Beckett leads Sox to split

by Randy Booth on Aug 12, 2008 12:10 AM EDT in News Comment 15 comments

This is exactly what the Red Sox needed.

Yeah, we only split with the White Sox (it should have been better), but there was no better way to go out than with a dominating start by our true ace, Josh Beckett. He went eight innings, allowed seven hits, one run, no walks and struck out eight.

Beckett hasn't been himself this season -- we all know that. And the Red Sox, really, haven't been at their best. I really think that if Beckett continue to pitch like this, the Red Sox are going to get right back on track with him.

Imagine how hard it must be when you know your best pitcher isn't on his A-game. I'm sure it's not the best feeling, going out to play when even your best pitcher isn't at his best. As long as Beckett is pitching like this, maybe the Sox will find the same tracks he is on and follow him.

The offense tonight was great -- after the sixth inning. Kevin Youkilis broke up John Danks' no-hitter in the seventh where the Red Sox started to pour on. JD Drew followed with a double to score Youkilis and Mike Lowell and put the Sox up, 2-1. Jed Lowrie added two more with a double in the ninth and Lowrie came across the plate himself on a Jacoby Ellsbury single.

Tomorrow on the scheduler is the knuckleballer. No, not Tim Wakefield but Charlie Zink. This will be the first time the Red Sox have two knuckleballers on the same team since 1953. Zink will be really fun to watch, but since he last pitched on Friday, I'm not sure how he'll perform.

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So any word on Lugo?

I haven’t heard a thing about his progress, if any. Not that I’m in a hurry, but I am curious.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Aug 12, 2008 1:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

According to the Globe, he’s likely out until some time in September.

by 0157H7 on Aug 12, 2008 2:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This lineup needs lowrie right now. His bat can energize this offense and keep the spark going. I cringe at the thought of lugo being in there as the season comes to a close.

by spinz on Aug 12, 2008 3:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Include Crisp and Varitek in that cringe!

I know Varitek has “other” supposed non-offensive skills, but when I see Crisp in the line-up, I see a giant hole in the momentum. Varitek’s offensive potential is almost as bad. It is like tying one hand behind the team’s back with these two guys in the line-up offensively. At least, as you say, Lugo is not in there to make it a threesome momentum sucking void. Something must be done about this offensive ineptitude, and good fortune at the least has started that process with Lugo being out! The team has been rewarded handsomely (Lowrie) because of that good fortune! Now maybe Francona will see the wisdom in getting the other two out of there as well. At least I can hope anyway.

by NG on Aug 12, 2008 7:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Would you really rather have Cash in and sacrifice Tek's defense?

Don't question my choice of teams, or I will have to go all troll on you.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 12, 2008 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s not really the defense, it’s how he handles the pitchers. Cash has really impressed me defensively and his arm has been great catching runners on the basepaths.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Aug 12, 2008 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cash seems better defensively.

He’s throwing out runners at a better rate than Varitek:
Tek: 46 SB, 13 CS, 13 for 59 (22%)
Cash: 31 SB, 15 CS, 15 for 46 (33%)

Considering he’s catching Wakefield in most of his starts, this is amazing.

by 0157H7 on Aug 12, 2008 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, i use the term defense to cover pretty much anything done while not wearing a batting helmet.

Not sarcasm, BTW

Don't question my choice of teams, or I will have to go all troll on you.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 12, 2008 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm wih you spinz

I was just wondering when the “why in the hell is Lugo in the game and Lowrie on the bench” discussion will begin.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Aug 12, 2008 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This was a big game. The sox need to be able to win some games like this on the road in order to make the playoffs.

by spinz on Aug 12, 2008 3:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice game

Ozzie is a dumbass, he doesn’t deserve a team so talented as the ChiSox. We should have taken 3 instead of a split, actually, but poor fielding and bad hitting with the bases loaded didn’t allow that. But I’m okay with the split. :)

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.

by MerryGoByeBye on Aug 12, 2008 3:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He will be back!

Yeah Beckett is a little off but he will come around

by Boston Knucklehead on Aug 12, 2008 6:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

8 innings, 7ks, 1 run = a little off?

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Aug 12, 2008 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He came around last night after realizing that the offense wasn't doing $#!t for him.

After that first run, he shut them down and waited for our offense to realize that the stick in the hands is used to stop the baseball from going past them to that guy with the funny looking thing covering his hand.

Don't question my choice of teams, or I will have to go all troll on you.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 12, 2008 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beckett, Lowrie, Lugo, Buchholz

Beckett is still the undisputed ace of this team – the guy you want on the mound in a big game. I may be biased but I still think he is the Man.

Lowrie’s best asset so far, I think, is the amount of runs he has batted in, almost all in tight games. He’s the exact opposite of Lugo, who never hits with runners in scoring position. It scares me to think Francona will put Lugo back in the lineup when healthy, but I wouldn’t be shocked. You just hope he isn’t that stupid.

Buchholz? Wow, he’s killing us right now. I’d be very hesitant to throw him again. Francona is so slow to pull veterans and risk hurting the psyche of his players. Yet – getting pounded game-after-game can’t be good for Clay’s confidence, can it?

Please, Tito…...do the best things for this team – don’t mess with what’s working and change what isn’t working.

by ccthemovieman on Aug 12, 2008 12:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs