but as we enter the latter half of the month of June, he has now established himself as a legitimate possibility to appear in this summer's All Star Game.
Buchholz entered ...READ MORE!
Published on June 20, 2010 See Comment(s)
Laser show! by Jared Carrabis
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox walk off with the win
Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, American League MVP -- quite the impressive list, but there's one thing that Dustin Pedroia hasn't done, until now.
Extending his hitting streak to seven games in the bottom of the seventh, Pedroia came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with the game on the line.
Before he could get to that point, Tim Wakefield had to hold off the Dodgers potent offense. Wakefield tossed 6.1 innings to outlast L.A.'s Vicente Padilla, who was lifted from the game with one out in the sixth.
Padilla was hit hard by Daniel Nava, who rocked an RBI double in the second, and Victor Martinez, who blasted his ninth homer of the season, while pleading his case to be the second All Star catcher behind Joe Mauer.
Manny haters around Red Sox Nation really had something to boo about on Saturday, when in the sixth inning, Ramirez lifted a solo home run off of Wakefield that landed in the front row of the Monster seats.
In the bottom half of...READ MORE!
Published on June 19, 2010 See Comment(s)
Manny mania! by Jared Carrabis
Ramirez a non-factor, as Sox move one game behind first place
It was a night that Red Sox fans had circled on their calendars since the release of the 2010 regular season schedule.
Last making his slow, yet swagger-packed, stroll to home plate at Fenway Park on July 30, 2008, Red Sox fans rose to their feet for Manny Ramirez; some to cheer, and some to boo. From my vantage point in the bleachers, more people were cheering than booing, but the sound of the boos outweighed the cheers.
If I had to put a percentage on it, I'd say close to 65% of Fenway was standing and cheering for Ramirez, but the people who chose to cheer or clap were not as passionate about their decision as the people who chose to boo the Dodgers' star attraction mercilessly.
Before Manny could even come to the plate to lead off the top of the second, the Red Sox had some yard work to do. With Dustin Pedroia extending his hitting streak to eight games in the bottom of the first, David Ortiz belted a two-run homer to straight-away center to give the Red Sox an early 2-0...READ MORE!
Published on June 19, 2010 See Comment(s)
Snakes back on the plane by Jared Carrabis
Sox sweep the D-Backs out of Boston
In front of a crowd decorated in shades of green, the Red Sox looked to finish the job and sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks out of Fenway Park.
Once a coveted young catcher by the Red Sox, Miguel Montero burned the team that once desired his services with an RBI double in the top of the first off of starter, John Lackey.
A 5-4 put out of Kevin Youkilis in the bottom half of the frame knotted the game up at one.
In the top half of the third, the D-Backs struck with another RBI double, this time off the bat of Chris Young. Once again, the lead was short-lived, as Mark Reynolds committed his sixth error of the season to let Darnell McDonald reach.
Later in the inning, after receiving his award for AL Player of the Month before the game, David Ortiz murdered a 3-2 cutter off of Dan Haren for a two-run shot. The homer for Ortiz was his fourteenth of the season, as Boston reclaimed the lead, 3-2.
Refusing to let a sweep come easy, Kelly Johnson singled home the tying run in th...READ MORE!
Published on June 18, 2010 See Comment(s)
Snakes on the bench by Jared Carrabis
Lester improves to 8-0 since April 18
Leave it to Jon Lester to pick Boston out of the dumps after the Lakers stomped out the Celtics in Game 6.
Having not lost a series since the May 14-16 series in Detroit, the Red Sox looked to clinch a series victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Fenway Park.
In a sense, Lester is so good that we, as fans, have been programmed to have a sense of shock when the left-hander allows more than one run. In his outing on Wednesday night, the mighty Lester allowed two runs, but to a very worthy foe.
Ahead in the top of the second after a two-run home run off the bat of Dustin Pedroia in the bottom of the first, his ninth, Lester allowed a leadoff double to Chris Young. Two batters later, the brother of Rays outfielder BJ Upton, Justin Upton hit an absolute bomb that sailed over the Green Monster and onto the parking garage on Lansdowne Street.
As Upton touched 'em all, the Arizona outfielder had himself his eleventh homer of the season, while tying the game at two.
...READ MORE!
Published on June 16, 2010 See Comment(s)
A new King Felix? by Jared Carrabis
Felix Doubront to make major league debut on Friday
(Comcast SportsNet New England) -- Left-hander Felix Doubront, who has emerged as one of the best pitching prospects in the Red Sox organization, will make his major-league debut Friday night against the Dodgers when Boston needs an extra starter to take the spot of Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Named as the Pitcher of the Month by SoxProspects.com, Felix Doubront will toe the rubber against Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Manny Ramirez and the rest of the Dodgers this Friday in his major league debut.
SoxProspects.com also lists Doubront as the number six prospect within the Red Sox organization, only second to Casey Kelly, who is number one overall, among pitchers down on the farm.
Doubront had made eight starts with double-A Portland, going 4-0 with a 2.51 ERA, while striking out 38 batters in 43 innings. Af...READ MORE!
Published on June 15, 2010 See Comment(s)
Time to face the music by Jared Carrabis
Manny Ramirez returns to Boston on Friday
In a perfect world, Manny Ramirez would still be the starting left fielder for the Boston Red Sox.
In a perfect world, where players who sign multi-year deals actually honor their contracts, Ramirez more than likely would have helped the Red Sox win back-to-back World Series titles in 2007 and 2008, along with the prestigious 2004 championship.
But this world is not so perfect, and instead, there was no title to be celebrated in 2008, and Manny will return to Fenway Park on Friday night as a Dodger, and perhaps the most despised professional athlete in this town since Roger Clemens.
In December of 2000, Dan Duquette, the man who drafted Nomar Garciaparra in 1994 and traded for Pedro Martinez in 1997, signed Ramirez to an eight-year, $160 million deal with $20 million options for 2009 and 2010.
Ramirez came to Boston from Cleveland with 236 career home runs in his back pocket, while averaging over 42 home runs, 144 RBI and a .329 average in the three seasons prior to his c...READ MORE!
Published on June 15, 2010 See Comment(s)
Nava say Nava by Jared Carrabis
Daniel Nava hits grand slam in first major league at bat in Sox rout
It was a bizarre day at Fenway Park, to say the very least.
The fans who arrived at Fenway Park in time for first pitch were expecting to see Daisuke Matsuzaka on the hill, but instead got Scott Atchison. For those who were without the benefit of a Twitter news feed, or word-of-mouth news, some must have thought the game started at 1:10 and that they missed the first seven innings.
However, Matsuzaka had been a last minute scratch from the game, as he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with what was being called a "forearm strain," which was suffered while warming up for the game.
Atchison took the mound in what some thought to be bullpen suicide. Surprisingly, the right-hander logged three innings, while holding the Phillies to just two runs on two hits.
Much like they had done in the early innings of the first game of this series, the Red Sox bats were knocking Phillies' starting pitching around the yard without mercy.
Trailing by two in the bottom of the second,...READ MORE!
Published on June 12, 2010 See Comment(s)
Double trouble by Jared Carrabis
Red Sox knock 8 doubles in 12-run rout
Forty-seven years, six months, twenty-three days, one-plus inning, nine hits, nine earned runs, one walk, one strikeout and one home run.
That's the extended method of describing veteran left-hander, Jamie Moyer. The short way: awful.
With a fastball topping out at a high school sophomore-style 82 MPH, the Red Sox wasted no time showing Moyer to the showers. After walking the first batter of the game, later in the inning, Victor Martinez started a string of four straight extra-base, RBI hits.
A double for Martinez, a two-bagger for David Ortiz, a two-base hit for Adrian Beltre and a two-run blast for Mike Lowell put the Red Sox out in front 5-0 before Moyer could blink an eye.
Not to be out-done by a five-run first, the Boston bats went back to work in the second frame. Having batted around in the first, Marco Scutaro got things going with a base hit. With Scutaro aboard, Dustin Pedroia rocketed his 20th double of the season to center to bring home another run.
Martine...READ MORE!
Published on June 12, 2010 See Comment(s)
Masterful masterpiece by Jared Carrabis
Justin Masterson stings former club with CG shutout
Having just one win in 2010, and two wins total since being dealt to Cleveland at the trade deadline in July of '09, Justin Masterson saved his best for his former club; figures.
It was a match-up of two former Lowell Spinners, Paw Sox and Red Sox teammates, with the tale of the tape heavily favoring that of Clay Buchholz, who entered the game with the lowest ERA in the American League at 2.39.
Prior to the game, the mightily struggling Dustin Pedroia hollered to Masterson, "Hey Masty, throw me a couple down the middle. Come on!" Masterson did more than just that, retiring Pedroia all four times that he came to the plate, lowering his average to .248.
For Pedroia, it was the first time his average had dipped below .250 since the fourth game of the season, when the second baseman was hitting .235.
Being a notorious sinkerball pitcher, Masterson induced 17 of his 27 outs recorded on the ground, with just three outs being made in the air. Masterson also whiffed six Red Sox b...READ MORE!
Published on June 10, 2010 See Comment(s)
Wakefield stands alone by Jared Carrabis
Wake passes Rocket for Sox all-time innings leader in Boston victory
While you were drooling over Stephen Strasburg and his 14 strikeouts during his major league debut, the Red Sox actually had a game on Tuesday night!
I can sum up this entire game in just two words: unearned runs.
With one out in the bottom of the first, Shin-Soo Choo hit a liner out to center that outfielder Mike Cameron dove full extension for, but came up short. What would have been a harmless single if he had played it on a hop, was now a one-out triple.
Two batters later, Jhonny Peralta sent a grounder to Adrian Beltre, who bobbled the ball, allowing Peralta to reach and Choo to score the game's first run. It was error number 11 on the season for Beltre, and his third in the last two games.
In the top of the fourth inning, Victor Martinez hit what should have been the third out to conclude a 1-2-3 inning. Indians' center fielder Trevor Crowe played the fly ball nonchalantl...READ MORE!
Published on June 09, 2010 See Comment(s)
Homecoming King by Jared Carrabis
V-Mart welcomes himself home
On Monday night, Victor Martinez put to rest all discussions of Jason Varitek having to be Daisuke Matsuzaka's personal catcher.
In my personal opinion, Martinez does not get even half the credit that he deserves in terms of handling a pitching staff. Of course, it's hard to stand out when you're catching for an organization that has had the services of one of the best game-callers in the history of the game for over a decade.
However, I think it's time to give credit where credit is due. He may not have caught four no-hitters, but just look what Clay Buchholz has turned into since Martinez started catching nearly all of his starts after becoming a staple in the Red Sox' rotation. The proof is in the numbers.
Varitek has spent 99 innings behind home plate with Buchholz on the mound, and in that time, the right-hander pitched his way to a 5.45 ERA. When hurling to Martinez, Buchholz's ERA is over 2 runs lower at 3.43 in 144.1 innings.
Even before coming to Boston, he caugh...READ MORE!
Published on June 08, 2010 See Comment(s)
You can call Buchholz Mega Millions by Jared Carrabis
because that's a lot of zeros
18 hits on Thursday, 16 hits on Friday, and that's not even the high point.
Clay Buchholz entered Friday night's series opener against the Orioles having hurled nine scoreless frames. After carving through Baltimore's lineup, he would have nine more.
In his four starts prior to Friday, Buchholz was 4-0 with a 1.32 ERA, while opponents were hitting just .194 against the right-hander. By night's end, Buchholz's scoreless-inning streak had reached 18 innings, as the right-hander continued to plead his case for some All Star innings.
For Buchholz, it was his second career complete game shutout. You may remember his first -- a no-hitter against the very same team that he blanked on Friday.
His complete game effort gave him his team-best eighth win, as Buchholz lowered his ERA from 2.79 to 2.39 -- also a team best.
I guess the Red Sox' offense also deserves some praise.
After banging out 18 hits in a losing effort against Oakland on Thursday, the Boston bats came out and ...READ MORE!
Published on June 04, 2010 See Comment(s)
Dis-Cust-ing by Jared Carrabis
Red Sox bang out 18 hits in losing effort
It's not every day that your team racks up eighteen hits and loses.
In fact, it's not every season, or even every decade that something like this happens. Just to put things in perspective, the last time that the Red Sox had 18 hits, but didn't win was the same year that Mo Vaughn was the American League MVP with the Boston Red Sox: 1995.
Since we're on the topic of mid-90's Red Sox teams, Thursday's series finale against Oakland had me thinking of "Wave 'Em In" Wendell Kim, who first arrived in Boston in '97.
The Red Sox had themselves a 1-0 lead early, after Adrian Beltre knocked an RBI base hit into center. The lead was short-lived, as Red Sox-killer Kurt Suzuki hammered a solo blast into the Monster seats in the next frame.
In the bottom of the second, a single by Bill Hall and a double by Jeremy Hermida had two runners in scoring position for Marco Scutaro, who got a run home by grounding out 6-3.
In the bottom of the third, Victor Martinez got things going with a...READ MORE!
Published on June 04, 2010 See Comment(s)
May, June, whatever by Jared Carrabis
Ortiz, the AL Player of the Month for May, starts June with a bang
May, June, whatever. Just hours subsequently being named the American League Player of the Month for the month of May, after hitting .363 with 10 HR, 27 RBI and a 1.211 OPS, David Ortiz was back to his old tricks.
Before Ortiz could save the day, there needed to be something that the Red Sox needed to be saved from. Enter: Daisuke Matsuzaka's three-run first inning.
Back-to-back one-out doubles by Oakland and a monster shot by Kurt Suzuki had the A's feeling pretty good about themselves in the early going. That was, until, Kevin Youkilis had something to say about it.
Marco Scutaro began the home-half of the frame with a base hit to right field, while two batters later, Ortiz found himself in the extra-base hits column yet again. Papi's two-bagger had two runners in scoring position for Youkilis, who entered the night as a .340 hitter with runners in scoring position.
Those numbers would only increase, as Youkilis dropped a base hit into center to bring home Scutaro and O...READ MORE!
Published on June 03, 2010 See Comment(s)
Sox bullpen falters in loss to Rays
There is more space between Michael Strahan's teeth, than there is in between the top three teams in the American League East.
In typical Daisuke Matsuzaka fashion, the right-hander took the mound in the first and tossed 29 pitches, and walked three batters. Just like he has known to do, Matsuzaka got out of the jam. Matsuzaka entered the night with opponents hitting just .164 against him with the bases loaded in his career, and that number improved in the first.
Daisuke's luck would run dry in the third, when his walk total came back to haunt him. Matsuzaka allowed the first batter to reach on a walk, and then allowed a base hit to John Jaso to put two men on. Two batters later, former Red Sox catcher Kelly Shoppach planted a double off the wall to bring two runs home.
Shoppach later scored on an RBI base hit by Ben Zobrist.
The three-run frame for Daisuke would be his lone blemish, but his high pitch count wouldn't allow much longevity in his outing. Matsuzaka got the h...READ MORE!
Published on June 30, 2010 See Comment(s)
Beware of Beltre by Jared Carrabis
Despite All Star vote totals, Beltre is the man
"Beware of Beltre," a phrase that once was only relevant to forward-charging left fielders, but now is a mental note in the minds of all opposing pitchers when facing Adrian Beltre.
After cracking the ribs of Jacoby Ellsbury and Jeremy Hermida, Beltre turned his focus to cracking the baseball all over parks across America. Boston's new third baseman jumped out to a .338 average in the month of April. Prior to playing in a game for Boston, Beltre was being advertised as a player who was a free-swinger. Despite that reputation, Beltre got on base at a .372 clip in the month of April.
Most were thinking, Great! A hot start for Beltre definitely helps, but then the right-handed batter hit .333 in the month of May, with five homers and 25 RBI in 28 games.
Here we are on the last day of June, and after hitting .378 for the entire month, Beltre currently sits in second place in the majors with a .349 batting average. Just like everyone expected, right?
Beltre hit 8 homers in all...READ MORE!
Published on June 30, 2010 See Comment(s)
The Replacements by Jared Carrabis
Bill Hall, Jason Varitek pick up the slack in Sox' win
Take it easy. We didn't have Dustin Pedroia or Victor Martinez in the lineup tonight. Wait...what? We won anyway? Never mind.
An 11-game winning a year ago, "Big Game" James Shields squared off against the Red Sox' big right-hander, who could have 11 wins not long after the All Star break.
The two right-handers took turns, putting up scoreless innings of work for each of the first four frames. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, David Ortiz broke the scoreless tie with a bang.
Pouncing on the first pitch of the at bat, Ortiz blasted a three-run shot that landed about seven rows deep into the right field bleachers. With a flip of the bat, the Sox had a 3-0 lead. The homer was Ortiz's 17th of the season. Ortiz didn't hit his 17th home run of 2009 until August 18 at Texas.
In the bottom of the sixth, with two men aboard, Jason Varitek lined a base hit into right that brought home Boston's fourth run of the evening. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Dani...READ MORE!
Published on June 29, 2010 See Comment(s)
Move over, Pedroia by Jared Carrabis
Victor Martinez to DL, out of action 'til after All Star break
(WEEI.com) -- Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez will be placed on the 15-day disabled list prior to the start of Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Martinez experienced a slight displacement to the bone on the tip of his left thumb when he was hit by a pair of foul tips in his glove hand on Sunday against the Giants.
If there's any positive that you can take out of this, it's the fact that Victor Martinez will not miss as much time as it sounds like.
With an off-day on Monday, the Red Sox welcome the Tampa Bay Rays to Fenway Park for a brief two-game series to close out the month of June.
The Red Sox are off again on Thursday, before concluding the home stand with a three-game set against the Baltimore Orioles. The Sox then head to Tampa for three games, get another off-day, and finish out the first half of the season with three games in Toronto.
In total, Marti...READ MORE!
Published on June 29, 2010 See Comment(s)
Another day, another X-ray by Jared Carrabis
Victor Martinez fractures left thumb
(ESPNBoston.com) -- Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez suffered a fracture on the top of his left thumb and will be evaluated Monday in Boston. Martinez initially injured the thumb in the second inning when a foul ball off the bat of Pablo Sandoval hit off his thumb before striking his left foot. He was hit on the thumb again in the third inning on a foul ball by Andres Torres. Martinez went out to warm up pitcher Jon Lester for the fourth inning but his thumb had swelled up so much he couldn't stay in the game. An X-ray revealed the fracture.
The pessimist in me is screaming at the sky, "Why! Why us! Why now!"
However, the optimist in me is calmly saying, "Better now than in September." After losing several key players for significant amounts of time -- Josh Beckett (back), Jacoby Ellsbury (fractured ribs x2), Mike Cameron (groin), Jeremy Hermida (fractured ribs), Dustin Pedroia (broken foot), Clay B...READ MORE!
Published on June 27, 2010 See Comment(s)
In a league of his own by Jared Carrabis
Jon Lester out-duels Tim Lincecum, hurls second CG in Sox victory
In one of the top marquee match-ups of 2010, it was Jon Lester who held up his end of the bargain.
The Red Sox got things started with a bang in the top of the first, when David Ortiz destroyed a changeup offering from Tim Lincecum. Ortiz's sixteenth homer of the season splashed down in McCovey Cove. It was just the first time in 2010 that a batter hit a ball far enough to reach water and the seventy-second time in the history of the ballpark, with a majority being hit by the infamous Barry Bonds.
Lester would allow a run in the bottom half of the first, but the Giants found out the hard way that the lefty gets stronger as the game goes along.
The left-hander logged his second complete game of the season, sixth of his career, while striking out nine Giants, coming two whiffs shy of his season high.
Allowing just five hits all evening, Lester retired the last ten batters he faced.
As far as run support was concerned, the Red Sox were all over Lincecum early. The back-to...READ MORE!
Published on June 27, 2010 See Comment(s)
Self-inflicted wound by Jared Carrabis
Pedroia takes laser to the foot, lands on DL
(Boston.com) -- Dustin Pedroia had a CT scan and MRI this morning and doctors discovered a non-displaced fracture of the navicular mid-foot bone in his left foot. He was placed on the disabled list.
Talk about from one extreme to the other.
Less than 24 hours after Dustin Pedroia had himself a career night, going 5-for-5 with 3 HR and 5 RBI, Boston's second baseman was rolling on the ground in pain, after fouling a pitch off his own foot.
Pedroia had been hitting .500 (26-for-52) with 4 HR and 13 RBI over his last 13 games entering Saturday night's freak accident. The night before, he had left the clubhouse with the biggest smile in the world. A night later, he would exit the clubhouse in a walking boot, aided by crutches.
Initial results last night showed that there was no break. Pedroia was scheduled for more tests on Saturday at 10am PT. Red Sox Nation waite...READ MORE!
Published on June 26, 2010 See Comment(s)
San Frustration by Jared Carrabis
Sox may have suffered a loss in more than just the standings
Frustration is defined as "a feeling of dissatisfaction, resulting from unfulfilled needs or unresolved problems."
The "feeling of dissatisfaction" on Friday night would have to be the 2-for-10 performance with runners in scoring position, or maybe it was the thirteen men left on base? If you voted for the three innings that the Red Sox left the bases loaded and did not score, including the ninth inning, then that's also an acceptable response.
Things were looking optimistic in the top of the first, when Kevin Youkilis worked an eight-pitch at bat, and mashed a 92 MPH fastball for a three-run bomb.
For lefty Giants' starter Jonathan Sanchez, the homer should have come as no surprise. Youkilis entered the night hitting .429 against left-handed pitching. After taking Sanchez deep, Youkilis had homered seven times in 50 at bats against southpaws.
In the very next inning, Tim Wakefield's three-run lead was wiped clean. With one out in the second, four singles and a walk had p...READ MORE!
Published on June 26, 2010 See Comment(s)
Rockie Mountain Laser Show by Jared Carrabis
Pedroia belts three homers in Sox' epic victory
I don't remember it being this difficult the last time we were here.
Fresh off the disabled list, Daisuke Matsuzaka was scheduled to make his first start since being scratched in favor of Scott Atchison on June 12. Matsuzaka appeared to be a little rusty in the bottom of the first, allowing a two-run single to Brad Hawpe.
After being silenced through the first three innings, as Rockies start Jason Hammel extended his scoreless innings streak to 28.1 innings, the Red Sox finally cracked the code to the Colorado right-hander.
Dustin Pedroia came to the plate to lead off the fourth and blasted a solo home run to left field to put the Red Sox on the board. A single by David Ortiz and doubles by Adrian Beltre and Mike Cameron plated two more runs in the frame for Boston, as run number four would come home on an RBI base hit off the bat of Matsuzaka himself.
The Boston bats were back at it in the fifth, when Beltre blasted his eleventh homer of the season to deep left, giving t...READ MORE!
Published on June 25, 2010 See Comment(s)
BALCOors Field by Jared Carrabis
Papelbon coughs it up in the ninth, allows walk-off HR to Giambi
That wasn't the way Terry Francona drew it up.
Coming off a tough 2-1 loss the night before, the Red Sox faced a tall task in facing the best starting pitcher that the National League has to offer. Ubaldo Jimenez entered Wednesday night having won 13 of his first 14 starts, with an ERA of 1.15.
Jimenez cruised through the first three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three. While Jimenez was busy doing that, the Rockies were occupied, putting up two runs in the second and another pair in the third.
Among the four runs charged to John Lackey was a two-run blast by Miguel Olivo, who is having an All Star-worthy season for himself behind the plate.
Trailing by four in the fourth, Daniel Nava, batting out of the six-hole, rocked a two-run double off of Jimenez.
Not only can he pitch, but Jimenez got it done with the stick in the bottom half of the fourth, when he singled up the right field line to bring home Clint Barmes, who had doubled before him. Barmes co...READ MORE!
Published on June 23, 2010 See Comment(s)
What's that you say? by Jared Carrabis
The Red Sox are a half-game out of first place?
What's that you say, AJ Burnett? The Red Sox now trail the New York Yankees by a half-game?
Wait a second! I thought the Red Sox were mathematically eliminated when they were 8.5 games out on May 23rd?
Ohh! They still had 117 games left to play at that point? Oh, all right. I was just making sure. I was just confused, because the general consensus among national baseball analysts was that the Red Sox were dead and had no chance of sniffing the postseason this year.
All it took was four home runs at a combined distance of 1,674 feet against the Yankees on Monday night, and now, realistically, the Red Sox can take possession of first place in the American League East for the first time since Opening Night, on April 4th.
I should also note that the Red Sox only entered a game as a first place team just one time this season. With 91 games remaining, the Red Sox by no means are at the "finish line," but it's a good feeling to know that those who doubted this team could not hav...READ MORE!
Published on June 22, 2010 See Comment(s)
How awesome is Dustin Pedroia? by Jared Carrabis
Pedey tells media to shove premature articles of poor offense up their...
How often is one of the best players on your team, if not the best, one of the coolest players your team? Answer: not often.
How would you like to be a Yankees fan, where you have a total clown like Alex Rodriguez to "look forward to" for the postgame interviews? Every single one is the same. Rodriguez stresses, "team, team, team," while I say, "liar, liar, liar."
Or even better, how about the biggest phony of them all: Mark Teixeira. I would rather watch grass being watered, than listen to Teixeira the big phony speak after a game.
With Pedroia, not only do you get a great player, but you get someone who speaks his mind with the utmost honesty. If you don't like it, then that's your fault for asking a question, or should I say, provoking the answer you knew you would get.
This video below is a complete gem that went under the radar. While watching the NESN postgame interviews following Pedey's walk-off on Saturday, they only showed the beginning of this video:
...READ MORE!
Published on June 21, 2010 See Comment(s)
Catchin' some Rays by Jared Carrabis
Sox sweep Manny, Dodgers to tie Rays for second in AL East
How quickly things can change.
On May 17, the Red Sox fell 8.5 games out of first place. They would remain 8.5 games out over the course of the next five games, or until their beat down of former AL East foe, Roy Halladay, on May 22.
After the series finale against the Dodgers, the Red Sox have played in twelve interleague games in 2010 to this point. With a win on Sunday Night Baseball, they have now won ten of those twelve games.
Eying a sweep of one of the National League's best, the Red Sox sent one of the American League's best to the mound. Clay Buchholz entered his outing with a chance to join David Price of the Rays and Phil Hughes of the Yankees, as the only 10-game winners in the American League.
Before the season even began, Buchholz wasn't even a sure thing to be a part of this rotation, but as we enter the latter half of the month of June, he has now established himself as a legitimate possibility to appear in this summer's All Star Game.
Buchholz entered ...READ MORE!
Published on June 20, 2010 See Comment(s)
Laser show! by Jared Carrabis
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox walk off with the win
Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, American League MVP -- quite the impressive list, but there's one thing that Dustin Pedroia hasn't done, until now.
Extending his hitting streak to seven games in the bottom of the seventh, Pedroia came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with the game on the line.
Before he could get to that point, Tim Wakefield had to hold off the Dodgers potent offense. Wakefield tossed 6.1 innings to outlast L.A.'s Vicente Padilla, who was lifted from the game with one out in the sixth.
Padilla was hit hard by Daniel Nava, who rocked an RBI double in the second, and Victor Martinez, who blasted his ninth homer of the season, while pleading his case to be the second All Star catcher behind Joe Mauer.
Manny haters around Red Sox Nation really had something to boo about on Saturday, when in the sixth inning, Ramirez lifted a solo home run off of Wakefield that landed in the front row of the Monster seats.
In the bottom half of...READ MORE!
Published on June 19, 2010 See Comment(s)
Manny mania! by Jared Carrabis
Ramirez a non-factor, as Sox move one game behind first place
It was a night that Red Sox fans had circled on their calendars since the release of the 2010 regular season schedule.
Last making his slow, yet swagger-packed, stroll to home plate at Fenway Park on July 30, 2008, Red Sox fans rose to their feet for Manny Ramirez; some to cheer, and some to boo. From my vantage point in the bleachers, more people were cheering than booing, but the sound of the boos outweighed the cheers.
If I had to put a percentage on it, I'd say close to 65% of Fenway was standing and cheering for Ramirez, but the people who chose to cheer or clap were not as passionate about their decision as the people who chose to boo the Dodgers' star attraction mercilessly.
Before Manny could even come to the plate to lead off the top of the second, the Red Sox had some yard work to do. With Dustin Pedroia extending his hitting streak to eight games in the bottom of the first, David Ortiz belted a two-run homer to straight-away center to give the Red Sox an early 2-0...READ MORE!
Published on June 19, 2010 See Comment(s)
Snakes back on the plane by Jared Carrabis
Sox sweep the D-Backs out of Boston
In front of a crowd decorated in shades of green, the Red Sox looked to finish the job and sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks out of Fenway Park.
Once a coveted young catcher by the Red Sox, Miguel Montero burned the team that once desired his services with an RBI double in the top of the first off of starter, John Lackey.
A 5-4 put out of Kevin Youkilis in the bottom half of the frame knotted the game up at one.
In the top half of the third, the D-Backs struck with another RBI double, this time off the bat of Chris Young. Once again, the lead was short-lived, as Mark Reynolds committed his sixth error of the season to let Darnell McDonald reach.
Later in the inning, after receiving his award for AL Player of the Month before the game, David Ortiz murdered a 3-2 cutter off of Dan Haren for a two-run shot. The homer for Ortiz was his fourteenth of the season, as Boston reclaimed the lead, 3-2.
Refusing to let a sweep come easy, Kelly Johnson singled home the tying run in th...READ MORE!
Published on June 18, 2010 See Comment(s)
Snakes on the bench by Jared Carrabis
Lester improves to 8-0 since April 18
Leave it to Jon Lester to pick Boston out of the dumps after the Lakers stomped out the Celtics in Game 6.
Having not lost a series since the May 14-16 series in Detroit, the Red Sox looked to clinch a series victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Fenway Park.
In a sense, Lester is so good that we, as fans, have been programmed to have a sense of shock when the left-hander allows more than one run. In his outing on Wednesday night, the mighty Lester allowed two runs, but to a very worthy foe.
Ahead in the top of the second after a two-run home run off the bat of Dustin Pedroia in the bottom of the first, his ninth, Lester allowed a leadoff double to Chris Young. Two batters later, the brother of Rays outfielder BJ Upton, Justin Upton hit an absolute bomb that sailed over the Green Monster and onto the parking garage on Lansdowne Street.
As Upton touched 'em all, the Arizona outfielder had himself his eleventh homer of the season, while tying the game at two.
...READ MORE!
Published on June 16, 2010 See Comment(s)
A new King Felix? by Jared Carrabis
Felix Doubront to make major league debut on Friday
(Comcast SportsNet New England) -- Left-hander Felix Doubront, who has emerged as one of the best pitching prospects in the Red Sox organization, will make his major-league debut Friday night against the Dodgers when Boston needs an extra starter to take the spot of Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Named as the Pitcher of the Month by SoxProspects.com, Felix Doubront will toe the rubber against Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Manny Ramirez and the rest of the Dodgers this Friday in his major league debut.
SoxProspects.com also lists Doubront as the number six prospect within the Red Sox organization, only second to Casey Kelly, who is number one overall, among pitchers down on the farm.
Doubront had made eight starts with double-A Portland, going 4-0 with a 2.51 ERA, while striking out 38 batters in 43 innings. Af...READ MORE!
Published on June 15, 2010 See Comment(s)
Time to face the music by Jared Carrabis
Manny Ramirez returns to Boston on Friday
In a perfect world, Manny Ramirez would still be the starting left fielder for the Boston Red Sox.
In a perfect world, where players who sign multi-year deals actually honor their contracts, Ramirez more than likely would have helped the Red Sox win back-to-back World Series titles in 2007 and 2008, along with the prestigious 2004 championship.
But this world is not so perfect, and instead, there was no title to be celebrated in 2008, and Manny will return to Fenway Park on Friday night as a Dodger, and perhaps the most despised professional athlete in this town since Roger Clemens.
In December of 2000, Dan Duquette, the man who drafted Nomar Garciaparra in 1994 and traded for Pedro Martinez in 1997, signed Ramirez to an eight-year, $160 million deal with $20 million options for 2009 and 2010.
Ramirez came to Boston from Cleveland with 236 career home runs in his back pocket, while averaging over 42 home runs, 144 RBI and a .329 average in the three seasons prior to his c...READ MORE!
Published on June 15, 2010 See Comment(s)
Nava say Nava by Jared Carrabis
Daniel Nava hits grand slam in first major league at bat in Sox rout
It was a bizarre day at Fenway Park, to say the very least.
The fans who arrived at Fenway Park in time for first pitch were expecting to see Daisuke Matsuzaka on the hill, but instead got Scott Atchison. For those who were without the benefit of a Twitter news feed, or word-of-mouth news, some must have thought the game started at 1:10 and that they missed the first seven innings.
However, Matsuzaka had been a last minute scratch from the game, as he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with what was being called a "forearm strain," which was suffered while warming up for the game.
Atchison took the mound in what some thought to be bullpen suicide. Surprisingly, the right-hander logged three innings, while holding the Phillies to just two runs on two hits.
Much like they had done in the early innings of the first game of this series, the Red Sox bats were knocking Phillies' starting pitching around the yard without mercy.
Trailing by two in the bottom of the second,...READ MORE!
Published on June 12, 2010 See Comment(s)
Double trouble by Jared Carrabis
Red Sox knock 8 doubles in 12-run rout
Forty-seven years, six months, twenty-three days, one-plus inning, nine hits, nine earned runs, one walk, one strikeout and one home run.
That's the extended method of describing veteran left-hander, Jamie Moyer. The short way: awful.
With a fastball topping out at a high school sophomore-style 82 MPH, the Red Sox wasted no time showing Moyer to the showers. After walking the first batter of the game, later in the inning, Victor Martinez started a string of four straight extra-base, RBI hits.
A double for Martinez, a two-bagger for David Ortiz, a two-base hit for Adrian Beltre and a two-run blast for Mike Lowell put the Red Sox out in front 5-0 before Moyer could blink an eye.
Not to be out-done by a five-run first, the Boston bats went back to work in the second frame. Having batted around in the first, Marco Scutaro got things going with a base hit. With Scutaro aboard, Dustin Pedroia rocketed his 20th double of the season to center to bring home another run.
Martine...READ MORE!
Published on June 12, 2010 See Comment(s)
Masterful masterpiece by Jared Carrabis
Justin Masterson stings former club with CG shutout
Having just one win in 2010, and two wins total since being dealt to Cleveland at the trade deadline in July of '09, Justin Masterson saved his best for his former club; figures.
It was a match-up of two former Lowell Spinners, Paw Sox and Red Sox teammates, with the tale of the tape heavily favoring that of Clay Buchholz, who entered the game with the lowest ERA in the American League at 2.39.
Prior to the game, the mightily struggling Dustin Pedroia hollered to Masterson, "Hey Masty, throw me a couple down the middle. Come on!" Masterson did more than just that, retiring Pedroia all four times that he came to the plate, lowering his average to .248.
For Pedroia, it was the first time his average had dipped below .250 since the fourth game of the season, when the second baseman was hitting .235.
Being a notorious sinkerball pitcher, Masterson induced 17 of his 27 outs recorded on the ground, with just three outs being made in the air. Masterson also whiffed six Red Sox b...READ MORE!
Published on June 10, 2010 See Comment(s)
Wakefield stands alone by Jared Carrabis
Wake passes Rocket for Sox all-time innings leader in Boston victory
While you were drooling over Stephen Strasburg and his 14 strikeouts during his major league debut, the Red Sox actually had a game on Tuesday night!
I can sum up this entire game in just two words: unearned runs.
With one out in the bottom of the first, Shin-Soo Choo hit a liner out to center that outfielder Mike Cameron dove full extension for, but came up short. What would have been a harmless single if he had played it on a hop, was now a one-out triple.
Two batters later, Jhonny Peralta sent a grounder to Adrian Beltre, who bobbled the ball, allowing Peralta to reach and Choo to score the game's first run. It was error number 11 on the season for Beltre, and his third in the last two games.
In the top of the fourth inning, Victor Martinez hit what should have been the third out to conclude a 1-2-3 inning. Indians' center fielder Trevor Crowe played the fly ball nonchalantl...READ MORE!
Published on June 09, 2010 See Comment(s)
Homecoming King by Jared Carrabis
V-Mart welcomes himself home
On Monday night, Victor Martinez put to rest all discussions of Jason Varitek having to be Daisuke Matsuzaka's personal catcher.
In my personal opinion, Martinez does not get even half the credit that he deserves in terms of handling a pitching staff. Of course, it's hard to stand out when you're catching for an organization that has had the services of one of the best game-callers in the history of the game for over a decade.
However, I think it's time to give credit where credit is due. He may not have caught four no-hitters, but just look what Clay Buchholz has turned into since Martinez started catching nearly all of his starts after becoming a staple in the Red Sox' rotation. The proof is in the numbers.
Varitek has spent 99 innings behind home plate with Buchholz on the mound, and in that time, the right-hander pitched his way to a 5.45 ERA. When hurling to Martinez, Buchholz's ERA is over 2 runs lower at 3.43 in 144.1 innings.
Even before coming to Boston, he caugh...READ MORE!
Published on June 08, 2010 See Comment(s)
You can call Buchholz Mega Millions by Jared Carrabis
because that's a lot of zeros
18 hits on Thursday, 16 hits on Friday, and that's not even the high point.
Clay Buchholz entered Friday night's series opener against the Orioles having hurled nine scoreless frames. After carving through Baltimore's lineup, he would have nine more.
In his four starts prior to Friday, Buchholz was 4-0 with a 1.32 ERA, while opponents were hitting just .194 against the right-hander. By night's end, Buchholz's scoreless-inning streak had reached 18 innings, as the right-hander continued to plead his case for some All Star innings.
For Buchholz, it was his second career complete game shutout. You may remember his first -- a no-hitter against the very same team that he blanked on Friday.
His complete game effort gave him his team-best eighth win, as Buchholz lowered his ERA from 2.79 to 2.39 -- also a team best.
I guess the Red Sox' offense also deserves some praise.
After banging out 18 hits in a losing effort against Oakland on Thursday, the Boston bats came out and ...READ MORE!
Published on June 04, 2010 See Comment(s)
Dis-Cust-ing by Jared Carrabis
Red Sox bang out 18 hits in losing effort
It's not every day that your team racks up eighteen hits and loses.
In fact, it's not every season, or even every decade that something like this happens. Just to put things in perspective, the last time that the Red Sox had 18 hits, but didn't win was the same year that Mo Vaughn was the American League MVP with the Boston Red Sox: 1995.
Since we're on the topic of mid-90's Red Sox teams, Thursday's series finale against Oakland had me thinking of "Wave 'Em In" Wendell Kim, who first arrived in Boston in '97.
The Red Sox had themselves a 1-0 lead early, after Adrian Beltre knocked an RBI base hit into center. The lead was short-lived, as Red Sox-killer Kurt Suzuki hammered a solo blast into the Monster seats in the next frame.
In the bottom of the second, a single by Bill Hall and a double by Jeremy Hermida had two runners in scoring position for Marco Scutaro, who got a run home by grounding out 6-3.
In the bottom of the third, Victor Martinez got things going with a...READ MORE!
Published on June 04, 2010 See Comment(s)
May, June, whatever by Jared Carrabis
Ortiz, the AL Player of the Month for May, starts June with a bang
May, June, whatever. Just hours subsequently being named the American League Player of the Month for the month of May, after hitting .363 with 10 HR, 27 RBI and a 1.211 OPS, David Ortiz was back to his old tricks.
Before Ortiz could save the day, there needed to be something that the Red Sox needed to be saved from. Enter: Daisuke Matsuzaka's three-run first inning.
Back-to-back one-out doubles by Oakland and a monster shot by Kurt Suzuki had the A's feeling pretty good about themselves in the early going. That was, until, Kevin Youkilis had something to say about it.
Marco Scutaro began the home-half of the frame with a base hit to right field, while two batters later, Ortiz found himself in the extra-base hits column yet again. Papi's two-bagger had two runners in scoring position for Youkilis, who entered the night as a .340 hitter with runners in scoring position.
Those numbers would only increase, as Youkilis dropped a base hit into center to bring home Scutaro and O...READ MORE!
Published on June 03, 2010 See Comment(s)
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