7.31.08 Pawtucket / Rochester - Keith Ginter made a good play at third.

7-6 Pawtucket.

Michael Bowden got his first start at McCoy Stadium. My unprofessional opinion is that it was a pretty good start, regardless of the line. He is developing. You can read about his start elsewhere.

Lincoln Holdzkom jumped into the sixth inning to finish it off for Bowden. There were runners on first and second and Holdzkom walked the first batter he faced. Of course. But he did get out of the inning right after that with the bases loaded and went on to pitch the seventh and eighth inning, giving up a walk and a hit but no runs! Very good. Good work. Thank you, Holdzkom.

Jon Switzer entered the ninth inning with the game tied. After getting Pridie out, Switzer gave up a single to Machado, a double to Old Man Clark, and an RBI single to Velvet Jones. 6-5 Rochester. D'oh. And Randy Ruiz came to the plate. Only the guy who's been 7-13 in the series. Relentless. Hitting. Monster. And Switzer hits him!

Switzer got the next two batters out, though. And he wound up getting the win!

Rochester lefty Carmen Cali tough-guyed his way through three innings, but clearly he was incapable of going deeper. Seven hits, four runs, a walk and two strikeouts. Danny Graves got some long relief in. Super-tall Honduran Mariano Gomez pitched... gave up a run. Casey Daigle handled the eighth cleanly. The typically awesome Bobby Korecky only got one out in the ninth before Pawtucket walked it off. Sorry.

Pawtucket scored seven runs. Bailey went 3-4 with a pair of doubles and a walk. Chris Carter hit a home run because he is composed of raw meat and steel. George Kottaras was epic and heroic, batting in the winning run in the ninth inning. Ok, ninth inning -

NINTH INNING. Jeff Bailey was leading off and I said to myself... if Bailey does not get on base, Pawtucket cannot win. And I mean that. Because Keith Ginter's batting third, which is weird but understandable. I get it. And Bailey drew a walk and I knew it'd be okay. Natale was up next and he reached on a fielder's choice that eliminated Bailey. Next batter was Ginter... and he was hit by a pitch. Korecky's usually nails but he was freaking out a little. Chris Carter reaches on an error that scores Natale. Tie game! The crowd goes wild! It's such an exciting moment that I am scrambling my verb tenses like crazy, here.

And then here's where Kottaras does a good thing. The impossible single. Not hit too hard or too far but it land in just the right awkward place outside the infield and everyone goes home happy. I no longer feel angry when I think of George Kottaras.

and i don't wanna get over you... it doesn't matter what you do:
1. Sean Danielson's nickname is 'Spike'? I love this kid. He is really fun to watch. I cannot stress this enough. If you check up on it, you'll be surprised constantly. DANIELSON!!!!!
2. Yes, Keith Ginter made a killer play at third base in the eight, snagging a Jorgensen infieldish liner. The thing is, Ginter's not the picture of agility... he has a bodybuilder's physique. Maybe not as extreme as Chris Carter, but still. I could be wildly wrong here, but can bulk like that be an impediment to grace? But yeah, good play, Ginter.
3. Van Every went 0-4 with a strikeout.
4. Jon Switzer was getting his nuts squeezed pretty hard by the umpire. We could all see that. Thanks a lot, KEVIN CAUSEY!
5. Joe Thurston's still on the mend. He sits in the dugout in uniform and you can totally tell he wants in.
6. Before the game, the PawSox extended thank yous and congratulations to Brandon Moss over the PA. I have heard nothing but the most glowing praise for Moss's super personality. I will miss him, too.
7. Pawtucket still hanging on to first place! DO IT!

Seriously, I have to go. Tonight's game is El Guapo v. Liriano. SHIT! I don't get to see Liriano pitch. But you go ahead and go. Have fun. I want you to. I'll just be sitting here worrying.

Take a hike, son!

Last game of the season, Hansen gave away his gloves and shoes and jersey and ability to find the strike zone and control and reliability.

At least I don't have to worry about him rehabbing or something in Pawtucket. See ya later! Escribeme pronto!

Brandon Moss was wicked nice.

Moss must have had an interesting day at work. Must have been hard for him to say goodbye to RJ, Bailey, Kottaras, Pauley, Zink, Paws and Sox.

It will be weird without him.

Michael Bowden is talented.

Mike Bowden looks like Ewan MacGregor. I'm sure he gets that a lot. Is it Ewan or Ewen? He was in Trainspotting, which I've never seen. I think he may be dead now.




In a related story, I got my playoff tickets. Some may consider them excellent seats, since I am in the first row above the home dugout. Unfortunately, I do not like the first row and I prefer the third base side. But I'm not complaining at all. I'll strike up a brief but fascinating conversation with Devern Hansack.

PLAYOFFS!!!!

7.30.08 The Rochester Red Wings Have Had Enough.

Rochester WINS! 8-3

David Pauley seemed to tire quickly. The first inning was 1-2-3, the second he gave up a double to Randy Ruiz but allowed no runs. The third inning he walked Machado and then hit McDonald with a pitch. And how often does Pauley hit anyone?

In the fourth inning, we saw a double and a home run and a walk and many, many pitches. Pauley went on to give up a couple more runs in the fifth and that was it. Ninety-three pitches, 54 for strikes. YOU SUCK PAULEY!!

Vaquedano pitched the sixth inning and did it quickly and cleanly. For once. Michael Tejera followed... I love Tejera but he's got this dirty, dirty moustache... he started pitching rather angrily and gave up a two-run homer to Velvet Jones.

Eric Hull waved the white flag in the ninth inning. It was a disaster. I kind of knew the Red Sox had conceded at that point because they left him out there forever. Hit after hit, like Foreigner. Except it didn't seem 'Urgent' to RJ to yank Hull.

My favorite part of the game was Anthony Swarzak's triple-A debut! Swarzak allowed five base-runners in the first inning and a pair of runs but chilled out and pitched pretty well the rest of the way. Except for the Jeff Natale homer in the fifth. But it was awesome.

The Rochester relief corps did a terrific job and the PawSox could not get guys across home plate. They only allowed one hit and one walk in four innings. And they got five strikeouts! That's Depaula and Korecky, if you care.

And the man who got that one hit was Keith Ginter. Ginter got more hits than anyone!

god stuff:
1. Darnell McDonald left the game a few innings in. Cliburn made a few weird defensive changes.
2. Garrett Jones had homered in every IL park except McCoy. Until yesterday. So congratulations?
3. Randy Ruiz has been absolutely killing us. Maybe it's time for us to start killing HIM. If you know what I mean.
4. GEEZ LOUISE, RANDY RUIZ!
5. Machado's also been a pain, chipping the shit out of the pitchers with singles and stolen bases and crap like that. I ain't too mad.
6. Jason Pridie is IL batter of the week!
7. Okay, what is this? I noticed that whenever Pauley was in the stretch with runners on, he'd glance back at SS Velazquez. And Velazquez would rap on his cup. Like maybe three times, or twice, or whatever. Is that code? I never noticed this before. At first I thought, maybe Gil is just reminding him to pitch from his nuts or something. I have no idea what kind of slang pro jocks use. Someone help me out, or I may have to personally ask Gilbert. And I don't want to do that.
8. Oh, see, Darnell McD left the game after being hit on the hand by Pauley. He may miss the rest of the season. That's awful.
9. I think Pauley signs autographs after every game. No matter what. I always see him signing for the fans. And he's one of the few guys that does that. I wonder why?

Tonight! The magnificent Carmen Cali in a showdown against rookie Mike Bowden. Drinks will flow and blood will spill. And if those boys wanna fight, you'd better let 'em.

save my life i'm going down for the last time

Chad Spann has been released. FINALLY. I think they were just waiting for Natale to come back.

Looks like Natale also swiped Spann's old number right away.

Good riddance.

7.29.08 Pawtucket Red Sox v. Rochester Red Wings - I like to be here when I can.

Pawtucket WINS! 5-3

Charlie Zink is the first pitcher in the IL to win 13 games. Tonight Zink allowed nine Rochester hits while striking out two. Rochester scored all three runs off Zink in the third inning. CZ finished off the game with 95 pitches.

Lefty Jon Switzer (it'll say that on his tombstone: HERE LIES LEFTY JON SWITZER) had a pretty sweet 1-2-3 eighth. The lovely and talented Chris Smith tackled inning nine. Smith also nabbed the uno-dos-tres with one strikeout.

Youngster Kevin Mulvey started for Rochester! Mulvey just couldn't get through the seventh inning... he went 6 1/3, six hits, three runs. Lefty Ricky Barrett stepped in to face the righty Gil Velazquez. Wait, what? Yeah, seems Velazquez is about even-steven with his lefty-righty split. Barrett gave up a double to Velazquez and then a triple to Van Every. So his outing was cut short!

Big Worcester hottie Tim Lahey finished the seventh inning, but not before giving up an RBI single to Bailey. It was Lahey who finished the damn thing, too.

Pawtucket offense: Gil Velazquez is still hot! Velazquez went 3-3 with two doubles and a home run. Carter and Bailey each went 2-4, Bailey with a leadoff double. Jeff Corsaletti hit a double as well, in the run-stuffed seventh inning.

Red Wings Randy Ruiz went 2-4 with two doubles.

bandwagonesque:
1. Jeff Natale has returned from the DL with a titanium plate and a couple of screws in his arm. You have no idea how glad I am about his return. More on that later.
2. Jeff Corsaletti continues to swing at everything. I am a fan in spite of his struggles. He does, however, have a serious case of Asshole Face.
3. Van Every hit a triple! I love when the runner figures he's going for a triple and he really starts hauling ass around second base. And they look like they're going to die of exertion. It's not at all graceful but it's exciting as anything. As far as baseball plays go, it is my Favourite.
4. Alejandro Machado is alive and well and perhaps DH'ing for the time being. He's still exceedingly sweet and friendly. In public.
5. Tim McCarver says hitting a knuckleball is like "trying to catch a falling star". DOUCHE. So, Tim... how do you talk to an angel?
6. I saw Lee Gronkiewicz in the dugout, talking to new kid Mike Bowden. It was very special.
7. Joe Thurston has hurt himself. He's on crutches but I am not sure if he's on the DL right now.

Day game tomorrow. I will be there. It's gonna be so great. David Pauley v. triple-A new kid Anthony Swarzak. Tout-l'heur!

7.28.08 Pawtucket Red Sox @ Toledo Mud Hens - BLOWN

5-4 Toledo in 12 innings.

You can click the link if you care to. All you probably need to know is that Lincoln Holdzkom was pitching in the twelfth inning and he threw a wild pitch with a runner on third, Freddy Guzman. Guzman ran for home and crossed the plate for the winning run.

Lincoln Holdzkom is pretty much this year's Barry Hertzler.

PawSox are back tomorrow and so am I.

Still in first place!

I have ordered Pawtucket playoff tickets. I got a letter in the mail with an order form. So that was good.

Notice my composure?

7.27.08 Pawtucket Red Sox @ Toledo Mud Hens - HESSMANIA!

Pawtucket WINS! 8-5

El Guapo started and went six innings deep for Pawtucket. Martinez walked two batters and struck out six. He gave up two runs in the second inning, when relentless hit machine Mike Hessman hit a two-run homer.

Jon Switzer entered the seventh inning, probably unprepared for the ensuing wackiness. He gets the first two outs pretty easily. Then Mike Hessman gets in the box and cranks out another god damn home run like he's tying his shoes. Okay. The next two batters both single and Dane Sardinha is up. He hits the ball! Way back! Home run! AY! And so it goes from 8-2 to 8-6 and Switzer's probably starting to sweat.

Except. Except it wasn't a home run because a fan reached down and caught it in his hat. It was a ground rule double and only one runner crosses the plate. And the next batter, Hollimon, strikes out to end the inning. Terrific! There must have been a PawSox fan out there! I mean, it's not like a Toledo fan could be THAT stupid!

Jose Vaquedano pitched the eighth inning and gave up the fifth run. Chris Smith gave up a single to the pesky Clete Thomas, but got the last three outs without allowing another run.

Chris Carter update: Another long ball for Carter, who was tonight's DH. George Kottaras also homered. Brandon Moss went yard twice! Thurston and Van Every each doubled. Everyone but Sean Danielson got a hit, but it's okay. He walked twice. It was breathtaking. As was his outfield assist!

Oh, hang on. The Toledo pitching summary. Virgil Vasquez started but could not escape the third inning, where he gave up five runs (including hot, naked back-to-back home runs from Brandon Moss and Chris Carter). Jeremy Johnson, Brian Rogers, and Clay Rapada finished the innings with varying degrees of success. There, is that sufficient?

PawSox to become Appleton Red Wolves?
1. Big Hessman's off to Beijing with fellow Hen Blaine Neal, who pretty much blew the IL's shot at winning the All-Star Game. Good luck, lads. And please enjoy my kick-off snapshot of Neal with Carl Pavano, Brad Penney, and Maureen Almeida.
2. Van Every's back in the nine hole. He may not care, but he also may be pissed.
3. You may watch tomorrow's day game on the cable sports network, but only if you live in Rhode Island.

Pawtucket returns day after tomorrow. Good.

Portland Sea Gods

The reason I saw Bubba Bell in Pawtucket is because he was getting checked out/worked on by Pawtucket's trainer. Maybe Greg Barajas. And now he is in Florida, getting low.

Aaron Bates could be the next group that you rob. Yes he will come to Pawtucket.

I haven't been to a PawSox game in weeks, it seems. Michigan seems like a dream to me now.

7.25.08 Pawtucket Red Sox @ Toledo Mud Hens - one more hit ought to do it

3-2 Pawtucket in a Very Exciting Game. In many ways it was the perfect baseball game.

David Pauley got into the eighth inning. The Mud Hens had not scored a run. But with one out, Dusty Wathan tripled, bringing home Max St Pierre. Pauley then got the next batter, Freddy Guzman, to pop out. Michael Tejera stepped in to face the lefty and got the final out.

So Pauley went 7 2/3 and got it done in 99 pitches. He walked a guy and struck out nine batters. What a great start. What a great athlete. One run on five hits. YES.

Chris Smith came into the ninth to close the game out, but bingo-bango there were runners at the corners with no outs. And SMASH MACHINE Mike Hessman at the plate. Yikes. The outfield was deep. Holdzkom (!) was warming in the pen (!!). The crowd was singing 'Who Let the Dogs Out?". Suddenly, the maid screamed. And Smith got Hessman to ground into a double play, which brought a run home. But who cares? The bases were empty and it was 3-2 and a guy named Clete as standing there with a bat in his puny hands. But Clete Thomas singled so Smith had to face Mike Hollimon but it was cool because Hollimon flew out to left.

Toledo's Yorman Bazardo also ad a pretty good night, but chances are his teammates didn't high-five him in the clubhouse. Bazardo was responsible for all three runs in his seven innings of work. He walked three batters and struck out six. Left-handed Ian Ostlund pitched innings 8 & 9.

Chris Carter continues to mash the shit out of the ball. Carter hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, which proved to be crucial. Joe Thurston also hit a home run right out of the box in the first inning.

Keith Ginter made a serious error in the ninth, when he fucked up a double play ball that left runners on first and third. David Pauley made a throwing error in the fourth as he was trying to pick off Timo Perez, but come on. We've all done that.

Derek Wathan, who seriously has to be Dusty Wathan's brother, hit a triple. I said that already. But it bears repeating, since triples are like four-leaf clovers and like hitting all green lights on the way to work and like a NL pitcher hitting a home run. Beautiful, precious and rare.

toe the line or blow. and that was all she wrote:
1. Keith Ginter has 8 errors this year in 67 games as a third baseman. He has ZERO errors in 22 games at second base. So maybe in important games have Gil Velazquez over there? Then Chris Carter can jump in at short! OMG!!!
2. Keith Ginter had six errors all year for Buffalo in '07. Ginter spent 2006 in the PCL, where he ended the year with 15 errors. Maybe he'll end the year here with 10-12. This is important for the thousands of people on message boards who give a crap about Keith Ginter and his fielding. I'll post this under a thread titled "Wily Mo Pena: What Went Wrong?"
3. Brandon Moss is back in town. I'll bet he has quite a few new gold chains. That's a major league parting gift!
4. The Mud Hens pretty much just left McCoy. You know, when Ortiz was there. I heard it was nutso.
5. Mike Hollimon is Grade-A. He's been called up once already. Detroit's probably pretty sweet compared to Toledo.

Mike Bowden tomorrow night. Check the radiocast. YES.

7.24.08 Pawtucket AT Columbus Clippers - High in the Middle

11-6 Red Sox.

Before I mention Charlie Zink's start, I should point out that Chad Spann started at third in this game and went 2-5 with an RBI double and a three-run homer. That's producing about 36% of the game's run total! Way to go, Spann!

Zink gave up five runs in six innings. The Clippers piled up eight hits against him and struck out five times. No walks were issued by Zink. Pawtucket kicked off the seventh inning by breaking the 5-5 tie, scoring two runs off Ryan Wagner. Wagner gets the loss, Charlie Zink gets the win. California is better than Texas. Syrup is better than jelly.

Lefty Jon Switzer pitched the seventh and eighth innings, giving up the sixth run in the eighth inning. By that time, however, Pawtucket had ten runs so it wasn't a federal case. The very mysterious Eric Hull pitched a scoreless ninth, giving up a double to IL repeat offender William Bergolla.

Okay, let's talk about Clippers starter Marco Estrada. Estrada gave up five runs on six hits. He walked three batters and struck out six. The slowly-simmering Gil Velazquez cranked a homer off him... Estrada remained stoic as Velazquez rounded the bases with barely-suppressed euphoria.

So yeah, Ryan Wagner followed with the game-losing inning. Wagner started to pitch the eighth... it didn't go well. Dusty Brown kicked off the inning with a single, then Velazquez singled, then Chad Spann's home run. You'd think they'd yank the kid, but they left him in to face the mighty, mighty Sean Danielson. But Wagner walked him! He walked Danielson!

Finally, Wagner was replaced by SLC Punk Josh Perrault. Perrault immediately walked the next batter, Jeff Bailey. Thurston up, he reaches on a fielder's choice. Etc.... Perrault had to IBB Chris Carter but he did eventually get out of the inning alive and suppressed the scoring. It was a very serious inning. Corsaletti even came in to pinch run. That's some aggressive management!

Zechry Zinicola gave up the eleventh run in the ninth inning.

Further Pawtucket offense includes Chris Carter tearing it up, going 3-4 with a double and a triple. He also singled, right? So he was a home run shy. Velazquez, Danielson, and Brown all hit home runs.

Jeff Bailey went 0-4 with two strikeouts. Chad Spann and Sandy Madera each made an error. Oops!

it's nice to be nice:
1. Van Every still batting third. When I type this it reminds me of typing "Jeff Bailey still batting leadoff". Maybe I'll start saying "Keith Ginter, still batting 6th".
2. It's nice to see the weirdos in the lower part of the order getting all the goodies in this game. Except Chris Carter, who probably had three bowls of Quarry before the game.
3. Hey, Daniel-San's first home run!
4. Gil Velazquez has been cranking up the hits lately. Which is swell, because Velazquez is really nice.
5. Looks like Ryan Wagner is recovering from a labrum tear.
6. Lastings Milledge completed his rehab assignment with Columbus after this game. Thank you, LM!

No game tomorrow. Friday night the PawSox feat. Paul-E Fresh drop in on Toledo for four games against the Mud Hens. What, those guys again? I don't normally advocate violence toward animals but I hope Pauley wrings the Hens' necks.

See you tomorrow!

7.23.08 Pawtucket Red Sox @ Columbus Clippers (WAS)

3-2 Red Sox OH HELL YES.

Devern Hansack had a wicked strong start but didn't get the win since Hunter Jones allowed the tying run... but we'll get to that. Hansack gave up an RBI double to Luis A. Jiminez in the first inning after he'd walked Roger Bernadina and that was it. Hansack pitched the next six innings with scoreless aplomb, striking out 11 batters! A season high strikeout total for Pawtucket!

On the radiocast, Hoard and Hyder were talking about Hunter Jones struggles with getting lefties out (split: .386 lefties/.289 righties). And in the eighth, his first slew of batters were all left-handed. And so it went, a double for Bernadina followed by a bunt single for left fielder Leonard Davis. Lastings Milledge grounded out and Bernadina dashed home, tying it all up.

Jones went on to pitch a scoreless ninth. Pawtucket managed to score a run at the top of the tenth. Chris Smith came in to face Columbus in the tenth and it didn't look good at first. Smith immediately gave up two singles in a row. Lastings Milledge then flied out to advance the runner on second (Bernadina again) to third.

Everyone was all tense but Smith got the next batter, Jimenez, to ground into a double play. Whew!

Clippers! Columbus sent former Yankee skinny boy Tyler Clippard out to mow down the PawSox. Clippard matched Hansack's seven innings, giving up a pair of runs to Pawtucket in the first inning. He also had a quartet of strikeouts.

Lefty Mike Hinckley got the first couple of outs in the eighth inning before being replaced by Levale Speigner to face the righty, Keith Ginter. Ginter obligingly grounded out and Speigner returned to pitch the ninth inning, holding Pawtucket scoreless.

Chris Schroder took the mound for the tenth inning. After a Joe Thurston double led the inning off, Schroder got Van Every to fly out and Carter to line out. George Kottaras then singled in Joe Thurston. How heroic of the boy. No, really, good job Kottaras!

And so the Pawtucket offense boiled down to a couple of doubles by Super Joe and George Kottaras (Favorite Musical Artist: Snoop Dogg) bringing Thurston home TWICE. Do they get gifts for that?

PAWTUCKET!
1. Could this be the last visit forever to Columbus' Cooper Stadium for the Red Sox? Well, new park next year and a likely affiliation with the Cleveland Indians. But will the fans still bring their cowbells?
2. Congratulations to Clippers third baseman Yurendell DeCaster for being elected to the Olympic baseball team!
3. Hansack had a tough start to the season and many people thought he wouldn't get back on the horse. "Many people" being me. It's great to see his return to form and here's hoping he pitches like this in the postseason.
4. Yeah, I said it! BRICKTOWN!!!!
5. Van Every batting third? What's next, a talking banana?
6. Chad Spann's playing time has been greatly reduced. I'm not sure what's going on. Wouldn't mind seeing him Pinckney'd.
7. Here's a video of Spann skeet shooting with Brandon Moss and Jed Lowrie in Mapleville. Good ol' Mapleville, RI! I think that's a made-up town.

Tomorrow's the last game of the series and it starts at noon. Charlie Zink will face Marco Estrada. I can't wait!

playing baseball is not easy

Nice shirt, by the way. Is that real velour?

Richie Lentz needs your help.

Seems the kid would love a "host family situation", as opposed to the hotel he currently resides in.

You can read his desperate plea here.

God Bless.

Eastern League All-Star Game: A Look Back

First and foremost, I'd like to point out that the Reading Phillies' World's Largest Bobblehead, Phil Lee, was the best thing I saw on the field. Hand to God. READING 2009!!!

Congratulations to Manchester's Travis Snider for winning the HRD. Second year in a row that the winner was on the Fisher Cats.

Other than that, nothing much. Many, many, many binder geeks. I ate a baked potato on a very hot day, possibly because I am an unstoppable eating machine.

Oh yeah, there weren't any pay phones in the park or in the adjacent hotel. I had to walk into an office building and the receptionist let me use the phone. Maybe it's time I got a mobile?

AND! If you go to that park, take exit 4 and park on Elm St, near a cheap-o meter if you have to. Then you can cut through the Firestone tire garage parking lot, walk along the fence, and cross the train tracks to get to the park. Look at how much money I saved you for parking!

later on many different things are going to happen

I have a great Chris Carter Polaroid that I got from Bob. I am going to post it later on and you will laugh and laugh. Almost as hard as you do when he's lummoxing around in left field!

Please enjoy this Jeff Lebowski interview in which he discusses batting lead-off, RJ, Manny's 500th, and his lucky Led Zeppelin t-shirt.

Bailey, I mean.

7.21.08 Pawtucket Red Sox @ Columbus - here we go, here we go, here we go!

4-1 Columbus! Yeah! What bus crossed the ocean now, BEEOTCH?!

I'm not doing a lineup because I hate doing it and it's boring. Imagine the usual suspects, starting with Bailey but not ending in Jonathan. Picture Sean Danielson in his place, playing center field. Same guy except shorter. And a switch hitter. And he looks like he's from California but he's really from Texas. And you love him!

Michael Bowden made his Pawtucket debut. He gave up three runs on seven hits in four innings. The Clippers pretty much got to him right away, kicking off their game with leadoff guy Jorge Padilla singling. The next batter, Roger Bernadina (?), batted in Padilla. It's probably Sean Danielson's fault, since he made some kind of fielding error which put Bernadina on second. Then LAJ stepped up and danced! And doubled.

A visit from Sauveur must have hitched up Bowden's britches well enough for him to knock down the next three batters. Bowden went on to surrender five doubles, all told, one coming off the bat of Calvin Reese. Meaning former Red Sox great Pokey! Remember how much we loved him? He was really country.

Mike Tejera and Eric Hull pitched two innings apiece. Eric who? Hull gave up the fourth run in the seventh inning, when he issued a walk with the bases loaded. Right after a IBB with only one out. That's one hell of a gamble.

Thicky-thick Garrett Mock had a very effective start for Columbus. Mock pitched seven innings and only gave up one run. He struck out five five batters and only walked one. And so he got to select the post-game clubhouse music.

Long-dead composers Wagner and Schroeder pitched some merry relief and allowed no further scoring nonsense from Pawtucket. Three losses in a row! Guys, put yer boots on!

Joe Thurston is responsible for the Red Sox sole RBI. He sac flied Danielson home in the third inning. Sandy Madera and Keith Ginter both went 0-4 with two K's. Sandy, not you, too!

tonight, we rock Portland!:
1. Garrett Mock: "In case you can't tell, I'm a talker. I mean, I'll talk to that wall, and if I've got a way for him to be a better wall, I'll tell him." Yeah, everything's bigger in Texas!
2. Recently I mentioned that Edgar Martinez might be the most handsome man on the PawSox. The truth is... seriously.... pitching coach Rich Sauveur is by far the most handsome. That is my shameful admission. But it's the truth. He is a good-looking man and I dare you to disagree with me.
3. Who the hell is Roger Bernadina? Thanks for asking. He's from Curacao and was inspired to play baseball by his Ma. She played softball for the Netherlands national team. Anyhoo, Bernadina did play in Washington recently but did not fare well. His real first name is 'Rogearvin'. YES.
4. I forgot to mention that Michael Bowden was called up to Rhode Island. Up until, say, two days ago, I was not interested in this kid. And now that I know he grew up poor or something... I'm interested. He looks like he comes from a broken home. And I apologize for calling him a huffer.
5. Sean Danielson is The Man. Hands down.
6. I saw Bubba Bell in Pawtucket. Not in uniform. Don't know what's up, sorry.

This post is officially awesome enough. Talk soon!

please don't bother trying to find her

Player Moves:

Bryan Pritz - Back to Portland and in a very bad mood about it.

Miguel Asencio - Back to Portland and not sure what he did wrong.

Jeff Corsaletti - Called up to Pawtucket!

Tony Gonzalez - Fired by the Brockton Rox. The ladies are very disappointed.

Buchholz up, Masterson down and relieving people like Edgar Martinez.

Sandy Madera - Back in Pawtucket. Maybe for keeps.

In a related story, Abe Alvarez is still gone. I feel his departure was rather sudden and I suspect there was some sort of conflict. Perhaps he was being difficult or something. It's strange that lesser players are still hanging around.

Very strange.