Results tagged ‘ Tampa Bay Rays ’
WINDING DOWN
The Boston Red Sox have had 52 players this season….so far, the most in the American League and only 3 behind the Pittsburgh Pirates with 55. (The Sox had 52 players last year too.) The team has used 25 pitchers so far this season, tied for the most in the American League with the Kansas City Royals.
Red Sox 3B Adrian “The Enforcer” Beltre is only 1 shy of reaching 100 RBI this season. (He is 10th in the American League so far in 2010).
PULL-OUT ALL THE STOPS
The time is here, no time to waste…..the stakes are about as high as they can get in baseball for our Boston Red Sox.
It’s Do-Or-Die time in the next 10-12 games. Simple as that…..nuf ced Red Sox Nation !!
No-way are the Sox contenders for the top spot in the American League East, so the Wild Card race is our ONLY OPTION. Now we must rely on a familiar foe to assist us in this chess match, we need the New York Yankees to kick Tampa Bay butt in their next 7 games with them. The Yanks are going to keep winning, because they can. We need Tampa to lose. It’s not just enough for the Sox to win anymore, that’s not enough for us to get the job done. The Rays have to go down, and that’s all there is to it. Oh, and the Chicago White Sox need to lose a few and back off on this Wild Card race to the finish.
Asking a lot…..yeah, but it can happen….we’ve seen all the pieces miraculously come together before…..and it can happen again!
Lester and Beckett need to stablize, they’ve got to focus and get these wins. Buchholz needs to keep shining bright…there may be quite a reward at the end of this rainbow for him! Lackey and Matsuzaka need to show Red Sox Nation why they are being paid so much money, time to show what you’re made of & step-up! Wakefield needs to go back to the bull pen, no time left in this super-tight race to play honorary veteran….maybe on October 3rd.
Ortiz and Beltre need to stay healthy & keep eating their Wheaties, they are quite the Dynamic Duo & I hope to see them both on the 2011 roster. Varitek’s back and needs to hit the ground running (sorry, Captain…you are REALLY needed to hit like you did this spring) and Martinez has to hold it together and try to stay healthy-enough to get through these games in the home stretch….you’re not in Cleveland anymore! (Did not impress in 2009 postseason games vs. the Angels) Drew and Hall have to improve their at-bats, and make quality strategic hits more often…and we love those HR’s too. Lowrie and Scutaro need to keep chipping-away and focus on fielding. First Base….we need someone at first base!! Whether it is Martinez, Ortiz or Anderson…if Lowell cannot return….someone’s gotta do it!
The rest of the outfield…well, Terry will surely earn his pay this year, won’t he? Kalish and McDonald are my picks, but Patterson isn’t too bad either. The Bull Pen….geesh! Bard is not the super pitcher people make him out to be, he can cave-in a game just as much as his buddy Papelbon can (but for a lot less pay). I am liking Atchison, Bowden & Okajima, the others should pay attention!
New York and Tampa both also had a day off on Thursday, and are also playing games on the road – but they have tougher matchups than the Red Sox do. NY plays the Rangers in Texas, and the Rays play the Jays in Toronto while we (play well on the road in 2010) play the Oakland Athletics, then the Seattle Mariners on the West Coast.
The Time Is Now….We Have Our Fingers-Crossed For The Boston Red Sox. GO SOX!
- fenway fruitgirl 2010 “BEHIND THE NET”
Enough Left In The Tank ??
…. to make it to the postseason ?
Who Knew Interleague Would Be A Kick? (I Did)
Mid-way through a slow-climbing season of baseball for the Boston Red Sox….appeared a gift
INTERLEAGUE play
to my 2007 World Champion (2008 American League Divisional Winners) – matching-up against the National League is a GREAT way to rack-up a boat load of wins before going back to the almost mondane schedule of playing against their usual American League (East) counterparts. I love Interleague play, it allows me to see a real mix of teams playing eachother….a delightful change in baseball.
The Red Sox just completed a 9-game homestand of Interleague play, emerging extremely victorious at a 8 of 9 games won. Now the boys are about to embark on a 6 game road trip out west for the remainder of their 1st phase of Interleague play. Gone now are the Phillies, the Diamondbacks, and the Dodgers……on come the games vs. the Rockies and the Giants !!
The Red Sox crept quietly up the standings ladder as Tampa free-fell(only winning 3 out of their last 9 games), and the Yankees stumbled. The Yankees have yet to face the Diamondbacks and Dodgers in the coming 6 games(on the road), and the Rays will face the Padres and Diamondbacks(at home). So,unfortunately…I do expect the road ahead to get easier for the Rays – making the competition for the top spots in the AL East to get even tighter.
With very few games ahead to be played at Fenway Park in July (only 9)…so the boys – both young and old need to play hard and stay focused on the road. Godspeed boys, the hopes of a nation are behind you.
- fenway fruitgirl “BEHIND THE NET” 2010
10-Day Homestand
After a tough game yesterday in Minneapolis, the Sox came home last night to cold, raw temps and the possibility of rain and snow for Friday night’s game. What would’ve been a 190th win for veteran pitcher Tim Wakefield, in his 16th year in the major leagues….turned-out to be a shutout win for the Twins, and a disaster for the Sox.
Mulligan…… “Do-Over”
Venturing out to Fenway Park on Friday night to watch the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Boston Red Sox on 9/11/09 did not turn out as originally-planned….
….And then the rain picked-up, and the drizzle turned to showers, which turned to downpours!
Not looking good. Waiting in the concourse for word from umpires…POSTPONED
There will be a Double-Header on Sunday 9/13/09 between Tampa and Boston. No longer Lester vs. Shields now Buchholz vs. Garza at 12:00pm
(Great Action Shot, huh ?) Graza was very good, but had no run support.
One of the day’s heroes: MVP Mr. Dustin Pedroia (Double & HR)
Trouble for Tampa (lost 11 in a row as of 9/14/09) Losing Kasmir (SP) & Pena (1B) taking it’s toll on the team.
Red Sox Win 3-1 and later in the day, take game 3 and sweep the Tampa Bay Rays!
- Fenway Fruitgirl 9/13/09 May The Sox Be With You . . . . .
Goodbye Trop – Hello House Of Pain
Short painful 2 game series with the pesky Tampa Bay Rays is over and done. I do not understand why those fans ring cowbells, do they attract Sting Rays in the ocean? Other than “OUCH” there is not very much to say about the short sweep, other than why pitchers don’t just walk Pena??? He may have the lowest batting average on the lineup right now,but he is a dangerous home run hitter…and it’s always wise to minimize damage and prevent him from hitting those homers, and driving his fellow team mates who are on base accross home base with him, right?
Lester certainly had Longoria’s number. Evan was unable to get anything done with Jon on the mound on Tuesday. Speaking of Tuesday’s game and Jon Lester, it was the 5th time this year that our young LHP had 10 or more strikeouts in a game. Nice.
Young CF Jacoby Ellsbury is about to surpass his total stolen bases for 2008. He is in 2nd place in the MLB behind Carl Crawford.
Tonight’s game matchup and lineup makes me a bit queasy, but I will watch the game with a strong cocktail in my hand and grin and bear it for my team. Veteran pitcher John Smoltz takes the mound against young Yank Joba Chamberlain in the Bronx just after 7:00pm tonight with Victor Martinez scheduled to catch. It’s Martinez’s first taste of the rivalry in person. Jason Bay will not play for 2 games because of his hamstring problem.
Friday night’s game will be one of those “Gotta Watch” games of the summer, every sports bar on the East Coast will have that one on, and rightly so. Ace Josh Beckett takes the mound against A.J. Burnett, and the fireworks will begin! Go get him Josh!
Saturday night’s matchup is another queasy and uneasy game to avoid or bear on FOX with Clay “Don Knotts” Buchholz against C.C. Sabathia in the House of Pain.
It will all end-up on Sunday with a classic matchup of our horse Jon Lester taking the mound against Andy Pettitte. That game will be televised on ESPN. Should be a very good game to watch.
Then, home they go to Boston to play a 4-game homestand against the Detroit Tigers from August 10-13, then off again to Texas.
Beckett’s 200th Start
Mother’s Day 2009 May 10th 8:05pm at Fenway Red Sox vs. Tampa Rays
Joshua Patrick Beckett’s 200 Career Start
Red Sox won 4-3 against Tampa (Ramon Ramirez recorded the Win)
David Ortiz (DH) is only 10 homeruns away from his 300th. He’s currently at 290.
Big Papi is also close to another career milestone, only 17 RBI’s away from 1,000 !!
Terry Francona(manager) not only wisked over to Chapel Hill North Carolina yesterday to attend his daughter’s college graduation, and came back in time for Batting Practice before the game, but he also tied Bill Carrigan’s career managerial win record of 489 wins. 500 is right around the corner Tito, congrats on all milestones.
23 year old RHP Daniel Bard was brought-up from triple-A Pawtucket yesterday and will wear the number 60. LHP Javier Lopez has been designated for assignment. Bard is last year’s Minor League Rookie Of The Year, and a pitching phenom with a “wicked” 100-mile an hour fastball.
The Sox have their first “Off” day in 18 days. But they must also find time to travel to the West Coast for Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim CA. Justin Masterson will be starting pitcher (Filling-in for Matsuzaka) against the Angels’ J. Weaver. Game start is at a cruel 10:05pm (Eastern time). Coffee ! Coffee !
Sox have the AL best winning at home record at .750 winning percentage. 2nd in MLB behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Opening Day 2009
On a clear brisk April afternoon, Boston’s boys of summer did not dissappoint in their first regular season face-off with the evil slimy (Devil) Rays of Tampa. Just looking at the closeups of the mean puss of Maddon’s staring-down into the Boston Dugout made me want to take those Drew Carey glasses and shove them down his throat. It appears that Haverhill’s own Carlos Pena got nowhere with Beckett’s rocket-powered fastballs. Longoria appeared to almost cry in one camera shot in the 6th inning. It’s called “Getting Spanked” and that is what Philadelphia did to you last fall….remember ?
Sorry, but there is no love lost here for the Rays. Coming within a win from going to a second consecutive World Series, then losing from injuries and exhaustion to an inferior team will do that to ya.
Back to the game, Pedroia appropriately scored the first run in the first inning-showing the fans that the MVP is in the house. Jason Varitek’s homerun shut those vulture media know-nothings up for the afternoon. Bay and Youk and Lowell did great…..Ortiz got on base too.
So much for “Big Game” Sheilds pulling the wool over our eyes……huh ?
For my boys in Red, I am proud of you for what you did last year, and am happy to see you back here – where you belong. When you are working together as a team, it’s LIGHTS-OUT no contest. Keep the momentum going, you have our prayers and our adoration as your loyal fans.
Josh, you never let me down…….Tek you are my hero.
God Bless The Red Sox. And May The Sox Be With You All.
- fruitgirl
Oh My Josh….Opener is Postponed !
In the history books, the Opening Day for the winning season of the 2009 World Series winning Boston Red Sox will just be a day later than originally scheduled. The day that started the soon-to-be historic run will now be
TUESDAY APRIL 7, 2009 at 4:05 (or 4:10) pm
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park Boston, MA.
The decision was a smart one, instead of starting a game, then having it delayed in the cold soaking rain. People had to take a day off work for the Special Opportunity to go to the Opener, because of the game time originally set for 2:05 pm (4/6/09).
Instead, now the weather forcast for TUESDAY 4/7/09 at 4:05 pm will be much clearer and drier.
After all, the fans did not want to have to be subjected to watching that music video that Papelbon and DelCarmen made last year for rain delays….did they ?
Fenway Park in all its glory, is at it’s pinnacle of beauty on a clear bright day with a slight breeze, the smell of grilled sausage and peppers waifing-over from Yawkey Way, and on the mound in the center of that Kelly Green grass stands our Josh Beckett firing rockets all afternoon to his pal Jason Varitek. Yeah, I think that I can wait one more day to witness that. That is truly worth the wait.
Maybe Carlos Pena can take all his team mates over to his parents’ house in Haverhill for a warm meal.
Enjoy the extra day of rest boys, it’s going to be a long season ! Go Sox !!
-fruitgirl
Recent Comments