PostGame 9: In Which the Author was as Absent as the Offense

by 0157H7 on Apr 15, 2010 7:25 PM EDT

You can miss a lot of things at work. Skydiving. Non-fiction lectures. Outdoor tea parties with Sarah Palin. Or, you can miss the 3rd afternoon Red Sox game in a row.

However, thanks to the miracles of modern technology, it is possible to recapture the inimitable experience of an 8-0 loss in which only six Sox hits were allowed. I call the marvelous time-travelling technology "The Box Score." Thanks to this ingenious invention (surely imagined by a crack team of math PhDs in between rounds of World of WarCraft and their mothers doing laundry in their basements) it is possible to not only know who had a bad game, but which players are most responsible for the victory/loss.

So what happened? Liriano was dominant, striking out eight in seven innings and allowing only two hits, and the Twins pen held down the Sox. Pedroia was the only player with a multi-hit game: he was 3 for 4. Meanwhile, Wake was fine until the fifth, when he allowed three runs; he only got one out in the 6th while allowing two more runs. Schoenweiss allowed runs in the 7th, and that's all she wrote.

Ortiz got a break from all the hate, sitting all day. Hopefully the rest will help him Friday, as Jawsh Beckett takes the mound against the Tampa Bay Satanfish.

Poll

Which Twin is your favorite?

Joe Mauer. Best player in baseball.

179 votes

Justin Morneau. Most overrated player on his own team / in baseball.

16 votes

David Ortiz. One of the most feared hitters in his generation, while on the Red Sox.

31 votes

Johan Santana, Torii Hunter and all the others that the team was too cheap to re-sign.

31 votes

257 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 33 comments | 0 recs |

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Read More: Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins

Comments

I was at this game

Liriano was great. The Sox weren’t able to capitalize on Jose Mijares being crappy. Wake was doing really well until all those runs (I know, but hear me out)—the defense was atrocious and that intentional walk to Mauer backfired spectacularly. Also, Schoeneweis is everything I expected him to be, which is awful.

by morineko on Apr 15, 2010 7:32 PM EDT reply actions

I disagree with this

Also, Schoeneweis is everything I expected him to be, which is awful.

So far, Schoeneweis has faced 11 LHB and he K’d 6 of them without walking anybody or allowing a HR; that’s a – 1.46 FIP!!! OK, there will be some regression but we can agree that he’s been very effective when he faced LHBs and so he represents a good value (dare I say asset?) for this team in critical situation when we need an out and a dangerous LHH is stepping to the plate (Pena, Markakis, Lind, Cano…)
I’m very comfortable with him being this team LOOGY!

Westmoreland recently asked his son how he was feeling, and the response the father received didn't surprise him. "I'm going to be in Portland next year," Ryan said.

by radiohix on Apr 16, 2010 8:11 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

good post

by Mick Lowe on Apr 16, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

agreed

yes, really. He should have never been left in there for the right-handed batters, and that’s all on the manager. I suppose I’m just bitter having gone out of my way to see the Sox in person and then they lose like that. (And also, still ticked at Schoeneweis for not grasping the situation with Milwaukee.)

by morineko on Apr 16, 2010 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Sometimes

Pitchers like Schoeneweis have to take one for the team. The Sox’ pen lacks an innings-eater. The weakness of this team is the bullpen. They have very little flexibility.

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

by Drugs Delaney on Apr 16, 2010 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I voted for Morneau

Because he’s Canadian

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

I have a five-tool player in my pants.

ACTUALLY, advanced metrics show that that wasn't "premature".

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Apr 15, 2010 7:34 PM EDT reply actions

Even Jerry Remi at the end of the NESN

broadcast said that somebody on the Sox better begin to elevate their game besides Pedroia or this year may not turn out too well!

by NG on Apr 15, 2010 7:35 PM EDT reply actions

Remy has no clue what he's talking about for the most part.

He’s partially right here, but the guy started and drove the “Pedroia is too small to be a major leaguer” bandwagon based on the first month of his rookie season.

Bullpen Banter
www.bullpenbanter.com
twitter: @alskor

by alskor on Apr 16, 2010 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions

How long and wide is the bridge

The Red Sox offense isn't an issue,- until its an issue.
President of the official trade Jacoby Ellsbury campaign.

by gizmosandy on Apr 15, 2010 7:38 PM EDT reply actions

Small Sample Size Alert!

Especially since ESPN hasn’t updated these stats in a few days.

But after 7 games Red Sox pitchers were dead last in the AL in strikeouts. Since then we’ve added 6 strike-outs. Pretty sure we’re still last in the league.

DFA Beckett

by South Coast Ghost on Apr 15, 2010 7:42 PM EDT reply actions

In which this author saw 7 innings and was very sad.

Still 1 game ahead of last year’s pace.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Apr 15, 2010 8:14 PM EDT reply actions

Time for a 10 straight days of home cookin.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 15, 2010 8:27 PM EDT reply actions

0157H7...

I’m right there with you and have school during the games. These day games during the week are fucking stupid.

by Mike-Dub on Apr 15, 2010 8:55 PM EDT reply actions

hopefully we don't get our brains beat in this wweekend

TB always has our #

The Red Sox offense isn't an issue,- until its an issue.
President of the official trade Jacoby Ellsbury campaign.

by gizmosandy on Apr 15, 2010 9:08 PM EDT reply actions

All righties pitching for the Rays. Davis, Shields, Garza, and Niemann.

Yikes, just checked the weekend forecast : Friday and Saturday, windy, wet, and cold, 80% chance of gametime wetness, heavy at times with high temps in the 40’s. Maybe a day off might help with some time to get healthier. If we do have a rain day, and they don’t make it up with a double header on Saturday, Sunday or Monday, the next time we play the Rays is June 29 and 30 in an odd two game series. We’re off the Monday before and the Wednesday after that series.
I hate to send Beckett and Buchholz, the warm weather Texans, out to pitch in night game temps in the 30’s. Then again, the Tropicana Boys aren’t used to pitching in the cold and nasty. No fun for the fans in that type of conditions either.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 15, 2010 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Monday would make sense to have a makeup game

since game 1 is scheduled for 11 AM. Though they seem to avoid doubleheaders this early on.

Whatever, I got cheap tickets tomorrow night because of the forecast. I’m fine either way.

by wolf9309 on Apr 15, 2010 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Doesn't the Marathon mess up the streets and parking on Monday?

I guess a 5:00 start on Monday would give time to turn the park over and get the charge for both games or a 7:00 start on Sunday could work. Might be best to just add one game to the June series and make it what it should be, a three game series. I don’t care for the even number of games series.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 15, 2010 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions

yes please

Since I’m going on Sunday, with rain forecast, I’d be more than happy for a resched day to June.

Building Fenway from the ground up - Virtual Fenway

by Sean O on Apr 16, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Monday doesn't work.

Its a getaway day for the Rays – and they’re playing AT Chicago on Tuesday. No chance. Sunday would have to be a doubleheader or they’ll push it back to the next visit (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!).

Bullpen Banter
www.bullpenbanter.com
twitter: @alskor

by alskor on Apr 16, 2010 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions

ugh yeah forgot the rays were going to chicago

I think it’ll happened.. it looks like it’ll be raining but not terribly. I really hope if it does get pushed back, it’s not to sunday.

by wolf9309 on Apr 16, 2010 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

I think its going to be a day night on Sunday.

Sucks for me, too.

Bullpen Banter
www.bullpenbanter.com
twitter: @alskor

by alskor on Apr 16, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

although really

with a midday game saturday and a very early game monday, they might decide it would be a bad idea to cram in that many games (4 games in 48 hours, eesh) and move it later in the year.

my fingers are still crossed for tonight.

by wolf9309 on Apr 16, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I would love if they moved it to later in the year.

Already going Monday… it would be fine by me if they made it a warm weather game.

Bullpen Banter
www.bullpenbanter.com
twitter: @alskor

by alskor on Apr 16, 2010 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Anyone know the exact protocol for calling a rain game?

Is it up to the Sox FO, MLB or the umps for the final say?
Does the visiting team FO have any say?
And who decides to go to a doubleheader or make it up during the next Fenway visit by the Ray’s at the end of June?

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 16, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it depends on beer sales

Sometimes they’ll keep you waiting before a game is called. :-)

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

by Drugs Delaney on Apr 16, 2010 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Toushe'

It is all about the money.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 16, 2010 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Ugh. Hope not.

Tickets Saturday and Monday.

Thinking Saturday is getting rained out, too….

Bullpen Banter
www.bullpenbanter.com
twitter: @alskor

by alskor on Apr 16, 2010 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Let's not forget something that you can't see from the box score

well kinda, it has errors. But the defense just looked terrible. Terrible. Makes you appreciate the good defense we usually have in the outfield, and makes me hope that we won’t be seeing Hall in center again.

by wolf9309 on Apr 15, 2010 9:42 PM EDT reply actions

On an unrelated note

I hate these straight-on camera angles that look like they are filmed from the building across the street. The heightened cameras make it tough to tell the break on pitches and even tougher to tell the launch angle off the bat. I would much rather have the skewed camera angle that is at near field level. The straight-on view is nice alternate angle, but I don’t like this trend of teams making this the main angle. I’m assuming I’m in the minority, but I just needed to vent a little.

by bdunc8 on Apr 15, 2010 10:18 PM EDT reply actions

Bill Hall in Center

I dont know whether that was the best idea to let Hall play center. In Fenway Hall prolly should play left, Hermida RF and Drew in Center if neither Ellsbury nor Cameron can play.

by German Red Sox Fan on Apr 16, 2010 5:46 AM EDT reply actions

There was no other choice

Both Ellsbury and Cameron were scratched due to injury, and Drew is playing hurt.

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

by Drugs Delaney on Apr 16, 2010 7:14 AM EDT up reply actions

So what about tonite's game?

Do you think they’ll play? I have tickets, but being out of state, I’m faced with a 5 hour round trip drive. What’s the weather outlook for tonight? Love the Sox but I’d rather not make a futile drive if all hope is lost.

Thanks!

by nhsoxfan on Apr 16, 2010 9:04 AM EDT reply actions

it's supposed to to

it’s gloomy and dark right now. It’s supposed to rain but I don’t think it’s supposed to be anything terrible. I’m keeping my hopes up that the game will go on. I don’t know though, might be risky for a 5 hour drive. Keep your eyes on the forecast through the day.

by wolf9309 on Apr 16, 2010 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions