Strange Day

What a strange day in Red Sox Nation. It started with Mike Lowell coming off the DL. It was assumed that Brandon Moss would be sent back down to make room for him, but Jacoby Ellsbury comes up with a sore groin so we need Moss to stick around. Instead, Bryan Corey gets designated for assignment for the second time in less than three weeks, after clearing waivers the first time and accepting the assignment to Pawtucket, when he could have chosen to become a free agent. Tough break for Corey. There is no way he could have taken that well, and I'll be surprised if he accepts his assignment this time.

The game started 16 minutes late because of rain, but when we finally got on with it, both Roy Halladay and Jon Lester are throwing strikes and mowing them down. I expected it from Halladay but not Lester.

With no score after eight innings, Jonathan Papelbon, who has not worked in six days, came into the game. He proceeded to strike out the first two batters and then gave up a double to Scott Rolen. Vernon Wells comes up and rips a pitch back up the middle that nearly took off Papelbon's head and was headed to center field where it was surely going to drive in Rolen from second and give the Jays a 1-0 lead. Instead, in a play reminiscent of the one he made to save Clay Buchholz' no-hitter, Dustin Pedroia dives to his right, snags the ball as it's practically by him, gets up, spins and fires it to first to nail Wells.

With two out in the ninth, David Ortiz walks. Manny Ramirez singles him to second. It would make sense to run for Big Papi, but we already know that Ellsbury is out with a sore groin. It's possible that Jed Lowrie could do it, but with Ellsbury hurting, J.D. Drew leaving the game in the third inning with a strained quad and Lowell freshly off the D.L., Terry Francona opts to keep Lowrie on the bench in case he's needed to play a position.

Youk comes to the plate and slaps one into center field that falls for a hit. There is no question that Big Papi is going to be waived home, the only question is whether he will make it in time. It's probably going to be close, but Wells bobbles it, there is no throw, Ortiz scores and the Red Sox win.

The game is played in 2 hours and 18 minutes and I'm done writing this by 10:10pm.

On a night when one of our young guys throws 8 innings of shutout ball, the Yankees only get 3.2 from Phil Hughes. He gives up 8 hits and 6 runs to raise his season ERA to 9.00. He is clearly not ready to pitch in the Major Leagues, but they really don't have anyone else to turn to.

I feel a little bad for Halladay. At least as bad as I can for a Major League Baseball player making millions of dollars a year; which is to say, not that bad at all.

This guy is a gamer, a throwback to another time. He works quick, he throws strikes and he doesn't come out of the game unless it's kicking and screaming. I would love to have him here, not just because he's a great pitcher, but because I know I would get to bed early at least every fifth day.

Anyway, the reason I almost feel bad for him, he has now thrown 4 complete games in a row and has lost the last three. Tough break.