Baseball is so unpredictable it is almost predictable

What did I say the other day about the finale of the Red Sox - Blue Jays series?

I wrote:

Today Halladay pitches against Paul Byrd.
Wait... Paul Byrd?
OK, it is a good day to go to the beach. The Red Sox aren't winning today.

Yeah. I went to the beach. A 38 year old who hadn't thrown a pitch in the big leagues all year against a front runner for the Cy Young Award?

OF COURSE Byrd was going to throw 6 shutout innings and Halladay would get rocked.

Looks like Paul Byrd found God again.

It's games like this one that make me NEVER bet on sporting events.

I guess Zack Grienke DOES want to win the AL Cy Young Award

Not long after my wondering if anyone actually wants to win this award, Grienke is doing his best to say "Cool it! It's mine!"

1-0 complete game shutouts in late August tend to help seal the deal.

And with Roy Halladay and Josh Beckett stinking it up recently, it is looking more and more like Grienke will put a tremendous line on his resume for when he goes to free agency and signs with either the Red Sox or the Yankees.

However with Justin Verlander's win today and CC Sabathia lurking, it's not his yet.

But man it is close.

This wasn't the biggest hit in Edgar Renteria's career

When someone hits a come from behind grand slam in late August that puts his team into a tie for a playoff spot... you'd think that would be the biggest hit in that guy's career.

Well Edgar Renteria got a bigger one than his blast today.

Remember he got a walk off single in the 11th inning to win Game 7 of the 1997 World Series for the Marlins.

And I bet you forgot he hit a walk off hit in Game 1 of the Division Series that year against the Giants.

But the Giants swept the Rockies and will go into September tied for a playoff spot... and they will have the best starting pitching of any of the Wild Card contenders.

That maybe be only the third biggest hit in Edgar Renteria's career... but Giants fans are more than happy with the Bronze!

That should have been a blow out... not that I am complaining

Seriously, how many bases loaded jams could the Sox let Ricky Romero get away with last night?

He let up 11 base runners in 5 1/3 innings only 3 scored?

And what should have been a laugher turned into a "Get the bullpen scurrying" tense affair.

But all that matters is the W.

And oh yeah, Buchholz was AWESOME! And it is his 4th good start in his last 5.

Maybe he IS ready.

It's time to update the tally... and it will be a memorable tally.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 22

April 17 - 10-8 win against Orioles. (Overcame 7-0 deficit.)

April 24 - 5-4 win against Yankees. (Bay homers off of Rivera in 9th to tie it.)

April 25 - 16-11 win against Yankees. (Overcame 6-0 deficit.)

April 29 - 6-5 win at Cleveland. (Overcame 5-0 deficit.)

May 12 - 4-3 win at Anaheim. (Down 3-1 in the 8th.)
June 11 - 4-3 win against Yankees. (Down 3-1 in the 8th. Rallied against Sabathia.)

June 12 - 5-2 win at Philadelphia. (Overcame Ryan Howard's 9th inning shot to win in 13)

June 21 - 6-5 win against Atlanta. (The wind turns Nick Green's fly ball into a walk off shot)

June 27 - 1-0 win at Atlanta. (Masterson and Papelbon wiggle out of late jams.)
July 1 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Sox score 4 in the 9th and Lugo wins in in the 11th)

July 8 - 5-4 win against Oakland. (Wind keeps Hairston's 9th inning go ahead homer in the ballpark)

July 10 - 1-0 win against Kansas City. (Pedroia drives in the only run with 2 outs in the 8th.)

July 30 - 8-5 win against Oakland. (Ortiz tests postive then hits a 2 out 3 run go ahead homer.)

July 31 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Youk's 2 run homer saves Smoltz from another bad start.)

August 10 - 6-5 win against Detroit. (Sox snap 6 game losing streak with 7th inning rally.)

August 14 - 8-4 win at Texas. (Victor Martinez hits a 2 run 2 strike 2 out double to take the lead and make up for Buchholz's baserunning mishap.)

August 18 - 10-9 win at Toronto. (Ortiz homers and the Jays defense collapses, saving Beckett from a bad start.)
August 24 - 12-8 win against White Sox. (Red Sox overcome early 4-1 lead and a bad Buchholz start.)

August 25 - 6-3 win against White Sox. (Red Sox win with 4 unanswered runs despite some sloppy defense.)

August 26 - 3-2 win against White Sox. (Wakes pitches 7 strong and Papi homers twice including a walk off)

August 28 - 6-5 win against Toronto. (Sox come back from early 3-0 hole and Paps wiggles out of a bases loaded jam in the 9th.)

August 29 - 3-2 win against Toronto. (Buchholz dominates but needs help from Paps to finish the 9th)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 22

April 14 - 6-5 loss at Oakland. (Sox blow early 3-0 lead. Lose in 12)

April 28 - 9-8 loss at Cleveland. (Sox blow early 5-1 lead. Lopez drops 3rd out.)
May 14 - 5-4 loss at Anaheim. (Ortiz goes 0-7 stranding 12 runners.)
May 15 - 5-4 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox blow their second 4-0 lead in three days.)

May 17 - 3-2 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox strand two in the 9th. Lose in the bottom of the 9th.)

May 23 - 3-2 loss to the Mets. (Papelbon lets up a 2 out 2 run homer in the 9th to Omir Santos)

June 18 - 2-1 loss to the Marlins. (Rain washes out a tight game after 5+ innings.)

June 28 - 2-1 loss to the Braves. (Tying run on base in the 9th. Solid Penny outing wasted)
June 30 - 11-10 loss at Baltimore. (The Red Sox blow a late 10-1 to the lowly Orioles.)
July 3 - 7-6 loss to Seattle. (Red Sox comeback in the 8th only to lose in the 11th.)

July 4 - 3-2 loss to Seattle. (Saito walks three in the 9th as the Mariners rally to win)

July 9 - 8-6 loss to the Royals. (Bullpen blows early 4-0 lead.)

July 21 - 4-2 loss at Texas. (Beckett loses a complete game and the Yankees take over first.)

July 22 - 3-1 loss at Texas. (Sox are swept for the first time all season.)

July 28 - 9-8 loss to Oakland. (Sox blow 3 run lead in 9th. A's rally with 2 outs in 9th and 11th.)

July 29 - 8-6 loss to Oakland. (Down 5-0 in the first, Sox comeback falls short)

August 4 - 4-2 loss in Tampa Bay. (Longoria hits 13th inning walk off with first base open.)

August 5 - 6-4 loss in Tampa Bay. (Sox gets swept in a 2 game series with the tying run at the plate).

August 7 - 2-0 loss in New York. (A-Rod's walk off with 2 outs in the 15 ends a teeth grinding marathon.)

August 9 - 5-2 loss in New York. (4 outs from avoiding a sweep, Bard lets up back to back homers to Damon and Teixeira.)

August 13 - 2-0 loss to Detroit. (Verlander wiggles out of early and late jams.)

August 16 - 4-3 loss at Texas. (Red Sox can't rally and fall behind the Rangers in the Wild Card race)

BREAK EVEN!

For the first time since July 21, they are not in the red.

And if Buchholz is pitching well like this and Beckett's slump can end, maybe the this season isn't lost.

Today Halladay pitches against Paul Byrd.

Wait... Paul Byrd?

OK, it is a good day to go to the beach. The Red Sox aren't winning today.

Is this a dagger which I see before the bullpen?

The Red Sox added some depth and literary value to their bullpen by recalling Marcus McBeth.

I have no clue if he will help or not, but I certainly hope he has a better relationship with his wife than the other guy with that name.

(Yeah I know, it is spelled MacBeth... but how often do the Sox bring up a Shakespearean named player? I don't think there's a utility infielder named Falstaff in Pawtucket.)

I bet Jody McDonald will pick up on it.

Barry Zito can become the Giants answer to J. D. Drew

I know a way to heaven for Barry Zito.

Right now his $126 million contract that he inked before the 2007 season is always brought up as one of the worst in baseball history.

Last year not only did he not pitch like an ace, but as a 17 game loser with an ERA of 5.15, he didn't pitch like a #5 starter.

I saw him pitch at a game in AT&T Park earlier this year with my mother and two kids. He got clubbed so badly that my mother in law felt bad for him when he got booed.

But there is an easy way to make people forget all of that, even with 4 more years left on the deal:

Pitch like he did tonight and win some more big games.

He's let up 1 run in his last 20 1/3 innings.

And if Cain can right his ship, suddenly the Giants would have three aces.

Can you imagine the Giants in a short series against Philadelphia with Lincecum throwing 2 games, Cain throwing a game and Zito pitching like this in game 3?

That would make a lot of people forget 2 1/2 unremarkable seasons.

Post season success can be quite a cure all.

If I, Paul Sullivan, the man who did NOT want J. D. Drew in a Red Sox uniform, could become the founder of the J. D. Drew Fan Club based solely on his post season heroics, then Barry Zito can become a fan favorite in San Francisco.

Falling Angels?

The Angels overtook the Rangers around the All Star break for the division... and since then they had a run where they won 12 of 13, another 5 game winning streak, and in mid August a run where they won 9 of 11.

They built up a 6 1/2 game lead in late August.

Party is over.

Division is theirs.

The Angels were clearly going to win their fifth division title since Arte Moreno took over the team in 2003.

Not - So - Fast!

Have you noticed since August 22, the lead has gone from 6 1/2 games to 4 games?

Have you noticed teams like the Blue Jays and the A's have been giving them fits?

Did you know that they go on a stretch in mid September where they play the Yankees 4 times, the Red Sox 3 times and the Rangers 3 times... then after an Oakland series another 3 games with the Rangers?

Did you know the Rangers are done facing the Red Sox and Yankees?

Did you know the Rangers' September is filled with games against the Blue Jays, the Orioles, the Indians and the A's? Yes they play the Rays and the Mariners, both teams with winning records but the Rangers schedule is MUCH more forgiving!

What I am saying is, the Angels, whose starting pitching isn't bringing back memories of the Braves of the 1990s, might find themselves getting pounded.

And as they play Boston and New York, the Rangers will be playing the A's.

It is not unreasonable that the Angels could drop a few games in the standings before their head to head matches.

Don't just be thinking about the Wild Card, Texas... some Angels wings might be clipped.

A strange thing happened at the Dodger game the other day

I'm talking about the August 27th game between the Dodgers and the Rockies.

I was listening to the game in my car and there was a managerial decision that has been bugging me because it made no sense to me.

In this critical game, the Dodgers had a 3-2 lead in the 9th. Torre had already brought in Jonathan Broxton to escape an 8th inning jam. Broxton was in the #5 hole because of a previous double switch.

In the top of the 9th, Franklin Morales was pitching for Colorado. He had thrown a 1-2-3 8th inning and got the first two out in the 9th when Andre Ethier reached on an error. 

Manny Ramirez was up next followed by Broxton.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy walked Ramirez. A no brainer. Who would you rather face in Coors Field? A Hall of Famer or a reliever with 4 career plate appearances?

So Ramirez is put on... and remember Morales has pitched well thus far... and should have been out of the inning because of the error... and now is pitching against a reliever.

And Jim Tracy makes a pitching change.

And more than that... a double switch.

He removed Brad Hawpe from the lineup, brought in Ryan Spilborghs to play the outfield and put Rafael Betancourt on the hill.

Am I missing something?

I checked the Rockies websites, and Morales wasn't injured.

Why the heck did Jim Tracy not trust Morales against a reliever who has only 3 more plate appearances than Eddie Gaedel? 

Did Morales plead his case?

"Skip! This guy is 0-4 lifetime and doesn't participate in batting practice. I have a plan on how to get him out!"

"What is it?"

"I am going to throw the ball towards the plate and he won't hit it."

He had no problem having him throw to Andre Ethier but was there a scouting report saying "Broxton kills Morales. He takes him deep!"

Maybe he thought Broxton was due.

Sully Baseball Salutes... Jody McDonald!

I've been a big fan of Jody McDonald for a while.

He was a great co host on WFAN, first with Suzyn (sic) Waldman and then with Joe Beningo.

I even called in a bunch of times... once after the Red Sox extended the 2004 ALCS and I referenced the Pacino line "Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in."

He's now matched up with Rob Dibble on XM. I was always a big fan of Dibble and Kennedy, but Jody Mac has proved to be a wonderful ying to Dibble's yang (or is it the other way around.)

Today they were talking about the mess that has the audacity of calling themselves the New York Mets. 

When the subject of the Mets financial woes tied in with Bernie Madoff came up, they talked about how it affected Omar Minaya from pursuing Manny Ramirez when they needed a left fielder.

Jody Mac said "When Minaya didn't even call the agent, I knew something is rotten in the state of Denmark."

Folks... Jody Mac dropped a Shakespeare reference during a baseball call in show!

Hamlet, act 1 scene 4. 

It's one thing to drop a "to be or not to be" reference... but for an XM crowd, that was a smidge more obscure.

I wonder if Dibble caught it.

Either way, kudos for Jody Mac for not talking down to the audience!

And maybe with new management the Mets can unleash the dogs of war.

The NL Cy Young Award has been clinched... thanks for playing

At this point, Chris Carpenter would have to throw three straight no hitters to wrestle the Cy Young away from Tim Lincecum... and even then, I'm not sure he'd earn it.

You want stats?

Lincecum won his 13th game, 4th in the league.

He lowered his ERA to 2.33, 2nd in the league.

He leads the league in innings pitched.

He has the third lowest WHIP.

He has the second lowest batting average against.

He leads the league in strikeouts.

He leads the league in complete games.

He is tied for the league lead in shutouts.

And now you want your ace showing up for the big game?

How's about tonight's game in San Francisco? Colorado coming into town... Giants need to win... and he throws 8 shutout innings and brings the Giants to within 2 games of a playoff spot in late August.

It's his.

He's won it.

He will be a two time Cy Young winner before his 26th birthday.

Nope, I don't think it is too early to be wondering where his place will be among the all time San Francisco legends.

Stay healthy pal... you are getting the hard part of your Hall of Fame resume out of the way early!!!

Will no one rid me of this meddlesome slump?

I know I am not supposed to complain after a win... especially a late August win in a pennant race. But Beckett! Come on! WTF?

The whole premise for me feeling any hope for October is the following scenario:

Get into the post season... play the Angels... have a healthy Beckett and Lester... move onto the ALCS and take our chances with two aces!

Lester has been doing his share and for what it is worth so is Wakes.

But Beckett has let up 20 runs in his last 18 1/3 innings.

So much for his being a Cy Young contender. Right now I'd like him pitching like Matt Young.

Let's hope it is a Toronto fluke. He has a 6.44 ERA against the Jays... maybe they just have his number.

Either way, I want the Beckett that threw 7 shutout innings at Yankee Stadium a few weeks ago back!

Hey Steve Physioc... knock it off

Steve Physioc, the former Bay Area sportscaster turned Angels announcer, doesn't seem like a bad guy.

He basically strikes me as Ted Baxter without the gravitas. 

But he did something tonight during the Angels wild comeback against Oakland that simply needs a public flogging.

Kendry Morales, who is having a break out season, hit a go ahead 3 run homer.

Everyone in Anaheim (I'm sorry... Los Angeles) is going nuts.

And The Phys says "K-Mo goes Bam Bam on the A's."

Read that again.

"K-Mo goes Bam Bam on the A's."

I will even allow him to slip "goes Bam Bam"... but K-Mo?

Really? Does ANYONE call him K-Mo?

Or is Phys trying to be cool and coin a nickname. Either way, he must be stopped... or else I will go BAM BAM on the Phys!

Well, if you are going to lose... LOSE

Seriously... I have said I don't want my teams losing 9-8.

And I can live with a 1-0 loss.

But blow outs are my favorite kind of losses. 

And this game was an ideal loss.

Seriously, if my team is going to lose, I want them down 9-0 early so I can give my kids a bath and read them a book without scurrying down stairs to check the score on MLB.com.

If my team is going to lose, I want the best pitcher to be a utility infielder chucking 2 hitless and scoreless frames.

Just lose, give the pen a night off and feel fine with taking 3 of 4 from the White Sox.

Bring on the Jays

Penny finally shows his worth

Brad Penny wasn't worth his last name as a pitcher for the Red Sox... and he did the honorable thing. He took one for the team and asked for his release.

Basically committed baseball hari kari (not Harry Carey.)

Maybe Theo should have listened to Larry Bowa!

Once Teixeria skedaddled to the Yankees, the Red Sox did the smart thing and not simply throw money at someone else to respond to the Yankees.

They kept their money and their draft picks and went bargain hunting.

And in came Takashi Saito, John Smoltz, Rocco Baldelli and Brad Penny who combined are paid $9 million less than Teixeria is this season.

Saito is a mop up man, Baldelli is a seldom used injury riddled 4th outfielder and Smoltz and Penny got released.

Sometimes you can find something great in the bargain bin, but most of the times there is nothing but cheap crap.

At least Penny knew he was cheap crap. 

Watch him go to the Cardinals and throw a no hitter. 

I never thought I'd be saying this but...

THANK YOU YANKEES!

The Red Sox playoff magic number is down to 35!

Now win again tomorrow... and then go on a devastating losing streak. Thanks a bunch

He didn't do it AGAIN did he?

I saw the Pirates scored a run in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game against the Phillies.

I thought "Oh Dear God! LIDGE!!!!"

I checked the game and nope... it wasn't Lidge. It was Ryan Madson.

Just as I advised Charlie Manuel to do.

Man! Repeating is TOUGH, isn't it?

Welcome back Wakes and THANK YOU PAPI!!!!!

Tim Wakefield last pitched for the Red Sox on July 8th when he was named to his first All Star Game and looked like the Ace of the staff. Wakefield won that day against the Oakland A's...

The Sox were 51-33 at the end of that day... 1 game ahead of the Yankees.
They had the best record in the American League and the second best in baseball behind the Dodgers.

Since then the Red Sox are 21-20 and have fallen 6 games back of the Yankees and are scrambling for their playoff lives!

Coincidence?

Well needless to say it was a welcome sight seeing Wakes return. But as anyone who has watched him pitch over these last 15 seasons knows, you need to hold your breath a little when he pitches.

Breathe easy Sox fans! Wakes looked awesome. 7 innings, 1 run and Victor Martinez did OK behind the plate.

But sadly Wakes is no closer to surpassing Clemens and Cy Young for the All Time Wins leader in Red Sox history. Thank YOU Ramon Ramirez for letting up a tater to Scott Podsednik of all people!

Big Papi to the rescue with his second homer... and with the Yanks up 9-2, the Sox could scrape 2 off the magic number.

All I know is I was grinding my teeth when the game was tied, so this must be yet ANOTHER dodged bullet!

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 20

April 17 - 10-8 win against Orioles. (Overcame 7-0 deficit.)

April 24 - 5-4 win against Yankees. (Bay homers off of Rivera in 9th to tie it.)

April 25 - 16-11 win against Yankees. (Overcame 6-0 deficit.)

April 29 - 6-5 win at Cleveland. (Overcame 5-0 deficit.)

May 12 - 4-3 win at Anaheim. (Down 3-1 in the 8th.)
June 11 - 4-3 win against Yankees. (Down 3-1 in the 8th. Rallied against Sabathia.)

June 12 - 5-2 win at Philadelphia. (Overcame Ryan Howard's 9th inning shot to win in 13)

June 21 - 6-5 win against Atlanta. (The wind turns Nick Green's fly ball into a walk off shot)

June 27 - 1-0 win at Atlanta. (Masterson and Papelbon wiggle out of late jams.)
July 1 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Sox score 4 in the 9th and Lugo wins in in the 11th)

July 8 - 5-4 win against Oakland. (Wind keeps Hairston's 9th inning go ahead homer in the ballpark)

July 10 - 1-0 win against Kansas City. (Pedroia drives in the only run with 2 outs in the 8th.)

July 30 - 8-5 win against Oakland. (Ortiz tests postive then hits a 2 out 3 run go ahead homer.)

July 31 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Youk's 2 run homer saves Smoltz from another bad start.)

August 10 - 6-5 win against Detroit. (Sox snap 6 game losing streak with 7th inning rally.)

August 14 - 8-4 win at Texas. (Victor Martinez hits a 2 run 2 strike 2 out double to take the lead and make up for Buchholz's baserunning mishap.)

August 18 - 10-9 win at Toronto. (Ortiz homers and the Jays defense collapses, saving Beckett from a bad start.)
August 24 - 12-8 win against White Sox. (Red Sox overcome early 4-1 lead and a bad Buchholz start.)

August 25 - 6-3 win against White Sox. (Red Sox win with 4 unanswered runs despite some sloppy defense.)

August 26 - 3-2 win against White Sox. (Wakes pitches 7 strong and Papi homers twice including a walk off)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 22

April 14 - 6-5 loss at Oakland. (Sox blow early 3-0 lead. Lose in 12)

April 28 - 9-8 loss at Cleveland. (Sox blow early 5-1 lead. Lopez drops 3rd out.)
May 14 - 5-4 loss at Anaheim. (Ortiz goes 0-7 stranding 12 runners.)
May 15 - 5-4 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox blow their second 4-0 lead in three days.)

May 17 - 3-2 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox strand two in the 9th. Lose in the bottom of the 9th.)

May 23 - 3-2 loss to the Mets. (Papelbon lets up a 2 out 2 run homer in the 9th to Omir Santos)

June 18 - 2-1 loss to the Marlins. (Rain washes out a tight game after 5+ innings.)

June 28 - 2-1 loss to the Braves. (Tying run on base in the 9th. Solid Penny outing wasted)
June 30 - 11-10 loss at Baltimore. (The Red Sox blow a late 10-1 to the lowly Orioles.)
July 3 - 7-6 loss to Seattle. (Red Sox comeback in the 8th only to lose in the 11th.)

July 4 - 3-2 loss to Seattle. (Saito walks three in the 9th as the Mariners rally to win)

July 9 - 8-6 loss to the Royals. (Bullpen blows early 4-0 lead.)

July 21 - 4-2 loss at Texas. (Beckett loses a complete game and the Yankees take over first.)

July 22 - 3-1 loss at Texas. (Sox are swept for the first time all season.)

July 28 - 9-8 loss to Oakland. (Sox blow 3 run lead in 9th. A's rally with 2 outs in 9th and 11th.)