456th Sell-Out Live Blog

Mike Timlin Photo by by Stuart Cahill

Mike Timlin Photo by by Stuart Cahill

Okay, while I’m not as amped up as the rest of the Nation about the sell-out, it is certainly something worth noting.  NESN just showed Timlin, Wake and Papi catching the ceremonial first pitches (and Timlin almost knocking Papi over trying to catch the pitch his fan threw to him).

I feel pretty damn good about this game, regardless of my slightly cranky mood. (If you’re new to my live blogs, keep in mind that I don’t top post – you need to scroll down to read the updates.)

Bring it, baby.

7:05pm – Lester’s first pitch is a strike to Iwamura.  Yay.  Let’s keep doing that, eh Crabby?

7:07pm – And the first batter walks…but fear not because BJ Upton sucks at bunting, bunts to Crabcakes and gets Iwamura doubled off at first.  Two outs and a good sign.

7:09pm – Here comes Carlos Pena…

7:09bpm – And there goes Carlos Pena.  Half an inning down.  Nicely done, Crabby.

7:11pm – Mark Kotsay is the lead-off hitter tonight.  I might need a glass of wine.

7:13 – Hey, Kotsay walked.  What the hell do I know?

7:14 – Iwamura makes a sweet catch to get Pedroia out, but can’t double off Kotsay.  Kotsay > Iwamura!

Kevin Youkilis Photo by David Phillip/AP

Kevin Youkilis Photo by David Phillip/AP

7:15 (Yes I dropped the PM – you know it’s evening…) – Papi is wearing his red and white gloves, as opposed to his red and black gloves.  Usually this means bad things (according to the Red Sox Hen) but Papi just smashed an opposite-field double, scoring Kotsay from first!  1-0 Sox with 1 out in the first.  Youk can do some damage here…

7:19 – Yes, yes he can do some damage.  He brought Papi home and then got himself caught in a run-down.  2-0 Sox and two outs.  I don’t love the bad baserunning, but I’ll take the RBI.

7:20 – Jason Bay nails a fast ball and smashes it to center field for a home run!  Youk cost the team a run but I’ll focus on the 3-0 score instead of the lost run.

7:22 – Mike Lowell and his eyebrows are back with the team – woo!

7:23 – 28 pitches for Edwin Jackson through the first inning.  Hey, one inning down and no one hit by a pitch yet…not bad…3-0 Sox.

7:25 – Rocco Baldelli is up.  I picked him up, when he was activated, for my fantasy team.  He hasn’t sucked.  And he looks a litle like Tony Graffanino.

7:27 – But not tonight, Rocco.  Sit down.  Lester’s curveball strikes you out.

7:28 – Willy Aybar hits a foul ball and tosses his bat (Remy says “his bat was fair but the ball was foul!”).  And now he’s out.  NESN just showed Joe Maddon without his hat and it kind of freaked me out.

Coco Crisp Photo by Matthew West

Coco Crisp Photo by Matthew West

7:31 – Navarro strikes out…inning over.  That was pleasant.

7:33 – I’m watching the game with someone who wants to watch Monday Night Football (and is).  I might kill someone.

7:34 – Eh, all I missed was the first out courtesy of Jed Lowrie.

7:35 – Tek already has two strikes on him…make that three.  This inning seems to be going quickly.

7:36 – Coco hits one over to BJ Upton, who can’t get to it…man on first with two outs!  Coco is batting over .500 over the last ten games  he’s played in.  Can we go back to April when I was saying I didn’t want the Sox to trade Coco?  🙂

7:37 – With Kotasy’s 1-2 count, Coco steals second.  Dude has WHEELZ!

7:38 – Kotsay strikes out on a 97 MPH pitch…3-0 end of two.

7:39 – The Vikings’ uniforms are gorgeous in HD…I’m just sayin’.

7:41 – Pedroia can’t keep his hands on the ball and Bartlett gets a single to start the inning off and to bring up Gabe Gross.  Double play, Jon, double play.

7:43 – Lester has a mark on his cheek…or maybe just a shadow.  It’s making me want to lick my thumb and wipe it on his face.  Oh yeah, and he strikes out Gross – woot!

7:44 – And a double-play, as I requested, ends the inning.  Crabcakes is motoring…

Jon Lester Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Jon Lester Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

7:47 – Football in HD really DOES rock…and Aaron Rodgers has pretty eyes…back to baseball where I’ve missed the first out…

7:49 – Papi has a 3-2 count…and now he’s out.  2 out…oh well.  Make that 3…this game is flying by.

7:52 – All I wanted to do was sit and watch the damn game and the world has to interfere…I’m trying not to type in an ‘annoyed’ tone, but I am…I do not care who wins the Minnesota/Green Bay game…I don’t.

7:53 – Hey, look!  Baseball!

7:54 – Lester gets Iwamura out to start the fourth inning even though I’m, currently, watching the game with no sound.  Funny how it still goes on even if you can’t hear it.

754b – BJ Upton is up after Iwamura.  They wear numbers 2 & 1, respectively.  That’s cute.

7:55 – Carlos Pena is on-deck.  Sadly, he is NOT wearing number 3.

7:56 – BJ grounds out.  Take that, lollygagger.

7:57 – HEY, Carlos is number 2-3.  Hee.  (Hey, this game is slightly uneventful…I need SOMETHING.)

7:58 – Pena strikes out…Crabcakes is impressive, no?

8:04 – Missed the double-play to being(ish) the inning.  Jed Lowrie strikes out.  That went well.

8:06 – Seriously…I’m thisclose to setting the tv on fire if I keep seeing football…I’m not good with sharing the tv, can you tell?

8:07 – Dick Vitale in the house.  Rocco up again and already down 0-2.  Crabcakes strikes him out…again.

8:09 – Pop up.  2 outs.  It’s ten past eight and already the fifth inning.  Jon Lester is pitching.  It’s bizarro world.

Don Orsillo Photo from Northeastern.edu

Don Orsillo Photo from Northeastern.edu

8:11 – Dioner Navarro is almost hitting .300.  Not too shabby, especially for a catcher.  He has a 2-2 count and Don Orsillo reminds us that Crabby has only given up one hit thus far.

8:12 – Navarro takes the second walk Lester has issued tonight.  No worries.  Jason Bartlett, the dude with the only Rays hit of the night, is up…

8:13 – And you knew where that was going, huh?  Bartlet gets hit number 2 tonight.  Two on…two out…

8:14 – I had Beefaroni and a fudgicle for dinner.  Yeah, this is one of the zillion reasons I’m alone.  🙂

8:15 – And Lester gets the ground out…woot.  3-0 going into the bottom of the fifth…

8:17 – Rumor has it that Clay Buchholz’ new girlfriend is number 26 on “Deal or No Deal”…yes, “Deal or No Deal” ended up on the screen… 😡

8:18 – Because Tek has lost a step or two, he almost bunts for a hit.  Almost because, yes, he’s out.

8:20  – Coco is en fuego.  Another hit.  Oh, and Sleepy Upton is out of the game with a boo-boo.  Here comes Mark Kotsay.

8:21 – The Red Sox seem to need lessons in baserunning.  Kotsay gets a hit, Coco moves to third.  Kotsay, who is NOT Coco, gets thrown out stretching a single into a double.  Fundamentals, dudes.

8:23 – Upton has a “strained left quad”.  This is where I should feel sorry for him.  This is where I don’t.

8:24 – Pedroia flies out….inning is over which means the game is “official” and we have officially broken the sold-out record…or whatever they’re calling it.  Okay, this is cool.  I’ve “helped”  :)  I should be proud, huh?

8:25 – Tek just thanked me for my “love of the game” – You’re welcome, Tek!  Tito just thanked me for “all my advice” and Bay thanked me for being “nice to the new guy”. Ditto fellas.  Youk thanked me for the Youk cheers and Papi thanked me for being the best fans.  Papelbon says “thanks for waiting for the last out”.  And the trio thanks and congratulates us.  Any time, folks.  My pleasure.  😆

8:25 – There’s an out. I have no idea how it came about.

8:29 – Hey, Ken Burns is hanging with Henry, Lucchino and Werner…

8:30 – Lester gives up another hit to Bartlett.  (No, I kid.  It was Iwamura.)  Man, where’s the blood?

8:31 – Don Orsillo calls Ben Zobrist “BJ Upton” (because Zobrist is in for Upton and the two look so much alike).

Jason Bay Photo by Jason Bridge, US PRESSWIRE

Jason Bay Photo by Jason Bridge/US PRESSWIRE

8:32 – Crabby’s ptich count is at 78 and now he has a 3-1 count on Zobrist with a man on and one out.  AAAND he walks him.  Cut the crap, crabby.  Here comes Carlos…

8:33 – Coco snags a fly ball and 2-3 is 0-3 tonight.  Men on first and third with two outs and Rocco is up.

8:35 – Rocco has a 2-2 count and hits Tek in his friendly parts with a foul ball.  Ow.

8:36 – Crabcakes gets revenge for Tek’s gibleys and strikes out Rocco for the third time tonight!!!

8:37 – 3-0 Boston in the middle of the sixth.  I think I’m starting to breathe.

8:40 – I’ve decided I think the banker on “Deal or No Deal” is Loren Michaels.

8:41 – Four pitches, Papi is out…

8:42 -  Youk walks…Youuuuuk.

8:44 – Jackson is a bit Daisuke-ish in his walks to strikes eh?  2-2 count on Jason Bay.

8:46 – Strike ’em out, throw ’em out, waaaaay out.  3-0 end of six.

8:47 – Deal or No Deal for one  minute and I have tears in my eyes…oh Howie…

8:50 – Lester gets Aybar to strike out swinging and has a 3-2 count on Navarro.  Crabby has 94 pitches in the seventh…

8:52 – We have a Justin Masterson sighting and a Navarro base hit.  One on, one out and the evil Jason Bartlett is up.

8:54 – CRABCAKES!  Struck out Bartlett looking – 8 strike outs on the night, thus far.  Gabe Gross pops it up to Youk and Lester gets through 7 with just over 100 pitches!

8:58 – Jackson only has 83 pitches.  I feel like he’s thrown 200.  Ah well, Lowell, Lowrie and Tek up…and Lowell is already out.

Jonathan Papelbon Photo from MLB.com

Jonathan Papelbon Photo from MLB.com

9:00 – Lowrie has a 2-1 count and it hits me that there are only 19 games left in the season.  Lowrie is out, incidentally.

9:02 – While Tek is busy striking out swinging to end the inning…I take a break for a beverage…

9:04 – Mmmm…Nilla Wafers…

9:05 – What the hell is Lester doing back out there?

9:07 – Getting Perez to line out to Lowrie….okay, that works.

9:08 – I can’t decide if I’m disappointed or relieved that there hasn’t been any brawling.

9:08b – Iwamura has a 1-2 count and strikes out on Crabcakes’ 116th pitch!  9 strike outs!

9:09 – Ben Zobrist is up.  His name remnds me of “Planet of the Apes”.   Planet-boy hits a wall-ball single that just hit below the red line on the Green Monster.

9:10 – Haverhill’s Own Carlos Pena is up to end the inning.  Right?  That’s why he’s up there, right?

9:10b – No.  He’s up to hit a ground-rule double (saving a run) and Tito comes to pull Crabby and bring in Paps.  119 pitches.  Way to go, Crabby, way to go.

9:11 – Crabcakes tipped his hat to the crowd.  Nice to see.  Don’t fuck it up, Paps.

9:14 – Er, I mean, KICK ASS PAPS!

9:14b – Rocco goes for the Golden Sombrero with a first called strike…

9:15 – I like Rocco, I do.  But, man, I want to see him go down swinging.  2-1 count.  Cut the crap, Paps.

9:16 – Rocco helps us out by fouling one off.  2-2…

9:17 – Does John Henry stand and cheer on two-strike counts?

9:17b – Fucking WOOOOOOOO!   Golden Sombrero for good old Rocco (and Crabby even cheered!).  He went down, as I requested, swinging!  3-0 Sox middle of 8 baby!

Neil time.

9:20 – Here comes Coco.  I’m reminded of Clay’s no-hitter when KellyO and I urged Coco to swing to end the 8th inning.

9:21 – And Coco gets ANOTHER hit.  Let’s go, Kotsay…PILE IT ON.

9:22 – Jackson is getting pulled.  Kid did good.  Let’s hope the team hits he crap out of the next guy…

9:24 – Here comes Kotsay…More runs would be nice.

9:24b – I hate seeing Coco get thrown out stealing.  🙁

9:27 – Edwin Jackson being shown in the dugout sans cap.  He’s a pretty boy.  🙂

9:27b – Kotsay gets a hit.  Coco being thrown out gives me the grumpies.

9:28 – Now would be a good time for your first hit of the night Dustin, yes?

9:29 – 1-1 count on Pedroia.  Make that 2-1. This Tampa Bay pitcher looks like he’s pitching in slow motion.

9:30 – Ah, your mother’s underwear.  Pedroia  pops up.  2 outs, man on first and the Large Father up at bat.

9:32 – 1-1 count for Papi.  This Howell dude has an interesting way about him.  We must crush his spirit, Papi, crush it!

9:34 – Or we must work a full count.  Whatever works for you.

9:35 – “Ortiz strikes out looking”.  Yes he does, Don Orsillo.  Pardon me while I go bang my head against the wall during the commercial break.

9:37 – Aybar, Navarro and Bartlett up this inning.  Aybar already has 2 strikes on him.

9:38 – Strike three called, baby….perfect freaking pitch.  Willy knew it too.

9:39 – Navarro goes down on the first pitch.  Mark Kotsay waves two fingers at everyone. 🙂

9:40 – Eric Hinske is pinch-hitting.  I hate to wish Hinske ill.  I hope he goes down like a dog.

9:41 – 1-1 count to Guy Smiley.

9:41b – Hinske gets a base hit and I get annoyed.  End the damn game, please.

9:42 – Gabe Gross is up.  I request another strike out.

9:43 – Gross’ foul ball almost hits Cliff Floyd in the on-deck circle and Floyd gives him the stare of death.  Gross has an 0-2 count…

9:43b – Hinske takes second (“defensive indifference”) and the count is 1-2…

9:44 – Sonofabitch!!!! “They win round one” says Don Orsillo!!!!!  Gross strikes out swinging.  And I’m very happy.  Half game back now in the division, 7 game lead in the WC race….congratulations Crabcakes etal!

Sing it:[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_mFrj9QnVc&hl=en&fs=1]

Thanks for stopping by, folks! Nice way to end the night.

25 comments for “456th Sell-Out Live Blog

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *