Game 64: David Ortiz hits another home run

by Randy Booth on Jun 17, 2009 12:41 AM EDT in Game Stories Comment 63 comments

Final - 6.16.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Florida Marlins	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	7	1
Boston Red Sox	0	1	1	6	0	0	0	0	X	8	13	0
WP: Tim Wakefield (9 - 3) LP: Chris Volstad (4 - 7)

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Six run innings are a lot of fun -- especially when the Red Sox do them.

The Sox rode a six running inning to a 8-2 win over the Marlins on Tuesday. Tim Wakefield went six innings, surrendered six hits, two runs, one walk and struck out for to get the win.

David Ortiz hit his fifth home run of the season in the fourth inning. Ortiz finally seems to be coming around and this only means good news for the Red Sox. If Papi can get going, this offense will be hard to stop.

Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Nick Green, George Kottaras and Ortiz all had two hits. Ellsbury also had two stolen bases.

Hanley Ramirez's return to Boston was an uneventful one. He went 1 for 4 with a strikeout. But still, he's hitting .329. He's a solid player.

Sox continues the series against the Marlins Wednesday. It'll be Brad Penny against Andrew Miller.

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Wakefield did very well: six innings, with trouble in only two innings (the third and the fifth—-the latter of which came after his 30-minute wait for the six-run bottom of the fourth). He also mixed his curveballs well: several of his curveballs looked absolutely unhittable.

Hanley did not have a good day today. Even his one hit was a failure, because he got thrown out trying to stretch an easy single into a double. He also had a mental lapse on defense.

by lone1c on Jun 17, 2009 12:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wake should go to the All Star Game.

I think that would be awesome and I believe he deserves it. 9-3, 4.39 era. Send him.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love Wake - but he doesn't deserve to be in the ASG.

He isn’t better than Beckett—and Lester is likely to have a better ERA by mid-June. Wake is getting a ton of run-support, which is why he has 9 wins.

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

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 17, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only Roy Haladay has more wins than Wake.

Can you think of any pitcher who has been more important to their team so far in 09 than Wake? Santana, Grienke and Haladay? I think Wake should be in…

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wake has been really

important, but that is a bit beside the point, no? A 439, era, 450 fip, 1.412 whip+lots of run support=9 wins. He has been really valuable, saved us in the early part of the season, had that great near no-no a day after our pen was gassed, etc. but i don’t see how that makes him an allstar. he is basically the same pitcher he was last year (and i like that), and no one pushed him for the as game last year…

by Buzzy on Jun 17, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well I guess its again comes down to your definition of All-Star

Has Wake been one of the top 12-15 pitchers in the AL in 09? I would say yes. So he should be in.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

based on what

do you make that claim?

by Buzzy on Jun 17, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

based on the fact that without Wake, the Red Sox are in 4th place.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no this claim-

“as Wake been one of the top 12-15 pitchers in the AL in 09”

by Buzzy on Jun 17, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

name 15 better pitchers in the AL ?

not names, but guys who have performed better.

Wow you know this wasn’t even my idea, this came from sports writers, MLB channel and Baseball tonight and the resistance from you guys is unexpected.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because, for the most part, those guys are morons.

Just because you get payed to do something doesn’t mean you’re good at it. Fortunately for Wake, the pitcher is decided by people who typically agree with the media – the players and manager.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 17, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nobody should doubt Wake's value

But here are 15 AL pitchers who have performed better:

Zack Greinke
Jered Weaver
Edwin Jackson
Erik Bedard
Roy Halladay
Kevin Millwood
Felix Hernandez
Cliff Lee
Justin Verlander
James Shields
Matt Garza
CC Sabathia
Rick Porcello
Josh Beckett
Scott Feldman

There are others—and I’m a huge Wakefield fan.

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

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 17, 2009 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Greinke and Halladay are in for sure.

I looked at other starters who I would have to consider -

Millwood 7-4 2.62
Felix Hernandez 7-3 2.77
Slowey 9-2 4.23
Jared Weaver 7-2 2.08

How many starters are they going to select? 5 or 6?

Wake could get left off the list.

by Punctured on Jun 17, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Some others

Verlander, Jackson, Sabathia,Joe Saunders, Beckett, [Garza, Shields, Cliff Lee]=guys w/o many wins but pitching much better than Wake, especially Lee, with an ERA under 3….Forget Wake, there is no rational reason save the 9 wins.

by Buzzy on Jun 17, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

And wins are a bad measure of how good a pitcher is.

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

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 17, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

how about that Wake was the best pitcher on the best team in the AL?

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

but

he hasn’t…

by Buzzy on Jun 17, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

look, we are not evaluating FAs or trades

this is the All-star game, things like wins, so, Hrs matter.

If you really think he is not on the list I have to disagree. In fact if Wake wins 10 games, I would be a lot of money he will be on just for the Fox crew to have an entire inning of Wake v. NL hitters.

He has been one of the best pitcher in the AL in 09 and I think you guys really need to give him more credit than you will to offer.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Win totals are a meaningless stat for evaluating pitching

Was 2006 Beckett’s worst year or his second-best? He won 16 games that year, his second-best single season total.

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

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 17, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

SoxAcumen is right that wins are important for All star games selections.

"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw

by BTLove on Jun 17, 2009 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was responding to SA's argument

That Wake’s 10 wins makes him one of the top pitchers in the AL.

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

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 18, 2009 7:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Im confused

why should Kevin Slowey be a lock to get in but Wake is not?

Wake 9-3 4.31 era, Slowey 9-2 4.23 era.

If you dont include Wake, you cannot argue for Slowey.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wake 9-3 4.31 era, Slowey 9-2 4.23 era.

so wake has been better?

by Buzzy on Jun 17, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No but if you say Slowey is a lock and Wake has similar numbers

how can Wake not be on the team? or is the gap better “lock” and not on that small.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

B/c the numbers you refer to are stats that are generally viewed as horse... dung.

Unfortunately, the majority of the AS teams are decided by people who view W-L record and ERA as the best stats for pitchers, so you’ll probably be right. Wake will probably be forced to pitch 6 innings by Maddon, and then he’ll put him out in CF, just to make sure we won’t get home field advantage. :)

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 17, 2009 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Slowey has a better shot

Because there’s likely to be more Red Sox on the squad. Remember, they include relief pitchers. Oki should be there way before Wake.

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

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 17, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wasn't saying Slowey was in.

I was saying Grienke and Halladay were in then I listed out some of the other pitchers with 7 or more wins who would get consideration.

I think being a knunckle ball pitchers work against him too.

by Punctured on Jun 17, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here are the starters that have been clearly better:

Halliday, Grienke, Weaver, Verlander, Jackson, Hernandez, Millwood, Lee. Maybe there are more. That’s 8 starters. There are probably 10 more that have been comparable (Bedard, Garza, Shields, Slowey, Beckett, Sabathia have basically all been better too).

by Buzzy on Jun 17, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dont agree

no way Jackson is on, two from Detroit? well then why not 2 from the Red Sox who have a better record.

Also you guys are completely forgetting that many of the guys you mentioned will pass.

Seriously Sabathia, Shields and Garza have not had better seasons than Wake.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jackson's been pretty damn good.

And Wake’s had a good season, anecdotally, but not statistically.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 17, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

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

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 17, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes they have

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

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 17, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

being a knuckleball is perfect for the All star game, Fox will eat this up and Wake can pitch from the pen unlike many starters.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kind of late to the debate

I’d love to see Wake in the AS game. I don’t think he’s close to “meriting” it as one of the best 15 pitchers in the AL, but AS Game selections aren’t exactly based on merit, never mind y’alls fancy stats. His selection would be somewhat of a lifetime achievement award.

That said, I don’t see it happening. There’s no national buzz for it, despite a valiant effort by the Boston press corps.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jun 17, 2009 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hanley is not a SOLID player

He’s the best position player not named Albert Pujols in all of baseball. Let’s not pretend here.

Ben Affleck sucks HARD. He nearly ruined Chasing Amy.

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

by MerryGoByeBye on Jun 17, 2009 1:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd agree if he had a better glove

But his fielding is on par to rival Lugo’s in terms of ineffectiveness. His lowest error total in his three full seasons is 22. He might become a truly great player if he moves to CF as some have suggested, but he certainly wouldn’t improve the Sox’s defense much if he were at SS.

by lone1c on Jun 17, 2009 1:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you believe in UZR, he’s been getting better—he was horrific in 2007 but only barely below average last year, and he’s actually been slightly above average so far this year.

by fnord on Jun 17, 2009 2:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Control is learned, I guess.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 17, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jun 17, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He'll stick at SS

His glove has been improving, like fnord said above me. We always had that excuse, that Hanley will be a CF one day. Now not having even that is kind of fucked up, isn’t it?

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

by MerryGoByeBye on Jun 17, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

who cares about Hanley...

PAPI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!; The large father may be back. Best news in the world.

by Buzzy on Jun 17, 2009 6:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

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

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 17, 2009 7:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True that

~~But I heard that Pujols would be available it we traded Buch Bowd Bard Lars and Lester. Let’s do that!~~

Glad to have you back Papi so now we don’t have to make posts about how to get Pujols.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Jun 17, 2009 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

funny ;-)

by Buzzy on Jun 17, 2009 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

.333/.429/.694 in June

Big Papi indeed.

by Ben Buchanan on Jun 17, 2009 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Love that line....

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jun 17, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When you're hurt and miss work

AFFLECK steals your girlfriend and takes your cash, which is just as good as money.

"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 Jun 17, 2009 9:20 AM EDT reply actions 4 recs

That's a rec'

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jun 17, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey I think Affleck sucks as an actor like most, but

Boston needs to have its Celebs to counter the MFY and LA jackarses.. Steven King, Affleck, Matt Damon, Dennis Leary, that hot chic from Who’s the Boss, Conan O’Brien, Doris Kearns Goodwin (shes one of the top selling Presidential historian writers, look her up, shes the best and a die-hard Sox fan).

We need to keep our Celebs, even the crappy ones, to counter all the “My dad once had a Yankee game on TV so now I love them” fair weather MFY celebs. Come on, Bron Bron, you grew up when the Indians got to the WS and you like the Yankees? Ok, Bob Costas thanks for proving my theory.

To be fair, Affleck was great when he played the guy who played Superman and he is a far greater thespian than his hot wife, who is TERRIBLE.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 11:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Affleck was also good in Shakespeare in Love. So thats 2 movies out of 100.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not gonna disagree with Affleck sucking...

But I gotta say that the LAST thing I wanna see when I hit this page is his frickin’ mug. Christ! I thought this was a BASEBALL blog, not some Oh-Please-Notice-Me-Cause-I’m-At-The-Pahk-Go-Down-On-A-Celeb-Like-A-Circus-Seal blog. Alright, I’ll admit that if it were one Ms Milano’s picture looking back at me while opening this page…

by ElJefe63 on Jun 17, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Affleck is a terrible actor, Colin Ferall/Ashton Kutcher level of terrible.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No.

Ashton Kutcher is a whole other level of terrible.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jun 17, 2009 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Papi is back, does Theo need to get another bat as insurance?

I was thinking of some potential players. My criteria was simply available bats who can DH and play another position.

Some possibles:

Jermaine Dye
Jeremy Hermida (probably not bc of his cost and he is a lefty)
Jack Wilson (as a salary dump, plays SS, DH’s, moves Lowrie to 2B, Pedroia DHs)

Anyone got some names?

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 11:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If he is back

Then no, we don’t need another bat. Lowrie is back soon and to be honest Green hasn’t been horrible at the plate (defense is quite another story). Our bench guys are more than capable of filling in and being productive bats if needed to give anyone a days rest. Ortiz was the missing puzzle piece I felt, if we wasn’t going to heat up we definitely had to trade for a bat, but… knock on wood… I think we have Papi back.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Jun 17, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

we really don’t need a rental SS, especially one who is not a real upgrade over what we have. and i do think the plan is to stick with ortiz. he won’t continue this pace (he is out ops-ing teixeira this month) but if he can put up an 850 ops the rest of the way, that is a huge upgrade, and likely not worse than what we would get by trade.

by Buzzy on Jun 17, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are basically putting everything on Papi keeping this pace up.

BTW Buzzy, did you see your boy Nick Johnson boot that groundball last night? I dont know if Johnson is that great of an upgrade to Dunn defensively. Plus that stasche has to go…=)

Just playing around lol.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 17, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I did see it

He also F-ed up a throw from Zimmerman, and last week dropped a foul pop in the Trop that Kapler hit, just before Kapler hit a game winning bomb. So, in this small sample size, my eyes show what his UZR shows-he is playing a distinctly bad first base this year. However, historically that is not the case. As the goofball Yankee anouncers said “gee that is unusual, Nick is usually good in the field.” So, what can I say? He is not my boy, and I am glad that it looks like we need not discuss it anymore (eg Papi=back), but still felt that was a logical direction if the Sox were going to make a move.

by Buzzy on Jun 17, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs