Falling Short

Posted by ssilva June 30, 2008 at 11:50 pm

Comeback Comes Up Short in St. Pete
Sox Drop Further Behind in AL East

Monday Night Box: Tampa Bay 5, Boston 4
Rays Open Up East Lead to 1 1/2 Games with Win
No Help from Nation: Rays Now 4-0 vs. Sox at Fenway South in St. Pete
It Was Gross, Too: Upton Hits One Out off Mediocre Masterson
Shields Protects Rays First Place Lead with Quality Start
On the Sox Side: Lowell Stays Hot, 3-for-4, RBI
9th Life: Moss Ball Dances on Catwalk, But Tek Fly is Short
Lugo Liner Ends It

Sox can’t finish comeback

Posted by Extra Bases June 30, 2008 at 11:04 pm

The Red Sox fell to the Rays tonight, dropping back a game further from first place in the American League East in the process.

Though they scored two runs in the ninth inning, Julio Lugo lined out to shortstop with Brandon Moss on third base to end the comeback attempt.

Justin Masterson took the loss, his second, with James Shields getting the 5-4 win.

Percival out

Posted by Extra Bases June 30, 2008 at 11:00 pm

Troy Percival came out of the game, after hurting his leg backing up third base on the last play.

So with Brandon Moss on third base and Julio Lugo at the plate, J.P. Howell has come in to pitch. It's 5-4, with the Rays still leading. There are two outs in the ninth. Sean Casey was pulled back wtih Howell coming into the game.

Catwalk’s the culprit

Posted by Extra Bases June 30, 2008 at 10:51 pm

That wouldn't have been a home run off the bat of Brandon Moss, but it turned into a double when the ball hit a catwalk in Tropicana Field. Instead of going for a fly out to right field, Moss is on second base, with Kevin Youkilis on third, and a run in.

Jason Varitek followed that with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Youkilis.

Down by one run, with Moss on third base, Sean Casey is going to pinch hit for Julio Lugo.

Tampa Bay Rays beat the Red Sox 5-4

Posted by NECN - Sports June 30, 2008 at 10:25 pm

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - James Shields scattered five hits
over 6 1-3 innings and B.J. Upton and Gabe Gross homered Monday
night, helping the Tampa Bay Rays in baseball beat the Boston Red
Sox 5-4 to open a 1½-game lead in the division.

The Rays (50-32), surprising owners of the best record in
baseball, have won six of seven and shrugged off a six-game losing
streak to the Red Sox. It was the first meeting between the teams
since their June 5 benches-clearing brawl at Fenway Park that led
to the suspensions of eight players, including Shields (6-5).

Manny comments

Posted by Extra Bases June 30, 2008 at 10:21 pm

Manny Ramirez was sitting at his locker this afternoon, just when media were allowed in the clubhouse. He did not appear bothered by questions regarding his altercation with traveling secretary Jack McCormick in the clubhouse on Saturday afternoon.

"In the clubhouse, this is a family and whatever happens in the clubhouse, it stays in the clubhouse," Ramirez said. "Me and Jack, our friendship is good and he's going to continue being my friend yesterday, today, and tomorrow."

Ramirez spoke with both general manager Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona yesterday about the incident. Neither Epstein nor Francona wanted to discuss potential disciplinary action that could be taken against Ramirez, calling the situation an "internal matter."

Masterson out

Posted by Extra Bases June 30, 2008 at 10:17 pm

We're in the bottom of the seventh here at Tropicana Field, where Justin Masterson was removed to start the inning. Chris Smith came in to pitch.

It's now 4-2, Rays.

It's also crazy in the building, though I have to say that there are just as many cheers for the Sox as for the Rays.

Rally’s World

Posted by revseye June 30, 2008 at 7:46 pm

Posey Opting Out, Breaking ‘Hart’s

Posted by Adam Hart June 30, 2008 at 7:18 pm

Today, James Posey’s agent declared that Pose would opt out of his 3.2 million dollar contract for next season to hit the free agent market. As sad as it makes me, I must provide the fan base with replacement choices should Posey not re-sign with the C’s. It’s my duty as a bostonscore.com blogger — but not a duty I enjoy. Here is how these players compare to Pose:

James Posey — 6′8, 217 lbs., 7.4 ppg, 24.6 mpg, 4.4 rpg, 42% 3pt.

His defensive energy and three point shooting was the perfect compliment to Kevin Garnett. When KG hit the bench, Posey kept the second unit focused on playing defense. The pair of Posey and Eddie House was the reason the Celtics won as many games as they did in 2008. The second unit showed no drop off in production from the first, forcing the will to win out of opponents with a barrage of defensive stops and three pointers. The definitive play being this one, if you can stand the Transformers type static in the background. On top of Posey’s production, I also like his mouth guard. The multicolored white/green tooth saver was awesome.

Mickael Pietrus — 6′6, 215 lbs., 7.2 ppg, 20 mpg, 3.7 rpg 36% 3pt.

Pietrus is essentially a younger version of Posey, but shoots worse from behind the arc. Pietrus was part of that Golden State run-and-gun fast break offense. I don’t know if the Frenchman comes with a point guard sidekick like Posey did with House, but I will check into that. His defense is said to be excellent, so that is a plus. The downside is that he was the 11th overall pick in 2003 and earned 3.47 million last season. Chances are he expects more money — money the Celtics may not be willing to pay– and could play off of what kind of deal Posey gets; or vice versa.

Corey Maggette — 6′6, 225 lbs., 22.1 ppg, 35.7 mpg, 5.6 rpg, 38% 3pt.

Yeah right. Maggette wants out of L.A., but still has 7 million dollars on his deal for next season. He could come to the Celtics by using some form of a sign-and-trade and the mid-level exception. But that seems highly unlikely. The Celtics have the New Big Three. They need role players, even if Danny Ainge said of his draft picks that he wants them to offer more athleticism and scoring — not to be just role players. Maggette is athletic and offers scoring, but at a steep price and a large amount of required playing time.

Josh Childress — 6′8, 210 lbs., 11.8 ppg, 29.9 mpg, 4.9 rpg, 37% 3pt.

Childress is a restricted free agent and part of that Atlanta Hawks nucleus which nearly bounced the C’s in the first round of the playoffs. His defense is nothing to write home about, and it’s taken him 4 years to make the impact he has made — which isn’t much considering he was the 6th overall pick in 2004. The afro makes him cool, but the Hawks have the right to match any offer. With the Celtics willing to spend little, this appears an unlikely route.

Ryan Gomes — 6′7, 250 lbs., 12.6 ppg, 29.7 mpg, 5.8 rpg, 33% 3pt.

Everyone remembers Gomesy. My buddy TJ still has an authentic Gomes jersey, in fact. When the KG trade was made last offseason, there were rumblings that Gomes would be released and return to Boston. Gomes would bring a totally different game than Posey. His three point shooting is about 10% lower. Gomes also could not be called upon to shut down a player like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, or Joe Johnson. His game is more close to that of Leon Powe or Big Baby. Plus, Gomes is a restricted free agent. Minnesota has the right to match any offer.

—–

There are more small forwards on the free agent market, but none that look appealing. The point of this exercise is to prove that there is no replacement for James Posey. The Celtics need him to re-sign. If a long term deal can be worked out, it would put a smile on my face. Because right now, my heart is broken.  My sister has been locked in her room all day, crying mercilessly.  And my dog has been moping around the house since she heard the news.

I only have one thing left to say: Baby come back!

Manny apologizes for shove

Posted by Ian Browne June 30, 2008 at 7:15 pm This time, it didn't happen in the dugout. And this time, it wasn't caught on camera. But for the second time this season, Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez was involved in an altercation involving someone within the organization.

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