Rays Squeak By Sox To Take Series
by Randy Booth on Aug 30, 2010 12:06 AM EDT
in Game Stories
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PrintIt was a do-or-die series for the Red Sox and it all just perished.
The Red Sox lost to the Rays 5-3 on Sunday night in a game that was tight from the beginning. After taking game one, Red Sox fans were hoping for a sweep, but a walkoff home run and tonight's game spun hopes into fears and now the playoffs may just be a far, far, far off dream.
There really is no one to blame after tonight's game. John Lackey did what he's done all year long. He battled from start to finish and he tried gutting it out, but at the end of the day his line wasn't very good: 6.1 innings, nine hits, five runs, three walks and seven strikeouts. You can't give the Rays five runs. If you do, you're looking at a loss nine times out of 10.
No one really stood out offensively. The Sox did the most of their damage in the top of the fifth when Yamaico Navarro and Marco Scutaro were responsible for a couple of runs. In the sixth, Daniel Nava singed-in Adrian Beltre, but that was all the scoring the Sox could muster. Mike Lowell had two hits for Boston.
While Lackey floundered, the bullpen work was solid. Hideki Okajima pitched well coming off the disabled list, going two-thirds of an inning and allowing a hit and a walk. It wasn't perfect by any means, but that was a better line than what he was producing in his rehab stint in Pawtucket. Scott Atchison pitched the last inning, allowing just one hit in a close-game situation.
So here it is: the Red Sox sit 6.5 games out in the Wild Card. The Rays and the Yankees are the two best teams in baseball with identical 80-50 records. Will the Red Sox make the playoffs, or did this series nail the coffin shut?
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The end is near.
Really, really, really near.
I know they have another series with TB and two left with the NYY, but who can have confidence in their ability to get positive results anymore? No Youk, no Dustin, 2 or 3 AAAA OF’s per night, a mediocre Lackey, a less than mediocre Beckett and bullpen…
I know they’re still trying with everything they’ve got, but it’s just not enough with what they have left.
Pretty much, sadly.
Fenway: "An alternate and better universe, disguised as a ballpark." --Thomas Boswell
Sure, because Theo's responsible for all the injuries.
When you lose four starters for most of the year, it’s tough to make the playoffs—especially in a division like the AL East.
If the Sox had all their guys healthy, this is a completely different race.
Fenway: "An alternate and better universe, disguised as a ballpark." --Thomas Boswell
All this is correct.
All of it.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
I agree completely
I think he’s started to drink his own cool aid and thinks that any move he makes is the best in the league. Regardless of what we needed after last season you don’t sign and pitcher in decline who was on the DL for most of the year to a 5 year 82.5 million dollar contract; you don’t sign a 37 year old outfielder; and you need to give serious thought before you give a very lucrative 4 year extension to a pitcher while he’s on the DL. And the bull pen was never addressed at the end of last season either and look where it’s gotten us. All dumb moves in my opinion and I was saying all of this before it happened.
What was so obvious about Cameron getting injured?
IHe was 37 with a reputation for being one of the most in shape players in baseball. If you can find a reason looking only at what Theo was able to see last year as to why Cameron was going to be a bad signing I will frigin eat my eat. There was NO EVIDENCE. Cameron was a good signing. SHIT HAPPENS. And Beckett was on the DL AFTER the extension. Could you kindly so some research before you talk out of your ass?
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
Agree to Disagree
I understand that Theo nor anyone else could have known that this type of injury was going to happen but you DON’T sign a 37 year old to be your every day center fielder (DH maybe). Why did Milwaukee let him go in the first place? As for Becket, I know that the extension talks were going on for sometime, but I really do believe he was still on the DL when it was signed. As for Lackey? He has the same amount of wins as last year and he’s getting 16.5 million for that. Why didn’t the Angels re sign him? Once again, these are all moves that Theo made and we have a really good chance at suffering for a few seasons longer because of them. The proof is that you saw what all of the above mentioned have done this year.
I can understand most of your points, though I disagree with the Cameron one
But the Beckett one is incorrect. The extension was announced immediately after opening day (which they did to save on luxury tax this year), which was a game he pitched.
Yup. Definitely on the DL AFTER the signing.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
Well if the 37 year old put up a great season the year before, has been consistently a great center fielder with a good bat who by all accounts across the league is a great guy, a hard worker and one of the most in shape, healthiest 37 year olds in the league it isn’t that big of a risk.
You want to know why the Brewers couldn’t afford him? Their payroll went from $80mil (where it had been for the last two seasons) to $90mil based largely on pay raises to Corey Hart and Fielder. They couldn’t afford his contract and he was a top 20 free agent.
Beckett was signed on April 5th, he pitched the 4th and 10th of April. He went on the disabled list MAY 19th.
The Angels didn’t re-sign Lackey because we offered him more money, sort of a no brainer there. Plus they had to re-fill holes at 3B, DH and OF anyway and Weaver was emerging as an ace. The man had put up consistent solid seasons, maybe he was a little injury prone but that wasn’t an issue this year, there is NOTHING in his past performances that would suggest this large of a step back from his previous season. NOTHING. If you can find it, by all means show me because it’s escaping me.
I thought you were a little smarter than having the basis of your arguments being “Well why didn’t this team re-sign this player? Clearly Theo should have known!” With this argument, why wasn’t Sabathia, Texiera, Beltre, Scutaro, Drew, Guerrero, K-Rod, to name a few, re-signed by their teams? The logic is epically flawed.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
Relief
Theo isn`t responsible for all the injuries. I was surprised to see the Twins add Fuentes but the Sox didn`t get any help for the bullpen. I suppose Theo should take the blame for that.
Still, they should have had 2 of 3 from this series, if not a sweep. Buchholz wasted a superb outing with one ill-advised pick-off attempt. If Navarro makes the catch in the 6th, it`s a different game for Lackey.
Ultimately, the team has grit and will not stop trying but they are doing what they have been doing since the 2008 season: finding ways to lose.
by Hallelujah2004 on Aug 30, 2010 12:36 AM EDT reply actions
well I think by the time Fuentes was on waivers
the season was already to the point of “one reliever isn’t going to make a big enough difference.” Doubront is doing fine as a lefty set up guy, so I’m not sure where Fuentes would get used anyways.
I was surprised (unpleasantly) that they didn’t get a reliever at the deadline, but then looking at the relievers that were moved, I think they all cost way more than they were worth. Judging by what the market looked like, I think it was probably the better long-term decision (I mean if the Twins are giving up one of the most highly-regarded catching prospects in the game for an OK closer, what would it cost the Red Sox?)
I want to believe, but I'm realistic
I truly believe that the 2010 Boston Red Sox could make the playoffs, but that’s not the team on the field. Pedroia, Youk, Ellsbury, Cameron are gone. The fact that we have played as well as he have with the wealth of injuries the team has gone through is a testament to the organization’s depth. But it’s just one of those years where good isn’t going to cut it because there are two great teams in front of us.
Next year
It`s certainly been an ill-starred, snake-bitten season. But remember the last time the Sox missed the post-season: they came back to win the World Series the next year!
I think that if they sign Beltre and Martinez, add some more reliable relief pitchers, and the injured come back whole, they could take it all next season.
by Hallelujah2004 on Aug 30, 2010 12:56 AM EDT reply actions
They wont resign either Beltre or Martinez
They got Saltalamacchia to replace Martinez and after Beltres huge season he will be looking for another multiyear deal. Most likely for 4-5 years at 15 million per season. No way Sox go there.
yeah clearly
they got a guy with high potential but absolutely no positive track record to replace one of the best offensive catchers in the game.
Salty was a “hopefully he’ll have what we thought he could have” move, not a “this is our catcher next year” move, unless he absolutely astounds in september. I do think he’ll get a nice long look in september, so Martinez can move to first and Lowell doesn’t have to play every day.
You'll see
Do you think the Sox really want to stick themselves with yet ANOTHER long large contract to someone over 30? Granted he isn’t a pitcher like Lackey and Beckett, but he is going to want at least five years around 60 million or so. I will say they have a better shot at resigning Martinez over Beltre but I think neither will happen
oh and Victor will be turning 32 in the offseason
so ask yourself if you really want a 37 year old catcher making 15 mil in 2016?
Wouldn't be the worst contract in the AL East
The issue is, how much to you want to lower the talent pool for the next few years?
VMart is our best bet at catcher unless we do pull off Napoli. There isn’t another catcher available out there that provides as much to us as he can. His defense has gotten better this year, it used to be a joke but he gets guys out now and he has a great bat for a catcher and it plays well at 1B too. The next best option seems to be Buck, who isn’t a defense upgrade really and is a massive offensive downgrade. With no clear cut catcher of the future (depending on how you perceive Ibarra or Lavarnway) with us and with Salty being an enigma the best bet really is to go with the best player available, VMart, who likes it here and would like to stay.
Beltre is the same, he’s going to want a big contract and he’s going to deserve it. He’s been phenomenal here, Fenway has brought his bat back to life and he’s still a great defender. $15mil over 4 years I’d do since we also don’t have a clear cut 3B ready to take over and it isn’t ideal to move Youk across.
The point is that we have a TON of minor league players with high ceilings on their way up. Reddick, Kalish, Iglesias, Lowrie, Kelly, Doubront, Rizzo, Lars to name a few that might be contributing in the next few years, these players cost essentially nothing when compared to the Lackeys and Lowells on the team and will allow us to take risks on FA contracts like Beltre’s and VMart’s.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
where in gods name
do you get 5 years, $60 million from? I haven’t even heard anyone anywhere suggest he’ll get a 5 year deal. I’m fairly sure you completely made that number up.
Also, I didn’t say that Martinez is definitely their catcher next year, I said that Salty is not going to start out as the everyday catcher next year. There is a difference.
wow, calm down,of course i made it up
I’m not his agent, but why would he take anything less. Taking a shorter contract only decreases his overall value. He’s going to take the longest deal he’s offered. Plus he is the best free agent catcher for the foreseeable future. I think my assessment was pretty fair.Someone will offer him at least four years, 48 million and if the Sox want to keep him they will have to top that. Why would the Sox give up three players and $350,000 for Salty if he wasn’t going to catch the majority of the games next season. Victors value come from being a good hitting CATCHER, not first basemen.
Same reason we gave up anything for Hermida
To see what he can do. And it isn’t like we gave up anything major, I don’t miss any of them. Unfortunately his injury has kept us from doing that but so far in his career he has shown he isn’t a major league caliber catcher. There is no way Theo is going to start someone like him next year when they really don’t know what he is. Right now he’s a back up and that may be his ceiling, we just don’t know. It’s irresponsible to make a decision like putting Salty in as starter without knowing if he can really do it. VMart we know can.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
first of all
the sox won’t have to top someone else’s offer, he’s made it pretty clear he really wants to stay with the same team, he’d probably take less from the sox. I think 4 years, $48 million is the absolute max anyone would possibly offer him, and I think the Sox could get away with less than that. Of course no one would re-sign him at that rate, which is why his agent would take less.
Yeah Victor’s value isn’t very high as a first baseman, this is true. Wasn’t suggesting him as a long term solution.
And what Rogue said, they gave up a bit for a catcher they’ve had their eye on for a long time, but he’s going to need to prove himself before he is handed the starting job.
Im so sure Vmart will give up millions of dollars
to stay with a team hes been with for a year and a half. Im pretty sure Damon said the same thing about the Sox only to sign with the Yankees for a few extra bucks. Will just have to wait and see, but if Posada makes 13.1 million a year as a 39 year old catcher thinking Vmart wont get at least 12 is pretty ridiculous
Damon got offered another year with more money a year. A little different than “more money.” Then there are the arguments of well let’s see Youk, Pedrioa, Lester who are all taking below market value money to be here when they could have gotten PAID elsewhere when their FA comes.
The other thing is that the market has changed since Posada inked his deal, more and more older players are finding it harder to get jobs or long time contracts the way the Yankees handed them out. The point, never use the Yankees in your contract arguments or it’ll look foolish.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
I agree with most of what you said
ie, that the Yankees are an awful reference point and that VMart shouldn’t expect Posada money.
However, I don’t think the examples of Youk, Pedroia and Lester are entirely applicable either. All of those players signed long term contracts as young guys, contracts that carry them through their arbitration years and some FA years. Plus they came up in our system. Victor on the other hand is entering free agency, and as many players have put it, he has “earned the right” to get paid more.
I hope he takes less to stay with us too, but I just don’t think we can assume that he will.
Hmmm...
Saltamacchia is no where near the level of Martinez. Martinez is loyal and would probably take a hometown discount. Moreover, he wants to stay with the Sox. He can catch and play first base or hit in the designated hitter spot. It may depend on the length of the contract he want.
You might be right about Beltre, but after this season I would say he is worth Drew`s or Ortiz`s salary. Some previous posts have suggested the Sox have no one comparable to him for at least the next few seasons. I would agree.
saw the Kalish catch on ESPN
that was amazing
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by bestbostonsports on Aug 30, 2010 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions
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