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August 3, 2007 »

Francona on Gagne's debut

Sox manager Terry Francona on Eric Gagne's Red Sox debut: ``I envision him pitching a lot of innings of importance. I thought it was a good time for his first. This guy’s pitched a lot of games, but it was a nice way to get him in a Red Sox uniform, I thought. Once we got the lead and we got him up, he was pitching the ninth. We’re not going to get guys up and down and have three guys throwing because there’s deservedly a lot of trust in the way all of them pitch.’’

Posted by Carolyn Thornton  at 4:45 PM | Permalink

Sox take Mirabelli's baserunning snafu in stride

How did Doug Mirabelli’s teammates respond after his baserunning blunder cost Boston a run in the sixth when the score was still tied at 3-all?

Well, says manager Terry Francona, every time a fly ball was hit after that, Eric Hinske would offer some good-natured ribbing by yelling, "Tag!"

``I think we’re probably one of the few teams where when something like that happens, you don’t see a lot of tension in the dugout. I mean, we don’t want to make mistakes and that was an important part of the game. We were very hopeful we would overcome and win, like we did. At the time, you don’t know what’s going to happen. But I think teams show a lot of their colors in instances like that, and there wasn’t tension, where you could see that on some teams. . . . . We just continued to play the game and we were thrilled that he came through.’’

Posted by Carolyn Thornton  at 4:38 PM to Thornton | Permalink

Gagne's goggles

For those of you who aren't already aware of this, interesting point of fact about Boston's newest reliever Eric Gagne: He wears prescription goggles when he pitches because of a hockey injury.

Posted by Carolyn Thornton  at 3:51 PM to Thornton | Permalink

Photo: Mirabelli thrown out at home plate

AP photo / Elise Amendola

Doug Mirabelli has been both a hero and a goat today. He has three hits, including a home run, but he was also thrown out at home plate after badly botching a base-running play. With the bases loaded and one out, Mirabelli forgot to tag up on a deep fly ball by David Ortiz. After going most of the way down the line, Mirabelli returned to third, tagged up, but was thrown out at the plate by Baltimore right-fielder Nick Markakis.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:46 PM | Permalink

PawSox fall to Buffalo

Relief pitcher Edgar Martinez surrendered four runs in the final two innings as the Pawtucket Red Sox fell to the Buffalo Bisons, 7-3, today at McCoy Stadium.

Catcher Yamid Haad hit a two-run homer with one out in the eighth to break a 3-3 tie.

Earlier, PawSox starter David Pauley failed to hold a 3-1 lead, surrendering the tying runs before leaving in the sixth inning.

Ed Rogers had two hits, including a double, for Pawtucket, scoring a run and driving in another.

The PawSox fell to 51-58 on the season.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:34 PM | Permalink

Photo: Gabbard pitches in Texas debut

AP photo / Tony Dejak
Kason Gabbard pitches to the Indians' Casey Blake today at Jacobs Field in Cleveland.

Kason Gabbard made his Texas Rangers debut today, and he went five and two-thirds innings, giving up three earned runs while striking out four against the Cleveland Indians. Gabbard stands to get the loss unless Texas rallies; they are trailing 5-0 in the eighth inning.

The Red Sox traded Gabbard and two minor-leaguers earlier this week for Eric Gagne.

Click here to follow the Rangers-Indians game.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:31 PM | Permalink

Photo: In New York, Clemens booed off the mound

AP photo / Kathy Willens
Joe Torre takes the ball from Roger Clemens in the second inning today at Yankee Stadium.

Click here to follow the Yankees-White Sox game.

NEW YORK (AP) — Roger Clemens was booed off the mound Thursday after he allowed eight runs and nine hits in the second inning of the Yankees' game against the Chicago White Sox.

Only three of the runs were earned. Second baseman Robinson Cano mishandled Jerry Owens' grounder near the bag with one out, and Clemens threw out Darin Erstad at the plate on Alex Cintron's dribbler, but the next four batters all got hits off Clemens before manager Joe Torre replaced him.

It was the shortest outing for Clemens since June 2000, when he lasted just one inning against Boston. He hadn't allowed this many runs since a game in August 2003, when all nine runs he gave up were earned.

Making his last start before turning 45, Clemens pitched a perfect first inning before the White Sox got to him with a series of singles and doubles that eluded Yankees fielders. When Torre replaced him with left-hander Mike Myers, the fans at Yankee Stadium booed loudly, but the boos faded to polite applause by the time the Rocket had trudged to the dugout.

The Yankees trailed 8-0 when Clemens left, putting him in line for his sixth loss in 11 starts.

The Yanks are storming back, though, have already scored six runs and are still batting in the second.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:18 PM | Permalink

Hall of Famer Doerr feted at Fenway

Red Sox Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr, who was honored before today's game on the 60th anniversary of the first Bobby Doerr Day, made a grand entrance. He emerged from an opening in the center-field wall, riding around the warning track in a 1946 Ford.

Shortstop Johnny Pesky, outfielder Dom DiMaggio and pitcher Dave Ferriss - all three teammates with Doerr on Boston's 1947 club - participated in the pre-game ceremony with the nine-time American League All-Star, who batted .288 with 223 home runs and 1,247 RBI when he played from 1937-44 and then from 1946-51.

``I enjoy watching your little second baseman out there,'' Doerr, once a second baseman himself, said of the Sox' Dustin Pedroia in his remarks to the Fenway crowd. ``He's having a great year. I really enjoy watching him.''

The 89-year-old - who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986, into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995 and had his uniform No. 1 officially retired by the Sox on May 21, 1988 - says he watches every Red Sox game on television with his sister in Oregon.

Right before Doerr threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Sox pitcher Mike Timlin, team owners John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino presented Doerr him a hi-def TV.

``I just think Bobby – Mr. Doerr – is a very classy guy,'' said Sox manager Terry Francona. ``Our players looked excited. On a hot day, a day game after a night game, guys that weren’t playing were all out there watching. I thought that was really respectful and deserving.’’

Posted by Carolyn Thornton  at 1:50 PM to Thornton | Permalink

Injured trooper taking in today's game

Brendan Doyle, the R.I. State Trooper who continues to recover from severe head injuries that he suffered after being assaulted, is attending today's game with his brother, Patrick, as the guest of Red Sox senior adviser and Rhode Island native Jeremy Kapstein.

Posted by Carolyn Thornton  at 1:23 PM to Thornton | Permalink

Sox Streakers for August 2

Hot Streaks
-Manny Ramirez has 23 RBI since the All-Star break, tied for the most in the major leagues with Bobby Abreu of the Yankees.
-Dustin Pedroia is 21 for 58 (.362) in his last 13 games.
-For Baltimore: Jeremy Guthrie is 3-0 with a 1.89 E.R.A. in his last three starts.

Cold Streaks
-Mike Lowell is 1 for his last 11.
-Alex Cora is 1 for his last 17.

Weird Streaks
-Tim Wakefield (12-9) is one of just seven major league pitchers since 1980 to have a decision in each of his first 21 starts. The last Red Sox pitcher to do so was Tom Brewer in 1957.

Orioles vs. Tim Wakefield
-Kevin Millar, 8 for 16 (.500), 2 HR
-Chris Gomez, 14 for 40 (.350), 2 HR
-Ramon Hernandez, 11 for 32 (.344), 2 HR
-Miguel Tejada, 21 for 66 (.318), 5 HR
-Jay Gibbons, 10 for 35 (.286), 3 HR
-Brian Roberts, 5 for 34 (.147)
-Aubrey Huff, 6 for 45 (.133), 3 HR
-Jay Payton, 1 for 8 (.125)
-Nick Markakis, 1 for 9 (.111)
-Brandon Fahey, 0 for 4
-Corey Patterson, 0 for 9
-Wakefield is 13-13 with a 4.07 E.R.A. in 42 career appearances (29 starts) against Baltimore.

Red Sox vs. Jeremy Guthrie
-Alex Cora, 2 for 4 (.500)
-J.D. Drew, 1 for 3 (.333)
-David Ortiz, 1 for 3 (.333)
-Kevin Youkilis, 1 for 4 (.250)
-Mike Lowell, 0 for 1
-Wily Mo Pena, 0 for 1
-Coco Crisp, 0 for 3
-Eric Hinske, 0 for 3
-Manny Ramirez, 0 for 4
-Jason Varitek, 0 for 4
-Julio Lugo, 0 for 7
-Guthrie has faced the Red Sox twice, once in a starting situation; he has surrendered one earned run in 10.1 innings (0.87 E.R.A.) and has no decisions.

More Stuff
-All-time series: Boston 460, Baltimore 396. At Fenway Park: Boston 233, Baltimore 194.
-The Red Sox' 65-42 mark is their best record after 107 games since 1995, when they were 66-41.
-The Sox are now 8-38 when trailing after six innings, and 16-16 in one-run games.
-The Red Sox passed 2 million in attendance for the year last night. It's the earliest in franchise history that they have reached 2 million.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 12:54 PM to Projo Sox Streakers | Permalink

Clubhouse Confidential

*Originally, J.D. Drew was in today's lineup, but he was a last-minute scratch due to a personal matter. Red Sox manager Terry Francona said this morning he was hopeful Drew would be able to play today, but because his son is in the hospital he's out.

*Red Sox pitcher Mike Timlin, who has not pitched since last Monday in Cleveland due to a sore shoulder, is available to pitch, according to the manager. The veteran right-hander was actually warming up on Wednesday but did not pitch.

*Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo has been given today off. Francona said he wants to keep guys fresh and figured today was a good time to sit Lugo.

*Red Sox reliever Brendan Donnelly has driven out to Arizona and is expected to have Tommy John surgery at the end of next week.

*In a pregame ceremony, the Red Sox honored Hall-of-Famer Bobby Doerr. Today is the 60th anniversary of the first Bobby Doerr Day at Fenway Park. The former second baseman just got a hug from current second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

Doerr, 89, attended the Hall of Fame ceremonies over the weekend. He was inducted on May21, 1988. His No. 1 is retired by the Red Sox.

*Francona announced this morning that Curt Schilling's return to the rotation has changed. The veteran right-hander will now start Monday against the Angels in Anaheim. Josh Beckett will start on Sunday against the Mariners in Seattle.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 12:44 PM | Permalink

Projo SoxTalk with McAdam: Sports responds to tragedy

Sean McAdam is back for another edition of projo SoxTalk. Click here to listen to the audio file. Today's topics of conversation: a come-from-behind win for the Sox (at last); why we're likely to see Eric Gagne today; Dustin Pedroia's heady play; Pedroia and Lugo as a double-play combination; Julian Tavarez as a spot starter; and Minnesota's decision to play last night.

Here are some excerpts from Sean's comments:

On last night's win: "This team has had so few of those come-from-behind wins that they have to take some solace in the fact that they were able to do that. It does surprise you when a guy like Trachsel, who had an E.R.A. over 5, comes in and handcuffs them on one unearned run through six innings, but they to their credit were able to put something together late in the game and come back and win, which is something that has been a hallmark of this team in years past but not this year."

Gagne today: "Usually Terry Francona is a guy who doesn't want to wait too long to get a guy new to the team into action, so I would think in one way or another we would see Gagne if at all possible today."

Minnesota: "It's important I think to keep things in perspective and not ignore things that go on in the real world. These are -- even if they are played at the world's highest level by the world's greatest athletes -- these are merely athletic competitions, but sometimes they serve as a convenient diversion from what's going on in the so-called real world. I saw the Twins have already cancelled this evening's game. I think that they probably made the right call both times: playing on short notice last night because a lot of people had already arrived and it was probably a good thing to give people some time to work and try to save some people who had fallen from the bridge, and have that area closed off; and then today, as the work continues and the rescue continues, to not play the game and give everybody a day to kind of regroup."

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:24 AM | Permalink

Guthrie's Sightseeing Visit

Jeremy Guthrie is the starting pitcher for Baltimore this afternoon.

But about 2 1/2 hours before the first pitch, the Orioles' right-hander was wandering the streets around Fenway Park, walking into the Game On restaurant.

He was unrecognized as he sauntered into the restaurant, but if he were pitching for Boston the way he has for the Orioles, Guthrie would have been mobbed. Guthrie, a solid candidate for rookie-of-the-year honors, is 7-3 with a 2.89 earned-run average in 17 starts.

Included in Guthrie's outings was an appearance at Fenway on Mother's Day. Guthrie worked 8 1/3 scoreless innings and the Orioles had a 5-0 lead before he was surprisingly lifted by then-manager Sam Perlozzo, whereupon the Red Sox mounted their only stirring comeback of the season in winning the game, 6-5.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 10:43 AM | Permalink

Starting Lineup, Aug. 2

BOSTON

Pedroia 2b
Youkilis 1b
Ortiz dh
Ramirez lf
Drew rf
Lowell 3b
Crisp cf
Mirabelli c
Cora ss

Wakefield p

BALTIMORE

Roberts 2b
Patterson cf
Markakis rf
Millar 1b
Tejada ss
Huff 3b
Payton lf
Gibbons dh
Bako c

Guthrie p

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 10:41 AM | Permalink

Baseball Today: Thursday, August 2

Journal photo / Kris Craig

WHEW! For a while last night, it looked like the Red Sox were back to their old, bad tricks -- failing repeatedly to come up with a big hit off soft-throwing Steve Trachsel. Then came the uprising in the seventh inning (projo), puncuated by Kevin Youkilis' two-run double off tough sidearm right-hander Chad Bradford. Jonathan Papelbon had one of his more dominating efforts to cap the 5-4 victory.

DREW'S DILEMMA: J.D. Drew was once again not with the team (Boston Herald), staying with his 17-month-old son, who recently had extensive surgery. It is not known when Drew will return to the Red Sox.

GLAD TO BE HERE: Before the game, Eric Gagne explained why he was happy to waive his no-trade clause (projo) to come to the "best sports city in America." Gagne warmed in the bullpen in the ninth last night, but was never needed on the field. Depending on how this afternoon's matinee goes, this might be the day for Gagne's Red Sox debut.

NOT SO FAST: Gene Orza, the number-two official of the players union, made it sound like the Red Sox were likey to open the 2008 season in Tokyo. But baseball operations people with the club, and owner John Henry, are still not sold on the move (Boston Globe), with early-season player fatigue being atop their list of concerns.

BUCHHOLZ REPORT: Clay Buchholz struck out nine batters while giving up two runs in 6.1 innings last night at McCoy Stadium. He got a no-decision as the PawSox fell to Buffalo in extra innings (projo).

ALMOST EVERYONE'S IN ON THE ACT: Alex Rodriguez can't get any colder (0 for 21 since hitting his 499th home run), while one would hope that the Yankees offense can't get any hotter. A night after hitting eight home runs against the White Sox, the Yankees hit five more last night, including one by cult hero Shelley Duncan, to move within two games of the Cleveland Indians for the American League wild-card playoff spot.

UNHAPPY DAMON: One guy who wasn't happy (at least last night) about Duncan's hot streak: Johnny Damon. Unhappy about being left out of last night's lineup while Duncan was in it, Damon reportedly hinted to a reporter that the Yankees should consider trading him when Jason Giambi returns (N.Y. Daily News). Damon calmed down later on, after having a conversation with Joe Torre.

YES, IT'S FOR SALE: Fortune magazine reports that the YES Network is for sale, and wonders if the Yankees themselves might be next. But George Steinbrenner's son Hal says the answer is no.

ONE LAST LOOK: Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr, 89 years old, is making what he believes will be his last-ever trip to Fenway (Boston Globe). Doerr says the cross-country flight from Oregon is too much for his aching back.

COME ON OVER: David Ortiz, who never sounds too sad to no longer be with the Minnesota Twins, believes that Johan Santana will soon join the fraternity of former Twins (Boston Herald), and he fantasizes about Santana in the Red Sox rotation.

NOT A BOSTON GUY: Torii Hunter also appears to have one foot out of Minnesota. Hunter, who can become a free agent after this season, also told the St. Paul Pioneer Press he's "not a big Boston guy," saying he's heard racial slurs here ("It happened like a hundred times. It was terrible.") and, more importantly, he's afraid of the Green Monster: "I like to catch the ball and hit the wall. I catch the ball and hit the wall there, I die."

THE GAME GOES ON: The deadly collapse of a Minnesota freeway bridge happened minutes before the first pitch of last night's Twins-Royals game. Although some players did not want to play after seeing accounts of the tragedy, the game went on, and keeping the 24,880 fans in the Metrodome and off area roads was probably a very good thing (Minneapolis Star Tribune). Today's scheduled game has already been postponed.

NOT IN OUR HOUSE: No, there is no conspiracy to keep Barry Bonds from tying Hank Aaron's home-run record in Los Angeles, according to Paul Oberjuerge of the L.A. Daily News. "It's more like an unspoken but clearly understood corporate policy."

END OF STORY: The Chicago White Sox have finally decided to take Jose Contreras out of the rotation, at least for now (Chicago Sun-Times).

SORRY STATE: Interviewed by the Philadelphia Daily News before yesterday's Double-A game, new Phillies acquisition Julio Mateo said he deserves a second chance. Mateo, as we mentioned here yesterday, is facing charges of punching, choking and biting his wife in a Manhattan hotel room. He appeared not to deny that something happened, but said he is working to improve his behavior.

GRAND ENTRANCE: Mark Teixeira hit a three-run home run in his Braves debut (Atlanta Journal-Constitution), as Atlanta routed the Houston Astros.

DEFICIT ERASED: The Chicago Cubs have completely erased an eight-and-a-half game deficit (Chicago Sun-Times) and now share first place in the National League Central with the fading Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs beat the Phillies last night on a walk-off wild pitch.

HOW THE SHORTSTOPS STACK UP: Justin Zeth, on the athomeplate blog, gives some statistical support for Barry Larkin's Hall of Fame candidacy, and throws cold water on Omar Vizquel's.

IRONIC, PERHAPS? Pitcher Matt Morris popped off to reporters about the Giants, just a day after being traded to the Pirates. He said that the Giants had learned to accept losing (San Francisco Chronicle). Mr. Morris, welcome to Pittsburgh.

TICKETS HERE: That's the attitude of major league baseball, which long frowned on ticket scalping, but now has an agreement with the Web site StubHub to direct fans who need tickets to the secondary marketplace's Web site. The New York Times reports on baseball's embrace of ticket reselling.

FUNNY STUFF: And finally this, from The Onion: "Craig Biggio blames media pressure for stalling at 285 hit-by-pitches."

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 9:08 AM to Projo Sox Crawl | Permalink