Bullpen Bust
May 14, 2008
It goes without saying that 2007 was a special season for the Red Sox. Not only because they won the World Series once again but the reason I was thinking of was because we as Red Sox fans didn’t have to endure the agony of grinding through losing streaks. If any there weren’t many and not only were there few of them but they did not last long if ever. The Red Sox find themselves streaking in the wrong direction yet again after dropping three of four to the Minnesota Twins and today capped a two game sweep courtesy of the Baltimore Orioles.
The past three losses in a row, Boston has got out to a 3-0 advantage early (mostly in the first inning) and then failed to score any runs from there as they relinquish the lead and then some. Wednesday’s loss was one of the most frustrating of the current losing streak for many reasons. Red Sox starter pitched well enough to win this game by pitching six solid innings giving up just two runs on five hits while striking out four.
Among the bizarre occurrences at Camden Yards would be that of the Red Sox not walking once all afternoon. Baltimore Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera led the league in walks last season with well over 100 free passes. To quote Dustin Pedroia from last season after a confrontation with right-hander, “The guy is an idiot. I was upset they took him out of the game. He is good to hit. He's 9-15. The guy sucks." To put it blatantly, yes. He is not that great of a pitcher. Most baseball enthusiasts would not even compliment this guy enough to even call him a pitcher, rather he could be called a “thrower”. I second that because this guy threw nothing but fastballs for seven straight innings.
Eventually the Red Sox were going to lock in on him and start driving the ball out of the yard. Jason Varitek nearly missed a home run to center in the top of the second inning and then made up for his near miss to the deepest part of the ballpark with a solo blast in the top of the fifth. Mike Lowell cranked his fourth of the season off Cabrera as well for a solo job to give the Red Sox a 3-0 advantage but for the third straight game, three runs would not be enough and three runs would be all Boston’s offense could provide.
The seventh inning would be where this game would be lost. Three pitchers would be used in the inning for Boston but the first to come on (Javier Lopez) is realistically the only one that doesn’t deserve some blame for the ending result. Lopez recorded the first two outs with ease on the first two batters to come to the plate. The third batter of the inning would start the trouble for the Red Sox. Freddie Bynum hit a groundball to Dustin Pedroia that he would have to play to his left. Pedroia couldn’t decide whether to play it on his feet or dive so the confusion resulted in Pedroia sliding to his left and not being able to make the play.
With a man on first, Brad Mills (filling in for Terry Francona) would motion to the bullpen for Craig Hansen. Guillermo Quiroz would greet Hansen with a single to right field bringing Brian Roberts to the plate. Roberts would work the count and then some. On the ninth pitch of the at bat, Hansen threw a 95 MPH fastball that missed off the outside corner by inches to load the bases and end Hansen’s night. Hideki Okajima would come on to relieve Craig Hansen to face former Red Sox outfielder, Jay Payton.
On the second pitch of the at bat, Payton launched an 85 MPH “fastball” high, deep and gone for a grand slam. Payton’s third home run of the season would ultimately be the devastating blow that the Red Sox would not be able to overcome. An inability to manufacture runs, two crucial blown calls by first base umpire Mike Winters and a grand slam off the bat by Jay Payton would create the perfect storm to sink the Red Sox ship.
Boston will take a very much needed day off on Thursday and head back to Boston for a three game set against Gabe Kapler and the Milwaukee Brewers. By then the Red Sox hope to have a healthy JD Drew, Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo.
On a side note, if you didn’t see Manny’s catch then you need to get to a TV immediately. Ramirez ran full sprint on a ball hit by Kevin Millar with his back to home plate, stuck his glove out in the air, caught the ball, climbed up the wall, high-fived a Red Sox fan in the front row, turned around and fired a strike to shortstop Alex Cora who then relayed the throw to first base to double off Aubrey Huff. I’ve never seen anything like it and it was by far the most amazing play I have ever seen in my life.
-Jared Carrabis
-Jared Carrabis
| 
