Postgame Wrap: Sox Finally Beat Mets!

by Allen Chace on May 24, 2009 11:44 PM EDT in Game Stories

So after a weekend that began and continued with sure heartbreak, the Sox end on a good note and in first place.

Wake wasn't terrific, but the 5 runs he allowed paled in comparison to the 13 12 runs that the Sox offense put up. George Kottaras and Nick Green were very productive from the bottom of the lineup, Lowell and Drewlicious were beasts, DP set the table, and Youks hit not 1, but 2 1 homeruns!

MDC and Saito were excellent in shutting out the Mets after Wake left, combining for 3 IP, 3 Ks, 1 H and 0 BB.

I can only assume that this hitting streak of Jacoby Ellsbury's is going to eventually result in a better approach and a shorter swing. ...right?

In the "in case you missed it" category, Mets RP Ken Takahashi performed a most unusual balk while facing Papi. He went into his windup and the ball simply fell out of his hand. You'd almost think he'd have been thrown off by that enough to give Papi something to hit. Almost.

Anyway. On to Minnesota.

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Comments

Eight-ninths of our offense contributed to this win.

Every spot in the lineup except one got on base twice and scored a run. No bonus points for figuring out which spot came up short.

by lone1c on May 25, 2009 12:01 AM EDT reply actions

Oh, and Kottaras now has a higher OPS than our DH, too.

by lone1c on May 25, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Georgey is the man

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on May 25, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

o.k., here's the question

What do we do with Papi? He is becoming a HUGE liability. I am sure Lars could hit major league pitching better right now. I’m just amazed he isn’t at least doing a ‘Tek. No average to speak of but when he connects, they are going quite a ways, I’ll take the .500 slg anyday.
My suggestion is move him down the order, 6th or 7th.
Any other ideas??

by sydneysox on May 25, 2009 1:12 AM EDT reply actions

There's only one "easy" solution to the problem.

And it’s not really easy at all. Of course I mean releasing Papi, trading for Nick Johnson (or someone else?) and rotating Lowell, Youks, and Johnson around 1B, 3B, and DH.

It’s probably early for that anyway.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on May 25, 2009 2:28 AM EDT up reply actions

It's a very expensive option, too.

The Sox would still be on the hook for the remainder of his salary for this year and next year, right? That’d be $20MM flushed down the drain.

by lone1c on May 25, 2009 3:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Sunk cost.

Not that agree with the premise of releasing him, but the money is already spent.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on May 25, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

I started a fanpost

To talk about that very subject.

My view is that he should move down to 8th. (Except when Kottaras is catching, in which case he’d hit 7th.)

by lone1c on May 25, 2009 3:02 AM EDT up reply actions

I could live with this line-up:

Ells
Dusty
Drew
Youk
Bay
Lowell
Corpse
Papi
Green

Corpse is even hitting, so that’s not too bad.

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

by MerryGoByeBye on May 25, 2009 3:04 AM EDT up reply actions

That's my lineup, too.

Gives the best possible cushion to the 4-5 punch of Youk and Bay, as well as putting the most baserunners ahead of them.

by lone1c on May 25, 2009 3:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Just for kicks:

Drew
DP
Bay
Youks
Ells
Lowell
Corpse
Papi
OhGodAShortstop.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on May 25, 2009 4:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Ells batting behind Youk?

I disagree with that. Other than that, yeah, I’d very much love to see Drew batting 1st, but that just won’t happen.

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

by MerryGoByeBye on May 25, 2009 5:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Lars

can’t hit AA pitching right now. Give him time

by Buzzy on May 25, 2009 6:55 AM EDT up reply actions

reply fail

to sydneysox

by Buzzy on May 25, 2009 6:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Umm...

It was a reply to sydneysox. Click the up button.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bdalebs on May 25, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

you youngsters

and technology!

by Buzzy on May 25, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

SPEAK UP!!!

I CAN’T HEAR YOU OVER MY MUSIC!!!

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bdalebs on May 25, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

He agrees to be sent to the minors, or release him,and he becomes a PR person for the Sox.

by matzushocka45 on May 25, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Someone hasn't been reading the Minor Lines.

Lars is struggling in AA.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bdalebs on May 25, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

FO: take your losses with Ortiz

(not every investment works out) and move on. Get somebody in there who can hit. Enough is enough. As matzushocka45 says, give him a PR post.

How many LOB does it take to wake you up and confront reality, Tito/Theo?

by ccthemovieman on May 25, 2009 10:14 AM EDT reply actions

Move him down in lineup, then teach him to become the greatest “bunter” in MLB,.
Then, teams will have to stop the shift and he can start hitting again, all the ground balls into the shift wil become base hits, better than nothing.

by matzushocka45 on May 25, 2009 10:52 AM EDT reply actions

Im sure he has too much pride for this...

Move him to AAA. Get him checked out by a doctor. Let him get some kind of rhythm back in the minors and then bring him back up in the 7th or 8th hole.

by ritz on May 25, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions