Who Were Those guys?

So, the Halos series came and went and I couldn't bring myself to blog about it until it was over...a couple of reasons for that but I think most importantly it was that I didn't recognize half of the players on your 2008 Boston Red Sox during these last 3 games...that might be a slight exaggeration, but the pitching certainly was affected and with Tek and Lowell out, plus some rest due, the lineup wasn't exactly at its most fierce...not sure if we underestimated these guys (not likely) or are just more concerned with getting healthy right now (more likely) but this was a highly forgettable series for the Sox, full of ups and downs but in the end we dropped 2 of 3 and it's not really bugging me too much...

For game 1, the crazy flu bug that's going around and killing the Sox (not to mention my fantasy team, but that's like 30 blogs for another time/place) took Josh Beckett out of the equation...instead of the ace that shut the Angels out in game 1 of last year's ALDS they'd instead get David Pauley...whose jersey I have hanging right up next to my Manny one (obviously a joke, I don't even know what number he wears)...so, Pauley is supposedly a sinkerballer, and as I watch him pitch, whaddya know, he throws a pretty mean sinker...using that pitch he gets though the first couple of innings, no sweat...meanwhile Jacoby hits a line drive leadoff homer to stake us to a quick lead...Weaver looked hittable early and was able to work around some damage to stay in the game...sadly, Pauley didn't work around his damage and suddenly the Angels had 5 runs...I don't even remember how they did it...they're one of the offenses that scores somehow, but I can't figure it out...Weaver settled down and even struck out Dusty, Papi and Manny consecutively their second time through...but the third time they got him back! Dusty doubled, Papi singled him in and Manny got robbed of a hit, but again Weaver was fooling no one...Youk proved that out with a dinger to tie the game at 5...the next inning Jacoby powers up and hits another! A 2 dinger game and the Sox lead...the Angels threatened against Julian Tavarez but Oki came in and pulled off another miracle...no idea how that guy gets out of the jams he does, it's insane...he struck out Torii Hunter to get the last out of the 7th and just calmly jogged off of the mound...in the 8th though Oki did surrender a pop-fly right field home run to Kotchman...one of those annoying slicers that sneaks out a little past the Pesky Pole...always seems like those go against us, and this time it tied the game at 6...in our half of the 8th though, the kids cam through yet again...Jacoby led off with a bunt single (talk about doing what's best for the team...you've got a shot at 3 HR and you bunt single to get the W...did I mention that I like this kid?)...Dusty then rips a double down the line that reachers the monster, more than enough time for Jacoby to score...and you know what that means...it's Papeltime!!! Struck out Matthews, then Guerrero (hitting 100 on the gun in the process by the way...uh...HEAT)...and then a weak fly to end it...the Sox show some resilience and squeak out a hard fought W...the kids get this one done as Jacoby and Dusty go a combined 7-10 with 4 runs scored and 3 RBI...

The other two games of the series didn't go so well...but I'll give the brief lowlights anyway...

Lester started game 2...he's so frigging maddeningly inconsistent...drives me NUTS!!! I think he's still young enough to get this straight but now he just throws too many balls and can't quite find the corners when he needs them...I'll give him a little break for this one since this was Dice's normal spot, but guess what? He was scratched with the flu...absurd...anyway, Lester gives up 4 runs in 5 innings but the boys strike back in the bottom of the 5th to tie it 4-4...last year, this is our game, but this year's bullpen has yet to show the same level of competence as last year's (Oki and Pap excepted of course)...Timlin needs time to get back into form and Lopez, Aardsma and Delcarmen just seem to also have their ups and downs...of course, then there's Craig Hansen...he was called up due to the pitching ailments and the results were about the same as they always are...1.2 inning, 3 Ks and of course, 1 HR allowed so 1 ER...this kid is just hard to watch...he throws the ball soooo easily...the gun says 98 MPH and you're just floored...you think he's just gotta be a stud, but then you notice that every fastball directly on a line from his hand to the hitter's bat...I mean, he throws one of the straightest balls I've ever seen, no movement AT ALL, and these hitters just aren't going to miss that...they should have sold high on this kid a couple of years ago, but now we might be stuck with him...maybe if someone can teach this kid a cutter or something, but he should very rarely throw his straight fastball, even at 98...we couldn't muster any more offense off of another good Angels pen and Timlin gave up a meaningless run...Sox lose 6-4...ugh...

And, your starter for the rubber match, Justin Masterson! I sh*t you not...this must be an endemic flu, because the Angles are fine, but we can't play a regular to save our lives...ironically in this one, Masterson was awesome...gave up 1 run over 6 innings and never really had too much trouble...maybe this kid is nearly ready for prime time, it's just too bad we have 8 starters ahead of him in line...really the same sad story in this one, we were up 3-1 going to the 7th but the trio of Lopez, Aardsma and Delcarmen gave up 5 runs...we made some noise in the 9th as Papi continues to rake (2-run blast off of Scot Shields, who kills everyone but us...we own him) and closed the gap to 7-5, but K-Rod came on to shut the door...gross...remember how I said that the Angels score and I don't know how? In this one Vlad, Torri and Garrett Anderson were 0-10, but Isturiz, Aybar and Mike Napoli were 4-10 with 5 runs scored...they're WAY at the bottom of the Angels lineup, and, sorry, but if you can't get those guys out just take the loss and grab a drink...

So the Halos stole 2 of 3 at Fenway against some watered-down pitching...I'm not worried...and tonight we start up with the Tampa Bay (don't call me Devil) Rays...a plucky and talented team but if we're healthy our boys should feast on the pitching...Wake going game one and of course that means it's a coin flip...had the early lead, but currently it's 4-3 Rays in the 4th...something tells me this one is FAR from over...

GO SAWX!!!