Game Story: Dream Streak Ends At 11...

by Logan Lietz on Apr 29, 2009 6:25 AM EDT in Game Stories Comment 44 comments

Boston Red Sox pitcher Javier Lopez watches the Cleveland Indians celebrate after the Indians won 9-8 in the ninth inning on an error by Lopez in a baseball game, Tuesday, April 28, 2009, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

9 months ago: Boston Red Sox pitcher Javier Lopez watches the Cleveland Indians celebrate after the Indians won 9-8 in the ninth inning on an error by Lopez in a baseball game, Tuesday, April 28, 2009, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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The offense continued its assault on American League pitching, but it wasn't enough on Tuesday night to overcome the defense's blunders as the Red Sox fell to the Indians 9-8. Brad Penny gave up 7 runs in his 2.2 innings of work, however only 4 were earned. Errors by Mike Lowell and Julio Lugo (what was that?!) allowed Cleveland to stay in a game that they had no business being in, which ultimately proved costly in the end.

The offense, which averaged almost 8 runs a game over the course of their 11 game winning streak, again banged out an impressive amount of hits and runs with 8 and 14 respectively. Pedroia had three hits pushing his average up to .309, and Julio Lugo was back in a big way with 2 hits including the clutch go ahead RBI single in the 7th.

What a game for the bullpen yet again. Equally impressive as the offense's numbers over the course of this winning streak has been the pen's contributions. The final line for Jones, Okajima, Saito, Ramirez and Lopez: 6IP, 1ER, 5K. Jones was the most impressive coming in for a struggling Penny and eating up 2 1/3 allowing only 1 hit and striking out a pair of Indians.

With the Sox up 8-7 following Lugo's RBI single in the 7th, Saito entered the game and left a fastball over the plate that Mark DeRosa didn't miss. DeRosa, who has hurt the Sox so far in this series, sent the ball well over the left field wall.

Despite receiving multiple late inning leadoff walks as gifts from Cleveland pitchers, the Red Sox entered the bottom frame in the 9th in an eight all tie. DeRosa (who else?) led off the ninth with his fourth hit of the night and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Francisco. Lopez would get a HUGE strikeout on Grady Sizemore, but that's where the luck would end. Asdrubal Carbera walked to the plate with two outs and hit a ground ball to Youkilis who made a great play, made the flip to first ~~and sent the game into extra innings~~ only to have it dropped by Lopez (who was charged with the error). DeRosa came around scoring the winning run and ending the Sox impressive 11 game winning streak.

Make no mistake, this is not a game that the Red Sox should have lost. Although their offense put up enough runs to win on any other night, they also stranded 11 runners and missed numerous opportunities for big innings, especially late in the game.

No time for crying over spilled milk (or baseballs in Lopez's case). Big Jon Lester on the hill tomorrow against Fausto Carmona, time to start a new streak heading into the big showdown against those pesky Rays.

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Win tonight, take the series, and move on

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

by Drugs Delaney on Apr 29, 2009 7:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And, if possible

Leave Lugo tied up in the basement at Progressive Field.

by lone1c on Apr 29, 2009 7:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

The Indians are not such a tough team when you don’t spot them four runs…

Rock me, sexy Jesus...

by nuthinboutnuthin on Apr 29, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yup

i agree

by jongarcia003 on Apr 29, 2009 7:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Lugo is back and the Sox lose

Gosh, what a coincidence.

by ccthemovieman on Apr 29, 2009 8:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's silly

You might just as well say Lugo is healthy (2007) and the Sox win the WS. He’s hurt (2008) and the Sox lose the ALCS.

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

by Drugs Delaney on Apr 29, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lugo is poison

The worst with RISP and a horrible fielder in key situations. The man just plain chokes. Why do you think there were no takers for him during the off-season? It’s not like the Sox were asking for much.

by ccthemovieman on Apr 29, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There were no takers because of his contract

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

by Drugs Delaney on Apr 29, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lugo for Willis?

That was real talk for most of the offseason

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by sox-inda-south on Apr 29, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is a bad contract

for a worse one…

by Buzzy on Apr 29, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Sox had no interest in that trade

Nor should they. Willis sucks worse than Lugo and his contract is worse.

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

by Drugs Delaney on Apr 29, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was just saying

Don’t think I supported it.

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by sox-inda-south on Apr 29, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt the Sox

ever considered it-it just seemed to be an MLBtraderumors.com rumor.

by Buzzy on Apr 29, 2009 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When Lugo played last spring

He was like 1-for-50 RISP and the Sox were being buried by Tampa Bay n the standings. Then he got hurt, Lowrie replaced him, made key contributions and the Sox started winning and made a big run for the division.

Lugo = loser. Almost every Red Sox fan knows this.

by ccthemovieman on Apr 29, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

but most fans don’t understand anything, like you. First of all, you attach a stupid meaningless tag to a player like “loser.” How was he a loser? Well, he did not hit in the clutch and probably was a bad fielder. These kind of things are fueled by feeling, not rationality. Let’s look rationally:

Indeed Lugo was poor in high leverage hitting situations last year. By “clutch” he was below average in high leverage situations. But, guess what? In 2007 he was above average in “clutch.” and better than Derek “Mr Clutch” Jeter! So, are we to conclude he is a “loser”? His fielding was poor last year, but in 2007 he was above average and his fielding alone was worth more than 20 runs more than Derek “Mr Winner” Jeter.

Your method of analysis reminds me of the kind of thing flung around by Yankee fans. By any rational measure Julio Lugo is an overpayed but occasionally useful player who does less harm at the plate hitting 9th an Jacoby Ellsbury does at the plate hitting 1st.

by Buzzy on Apr 29, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Sounds about right.

I find Lugo as obnoxious as the next guy (mostly because hes so damn skinny), but lets all remember that he was the starting shortstop on a World Series team. He makes errors, but I thought we had all decided errors are a stupid way to evaluate defense. He makes waaaay too much money, but that’s Theo’s fault. Its not like Nick Green is the next Honus Wagner or anything. Lets give the guy another chance.

by BTLove on Apr 29, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ehh

Lugo played well, aside from the 5 seconds where he forgot how to catch a baseball…

His RBI single in the 7th was a great piece of hitting going the other way with the ball to RF.

He was very adamant about using this season to win over the fans who despise him (and his contract), overall I’m excited to see how he does over the next few weeks.

But at the same time, from what I’ve seen I’d be much more comfortable with Green at SS from a defensive standpoint.

Just ltrain2 being ltrain2

by Logan Lietz on Apr 29, 2009 8:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

look, Lugo is not a very good baseball player, we all know that. He is quite erratic defensively and we saw that. But if we are going to give Mikey a pass on every defensive miscue and GDP (there have been a lot), or take a way the fact that Lugo actually put us ahead for what should have been the final time, I don’t think that is fair. I also think Green is even worse defensively than Lugo is (and that is saying something). This was a frustrating game because we had them down 5-1, and 7-3, and our starting pitching and defense stunk. It happens. I don’t know how many more of those kinds of start from Penny we will see before he is cut free and we see Clay or Bowden and then (hopefully) Smoltz.

by Buzzy on Apr 29, 2009 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The difference between Mikey and Lugo

The reason why people are willing to accept the miscues and GIDP is that we’ve seen him produce for the Sox, and therefore, so long as he’s getting the job done, we’re willing to take the lumps along with the line drives snares and 3-run homers. With Lugo, however, we’ve never seen him live up to the promise and fanfare of his introduction, and so we only remember the errors and the rally-killing at-bats. There’s no track record of confidence for us to build upon. (Even in the 2007 season, his play could be described as pedestrian at best.)

by lone1c on Apr 29, 2009 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is just dumb.

Like, say, last night when Lugo should have driven in the game winner? He is pedestrian, I agree, but that does not justify your hatred. If you want justifiable hate, why not direct it at our leadoff man? Talk about rally-killing (hmm, man on 3rd, 9th inning…)-our speedy lead-off man has a 308 OBP, a 600ish OPS and GDP 4 times (remarkable since he is that fast, and has one less at bat to do this per game then nearly everyone else).

by Buzzy on Apr 29, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He is not a very good shortstop

Lugo was an outfielder. He is not a very good field leader, he acts like more of a spasmodic child than a shortstop. He has some attributes before he joined the Sox. He did hit for average at one time, and he has speed. However, he has made too many errors at short in 2007 and especially 2008 before he went down with injuries.

Even if the Sox got out of the 3rd inning last night at Cleveland without much damage, I would had still been pissed at Lugo for screwing up the potential double play, he didn’t even caught the ball.

I can understand that some of the problems last night was that Lugo hasn’t played with the infield for a month or so, since his surgery, and it is difficult to get the minute down of each other infielder’s throws, but he was screwing up the basics.

I don’t think Clay is the panacea. He was sent down to AA for a reason, his mechanics were off, he also lost confidence in his pitches. His curveball has to change, it has to be much more subtle. He got pummeled last year for a reason.

by superferret on Apr 29, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Buchholz

In three minor league starts this year (he was hurt), Buchholz has a 2.45 ERA 1.09 WHIP. This spring, he had a 2.52 ERA 0.96 WHIP. He averages close to a strike out an inning.

Buchholz’s mechanical problems had to do with fastball location. It seems, he has worked the problem out. Young pitchers take time to develop. Look what Phil Hughes did for the MFY last night.

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

by Drugs Delaney on Apr 29, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clay is pitching in Pawtucket.

by BTLove on Apr 29, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clay was sent to Portland in Aug. 2008

He was sent to Portland because he needed to work on his mechanics. He lost confidence in his pitches. He was screwing with his delivery, which just added a gazillion balls to his pitch count, and was walking batters left and right. because he was getting hit with his breaking balls. The loopy curve had to go, because mlb batters were finally timing the break.

No matter his potential, he has to get confidence, and don’t put a Dontrelle in the middle of his wind up. I think if he develop a cutter, he could pretty good,

by superferret on Apr 29, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah well.

Can’t them all. And can’t legally kill Brad Penny.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Apr 29, 2009 9:33 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

"can't WIN them all"

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Apr 29, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

+1

And rec’d

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

by Drugs Delaney on Apr 29, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

But I suppose we could send him on a hunting trip with Timlin. He owes us for 2008.

by lone1c on Apr 29, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or Dick Cheney

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by sox-inda-south on Apr 29, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder

Is it too early to send Penny to the minors and bring up Bowden or Buch until he shapes up?

by drabidea on Apr 29, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think we are allowed to send Penny to the minors, unless he gets hurt or willingly accepts the demotion.

by BTLove on Apr 29, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd let the guy get 2 more starts at least

To let Clay and Bowden develop at AAA, but that’s it. If he doesn’t improve, he has no spot with the team, we simply have better options.

"Hey we got a lot in common here... I'm gonna rape you"

by MerryGoByeBye on Apr 29, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agee

at least 2 more (unfortunately). More like 4 more. If Dice can return well and pitch ok, then we also have the option of keeping Masterson as our 5. The only thing I don’t like about this is, for once, I still think he is better suited for the pen. I would almost never say this, but he has unique pen skills, and could possibly slot as a 100+ innings guy from the pen. In that case the innings issue becomes a wash, and his versatility is a huge plus.

by Buzzy on Apr 29, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

err-aGree

by Buzzy on Apr 29, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And Penny hasn't really shown anything good at all.

Terrible K rate, terrible BB rate, BABIP is not out of whack (.302). His left on base percent is un-sustainably low at 50% and his HR/FB is way too high. So I guess theres some room for improvement, but if the low K rate and high walk rate continue, then we should just cut ties with him altogether.

by BTLove on Apr 30, 2009 2:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs