Sox Swept, Head Home
I felt like I was in Bizarro World while watching the games this weekend. Or at least the Red Sox were.Clay Buchholz and Josh Beckett combined to throw their best games of the season on successive days, and yet the Sox lost both to Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay! Not the Yankees or the Indians or the Tigers, Blue Jays, or Angels. The Tampa Bay Don't-Call-Us-Devil Rays!
Buchholz - Eight innings, three hits (only one through 8), two runs, nine strikeouts (matches career high) and two walks, both of which came in the first inning.
Beckett - Seven innings, four hits, two runs (only one earned), 13 strikeouts (career high) and one walk.
When your starters pitch like those two, you can expect a win on most nights--against Tampa Bay, it's usually a lock. But this weekend in Bizarro World, up was down, left was right, the Rays pitchers were very good, and the league-leading Red Sox offense came up empty.
After a staggering 20 games without a day off, the Red Sox catch a breather tomorrow as they gear up to play the other team that swept them this season, the Toronto Blue Jays.
At least they'll be at Fenway on Tuesday. No pressure, guys. It's only Roy Halladay vs. Jon Lester.
Wake up those bats!
...or maybe Tampa Bay actually has a team this year. Bizarro, isn't it?? Gotta tip yer cap to the Tampa pitchers. They were solid.
By the way did you notice that Bizarro Lois Lane talks like the LOLCats?
-Ed
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The Rays are definitely moving forward rather than sideways as they have done most years. Bad sideways.
http://statisticianmagician.mlblogs.com/
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Mark from MLBlogs should send a thank you note to the Sox. I've never seen so many new Rays MLBlogs crop up in one day. I guess a sweep of the World Champs will do that for a fan base.
And speaking of the Rays fan base, ENOUGH COWBELL! My ears are still ringing and I watched the games on television.
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Speaking of cowbell...Christopher Walken was on SNL again last night.
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Well now we must revisit it. Gotta have more cowbell...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctDX_s5QxZ8
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The cowbells are a joke in Tampa, as if watching athletes play baseball with multiple catwalks in play isn't enough of an indignity. I can't stand the cowbells. We'll see about Tampa, though they do seem improved and more confident. Though different teams, the 2005 Orioles are a good cautionary tale. They were in first for over two months then collapsed.
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Jason, I hope the Rays drop back to reality soon enough. This team is definitely different this year. The rotation is good, especially since Kazmir hasn't even contributed yet. 4th place for sure, maybe third if one of the big three has an off year.
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Rays sweep Sox. Nationals win series against Mets. Figure that one out.
I take comfort in the fact that our two pitchers are showing their better sides and hoping they maintain that momentum.
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