Papi Is As Papi Does: Halos-Sox Gamer X

What a jack by Ortiz yesterday.  Inspiring stuff from the big man, who is 5-14 in the series with 8 ribs and 2 dingers.  The matchup of the teams with the best records in the American leauge continues with Julian Tavarez facing Joe Saunders.  Personally, I'm hoping for a hard-faught, exciting, exhausting battle that wears out the Halos before they head home to face the Yankees tomorrow.  Comment away.

LA Angels
C. Figgins 3b	.338
O. Cabrera ss	.311
V. Guerrero rf	.324
G. Anderson lf	.271
G. Matthews Jr. cf	.267
C. Kotchman 1b	.305
M. Izturis dh	.258
R. Budde c	.143
E. Aybar 2b	.241
J. Saunders	3.50
Boston
D. Pedroia 2b	.324
K. Youkilis 1b	.293
D. Ortiz dh	.314
M. Ramirez lf	.292
M. Lowell 3b	.311
B. Kielty rf	.200
C. Crisp cf	.273
J. Lugo ss	.241
K. Cash c	.000
J. Tavarez	5.12

Comments

[Dionysus]

Personally, I'm hoping for a quick quiet batter 8-5 or somethign like that in favor of the Sox.

I'm EXPECTING the score to be 53 to 4 in favor of the Angels. Tavarez gives up 50 runs in the first 4 innings and then Gagne comes in and gives up 3 more jsut to keep up appearances.

[Dionysus]

Hey look... the first batter of the game gets a single off of JT. Who's surprised? *vomit*

[Dionysus]

Now a walk. A runner in scorign position already? Luck Angel fans.

[Dionysus]

aaand a single by vladdy puts a run in. Still no outs. Isnt this *fun*?

I swear to GOD if JT is on this team next year I will kill something

[TJ]

It could be worse we could be paying Pedro $15 million to sit on the disables list all year :p

[Dionysus]

Finally an out, but a run scores. 2-0 Angles alreayd. Thats it.. Im gonna go play video games

[Ayuh - SF]

Good point, TJ.

Great catch by Kielty in right to save Julian's ass. He's gotta help out the announcers there, though- Orsillo had no idea if it had been caught or not.

[Dionysus]

At keast Petey was Petey. I mean... I think he's help the team mro eon the DL than JT does on the roster

[Dionysus]

Sox expect to lose this game too I guess.. both Keilty and Cash arein the game

[TJ]

i think Pesky would help the team more then tavarez

[Ayuh - SF]

Is JD Drew constitutionally unable to play more than 2 days in a row? The man takes more time off than GW Bush.

[TJ]

I dunno, Bush usually takes all of August off.

[Dionysus]

How about that.. a 1-2-3 inning for JT

[Ayuh - SF]

I just wish I knew what JD's thought process is. "OK, I'm getting settled in, I'm swinging the bat better, no injuries... better ask Skip for a day off"

[Dionysus]

I dont think Drew is askign fo rthem. I beleive this is in the red Sox player managemnt philosophy.. giving guys regular days off. Youk, Pedroia, Drew, Coco, Lugo, Lowell.

Manny and Ortiz less so.

Frankly its soemthing Im not sure I agree with. You dont see the Yankees giving ARod or Jeter a day off every few days.. and they produce for them. Players want to play and teams need there best on that field

[Dionysus]

Onme on, one out for Keilty. Come on.. show me why I shouldnt be furious you're playign instead of Jacoby

[Ayuh - SF]

I agree with you there, Dio. It just seems to me that Drew has way more than his share of days off.

[Dionysus]

Well... there ya go. Now.. Coco.

[Dionysus]

Damn you, Coco.

[Dionysus]

God, now its up to Lugo and freakin Cash.

I'm gonan vomit.

[Dionysus]

Im now giving up on this game in favor of watchign Firefly

[Atheose]

Hey guys, sorry I've been gone. Was out of town for the last two days. Glad to see we won last night despite Schill's poor effort.

What's up with Cabrera thinking Tavarez intentionally threw at him? If we wanted to intentionally throw at an Angel, Cabrera would be last on that list and he knows it.

[Atheose]

Wow, I just saw the highlight reel of all the great plays made in the first 2 innings. Good stuff, especially from Kielty.

Remember how Cabrera sucked all year in 2004, and then suddenly came alive in the playoffs? Maybe Kielty can be that guy for us this year.

[Atheose]

Pedroia should have his own highlight reel for this game. He's a vacuum at 2nd.

[Dionysus]

Runs. Now. Please.

[pale blue eyes]

1-2-3 inning for Tavarez in the 5th. Actually a pretty decent outing so far. If only our offense wasn't so inconsistent.

Well, maybe they can pounce on K-Rod later. That'd be sweet.

[TJ]

Pena homered for Washington

[Dionysus]

Maybe he's just meant for the NL, TJ.

[Dionysus]

Man.. Cna we just get soem runs? Please? I'll give up my first born for a Win

[pale blue eyes]

Youk strikes out again. What a disappointing second half he's having.

[Dionysus]

Screw you Youk. Just.. go to hell.

[pale blue eyes]

Another 1-2-3! Tavarez has now retired 11 in a row!!

Some runs would be nice ...

[Dionysus]

Lets give JT a win guys. He deserves it. You deserve it. The fans deserve it.

[Atheose]

I love Tavarez. Never complains, is willing to start on 45-minutes of notice, and bounces/rolls balls to first. I know his ERA is over 5 but I want this guy on my team in the postseason.

It's unusual, however, that he struggled early and THEN dominated. Usually Julie dominates early and then gets hit the 2nd and 3rd time batters face him.

[Rob]

This is definately a suck-fest today.

[Dionysus]

Ppai singles.. but Manny makes an out of some sort. Just please dont let it be a DP>

[Rob]

Manny flied out to right on the 2nd pitch.

[Dionysus]

AH.. gameday lagged. Itss all caugh tup now.

We can't do ANYTHING today.

[pale blue eyes]

Snyder almost gets out of a jam, then gives away a run with a wild pitch. 3-0 Angels. How many frustrating games of this kind have we had this season. Whatever the number is, it must be a record for a first place team.

[Hudson]

Lugo bunt single, one out, Cash Ks.

[Hudson]

Lugo caught on the basepaths. 3 out. Jesus.

[pale blue eyes]

Lugo bunts himself on, only to later get himself picked off for the final out. It is indeed that kind of game.

[Atheose]

I wonder if Saunders is coming out for the 8th. Hopefully not--he's had everyone but Kielty fooled all day.

Also, I miss Kielty's hair. It's not the same when it's short.

[Atheose]

Gagne is up. Sigh.

Sweet Caroline had better give us some mojo.

[pale blue eyes]

Gagne sighting reported by Joe Castiglione! He (Gagne, not Joe C.) is warming up!

[Hudson]

Papi singles.

The Sox have actually had more baserunners than the Angels today, yet are down 3-0.

[Atheose]

Ortiz singles through the shift.

Manny is up, and Shields is coming out to face him. PLEASE do something Manny, you need to stop bringing the suck.

[pale blue eyes]

Saunders out after Papi gets on. I guess we have to give Saunders some credit for a great performance. But we've actually outhit the Angels 6 to 4, but nothing to show for it so far.

Come on, Manny!

[Hudson]

New York is up 9-3 late in the game. Boston looks to be headed back to that 4-game lead.

[pale blue eyes]

Will we really see Gagne if they rally this inning?

[pale blue eyes]

Manny walks on four pitches. It's up to Lowell now.

[Hudson]

Manny walks on four pitches.

Lowell represents the tying run at the plate. As if.

[Atheose]

Manny walks on 4 balls, and then Lowell gets behind in the count before crushing a ball off the monster. Papi scores, Manny to 2nd.

Amazing piece of hitting, considering the shadows and all.

[pale blue eyes]

Mikey singles, Red Sox on the board.

[Hudson]

Lowell singles. The drought is over. 3-1 Angels, runners at 1st and 2nd, two out.

Seems like there have been a lot of games lately where the Sox don't score (or barely score) for the first 6-7 innings. That sure gets tiring

[Atheose]

Why the hell is Drew pinch-hitting for Kielty? I know Kielty has better numbers against lefties, but he's had a great game and has built his confidence up.

[Hudson]

Kielty is 2 for 3 on the day, but they bring in Drew... Kietly is a switch-hitter, so I don't get it.

[pale blue eyes]

J.D. strikes out, predictably, I am tempted to say.

[Hudson]

And JD Ks. Rally dead. Nice move, Francona. What the heck?

[Hudson]

New York won.

[Hudson]

Gagne coughing up the leadoff single. Here we go.

[Atheose]

Oh god, Gagne gives up a lead-off single. He probably has less confidence than a 10-year-old parapalegic pitching to A-Rod.

[Atheose]

Who wants to bet Gagne throws a fastball here at the 3-2 count?

[pale blue eyes]

I believe Gagne has still not had an inning without allowing a baserunner since coming over. Mindboggling.

[Atheose]

Sweet jesus Gagne got someone to swing at his changeup! GMJr strikes out.

A ball bounces badly for Pedroia, and he bobbles it. 1st and 2nd, 1 out.

[Hudson]

Gagne Ks Matthews. Small miracle, that.

But Kotchman brings things back to down to earth with an infield single. 1st and 2nd, one out.

[Atheose]

Sidenote: Cash hasn't been framing the ball pretty well.

[Atheose]

Gagne is throwing his change-up for a strike. Thank you jesus.

Izturis strikes out on a GORGEOUS change-up that floats through the zone. Dare we hope for no-damage inning from him?

[Hudson]

Izturis Ks. Gagne with no wiggle room.

[Atheose]

And now the ump is squeezing him. Sigh.

Settle down, Gagne. We all want you to do well.

[Atheose]

3rd K! Gagne strikes out the side. Could this be the beginning of the Gagne-not-sucking Era?

[Atheose]

Coco K's looking. 5 straight strikeouts in this game.

Start us off Lugo. And please, PLEASE can we see Varitek pinch-hit?

[pale blue eyes]

Small sample size, Atheose, but hopefully maybe yes.

[Atheose]

6-straight K's. Come on 'Tek. Please don't make us have to watch K-Rod fist-pump anymore.

[Atheose]

Tek flies out to left softly, and K-Rod does his bullshit "point-to-the-sky" shit 3 times in the space of 15 seconds.

[stuck working]

sigh.

[Hudson]

Argh. 4-game lead now. It's frustrating, knowing that the Sox had opportunities to sweep this series or at least come away with 3 of 4.

[Hudson]

You know, I'm looking forward to the Sox getting a chance to give K-Rod his comeuppance during the postseason.

[Hudson]

Gotta add, about this pointing to the sky business: If ballplayers thank some higher power when they do well, what do think think happenend when they fail miserably? Shouldn't they be pointing to the ground and stomping on it to express their frustration with "the devil" or something?

[yankeemonkey]

The pointing to the sky business really irks me. Do they really think the "higher power" has nothing better to do than help K-Rod strike out Coco Crisp? Bleh.

[dknyc]

Doesn't Papi point to the sky after every homer?

[AndrewYF]

Yeah but Papi's got religion.

[AndrewYF]

And, I forgot to mention, 12 pork chops a night.

[JS]

Guys,

Have you ever seen a first place team chasing a second place team? I've seen it twice -- 1978 and 2007....I LOVE YOUR FRUSTRATION!

[Devine]

Eff you.

[Nick-YF]

Devine has a long memory!

[Devine]

Or is just incredibly petty, but I like your version better, Nick.

[Devine]

Actually, I'm just reading over game threads. Sad? Nah, I think I just miss baseball.

[Nick-YF]

Devine, now that is longing for baseball season. I know what you mean. Last week I passed by Yankee Stadium (by the way, the new stadium is suddenly taking shape) and thought this is taking too long.

[Paul SF]

I finished watching my box set of the 2007 World Series last night.

Next stop: the 1999 All-Star game I have recorded on video. It's a routine every offseason -- highlights from the '04 box set, '99 All-Star Game, cheesy Red Sox home run heroes video from the mid '90s, repeat until spring training...

[Paul SF]

Incidentally, Hudson nailed this one:

You know, I'm looking forward to the Sox getting a chance to give K-Rod his comeuppance during the postseason.

They sure did, too. :-D

[Devine]

Nick...yes, it is taking too long! New stadium: does it look cool?

Paul...yep, I've basically tried to re-live last year as many ways as possible (watch highlights from all the wins, read tons of game threads from various places). And previous years, too.

Hudson totally deserves kudos. On some thread or other in August or September, I mentioned how regular season goats could become postseason heroes RE: JD Drew...that worked out nicely.