September 30, 2009

G158: Blue Jays 12, Red Sox 0

Blue Jays - 023 032 011 - 12 17  0
Red Sox - 000 000 000 - 0 3 0
From the start, it felt like a spring training game. The Boston lineup began with Joey Gathright, Josh Reddick and Casey Kotchman. Rocco Baldelli made his major league debut at third base in the seventh inning. And third-string catcher Dusty Brown pitched the ninth.

The Blue Jats hit another four home runs, including two from Randy Ruiz, who also singled and doubled. Toronto had at least two baserunners in every inning but the eighth -- when they had only a solo home run.

Roy Halladay (9-3-0-2-6, 100) began the night by pitching five no-hit innings and finished with his second consecutive complete game shutout.

Wakefield (3-7-5-2-2, 76) and Manny Delcarmen (1-3-2-0-0, 19) both pitched terribly -- the hits off MDC were a home run, triple and single -- and did nothing to show they belong on the ALDS roster.
Example
Roy Halladay (2.90, 151 ERA+) / Tim Wakefield (4.33, 109 ERA+)

And for Games 158, 159, 160, 161, and 162, they rested. With five games remaining in the regular season, Terry Francona's only concern should be making sure every player on the roster is well-rested and ready to go when Red Sox begin the American League Division Series in Anaheim next Wednesday or Thursday.

Jason Bay:
You want to kind of get your legs back under you, but at the same time, you don't want to get rusty, too. It's a fine line. ... The last thing you want to do is kind of go into the playoffs and have to flip the switch. ... A day or two for everyone around here would definitely help. ... just a refresher.
Wakefield is making only his fourth appearance since the All-Star break. He is pitching on eight days rest. ... Halladay has a 1.80 ERA in five September starts.

118 comments:

allan said...

The always-traveling Ofer was at Fenway Park for the first time last night. He nearly saw one hell of a comeback (and celebration). He wrote about his experience here.

allan said...

I Can't Believe It's Oatmeal!

1. Joey Gathright, CF
2. Josh Reddick, LF
3. Casey Kotchman, 1B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Rocco Baldelli, RF
6. George Kottaras, C
7. Alex Gonzalez, SS
8. Jed Lowrie, 3B
9. Chris Woodward, 2B

Zenslinger said...

I was going to call it Wacky Oatmeal.

allan said...

My initial thought was Funky Oatmeal.

L says we'll get 20 runs tonight.

A Conformer said...

The always-traveling Ofer was at Fenway Park for the first time last night. He nearly saw one hell of a comeback (and celebration). He wrote about his experience here.

Always traveling... till tomorrow. Tomorrow night I fly to Israel, for what should be at least a year. I'm starting school on the 18th (and hope to get many sleepless nights in my first two weeks as a university students.

In other news, that lineup is side-bustingly funny. Maybe the plan is for Halladay to break a rib laughing, then bring in all the regulars against the bullpen?

A Conformer said...

Oh, and yeah: am I glad that the game I went to isn't this one. Coming all the way from NY to see Gathright and Woodward is not my idea of fun.

tim said...

LOL to the lineup.

Rogers here....hi def soon me thinks.

mattymatty said...

I get playing Gathright, but do you have to hit him at the top?

I know, I know, it doesn't matter...

tim said...

Fuck off Rogers. No TV until tomorrow. ARGHHHHHH

allan said...

Shit, Tim, even MLBTV would be blacked out. You need Sox radio?

allan said...

A few SoSHers are thinking this could be Wake's last start for the Sox. Assuming no playoffs for him, surgery in the off-season and possible retirement.

Zenslinger said...

A few SoSHers are thinking this could be Wake's last start for the Sox.

There's a reason to drink and watch the game!

A Conformer said...

A few SoSHers are thinking this could be Wake's last start for the Sox. Assuming no playoffs for him, surgery in the off-season and possible retirement.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and predict he'll have another good first half next year. And hopefully get to those 193 wins. Or maybe 192? We can start stacking up record holders right on 192. That could be fun.

Zenslinger said...

In other news, that lineup is side-bustingly funny.

About this -- Extra Bases cracks that "Yes, they are charging admission" to see this lineup. But, just having finished Allan's book, it brings to mind how much more important the live audience was as a source of revenue -- really the source of revenue. In 1918, I'm not sure you could get away with fielding a bunch of depth chart members like this.

I don't mean to keep pumpin' Allan's tool in public, but I just finished the book last night and really liked it.

allan said...

I don't mean to keep pumpin' Allan's tool in public

Now that's something we could charge admission to!

allan said...

Wake - 193

It MUST happen!

allan said...

way better than the last 2 nights

Zenslinger said...

Now that's something we could charge admission to!

"Desperate times..."

allan said...

maybe i typed too soon

Zenslinger said...

They give the night off because he had to do so much running last night?

laura k said...

I just finished the book last night and really liked it.

Yay!

allan said...

obrien is with espn in detroit, so it's rish with castig. much nicer.

Zenslinger said...

Joba: F9, BB, BB, 1B...and now a K.

Still, not a great start.

allan said...

last 19 games, flo hitting .365

Zenslinger said...

Joba gits out of it 1-0 KC.

tim said...

I would be able to watch this had I not disconnected the cable for the slingbox yesterday!

Rogers couldn't get into the electrical room after hours to remove the filter on the line. Fuck it. Tomorrow at 11 I will have the goodness of TV. And Sportsnet East is showing tomorrow's game! And I don't think I get Bruins coverage so I'll be able to catch the game, FINALLY.

First game of ball hockey at 7 though so I'll be missing half of it.

Also Allan, when you posted that Torii Hunter article, I immediately went to the MFAA schadenfreude post to laugh at dancing Aybar.

When I returned to JoS headquarters, you had edited the post and put that image on it. That made me warm inside.

allan said...

fuck the doc

allan said...

tiz into second a bit harder than normal.

Zenslinger said...

Dunn vs. K-Rod in a classic bottom of the ninth, two out, bases loaded, down 4-2 situation.

He walks!

Anonymous said...

Zen--Dunn walking? Is the world ending? There is no way that happened.

tim said...

fuck sakes.

sick of this 4-0 deficit bullshit.

tim said...

This would've sucked in HD.

allan said...

oh, come on.

Zenslinger said...

There is no way that happened.

It totally did.

allan said...

someone up for the sox prior to that dong, f-cab maybe.

tim said...

So how about that postseason rotation!

Beckett/Sid
HH
Dice


*gulp*

Zenslinger said...

Then...grand slam by no-name pinch hitter Maxwell!

Nationals defeat the Mets in the game with greatest ratio of drama to meaningfulness in years!

Zenslinger said...

Justin Maxwell, 25-year old. 5th MLB HR, 99th at bat.

allan said...

"Beckett/Sid" = 2 pitchers, no?

Anonymous said...

Tim--did Lester turn back into a pumpkin at midnight or something?

tim said...

Yes, 2 pitchers. Unsure of who the #1 will be though.

allan said...

Wake PC: 24-23-29 = 76

Amy said...

Thanks for posting to Ofer's blogpost. I love how he used the JOS nicknames!

Amy said...

I wonder if Westcoastsox is there. Not much of a game to come all the way from CA to see...

Rob said...

F-Cab taking over for Wake. That was too quick.

allan said...

jo(h)n rish throwing out 500 words a minute but cannot be bothered to say which direction aaron hill went in when he "ranged over" for lowrie's grounder.

since i am watching on tv, i know lowrie went to his left. if i was listening on radio, where rish is working for fucks sake, i'd be clueless.

tim said...

Yeah, sweet post ofer. I enjoyed reading that, your reaction of how small it feels is exactly how i felt too when I walked in in 07.

allan said...

fcab was up even before ruiz's dong.

Rob said...

I meant Wake's outing was too quick.

I don't like listening to Rish, and the radio guys do like to take it for granted that people aren't watching, but I get annoyed when I don't know what pitch is being thrown, etc. It's just "low" or someone "ranges over" etc. Blah.

allan said...

well, he *was* also telling us wakefield's pitches, "wakefield deals, a knuckler" -- umm yes.

allan said...

castig said one pitch "dipped low" without saying it was very inside.

allan said...

Thanks for posting to Ofer's blogpost. I love how he used the JOS nicknames!

He emailed me a shorter version earlier today. I see that he changed "the toilet" to "Yankee Stadium" in the final version.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

tim said...

he probably didn't want his buddies and stuff to read that he was sitting in a toilet, and be all "wtf ofer"

allan said...

anyone else enjoying this no-hitter?

Rob said...

I'd be pissed if this no-hitter was against the Red Sox. Kinda got the PawSox thing going. With Gonzo, Baldelli and Ortiz there on rehab assignments.

tim said...

What's that you say Allan?

Roy Halladay's pitching a no-hitter?

tim said...

Talking about watching sports in Hi Def.

Fuck you!!!!!

allan said...

the game has apparently been stopped. sox radio doing a full fios commercial.

nick said...

No hitter sucks, but can those 5 runs really be attributed to the scrimmage squad?

my grandmother just had shoulder surgery. I told her she needed to rehab quickly...the sox are gonna need her for the post-season.

nick said...

full price Fenway Futures.

allan said...

it is the pawsox, richardson relieving f-cab.

allan said...

my grandmother just had shoulder surgery.

i'll bet she's thrown out a greater % of base stealers.

allan said...

damn - game intruding on the 15-minute infomercial

nick said...

that was a nice grab. but, ah... 7-0 all the same.

tim said...

fuck this.

Zenslinger said...

JtC down 3-1 now.

tim said...

In this, the shittiest of times, we can take solace in the fact that brighter days lie in October.

laura k said...

I just emailed the booth with my displeasure at this extended IN-GAME commercial. The whole inning is an infomercial for Verizon Fios.

HATE IT

nick said...

that was probably a bit embarrassing. good thing not many people saw that.

allan said...

anyone wanna email the sox booth and bitch about the non-stop verizon infomercial?

do it now

soxbooth@weei.com

Zenslinger said...

I want to, but feel it would be dishonest since I'm not watching the game.

nick said...

I just turned on the radio stream and they said by to "bob"...in-booth PR visit?

laura k said...

Oh go on, be dishonest.

laura k said...

Bob is from Verizon. That's what we've been complaining about.

The entire inning was one giant Verizon ad. Barely any game at all.

allan said...

after shilling for verizon, castig is all fucked up.

says wells is the 8th man to bat this inning, he's the 7th.

Zenslinger said...

...and JtC doesn't make it out of the fourth inning.

It's funny, he doesn't get totally bombed. Just high pitch counts, wiggling out of problems with minimal damage, and all that.

Those believing Joba "should pitch the 8th inning!" have been rightly ridiculed since the value of a starter is so much more. But there is such a thing as a pitcher who's just well suited to relief, isn't there? I mean, isn't that why Papelbon's not a starter?

laura k said...

Hey Tim, you and Steph should come over for a playoff game. Might be a little tricky to schedule, but we should try.

allan said...

I want to, but feel it would be dishonest since I'm not watching the game.

bullshit. :>)

allan said...

all i said was:

"enough with the non-stop infomercial.

DESCRIBE THE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

laura k said...

But there is such a thing as a pitcher who's just well suited to relief, isn't there?

Of course there is. For one thing, pitchers who do very well the first time through the lineup, then decline sharply on the 2nd & 3rd go-rounds. They're going to do much better in relief. Just as an example.

allan said...

buffyvision's on-field guy was in the scoreboard last inning, now he's helping to change the runs between innings. i am jealous and want to kill him.

allan said...

now he;s back in the monster.

fuck you sam constantino.

nick said...

I sent an email.

Zenslinger said...

I'm a sucker for peer pressure.

I sent the email!

I admit it!

I did it! I fuckin' did it!

I ADMIT IT, GODDAMN IT!

(NSFW)

allan said...

yay nick. if you have ever yelled "show the game" at nesn, you ought to email. it's the same thing.

Rob said...

LMAO Remy: "So what's up, Don? Anything new in your life? Cause uh, this game's kind of boring."

laura k said...

Let's take bets on what day it will be when the Red Sox next win a game.

nick said...

I tried to be vaguely pleasant--I even referenced their cereal conversations of yesterday, but I entitled my email "There is a baseball game going on".

fuck a big fucking A. Each game seems worse than the one before. The batting is bad enough, but the pitching is killing me. a dozen HR in 3 games and it's not over yet.

allan said...

i hope it's no later than oct 7 or 8.

allan said...

man, wtf jays?

allan said...

mdc planning on watching the alds at home?

laura k said...

I tried to be vaguely pleasant--I even referenced their cereal conversations of yesterday, but I entitled my email "There is a baseball game going on".

Perfect!

Zenslinger said...

You gotta think this is it for MDC's postseason chances.

You also gotta think he's going to be good again someday. Just the up and down of a reliever.

Zenslinger said...

He dare not give up the cycle in an inning

allan said...

i wanna see the sox bunt for a hit.

or get lbj, fy, on fire, bay into the game.

allan said...

hunter up - goodie.

allan said...

mdc missing the double.

laura k said...

AFT

nick said...

That's cause I just cracked open my comeback drink! surely so.

nick said...

maybe I was just smoking a one-hitter. bah.

allan said...

baldy at 3B!

allan said...

jays have had at least 2 baserunners in every inning.

tim said...

L - that sounds great, I'll email you after the Yankees pick a series and we'll see if we can set a date. How is the basement coming?

Gotta run to the store for a bit since this game is going nowhere fast. I'll look back at your response later!

laura k said...

Tim, reno hasn't started yet. :( Just demolition, landlord getting estimates, shit like that. He's upgrading the basement bathroom, but who cares, we just want our house back!

The good news is this means I will be pushing for a temporary rent reduction when we sign our new lease.

Look, a hit!

nick said...

I've got to get going to. just ate dinner. I need to gather up for the radio tonight.

a hit! a hit!

allan said...

dusty brown is warming!!!!!!!!!!!

allan said...

yes, our third-string catcher is coming in to pitch!

Rob said...

NESN arrives a pitch late.

No one will notice.

allan said...

buffyvision has missed the first pitch of two innings.

allan said...

ruin the shutout pls

Rob said...

I love watching Roy Halladay pitch.

Rob said...

Just, you know. Not against the Red Sox.

allan said...

rarely seen water this clean.

Rob said...

Goodnight!

tim said...

Wow, that sucks about the reno. Hopefully landlord will have that done soon, I'd totally ask for a rent reduction since you only have access to 2/3 of the house...

A Conformer said...

He emailed me a shorter version earlier today. I see that he changed "the toilet" to "Yankee Stadium" in the final version.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!


Just changed it back. I started translating everything into layman's terms, then realised that if I really wanted people who weren't baseball fans to understand, I'd have to explain what "run", "strike" and "inning" means, so I just said fuck it, let's JoS it up. I'm guessing most, if not all, the people who'll read it are JoSers anyway. Most of my 'real life' friends (if I have any left after being away for 2.5 years...) don't even know I have a blog, I've mostly advertised to travel friends.

BTW, it's amazing how effective a tool booing is. No matter what you want me to do, if you boo me for not doing it, I'll do it.

allan said...

I really was kidding. Typing "Shakespeare" is one thing, saying you sat in the toilet might be another.

...

...

And why haven't you given me $2,000?

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

A Conformer said...

And why haven't you given me $2,000?

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!


Your cheque's in the mail. Your address is joyofsox@gmail.com, no?