Toothless Tigger? Tigers-Sox Gamer II

We're a bit late on this game thread.. sorry about that. We're in the top of two with no score at Fenway, Jon Lester on the mound for the Sox, the ought-and-seven Tigers have Jeremy Bonderman on the bump.

Comment away..

Detroit
I. Rodriguez c
P. Polanco 2b
G. Sheffield dh
M. Ordonez rf
M. Cabrera 3b
C. Guillen 1b
E. Renteria ss
M. Thames lf
B. Inge cf

Boston
D. Pedroia 2b
K. Youkilis 1b
D. Ortiz dh1
M. Ramirez lf
M. Lowell 3b
J.D. Drew rf
J. Varitek c
J. Ellsbury cf
J. Lugo ss

Comments

[SF]

Thanks, Gerb.

Extra Innings is annoying - Time Warner gets the NESN HD feed but in standard def, so the image is actually shrunk and missing a bunch of info at the bottom of the screen.

Lester thru two, no damage from Les Tigres.

[SF]

Manny's hair is looking KRAZEE.

[yankeemonkey]

This is hilarious:

http://tinyurl.com/4z6hvk

[SF]

Manny whiffs backwards-style on a tough outside corner pitch. NESN's "Pitch Zone" shows it to be off the plate but it looked really good from the couch.

Lowell yanked for Sean Casey, Youk to third. Casey singles instantly, but damn, if Lowell is hurt that won't be a good thing.

[SF]

Nice eye from JD to run the count to 3-0.

[attackgerbil]

Manny was certainly not happy about that call; almost seemed to get a little heated. That's a tough pitch to argue about.

[SF]

...and a walk for JD. 1/2, one down.

[SF]

Tek on board on the errah, Jacoby at the dish with the sacks full.

[attackgerbil]

Polanco butchers that DP ball.. everybody safe. So go the Tigers this year.

[SF]

Agreed, Gerb, Manny can't expect that call - it was a good pitch inches off the plate, if that.

[attackgerbil]

Bonderman scores the first run for the Sox. Good discipline by Ellsbury.

[SF]

Ellsbury works a nice walk, 1-0 Sox.

[SF]

Lugo slaps a high pitch to right, 2-0 Sox and the bases still plugged. Bad, high curveball from Bonderman.

[attackgerbil]

Lugo down two strikes quickly then strokes a single to the opposite field to plate another run.

[attackgerbil]

SF: yeah, Bonderman had him badly on the first pitch then got him way in front on the foul. That third one was fat and Lugo did a great job with it.

[attackgerbil]

I wanna redo my picks.

[attackgerbil]

Wow, that DP on DP looked really close in real time. I want to see a replay. The ball wasn't hit that hard.

[SF]

Pedroia down 1-2 to Bonderman, the fourth pitch is a tailor made DP ball to short, the Sox once again do not quite enough with a bases-loaded situation, a theme of the season. Still, the lead is theirs.

[yankeemonkey]

I'm so conflicted...I don't want Sox to win, yet I'd love it if Tigers went to 0-8. If only because of Steve Phillips.

Yes, I'm petty.

[SF]

re: Picks. These Tigers have already exposed me and my lack of knowledge. I too want a re-do.

Pedroia didn't argue the call, Gerb, so I think that indicates the ump got it right.Tito had some words with the ump about the call, though. Replays show it to be...NESN doesn't show a replay. WTF?

[attackgerbil]

Tito is out to talk about it; he thought it was close.

Lowell is out at third after tweaking his wrist stabbing a ground ball to his weak side. Youk moves over, Casey at first.

[yankeemonkey]

I'm getting a lovely still shot of Shea on SNY instead of the Mets game. Got sound, ain't got live view. Weird...

[SF]

I have a feeling the ump got it right, Gerb. No replay from NESN (they'd have shown it if it was wrong, right?) and no argument from Danny Ainge Pedroia.

[attackgerbil]

SF: maybe.. I still really want to see a replay. That ball was not hit hard and Dustin flies. Looked close to me. Youk gets action on the first struck ball.

[SF]

WTF was wrong with that 2-0 pitch?!

[SF]

Jeez, Lester just got squeezed on two in a row. The 2-0 pitch looked even better than the one that got Manny, frankly, and Pudge play-acted the 3-0 pitch into a walk. Bad umpiring.

[SF]

"Dustin flies"

Seriously? He's not fast.

[attackgerbil]

Polanco wants a do-over. He's up after Pudge walk and takes a looping curve for a strike. Jim Leyland paces the dugout like a caged cat who would kill a zookeeper for a chance to smoke a nail.

[Dionysus]

Back form dinner. How'd we score the two runs?

[SF]

Odd play - Pedroia traps a ball, transfers to Lugo who can't hold the ball on the relay to first, but retrieves it and tags the bag for a force.

Wild pitch advances Polanco to second. Two down.

[attackgerbil]

Pedroia isn't lightning, but not slow.

Now the Sox are playing like the ball has grease on it.

[Dionysus]

I see. Please say Lowell's ok

[SF]

Dio:

Manny whiffs, then a single by Casey, a walk by Drew, Tek loads them on a Polanco error on a DP ball, Ellsbury walks, Lugo singles, Pedroia GIDPS to end the inning.

[attackgerbil]

> How'd we score the two runs?

Polanco error, Bonderman suckage.

[SF]

Time for my dinner. House diet means fish and beans. Sounds worse than it is (lemon sole...mmmm), but still not quite Fenway Franks, peanuts, a pretzel, and a beer.

Back in a bit.

[attackgerbil]

Sheff _just misses_ sending one out, but is a bit underneath and the inning is over. His swing is so violent that even harmless pop-ups will put your eye out if you look too closely.

[Dionysus]

I cant figure otu where (what play) Lowell was hurt. Maybe there's a family emergency (thatd be actually worse tahn an injury if it was a level that needed to interrupt a game). He'ss been so cold, we can deal with losing him for a couple games, but no DL stint.

[LocklandSF]

Lowell sprained thumb per Don and Remy, day to day.

[attackgerbil]

I'm out to have dinner as well. Braised short ribs, green beans and rice.

[Dionysus]

We are informed! Lowell sprained his thumb. No DL, please.

[TJ]

does anyone else find Dale Arnold to be real annoying?

[SF]

Lowell hurt his thumb on the first play of the game, a sliding grab of a ground ball down the line.

(Fish ain't done yet)

[LocklandSF]

Jesus Dio, you need to take a deep breath.

[SF]

Braised short ribs on a school night? How do you manage that? That's a three hour job...

I am so jealous, Gerb, BSR are my personal specialty.

[Dionysus]

I am a panicky SOB, Lockland. ;-)

[sf rod]

good luck with your game tonite ag. IPK's on my fantasy team so it's kinda a no loose situation for me. if he gets shelled, great, if he throws a no hitter, great. i guess theres some other things that could happen but oh well.

[SF]

Papi's Excellent Adventure of Craptasticness continues, popping to second with Youk at first. Ortiz looks AWFUL this year.

[Micah-SF]

Sprained thumb? Let's hope it's not more than that, I do NOT like the idea of Lowell down for any extended period of time.

Also, I was not aware it was possible to walk Pudge. I guess you learn new things every day. At least they can't actually hit Lester when they do swing.

[Dionysus]

They tried the hit and run again. Thank god Papi didn't K this time. Still he may not have swung had the infernally bad HandR been on

[SF]

Manny rips an April can-of-corn to center. In August that ball might be a wall-scraper. Two down.

[SF]

Sean Casey in the house! Doble down the line and Youk is held at third, somewhat questionably. That would have been a good time to challenge, I think. It would have been close - that's very conservative. Still, JD up at the plate so perhaps not a bad call.

[SF]

Or, perhaps, a bad call. Two more left in SP. Boo!

[Micah-SF]

SQUANDER CITY.

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

[Dionysus]

Lugo makes it exciting, but Ump says they got him.

Bad call, Magglio beat the throw.

[Dionysus]

3 straight balls to Cabrera. Ugh. Lester still has some control work to do.

[Dionysus]

Walked him. Dammit. I smell implosion. Come on Jon, preserv the lead through 6, please.

[Dionysus]

This Tigers batters put up logn ABs. Ugh. Come on Jon, its about time for a K (or better a DP)

[Dionysus]

Throw #@$%ing strikes!

[Paul SF]

Oh, c'mon, Jon. Throw a strike, get a DP, end this inning.

[Micah-SF]

STRIKES. THROW THEM.

[Dionysus]

SON OF A GOD DAMN BITCH! *sotmrs off to finsih packing*

[SF]

Dio: do you just type as fast as possible and hit post? Your typos are crazy! I actually sort of look forward to them at this point! It's kind of a game to figure out what you mean sometimes. I finally realized you were storming off to pack, first I thought you might be sauntering off to pack, or sort of packing...

[SF]

And, for all of those who pick on Dio's sky is falling attitude, full props on soothing on the meltdown.

[SF]

(on the other hand, if you predict a meltdown every inning you are bound to be right once in a while!)

[Micah-SF]

This figures. Within fifteen minutes of coming back to watch this game, it has infuriated me to the point that I am not watching it anymore.

Days like this I think Lester will never be more than a mediocre #5.

DAMMIT.

[Paul SF]

Wow, this inning turned to sh*t. I blame my editor. The Sox were leading when he dropped by my desk...

[SF]

Well, this is just an awful, awful inning from Lester. Textbook example of why I worry about the Sox - Lester is going to burden the bullpen tremendously this year due to his lack of control.

[Paul SF]

Curious, did anyone see what kind of reaction Renteria got in his first AB back in Boston?

I woulda booed the snot out of him. Blaming his lousy defense on bad dirt and lousy hitting on Boston fans. Jerk.

[SF]

Paul, I blame Jon Lester. Putrid effort this frame and nobody to blame but himself. Lack of control, lack of everything. Between him and Wakefield the Sox are putting out two pitchers who could give up a crooked number any inning, and that makes for tough-to-watch baseball.

[Paul SF]

It looks like, from reading the stats entering this inning (0K, decent percentage of strikes) that Lester had trouble putting hitters away with two strikes. That was certainly the case with Guillen...

[SF]

So, the Sox should have 3 or four runs, Lester sucks ass, and it's a two-run deficit instead of a one-run or tie game. At least it's only the fourth inning...

Who replaces Lester in the rotation if he continues like this? Tavarez?

[SF]

Lester doesn't have a plus pitch to get guys out with two strikes. How is he going to put them away? He has several decent pitches, when controlled. But he doesn't have anything like what Dice-K has, what Beckett has, even what Wakefield has with the knuckler. He has NO out pitch. If he does, which one is it? I think this is a big, long-term problem. If he has control (which he doesn't), maybe it's his curve. But right now it's not good enough, and his poor control exacerbates the fact that he has no out pitch.

[SF]

So as I see it, Paul, he has to have pinpoint control to get guys out. If he doesn't, they just spoil not-quite-good-enough two-strike pitches or they work the pitch count up.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Dale Arnold saying that Lester got jobbed on several pitches the last inning, including the two right before Thames' homer ... Kruk on Baseball tonight last night pointing out that Ortiz still not going full bore off he back leg while batting. The left leg is the one he had surgery on. He's swinging from the upper body and not driving the ball. Yet. Give him time.

[Paul SF]

Two on, no out.

Runs? Please?

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Not enough LOBs yet, Paul.

[SF]

JFC. I hate Julio Lugo, still. What a POS.

[Paul SF]

The key for Lester is definitely control. It's clear he's nearly unhittable when he has it (we've seen those flashes, and I imagine that's what Farrell cites when he calls him a potential 15-game winner). The kid's young. Even Pedro struggled with his control early on (of course, his stuff was a lot better and let him get away with a lot more).

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Christ. Loogie spared the indignity of hitting into a triple play.

[SF]

Honestly, I wouldn't be opposed to the Sox buying Julio out of his contract and playing a not-ready Jed Lowrie, just to get this shithead out of a Sox uniform and for me to be able to root for an underdog. I hated rooting for Lugo last year and still hate it.

[Paul SF]

The Red Sox as a team have had 15 plate appearances with the bases loaded so far.
They've gotten hits three times, and Julio Lugo has one of those. I'm gonna give him a little more time on this one...

[SF]

Retire, Julio.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Lugo caught stealing. There's the triple play, I guess.

[SF]

They've gotten hits three times, and Julio Lugo has one of those. I'm gonna give him a little more time on this one...

My sample size is bigger than your sample size.

[Paul SF]

He also entered the game having reached base more often than Pedroia, Ortiz, Ramirez, Lowell, Crisp or Ellsbury.

Of course, he also just made all three outs in the inning. That is indeed impressive.

[mattymatty]

Wow. Lugo makes (essentially) all three outs in the inning. Anyone know how Lowrie is doing in Pawtucket?

[Paul SF]

All right, I'm finally going home. Ciao!

[Micah-SF]

I see two options at this point:

1. Release Lugo and play Lowrie.

2. Buy a sniper rifle and a plane ticket to Boston.

God, I loathe Julio Lugo.

[Paul SF]

Hmm, Tigers have given up more hits, the same number of walks AND committed two errors ... and have a two-run lead. That is frustrating baseball.

[mattymatty]

Ya know what? Lugo was safe at second. My comment on Lester's pitch count: Yikes.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Here's another question. Rodriguez led the league in throwing out runners attempting to steal second base last year, something around 45 percent, I think. And the RS, who don't run that much, have 2 CSs tonight. Who's thinking here?

[Dionysus]

JUlio Lugo is the worse signign of my lifetime

[mattymatty]

Actually, this is a terrible match up for Lester. I think every Tiger starter is right handed or a switch hitter (so effectively righty). Other than the walks he hasn't done that bad, but I guess you could say that of any of his starts. And, speaking of walks, Aardsma is up in the pen.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Careful, Micah. If Lugo gets whacked, you don't have plausible deniability.

[sf rod]

dio- you forget our friend jose offerman or your 8 years old.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Worse than Matt Young, Jose Canseco and pick a FA reliever from 2005 or 2006?

[SF]

It's clear he's nearly unhittable when he has it

Paul, I don't mean to pick on you, but I think this is an exaggeration. When Lester is on he's very effective. But not unhittable. He doesn't miss bats. Dice-K was the guy, last year, that showed flashes of unhittability. Lester, at least to me, looks like a guy who when he is on is very good, but also, like Wang, will have to rely on perfect control and his defense. I would be thrilled if Lester was Wang, but I don't see it happening imminently, if ever.

[Dionysus]

Compare to the overall value of the team, sf rod. Seriously, a guy liek Lugo on a team THIS stocked?

[Dionysus]

Ok ok ok fine.

Maybe not the WORST, but up there

[sf rod]

no, i hear ya. in respect to the two teams and expectations i understand.