Game Story, 8.13.07: Baseball-related suicides in Boston continue to rise.

by Allen Chace on Aug 14, 2007 2:04 AM EDT in Game Stories

Wow. Wake sure did suck tonight. And Lugo was absolutely useless! We should cut him right now. -RSNexile

I'll be honest. I got home and was sure I'd find the "lead" down to 3 games. After downing 7-10 shots for courage, I reluctantly turned on ESPN. What did I find?

Wakefield: 8 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 Ks. Hell yes.

Have to give credit to James Shields, who didn't pitch poorly at all. Given the quality of his second-half and the up-and-down nature of Wakefield, this almost certainly wasn't billed as a pitching matchup.

In support of Wake, Julio Lugo was the main offensive contributor out of the leadoff spot. Yeah. That Julio Lugo, the one who should've been DFA'd months ago in favor of, I dunno, luring the Rooster out of retirement.

The bullpen (i.e. just Paps) was able to avoid any late-inning dramatics from the Devil Rays.

Wake.

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My OTM Plays

Randy et al...I'm going to be out of internet touch for a while can I play a generic OTM for all upcoming games? Thanks a million in advance:
6 IP, 3H, 2ER, 3BB, 6Ks

Cheers, B Cap

You can take the boy outta Boston, but you can't take the Boston outta the boy.

by B Cap on Aug 14, 2007 8:07 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Game Story, 8.13.07

Wow! One game and we can stop the panic? Wake always pitches well against Tampa so no big surpise. But, once again we make an average pitcher look like Cy Young. Please, James Shields is not a good pitcher. Our power guys look awful. Manny is Mr. Double Play or Ground Ball and Ortiz is obviously hurt. Why else would someone like Shields make Papi look silly?

We need to call a spade a spade. Our pitching is performing well (at least our starters), but this offense is not taking us anywhere. There should be a conga line around the bases against any Tampa pitcher except Kazmir.

by cblesz @ Over the Monster on Aug 14, 2007 9:43 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Game Story, 8.13.07

Shields' June and July were abysmal. Thusfar in August (and these are about the numbers he put up in April-May as well)

2.29 ERA, 16 H and 3 BB in 19 2/3 (not including last night), 20 Ks.

To be honest, this is going to be a talented rotation in a year, year and a half.

Kazmir, Shields, Price (assuming he's as close to ML-ready as scouts say he is), and I don't know enough to name a 4th. But the days of going into a series with the D-Rays expecting a sweep if Kazmir doesn't take the mound are/will soon be over.

by Allen Chace on Aug 14, 2007 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: The Rays

Yeah. They've set themselves up well, to the point where the only thing they'll need to actually pay for in a year or two is a couple of bullpen arms. And heck, Dan Wheeler (who they got for Wigginton) could be one of them.

by Allen Chace on Aug 14, 2007 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: James Shields

Shields is 6th in strikeouts for the AL (148), doesn't walk many (29 in 170+ innings), and has a WHIP of 1.12. He's not a spade, he's an ace!

by 0157H7 on Aug 14, 2007 10:10 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Game Story, 8.13.07: Baseball-related suicides

Yeah, repeating everyone else, Shields is no bum, he's a solid pitcher

by Realistic on Aug 14, 2007 10:57 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Im sure it was sarcasm but....

By my count, Lugo's had a pretty solid month of good games. He ain't Cal Ripken, but he's not the Rookie League reject so many folks here seem to think he is, either.

by RSNexile on Aug 14, 2007 2:55 PM EDT reply actions

Re: rsnexile

I always liked Cora, but he is by nature a utility man, he doesn't have the stamina to be a every day starter, if you looked at the years he was a starter for LAA his numbers declined sharply near the end of the season every year.

As for the Drew issue, regardless of whether there may not have been a better option, with Ellsbury near ready I would have rather they plugged the positon for one year (a la Loretta and Gonzo) so that it would be open when Ellsbury is ready (moving either him or Crisp to RF) oppose to now where he's blocked

by Realistic on Aug 14, 2007 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: rsnexile

A few things about Julio Lugo: I was not a fan of the signing, but RSNexile is correct. Lugo has been very good of late. Since the All Star break, he is tied for the second-best BA of players with over 100 AB (there are 7).

AVG since ASB:
Pedroia - .342 (111 AB)
Lowell - .339 (118 AB)
Lugo - .339 (121 AB)
Ortiz - .321 (106 AB)

SLG since ASB:
Manny - .588 (119 AB)
Ortiz - .538
Lugo - .455
Lowell - .441

OPS since ASB:
Manny - .960
Ortiz - .938
Lowell - .836
Lugo - .827

Incidentally, Youk and Tek are the bottom two in both AVG and OPS since the break.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Aug 14, 2007 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Game Story, 8.13.07: Baseball-related suicides

For today's game (8/14):

Player of the Game: Scrappy

Lester's Line: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

Above and Beyond: Scrappy and Lugo combine to get on base via hit or walk 5 times

by RSNexile on Aug 14, 2007 3:00 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Game Story, 8.13.07:

C'mon, guys. Given, we won the game. But, the baltimores and Tampa Bays of the world are the teams we are supposed to beat up on! Are you all kidding me? Tampa Bay is now set up. Shields is an ace. Tampa is a good team. Give me a break. The "best team in baseball" should whack them. The game should not be in doubt until the eighth inning. You all make way too many excuses for this team.

I am getting fed up with Manny and Papi. This year, manny reminds me of Pedro Cerrano when he cannot hit but loves everyone. The guy has lost his power and is hitting way too many ground balls. At least papi is hurt and has a reason for his ridiculous power outage and increase in strikeouts.

by cblesz @ Over the Monster on Aug 14, 2007 3:20 PM EDT reply actions

Management manipulations??

Admitting that most likely none of us here are baseball management experts, do you believe that given the personnel now on this team, is there management techniques or various management manipulations that could still give this team a better chance at the pennant and World Series ring??

To me, being a fan is not a passive, brainless, take all thing, but one that pushes for a better outcome when things seem to be going astray!

by NG on Aug 14, 2007 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions