Game 70: Hello, offense!

by Randy Booth on Jun 24, 2009 1:03 AM EDT in Game Stories Comment 29 comments

Boston Red Sox's Jacoby Ellsbury hits a single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, June 23, 2009, in Washington. Red Sox won 11-3. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

More photos » Manuel Balce Ceneta - AP

7 months ago: Boston Red Sox's Jacoby Ellsbury hits a single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, June 23, 2009, in Washington. Red Sox won 11-3. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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Final - 6.23.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Boston Red Sox	0	1	0	1	1	0	1	6	1	11	17	0
Washington Nationals	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	3	8	1
WP: Manny Delcarmen (2 - 1) LP: Julian Tavarez (3 - 5)

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Not a big game story here, but hey! The Red Sox won! 11-3!

Thanks in large part to a big six-run 8th inning. The Red Sox had a season-high 17 hits on the game against the MLB's worst team. Jason Bay and Jacoby Ellsbury each had four hits, while Dustin Pedroia had three of his own. It was a total team effort from the offense -- something we haven't seen in awhile.

Another solid start from Brad Penny: 5.2 innings, three runs, two walks and three Ks. The bullpen did not allow a run, although Daniel Bard made things interesting by loading the bases in the 9th.

Let's hope we can win a couple more against these Nats. On Wednesday we'll see Jon Lester take on Craig Stammen.

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LP - Julian Tavarez

by Ben Buchanan on Jun 24, 2009 1:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Losing pitcher?

In your dreams!

"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 24, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't say "hello offense"

The Gnats’ pitching was truly awful. Tavarez could had gotten away with no ER, if Zimmerman didn’t commit an error on a routine play. I kind of felt sorry for the Gnats when Bay hit the two run single…

by superferret on Jun 24, 2009 3:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"Hello, Plate Discipline!" would have been a better title

Lannan pitched essentially the same against the Sox as against the Yankees.

The difference is that the Yankees were swing-happy, and Lannan managed to go 8.1 innings against them. The Sox batters waited for pitches they liked, and chased Lannan after 6.1 and got to the soft, gooey underbelly that is the Nationals’ bullpen.

To put it in perspective: in last Wednesday’s game, the entire Yankees lineup saw 123 pitches. In last night’s game, the 1 through 5 hitters in the Sox lineup saw 118 pitches.

by lone1c on Jun 24, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Two of the MFY are in big slumps

A-Rod and Swisher, and the other Yanks are hitting into a couple rally killer double plays, so that kind of breeds panic. Matsui is hitting a couple points below his regular average. Damon and Teixeira are hitting like mortals again.

Most of the time the MFY, are pretty discipline or they will foul off pitches they don’t like. The problem for them when their bats are hot and they can hit with RISP, they are going to lose their games.

by superferret on Jun 24, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone else think Ells would be a perfect fit for the Nationals?

He apparently thrives in that park, because he can take advantage of it’s hugeness and speed his way to triples. The Nationals don’t have much in the way of defense in the OF, either. Not really anyone that I’d like from their farm or team though.

OverTheMonster - ALLERGEN WARNING: May contain peanut butter.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 24, 2009 1:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ells

is looking like Grady Sizemore-Lite why would we want to trade him? People are so hard on Ells bc of his OBP, which is now at .361, not too shabby. And claim that when his average comes down to reality he his OBP will suffer, but we are almost to July and the guy is hitting .311. I love the way the guy plays, he is tough, wants to play everyday, a proven winner and he has excellent baseball tools. Ells will learn more plate discipline and he will be a top 10 CF for a long time to come. It would take “A LOT” for me to even entertain trading Ellsbury at this point. I would need a proven player, not prospects to even consider a move.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 24, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am happy

about Jacoby’s play. He has really thrived since the “demotion” in the lineup, and it is not all carried by batting average. While not a BB machine, he has picked it up. I just hope it stays this way. At this level (360+OBP) he is an offensive force.

by Buzzy on Jun 24, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

OverTheMonster - ALLERGEN WARNING: May contain peanut butter.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 24, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+2

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

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 24, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not saying we should trade him.

I’m just always on the lookout for a good deal.

OverTheMonster - ALLERGEN WARNING: May contain peanut butter.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 24, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unless the Rays want to trade BJ Upton and Carl Crawford for Ells

There is really anyone out there that would make a good deal for a trade for Ells. yeah his OBP needs to be higher, but his all around play is far from the Sox’s problems. I would trade Ells for pitching, but the Sox don’t need pitching, they may need another bat if Papi decides to go back to his April and May ways.

Sox problems

1. Daisuke Matsuzaka
2. Papi
3. Shortstop musical chairs
4. Finding an idiot GM to take Lugo off the Sox hands, (with the Sox eating most to all of his salary)
5. Beating the Rays

8 or 9. Hangover from drinking excessive champagne after clinching the AL East title or AL wild card.

by superferret on Jun 24, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm just speculating.

OverTheMonster - ALLERGEN WARNING: May contain peanut butter.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 24, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup.

By raising that OBP 30 points and getting some extra base hits, he has gone from a solid major league player to a very, very good one.

"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 24, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't say he was solid before.

But since the demotion, he’s been fantastic.

by Ben Buchanan on Jun 24, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A great park for Ells

Would be AT&T park, he could roam Center field and hit flares to right center all day long. His batting average in Coors Field would probably go up 75 to a 100 points, given it is a flare haven.

by superferret on Jun 24, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm...

Ells for Posey? Ells for Tulo? Either would be a steal, but we’d have to find someone to play a good CF for us – I’m not sure JvE would be a great fulltime starter.

OverTheMonster - ALLERGEN WARNING: May contain peanut butter.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 24, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You asked a good stadium for Ells..

The Red Sox would be either drunken fools or pulling a Harry Frazee by trading Ells to support their hooker habit.. His Defense is pretty important to why the Sox are ahead in the AL East..

He would do well a pitcher’s park like AT&T or in Coors field, where he would do well with a Coors fields stat bias

by superferret on Jun 24, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True.

We really would need a good CF replacement in any deal, which probably explains why he’s not available to other teams right now.

OverTheMonster - ALLERGEN WARNING: May contain peanut butter.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 24, 2009 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ells FA status and his agent Scott Boras..

are the least of my concerns right now… I think John Smoltz’s pitching is going to be a huge deal on Thursday…

How about a Brett Gardner/Jacoby Ellsbury trade? that will go down well from West Haven, Connecticut to Northern New Jersey. North and East of New Haven to Lebec in Maine, there will be riots in the streets.. Anyway both of them have around the same OBP, around .360 or so.

I know Theo has joked in the past, about doing a trade with the MFY just to see the reaction from fans from both sides.

by superferret on Jun 25, 2009 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs