Game 32: Bay, Red Sox get it done late
by Randy Booth on May 11, 2009 12:12 AM EDT
in Game Stories
35 comments
What can we say about Jason Bay that we haven't already said?
When the Sox needed him the most tonight, he stepped up. With a 3-3 game in the bottom of the 8th, David Ortiz hit a double to get things started. Right behind him was that player from Canada -- Oh, Bay! -- with a double of his own to put the Sox up 4-3.
Jonathan Papelbon made the 9th interesting by putting two men on with no outs, but he earned the save by striking out Carlos Pena, BJ Upton and Carl Crawford.
Yes, that's how you save a ballgame, folks.
Josh Beckett was OK, but certainly not great. He wound up with a no decision, but pitched six innings, allowed three runs, six hits, walked three and struck out five. Hideki Okajima and Ramon Ramirez combined two innings of perfect relief work.
Dustin Pedroia left the game early due to a strained right groin, but no more word than that.
Here's some good news: the Red Sox won't face the Rays again until August. That is great news considering the Red Sox haven't performed too well against them so far this season (Rays lead the season series, 6-4).
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We can say this about Bay
“5 Years, $90 million.”
With the recession battering every team in baseball, including the Yankees, and Holliday also on the market (and probably the Yankees’ first choice), that should be enough to land Bay. If it isn’t, that’s probably because the New York snagged Bay instead of Holliday, so we just grab him. IIRC, Holliday’s the better defensive player, and is younger. I can’t see any other team outbidding the Sox / Yankees on one of them.
"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.
by 0157H7 on May 11, 2009 12:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that sounds about right.
And personally, I want Bay. Holliday? Crap. Bay? Awesome.
by Randy Booth on May 11, 2009 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No Holliday, please.
I’d much rather have Bay. He’s already shown he can get it done in Boston, which is a huge plus. Also, he also appears to want to stay, so there’s a good chance that we can get him with a very good offer (even if another team covets him a little more strongly). 5/$85-90M should get the job done.
Personally, I think Theo’s to-do list right now starts with: SIGN BAY.
by lone1c on May 11, 2009 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Holliday is really overrated...
Much like Larry Walker showed his numbers were more down to earth when not playing at Coors Field. Holliday isn’t the greatest fielder, his numbers right now are Texiera like. He is better off in a bandbox NL park like Cincinnati or Philadelphia.
If the Sox wanted to sign Bay, just look who would be the other teams who could afford a big contract, the Mets, the Cubs, maybe the Giants and even the Yankees if they don’t want to move Jeter yet to the outfield, . It is important that the Sox don’t bid against themselves.
If Holliday signs with the Sox for some obscene price multi year contract, Then there is something serious wrong with Sox Management.
by superferret on May 11, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
“and even the Yankees”? The MFY will be the favorites to get Bay unless we extend him during the season. He is the exact player the Yanks go after: 30 yr old FA slugger after a career year who is terrible in the field. If the Sox do not sign him, I think the fielding part will be why. He is one of the worst fielders in the league this year by UZR and if he keeps up his hitting, I think the pricetag might be too much. I would not go more than 4 years for him.
by BTLove on May 11, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
MFY have to either unload some FAs or think about Jeter
The Yankees may find out this year that Jeter may be better off in the outfield for 2010. They will keep Cabrera or Gardiner at CF, Swisher at RF, either re-sign Damon or Marte, or trade Cabrera and wait for Jackson to take over CF.
by superferret on May 11, 2009 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You’re right that Jeter doesn’t belong at SS anymore, but thats been the case for years. I doubt he can play CF, and he doesn’t have the bat for the corner spots, so I guess that they give him a few more years at SS. (He’s signed through 2010 anyway) If Swisher plays well this year, they’ll keep him, but they’ll still need another corner outfielder. Their choices will be: Holliday, Bay, Damon or Nady (I assume this is what you meant by Marte). My guess is they go for Bay.
by BTLove on May 11, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jeter can't play CF..
The positions that the MFY can shift Jeter to were first base, LF, RF. CF is too important position to give to someone who’s range will be limited. Obviously with the Teixiera signing, that erase that 1b for Jeter, so it looks like RF or LF for Jeter. I am guessing the Yankees are going to trade Cabrera for pitching, call up Austin Jackson to be the CF for 2010, and let either Damon or Marte walk after this seaon, or both. For Matsui, it is not if he stays, but when he goes, in a trade deal before the July deadline. He would be a great DH for many teams. The MFY are overladen with outfielders and DHs, they need some reform.
Jeter needs about 430 more hits to reach 3000, which at his pace is two and half more seasons, baring injury. Any team manager knows the way to help pitching is to tighten up defense, even that means telling Mr. Yankee to play in the outfield.
by superferret on May 12, 2009 3:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nady.
ferret has some issues commanding words sometimes – I’ve noticed it too. Then again, don’t most people on the internet?
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on May 12, 2009 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sounds about right to me...
…we do have the money, and it should be a good deal for at least 3 of those years.
Rock me, sexy Jesus...
by nuthinboutnuthin on May 11, 2009 3:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm glad we're done with the Rays for a while.
They’ve always given us trouble, even when they were terrible. Seems so far this season they’ve performed the best against us, but haven’t been winning series’ against other teams. The Rays just seem so angry/tense when playing us, like they’re putting everything they have into our games. I mean, I’m sure that’s the case. And it’s been working for the most part. We’ll see how the rankings look come August. I like our chances of being ahead of them when that time comes.
by BOSPORTS on May 11, 2009 12:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I am just happy the Sox beat Garza..
The guy has been a royal pain to the Sox..
Now, the acid test is coming on the Blue Jays and Halliday.
by superferret on May 11, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blue Jays about to get their wings clipped.
Hopefully they decide Halliday could get them something decent via trade.
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on May 11, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice to see Paps
With another tidy save….Sheesh, when is this guy ever going to have a nice 11 pitch, 3 up, 3 down type of save.
Nice to know he can still ramp it up like that when in trouble though.
by sydneysox on May 11, 2009 2:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
+1
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on May 11, 2009 7:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Holliday vs. Bay
As a fan of both the Sox nd the A’s, I would much rather see Bay with the Sox! IF, that happens, and Holliday goes to NY, I guess we shall see how that pays off in the long run. Holliday can be a huge threat to any team so of course, I’d like to see Holliday stay in the Bay area, but we know that Billy Beane will not let this happen. I’d just hate to see Holliday go to the Stankees and help them in any fashion. Maybe the Sox will trade JvE to the A’s for Holliday, then we will have even a better team offense wise.
Okay, Holliday CAN hit...
by slkierley on May 11, 2009 4:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What else do the Sox give up for Holliday?
I presume they’d be offering up a bigger package than JvE for Holliday; if the A’s GM was silly enough to accept that as a straight-up trade, he probably deserves to be fired.
by lone1c on May 11, 2009 4:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's Billy Beane.
He’d be admitted to a mental institute.
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on May 11, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does anyone think
that we may go after Holliday even if we also sign Bay? I love Ortiz, but I do think that we need another big bat.
by Brad West on May 11, 2009 5:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Probably not.
It’s a tough sell, because he’d have to be a DH, and that would mean the Sox would have to be willing to unload Ortiz. Otherwise, there’s nowhere to put him on the roster.
by lone1c on May 11, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Holliday has been an NL hitter in a HR-friendly park.
His road OPS isn’t bad, but it’s pretty similar to Bay’s as I’ve quoted in previous posts. It’s not surprising to see a motivated Jason Bay on a good team putting up bigger numbers. Bay might be the better hitter.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on May 11, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Counter-productive.
Even though Holliday’s a power righty, I just don’t think he’d be able to deal with the pressure and facing the AL East for 72 games per year.
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on May 11, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Holliday is not staying in the Bay Area..
Holliday will be traded before the end of July deadline. The A’s can’t afford the salary he wants, he is better off playing in bandbox. I dont know what team will be interested in him, but he is not going to get much as he is playing right now.
by superferret on May 11, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great game
Bay and Youk are being fucking great this season. I didn’t like all that much the extension given to Youkilis but now it makes perfect sense. Resign Bay, I flat out don’t want Holliday. If we don’t get Bay, let another dude get LF (Lars can play LF, just sayin’).
"Hey we got a lot in common here... I'm gonna rape you"
by MerryGoByeBye on May 11, 2009 3:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lars in LF = No
Please God, no.
I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.
by Charged on May 11, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why not?
He CAN’T be worse than Manny was.
"Hey we got a lot in common here... I'm gonna rape you"
by MerryGoByeBye on May 11, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm sure he can be.
Adam Dunn is worse, Pat Burrell is worse. And there are many guys who play 1B bc they can’t play in the OF. I’m sure they are all worse.
by BTLove on May 12, 2009 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Red Sox fortunate
Boy it seems after decades of futility, nothing goes wrong in Beantown today. They fall in a bucket of s__t and come out smelling like a rose. Think of the ways our Sawx situation could have gone the other way:
1. Schilling wanted to go to the Yankees first, but couldn’t work it out.
2. We HAD A-Rod, only to have the league veto it.
3. Theo DIDN’T want Beckett and Lowell.
4. Yankees get Nady, we get Bay…
5. I don’t care how much money you put into scouting, and how good you think you are, it’s still a bit of luck to come up with a star young player. Hanley Ramirez, John Lester, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jonathan Papelbon…gotta be the hot streak of the last 100 years.
Red Sox ownership better learn from the Yankees’ mistakes, though. When this team starts showing its age, you have to have the guts to rebuild and let things go south for a couple of years. Eventually, the age decline and injury situation of Lowell, Ortiz, and Drew is going to catch up with the Red Sox, and it’s hard to compensate for all of that offense with pitching. Bay is good, but his career record suggests he can’t carry a team like Manny and Ortiz did; the AL pitchers will figure him out, eventually.
The list goes on. He’s a good player, but he’s not a superstar. He’ll come back to earth. His BABIP is absurdly high, as is Youkilis’, but with any luck the pitching will pick up when these guys come back to earth.
by 87hoosier on May 11, 2009 4:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bay is pretty easy to figure out..
To AL Pitchers, don’t throw Bay High heat..
The pitch that Kerry Woods threw Bay in Cleveland that he belted was 99mph. I don’t know the speed of the pitch that Mariano threw him, but my guess is 92-95mph, without much of a cutter. I would like to see Braxton, or Morrow see if they can blow away Bay with high heat.
What is coming across is that Bay has very fast reflexives and second, he can read pitches very well. Rivera threw him a meatball, but this is Rivera. A right handed batter is expecting a pitch to slightly away.
The Scouting Report for years on Ortiz was just throw him breaking balls, he can’t hit them. Well he could and put many in the right field stands at Fenway.
by superferret on May 11, 2009 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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