Game 128: Beckett struggles, but Red Sox pull out win
by Randy Booth on Aug 29, 2009 1:28 AM EDT
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It's a good thing this offense is going well, because Josh Beckett isn't.
Beckett struggled again, but the Red Sox pulled out a 6-5 win over the Blue Jays on Friday night.
Beckett gave up five runs, five hits and five walks in five innings of work. He struck out nine, but still wasn't very impressive in his third consecutive poor start. The Sox really need Beckett to kick it back into gear, because this type of performance just isn't acceptable.
Jason Bay hit his 29th home run of the season in the win. Jacoby Ellsbury went 2 for 3 with an RBI and two walks while J.D. Drew went 2 for 4. Casey Kotchman brought in the game-winning run with a fielder's choice that scored David Ortiz.
The Jays had a chance to make the game 6-5 in their favor in the 8th, but a Bay to Alex Gonzalez to Jason Varitek relay caught Travis Snider at the plate for an out.
The 'pen was not scored upon tonight. Daniel Bard was impressive by striking out three in 1.2 innings of work. Jonathan Papelbon earned his 31st save, but made it adventurous. He loaded the bases before striking out two to end the game. All three outs were strikeouts in the 9th.
A win is a win, despite the poor performance from Beckett. Things will hopefully get better Saturday as Ricky Romero takes on Clay Buchholz at 7:10 p.m.
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I had that pic ready to go for the Laundry. :(
Oh well, I found a better one.
Also, MLB Tonight was doing a story about the charity game played between the NYG and the Sox in 1954, before which Willie Mays and Jimmy Piersall had a throwing contest. After they wrapped up the story (Piersall injured, never came back with the cannon), here’s the segue used by the anchor:
“And now to the highlights – I promise you, this game was not a charity event.”
[cut to video showing the scroll going across the top of the screen with the Jimmy Fund Telethon number]
Nice PR job, MLB Network.
@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation
Adventurous
I’m not even sure you have to bother typing that second part anymore. It’s almost a given.
Man I love that tuna casserole.
Beckett
Boy this is scaring me. When he struggled at the start of the season it was clear that he would turn that around-he was actually pitching well with poor results (save some BB issues). He looks like a mess right now. I don’t think I have ever seen a case of a presumably healthy front line starter who is dominant for 2+ straight months and then immediately goes into the tank. Bizzarre.
It IS a mystery and a big concern
When your ace goes in the tank, you’re in deep shit. Beckett has always been either great or terrible. Usually, if he’s getting rocked, it’s because he’s injured to some degree. If he’s healthy, then it’s really a puzzle and a big, big concern.
by ccthemovieman on Aug 29, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions
I believe he is either
injured a bit or thinks he is. Same difference from a psychological point of view. This just adds to the urgency that the Sox top brass better be looking for a golden pitching arm out there before the end of August (Monday) if they want to survive into and especially through the playoffs this year.
by NG on Aug 29, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Please O Enlightened One
Please tell us who the Sox should pick up that will lead them to the Promised Land. Please tell us how the Sox, who are third to last on the Waiver Wire claim, will get their Messiah. Please.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Aug 29, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
It is a rhetorical point then that if Beckett
is equivalent to being injured, even a little, then the Sox will not make to that pormised land this year. Just another way of talking I guess, assuming there is no other good options out there, which II really don’t know for certain.
Sure, if our #1 starter goes on the DL it'll hurt us a lot.
No question about that. I think every team would be hurt by that. But you said that if Beckett is injured the Sox FO needs to find a replacement for him, a “golden arm”. I’m saying I can’t see any that would be available to us. Halladay probably wouldn’t make it to us, Felix definitely wouldn’t make it to us. Aces from the NL wouldn’t make it to us. There’s just no one available. Hell, it seems like not even Rich Harden made it to us.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Aug 29, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Then if something is wrong with Beckett now,
logical consequences = no playoffs, given the lack of effective starter depth we seem to have now!
by NG on Aug 29, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
So... when does your whole fair-weather fandom kick in?
@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation
Good question.
It is close, but then the Sox rally a bit and make it a little more interesting. If they get well out of reach for even a wild card, then I begin watching mostly football.
by NG on Aug 29, 2009 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Right
Because logic has anything to do with the outcome of a baseball game.
I know it's early, but it's never too early for a little optimism and hope. All I know is that Soxtober is the best month of the year.
Umm... yeah, it does.
Obvious example: Tito has to use his best players in the highest leverage situations.
@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation
It was Friday
I personally put most of the blame on those Friday Fail Caps. Seriously, who can be expected to perform at maximum potential in those sucky ballcaps?
Man I love that tuna casserole.
but that's the point
he really was only terrible in 2006. He actually pitched well last year by metrics I trust. He looks like 06 Beckett in the last 4 games (perhaps you could include the Tigers game too with 2 HRs allowed).
Well...
Toronto has had his number this year if you look at the stats. He is winless and his era is over 6. As for the Yankee game his velocity was there on the fastball but his curve was definatley off. So I’m just hoping the Toronto thing is one of those were they just have his number and the Yankee start was just a random bad one. After all he had 3 dominant starts against them before that he was due to have a bad one against them. I guess we’ll see in his next start what the deal is with him.
Sodomize Intolerance
by sonicdeathmonkey on Aug 29, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
In other news, Manifest Destiny is hurt and done for the year
People think its a broken collarbone. If this is true, that is almost good….no muscle/ligament damage which can put him out longer. I hope to see him in AFL or Winter League which is still a possibility.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
Hey Red Sox fans
Just seen that Wakefield will be missing his Tuesday start and Lester being pushed back to take his start. Who starts tomorrow? When is Dice K due back? How much confidence to Red Sox fans have in Tazawa?
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
Buchholz will start tomorrow if this game gets rained out.
If not, then Byrd, likely.
There’s already another post up about Dice-K.
Tazawa basically skipped AAA – nothing should have been expected from him. I’m extremely pleased with what he’s done against far better competition, but he needs to get some time in AAA. Unfortunately, most Sox fans, by virtue of the stupidity of masses, want him dropped and think he’s never going to be anything.
@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation
Byrd?
Paul Byrd?
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
Nope, Marlon.
Paul Byrd plays OF for y’all. (reference to joke from last year)
@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation
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