Getting No-Hit in the Big Game

Having an opposing pitcher shut you down is one of the most humiliating ocurances in all of sports. The 0 that pops up next to your teams name in the box score is a constant reminder that:

a). You just witnessed an amazing moment that people will talk about years from now.

And

b). Your team was on the ass end of it.

Now you may be thinking I am talking about the near miss the Sox had facing Lackey the other night, but this is more of a metaphor. Sure, Lackey went into the 9th and was 2 outs away from a traditional no-hitter, but that threat was ended when Pedroia lined a single into the outfield and Youk hit a bomb into the monster. Goodbye shut out, goodbye no hitter, hello plain old demoralizing loss.

No, the real no-hitter the Red Sox are facing right now is the “Front Office No-Hitter”. It’s is dangerously close to the trade deadline and NO DEALS have hit the horizon that have looked like ANYTHING the contenders in this league are making.

Angels (who swept the Sox as I typed this) got Teixeira who just so happened to be the power piece they needed. Well done there… weren’t they already the best team in the league?

Meanwhile the Yankees (remember them?) hit the jackpot with Nady and Marte from the Pirates (who they basically gave nothing) and replaced the hurt Posada with Pudge “freaking” Rodriguez from the Tigers for…. KYLE FARNSWORTH??? Come on! That’s like trading in a dime for 5 nickels.

But lest I forget, the Red Sox made a pretty big pickup too. Yep Boston recently received the “Screw this place, I hate it here” Manny for almost nothing! Just when you thought he was out of your hair, grumpy Manny popped up again and the media came with him. Now I know this looks like the end of the road for Manny… and maybe it is… but does anyone honestly think the Red Sox can trade him for any value? As Eric pointed out, the trades offered look pretty silly.

But then again, at this point the Sox would almost be right to trade Manny for 30 cents on the dollar because I really don’t think that $20 mill option is getting picked up and you would like to get SOMETHING for his years of service (besides him hating Boston suddenly and being hated back) and with the way the front office is swinging and missing… they aren’t gonna make any real contact before the deadline is long past. I think we need to get used to third place (behind the Yanks and Rays) and forget about the playoffs this season. Hell, in the abbreviated words of Jim Mora:

“Playoffs? Playoffs? I'm just hoping we can win a game…”

Game 59: I Can't Believe I Live Blogged This Game

The Red Sox still have the best record in baseball, but this losing streak is getting me down. THIS SHALL NOT STAND. I figure a good 'ol live blog should bust this wide open and push Schill and the Sox bats (woefully absent) over the top to salvage the series vs Oakland. I'll be back before game time with lineups, commentary and assorted garbage to help anyone reading this get through the doldrums of a Thursday afternoon.

Game Start- Whoops lost track of time... Sox lineup is as per normal except Pedroia is sitting for Cora. Maybe it was his off day but isn't this guy still red hot? Why are they sitting him? Anyway they are facing Joe Blanton (off a complete game shut out) and the A's lineup full of guys you would never draft in a fantasy league. Let's hope Schilling can keep them off the board. Oh and hits... somebody start to hit please.

1st- Wow. Blanton got off to a strong start getting Lugo and Youk to ground out weakly, but Papi (still pissed about last night obviously) SLAMMED one into the bleachers. Manny continues things with a line drive, but Drew predictably lines out to end the threat. Schilling gets the A's in order without much drama. Sox 1-A's 0

2nd- Blanton looks like he recovered shutting down the Sox 1,2,3 on 13 pitches. I may go freaking insane if this keeps up. Not sure if I like this ump... he's not giving Curt the inside corner. He manages to strike out Cust and Johnson anyway. Sox 1-A's 0

3rd- I'm not sure who I want to kill more, Blanton or the supposed "speed guys" in the Sox. Coco gets a weak fly ball, Lugo taps a weak ground ball. Ugly weak swings. Somehow Blanton still manages to get chippy with the home plate ump over balls and strikes. God these umps are awful. Schill is doing well... VERY well. Apparently someone reminded these A's hitters that they suck, cause they went in order quietly. Sox 1-A's 0

4th- J.D. Drew has seen 3 pitches and made 2 outs. I want to set him on fire but I'm afraid he wouldn't ignite. Another 13 pitch inning for Blanton. Curt is still looking good... VERY good. Three up and three down for the A's and Schill picked up his 3rd K. Sox 1-A's 0

5th- This is getting sad. The instant outs at the end of the lineup are causing spontaneous eye gouging across Sox Nation. Blanton just mows them down. I HATE LUGO... easy play and he boots it. Dan Johnson is the first baserunner for the A's, but Schilling isn't fazed and gets out of the inning untouched. Sox 1-A's 0

6th- Lugo strikes out and adds another paragraph to the hate letter I am composing. Ortiz gets a two out walk and Manny puts one out... and just foul. He pops out to end it... what happened to the BATS??? Ahem... I LOVE COCO CRISP! Another dead center basket catch in front of the wall. Amazing, but I still wish he could hit. Another great inning by Schilling. Sox 1-A's 0

7th- J.D. Drew got a hit! He seemed as shocked as I am. Sox put on the hit and run and it WORKS! Tek lines one up the middle and it's first and third. Holy offense Batman! Yeah well it was short lived because Cora and Coco were the next up... sigh. Some nasty infield defense helps Schilling in this inning, Lowell with a money throw and Youk with a sliding catch made for ANOTHER 1,2,3 inning. Schilling is throwing VERY VERY WELL. Sox 1-A's 0

8th- THEY CHASE BLANTON!! Not that anyone got a hit or anything, but Youk walked in front of Papi so the A's go for the lefty. Then something freaking weird happened. Papi bunted, Youk safe at second... then tries for an empty third? He's "fast" but not that fast. Dumb move Youk. Manny grounds out to end any threat. Schilling back in again... and the A's go down again. Gulp. Sox 1-A's 0

9th- Some guy named Lewis is pitching with a 4 digit ERA and the Sox still can't put anything together. It's expected at this point... I'm not even thinking about it. Out 1: I LOVE JULIO LUGO... now deleting my hate mail. Out 2: MORE LUGO LOVE! Big Gulp....NOOOOOOOOO freaking Shannon Stewart!! Oh my GOD! Lines a single into right field JUST past a diving Cora... un-freaking-real. Next hitter Mark Ellis pops out into foul ground. Game Over. Sox win off Papi's homer in the first and Schilling having an ALMOST date with destiny and a pitching performance for the ages. That's how you break a losing streak. Wheeew! I need a drink.

Final Score: Boston Red Sox 1, Oakland Athletics 0