"Fish, I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends"

Beckett sucked balls last time.

No more ball sucking.

Starting this a little bit early aren't we? I guess after that loss, it's important to move on fast.

Ass.

Boobs no longer work.

Papi has a clicking wrist, Manny's gone, several of the Red Sox chosen ones - their larger than life young prospects - aren't really getting it done, 'Tek couldn't hit the side of a barn with a snow shovel, Beckett hasn't assassinated anyone with a curve ball in a while... the list could go on and on and on.

Wait a minute, they are playing the Royals. There is absolutely no reason for the Red Sox to lose tonight. None.

Ortiz and Lowell in the line up

1. J.D. Drew, RF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. Jason Bay, LF
7. Jed Lowrie, SS
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
--Josh Beckett, SP

Bay batting 6th?

Why the hell is Lowell batting before Bay? This is fucking ridiculous and pathetic. Let's see how many times the player that was wanted more than A-Rod breaks up a rally by our piece of shit offense.

That's surprising, but I like this version better than the Lowell 4th/Drew 6th one from immediately after the trade. 4-5-6 is all righty though.

I'm going on a limb and say that the boob talk was vastly overshadowed by the ass talk yesterday and that is why we lost. It's not because we can't hit.



I think they like having protection for Lowell...This explains why they always have a good bat hitting behind him.

enough of this 'ease Bay into it' bullshit.

Bat the dude 4th behind Papi and let him rip.

If we're using that logic then Lowrie is fucked.

And combined with the 9-1-3 LHH combo, it absolutely cries out for two straight innings of relief specialists. Not Tito's finest...seems like he's having as much trouble as Ortiz in adapting to life without Manny.

Statistical evidence would suggest otherwise

Theo, THE ORACLE OF ALL WISDOM AND TRUTH, has spoken to the issue of protection:
The only protection that exists in Baseball is the ribbed Trojan in Dreamboat's back pocket.

Yeah, but if it were just something like his kid in a body-cast or his wife at high-risk of miscarriage Tizzle would be expected to adapt. But Manram is gone. Gone 4eva. BFF by txt msg only from this point on. Plus without Count Chocula in the lineup he's all alone workin' for massah Henry.

In all fairness, Buckholztz pitched like both a boob and an ass.

My last post ever on protection because it is making me sad:

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/...-around-batters

"In short, protecting a star hitter appears to accomplish very little. He indeed gets fewer walks; however, there is no evidence that he gets more hittable pitches, since the pitcher always avoids pitching to a good hitter when the situation would call for an intentional walk."

There is an effect of protection. Theo was just saying it didn't specifically factor into Ortiz's offensive production.

My last ever (and first) post on the subject because your narrow-mindedness is making me sad.

Yes, you are correct. However, Ortiz has specifically cited protection from Manny as helping him be a better hitter, oh a thousand times.

It's not true, but he believes it. And, he's currently in a slump. Arguably, Ortiz believing it, when he is performing badly, is as important as it being true as it may distract him from making other changes.

1) He's in a 20 at-bat "slump". 20. That's it. These things happen by normal variation in the season all the time.
2) If Ortiz believed that Manny hitting behind him was the reason he hit well, and if this belief has existed for the past few seasons, and if these beliefs affected his performance in games, then why didn't they affect his performance over the last few seasons?

Honestly, I only wish I could be as open minded as you, because you apparently read the minds of star athletes when random variation causes a drop in performance.

How quickly everyone forgets this stretch:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/gl.cg...b#1247:1252:sum

Only 10 days ago, when he was 9/23 and .391/.423/.609/1.032, and everyone was attributing his astonishing success coming back from the injury as due to his leg strengthening program.

This mental slump must be something pretty friggin serious if it not only takes Ortiz down from where he was at the beginning of the season, but even from the pinnacle of LAST WEEK's performance after his leg strengthening program!

I would like to see this as well.

If it was the allure of Gil Meche's ass that had the Sox hitters all distracted last night, then Josh will return the favor tonight.



Win.

I'm not trying to say I can read anyone's mind, jnai. I am saying that this is something at least worth paying some attention to going forward. If Ortiz does go into a 'real' slump, it will be difficult to factor in the possible variables with the wrist and this 'possble' mental issue. I believe that the mental side of baseball exists, I hope it does not affect his bat going forward but it's worth keeping an eye on IMVHO.

If only to ease Papi's mind.

It's all about avoiding the impression that he's replacing Manny. But you know what? He's replacing Manny, whether Tito acknowledges it or not.

Interesting, though, that one of the reasons give for the lineup shakeup last night was Lowell's absence. he's back, yet Drew is still the leadoff hitter

Thanks Jnai.

I was talking about Lowell as a specific case in terms of where they put him in the line up and where they put him...I would personally prefer to have Bay batting 5th...

Tianna likes Beckett, so he is ok in my book...

http://www.sexysoxgirls.com/sexy_red_sox_g...mp;photo_id=185

So tonight instead of Coco's suck, we're going to get Dreamboats suck. What a combo we have in CF.

If she is a 4.2 who the hell is a 5. Wow

I was about to say that I feel more comfortable with Dreamboat down there. However, since moving down (this is not including a PH at bat), he has hit 5 for 19. In this small sample size, he has hit .263/.263 (no walks!!!!)/.315...so in the small sample size...he has done pretty mediocre. We have faced some pretty good pitching though.

Note that 1 sock is hot...5 socks are hottest.

Like I said she is a 4.2 Who the hell gets a 5

I'm gonna go with someone with a better face...? Something about Tianna looks slightly off.

Masterson is hilarious.

Oh great, Colon blew up today.

Anyone who pretends to think Amalie Benjamin is more attractive than Heidi Whatney oughta tune in now.

The difference is STAGGERING.

That stinks.

.2 IP 4 hits 3 ER 1 BB 1 K 1 HR

Seriously, it is nothing a little pepto bismol won't cure. Just drink plenty of fluids so you don't dehydrate.

Good advice. I'd follow that with saltines and ginger ale. If that doesn't make things work you may be able to move up to banana. Are you certain you don't have gluten allergies?

someone should snag some screenshots for those of us without NESN.....

Her MySpace page says she is 98 years old

Beckett v Bannister

If you are a fan of pitching.. this is a MUST see game.

If they can't hit Bannister then... well... there may be some problems with this whole 'October' thing.

Nice line drive by Drew.

JD says "I got your pitching matchup RIGHT HERE, BIZZNACHIO!"

Hmm should that have been a triple?

No! Bad Dustin! No bunting!

Is Teahen the worst OF in the game today?

He doesn't care.