And so Manny does it again, not even The Blog can hold him back. Instead of getting the MLB package on cable as of just yet, I'll wait until the All Star Break and succumb to MLB on my laptop, which, actually makes it quite easier and more accessible to blog.

  Now, late in the game, with the Sox clinging to a one run lead, with former Sox farm hand Zach Miner pitching, Manny knocks in two with a deeeeeep double to straight away center off the wall. Another testament to the fact that this guy is going to go on an absolute tear, like Superman, Hercules, Zeus, and the Crack Epidemic all combined.

 On a side note, the Tigers pitching looks really bad. Not only that their "Lock" for MVP, Miguel Cabrera is obviously being bothered by his sore quad or hamstring or whatever it is, and, I'm no one to knock someone like Jim Leyland, but wouldn't you think that for someone who is touted as having an almost cerebral feel for his players why he wouldn't just pull him.
 
 + The Tigers pitching looks lost. Everyone looks lost. I mean, the Sox can hold on to the idea that their travel took a toll on them - these Tigers just look...well...dead. It's the same problem too, the Bullpen. These guys are NOT doing too well.

 + Jacoby is in for the Bad Man, and Crisp gets to 3-2. First and second, two down..and we've got 'em juiced, the 4th walk of the inning, and stepping up to the plate is the Mayor himself - Lets earn a curtain call SC!

Man these guys are bad..it's like Leyland is playing shuffle board with the back end of his rotation..I really feel bad for him, these guys have no arms, and they really unloaded the farm (for the most part) during the off season.

 + Sir Mayor-ness drives in two!!
 
RemDawg brings up a good tidbit during Cash's at-bat, as he strikes out. If the Sox can maintain the nice lead they can keep The Bot fresh for the upcoming series against the Yankees.

 + Back into action, strange, Okajima is done, Francona pulling him in favor of Julian the Goohlian...and my connection timed out..God. Either way this is a pain in the ass. Now I'm all lost, if someone could update me as to what exactly happened there. Did Tavarez punch out an unsuspecting security guard? Did I miss him fondling a college co-ed from North Eastern on the way to the mound?

 Oh Julian, first batter-walk. Yikes! It's funny, when the Sox signed him I never envisioned too much but you know what, in the past three years the guy has done everything he's been asked of. Now, as I praise the guy he gives up a double to Rent-a-Wreck and I may be having some buffalo sauce with my Crow.

How about Brandon Inge?! This guy was a side note after The Trade of All Trades, and the guy is, right now, the best hitter in the lineup for the Tigers, he's just smoking the ball. The cynics would say he's boosting his trade value, and it's true, he probably is, but I think deep down Inge really wants to be on that team, and just feels like the odd man out. I hope a good team gets Inge, and I would love if the Sox could get him (the guy SMOKES lefties)

 Joolz gives up his second walk in a row, giving the pass to Renteria and Francona has begun pacing again. Their juiced and he gives up a run scoring single, and their still juiced, with no outs.  Who's in the Pen?

Hello..?
 Dial tone...?

Polanco gets a single and Tavarez gives up two and walks two, now it's a three run ball game and, oh yeah, did I mention, the bases are STILL juiced? Francona is rocking back and forth, kinda like Sheffield's bat..

 Wow! Sheff grounds into a DP, with a run scoring, so Detroit is within two, but a fair trade off I think. We've got the bats coming up next, but Magglio is up..and Francona is pulling Jools, much to the delight of the fans, and here comes the Bot.

 Can you even imagine this guy as a starter? I mean, seriously, not talking like, in your mind as a fantasy, but in reality? Because I can't. To me, the guy is MADE for closing games out. It's like Bing, Bang, punch in, Punch out, Drink your keg, feel up your girlfriend, and peace out for the night, killing the party as he walks out..

Here comes another Tiger farmhand as Lugo leads off for the Sox. The Tigers pitchers just can't find the plate, giving up seven walks, allowing five runs on seven of those walks.

 + Little Dusty grabs a single, stealing his second hit of the night - this guy is such a grinder, I'm a huge fan of the Dust Man.
 
Papi hitting under .100? It cannot be! I doubt he'll see too many pitches here as Manny has been pulled already..but we'll see, I expect big things outta Papi this weekend against the Yanks.

 Ortiz gets on base with his second walk, and the eighth of the evening. Here comes Jacoby. (My girlfriend is in LOVE with Jacoby, thinks he's wicked hot, and I totally don't mind that at all. As a matter of fact, there are handful of the team that I wouldn't mind if she did it  with, I really wouldn't)

Jacoby works the count full after a suspect off speed pitch. Here' the pay off and..we've got 'em juiced once again. Here comes some Tigers support in the form of Rick Hernandez to the mound. What do you say here? "um..find the plate"? "Don't walk him"? "Come on, go for the DP and I'll buy you a hooker after the game"? I'd go with the latter.

So Youk's got 'em juiced and NESN is in love with Mike Lowell's splint. Youk has to get on base, as Drew is smoking the ball, and Youk gets two while plating two, and Drew follows up with a sac fly. It's a five run ball game again, and Bazzardo has thrown thirty pitches this inning! Coco is working this guy, making him throw strikes. Do I mind having two center fielders? No, do I think we should trade one of them? No. Do I think Francona should manage them exactly like he has? Yes, absolutely.

Coco slaps a single, knocking in his second of the night. This guy on the mound just looks depleted, he looks tired and beaten and dead, and I think Leyland is just sticking it to him at this point. Everyone knows this game is out of reach, and the Marlboro Maestro has bowed gracefully to defeat. So, barring some unforeseen miracle, the Tigers will drop to 1-8.

 Looks like the Bot will be coming back out to close the door, a move I don't mind, and i know will get scrutinized over and over again, but the guy hasn't pitched since last week, and it might be good for him to get some work in. Here's the thing - he isn't a rookie anymore, he isn't nor shouldn't be coddled, the guy is a professional, a professional Bad Ass, and he should be able to display his arsenal whenever questioned. Oh, and he only threw two pitches last inning.

The Bot sets down Cabrera, screaming with the fastball. Nice pitch. Guillen comes up to bat now, 0-for-the night.
 
 Guillen works a nice double down the left field line, going lefty against the Bot. We'll see, he's got a stolen base but like I said, the Bot going Cherynobl is really the only way the Sox can lose this one, and I doubt Tito would allow it to happen even if it was close.

Paps gets the called strike three on Renteria, and he looks like he's in the zone, maybe a bit rusty, but in the zone regardless. Pudge comes up to the plate..I'll have an update after I get my chicken wings from the microwave.

so Pudge snags a single, landing runners on the corners. Pudge has been on base all night. Paps gets the strikeout and the game is over. Now, to the real question..do I get post game coverage with this package?  

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