A College Student’s Perspective of Tuesday’s 11-10 Loss posted by Tony Rossi

I’ll tell you right now that it’s not better than viewing it as any other person. 

I’ll also tell you that even though it’s the summer, we still maintain some of the college atmosphere here in Salem.  A lot of us Salem Staters have off campus apartments so we get to see each other even when school is not in session. 

Personally I was looking forward to watching an entire game on Tuesday night, which is hard to do between multiple jobs and summer classes.  However, I got a text last night before the game started saying that there were going to be some cool people meeting up at Salem Beer Works that night.  I figured I’d go after the game.  So I sat in my room watching the Sox dominate the Os for the first 4 innings.  Thanks to some great offense and a much better start for Smoltz, things seemed to be going our way. 

Then the rain came.

With both the big lead and the rain, I figured I’d head down to meet my friends.  There are multiple TVs at Beer Works so I knew I’d be able to see the game if it resumed.  Maybe it would have been better if there weren’t any.  While I was enjoying the company of my friends, I couldn’t help but notice every time I turned around to look at the TV, our lead was getting slimmer and slimmer.  Everyone kept saying “Don’t worry.  We’re still up by 5.”  That soon turned into, “Don’t worry.  We’re still up by 3” and so on and so forth.  I think it was around the 8th inning when I just turned around entirely so I could watch the game.  I wasn’t happy with the results. 

BoSox Bullpen Blows a 9 Run Lead!! posted by Hank Hill

Boston Red Sox Bullpen Blows a 9 Run Lead!!
So last night the 42 year old John Smoltz would get his second start of the year!!  In the last game he pitched he gave up 3 runs in the first inning, but then he was lights out. So I believe it was because it was his the first start and 1st inning jitters, so I didn't know what to expect. Well he was on point again and looked great. He only gave up 3 hits, 1 earned run and had 2 strikeout-- awesome! But the story is far from over. Meanwhile the Red Sox bats looked like they where going to explode, scoring 9 runs giving Smoltz a 9-1 lead, but that's when the rain came and this was big trouble for Smoltz and the Sox.(rain always seems to be trouble for the Sox).
After the rain came and went, a delay for about a hour and 20 minutes had gone by, Smoltz couldn't come back out, leaving a 9-1 lead up to the bullpen. At this point all of Red Sox Nation, including me, were thinking it's over, we got this in the bag and when it came to the 7th and the Sox now had a 10-1 lead I thought it's definitely over, but I was way off!! The Orioles would put our bullpen to work-- Masterson then Delcarmen and Okajima would allow 7 hits and 5 runs in the 7th making it a 10-6 game heading into the 8th!!  Okajimia would start the 8th gave up a quick 2 runs with runners on, so the Sox would bring in Saito who gave up another run making it 10-9 with men on 1st and 2nd and 1 out,  BIG trouble!!!    So of course the Sox would bring in Papelbon who is looking for the save which would set a new franchise record by moving past B. Stanley for No. 1 in saves, but after getting a strikeout and the 2nd out of the inning he would give up a double which rolled all the way to the wall allowing both runners to score giving Baltimore a 11-10 lead and the win.  This was a hard one to watch and definitely write about, well we got Beckett going today at 1:35 for a day game, so let's get a win!! Sox Nation here.
Continue reading "BoSox Bullpen Blows a 9 Run Lead!!"

More MLB Links posted by Erick Pacheco

http://atdhe.net/7388/watch-mariners-vs-yankees    Yankees vs Mariners

http://atdhe.net/5632/watch-rays-vs-blue-jays : Blue Jays and Rays

  http://atdhe.net/5711/watch-red-sox-vs-orioles   Red Sox vs Orioles

  http://atdhe.net/5546/watch-rockies-vs-dodgers  Dodgers vs Rockies

Tigers and Athletics :   http://atdhe.net/6246/watch-tigers-vs-athletics

Lester Amazing Again posted by HankHillRedsox

  J. Lester and the Sox traveled to Baltimore last night to play the Orioles in what would be the Lester show. He has been amazing in his last 6 starts he hasn't giving up no more than 3 runs and has 4 wins and 48 strikeouts, Awesome!

Last night would be no different, Lester pitched 7 scoreless innings with 8 k's and allowing only 5 hits, so was deffinitly in the works for another win just as long as his offense stepped up for him. The Sox only had scored 1 run in their previous 2 games. Not tonight, JD Drew who was moved and now hitting in the #1 spot went 3-5 leading the game off with a triple and later hitting a homer and was just a double shy of the cycle(maybe we should leave him at lead off)!! After the lead off triple, Pedroia would knock him in on a base hit and the Sox would lead 1-0 before Lester even started the bottom of the 1st.  That would be all the support he would need. Even though the Sox would add 3 more runs in the 4th with everyone in the lineup helping like Variteck who went 2-4 with a run and RBI and Ellsbury who was 1-3 with a run and 2 stolen bases-- Sweet.  The offense seems to be comming back around. 

So the Sox left the 4th up 4-0 and that would be the final and Lester's 7th win, with some help from the bullpen and Paplebon. This was Pap's 19th save of the year and his 132 save for the Sox which tied him for first with Bob Stanley for the franchise record!!!! One more Paps!!!! So the Sox move up another half game on the Yankees who had the night off and are now leading the AL east by 3 1/2 games with a 47-29 record, nice!!  So tonight the Sox go against Baltimore again with Smoltz versus Hill, so we should have another good game on our hands at 7:05, GO SOX!!!  Sox Nation!!

Jose Canseco to bring full circus to court, plans to sue MLB and MLBPA posted by Matthew McCabe

Disgraced former MLB slugger Jose Canseco apparently has one more trick left up his sleeve to help keep himself in the limelight, well beyond his 15 minutes of fame. Canseco wants to get together with fellow disgraced steroid users Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro to file a lawsuit against Major League Baseball and the Players Association to seek compensation for loss of wages and defamation of character.

Canseco stated in a telephone interview that:

"Because I used steroids and I came out with a book, I was kicked out of the game, but I have not been inducted into the Hall of Fame. A lot of these players have not been inducted into the Hall of Fame: Mark McGwire and so forth. They're losing salaries, because obviously when you're inducted into the Hall of Fame, you get asked to do certain, you know, appearances and shows and so forth, which incorporates income. So there is a major income loss. Not even that, baseball blackballs you from their family, meaning you can't have a future proper reference from them, a job, no managerial jobs, no coaching jobs, nothing. They completely sever you."

Clearly Canseco is grasping at straws in his life. It is hard to know where to begin in criticizing Canseco, so in the interest of time we'll keep it brief. Canseco had a bright career when he broke into baseball, but his career was cut short by diminishing skills after roughly 10 seasons. His numbers went downhill and few people wanted him. In 2005 he wrote a tell all book, mostly in an attempt to make money, about the use of steroids in baseball in which he claimed as many as 85% of MLB players used steroids.

One major observation after the Orioles' first month of the 2009 baseball season. posted by Michael C. Roseberry

Well, it’s a little over one month into the 09 baseball season, and I figured it’s about time I write something about the my observations of the Baltimore Orioles. Of course, it’s all opinion and we all know what opinions are like.

I look at the standings and the Orioles are perched in last place…and, according to the Orioles’ management, we’ve got everyone else in our sights. Unfortunately, that sight is far, far above us.

Can’t blame to top 3 batters…Roberts, Jones and Markakis are doing what they’re supposed to be doing…getting on base and “setting the table” for the power portion of the lineup. But, that’s not happening…is it the usual early season slump for some of the batters relied upon for the power in 2009?  Maybe…but it’s is something, I think, inherent with the Orioles for the last couple of years…there’s no one in this lineup that other teams are “afraid” of…or leery of facing. 

There’s no Manny, no A-Rod, no Pujols, no Howard, no Lee, no Chipper…in other words, no “Bopper.” Remember when it was Frank, Boog, Gus, Lee, Eddie, Cal or even Albert Belle for that matter, which you never wanted up with runners on base? Now, the Orioles have nothing like that, and, opposing pitchers, while still wary of the O’s 4, 5 & 6 batters, are not “shaking in their shoes” like they do against other lineups around the American League.  The O’s 4, 5 & 6 batters are the guys who surround a Manny or Chipper so opposing teams cannot “pitch around” them.

All-Star balloting reminds me of the Iowa Caucus posted by David

Someone at MLB must have read my blog post from 5/9/08 and decided that All-Star voting needed to start even earlier this season just to see my reaction.  Keep in mind that the 2009 season began later than the 2008 season.

The one good thing about early voting is that maybe the fans will show some support for Evan Longoria over the injured Alex Rodriguez and vote the reigning Rookie of the Year starting third baseman for the American League.

Longoria is hitting .415 and has already hit five home runs and seven doubles – good for a slugging percentage of .830.

How ‘bout that?

How about the Cleveland Indians?  On Tuesday against the Royals the Tribe infield turned six double-plays.  Still not impressed?  How about when I tell you they did it in SIX CONSECUTIVE INNINGS (3rd-8th)?

How about Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko?  In the second inning of a game against the Tigers on April 13th, the White Sox teammates hit back-to-back home runs – the 300th of each slugger’s career.

How about the Pirates, Mariners, and Padres?  Though the season is still young, these teams hold records of 9-6, 10-6, and 9-6, respectively, after finishing with three of the four worst records in baseball in 2008.  Pittsburgh actually was the least bad, losing 95 games – good for a .414 winning percentage.  San Diego barely avoided 100 losses, finishing at 63-99 and a .389 winning percentage.  Seattle took the cake with a .377 winning percentage, losing 101 games despite wining their last three contests.  As awful as they were last year, this trio is off to a great start in 2009 and will hope to build on their early success over the next several months.

A sad day for baseball posted by David

Tragedy struck the baseball world Thursday morning, as Angels 22-year-old rookie Nick Adenhart, hours removed from making his season debut, died in a car crash.  In just his fourth-ever big-league start, Adenhart threw six shutout innings against the Athletics and left with his team leading 3-0, only to see the Angels’ bullpen surrender the lead and lose 6-4.

Sadly, Adenhart is not the first active player in recent memory to lose his life prematurely.

Darryl Kile was found dead in his Chicago hotel room in 2002.

Cory Lidle crashed a small plane into a New York apartment building in 2006.

Josh Hancock crashed a car into a tow truck in 2007.

Joe Kennedy died suddenly of hypertensive heart disease in 2007.

All five players, coincidentally, were pitchers.

Bad for Ball hits a new low

After a long offseason, spring has finally arrived and baseball is back.  Good for Ball.  Opening Day getting rained out (Red Sox – Rays) or snowed out (White Sox – Royals), on the other hand, is Bad for Ball.  Neither rain nor snow, however, compares to a ballgame having to be postponed for a team tragedy.  The Angels family lost a promising young prospect who for all we know may have been the next Cy Young.  Very Bad for Ball.

Anniversary of a historic event

Wednesday marked the 35th anniversary of Hank Aaron’s 715th home run.  On April 8, 1974, Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s record, which had stood for nearly 40 years since Ruth’s retirement from the game in 1935.  While Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and it is widely believed that Willie Mays was a better player, Hammerin’ Hank will forever be remembered as one of the most influential African Americans in sports history.

New York Yankees Post-Opening Day 2009 Thoughts posted by Chris Giunta

-The Orioles fans shouldn't be allowed to chant "Yankees Suck." The O's haven't had a winning season in 10+ years.

-Joe Girardi makes me nervous as he stands, arms folded in the dugout one second after the opposing team gets a man on base

-Michael Kay needs to stop regurgitating the same old stats and nonsense he always talks about. Take a class in broadcasting from the guys on SNY

-It's odd seeing the Melkman wearing #53 instead of #28. Every time I'd think to myself, "Boy, Abreu shrunk in the offseason!"

-George Sherrill is one of the most awkwardly proportioned athletes in sports. The flat brim style cap doesn't help either

-0 and 1 on the season and an unimpressive first start by CC. He was slow at the start last year too and then look what happened. Wang to start on Wednesday and Burnett on Thursday. I don't think Trembley knows who is starting either of those games for Baltimore. It's nice having a loaded rotation and feeling confident every time I throw on YES. Last year at this time I'd have to cut rabbit's feet when Rasner, Ponson, or Kennedy were getting the ball

-I hope Girardi can stay loose all season. After this stinker he might be biting his nails and grinding his teeth at the same time

-Good to see Matsui and Posada each go deep. They are a huge factor in our offense

-Posada was also tested trying to throw out runners advancing on wild pitches. While he didn't nab anybody this time at least he didn't look to be in any pain

-The bullpen really didn't answer the call today but neither did CC, the offense, or the defense. Shrug it off to growing pains and inexperience for now. Ransom will only be everyday player for a month

MLB's Top Five Outfields posted by John Frascella

If you read through my top five infields post, then you know that a correction was made: Mike Fontenot beat out Aaron Miles for the Cubs' second base job.

This time around, with the outfields, there's the possibility that Felix Pie will start over Luke Scott for the Orioles, and Skip Schumaker may start at second base for the Cardinals. Keep that in mind as you read on.

Also, when I originally wrote this piece, Manny Ramirez had not yet been signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers' new outfield of Manny, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier could be good enough for the top spot on this list. Manny's quite an upgrade over Juan Pierre...

5-Baltimore Orioles: RF-Nick Markakis, CF-Adam Jones, LF-Luke Scott

This one may be a little surprising to some fans, but Markakis and Jones represent one of the best, young outfield duos in the game. Markakis is unorthodox mechanically at the plate, but he produces and plays fine defensive outfield in right. He ranks second at his position, just barely behind Vladimir Guerrero for the top spot.

Jones is one of the league's most exciting youngsters, and he reminds me of B.J. Upton in the box. Jones is rangy in center, and the sky's the limit for this kid.

Scott has good power from the left field spot, but if he loses the starting job to Felix Pie, the Orioles' ranking will drop. Scott is a far superior player to Pie.

4-St. Louis Cardinals: RF-Ryan Ludwick, CF-Rick Ankiel, LF-Skip Schumaker

Undoubtedly, I'd have to categorize this as a "sleeper" group. People seem to be skeptical about Ludwick after his surprising breakout season in '08, but I like his strength and approach to hitting. After bouncing around the league a bit, I think Ludwick's finally found a home, and comfort zone, in St. Louis.

Sox to wait a few days after Lowell hip treatment

Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell had fluid drained from his ailing right hip Monday in Boston, and received an injection that might relieve inflammation in his surgically repaired joint.The Red Sox will wait at least a couple of days to determine whether the treatment was successful or whether Lowell needs to be placed on the disabled list, manager Terry Francona said before Monday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles. [read full article]

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