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Phillies Top Rays In World Series Game #3
2008-10-26 09:10:00
The Philadelphia Phillies scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday night in Philadelphia and won by a score of 5-4. They took a 2-1 series advantage over the Tampa Bays Rays. Matt Garza was not the unbeatable hurler who the Red Sox saw in game seven of their series, far from it. Tonight's game, again in Phillie, will start at 8:29 pm EDT and feature Sonnanstine against Blanton. Look for Philadelphia to take a commanding 3-1 lead in this soon-to-be over World Series . Hey, my prediction from yesterday was dead wrong so I might as well go out on a limb, WAY out, on this one. The only thing right about my last post was leaving open the possibility of the rain leaving the area sometime before midnight. I nailed that one and the game started with only an hour plus delay. The Rays probably wish it had continued to pour. And pour. And keep pouring.In Red Sox news, right now there isn't much. Little whispers about possible free agent intentions are just that, very soft, almo...
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Saturday Morning Thoughts, If Any...
2008-10-25 10:53:00
Good morning. Game three of the 2008 World Series has a first pitch time of 8:35pm EDT tonight in the City of Brotherly Love (and cheesesteak sandwiches...I like Genos). It will be the 40 plus Jamie Moyer facing the ALCS MVP Matt Garza. I look for the Rays to take a 2-1 series lead after this one with a blistering offensive attack and a Garza who will render the Phillies helpless. Look for the lefty Price to come in for the final four or five outs. If the Red Sox land Mark Teixeira and successfully trade Mike Lowell (only AFTER the Tex acquisition is final), look for a 1-7 lineup something like this...Coco/EllsburyPedroiaTeixeiraYoukil isOrtizBayDrewHow's that sound? That lineup is in the Sox thinking...I would put Big Papi in after Tex and follow with Youk, Bay and Drew. But this is all preliminary imagination run wild. I also read a Massarotti Boston Globe blog post that suggested such a lineup. First things first, though...sign Teixeira. Then a power-packed lineup will return to...
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Tampa Bay Takes World Series Game Two Over Philadelphia...Sox To Pursue Fre
2008-10-24 11:22:00
There is much on our Friday plate on this cold, still dark morning. I'll start with game two of the World Series . Tampa Bay, behind "Big Game " James Shields, defeated the visiting Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 4-2. They ran, they hit and run and scratched out just what that they needed. The game was littered with Philadelphia lost chances and squandered opportunities, and I'm sure that team from Pennsylvania wants to forget game two and move on, at home, on Saturday. But the weather forecast might have the last word on that one. There is a good chance of heavy rain developing early Saturday down there, but it might not rain all night. The game is again scheduled for an 8:35pm EDT first pitch and I'll know more about the specific chances for wetness and I'll pass it on to you tomorrow. My original prediction came exactly true -- Philadelphia won game one behind their lefty wunderkind Hamels and Shields made it 1-1 with a gutsy performance in game two. It'll be Matt Garza ...

World Series Game One Result...Five Boston Red Sox Off Season Questions
2008-10-23 11:00:00
Philadelphia won game one of the 2008 World Series with a tense, terse 3-2 pitching-heavy victory in St. Petersburg, Florida Wednesday night. The Phillies' Cole Hamels outpitched Scott Kazmir, who pitched well himself, to earn the victory. Game two will be Thursday night at 8:35pm EDT on FOX and FOXHD. It's a must game for the Mohawk-laden Rays. Enjoy!The Boston Globe's Tony Massarotti had a great piece in this morning's paper detailing the five most important questions Boston has to answer in the off season. I linked the article, which allows you, the fan, to vote on each query. Simply click on this title's post. You might be surprised by a couple of the leading voting answers, but you read this blog, among others, so I don't think so. Let me zap through the five questions and after you have a chance to vote, I'll follow it up with my exhaustively researched (yeah, right) opinions on each one. Hey, the only research I do when I give my opinion on anything Red Sox is listen t...
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Francona Health Update...World Series Game # 1
2008-10-22 11:46:00
Terry "Tito" Francona, manager of the Boston Red Sox, will require back surgery in the next week or so. Here is what he had to say about his situation..."I haven't been able to feel either arm for four or five months," Francona said. "I need to probably have some back surgery so I can stand a little straighter. I've had this since May. I'll go the next couple of days to get it figured out and then we'll get it done. This job takes an unbelievable amount . . . sometimes almost sucks the life out of you," said Francona, who signed a contract extension through 2011 in February. "I try real hard every winter to make sure when I come to spring training I can do my job because I owe that to the players and to the organization." Peter here, and I, among many others, think Tito has been the best manager in all of baseball over the last five plus years. He knows how to juggle his lineup, juggle (when needed) his pitching staff and lead his team. HE KNOWS HOW TO WIN! Be well, Terry...we l...
More About: Health , World , Series , Update , Game

ALCS Game Seven Ratings...
2008-10-21 12:19:00
Game seven of the American League Championship Series between the Red Sox and the Rays was the MOST WATCHED BASEBALL GAME ON CABLE...EVER! I guess that's what happens when the defending World Champs play the team who went from worst to first...and beyond. Here is a little of the press release..."Sunday night's Game 7 averaged 13.3 million viewers, making it the highest-rated baseball game in cable history and the top-rated telecast on any kind on TBS."Well done, Sox! A couple more runs, and...and.....oh well. There's 2009 to come.
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Here, There Or Anywhere?
2008-10-21 11:30:00
Who goes where, and when? That's what the off season is all about. Boston is in good shape in terms of free agency. Only six players who are possible free agents are on the roster. Thanks to the Hartford Courant for helping me with the details. The infield will mostly be intact. Youk is eligible for arbitration but he ain't going anywhere. The Sox should sign him to a long term deal...yesterday. Pedey is under team control, as is Jed Lowrie. Mike Lowell is signed through 2010 and had a successful hip operation...he should be ready by spring training. JASON VARITEK is a free agent...here's what Theo Epstein had to say about our captain..."We're at a point now where we have a very solid foundation as an organization and we're not just going out this winter to try and address the 2009 team and that's it," general manager Theo Epstein said Monday at Fenway Park, where the players were cleaning out their lockers. "We're continuing the process of building and evolving the organizat...

WHEN THE MUSIC'S OVER...Tampa Bay Defeats Boston And Goes To The World Seri
2008-10-20 11:23:00
The 2008 baseball season ended for the Boston Red Sox Sunday night as the American League pennant winning Tampa Bay Rays defeated them by a score of 3-1. Tampa Bay went from a 2007 season in which they had the worst record in baseball all the way to the upcoming World Series, and it was Matt Garza, last night's starter and series MVP, who helped them get there. He was simply stunningly effective last night, going seven innings and allowing a first inning home run to Dustin Pedroia and only one other hit. The Sox had the bases loaded in the eighth inning but rookie reliever David Price struck out JD Drew to end the last Boston threat of 2008. I think Pedey put my feelings in a nutshell with his postgame comments, and here they are, followed by Sox manager Terry Francona's take on his team... "We played as hard as we could," said Dustin Pedroia, whose homer accounted for the Red Sox run. "I guess we ran out of magic. I'm proud of everybody. We played as hard as we could all year lo...
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***BOSTON RED SOX DEFEAT TAMPA BAY RAYS TO FORCE A GAME SEVEN***
2008-10-19 11:13:00
***LAST CHANCE TEXACO GAME THREE SUNDAY NIGHT AT 8:07pm EDT On TBS & TBS HD***____________________________________ ___________________Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles, the Boston Red Sox took game two of the three "Last Chance Texaco" baseball games by defeating the bedeviled and totally spooked Tampa Bay Rays by a score of 4-2. Josh Beckett started for the defending world champions and relied heavily on his curveball. He was able to control his 92 MPH fastballs too, and he threw 'em where Tampa Bay couldn't hit 'em. He knows how to pitch and he showed that to the world last night in a game that was blacked out for the first 19 minutes on TBS because of a shutdown of a master router, which feeds the signal to we the people. I listened to that 19 minutes on radio and was happy to hear that the Sox tied the game at one and went ahead 2-1 in the second inning. Beckett settled down magnificently after an Upton first inning solo tater and pitched five full, allowing two runs on f...
More About: Boston Red Sox , Force , Game

Last Chance Texaco Game # 2...Boston Red Sox At Tampa Bay Rays
2008-10-18 10:48:00
Here we are - it's very early Saturday morning, a Saturday that might be the last day of the 2008 Boston Red Sox season or a day of celebration and anticipation of a game seven tomorrow night in St. Petersburg, Florida. It'll be Josh "Baseball" Beckett facing Tampa Bay ace James Shields, who is pitching with one extra day of rest. Manager Terry Francona has stated again and again that Beckett will be his game # 6 starter and, if needed (please!), Jon Lester will toe the rubber for game seven. But the troubling question that surrounds us all still lingers - is Beckett hurt? Can he still pitch effectively with a fastball that tops out at 92 MPH? His usual is 95-96 MPH, so there is less room for error if his fastball location is a little off, which it has been for his starts against the Angels and these Rays. All questions will be answered tonight, starting at 8:07pm EDT. You can see the game(s) on TBS and TBSHD, much to their delight. Were it not for the amazing Sox comeback, 2008 b...
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***A BOSTON RED SOX COMEBACK FOR THE AGES***
2008-10-17 11:10:00
There are no words to describe it, but it happened. IT HAPPENED! When I woke up this early Friday morning, I wiped the sleep from my eyes while thinking "was it all a dream, a wonderful, wonderous dream?" I put on ESPN radio, and the now legendary Boston comeback was all they were gabbing about. YES! You see, all those thoughts were in my head - there was no one here to say it to. But I didn't care...the Sox won! Holy you-know-what! THEY DID IT!!!!!!!!It was 7-0 Tampa Bay after six, and if there was a word that meant bleaker than bleak, more hopeless than hopeless, more maddening that maddening, well, that word could have been applied. But four Boston runs in the seventh with the big blow a three run Big Papi home run, brought it to 7-4. The Fenway Faithful stirred, seemingly energized just a bit. Little did they (or we watching NESN) know what was to come. BUT IT CAME. Three more runs followed in the eighth with a key ten pitch at bat by Coco Crisp, maybe the best at bat of his ca...
More About: Boston Red Sox , Comeback , Ages

Boston Red Sox...LAST CHANCE TEXACO - GAME ONE
2008-10-16 10:50:00
Good morning on this too early Thursday morning. Tonight's game will be game one of must win contests for the defending world champion Boston Red Sox. Why did I call it LAST CHANCE TEXACO game one? Just scroll down to the preceding post and you'll understand completely. The Tampa Bay Rays, firmly in complete control, have made a pitching change. Instead of James Shields, we'll see lefty but sometimes (lately) erratic Scott Kazmir. If he's on and has his control and can pitch more than six effective innings, this will be the last game for the team we love. But Boston has won three games in a row many times before. If Matsuzaka can do it once again and the Sox hitters can drive in some runs, we'll see Florida baseball starting on Saturday. With Beckett and Lester slated for games six and seven, well, those are the two guys, under normal circumstances, that we'd want to see. Obviously, these are anything but normal times for Boston.So good luck to the Boston Red Sox . May Daisuke ...
More About: Chance , Game , Texaco

LAST CHANCE TEXACO?
2008-10-15 18:15:00
Hello to you. I'll explain the title...before you enter the straight road west into the desert of the USA, there's a gas station...after that, it will be many, many miles before you'll see another. That's why it would be your last chance to fill up with now overpriced gallons. I hope the Red Sox are not on that road. By the way, that was a Rickie Lee Jones song from the 80's. Hauntingly beautiful. Please click on the title, turn on your sound, click the "watch in high quality " button, and enjoy. She was one of my favorite singer/songwriters back then...she has such a way with words. And this song brngs back too many memories. Great audio and video quality, too. Are the Sox on that road, seeing that last chance Texaco station go by with 400 miles of barren, dry desert ahead, half a tank of gas and the radiator running near empty ? I hope not. CLICK AWAY...sound on. Thanks. GO SOX. TOMORROW!
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***BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE FENWAY*** Tampa Bay Rays 13 Boston Red Sox 4
2008-10-15 11:03:00
The Boston Red Sox are in deep, DEEP trouble. Last night at Fenway Park, the Tampa Bays Rays demolished the home team by a score of 13-4. It was never close. Tim Wakefield, in his last start of 2008, allowed five runs in only 2 2/3 innings before being pulled by manager Terry Francona. Since their game one victory, a 2-0 win, Red Sox starting pitching has been horrendous and their hitting extremely woeful. Here's what Pedey Pedroia and catcher Keven Cash, who had a meaningless home run, had to say after the humiliation was over..."We're down, 3-1, and if we lose, we're going home," Dustin Pedroia said. "Hit the panic button. You've got to play better. That's it. That's all I've got for you guys. Play better, we win.""It's very deflating, frustrating, whatever word you want to use," said Kevin Cash, author of that home run. "We've got to regroup. We were down in this situation last year. That's a huge factor. Everybody in here still believes that we're going to go out and ...
More About: Boston Red Sox , Tampa Bay

Lester Pummeled As Tampa Bay Tilts The Red Sox 9-1
2008-10-14 10:51:00
After a tremendous pitching effort in game one, the Boston Red Sox have seen two terrible outings. One, of course, was from the injured and hurting Josh Beckett. And the second was from Mr. Dependable, dependable until yesterday. Jon Lester gave up five runs in only 5 2/3 innings as the Red Sox went down to Tampa Bay by a score of 9-1. It was 5-0 after Tampa Bay 's top half of the third, and I'm sorry to say, against Matt Garza, it was over. Finished. Gone. Garza worked six full, giving up only one earned run on six hits, walking three but striking out five. That's a far cry from Lester's numbers, and Paul Byrd in relief was no better, although he did save the Boston bullpen from unneeded work...here's what manager Tito Francona & Jon Lester had to say after the important defeat, thoughts of Lester and Matt Garza...?I didn?t stay away from the big inning,? Lester said in a quiet Red Sox clubhouse. ?You can?t give them momentum like that.??It certainly wasn?t his sharpest outing,...

Game Three - Boston Red Sox & Tampa Bay Rays...JON LESTER IS IN THE BUILDI
2008-10-13 11:35:00
Boston Red Sox baseball returns to Fenway Park today, Monday, October 13th. Happy Coumbus Day to every one of you. The weather will be downright perfect with sunny skies and temperatures in the very low to mid 70s for those of you lucky enough to be holding onto tickets for the important contest. The Red Sox have their best pitcher going. Jon Lester will face the sometimes tough Matt Garza in front of 38,000 plus of the Fenway Faithful. The shadows will affect those players in the batting box, which has to give a slim advantage to the lefty Lester. But he's been lights out this year day or night. The game will start at 4:37pm EDT and the winner will have a 2-1 series lead with two more games coming up at Fenway tomorrow and Thursday. If needed, the last two games will be Saturday and Sunday down at the Trop. But first things first...what happened to Josh Beckett? Here is what he and manager Terry "Tito" Francona had to say on that very subject..."I can understand it," Beckett said ...
More About: Boston , Boston Red Sox , Game , Tampa , Rays

Beckett Battered, Busted And Bruised...Tampa Bay 9 Red Sox 8 (11)
2008-10-12 11:07:00
Only seven pitchers in playoff history had given up 8 runs or more in only 4 1/3 innings...until last night at the Trop Dome. Make it eight as Josh Beckett, the recipient of a pain injection earlier in the week, was battered bloody by the Tampa Bay Rays. Boston wasted 12 hits and 4 home runs in a losing cause. The final score was 9-8 Rays, and Red Sox Nation is very worried about their ace. Will he pitch again in 2008? Right now, we don't know, but things sure look bad for him. A shallow sacrifice fly to right by Upton scored the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning. Timlin had come in to pitch because Sox manager Terry "Tito" Francona was literally down to his last man on the pitching staff, namely Mike Timlin, who should hang up his cleats when the season ends, a post season quite possibly shortened by the ineffectiveness of the Boston ace, Josh Beckett. What a shame. Here are some thoughts from Tito, pitching coach John Farrell, who was ejected for arguing a strike/ball...
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DAISUKE DOMINATION...Boston 2 Tampa Bay 0
2008-10-11 11:04:00
Seven innings pitched. ZERO runs on four hits and two walks. That was Daisuke Matsuzaka's pitching line for Friday's Tampa Bay Rays/Boston Red Sox game. The Red Sox won the game by a score of 2-0, taking a 1-0 series lead. Josh Beckett will face the Ray's erratic at times Scott Kazmir tonight at 8pm EDT on TBS and TBSHD. But last night, it was all the escape artist known as Daisuke Matsuzaka. He didn't allow a hit until the bottom of the seventh, but there were a few bumps in the road. Right off the bat (no pun intended), Matsuzaka was in a jam with the bases full of Rays. After 27 pitches, the inning was over with no runners coming anywhere near the plate. Cliff Floyd grounded out to end it. Yet again, the Red Sox starter had wriggled out of it, much as he's done all season long in amassing 19 wins. He did not give up a hit until the seventh inning, an inning he got through unscathed and unscored upon. And then it was the 'pen's turn, and they shined just as brightly. Okajim...
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FOUR AND NO MORE...A Red Sox-Tampa Bay Matchup Preview
2008-10-10 11:08:00
The Boston Globe today (Friday) ran a Nick Carfado Red Sox-Tampa Bay matchup synopsis. Just click on the title of this post and go through the pages (with pics) one by one...fielding, hitting, pitching etc. After each section, it will allow you to vote, but bear in mind that the voters are almost all exclusively Sox fans. But I found it an entertaining and informative way to spend 10 minutes. I hope you can try it!So just click on the title...that's it! Tonight, it's Daisuke Matsuzaka and James Shields who are ready to go at it on the mound. The Phillies defeated the Dodgers on Thursday in a well pitched game by a score of 3-2. Manny had a couple hits, but he's been doing that almost every game for LA. Don't we wish he was a little (read..A LOT) more motivated to play for the Red Sox? What he did was unforgivably, unprofessionally hideous. No ifs, ands or buts. HE QUIT ON HIS TEAM...f*ck him. The Phillies and the artful Dodgers will play game two in the late afternoon, and then ...
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Happy Birthday John Lennon...1940-1980
2008-10-09 12:20:00
You left us too soon. You would have turned 68 years old this morning. Wow, that's hard to believe! But your voice would still be ringing loud and clear, and I wish that we could all hear your feelings about the world today, much as it was when you were murdered, murdered by a cowardly jerk who shot you five times in the back at near point blank range... you never had a chance. You left us too early. I miss you. "And we all shine on Like the moon and the stars and the sun Yes, we all shine on, on and on and on and on"John , you're still shining. You know what? You always will. I miss you.
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Red Sox At Rays, Coming Soon To A Living Room Near You...Is There Still A H
2008-10-09 11:24:00
Yes, it's almost that time. Shortly after 7pm EDT tomorrow, way down in St. Petersburg, Florida, two teams that really don't like each other face off in a best of seven game series. The first two contests and the last two, if necessary, will take place in Florida, and the middle three will be at friendly Fenway Park. Is there still any bad blood between these two teams? The past is riddled with hit batsmen and brawls, punches and bitter feelings. Pedro Martinez, James Shields and Coco Crisp are just three of the many Boston and Tampa Bay players who have been involved in the mayhem. But these upcoming games are October baseball games, and nothing will match their importance or intensity. Here are a few thoughts from Sox manager Terry Francona and closer elite Jonathon Papelbon... "The bad blood, I don't think anyone has even thought of it," Francona said. "This is the playoffs, and that really doesn't enter into it.""I don't know," said closer Jonathan Papelbon. "There could be...
More About: Living , Living Room , Room , Rays

RED SOX ROTATION ALL SET!!
2008-10-08 19:04:00
From Boston dot com, just now...*************Red Sox manager Terry Francona today announced his rotation for the ALCS, which kicks off on Friday night in St. Petersburg, Fla. against the Rays:Game 1: Daisuke MatsuzakaGame 2: Josh BeckettGame 3: Jon LesterGame 4: Tim WakefieldGame 5: MatsuzakaGame 6: BeckettGame 7: LesterP.S. In my last post, I took an educated guess... I was right. Take care, everyone..you're the best!
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Red Sox ALCS Pitching Rotation Thoughts...
2008-10-08 11:39:00
Who starts game one against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night? Knowing the answer to that will help all the other rotation questions become clearer. It looks like the Sox will start Daisuke Matsuzaka on Friday down in Florida, with Beckett to follow. Matsuzaka will face James Shields, who is a tough customer. Jon Lester will open up the Fenway Park trio of games by starting game three, with Wakefield (NOT Byrd) to follow. That way Lester, clearly the best Red Sox pitcher on the planet, would be in line to start game seven, if there is a need for a game seven. Why not pitch Jon in game one? Simple...he would be pitching on three days rest, and with a long series in store, that is not necessary. Ex-ace Josh Beckett said this about Lester..."Shit, he's a man," Beckett said when asked of Lester's performance in the ALDS. "There ain't nobody who wants to face him right now.Well put, Josh. Right now, Lester is one of the top lefthanders in all of baseball. Why, do you ask, will he no...
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***SOXTOBER CONTINUES*** Red Sox Eliminate Angels...Advance To ALCS
2008-10-07 11:35:00
***WILL PLAY TAMPA BAY IN ALCS***__________________________________ ________________The Boston Red Sox defeated the California LA Angels in another tight and beautifully pitched baseball game Monday night at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts. The final score was 3-2. Jon Lester proved to everyone that he is the true ace of the pitching staff, going seven wonderous innings and allowing ZERO runs and only four base hits. He walked two and struck out four. He deserved the win, but the Halos scored twice in the eighth inning against the bullpen, which made the score 2-2. Hero time was upon us for the ninth inning. After a suicide squeeze play failed to produce an Angel run in the top of the inning, a Jed Lowrie single plated Jason Bay, who had doubled, and the walk-off celebration, wet and wild, commenced. Here are some thoughts, thoughts of the possibility of having to jet back to California if the Sox had lost, and more...?We were dreading it (the westbound trip),? said center fielder...

Angels Win Tight, Taught Game
2008-10-06 12:11:00
The visiting LA Angels beat the Boston Red Sox by a score of 5-4 in twelve innings Sunday evening, cutting Boston's series lead to two games to one. It was not a particularly good effort from starter Josh Beckett...maybe the injury time out made him a little rusty around the edges. No maybes about it...he looked out of synch and his pitches were JUST missing. He was only able to go five innings and uncharacteristically gave up four runs on nine (!) hits in that short span. The bullpen tried to rescue him with six scoreless innings of relief, but they couldn't make it seven. Erik Aybar singled in the go ahead run off Javy Lopez in the top of the 12th and the Sox failed to score in their half of the inning, ending a five hour plus game watched by the largest ever post-WWII Fenway Park crowd. Now that's something! And keep in mind that Jonathon Papelbon went two innings in the losing cause and will be used tonight for one inning and one inning only, if needed. I hope he is. Here's ...
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Red Sox Are Going For Twelve Straight Wins Over The Vaunted But Now Meek LA
2008-10-05 11:04:00
Yes, that's right, I said MEEK. They are not playing the same brand of baseball they did all season long, a season that they recorded 100 wins, the only team in all of baseball to do it. But that was then and THIS IS NOW, and the Boston Red Sox are running on all their cylinders. Blessed with enough impact players to make it easy for skipper Terry "Tito" Francona to juggle his lineup for the most effective cast of charactors (a perfect example would be the lineup in game 2 of the series), Boston is both deep and talented. They've outhit, outpitched, outscored and outplayed the Halos in every way possible, and tonight they go with their ace, Josh Beckett. The players are relatively rested, the bullpen is fresh and the Fenway Faithful are chomping at the bit to file into Fenway Park tonight and cheer on their heros. Here are the thoughts of team sparkplug Dustin Pedroia and the workhorse of the bullpen (so far), Jonathon Papelbon...?It?s huge, said Dustin Pedroia. They have the best...
More About: Twelve , Straight , Wins

The Boston Red Sox Take A Commanding 2-0 Lead Over The LA Angels
2008-10-04 11:47:00
First and ninth inning home run magic propelled the Boston Red Sox to a 7-5 victory over the LA (California) Angels Friday night, and their flight home must have been a happy one. Jason Bay launched a three run shot in the first, an inning that Boston scored four times. Now that's a nice crooked number! Jason had three hits for the day. The Sox eventually expanded that lead to a 5-1 advantage before the Halos made it 5-3, then 5-4 and finally 5-5. They tied the score after eight full innings. But then the bookend to Bay's first inning tater happened. It was the ninth inning, Francisco Hernandez, the owner of the all-time single season saves record, was pitching, and JD Drew, the player of the game (along with Bay) with three hits, hit a monster shot to make the score 7-5 good guys. And that's where it stayed. Jonathon Papelbon pitched the final two innings and gave up one run, but that was it. Ervin Santana was floured, battered and fried early and only pitched 5 1/3 innings, giv...
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Game Two Tonight In Anaheim...Beckett, Drew And Lowell Updates
2008-10-03 11:46:00
It's Friday morning, about sixteen hours before the first pitch between the Boston Red Sox and the LA Angels will be thrown. That happens shortly after 9:30pm EDT. Daisuke Matsuzaka is ready to face the Angels best starter, at least THIS year, Ervin Santana. If Boston wins, they will jet home with a commanding 2-0 series lead with their ace, Josh beckett, scheduled to start game three at Fenway on Sunday. The latest injury news news is this - JD Drew 's back did not act up after game one or on the day off, so it's highly likely we'll see him in rightfield tonight. In perhaps the most important injury news, Josh Beckett put the "pedal to the metal" in his workout yesterday. He threw about sixty pitches from a mound and let it all loose with no discomfort whatsoever. I swear if he's handed the ball for game three with his team (OUR team) holding a 2-0 series lead, it's goodbye Angels. But first things first. And the first thing is to WIN game two. The story on Mikey Lowell is mor...
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Lesters Dominates, Bay Blasts and Red Sox Win Game One Over Angels 4-1
2008-10-02 11:57:00
WOW! Watching Jon Lester wriggle out of early inning mini-jams and then getting stronger and stronger as the game rolled by made me say just that after his brilliant outing was finished. The only run he allowed was an unearned one, unearned because of a rare Jed Lowrie fielding miscue. But Jason Bay's sixth inning shot off John Lackey in his third ever postseason at bat plated two and that was all the defending world champs needed. They won the game by a score of 4-1 after tacking on two pad runs in the top of the ninth before Papelbon came on and struck out the side in the bottom half of the frame. Jon Lester was magnificent, going seven full and allowing that one unearned run and six hits, walking only one and whiffing seven. I can't wait to see him at Fenway in game four on Monday, a game that WILL happen unless the Sox win two straight. Even though I love 'em, to win three straight from the Halos would be hard to imagine. But back to last night! Jacoby Ellsbury continues to g...
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ALDS Game #1...Boston Red Sox At LA Angels
2008-10-01 11:35:00
The LA Angels and the Boston Red Sox have met nine times in the post season since October of 1986, and Boston has won every won. Will that pleasing trend continue or will it revert back to 2008's 1-9 Red Sox regular season record? We'll only know the answer to that after game one, which starts shortly after 10pm EDT. Here are the all-important pitching matchups for the game. Bear in mind that John Lackey has had a rough September while Jon Lester was named AL Pitcher of the Month...************Red SoxJon LesterW-L ERA WHIPvs Opp 0-0 7.20 2.20Career vs Opp 1-1 7.78 2.19Season 16-6 3.21 1.28AngelsJohn LackeyW-L ERA WHIPvs Opp 2-0 2.81 0.69Career vs Opp 3-6 5.54 1.67Season 12-5 3.75 1.23*************All of the AL and NL ALDS games will be televised by TBS and (if you are lucky enough to receive it) TBS HD. It's a late starter but a little nap before the first pitch is not a bad idea, at least for me. You want a prediction? Oy vei. I guess I have to say that on Sat...
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