Damn, it feels good to be a gangster.
If I were Joe Girardi right now I would be considering taking a walk through my bullpen with an Armalite AR-10 carbine gas-powered semi-automatic weapon, pumping round after round into colleagues and co-workers. He has to be getting frustrated. Last night, just after the Sox bullpen had finally coughed one up (MDC on a rare off night), the Yanks ‘pen gave it right back, proving that no matter how much you spend on starters and hitters, you need to spend a little more on those last two innings.
For the third straight night, the Yanks had to rely on their bullpen, and for the third straight night, the bullpen acted like they were throwing BP. Last night it was the top of the order (and Nick Green) who got it going in the eighth, driving Chomping Cheeseburgers Sabathia (who gave up only one run while he was in the game, another bomb from The Rotting Corpse, but got hit for all four because his bullpen blows) from the game and placing themselves in the comfortable waiting arms of the Alfredo Aceves. Four singles, a 10 pitch walk by Dusty Pete, and a Mike Lowell sac fly gave us three more in the inning, (Rocco struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning, but he had saved the game the inning before with a truly Ellsbury-esque catch) just enough to let the Papelbeast come out snorting and dominate the last three feeble men that they sent to the plate.
If this series doesn’t demonstrate the chief advantage that this year’s Sox have over their opponents then I don’t know what will. As far back as Truck Day, I was lauding the fact that it was going to be the bullpen that made all the difference in the AL East this season. But even I didn’t know that they would be this good. There are no weaknesses, no soft spots, and, since the demotion of Javier Lopez, nobody who give you that Seanez like dread when he enters the game.
No seriously, it's this big. Stereotypes aren't always true.
Need a power right hander to get a K in a big spot? O.K. we’ve got a rookie who throws 100. Need a lefty who can shut down righthanded batters as well? Oki-Doki. Need a second closer because your regular guy is tired? Here’s a closer who had 39 saves in 2007. Need to just make people look silly? Ram-Ram, it’s your turn. Even when one of the guys has a rough night, as Ram-Ram did two nights ago and MDC last night, there is someone who can come in and pick them up. Wednesday it was Oki, Saito last night.
This was what we call a "purpose pitch."
It was nice knowing Brad Penny while he was here, but if he’s not a commodity after throwing six shutout innings, against the Yanks, in the rain, then he never will be. We’ll miss him for his quality starts, and for his wonderful ex-girlfriends. Plunking A-Rod in the first as retribution for them hitting Bay was just a beautiful thing. Good Job, Brad.
The Sox are now 8-0 against the Yankees this season. They won’t meet again until August 5 at the Yankee Wiffle Ball Field. I wonder if their fans can pull off this kind of ninth inning coordination magic:
The Boston.com headline this morning was “Red Sox Take Finale By Force.” Is that a rape joke?
Go Sox.
Done.
I love how stacked the ‘pen is.
– mdc is having a career year and finally living up to his potential. it’s icing that a) he’s been with the team for several years now; and b) is a local kid.
– don’t forget masterson. he has to be one of the best young long relievers in baseball.
– that ramon-coco trade is looking like more of a steal every day.
– theo’s offseason strategy of going after low money / injury risk players is looking better and better every day. penny, rocco, and saito are making him look like a genius. can we go 4-4 with smoltz?
– i love it that okajima is bouncing back from last year.
– even more amazing is that both buccholz and, to a much lesser degree, tazawa and bowden, are waiting in the wings. it’s a little sad that we’ll only get $0.50 on the dollar to swap the pitching logjam for a quality every day hitter (and i will really miss penny/mdc/etc. if it happens), but with mami becoming papi again and lowrie coming back, is this really necessary?
Yes, it was a rape joke because the Yankess got violated like Marcellus Wallace. Unfortunately, a-Roid liked it.
This can’t stay together. Eventually Epstein will make some stupid deal to bring in another shortstop who will be awful. The bullpen got destroyed the past two nights by a good lineup and it will continue all season. Scott krause and the guy who wrote this are both idiots and I can’t wait to see it come back and bite them in the ass.
Boston Sucks.