Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Good News and Bad News (L9-3) 4 GB

The Sox rudely interrupted last night's effort of good baseball with another lackluster performance tonight, pounded by the Orioles 9-3, absence the dread pirate Brian Roberts, day-to-day with a shoulder injury. Tim Wakefield got cuffed around by Geronomo Gil (three-run homer), Miguel Tejada (HR 14, Nomar's better?), and Sammy Sosa (HR 5) as Wakefield fell to 4-5, 5.03.

Sox highlights? Manny had a two run single in the 'it's alive' 3 run seventh, Trot Nixon threw out a runner at the plate, and Bronson Arroyo got a confidence boost retiring four consecutive batters.

Terry Francona must be getting close to the threshold for recurrent chest pain.

Big Picture. "You're never as good as you look when you win or as bad as you look when you lose." Maybe Earl Weaver owns that quote. The Sox fell to four out in the division and 2.5 games out in the Wild Card battle as we come up on the one-third mark of the season.

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true."- Homer Simpson. In the words of Billy Beane, "if he such a good hitter, then why doesn't he hit better." The Sox are second in runs scored (tied with NY and behind Texas) and 12th in pitching, ahead of the pitiful Rays and Royals. The Sox just aren't playing with a full deck; they've got a couple of jokers, but no ace.

Minor league hopefuls. The PawSox are tied at 3 in the 11th against Norfolk and old friend Brian Daubach. Abe Alvarez started for Pawtucket and yielded 2 runs with 7 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

The Sea Dogs fell to New Hampshire 4-1, as both Pedroia and Ramirez drew the collar, but Brandon Moss had two more hits to raise his average to .268.

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