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Hey there boys and girls, what's new? Not much here. My feet hurt and I have made a crapload of money today. Someone left a 10 dollar tip! :D Also we each got 10 dollars because we did over 100 in the span of an hour (like yesterday) so I made about 20ish or so today in tips. Yesterday sucked but we got 10 and then like...3. Tourists are fucking cheapskates it seems. Also I have come the conclusion that I hate the shit out of youth soccer. I went into work around 8:45am. So yeah.
And now the Red Sox are done for the break. I'm glad. They need the rest especially teh bullpen. Beckett ended his half with a flourish, spinning a 3 hit shutout. It was a good game from what I heard since I only caught the bottom of the 8th and top of the 9th. Bates had 3 hits which was cool and I hear Clay is starting the Friday game? I can dig it. So what do I have to say on the first half? It was a pretty good half. I should probably grade first half performances:
Starting Pitching
Josh Beckett: Beckett had a slow start to the season which now everybody forgets about. He was really inconsistent and frustrating to watch. Though as of mid May or so, he turned it on and has been great. He's pitching like he should, and that's a good thing. Hopefully he can keep that going into the second half.
Grade: B
Jon Lester: Like Beckett, Lester had a slow start. His was arguably more attributed to bad luck but like Beckett, he turned it on recently and has been great. Basically everything I said about Beckett, you can say about Lester as well. So we'll go with that.
Grade: B
Tim Wakefield: He carried the starting rotation in the beginning of the season. He has only had 2 really really bad starts out of the starts he's made. He has a couple subpar outings and 2 outings where he got screwed over by other things. Other than that, he's been just great and leads the AL in wins along with Beckett but we all know that from a pitcher's standpoint that wins aren't huge, save for teh fact that Wakefield is doing his usual innings eating. He actually has only failed to go 6 innings 3 times. That's huge and I'm sure the bullpen loves him.
Grade: A-
Brad Penny: Still not sold on Penny but I gotta admit he's done pretty decent. He's been a number 5 guy the whole way through. He's been solid and he can really turn it on every so often. Also he gets extra cool points because he talked smack right back to Joe Girardi who accused him of throwing at the Yankee hitters. Not bad but not really a revelation. Unsung, almost.
Grade: C+
John Smoltz: He hasn't made enough starts to get an actual grade but he's looked alright. Can't really complain.
Grade: I
Daisuke Matsuzaka: The WBC really fucked him over but I can't give him a grade because I don't think he's made enough starts.
Grade: I
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Relief Pitchers
Jonathan Papelbon: Papelbon may have the saves, but man he makes me nervous. He hasn't really been as good as it seems when you look at some of the numbers. He's been mortal basically and pissing me off in some respects. But he does get the job done even if it makes me need to down some Pepto Bismol.
Grade: C+
Ramon Ramirez: He hasn't been as great recently but what a freaking revelation this dude has been. Just awesome. That's really all I got on him.
Grade: A
Manny Delcarmen: He seemed like he had finally turned it around and had finally started to actually believe in himself and not be a dope but he's been a little inconsistent as of late so I'm not too sure. He has been alright for the most part...though a lot of recent stuff makes me wanna give him a lower grade.
Grade: C+
Justin Masterson: Masterson has sucked as of late but I'm chalking that to "vacation brain" which tends to happen to people when they know that they're about to get a few days off. He's been good and has been very versatile which is something that shouldn't really go unnoticed.
Grade: B+
Daniel Bard: Rough beginning but he's been fucking amazing as of late. I think he may end up the closer when Papelbon finally shoots his way out of town because it seems like Paps is setting himself up to do that. Meanwhile Peter Gammons is totally in delight over it all. I'd go further but no vomiting is allowed.
Grade: B+
Takashi Saito: He has kind of been the guy they go to in blowouts. He has been good. I don't really have anything too superlativey to say about him. He's been good and well...good.
Grade: B
Hideki Okajima: Mr. Reliable. He's been The Guy whenever they need him. He wasn't as great starting up but he's been reliable since. He's mortal but he gets the job done. He gets overshadowed by Ram Square and the Spoony Bard (that sounds like a great band name) but I think he likes it that way.
Grade: A-
Hunter Jones: Wasn't here for super long or I just can't remember.
Grade: I
Michael Bowden: One game then sent down. Not enough evidence
Grade: I
Javier Lopez: You got put into right field during a game because you sucked so hard....I think that says enough about you, dude. But you're doing what you can to make it back up to Boston.
Grade: F
Jonathan Van Every: LOLOLOL I just had to put this down
Grade: I
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Starting Lineup
JD Drew: He's rather streaky but more often than not, he's been pretty good. He does really well in the leadoff role too and I've seen him show a little emotion and a little sense of humor (aka what he said about if he hit the ball he was gonna just run right to second base for a cycle when he was a double shy for the cycle). I'd love to see him have a great second half.
Grade: B
Dustin Pedroia: Inconsistent to begin but within the past few weeks, he's been really turning it on. We're starting to see the AL MVP of 2008 instead of just Pedroia. :P And T&P to him and his wifey and I hope their kid is gonna turn out a-OK.
Grade: C+
Kevin Youkilis: He's been the man. A little struggle recently but I still stand by my grade. He deserved an All Star slot for sure.
Grade: A+
David Ortiz: Epic slump to begin but since June, he's been on fire. Not sure what it really was, maybe it really was just the need for some eyedrops. *shrugs shoulders* He'd be an F save for this past June-now.
Grade: C
Jason Bay: Him and Youk carried this team. He has a knack for getting so many RBIs and I think even in his slump he still leads the AL in RBI. How about that? :) He helped carry this team and surely deserves his All Star slot.
Grade: A+
Mike Lowell: Yes, Mike Lowell was pretty good until his hip decided to go and be an asshole to him. He was hitting and he was looking almost like new save for him losing a few steps with running but then again, he isn't that fast to begin with.
Grade: B
Jacoby Ellsbury: Jacoby doesn't do so hot in the leadoff role but he has flourished in this number 7 slot for whatever reason. He's been hitting and stealing like a mofo. Also he contributed one of the most memorable moments of the season when he stole home (am I the only one who noticed that he tripped and fell when he was heading for home?)
Grade: B-
Jason Varitek: Tek has morphed into Doug Mirabelli minus the throwing arm. He doesn't hit much but when he does hit, it's a HR. He's been pretty good so I can't be too mean about him. Still he hasn't been as good as people make him out to be.
Grade: C
Nick Green: What can you really say? He's been a surprise for sure. He is a little shaky defensively but he's got a hell of a gun for an arm. He also has been hitting pretty damn well and has shown he can hit some bombs. He looks slightly creepy to me.
Grade: A-
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Bench
Julio Lugo: Dunno what to say about Lugo. He's just been the usual failbot.
Grade: D- (only because he occasionally has hit the ball)
Rocco Baldelli: He's been everything the Red Sox have wanted in a backup outfielder and more. Sure he can't really run too much but he can field like a mofo and kills righties. Rhode Island Representin'! Though he did have some time on the DL but he's got that mitochondrial thing going on.
Grade: B+
Mark Kotsay: Kotsay has been good since he's come from the DL. I dont know if I can make it any clearer than that. He's been good and has been getting some big hits for the team.
Grade: B
George Kottaras: I can't help but wonder what Mirabelli must be thinking that within the first year of Wake with Kottaras that Wake becomes an All Star. I have a feeling Mirabelli is calling in fake pizza and chicken parm orders for Kottaras and then caling him a picklesmoker. Kottaras has been good. Not much hittingwise but he's been great defensively and actually does have a bit of an arm (though you don't see it when he's catching Wake)
Grade: B-
Jeff Bailey: He's been alright. Mehh. That's really as much as you can say. Meh.
Grade: C
Jed Lowrie: Put on the DL a couple weeks into teh season. He should be back soon though. Here's to him kicking ass.
Grade: I
Jonathan Van Every: Had a memorable week of games where he was made of awesome both hitting AND pitching, but not much after that.
Grade: I
Chris Carter: He's been disappointing in AAA. Hopefully he can get through that and get called up.
Grade: I
Aaron Bates: Not enough time to talk.
Grade: I
I know I'm missing some guys. I'm a little worn otu dude, cut me some slack. :P Also, is Brandon Inge really participating in the HR Derby? O_o Dub tee eff?
And now the Red Sox are done for the break. I'm glad. They need the rest especially teh bullpen. Beckett ended his half with a flourish, spinning a 3 hit shutout. It was a good game from what I heard since I only caught the bottom of the 8th and top of the 9th. Bates had 3 hits which was cool and I hear Clay is starting the Friday game? I can dig it. So what do I have to say on the first half? It was a pretty good half. I should probably grade first half performances:
Starting Pitching
Josh Beckett: Beckett had a slow start to the season which now everybody forgets about. He was really inconsistent and frustrating to watch. Though as of mid May or so, he turned it on and has been great. He's pitching like he should, and that's a good thing. Hopefully he can keep that going into the second half.
Grade: B
Jon Lester: Like Beckett, Lester had a slow start. His was arguably more attributed to bad luck but like Beckett, he turned it on recently and has been great. Basically everything I said about Beckett, you can say about Lester as well. So we'll go with that.
Grade: B
Tim Wakefield: He carried the starting rotation in the beginning of the season. He has only had 2 really really bad starts out of the starts he's made. He has a couple subpar outings and 2 outings where he got screwed over by other things. Other than that, he's been just great and leads the AL in wins along with Beckett but we all know that from a pitcher's standpoint that wins aren't huge, save for teh fact that Wakefield is doing his usual innings eating. He actually has only failed to go 6 innings 3 times. That's huge and I'm sure the bullpen loves him.
Grade: A-
Brad Penny: Still not sold on Penny but I gotta admit he's done pretty decent. He's been a number 5 guy the whole way through. He's been solid and he can really turn it on every so often. Also he gets extra cool points because he talked smack right back to Joe Girardi who accused him of throwing at the Yankee hitters. Not bad but not really a revelation. Unsung, almost.
Grade: C+
John Smoltz: He hasn't made enough starts to get an actual grade but he's looked alright. Can't really complain.
Grade: I
Daisuke Matsuzaka: The WBC really fucked him over but I can't give him a grade because I don't think he's made enough starts.
Grade: I
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Relief Pitchers
Jonathan Papelbon: Papelbon may have the saves, but man he makes me nervous. He hasn't really been as good as it seems when you look at some of the numbers. He's been mortal basically and pissing me off in some respects. But he does get the job done even if it makes me need to down some Pepto Bismol.
Grade: C+
Ramon Ramirez: He hasn't been as great recently but what a freaking revelation this dude has been. Just awesome. That's really all I got on him.
Grade: A
Manny Delcarmen: He seemed like he had finally turned it around and had finally started to actually believe in himself and not be a dope but he's been a little inconsistent as of late so I'm not too sure. He has been alright for the most part...though a lot of recent stuff makes me wanna give him a lower grade.
Grade: C+
Justin Masterson: Masterson has sucked as of late but I'm chalking that to "vacation brain" which tends to happen to people when they know that they're about to get a few days off. He's been good and has been very versatile which is something that shouldn't really go unnoticed.
Grade: B+
Daniel Bard: Rough beginning but he's been fucking amazing as of late. I think he may end up the closer when Papelbon finally shoots his way out of town because it seems like Paps is setting himself up to do that. Meanwhile Peter Gammons is totally in delight over it all. I'd go further but no vomiting is allowed.
Grade: B+
Takashi Saito: He has kind of been the guy they go to in blowouts. He has been good. I don't really have anything too superlativey to say about him. He's been good and well...good.
Grade: B
Hideki Okajima: Mr. Reliable. He's been The Guy whenever they need him. He wasn't as great starting up but he's been reliable since. He's mortal but he gets the job done. He gets overshadowed by Ram Square and the Spoony Bard (that sounds like a great band name) but I think he likes it that way.
Grade: A-
Hunter Jones: Wasn't here for super long or I just can't remember.
Grade: I
Michael Bowden: One game then sent down. Not enough evidence
Grade: I
Javier Lopez: You got put into right field during a game because you sucked so hard....I think that says enough about you, dude. But you're doing what you can to make it back up to Boston.
Grade: F
Jonathan Van Every: LOLOLOL I just had to put this down
Grade: I
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Starting Lineup
JD Drew: He's rather streaky but more often than not, he's been pretty good. He does really well in the leadoff role too and I've seen him show a little emotion and a little sense of humor (aka what he said about if he hit the ball he was gonna just run right to second base for a cycle when he was a double shy for the cycle). I'd love to see him have a great second half.
Grade: B
Dustin Pedroia: Inconsistent to begin but within the past few weeks, he's been really turning it on. We're starting to see the AL MVP of 2008 instead of just Pedroia. :P And T&P to him and his wifey and I hope their kid is gonna turn out a-OK.
Grade: C+
Kevin Youkilis: He's been the man. A little struggle recently but I still stand by my grade. He deserved an All Star slot for sure.
Grade: A+
David Ortiz: Epic slump to begin but since June, he's been on fire. Not sure what it really was, maybe it really was just the need for some eyedrops. *shrugs shoulders* He'd be an F save for this past June-now.
Grade: C
Jason Bay: Him and Youk carried this team. He has a knack for getting so many RBIs and I think even in his slump he still leads the AL in RBI. How about that? :) He helped carry this team and surely deserves his All Star slot.
Grade: A+
Mike Lowell: Yes, Mike Lowell was pretty good until his hip decided to go and be an asshole to him. He was hitting and he was looking almost like new save for him losing a few steps with running but then again, he isn't that fast to begin with.
Grade: B
Jacoby Ellsbury: Jacoby doesn't do so hot in the leadoff role but he has flourished in this number 7 slot for whatever reason. He's been hitting and stealing like a mofo. Also he contributed one of the most memorable moments of the season when he stole home (am I the only one who noticed that he tripped and fell when he was heading for home?)
Grade: B-
Jason Varitek: Tek has morphed into Doug Mirabelli minus the throwing arm. He doesn't hit much but when he does hit, it's a HR. He's been pretty good so I can't be too mean about him. Still he hasn't been as good as people make him out to be.
Grade: C
Nick Green: What can you really say? He's been a surprise for sure. He is a little shaky defensively but he's got a hell of a gun for an arm. He also has been hitting pretty damn well and has shown he can hit some bombs. He looks slightly creepy to me.
Grade: A-
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Bench
Julio Lugo: Dunno what to say about Lugo. He's just been the usual failbot.
Grade: D- (only because he occasionally has hit the ball)
Rocco Baldelli: He's been everything the Red Sox have wanted in a backup outfielder and more. Sure he can't really run too much but he can field like a mofo and kills righties. Rhode Island Representin'! Though he did have some time on the DL but he's got that mitochondrial thing going on.
Grade: B+
Mark Kotsay: Kotsay has been good since he's come from the DL. I dont know if I can make it any clearer than that. He's been good and has been getting some big hits for the team.
Grade: B
George Kottaras: I can't help but wonder what Mirabelli must be thinking that within the first year of Wake with Kottaras that Wake becomes an All Star. I have a feeling Mirabelli is calling in fake pizza and chicken parm orders for Kottaras and then caling him a picklesmoker. Kottaras has been good. Not much hittingwise but he's been great defensively and actually does have a bit of an arm (though you don't see it when he's catching Wake)
Grade: B-
Jeff Bailey: He's been alright. Mehh. That's really as much as you can say. Meh.
Grade: C
Jed Lowrie: Put on the DL a couple weeks into teh season. He should be back soon though. Here's to him kicking ass.
Grade: I
Jonathan Van Every: Had a memorable week of games where he was made of awesome both hitting AND pitching, but not much after that.
Grade: I
Chris Carter: He's been disappointing in AAA. Hopefully he can get through that and get called up.
Grade: I
Aaron Bates: Not enough time to talk.
Grade: I
I know I'm missing some guys. I'm a little worn otu dude, cut me some slack. :P Also, is Brandon Inge really participating in the HR Derby? O_o Dub tee eff?