Yes, I did it yet again. I need to stop with this getting-up-early business, and so do the Sox.
One more.
I almost wonder if I am crazier than Julian Tavarez.
...no, I'm not. I shouldn't delude myself.
Brandon is in the lineup again today. Jacoby has been switched out with Coco for now.
Top of the First:
And Dustin is here to lead off once again! Except today, instead of singling, he does something he never does - strikes out. In my happy little universe, Dustin Pedroia does not strike out. Youk is up, taking a ball on the first pitch. He eventually flies out to left. It's Papi time, although this time there's nobody on to start things off. He decides to fix that, drawing a walk to bring up Manny. Manny fans, and we're off to the bottom of the first.
There's a cute article on Brandon Moss today! It would seem that, well, Mike is actually psychic...
"Lowell called it,” said Sox backup catcher Kevin Cash, pointing to the third baseman following the 6-5, 10-inning win against Oakland. According to Lowell, and a handful of onlookers, he predicted Moss was going to hit his first major league home run in his first Opening Day. Then, in the ninth inning, with the Sox two outs from dropping the opener, the rookie obliged. Moss sat back on a Huston Street changeup and launched it into the Tokyo Dome’s right field bleachers for the game-tying homer. It came after the impromptu starting right fielder already had given the Sox a 3-2 lead with an RBI single in the sixth inning.
Mike's explanation: “I had a feeling, because when you’re thrust in there at the last second, the baseball gods take care of you,” Lowell said.
Excellent. Also, everybody needs to see the Herald's accompanying picture:
Awwwwww....! (Clay's smile is what gets me.)
Bottom of the First:
Lester in to start the first! He gets Buck to ground out, and Lugo manages to field it more awkwardly than Jed ever could. And Jed's just...awkward in general, so that's saying something. It doesn't matter, though, because Lugo's made the out. He gets the next batter to pop up to Youk for the second out. Lester walks the third batter and gets to Mike Sweeney, the DH for today. Sweeney flies out to Emo!Brandon, and we're through one.
Top of the Second:
The psychic is up! Mike flies out to right - which he knew he was going to do - and it's time for Emo!Brandon and his Fall Out Boy at-bat music! This time Emo!Brandon strikes out to bring up Tek. He, too, fans to end the inning. Well, that was quick.
Bottom of the Second:
Lester in to pitch again. He gets the batter to ground out to short. Bobby Crosby doubles to left, though - it was almost a home run, though, so it could be worse. Hannahan up. After a long at-bat, Lester fans him for the second out - nicely done, Jon! Kurt Suzuki is up now. I actually like him. Lester walks him, and they play Aerosmith over the loudspeakers. Oh, how I love Japan. Lester is in one of his Houdini situations. Base hit, and that's one run in for the A's. It's just like yesterday, isn't it? C'mon, Lowell, predict a ninth inning rookie home run again!
...except the one person I'd love to see get that home run is temporarily inactive. I miss Jed.
Lester bounces back to strike Travis Buck out, and we're through two.
Top of the Third:
For anyone who cares, Matt LaPorta, one of my favorite players in the Arizona Fall League last year, has a little player journal on MiLB.com. Oh, if only they'd get Jed to write one of these...he was funny when he blogged.
Coco up. The broadcasters on ESPN talk about Jacoby's back. Apparently he bruised it but is otherwise okay. Oh, well, it beats his sophomore concussion. Coco strikes out. Lugo is on first, but I missed what he did because I am currently following a game thread and I just discovered that NESN showed Jed and I didn't get to see him. Dustin is up now. He flies out to second, and that's two outs for Youk as the sun begins to rise in Pennsylvania. Lugo steals second base! Hooray! Youk then walks to bring up Papi...ooooh. Hannahan sort of falls as he catches the pop-up in foul territory. Shades of Jeter's dive into the stands? No - I think the kid just tripped.
Jed distracts me. All the time. And yet I don't mind it one bit. (grins like an idiot)
Bottom of the Third:
Lester starts the third. He puts the leadoff batter on with a walk, but then earns himself a pop-up to left, which Manny catches for the first out. He then gives up a single to Sweeney to put men on the corners with one out. Eeeek.
Lester gives up a home run to Brown, that guy who made the horrible baserunning gaff yesterday. That'd be three more runs in Oakland's favor. C'mon, Jon, settle down. It'll be okay. Crosby flies out to center for the second out. Hannahan gets a base hit, though. Finally, a batter pops out to Tek, and we're out of the inning. Offense, please? Anybody?
Top of the Fourth:
The sun has risen in Pennsylvania by now as ESPN showcases that Egg. Manny is up first, and we are of course treated to the story of how he had to buy replacement bats in Japan. ESPN also thinks it is giving Sox fans news when it announces that Manny is a good hitter because he gets to the ballpark very early to work on it.
Manny strikes out again, and Psychic!Lowell is up. I hear Iron Man, which my kid brother just learned to play on the guitar. It's his first song, and I'm so proud! Mike has gotten a base hit, and they play All Right Now. I inevitably think Stanford is in the game, as that's their band's signature tune, but Emo!Brandon cuts it off with his Fall Out Boy. I still miss Jed. Emo!Brandon fans. Tek is up, and he grounds to first for the last out. Damnit!
Bottom of the Fourth:
The roommate has left, so I don't need to watch the game with my headphones anymore! That's more like it!
The inning starts off with a strikeout from Lester. That's better, too. Dustin throws out Travis Buck (as I mentioned yesterday, this amuses me because they were teammates at ASU), and there are two down. Lester notches a second strikeout this inning, and we're through four. Nice and clean, Jon. Good job.
Top of the Fifth:
Coco in to face Harden now. We'd love some offense, Coco. Be awesome. He strikes out instead. Harden is absolutely on this morning! Lugo gets a base hit, because middle infielders can hit, but then Dustin goes and disproves my statement immediately by hitting into a double play. Dustin, I'm mad at you right now. Okay, not really. I know you start off slow, so don't worry.
Bottom of the Fifth:
I'm working on a picture of the Slumberwood infield. I enjoy infielders quite a lot, even when they're fictional.
Aardsma in to pitch the fifth. I'd imagine Lester's pitch count got a little too high. He strikes out the first batter he faces. Nice. Minus the home run, Lester's line isn't so bad, but obviously we can't erase that. Lugo throws out Sweeney for the second out. Brown, too, is thrown out, and that's that. Aardsma looks solid so far.
Top of the Sixth:
Okay, let's see if we can do something right this inning! Youk pops up, and nobody calls for the ball - it's Hannahan who ends up with the ball (on the ground), though. Harden then strikes Papi out and moves on to Manny again. Manny homers, and the Sox are finally on the board! It's only one run, and they're still down by three, but who cares - it's a run. About time!
Psychic!Lowell is up. He almost homers, too, but it's reeled in. Harden may be a bit shaken up after Manny's shot. Hmmm. Either way, that's three outs, so we move on. At least we scored this time!
Bottom of the Sixth:
Aardsma is still in, and he fans the first batter he faces this inning looking. Gorgeous. He then fans the second one swinging. Wow. Kurt Suzuki hits a double into the gap. Coco cuts it off nicely, though. Jack Cust is in to pinch hit, and Tito pulls Aardsma in response. Hmmm, I wonder what the deal is there? Either way, we've got a pitching change - Javy Lopez is in. (I knocked on my wooden desk.) He walks Cust. Urg. Travis Buck up, and he lines out to Manny to get out of the jam. Aardsma looked good, and Javy didn't do too badly, either. But we're still losing. Let's attend to that now, shall we?
Top of the Seventh:
Emo!Brandon to lead things off in the seventh. He works a full count, then strikes out. Poor Emo!Brandon. Tek is up. Lenny DiNardo is also up in the bullpen. We do have a reliever on the mound right now, as Harden is finally out of the game. Tek strikes out, bringing up Coco. Coco gives us hope with a double into the right field corner. Lugo's had a decent bat so far this series, so let's see how this pans out. Lugo grounds to short and almost runs it out, but that's it for the Sox in the seventh.
Bottom of the Seventh:
Manny Delcarmen is in! Yay! He's one of my favorite relievers. He fields a swinging bunt by Ellis, throwing to first for the out just in time. Go Manny Del! Dustin fields a ball hit to second to make the second out. Sweeney singles to keep the inning alive for the A's. Finally, the Pride of Hyde Park gets the opposing hitter to pop up to shallow right, and Dustin has it. Two innings left to go...I'm not sure if I feel this one or not.
Top of the Eighth:
Choice quote from Dustin Pedroia on exhibition games: "We have a day off in L.A., so we'll go there for our workout, play our exhibition games. Those are kind of nice. The exhibition games, they count, but they don't."
"They count, but they don't." Good job, Dustin. I know what you mean, but it sounds funny. It's a bit like when Jed crashed into David Mailman and said, "Usually you run the other way when someone's chasing you." Normally Jed is more eloquent than that, but no matter how smart you are you'll say something stupid at least once in your life.
Keith Foulke out of the bullpen to face the aforementioned Dustin. Dustin flies out to his old ASU teammate (I love when they get each other out!) for the first out. Youk is up, and he singles! Papi is now up. The crowd convinces me that the ball is gone, but it's not. Manny comes to the plate with Youk on base and two outs. The first pitch is in the dirt, and Youk arrives at second base safely. Manny strikes out to end the threat, though.
Bottom of the Eighth:
I hear Sweet Caroline. Aren't the Sox the away team? I should've said that yesterday when the relievers got their entrance music, but oh, well. Bryan Corey is in to pitch the eighth. The first pitch is fouled off, but Emo!Brandon has it. One down. Two down after a fly ball to Manny Ramirez. Alan Embree is up in the pen, so we are apparently denied any Huston Street viewing for the day. Oh, well. Corey gives up a double into center. Then he gives up another hit, and that's a run. The hitter is caught in a rundown between first and second, but he makes it back safely. Finally, a ground ball to Dustin, and we're out of the inning.
Top of the Ninth:
Here's our last chance for the morning. Psychic!Lowell leads off. I finish my picture of the Slumberwood infield and go to scan it in as Embree pitches to him. Psychic!Lowell gets a base hit to start the inning off. That brings up Emo!Brandon. Except...he's not up. It's Sean Casey in to pinch hit! His neck is better! Hooray! Casey grounds into a double play, and there goes that rally. Tek is up now. I'd love to see him start hitting right about now - but Tek strikes out to end it. That's it.
Bottom of the Ninth:
There is no bottom of the ninth today. This'll be a plane ride for everyone.
And that's it for now! I'll be getting some sleep tomorrow, which is lovely. I eagerly look forward to it - but oh, I love this game so much.
Even when we lose.
EDIT: The Slumberwood infield. In the back row, Aidan Addison (1B) is on the left and Corbin Worcester (3B) is on the right; in the front row, Sheridan Travers (SS) is on the left and 'Drotti (2B), who I blatantly based on ASU-era Pedroia in all but appearance, is on the right. I'm pathetic like that.
EDIT 2: The Dugout finally got to the Red Sox. Here's their Spring Training edition, live from Japan.
EDIT 3:
Do Jed and Chris Carter know about this?
I almost wonder if I am crazier than Julian Tavarez.
...no, I'm not. I shouldn't delude myself.
Brandon is in the lineup again today. Jacoby has been switched out with Coco for now.
Top of the First:
And Dustin is here to lead off once again! Except today, instead of singling, he does something he never does - strikes out. In my happy little universe, Dustin Pedroia does not strike out. Youk is up, taking a ball on the first pitch. He eventually flies out to left. It's Papi time, although this time there's nobody on to start things off. He decides to fix that, drawing a walk to bring up Manny. Manny fans, and we're off to the bottom of the first.
There's a cute article on Brandon Moss today! It would seem that, well, Mike is actually psychic...
"Lowell called it,” said Sox backup catcher Kevin Cash, pointing to the third baseman following the 6-5, 10-inning win against Oakland. According to Lowell, and a handful of onlookers, he predicted Moss was going to hit his first major league home run in his first Opening Day. Then, in the ninth inning, with the Sox two outs from dropping the opener, the rookie obliged. Moss sat back on a Huston Street changeup and launched it into the Tokyo Dome’s right field bleachers for the game-tying homer. It came after the impromptu starting right fielder already had given the Sox a 3-2 lead with an RBI single in the sixth inning.
Mike's explanation: “I had a feeling, because when you’re thrust in there at the last second, the baseball gods take care of you,” Lowell said.
Excellent. Also, everybody needs to see the Herald's accompanying picture:
Awwwwww....! (Clay's smile is what gets me.)
Bottom of the First:
Lester in to start the first! He gets Buck to ground out, and Lugo manages to field it more awkwardly than Jed ever could. And Jed's just...awkward in general, so that's saying something. It doesn't matter, though, because Lugo's made the out. He gets the next batter to pop up to Youk for the second out. Lester walks the third batter and gets to Mike Sweeney, the DH for today. Sweeney flies out to Emo!Brandon, and we're through one.
Top of the Second:
The psychic is up! Mike flies out to right - which he knew he was going to do - and it's time for Emo!Brandon and his Fall Out Boy at-bat music! This time Emo!Brandon strikes out to bring up Tek. He, too, fans to end the inning. Well, that was quick.
Bottom of the Second:
Lester in to pitch again. He gets the batter to ground out to short. Bobby Crosby doubles to left, though - it was almost a home run, though, so it could be worse. Hannahan up. After a long at-bat, Lester fans him for the second out - nicely done, Jon! Kurt Suzuki is up now. I actually like him. Lester walks him, and they play Aerosmith over the loudspeakers. Oh, how I love Japan. Lester is in one of his Houdini situations. Base hit, and that's one run in for the A's. It's just like yesterday, isn't it? C'mon, Lowell, predict a ninth inning rookie home run again!
...except the one person I'd love to see get that home run is temporarily inactive. I miss Jed.
Lester bounces back to strike Travis Buck out, and we're through two.
Top of the Third:
For anyone who cares, Matt LaPorta, one of my favorite players in the Arizona Fall League last year, has a little player journal on MiLB.com. Oh, if only they'd get Jed to write one of these...he was funny when he blogged.
Coco up. The broadcasters on ESPN talk about Jacoby's back. Apparently he bruised it but is otherwise okay. Oh, well, it beats his sophomore concussion. Coco strikes out. Lugo is on first, but I missed what he did because I am currently following a game thread and I just discovered that NESN showed Jed and I didn't get to see him. Dustin is up now. He flies out to second, and that's two outs for Youk as the sun begins to rise in Pennsylvania. Lugo steals second base! Hooray! Youk then walks to bring up Papi...ooooh. Hannahan sort of falls as he catches the pop-up in foul territory. Shades of Jeter's dive into the stands? No - I think the kid just tripped.
Jed distracts me. All the time. And yet I don't mind it one bit. (grins like an idiot)
Bottom of the Third:
Lester starts the third. He puts the leadoff batter on with a walk, but then earns himself a pop-up to left, which Manny catches for the first out. He then gives up a single to Sweeney to put men on the corners with one out. Eeeek.
Lester gives up a home run to Brown, that guy who made the horrible baserunning gaff yesterday. That'd be three more runs in Oakland's favor. C'mon, Jon, settle down. It'll be okay. Crosby flies out to center for the second out. Hannahan gets a base hit, though. Finally, a batter pops out to Tek, and we're out of the inning. Offense, please? Anybody?
Top of the Fourth:
The sun has risen in Pennsylvania by now as ESPN showcases that Egg. Manny is up first, and we are of course treated to the story of how he had to buy replacement bats in Japan. ESPN also thinks it is giving Sox fans news when it announces that Manny is a good hitter because he gets to the ballpark very early to work on it.
Manny strikes out again, and Psychic!Lowell is up. I hear Iron Man, which my kid brother just learned to play on the guitar. It's his first song, and I'm so proud! Mike has gotten a base hit, and they play All Right Now. I inevitably think Stanford is in the game, as that's their band's signature tune, but Emo!Brandon cuts it off with his Fall Out Boy. I still miss Jed. Emo!Brandon fans. Tek is up, and he grounds to first for the last out. Damnit!
Bottom of the Fourth:
The roommate has left, so I don't need to watch the game with my headphones anymore! That's more like it!
The inning starts off with a strikeout from Lester. That's better, too. Dustin throws out Travis Buck (as I mentioned yesterday, this amuses me because they were teammates at ASU), and there are two down. Lester notches a second strikeout this inning, and we're through four. Nice and clean, Jon. Good job.
Top of the Fifth:
Coco in to face Harden now. We'd love some offense, Coco. Be awesome. He strikes out instead. Harden is absolutely on this morning! Lugo gets a base hit, because middle infielders can hit, but then Dustin goes and disproves my statement immediately by hitting into a double play. Dustin, I'm mad at you right now. Okay, not really. I know you start off slow, so don't worry.
Bottom of the Fifth:
I'm working on a picture of the Slumberwood infield. I enjoy infielders quite a lot, even when they're fictional.
Aardsma in to pitch the fifth. I'd imagine Lester's pitch count got a little too high. He strikes out the first batter he faces. Nice. Minus the home run, Lester's line isn't so bad, but obviously we can't erase that. Lugo throws out Sweeney for the second out. Brown, too, is thrown out, and that's that. Aardsma looks solid so far.
Top of the Sixth:
Okay, let's see if we can do something right this inning! Youk pops up, and nobody calls for the ball - it's Hannahan who ends up with the ball (on the ground), though. Harden then strikes Papi out and moves on to Manny again. Manny homers, and the Sox are finally on the board! It's only one run, and they're still down by three, but who cares - it's a run. About time!
Psychic!Lowell is up. He almost homers, too, but it's reeled in. Harden may be a bit shaken up after Manny's shot. Hmmm. Either way, that's three outs, so we move on. At least we scored this time!
Bottom of the Sixth:
Aardsma is still in, and he fans the first batter he faces this inning looking. Gorgeous. He then fans the second one swinging. Wow. Kurt Suzuki hits a double into the gap. Coco cuts it off nicely, though. Jack Cust is in to pinch hit, and Tito pulls Aardsma in response. Hmmm, I wonder what the deal is there? Either way, we've got a pitching change - Javy Lopez is in. (I knocked on my wooden desk.) He walks Cust. Urg. Travis Buck up, and he lines out to Manny to get out of the jam. Aardsma looked good, and Javy didn't do too badly, either. But we're still losing. Let's attend to that now, shall we?
Top of the Seventh:
Emo!Brandon to lead things off in the seventh. He works a full count, then strikes out. Poor Emo!Brandon. Tek is up. Lenny DiNardo is also up in the bullpen. We do have a reliever on the mound right now, as Harden is finally out of the game. Tek strikes out, bringing up Coco. Coco gives us hope with a double into the right field corner. Lugo's had a decent bat so far this series, so let's see how this pans out. Lugo grounds to short and almost runs it out, but that's it for the Sox in the seventh.
Bottom of the Seventh:
Manny Delcarmen is in! Yay! He's one of my favorite relievers. He fields a swinging bunt by Ellis, throwing to first for the out just in time. Go Manny Del! Dustin fields a ball hit to second to make the second out. Sweeney singles to keep the inning alive for the A's. Finally, the Pride of Hyde Park gets the opposing hitter to pop up to shallow right, and Dustin has it. Two innings left to go...I'm not sure if I feel this one or not.
Top of the Eighth:
Choice quote from Dustin Pedroia on exhibition games: "We have a day off in L.A., so we'll go there for our workout, play our exhibition games. Those are kind of nice. The exhibition games, they count, but they don't."
"They count, but they don't." Good job, Dustin. I know what you mean, but it sounds funny. It's a bit like when Jed crashed into David Mailman and said, "Usually you run the other way when someone's chasing you." Normally Jed is more eloquent than that, but no matter how smart you are you'll say something stupid at least once in your life.
Keith Foulke out of the bullpen to face the aforementioned Dustin. Dustin flies out to his old ASU teammate (I love when they get each other out!) for the first out. Youk is up, and he singles! Papi is now up. The crowd convinces me that the ball is gone, but it's not. Manny comes to the plate with Youk on base and two outs. The first pitch is in the dirt, and Youk arrives at second base safely. Manny strikes out to end the threat, though.
Bottom of the Eighth:
I hear Sweet Caroline. Aren't the Sox the away team? I should've said that yesterday when the relievers got their entrance music, but oh, well. Bryan Corey is in to pitch the eighth. The first pitch is fouled off, but Emo!Brandon has it. One down. Two down after a fly ball to Manny Ramirez. Alan Embree is up in the pen, so we are apparently denied any Huston Street viewing for the day. Oh, well. Corey gives up a double into center. Then he gives up another hit, and that's a run. The hitter is caught in a rundown between first and second, but he makes it back safely. Finally, a ground ball to Dustin, and we're out of the inning.
Top of the Ninth:
Here's our last chance for the morning. Psychic!Lowell leads off. I finish my picture of the Slumberwood infield and go to scan it in as Embree pitches to him. Psychic!Lowell gets a base hit to start the inning off. That brings up Emo!Brandon. Except...he's not up. It's Sean Casey in to pinch hit! His neck is better! Hooray! Casey grounds into a double play, and there goes that rally. Tek is up now. I'd love to see him start hitting right about now - but Tek strikes out to end it. That's it.
Bottom of the Ninth:
There is no bottom of the ninth today. This'll be a plane ride for everyone.
And that's it for now! I'll be getting some sleep tomorrow, which is lovely. I eagerly look forward to it - but oh, I love this game so much.
Even when we lose.
EDIT: The Slumberwood infield. In the back row, Aidan Addison (1B) is on the left and Corbin Worcester (3B) is on the right; in the front row, Sheridan Travers (SS) is on the left and 'Drotti (2B), who I blatantly based on ASU-era Pedroia in all but appearance, is on the right. I'm pathetic like that.
EDIT 2: The Dugout finally got to the Red Sox. Here's their Spring Training edition, live from Japan.
EDIT 3:
Do Jed and Chris Carter know about this?