Sunday Game Blog: 7/24 BOS @ CHW
Today's Game Hat:
(Old-school plastic-strap adjustable)
Special Commemorative Note: Somehow I missed this, despite referencing July 24th, 2004 in this post, but today is the one year anniverary of what I believe to be the best regular season game of 2004 for the Red Sox; the brawl game, which began with the Sox falling behind the Yankees, really got moving when Bronson Arroyo pegged A-Rod (after which Jason Varitek also pegged A-Rod) and the bences emptied into one of the more active MLB fights in recent memory, and ended on an intensely dramatic Bill Mueller walk-off homerun into the bullpen off of Mariano Rivera in the 9th. It has become the symbolic turning point of the Red Sox' championship season. So, happy anniversary, awesome game. Too bad we couldn't produce one of your like a year later.
PREGAME
As the trade rumors swirl (and as Burnett to either Sox refuses to go away), the Red Sox line up for their 4th game vs. this year's Best Team in the Majors, the Chicago White Sox. This makes my life difficult, as I'll be unable to refer to the Red Sox as the 'Sox' this afternoon. I'll go with Bosox instead.
We've now taken 2 of the first 3, with yesterday's game making quite a statement. Wade Miller went 7 strong innings, allowing 5 hits and 4 walks, while striking out 4. 4 of the 5 hits were singles; the other was a double by Tadahito Iguchi in the 5th. A win today would make this trip an absolute, unqualified success, no matter what the Yanks and O's do.
I also wanted to point out a sequence of evens in the bottom of the 1st inning that - to me - speaks volumes about the 'small ball' tactics that the White Sox have so embraced this year. The 1st inning - which ha plagued Wade Miller this year, started off potentially very badly, as Scott Podsednik (50 SB's) reached on a single up the middle. Podsednik predictably attempted a steal of second, only to be cut down by Varitek. One out. Miller then walked Iguchi, putting another runner on first. However, as Iguchi started toward second on a steal attempt, Miller picked him off first. The Bosox executed a rundown that killed him. The inning ended on the next batter, as Carl "No Dinosaurs" Everett grounded out to second. Now, let's replay that inning, but without the SB attempts. Podsednik singles, Iguchi walks, putting men on 1st and 2nd wit no one out. Everett then grounds to 2nd. Let's assume a double play here, Cora to Renteria to Olerud; that would leave the Chisox with a runner on third and 2 out. Not a prime scoring opportunity, to be sure, but certainly better than none on with three outs, isn't it? Obviously it won't always work out this tidily, but I found that sequence interesting.
Today, Bronson Arroyo - who is apparently still with the Red Sox despite approximately 9,000 rumors that he's been 'as good as gone' over the last couple weeks - goes up against Jose Contreras, who you may remember from such manhandlings as May 20th, 2003, August 29th, 2003, October 15th, 2003 (ALCS Game 5), April 23rd, 2004, and July 25th, 2004, the day after The Day. First pitch in 5 minutes.
FIRST PITCH
Called strike, over the outside corner to Damon.
TOP 1st: 1-0 BOS
Papi provided the big (and only) hit of the inning, when he sent a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right. Mueller and Ramirez contributed 8 pitch AB's, but each ended in out; Mueller lined out to left while Manny K'd. Damon got it started with a fly out to left. Mueller, by the way, is batting second today, as Edgar sits in favor of Cora at SS.
BOTTOM 1st: 2-1 CHW (in progress)
Not a promising beginning for Bronson. After a Podsednik groundout, Iguchi and Everett both singled. Konerko followed with a double down the LF line scoring 2. Pierzynski grounded out 1-3, sending Konerko to 3rd; let's hope Bronson can get Bosox killer Rowand here and limit the damage.
BOTTOM 1st: 2-1 CHW
Well, Rowand walked, but Russ Gload popped out to Manny to close it out. Arroyo at 27 pitches in the first, to Contreras' 25.
TOP 2nd: 2-2 (in progress)
Nixon singled, Millar 'd, and now Tek has doubled, putting Nixon on 3rd. Which lea me to a minor quibble: Why exactly is Cora batting 8th, ahead of Graffanino? Is it because Damon's a left-handed hitter and Terry didn't want two lefties in a row? That seems like an improper playing of the balance sheet, given the difference in production between Graff and Cora, but as I said, minor quibble.
Especially given that Cora just hit a sac fly scoring Nixon.
TOP 2nd: 2-2
And Graffanino flies out to right to finish off the inning. Sox tie it up, and put a 20 pitch inning on Contreras; here's hoping Bronson can settle in this inning.
BOTTOM 2nd: 4-2 CHW
Iguchi strikes again. Is it me, or has this guy been just as annoyingly successful this series as Rowand has? Iguchi nails a 3-2 pitch out to right for a 2-run dinger - Podsednik was on 2nd after a double. Iguchi's AB was 8 pitches long, but unlike Manny and Mueller, he converted it. Everett flew out to center for the 3rd out, but damage done here.
TOP 3rd: 4-2 CHW
A somewhat non-descript effort by the top of our order here, as Damon flies out, Mueller singles to open it. Papi made out with a check swing roller sending Mueller to second, and Manny K'd on three straight high fastballs. Let's see now if Bronson can put up an inning that doesn't involve 2 runs.
BOTTOM 3rd: 5-2 CHW
Only one!
Konerko walked to lead off the inning,but then things looked good, as Pierzynski flew out to CF and Rowand popped out to Millar. Unfortunately, Ross Gload smacked an 0-1 pitch over Nixon's head and nearly out of the park; the relay back to the infield caught Gload between 2nd and 3rd, but by the time the tag was applied, Konerko was already home. I'm not liking how this is shaping up.
I wouldn't mind today's Chevy Equinox Grand Slam in the 4th inning contest on EEI having a winner today.
TOP 4th: 5-2 CHW (in progress)
Small comfort, but their pitcher needs a coaching visit with 2 outs and a three run led, because he allowed a flare hit? Not confidence-inspiring, is it?
TOP 4th: 5-2 CHW
On the other hand, I guess it worked. After a Nixon fly out, Millar walked (which he's been doing a lot lately - and if Tim McCarver is right, isn't that just as good as hitting a bunch of homers?). V-Tek K'd swinging, but Alex Cora flared a base hit into center, sending Millar to third. Graffanino K'd on three straight to end it without any damage.
BOTTOM 4th: 5-2 CHW
Varitek must have practiced a bunch for this series. He's now thrown out Podsednik in two straight games (though admittedly yesterday's was far more the fault of Podsednik than the superiority of Tek). So, Bronson has his first scoreless inning of the afternoon, as a Crede flyout and an Ozuna 6-3 groundout precede Podsednik's single and subequent CS.
TOP 5th: 5-2 CHW
Good lord, people, it's Jose Contreras. Damon led off with a groundout off Contreras to second, 1-4-3. Mueller walked, but Papi popped out and Manny K'd (his 3rd of the game) to close it out. The upside: Contreras is at 104 pitches already. The downside: I'm not entirely convinced that Ozzie Guillen is acquainted wit the concept of the pitch count.
BOTTOM 5th: 5-2 CHW
That's more like it! a 7 pitch, 1-2-3 inning for Arroyo. Bronson's ow at 84 pitches, and if he can keep things together he can finish off the 7th; Contreras, meanwhile, could be looking at his last inning, especially if we can put up some AB's here. I like our chances off the Chisox pen.
TOP 6th: 5-2 CHW (in progress)
With the Jays game over, Sportsnet has switched over to the Sox game, for at least an inning. So I get to actually see some Bosox baseball today! Decent 5 pitch AB for Nixon there, but he ended it with a flyout.
TOP 6th: 5-3 CHW (in progress)
I am simultaneously pissed and happy here. Millar, in the last thing I was able to see before Sportsnet cut away (yes, I only got to see 2 batters), lined a ball down the LF line, but dug for second and was out by slightly under a lot. 2 pitches later, Tek blasted one out. If Millar had only held... can't blame him immensely, as it looked like a double off the bat, but we need to avoid killing baserunners if we're going to win this one. After Tek's homer, Offensive Star Alex Cora collected his second hit, grounding one into left. With 2 outs, we need Graffanino to capitalize big-time.
TOP 6th: 5-3 CHW (in progress)
Sportsnet cut away from the game to show a pre-taped poker game. Poker. Damn you, Canada.
TOP 6th: 5-3 CHW
Sigh. Well, one run is better than none. But for god's sake, we got Cora and Graffanino on. We did the hardest part! Damon flew out to left to kill the rally, though, and we head into the bottom of the 6th really needing Arroyo to hold the line.
Repeat after me: We will win this game.
BOTTOM 6th: 5-3 CHW
Line: Held. A leadoff walk to Pierzynski was canceled out by a deftly turned, Cora-Graffanino-Millar DP off the bat of Aaron Rowand, and Arroyo recorded his first K of the game, getting Gload swinging. Coming up: runs.
TOP 7th: 5-3 CHW
There were not any runs in that inning. How disappointing. Mueller and Ortiz both K'd, and Manny chopped out 4-3. Will Arroyo be in for the next inning? Bradford and Myers were both up at the end of the last one, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Arroyo. He's been quite good in his last 3 innings, and is at 97 pitches.
BOTTOM 7th: 5-3 CHW (in progress)
I strongly dislike Scott Podsednik. After a quick first two outs, the Chisox CF put the 4th pitch he saw from Arroyo over Damon's head, and cruised into second with a double. Jeremeye Gonzalez is now coming in to try to get Iguchi and keep the deficit at 2 runs.
BOTTOM 7th: 6-3 CHW (in progress)
And I also strongly dislike Tadahito Iguchi, who drilled the first pitch he saw into left for an RBI single. We will still win this game. Who's with me?
BOTTOM 7th: 6-3 CHW
Well, Jeremeye didn't get his job done here, opening his stint with 2 straight singles before getting Konerko on a fly out, but thankfully those two singles didn't come around to score. A 3 run deficit is much easier to overcome than 5 or 6 run one (Hello, obvious statement). Cotts back out to face off against Trot, then will likely get pulled.
TOP 8th: 6-3 CHW (in progress)
Cotts walked Nixon on 6 pitches to open the inning, and is now being pulled for Cliff Politte who I refuse to believe is any good. Millar and Varitek due, followed by Offensive Superstar Alex Cora. Kevin, my solemn request to you: DO NOT HIT INTO A DOUBLE PLAY. Thank you.
TOP 8th: 6-3 CHW (in progress)
Millar loops one in for a base hit, and is pulled for PR Adam Stern. Renteria was sighted holding a bat in the dugout; pinch hitter for Cora? Let's do some damage, Tek.
TOP 8th: 6-3 CHW (in progress)
Well, Tek pops out foul, and Cora will bat. Here's hoping his luck holds today.
TOP 8th: 6-3 CHW (in progress)
And Cora strikes out, stunningly. It's up to Tony Graffanino.
TOP 8th: 6-3 CHW
No go, as Graffanino flies out to Rowand. It'll be Myers to open the bottom of the inning, then potentially Timlin or Bradford. Then, the top of our order gets a last crack.
BOTTOM 8th: 6-3 CHW
A leadoff K of Pierzynski, followed by a walk to Rowand and a GIDP by Gload as Myers goes the full inning. Last ups for the Sox; let's make them good.
TOP 9th: 6-3 CHW (in progress)
A leadoff walk to Damon and a 1 out walk to Papi allow the Sox to cling to life here in the 9th, with Manny coming to the plate. Guillen has made the move for Hermanson.
FINAL: 6-4 CHW
Well, on the one hand, a very tough loss. Arroyo, after giving up the farm early, pitched fairly well late. By then, though, the damage was done. Moreover, the Bosox couldn't turn baserunners into runs, made worse by Millar's baserunning gaffe in the 6th, getting thrown out trying to stretch a single in front of Varitek, who promptly hit a homer that would have scored 2.
On the other hand, we did manage to split a 4 game series on the road, against the toughest team in the bigs this year, so on that level, I'll take it. We remain even with the Orioles, who are 3.5 games back after getting swept by the D-Rays earlier today. The Yankees stand to pick up a game if they hold on in LA of Anaheim, where they lead 3-1 in the 8th. They'll pull to 1.5 back with a win; a loss will keep them 2.5 back.
The Sox now head to Tampa for a 3 game set. Next Sunday, the Sox will be closing out a 3 game set with the Twins at home; Sunday is also the Trade Deadline, so I'll be on high alert with info during the day.
Also this week, be sure to check out my guest column over at Firebrand of the AL on Saturday the 30th. The topic remains uncertain, though I have something of an idea.
Are you listening to it on the radio? (Do you get WGN in Canadia?) (Comment this)
...PAPI!!!! (Comment this)
Hey, this is
a cool blog!
(Comment this)
Earl, his partner's HR call is possily the single most annoying sound in the history of sports (aside from everything ever at Yankee Stadium). Proper English is like the least of the worries. (Comment this)
(Tie game.) (Comment this)
Damn, "other guy", can't you please pitch a scoreless inning? (Comment this)
Let's get some runs. (Comment this)