WIN AT ALL COSTS! The 2004 Boston Red Sox

[DiMaggio5CF]

I don't feel like flipping through 10 pages of stuff.

Can you please post an updated roster?

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by DiMaggio5CF

I don't feel like flipping through 10 pages of stuff.

Can you please post an updated roster?

I'm just about at the All-Star break... I'll try to post my full roster and stats at that point... thanks for your interest!!

[DiMaggio5CF]

Originally Posted by AZTarHeel

I'm just about at the All-Star break... I'll try to post my full roster and stats at that point... thanks for your interest!!

Excellent. Thanks.

[AZTarHeel]

Playoff Preview? Boston goes 2-1 against Oakland
Schilling wins ninth straight decision -- he's a battler

July 6-8

Game 1: Boston 4, Oakland 3. Ask any scout and they'll tell you Curt Schilling's on the decline, and fast. But though his player development ratings keep dropping seemingly by the week, the Red Sox hurler keeps winning. He outduels Tim Hudson (11-6) to improve to 12-2 on the season. Bobby Crosby leads off the game with a homer off Schilling but Oakland is pretty much stymied the rest of the way.

Manny Ramirez hits a big bases loaded, two-out single in the fourth to give Boston the cushion it would need to hang on. Schilling gets out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth with a K of Eric Chavez and a ground-ball out to Durazo.

In other games today: Texas beats Cleveland 19-2, getting a whopping 25 hits. Brian Jordan is 5-for-7... wow...

Game 2: Boston 13, Oakland 5. Josh Beckett gets his first win wearing red. The Boston offense puts seven runs on the board by the third inning as everyone in the starting lineup except Manny Ramirez gets a hit during that time (chasing Barry Zito early).

Jason Varitek, Gabe Kapler (!) and Nomar all hit homers. It's 11-0 after six, and Beckett exits in the seventh with this line -- 1 earned run, 4 hits allowed, 8 strikeouts...

The bottom four of the Sox order (Burks, Kapler, Varitek and Reese) combine for nine hits in this slugfest. The bullpen is shaky as Bronson Arroyo gives up a three-run triple to Eric Byrnes late... Arggg... MVP: Gabe Kapler!! He's 3-for-5!

Game 3: Oakland 9, Boston 6. The Sox jump to a 5-0 lead after three innings and seem on their way to a sweep but can't hold it. Brad Penny is money for four frames but then gives up four runs. The bullpen folds like a house of cards, and Armando Benitez eventually gets charged with the loss. Williamson is horrible. So is Arroyo.

Good grief -- this could be the undoing of this Red Sox team. Can anyone in the bullpen be solid consistently? Mark Mulder gets the win for Oakland to improve to 7-8.

Eric Chavez, who hit a big homer in the eighth, gets MVP honors.

In other games today, New York beats Tampa Bay, and Seattle beats Toronto by 12-0 scores...

Records: Boston 59-24.... Oakland 51-32...

[AZTarHeel]

Boston Transactions/Notes

* Reliever Bronson Arroyo has been put on the 15-day DL, following the third game in the Oakland series. He complained of elbow soreness.

The Red Sox have called up 27-year-old Colter Bean from AAA Pawtucket. This will be Bean's first trip to the majors. Bean had a 1-1 record for the PawSox, with a 2.31 ERA. "Our scouts have been telling us for awhile now to give this kid a shot. This is his chance," said manager Terry Francona.

Arroyo has no decisions this year, but has a 6.75 ERA during his time with the Big Club...

* Trying to shore up lineup spots and protect against any unexpected injuries, the Red Sox have offered minor league contracts to journeyman players Quenton McCracken, an outfielder, and Jesse Orosco, a relief pitcher.

McCracken, 34, was released by Seattle in May. Orosco, 47(!), was released by Arizona before the start of the season. Both will play for AAA Pawtucket.

* The Sox will welcome the Texas Rangers (35-48) to Fenway for a three-game series this weekend (July 9-11). This will be the final series before the All-Star Break next week in Houston. Who will make the AL roster from Boston? Stay tuned...

[AZTarHeel]

Texas three-step
Boston sweeps Rangers to sail into All-Star break

July 9-11, 2004

Game 1: Boston 12, Texas 2. The Sox bash 19 hits, including home runs by Manny Ramirez and Pokey Reese. Kevin Millar almost gets a grand slam in the fourth but a long fly ball is caught at the warning track.

Derek Lowe is an animal from the mound in this one, going eight strong and surrendering just four hits and two runs with nine strikeouts and no walks. Wow! All-star caliber?

Relief pitcher Colter Bean enjoys a perfect Major League debut. The 27-year-old comes in during the ninth inning facing the Rangers 2-3-4 batters. He mows 'em down -- three up, three down.

Some of the gaudy offensive numbers: David Ortiz 4-for-4, Nomar 4-for-5, Bill Mueller 3-for-5, Trot Nixon, Millar and Reese each with two hits... Texas only has four for the game... LP: R. Rodriguez (0-4).

Game 2: Boston 11, Texas 6. Aaron Sele doesn't get his second straight win as a Red Sox pitcher. In fact, he gets lit up for six runs. Nomar's homer in the sixth, and Nixon's two-run double in the seventh break open a tie ballgame.

Game 3: Boston 8, Texas 7. Despite the win that gives the Sox the sweep, manager Terry Francona is STEAMING MAD at how this game ends.

Curt Schilling is masterful as is Boston's offense early on as the Sox take a 6-0 lead. It's 8-2 when Schilling exits in the sixth (four-hitter for him). Colter Bean is impressive again, giving up just one walk and no hits in two innings of relief to keep that ERA at 0.00.

But then, the bullpen collapses again. Scott Williamson walks two batters in the top of the ninth. Armando Benitez comes in and lets both of those runners score plus one more. Brendan Donnelly then comes in and gives up two hard-hit balls to the fence as the score tightens to 8-7.

Ranger Greg Laird hits a smashing ball off Donnelly that fortunately Gabe Kapler catches at the fence to end the game... Whew... Donnelly nearly blew it but ironically gets a save -- but then gets a butt-chewing from Francona along with Benitez and Williamson... At least Schilling was able to get his 10th straight win... All-star caliber?

In other news: Dmitri Young of Detroit hits three homers against Minnesota...

On deck: The All-Star Classic, from Houston... info coming soon...

[AZTarHeel]

MLB Standings at the All-Star Break

Here are standings and league leaders... Anything else folks want to see? I'll post some Boston-specific stats and stuff below...

(let me know if this is hard to read, too big, etc.)

[TexasLonghorns]

Looks like Boston is gonna have a bunch of all-stars .I wonder if Radke or Schilling will start for the AL.

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by TexasLonghorns

Looks like Boston is gonna have a bunch of all-stars .I wonder if Radke or Schilling will start for the AL.

Believe it or not, neither pitcher will start... It's Roy Halladay... more coming soon...

[AZTarHeel]

The Boston Stat Sheet -- At the All-Star Break

[AZTarHeel]

The Boston Batting Report

Hernandez and Womack aren't currently on the active roster... They are playing AAA...

[AZTarHeel]

The Boston Pitching Report

Pedro Martinez and Bronson Arroyo are currently on the DL...

Abe Alvarez and Scott Sauerbeck are currently playing AAA... Actually, Alvarez is hurt as well...

[AZTarHeel]

Storylines and Notes from the First Half

How 'bout them Diamondbacks?
Arizona is the hottest team in the National League with a 56-33 record, 7.5 games up on San Fran. Manager Bob Brenly gets the key to the city as fans dream of another Destiny in the Desert season.

Robbie Alomar is showing he's still got the goods, hitting a cool .325 with 12 homers. Richie Sexson leads the team with 19 homers. Pitcher Randy Johnson has 11 wins, and second-year phenom Brandon Webb has an ERA just over 2.00... Arizona fans in real life are saying, "If only..."

Big Boppin' Barry has company
Barry Bonds and Jim Thome lead the Majors in homers at the All-Star Break. Both have 30... nice... Sammy Sosa is chasing with 27...

Central figures
The AL and NL Central races are the best at the halfway point. Minnesota is only two games up on the White Sox and 5.5 up on KC in the American. The NL Central is even tighter -- St. Louis leads Houston by just 0.5 games. Pittsburgh and the Cubbies lurk 8-9 games back...

Here fishy, fishy
The Marlins, even without Josh Beckett in the rotation, are climbing back into contention in the NL East. They swept the Mets leading into the break and are just six games out... BK Kim is the new ace, winning his last six decisions and seven of his last eight... Another dream season for Jack McKeon?

Threatening .400?
The watch is on for Colorado's Todd Helton. He's batting .395 after the first half. Can he keep it up?

On the block
These big names have landed on the trading block as of July 13:
Baltimore Orioles
Marty Cordova LF 35 2.5 Gold Stars $2,450,000

Toronto Blue Jays
Frank Catalanotto LF 30 2.0 Gold Stars $1,610,000

Texas Rangers
Francisco Cordero P 29 4.5 Gold Stars $1,400,000
(!!) Alfonso Soriano 2B 28 4.5 Gold Stars $3,780,000

Chicago (N) Cubs
Matt Clement P 29 3.5 Gold Stars $4,200,000

Best injury
SFN: Pedro Feliz was injured in a bar fight.
Diagnosis: Swollen Eye.
He is day-to-day, but full recovery will take one week.

[TexasLonghorns]

Originally Posted by AZTarHeel

Believe it or not, neither pitcher will start... It's Roy Halladay... more coming soon...

[AZTarHeel]

Just a note -- I'm heading out of town this week. Ironically, I'm headed to Houston (home of the All-Star Game), though for medical reasons, not pleasure... taking a trip to MD Anderson...

Anyway, I likely won't be posting anything until I get back... So, hang in there, and we'll get to the All-Star Game and second half when I return... Go Sox!!

[AZTarHeel]

2004 All-Star Rosters announced
Eight Red Sox players -- and only one Yankee -- selected (that's realistic, not)

These players were selected for the AL OOTP-Allstar Team
P Brad Radke from Minnesota
P Curt Schilling from Boston
P Josh Beckett from Boston
P Derek Lowe from Boston
P Jamie Moyer from Seattle
P Freddy Garcia from Seattle
P Roy Halladay from Toronto
P Rafael Soriano from Seattle
P Eddie Guardado from Seattle
P Arthur Rhodes from Oakland
C Ivan Rodriguez from Detroit
C Matt Lecroy from Minnesota
1B Kevin Millar from Boston
2B Bret Boone from Seattle
3B Eric Chavez from Oakland
SS Nomar Garciaparra from Boston
LF Manny Ramirez from Boston
CF Carlos Beltran from Kansas City
RF Vladimir Guerrero from Anaheim
1B David Ortiz from Boston
RF Trot Nixon from Boston
RF Ichiro Suzuki from Seattle
RF Magglio Ordonez from Chicago (A)
3B Alex Rodriguez from New York (A)
2B Alfonso Soriano from Texas

These players were selected for the NL OOTP-Allstar Team:
P Roy Oswalt from Houston
P Wade Miller from Houston
P Randy Johnson from Arizona
P Mark Prior from Chicago (N)
P Vicente Padilla from Philadelphia
P Jason Jennings from Colorado
P Kevin Millwood from Philadelphia
P Dave Weathers from New York (N)
P Eric Gagne from Los Angeles
P Jose Valverde from Arizona
C Mike Lieberthal from Philadelphia
C Robby Hammock from Arizona
1B Todd Helton from Colorado
2B Jeff Kent from Houston
3B Morgan Ensberg from Houston
SS Edgar Renteria from St. Louis
LF Barry Bonds from San Francisco
CF Preston Wilson from Colorado
RF Bobby Abreu from Philadelphia
1B Albert Pujols from St. Louis
RF J.D. Drew from Atlanta
RF Richard Hidalgo from Houston
LF Geoff Jenkins from Milwaukee
2B Roberto Alomar from Arizona
2B Marcus Giles from Atlanta

[BostonRS14]

wow...Joe Torre managing the AL team and Jeter doesn't make it....something is wrong in the Big Apple...

[AZTarHeel]

Originally Posted by BostonRS14

wow...Joe Torre managing the AL team and Jeter doesn't make it....something is wrong in the Big Apple...

As they say, OOTP doesn't recognize names or who should be manager of the AL All-Stars... Eight Red Sox players? Like that would happen IRL...

[AZTarHeel]

NL All-Stars tee off on AL pitching
Nine-run sixth inning makes difference in 75th All-Star clash

MLB.com

Jack McKeon sat in front of another winner’s press conference, cigar in hand and soaking up the moment.

“I could get used to this,” the Marlins manager said after watching the National League All-Stars pound their AL counterparts 14-5. “Our boys were carrying some big sticks tonight.”

Talk about an understatement.

Barry Bonds, Bobby Abreu, Edgar Renteria and Mike Lieberthal each hit home runs, and four other players stroked doubles. The NL teed off in the sixth inning especially, hitting three homers and plating nine runs. Renteria’s shot was a grand slam that landed in the deep right field seats at Minute Maid Park.

“I talked to Marlins management about acquiring all of these guys for the second half,” McKeon quipped. “I’d give up a whole case of cigars for them, maybe two.”

The AL led 2-1 going into the sixth inning before Reneteria smashed his slam off Seattle pitcher Jamie Moyer. Bonds and Lieberthal each went deep off Mariners reliever Rafael Soriano.

Moyer took the loss while Philadelphia’s Vincent Padilla earned the win. Lieberthal gave the Phillies the All-Star sweep, being named MVP. The catcher was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored.

The starters were Houston’s Roy Oswalt (NL) and Toronto Roy Halladay (AL). Halladay threw three innings of no-hit ball before being replaced by Boston’s Curt Schilling, who gave up a home run to the first batter he faced.

How did the Bostonians fare?
Collectively, players from the winningest team in the Majors didn’t do too much. Schilling gave up a home run, though he didn’t allow another score over two innings. Nomar Garciparra, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and Derek Lowe were a collective 1-for-11 with four strike outs. Nomar earned the lone hit.

Pitchers Derek Lowe and Josh Beckett did not make appearances. Trot Nixon was a late sub on defense and did not bat.

[AZTarHeel]

Wakefield's season is done
Back injury sidelines Marlin knuckleballer for rest of 2004

The Miami Herald * July 20, 2004

It’s been a rough nine months or so for Florida pitcher Tim Wakefield.

First, he serves up the winning home run to Aaron Boone in the 11th inning of Game 7 of last year’s ALCS while wearing a Boston uniform.

Then, after a promising start to 2004, he lost the movement on his famed knuckleball, and opponents started teeing off. Boston management became so disenchanted, they traded their pitcher of 10 years to Miami in favor of younger, hard throwing pitchers last month.

As if the brunt of that trade wasn’t enough, Wakefield suffered a season-ending injury just three starts into his career with his new team. That came last night in the fifth inning against the Mets.

Wakefield, who said he is now mulling retirement, ends his season at 5-5 with a 6.43 ERA. His last five decisions were all losses. His last win came two months ago while still in Boston.

“I can’t explain to you how disappointing this year has turned out for me,” Wakefield said. “I may just hang it up from here…”