13 men left on base. You just can't do that. The good guys
lost to Oakland last night for the first time in a long time. (Looks like Sox Blog
gloated too soon.) In large part, that had to do with the fact that we had the bases loaded with no outs in the fourth and
couldn't plate a single run. As the
Globe's Chris Snow so charitably puts it, "the Sox failed to deliver in a situation in which it's fairly difficult not to score." Hmm, yes.
Oakland, on the other hand, were able to capitalize on a similar situation in the fifth, when Mark Kotsay stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and launched a triple over
Trot Nixon's head, clearing the bases and giving the A's the lead. They'd relinquish it to David Ortiz's two-run double in the seventh, but then reclaim it in the eighth with newly-minted big leaguer Mark Watson's two run single off Mike Timlin.
Nixon looked hesitant as he tried to track down Kotsay's fly, and it probably had a lot to do with the mysterious
leg injury he apparently suffered in the double-header against Seattle last week. It was disclosed to the world yesterday, and to hear him tell it, it's not be discussed for the remainder of the season. Strangely, it's an affliction that will eventually require surgery but can nonetheless be played through for the remaining four and a half months of the season. Whatever it is -- knee? quad? -- pray that Trot isn't just being bullheaded when he says he's not going on the DL. The way he's hitting -- he's got six homers (including Saturday's
grand slam) and entered last night third in the league in on-base-percentage (.444) and sixth in both batting average (.337) and walks (21) -- we can ill-afford to lose him.
Hopefully a little spotting here and there by Jay Payton is all he'll need. Or maybe even something more drastic? Like -- as a few posters suggest in this
Sons of Sam Horn thread -- a move to first base? If that means Kevin Millar in right field instead, it's probably counterproductive. (Incidentally,
Kevin Youkilis played first for the first time in his major league career last night, and did a serviceable job. Don't be surprised to see him there again.)
In other news, aging pitchers are all over the place today:
*
David Wells should make his return tomorrow night. Welcome back, Boomer.
* Tony Massarotti says
Mike Timlin is a great guy: a real gamer, and a helluva Texan.
* And our
old friend, 45-year-old
Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd, threw 43 pitches in three innings, striking out three and allowing a hit and two walks in the Brockton Rox's 17-5 win against the Worcester Tornadoes -- managed by Boyd's former battery mate
Rich Gedman -- last night. Gotta love it.
Speaking of old guys, would you pay $3500 to see the
Rolling Stones at Fenway? Sox Blog sure wouldn't. Do, however, expect to see him on standing on Van Ness Street with a paper-bag-concealed beer on August 23. They'd better play "Tumbling Dice."
Finally, RIP
Charlie Muse, inventor of the modern batting helmet.
Manny Ramirez thanks you.