Down the stretch they come (AL), 2013

[Edgy MD]

Red Sox, stunningly, are up 18-4 on Detroit.

Detroit's a great team, but if you can exploit their defense or get into their bullpen, they can be beat, or, if you're the Red Sox, CLOBBERED.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Sox need to keep it up coming to MFYs for a 4-gamer starting tonite.

That we'll be trying hard to beat Cleveland works against my MFY Hating, so we ought to be rooters for Tampa (In Anaheim) and Baltimore (hosting the White Sox) in the meantime.

[Edgy MD]

"Mets get a day off in Cleveland." Can't imagine that sentence has been typed a lot before this week.

Rooting for Tampa, Boston, and Baltimore will be no problem ---- feels familiar.

Hopefully opening up the taps on Detroit not only ups the Boston morale, but allows them to rest their best bats and bullpen arms and come at the Yankees fresh.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Red Sox, stunningly, are up 18-4 on Detroit. Detroit's a great team, but if you can exploit their defense or get into their bullpen, they can be beat, or, if you're the Red Sox, CLOBBERED.

I'm confused. Is it Wednesday again?

[Edgy MD]

Or I got a second-hand report and misrepresented it.

[Edgy MD]

Today's actual Red Sox taking on the Gothams and up 2-0. Ivan Nova takes 82 pitches to get through three innings.

[Edgy MD]

This guy calling the game for Boston is great. He sounds like somebody you meet in a deli arguing about how to make potato salad.

[Edgy MD]

Big whiff of Ichiro with two in scoring position and the Sawx get out of it. Victorino leads off the next inning and homers to put the Bostons up 4-2.

Best radio commercial: "Baseball's getting into the swing again here in Boston. And you know what that means --- stocking up on your favorite Little Debbie snack cakes!"

"Getting into the swing"? It's September.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

MFYs also have a Little Debbie snack-cake radio spot. "They lead the league in taste!" or some shit.

[Edgy MD]

Sawx go up 5-2 and have the bags juiced as they chase Nova.

[Frayed Knot]

The Sawx could totally break the game wide open right here (but Stephen Drew Ks).
The game is just over two hours in and it's already the top of the 5th!!. In the old days, the results of this one would already be certain to miss the morning editions of your local paper.

And now Girardi signals for his 17th pitcher of the game so far.

[Edgy MD]

Girardi totally managing like his season/job is riding on this game.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Jesus Christ.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Well, sure the MFYs had a 6-run 7th to take the lead,.

Then with 2 out, 0 on in the 9th, the Sawx rally vs. MarianLOL (single, SB, error, single) and tie it at 8-8.

[Frayed Knot]

BoSox break out their secret weapon in the 10th inning ... Joba.
9-8 Sox, Boston still batting, 1-on/1-out

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Joba taken out of the game, then ejected for arguing a strike call.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Put it in the books. Red Sox blow a 5-run lead but still win in 10.

[Gwreck]

With losses by Oakland, Tampa, and the MFYs, the Kansas City Royals pick up a game on everyone.

They now have 12 games in a row against Detroit and Cleveland, sitting just 4.5 out of a wild card spot. It's only been 28 years since their last playoff appearance.

[Frayed Knot]

The only other 'winner' last night in the AL pennant/WC race was the Orioles by virtue of it being their turn to beat up on the ChiSox.
By winning they picked up a half-game on idle Cleveland and a full game on Oakland, Yanx, & Tampa


The best part of the Yanx/Sawx last night (I was in and out of the game so only saw part of it) may have been Soriano walking w/one out in the 9th right after Mariano's blown save. So, sitting on 1st as the winning run, he promptly gets picked off ... except that Boston messes up the play giving him a free pass to 2nd.
And now that he's been given a reprieve and is sitting in scoring position with one out ... he just as quickly gets picked off of 2nd!! - and this time the Sox infield did not mess it up (although they tried).
He may lead MLB in RBIs since being traded to the Yanx (that's right, more than Miggy) but he's still a dumb-ass.


Final time of the game: 4:32

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

LOL MFYs. To hear Francessa's opening monologue today was to vomit projectilley.

How many times has it come down to a Big Game fuh ANDY Pettitte, be in Bawston, be it... whoevah, whetha it's Octobah or July, Big Spot...

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

MFYs clobbered for the 3rd straight game, Jeter leaves with injury ( I think). Meantime the O's rally for 2 in the bottom of the 10th to beat the White Sox.

[Frayed Knot]

After all the games the Yanx snuck away with earlier in the season while they were hardly scoring anything, it's nice to see them lose three straight despite putting up 8, 8, and 9 runs (still 8 games over .500 with a negative-2 RS/RA differential).
Mike Napoli hit like 7 more HRs today, plus I think his beard grew at least another half foot.

One more between these two teams tomorrow night (and can you believe it's the ESPN game?!?!) and then another series next weekend in Fenway.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Frayed Knot wrote: After all the games the Yanx snuck away with earlier in the season while they were hardly scoring anything, it's nice to see them lose three straight despite putting up 8, 8, and 9 runs (still 8 games over .500 with a negative-2 RS/RA differential). Mike Napoli hit like 7 more HRs today, plus I think his beard grew at least another half foot. One more between these two teams tomorrow night (and can you believe it's the ESPN game?!?!) and then another series next weekend in Fenway.

My schedule says this is an afternoon game.

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: After all the games the Yanx snuck away with earlier in the season while they were hardly scoring anything, it's nice to see them lose three straight despite putting up 8, 8, and 9 runs (still 8 games over .500 with a negative-2 RS/RA differential). Mike Napoli hit like 7 more HRs today, plus I think his beard grew at least another half foot. One more between these two teams tomorrow night (and can you believe it's the ESPN game?!?!) and then another series next weekend in Fenway. My schedule says this is an afternoon game.

well yeah, this way they're going against the NE, Buffalo and Jets games, and not the Giants.

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, my bad on the game time.
Yanx/BoSox was yesterday's FOX GotW, will be next Saturday's FOX GotW, and will be next Sunday's ESPN GotW, but they are allowing the nation to see the Dodgers & Reds tonight.

[Frayed Knot]

- Nice of Tampa to win an actual game on Sunday - their 5th over the last 15 games.

- Oakland has taken over the West so currently it's Texas & Tampa sitting in the WC spots.
Cleveland and Baltimore are 2 & 5 games behind those teams; the Yanx another half-game back, and the Royals a game behind that.

- I've pointed out the Yanx rather easy sked through the end but Cleveland might have it even better: KC - ChiW (4) - KC - HOU (4) - ChiW (2) - MINN (4)

- Yans get the Orioles starting tonight.
Rays & Red Sox starting tomorrow, but the Sox have built up enough of a lead where they can take a hit here.
A's are at Twins while the Rangers host the Pirates.

[Gwreck]

The Royals played Detroit this weekend and got shellacked, 16-2 on Friday; but won on both Saturday and Sunday. The series they start in Cleveland tonight is huge for them.

[G-Fafif]

Frayed Knot wrote: while the Rangers host the Pirates.

I keep trying to rationalize the scheduling of stray Interleague series in September is no different from some random matchup between AFC and NFC teams in December, but I'm not quite buying. PIT at TEX is just weird on September 9, and will be for years to come.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Best radio commercial: "Baseball's getting into the swing again here in Boston. And you know what that means --- stocking up on your favorite Little Debbie snack cakes!" "Getting into the swing"? It's September.

My son's been critical of the untimeliness of that commercial since about June.

[HahnSolo]

I thought the best snack for watching baseball were Wise potato chips.