I hate losing. I don’t care if it’s a Superbowl bet or a game of Crazy 8’s with my 4-year-old niece. I just don’t like it. And even though I know baseball teams are going to lose a third of their games, it still pisses me off.
Last night was no exception. Where was the offense that outscored Toronto 26-5 in three games? Where were the Fenway home runs? The hitters gotta know that they’ll need a few extra runs when Julian…
wait for it…
T-a-v-a-r-e-z is pitching, but they just couldn’t get the hit they needed. Stranded baserunners, including bases loaded twice, cost the team this one. How is that they manhandle guys like Halladay and Pettitte, but can’t find their own asses against Brian Burres? The guy looks like he should be cutting his neighbors’ lawns for cash, not pitching in the majors. The Sox did get to him – seven hits and five walks in five innings – but just couldn’t close the deal.
And speaking of losing – I concede the Arroyo-Pena deal to be a bust. I was a big supporter of Pena, thinking his fielding wasn’t that bad, and he could be a monster at the plate. After seeing him misplay two more balls in the outfield, I can’t defend the guy any more. He’s already been charged with three errors in pretty limited playing time, not to mention the screw-ups that aren’t considered errors. And he hasn’t been making up for it at the plate – just two long balls and five RBI while striking out in almost half of his at-bats.
Today, we get back to the top of the rotation and a somewhat rare afternoon game on a Saturday. If Schill can keep his mouth shut long enough to pitch seven innings, I’m guessing the bats will return to Fenway form and we’ll be seeing a Toronto-like blowout. Screw the yardwork, tune in at 1:05.
