Red Sox (John Smoltz)

[YoFuggedaboutit]

The problem is while they're only 3 1/2 out, the pitching is a mess and they're not beating the teams in the East. That spells recipe for disaster. They Yanks are clicking on all cylinders right now, which is bad for Boston. I had predicted them losing 3 of 4 this weekend with the one win either Beckett's or Lester's, the other a tight loss.

And this is why the baseball season is 162 games.  In April and May, I was pulling what little hair I have out seeing the Yankees perform.  Whoever would've thought they would be where they are now.

[Chopper]

Ahh...this is all good stuff, just why I wanted to join a US Sports forum. I've been the fairweatherest of all fairweather MLB fans to date, only catching Baseball in the Post-season (due to sketchy to no TV coverage over here in the UK), so I'm not 'at ease' with all the ramifications of such a long hard slog.

I obviously missed Smoltz in his pomp, so I can only guess at the total sadness of the latest situation - seems he has a lot of support to be a 1st time HOFer, but also some support for him still having enough juice to return, given a little more rehab?

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Wow.  Tonight's game was a pitcher's duel.  Tied 0-0 in the bottom of the 9th. 

[YoFuggedaboutit]

And man!!!  The Yankees had runners on 2nd and third in the bottom of the 9th and failed to get someone across the plate.  Going into extra innnings.

[Chopper]

Pitching heaven...sweeeeeet. Restoring my faith (ha)

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Bottom of the 15th with the score still 0-0.  Three more innings and they've played three games in two nights. 

On a lighter note, I once went to a baseball game that lasted 27 innings.  Didn't get home until 4:30 am. 

[YoFuggedaboutit]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!   WALKOFF HOME RUN!!!!!!!!     A-ROD YOU'RE MY FUCKING HERO!!!!!!!!!!

[EDGECRUSHER]

It was a pitcher's duel for the first 7 innings. It was offensive ineptitude for the last 7.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Funny thing is, looks like walkoff HRs were the item du jour last night.  Four games were decided by a walkoff HR, including a walkoff grand slam in the bottom of the 9th that gave the Padres a 6-2 win over the Mets (I'm sure Stroke is happy about that one)

[Chopper]

Garrrr...I jinxed it! Last thing I remember was 'Here we go, bottom of the 15th...', just coming up to 5.40 a.m.

Woke up at 6.30 with ESPN showing some historic classic game...

Great game anyways, congrats to the Yankees - can't be very good for Sox morale to throw everything you've got and still come up short - Tonight could pile on the pain (for me).

[MaineDolFan]

It was a pitcher's duel for the first 7 innings. It was offensive ineptitude for the last 7.

Very true.

I need to re-state a few things:

1:  15 inning game Papelbon was nails.  I mean...nails.  THAT is the Papelbon I miss.  Lets see if he sticks around.

2:  After today's beat down...SportsChick...feel free to get a little nervous.  That said, see where the standings are after the Detroit series before you get too nervous.

3:  Buchholz was very, very good today.  6 innings and two runs, on the road, in New York?  Kid pitches like this every night and I'll take back everything I said about Masterson being better.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

^^^^^

Buchholz pitched lights out today.  Unfortunately after Red Sox fans worrying so much about their pitching situation, it's the Red Sox offense that are stinking up the joint in this series.  Six runs in three games??  You can't even write a script for that.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Buchholz was very good against the best offense in MLB. He will have his moments and I feel if he started the season in the rotation, his ERA would be about 5, but next year it would be in the 4's and then the 3's and maybe even the 2's.

It all has to start somewhere for pitchers, they develop much slower than position players. Look at Edwin Jackson and King Felix that had struggles for the first few years and are now killing it. Pitchers need time to become great and that time is not in the minors, it is on a major league mound.

No matter what Boston does from here on out, they would best be served by having Clay in the rotation. Joba has the lowest ERA on the team, he isn't their best pitcher, but it's obvious he is improving and could very well be a 16-18 game winner next season.

[Pats2006]

^^^^^

Buchholz pitched lights out today.  Unfortunately after Red Sox fans worrying so much about their pitching situation, it's the Red Sox offense that are stinking up the joint in this series.  Six runs in three games??  You can't even write a script for that.

My sox are in trouble    I am about to send them some special home made cookies that should help them out!! Got the recipe from Jerry Remy's son.

[EDGECRUSHER]

The team is going through a funk at a bad time. I don't think anyone can say with a straight face that a lineup that has Ellsbury, Pedroia, Martinez and Youkilis in it shouldn't score a run in nearly 3 games. Not to mention Lowell and Drew. Teams go through slumps and they are going through it against their top rivals. Shitty timing indeed.