The “I’ve had two Red Bulls and I need to do something with all this energy” Live Blog

It’s been a long time since I’ve live-blogged…long for me, anyway…so I decided to do it tonight.  I know it could be painful, but I’m willing to take one for the team…and the fans.  🙂

So here I am.  It’s going to be a tough one between the way the team has been playing and the fact that Manny is out of the lineup…but I’m up for it.  Are you?

10:02 – Ah, I see our Mr. Beckett is pitching against Jered Weaver.  God has a really weird sense of humor.

10:06 – Coco is leading off again.  I can’t wait for Tek to get back…I can’t take much more of this guy in the lead-off position.

10:07 – If we find out a few years down the road that many of the Angels have developed lung problems, it can be traced back to the damn fireworks they seem to shoot off at that park every time one of the players farts.

10:08 – Hey, Coco made the first out!  How odd.  Most lead-off men actually, you know, GET ON BASE once in a while.

10:09 – Do you think Jeff Weaver talks to Jered?  Could YOU?  I mean, the kid stole his job.  AND now all you hear is, "he’s just like his brother Jeff…only better."  The Weaver table at Thanksgiving will be an interesting place to be this year.

10:11 – Two outs and Weaver pitches around Big Papi.  Man, we need Manny back.

10:13 – Youk gets a hit…Papi on second, Youk on first and Eric "I’m here to kill your rally" Hinske is up.

10:15 – I kid Eric Hinske because…well, screw it, I wasn’t kidding…he just left two men on.  Here’s hoping Beckett pitches this first inning like it’s actually the second or third inning.

10:18 – I’m looking at the Angels lineup and it occurs to me that I actually like the guys on this team.  Mind you, I hope they go down in flames tonight, but generally speaking, this team has a good group of guys.

10:19 – Beckett strikes out Chone Figgins looking.  Niiiice.

10:21 – The first two Angels batters both have given the home plate umpire the evil eye already.  Let’s play nice, boys.

10:21b – Speaking of playing nice…the Red Sox haven’t been in a basebrawl this year, have they?  I guess this isn’t the team to do it with…but, hey, they’ll be seeing the A’s soon won’t they?

10:22 – Two outs and OC is up.  What, no standing ‘O’ in Los Angeles?

10:23 – Don Orsillo’s pretend girlfriend Rene Russo is at the park tonight and Donnie O has already noticed her.  As Orlando Cabrera hits a two out double, the fans were chanting "Let’s go, Red Sox!". 

10:24 – Cabrera hurt himself trying to bunt and STILL ended up hitting a double.  Dude is a gamer!  I can’t help it.  Nothing but love for OC!  He’s getting his boo-boo bandaged up now while Vlad Guerrero gets hit with the first pitch. 

10:26 – Dang…I did ask for a fight, eh?  This could turn out to be an interesting night.  Seriously, though, with the way he’s been pitching, why would Beckett purposely put ANYONE on base, even Vlad?

10:30 – Beckett gets out of the inning unscathed.  Let’s see if Weaver retaliates this inning.

10:32 – Holy cow…routine pop up totally botched by Cabrera and Figgins.  Mike Lowell on first.  They scored it as a single for Lowell.  We’ll take it.

10:34 – Wily Mo hits into a double play.  Lovely.  Well, at least this means they probably won’t leave any men on base.  Good time for Weaver to hit someone if he’s so inclined, though.

10:38 – Booted out of my browser.  :-/  Weaver gets out of the inning without hitting anyone.

10:40 – Alex Cora does an amazing job behind Beckett to throw Rivera out.  Yay!

10:42 – Beckett used his curveball to strike Kendrick out.  Woo-hootie!  As they say.

10:43 – Beckett has a 1-2-3, inning.  It’s only been two innings.  I am cautiously optimistic.

10:46 – Word is that Jason Varitek will possibly be ready to play in a week.  I can’t explain what a major impact this will be on the team. 

10:47 – Sox already have two outs thanks to Mirabelli and Crisp.  Dustin Pedroia is in teh game instead of Loretta (what up with THAT?).

10:50 – Don and Jerry answer my question.  "Quad tightness" for Loretta.  Pedroia has a full count and Weaver and Scioscia are NOT happy people.  But no biggie, Pedroia flies out.  No score going into the bottom of the third.

10:55 – Figgins gets a one-out single.  It’s the third inning.  Let’s hope the suckies are out of Beckett’s system.

10:56 – Wily Mo makes every fly ball and adventure, doesn’t he?  How nice of him to try and make the game more exciting for us.  :-/  Two out, one on and OC up.

10:58 – Three innings, no runs and two hits.  This is truly something to celebrate.

10:59 – Jeez, I actually forgot the Yankees were on! I just turned it on to check the score…2-1 Mariners in the third with two on and one out with Richie Sexson up.  Richie Sexson.  The official flagpole of the RSFF Ladies Thread.  Ah, memories.

11:01 – Richie Sexson just hit a two-run double off of the Big Unit.  4-1 Mariners as I turn the channel in time to see Big Papi hit his 46th homerun of the season!

11:02 – And I hear the "Let’s go, Red Sox" chant, again.  And Youk makes the first out.

11:03 – Eric "I swear those three doubles in my first game as a member of the Red Sox wasn’t a fluke" Hinske is up.  No, I’m not still bitter over the lost weekend against the Yankees.  Why do you ask?

11:04 – "The" Chant just got started and killed.  Too, too funny.

11:04b – Weaver has thrown 68 pitches thus far.  That sounds like an awful lot.

11:05 – Hinske was thisclose to a  homerun.  And instead he strikes out on a changeup.

11:06 – Lowell is out, but the homerun puts the Sox up 1-0 going to the bottom of the third.

11:09 – Vlad tries to  hit Beckett with a base hit the way Beckett hit him earlier…but Beckett gloves it to throw him out.  Nice try, Vlad.

11:10 – Pedroia gets Anderson out, two outs, baby.

11:11 – Beckett has another 1-2-3 inning.  End of 4, 1-0 Boston.

11:18 – Pardon my tardiness.  Weaver has two outs with Mirabelli up…and Mirabelli down.  Weaver struck out the side.

11:21 – One out…keep it up, Josh.

11:22 – Beckett hasn’t thrown 40 pitches yet and has given up 2 hits.  Weaver is over 70 pitches.  Economical is nice.

11:23 – Pedroia brings down out number dos.

11:24 – Beckett threw four pitches in the last inning.  Against Vlad, Anderson and Rivera.  Very impressive.

11:25 – Angels go down in order on a called strikeout.  Yowza.  1-0 Boston to end the fifth.

11:28 – Come on, Coco…Josh would like some more runs, please.

11:29 – Weaver just threw his 90th pitch.  And we STILL only have ONE run.

11:30 – Coco becomes the fourth consecutive strikeout for Weaver.  Yeesh.  Come on Dustin.  Show us something good.

11:31 – Or, show us another strikeout.

11:33 – Big Papi laughs at the shift and hits a line drive through the infield and into right field.  Way to go Senor Octobre!  Bring him home, Youk!

11:35 – Or, leave him hanging at first.  Six of one and all.  After 5 1/2 innings, Sox 1, Angels 0. 

11:36 – More proof that I’m ‘old’.  Every time I see a commercial for "Heelys", my first thought is,  "How much would it stink to fall flat on your **** wearing those?"

11:38 – Chone Figgins just tried to kill Maicer Izturis with a foul ball.  Maybe they should do away with the on-deck circle in MLB the way they did in Little League?

11:39 – On Beckett’s 50th pitch, Alex Cora makes out number 1.  NESN is showing Jered Weaver in the dugout when he came off the mound.  He seems a little cranky that he might be getting his first loss.  Looks like he doesn’t want to be take out of the game.

11:40 – Izturis gets revenge on Chone by getting a hit.  One out, one on and OC at bat.  If I had any nails left, I’d be biting them.

11:43 – I have no idea who Cora thought he was flipping the ball to.  Well, at least he saved a base.  First and second, one out and Vlad is up.  If Beckett hits him, I’ll cry.

11:44 – I just muted the tv and have the laptop blocking my view.  I’m too wound up and now nervous.  Come on Josh…you can do it.

11:45 – WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Double Play!!!!!!  Out of everything I thought could happen here, I never expected Vlad to hit into a double play!!!!! Way to go, boys!

11:47 – Just peeked in on the Yanks.  4-1 Seattle in the bottom of the sixth with Sexson up again.  Did you know he was 6 foot 8?   If you’ve watched only one Seattle game this season, I bet you knew that!  They only mention it every time he’s up.

11:48 – Brendan Donnelly is in for Jered Weaver.  I have a soft spot for Donnelly.  Between his last name and the fact that he’s not in the player’s union…I really like him.  Well, except for that cheating thing.  But, what are you going to do?

11:49 – Tina Cervasio is on now showing us her trip to Sonny McLean’s and explaining to us what it is.  I’m pretty sure most in Red Sox Nation know what Sonny’s is.  Then again, this is the same woman who said that most baseball fans in the US didn’t know who Roy Halladay was because he played in Canada, so what do I expect?

11:52 – One out and then Lowell and Pena get back to back hits off of Donnelly.  Come on Alex…let’s take advantage!

11:53 – Donnelly pitches behind Cora and Cora gives him his grumpy look.  No way, with one out, two on and down by one, does Donnelly intentionally hit Cora.  Chill out, Alex.

11:55 – Not only does Alex chill, but he gets his first hit of the night.  Three in a row off of Donnelly.  Nice work, Alex.  Bases loaded, one out and Doug Mirabelli up.  (For the record, that one out we have?  Courtesy of an Eric Hinske strikeout.)  I can hear Janet (SoxontheBeach to some of you) yelling "Dougie’s goin’ deep!" right now!!!!

11:58 – Because Cabrera mucked it up, the double-play that Mirabelli hit into didn’t exactly happen.  Dougie is out at first, but Alex Cora was safe at second and Mike Lowell scored the second run of the night.  Second and third with two outs and Coco up.  Coco is being, get this, intentionally walked.  Man. 

12:00 – It’s midnight in Boston.  The bases are loaded in the seventh inning with two outs and little Dustin Pedroia up.  This is his moment.  This is the hour, baby.

12:01 – Or not.  Going into the seventh-inning stretch, 2-0 Sox.

12:04 – Hinske is out and Kapler is in.  Gee, and Eric was doing so well.

12:04b – Beckett is still in the game with 64 pitches.  We’ll see how long this lasts.  I’m hoping it goes through the full seven.

12:06 – Beckett gives up a lead-off walk.  There better be someone warming up in the bullpen.

12:07 – There isn’t. 

12:08 – Gives up his first walk of the night and now has a 2-0 count on Rivera.  Get your head straight, Beckett.  Hmm…Francona is being called to the mound, something is up.  Damn, damn, damn.

12:09 – Of COURSE NESN is showing close-ups of Beckett’s hand and talking about blisters.  Beckett is being taken out of the game.  I have no idea who they’re bringing in.  Timlin?   Man, I hope this isn’t a blister.

12:12 – Looks like Timlin from this far away (showing an overhead view).  Timlin with a man on base…oh that is a recipe for….no, no, good thoughts.  HEY Tim Wakefield traveled with the team- they just showed him in the dugout.  Yay!

12:13 – It’s Timlin.  Brother needs to be ON tonight.  Please, God, let him be ON.

12:18 – Why does Mike Timlin have to make every appearance an adventure?  Puts a guy on, throws a wild pitch.  Men on second and third with no outs and a 1-1 count.  I’ll admit it.  The mute button is on and the laptop is blocking the tv.

12:19 – And surprise of surprises, Timlin gives up a run.  Could be worse, though, close play at the plate but Wily Mo throws out Rivera!  Nice work, Wily!  You too, Dougie!  I am now watching the replays (thanks to DVR) in the hopes that Timlin gets out of the inning without giving up another run while I ignore the live game.

12:22 – I have no idea how Timlin got that second out…and I don’t care.  I’m switching on the Yankees until the end of the inning.

12:23 – Hey, Richie Sexson is up again!  And out.  Big Unit is still pitching in the 8th inning with a 4-2 deficit.

12:24 – For the love of Pod, Mike, end the damned inning!  (Shout out to my peeps at SG!)

12:26 – Holy cow, he did.  And I have no idea how and I don’t give a rat’s hiney.  2-0, Boston over Los Angeles at the end of seven.

12:29 – Mr. Putz has one out in the ninth with a 4-2 lead over the Yanks.  Big Papi is up in the 8th.  More runs would be nice, please.

12:30 – "Six to four to three to get Big Papi".  Ugh.

12:30b – Defense did the job for the "lefty specialist" and there is another pitching change.

12:33 – Youk is up with one out against Hector Carrasco.  JJ Putz has the 4-2 lead still with two outs and a 1-2 count to Slappy.  Youk is out and ARod has a 2-2 count.

12:35 – Gabe the Babe is up.  He’s been struggling at the plate.  Let’s hope that ends tonight.  JJ Putz gets his save and the Yanks, and the Big Unit, get the loss.  Don’t waste this one, guys.

12:36 – The fact that Jerry Remy knows what a ‘do-rag’ is brings me much joy.

12:36b – Kapler continues to struggle.  2-1 Boston going into the bottom of the 8th.  Cue "Sweet Caroline":

Where it began, I can’t begin to know when
But then I know it’s growing strong
Wasn’t the spring, And spring became the summer
Who’d believe you’d come along

Hands, touching hands, reaching out
Touching me, touching you
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seem so good
I’ve been inclined to believe it never would

And now I, I look at the night,
And it don’t seem so lonely
We fill it up with only two,
And when I hurt
Hurting runs off my shoulder
How can I hurt when holding you

One, touching one, reaching out
Touching me, touching you
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seem so good
I’ve been inclined to believe it never would

Sweet Caroline, good times never seem so good…

12:39 – Timlin back in and Figgins gives him the first out of the inning.

12:41 – Two outs, OC up…

12:44 – Timlin is out, Papelbon is in with two outs and OC up and Tina Cervasio tells us that Beckett has a small cut on hs right middle finger…I hate seeing Papelbon in the 8th inning.  But, I guess OC has Timlin’s number, so I understand taking him out.  But still…

12:46 – That’s good news about Beckett, isn’t it?  Why does my stomach hurt?

12:47 – Wild Thing gets OC to fly out and end the inning.  Nice.  Very nice.  I still wouldn’t mind seeing another run or two from my fellas.

12:49 – Mike Lowell is up to begin the ninth.  Come on, Mike, you’re overdue.

12:50 – Incidentally, my laptop is burning up my legs.  🙂

12:50b – Lowell has a 3-1 count.

12:50c – Lowell gets  lead-off walk.  Wily Mo, do your stuff, baby!

12:52 – Wily Mo hits into a double-play, but Lowell kind of takes out the infielder and, at  least, Wily Mo is safe at first.  But, no matter, Cora hits into a double play.  Bottom of the ninth and Boston is up 2-1.

12:55 – How can I have two Red Bulls in me and be watching a close, exciting game like this and STILL be tired???????

12:56 – Dang.  Vlad gets a hit and gets on.  I need to go pace.  Be right back.

1:00 – One out, one one…Rivera up.  Mute button is on and laptop blocks the tv screen.  This is supposed to be FUN, right?

1:02 – Strikeout!  Two outs with Howie Kendrick up…

Damn…post just got eaten again.  Papelbon strikes out Kendrick so the Sox pick up a game!  Let’s hear it from the Standells:

I’m gonna tell you a story
I’m gonna tell you about my town
I’m gonna tell you a big bad story, baby
Aww, it’s all about my town

Yeah, down by the river
Down by the banks of the river Charles (aw, that’s what’s happenin’ baby)
That’s where you’ll find me
Along with lovers, fuggers, and thieves (aw, but they’re cool people)
Well I love that dirty water
Oh, Boston, you’re my home (oh, you’re the Number One place)
Frustrated women (I mean they’re frustrated)
Have to be in by twelve o’clock (oh, that’s a shame)
But I’m wishin’ and a-hopin, oh
That just once those doors weren’t locked (I like to save time for
my baby to walk around)
Well I love that dirty water
Oh, Boston, you’re my home (oh, yeah)

Because I love that dirty water
Oh, oh, Boston, you’re my home (oh, yeah)

Well, I love that dirty water (I love it, baby)
I love that dirty water (I love Baw-stun)
I love that dirty water (Have you heard about the Strangler?)
I love that dirty water (I’m the man, I’m the man)
I love that dirty water (Owww!)
I love that dirty water (Come on, come on) [fade]

Thanks for stopping by, folks!  Have a great night/morning!