The Red Sox Magic Number Is 112

Yup.
The Red Sox who started the season 0-6 and 2-10 are in first place by themselves.

(Thank you A. J. Burnett's high pitch count and mediocre Yankee middle relief.)

So now any combination of Red Sox wins and Yankee losses that equal 112... and the Red Sox are the 2011 American League Eastern Division Champions.

And they got there BEFORE Memorial Day. They had a disappointing first third of the season and are STILL in first place by themselves.

Ain't no stopping us now!

Hisanori Takahashi better be buying drinks after this game

Seriously, Hisanori Takahashi was a whole lot of suck for the Angels in the first two games of their series with the Red Sox.

Aces Jeff Weaver and Dan Haren got the losses, but they actually pitched well.
Jeff Weaver went 6 innings with 3 earned runs on Monday

Dan Haren was throwing a shutout today into the 6th and finished with 7+ innings, 4 runs, 8 strikeouts and no walks.

But Takahashi gave up 2 earned runs in 1/3 of an inning on Monday. Then today he let up 2 more homers and 3 earned runs in a single inning.

That's 5 earned runs in 1 1/3 innings of late relief. Two tight games that turned into blowouts. I am not even including 2 come from behind wins against two of the best pitchers in the AL on my Dodged Bullet/Teeth Grinder ledger because Takahashi made the games no brainers.

Seriously Takahashi. Pick up the tab at the bar.

A Note to All MLB teams... Kevin Gregg Stinks!

The Orioles were on the verge of a confidence building win... they beat up Phil Hughes (which will probably be a regular occurrence this season and were going to leave Yankee Stadium with a split.

They brought a one run lead into the 9th inning and Buck Showalter handed the ball to Kevin Gregg. The minute I saw that I thought "Well, the Yankees are going to tie the game."

First batter, Jorge Posada, parked a game tying shot.

The Yankees won in 10, but make no mistake, this was Gregg's game to lose.

And so now we have the fourth straight season that I have been telling people that he stinks as a closer and teams are nuts for signing him.

And the Orioles are his fourth team in as many years.
And believe me, there will be many more demoralizing losses for a young Orioles team this year. This team should not be handing the ball to Kevin Gregg. That is a recipe for devastation. That is a formula that will keep a growing team from building on positive moments like taking early leads and hitting well in the Bronx.

Nothing positive happened for them tonight.
Buck, Gregg may indeed have some talent, but handing the game to him in the 9th is a terrible Armando Benitez-esque mistake.

Throw Josh Rupe out there. Give Chris Jakubauskas a few save chances. Koji Uehara is no spring chicken. Have him come out to close games.

Call up Eddie Gamboa from AA and see what he can do.
How can it be worse than Gregg?

It is no longer a small sample size of games nor teams.

It's a rebuilding year for the Orioles but with a break here and there they can sniff .500. But that won't happen with Gregg giving away games, which is EXACTLY what he will be doing all season long.

Unless you think the last 4 years were a fluke!

Is there any Louisiana Lightning left in that arm?

Ron Guidry was at Yankee Old Timers Day today... he looks pretty good.

I'm serious. With all of the lousy bullpens in baseball these days and everyone looking for a left hander, are you telling me that Ron Guidry couldn't make a staff or two?

OK, maybe not the Yankees, but are you saying the Mariners, the Orioles, the Royals and the Diamondbacks would have no place for him?

Make some calls, Ron.

Hey Cardinals bullpen... nice job

You would think that after hanging a 9 spot on you in the bottom of the 9th inning last night, you'd button down a little more.

Maybe show a little bit of moxie and say "Hey, let's not see that happen again" especially when you know the Reds won tonight and you don't want to fall 3 back in the NL Central race.

You would think that.

But a 3 run 8th inning homer by Dexter Fowler and a walk off shot by Chris Ianetta later and the Cardinals pen coughed it up again.

Granted, blowing a 3 run 8th inning lead isn't as bad as blowing a 6 run 9th inning lead... but that's not the kind of comparison you brag about winning.

Ubaldo Jimenez is going tomorrow against Chris Carpenter... could be a great game.
Let me recommend to Tony LaRussa that Carpenter goes 9.

There seems to be a lot of pictures like this of Joba Chamberlain

Another day, another run let up late in the game for Joba Chamberlain.

His ERA is now a robust 5.40 and yesterday blew a lead that could have been a huge morale builder for A. J. Burnett.

I hate to say this as a Red Sox fan, but as a human being I feel bad for him.

Just trade him already... it will help all sides out!

Why would the Blue Jays sign Kevin Gregg?

With all of the available free agents out there, why would Toronto give Kevin Gregg $2.75 million with the possibility for $12 million over 3 years?

Seriously, do they even look at the guy’s resume before signing him.

Yes this is the same Kevin Gregg whose post All Star break melt down torpedoed the Florida Marlins’ playoff hopes in 2008.

This is the same Kevin Gregg who was so dreadful as the Cubs closer last year that they had to take him out of the role. Only the disastrous Milton Bradley signing kept the Gregg acquisition from being the worst move the Cubs made last year.

So better make him a millionaire several times over!

Seriously, why not offer him a minor league deal with incentives?
Or spend a fraction of that on a Jamey Wright or a David Weathers?

Not that those guys are the second coming of Grover Cleveland Alexander… but at least they would be cheaper and not have the reputation of torpedoing the hopes of a team.

And with the Blue Jays in full rebuilding mold, do you REALLY want the few leads you will have in 2010 flushed down the toilet?

I warned the Cubs… they didn’t listen to me.

Now I am warning the Blue Jays.

I am becoming the Cassandra of Baseball Bloggers!

The Lingering Stentch Of The Giants Bullpen

For obvious reasons, the Giants bullpen brought back memories of this clip from The Kentucky Fried Movie.

A Mind Boggling Stat Regarding The Indians Bullpen

Kerry Wood didn't get a chance to blow today's game and once again hear cheers in Wrigley Field... But no doubt if the Tribe had a lead today, there would be a more than an even chance they'd blow it.

I'm serious!

The Indians are the worst team in the American League right now.

In 2007 they were up 3-1 in the ALCS and a mind bogglingly bad third base coach decision from having Game 7 tied in the 7th inning.

Now they are on pace to be picking right after the Nationals in the draft.

And it's safe to say their bullpen is a big part of this fall from greatness that is impressive even by Cleveland sports standards.

They have 12 saves... and 13 blown saves.

Read that again.

They have blown more saves than they have converted.

Now granted that statistic can be a little bit misleading. You can blow a save in the 7th or 8th and get the save in the 9th in the same game.

But that's not the point. It shouldn't be that close!

If you hear people talk about the save statistic, you'd think it was the easiest and most overrated stat in the game. I have criticized the all time saves leader Trevor Hoffman left and right on this blog because I felt his post season failures negate the Hall of Fame worthiness of his save total.

Well evidently it's not that easy to close out a game... the Indians are under .500!

Since Cliff Lee's wonderful 3-0 gem last Sunday, the Indians haven't won.

And their 0-6 record includes a game where the pen let up 6 runs in the 8th against the Brewers to lose 14-12, and 11 inning loss to the Brewers, and back to back losses by the nominal closer Kerry Wood in Wrigley.

After being so close to the World Series (where they would have CLUBBED the Rockies) the Indians are now going to deal a defending Cy Young winner for the second straight year.

I'd say they should start dealing their relievers... but who would take them?

I told you Cleveland fans... STOP WATCHING SPORTS THIS YEAR!!!

After you... no no after you...

So the Phillies just got swept at home to Toronto after losing 2 of 3 to the Red Sox at home.

They lost today in the 9th inning after losing a game to both the Sox and Jays in extra innings.

In other words they seem to be squandering away the good will of the recent 7 game winning streak and the two extra inning victories against the Mets.

Were they handing the Division to the Mets?

Oh please! This is the Mets we are talking about!

Another day, another loss for the Mets bullpen. In their last 9 games the Mets bullpen has lost 5 games. 

And Frankie Rodriguez can't blame Luis Castillo on THIS one.

Take those 5 bullpen losses and add Santana's disastrous game last Sunday, and the Mets have allowed the Phillies to have an awful home stand and lose only one game!

Doesn't anyone here want to win this division?

They had better not get cocky.

It turns out the Braves might have picked the right Tommy to keep with Hanson's second win tonight.

And a few more weather aided wins could mean the Marlins could make up some of those 5 1/2 games.

And then those Nationals... OK, maybe not the Nationals.

Sully Baseball Solves the Joba Chamberlain Situation

I have a solution

I am only half kidding here.

It seems that for whatever reason the Yankees seemed hellbent on preventing Joba from throwing more than 12 pitches a game.

Removing him in the 6th inning when the Red Sox couldn't hit him so they can bring on the Merry Go Round of Veras, Coke, Albaladejo, Ramirez, Melancon and Robertson was indefensible.

The later innings are more important to lock down, especially in a close game. You can fall behind early (like the Sox did 6-0 the other weekend) and you can still come back. Falling behind late means one or two cracks at it.

Here's my modest and kind of kidding but actually kind of serious suggestion:

If Joba is only allowed to pitch 5 or 6 innings... have him come in the 3rd. Put some schmuck to pitch the first and second and then bring in Joba to pitch the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th and have Rivera pitch the 9th.

You'd get the innings pitched from Joba and the late innings would no longer be the property of Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez or whatever 5.00+ ERA scrub they bring out.

It's like when Pedro came into Game 5 of the 1999 Division Series in the 4th and pitched the rest of the way.

I know it will never happen... but except for the fact that it is batsh*t crazy, it kind of makes sense to me.

RELIEF FAIL

The Angels should just send the video of Brian Fuentes' performance tonight in New York to FailBlog.org.

Given a 1 run lead in the 9th, here was his line.

No outs records... 3 hits... 1 walks... 2 runs... LOSS... FAIL!

The Angels aren't winning this season... not with this guy throwing the 9th

Ah that Mets Bullpen!

Well the Marlins got their groove back because of the Mets lousy bullpen.

Johan Santana lost another decision and yet another one slipped away.

The Mets bullpen have already lost 5 games.

Didn't the Mets improve their bullpen?

Now I am expecting a few angry Mets responses, including my anonymous reader who called me "A fat no talent fool from the lucky sperm club."

Well as a card carrying member of the Lucky Sperm Club, I will tell you that I can fake talent and lose weight... but that won't change the fact that the Mets bullpen sucks and this is going to haunt the team down the stretch.

(Lucky sperm club? Is he implying that my dad got me this blog?)

Ohhhhhhhhhhh yeah

The most telling stat of why the Red Sox swept the Yankees this weekend.

The Red Sox bullpen ERA for the weekend series: 2.13

The Yankees bullpen ERA for the weekend series: 8.18

I would write a lot more... but I've been watching hours and hours of baseball and it is time to spend some wife time!

More Joba Irony!

The bullpen blew ANOTHER lead for Joba.

Rivera had to come in the 8th inning and he couldn't do the job.

Bruney is getting an MRI so there will be a lack of depth in the pen.

Gee... I wonder if the "Joba to the pen" controversy is over?

Who has Radhames Liz on their fantasy team?

Evidently the Orioles sent down Radhames Liz to the minors after the game.

I'm surprised they didn't do it in mid pitch.

He went into today with a 36.00 ERA for the season.

He went into today with a 27.00 ERA in two career appearances in Fenway. 

After today, he is longing for such pretty numbers.

He was sent in the 7th of a 6-1 game. His job was to get outs.

He got an out.

He let up 3 hits, walked one, hit a couple of guys and saw his era go up to 67.50.

His career era against the Red Sox in three appearances? 34.50.

Hey Orioles! I think the Red Sox have figured him out.

I have no idea how to pronounce his name. I bet most broadcasters can't either.

Doesn't matter now!

Farnsworth didn't do it again, did he?

I spent today at the beach with my kids, so I wasn't watching the games this scorching Sunday.

On the drive back from Santa Monica, I heard Michael Young won the game today for the Rangers on a walk off homer in the bottom of the 9th against the Royals.

My 4 year old son said "I bet it was Farnsworth who let it up."

He was right.

It's mid April, and already I have not one, not two but counting this one THREE posts about Kyle Farnsworth and how outrageously ineffective he is.

Royals. Here's a tip... CUT HIM NOW!

You have 5 losses... and your set up man has THREE OF THEM!!!

It's not getting better. It's not going to get better. This is who he is!

He's a talented but lousy pitcher. He's got Roger Clemens' stuff and Charlie Brown's luck.

Every reliever blows a game or two. But they shouldn't blow a game or 82!

Designate him for assignment NOW! Before his reign of terror will continue into late April!

Poor Guy

The Yankees called up a young pitcher to give the bullpen a fresh arm.

In his big league debut he got blown out of the water.
9 hits, 8 earned runs, 2 walks and 2 homers in an inning and 2/3.

If he never pitches again he will have a 43.20 ERA.

His name is Anthony Claggett.

With a name like that, I wonder if the fans in the bleachers could extend their imagination to create an obscene nickname for him.

I can't think of one.

Ahhhh that Yankee middle relief

The day seemed perfect in the Bronx.
Yogi and Larsen were there for the first pitch.

Jets flew over the Stadium.

The sky was bright.

The house was packed.

Posada homered and new memories were all ready to be made as the tense 1-1 game seemed to be heading for a spectacular conclusion.

And when the game ended, the joint was half empty and the fans seemed indifferent as they wandered off.

What could have happened in between?

Oh yeah... the Yankees had to use their middle relievers. And before you could say "Bridge to Mariano" a 1-1 game was 10-1.

I'm not 100% why both Edwar Ramirez and Phil Coke needed to be used in the 6th and why neither could pitch the 7th. But this will no doubt bring out the "Joba to the bullpen" chant again.

Either way, you know that when it was 1-1, someone at YES thought "Oh if this ends with a Jeter walk off, we are going to show this game on a loop."

You know Michael Kaye already practiced his call of the homer.

So now the Yankees need at least one reliever... a reserve infielder... and an outfielder to back up Swisher now that Nady is gone.

Man, $200 million just doesn't buy what it used to.

My Dad Might Be On To Something

I just finished typing my last post about Randy Johnson when I started talking to my dad about Randy Johnson.
My dad as my readers will know, is a huge San Francisco Giants fan and follows them every night, even in a lousy year like 2008.

And as my dad as a way of cutting to the heart of the matter, he muttered something that might be right on the money.

SULLY: You guys made a move yesterday.
SULLY'S DAD: Yeah. Randy Johnson. I wish they'd make him the closer.

BOOM!

Right there!
Wisdom.

He would be an amazing closer.
Air it out one inning at a time in AT&T Park.

With Tim Linecum, Jonathan Sanchez, Matt Cain and the most expensive #4 starter in baseball, Barry Zito the Giants have a solid rotation.

And Bryan Wilson can pile up saves, but he hardly strikes fear in the hearts of hitters.
Jeremy Affeldt is a good set up man.

But imagine the Giants have a lead (OK... hard to imagine but anything can happen) and who comes out of the Pen but THE SINGLE SCARIEST PITCHER I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE!

Those hitters would feel like that Bird!

If the Giants are going to be the surprise team of 2009, then they will have to be an all pitching and defense team.
And along the way, a closer tends to pick up 5 or 6 wins.
Maybe he'll come into a tied game and the team scores in the 9th.

Maybe he'll blow a save and they'll get two in the 9th.

Either way he'd get his 300 wins, the Giants would have a deep and scary bullpen to go with their deep and solid rotation...

If only they listen to my dad!