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August 23, 2007
STRANDED: Hitting with runners in scoring position isn't exactly a little thing, but you don't need to succeed at it too often to score enough runs to win a game. Problem for the Red Sox last night was, they failed in almost every RISP position they had last night -- and the one they succeeded at, a single by J.D. Drew with a runner at second base, didn't even drive home a run -- and that 1-for-10 performance led to 14 men left on base and a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Devil Rays, which made a tough-luck loser out of Daisuke Matsuzaka (above, AP Photo). Steven Krasner breaks it down in detail (projo.com), and notes that Jason Varitek had a particularly bad night. Varitek not only went for 0-for-5, but in each of his last four at-bats he came to the plate with runners at first and second and two outs . . . and came up empty every time. The final one, with two outs in the ninth, ended the game.
WHAT A WASTE: Baseball Musing's David Pinto takes a closer look at the Red Sox' offensive inefficiency last night.
AND WHO'S BEEN THE BIGGEST WASTE? Seth Mnookin says Kevin Youkilis has been every bit as bad offensively in the second half of the season as Julio Lugo was in the first, but no one knows it because Youk's seasonal numbers are still good thanks to his superlative first three months. (sethmnookin.com)
'A BLIND SQUIRREL FINDS A NUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE': That was B.J. Upton's explanation of the two-run homer in the sixth inning that made a loser of Matsuzaka. (Tampa Tribune) The Sox are 9-3 against the Rays this year and Matsuzaka has all three losses.
SIGN OF THINGS TO COME: Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports the Rays think they're close to being a good team and nights like last night show that the future may not be that far off in the distance.
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? Curt Schilling takes to 38pitches.com on an off-day to clarify his comments about playing in Tampa Bay.
IT WAS A PAINFUL NIGHT . . . in more ways than one. Krasner's journal chronicles injuries suffered by Dustin Pedroia (hit in the left elbow by a pitch) and Eric Hinske (strained calf), the long-term effects of which remain to be seen. Check back here later today, when Sean McAdam will update the blog pregame from Chicago.
. . . ALL THE WAY AROUND: In his return to the minor leagues after his successful one-day stint with the Red Sox, Clay Buchholz was less than dazzling in the PawSox' loss to Buffalo. (projo.com)
AND THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMIN': The Yankees got back to five games behind with an 8-2 win at Anaheim -- yes, I know they're officially called the gobbledegook Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but the stadium's in Anaheim so that's where they were -- powered by the pitching of Andy Pettitte. (New York Daily News) The victory also enabled Joe Torre to move past Casey Stengel into second place on the Yankees' list of managerial victories. (LoHud Yankees Blog)
DON'T ASK ME WHY: The Angels have no idea why they've been so successful against the Yankees over the years, but they're not going to start questioning it. (Los Angeles Daily News) The New York Sun's Steven Goldman looks at it analytically and has no real answers, either.
NO MORE MOOSE? Mike Mussina's recent struggles have been titanic, leading to questions about his future. (New York Daily News)
A TRUE YANKEE: Salon.com reports on a New York Times story that Rudy Guiliani spent more time with the Yankees than he did at Ground Zero in the aftermath of 9/11.
SEEING THE LIGHT: Don Zimmer says his daughter, Donna Mollica, and granddaughter, Whitney Mollica, both live in Windham, N.H., and ''had to be Yankee fans because I was a coach'' in New York from 1996-2003. But when he left the Yanks, they switched to rooting for the Red Sox. (Boston Herald)
ONE FOR THE BOOKS: The Rangers set a record for most runs in a game in the modern era, as well as the largest margin of victory in the modern era, with a 30-3 victory over the Orioles at Camden Yards. The Dallas Morning News provides the winners' perspective, while the Baltimore Sun gives us the losers' eye view. The blog Soccer Dad looks at some other historic Oriole blowouts.
BAD TIMING: The funny things is, it happened on the same day the Orioles extended the contract of Dave Trembley (Baltimore Sun). Purely coincidentally -- it was written before the game -- the Sun's Rick Maese wonders if the decision to retain Trembley will look so good at season's end.
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS: Jair Jurrjens provided the Tigers with a boost Tuesday night, but Jason Verlander couldn't maintain that momentum last night. As a result, the Indians still hold the A.L. Central lead. (Both stories, Detroit Free Press)
FRUSTRATION'S BUILDING . . . in the Atlanta clubhouse, where the Braves can feel the N.L. East slipping away. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
GIVE IT UP: Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press says the Twins should succumb to the obvious and pull the plug on 2007.
BUYERS' REMORSE: Writing on FoxSports.com, Tracy Ringolsby says the Cubs may live to regret the contract they gave Carlos Zambrano.
MURDER IN HIS HEART: The blog Fanhouse is slightly incredulous as it relates the story that Rick Sutcliffe wanted to kill Reggie Jackson.
EAT ALL YOU WANT! The Rangers are offering an all-you-can-eat ticket option for $29, hoping it will help sell some of their cheaper and less attractive seats. (Dallas Morning News) Other teams, including the Dodgers, have had success with similar programs.
LOCAL BOYS: The endless rehab of Rocco Baldelli continues tonight at Vero Beach, where he's scheduled to play three or four innings in center field. (St. Petersburg Times)
QUICKLY: Kenny Rogers says he'll only play for Detroit if he plays in 2008; otherwise, he'll retire (Detroit News) . . . The White Sox may be targeting Twins center fielder Torri Hunter as a free-agent priority (Chicago Tribune) . . . Cole Hamels doesn't think his elbow injury is all that bad (Philadelphia Inquirer) . . . The Brewers are sending Chris Capuano to the bullpen (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) . . . Gary Sheffield has a bad shoulder and will probably miss the Tigers' series with the Yankees this weekend (Detroit News) . . . The Angels' Chone Figgins is day-to-day with a bad wrist (Riverside Press-Enterprise).
OLD FRIENDS: Edgar Renteria's comeback last night lasted for only one pitch, as he reinjured his ankle and may have to go back on the DL (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) . . . Wily Mo Pena's arrival in Washington may mean less playing time for Ryan Church (Washington Post).
-- ART MARTONE
Posted by Art Martone 
at 7:27 AM | Permalink
