They've already had two stalemate, stubborn arguments. Steve Phillips, as always, ends up saying something utterly indefensible already. When the Sox scored 3 straight runs, Steve Phillips says "Well, the Indians have 'em right where they want 'em. They come from behind more than any other team and have come back from a 9-2 deficit this year" No. They don't want to give up 3 runs to start the game from the pitcher they just gave a 3 year $33 million extension. Orel just started laughing at him.
Then, Steve Phillips continued to show why he goes down as one of the worst GM's of all time: "A 3 run lead is actually worse for Jon Lester here. I mean, here's a guy who's so anxious to start this game and now he has to wait to pitch." Orel: "Actually, I disagree. I think he's a lot more relaxed and comfortable now that he has some run support. A whole lot of pressure has been lifted." Score another one for Orel.
7:28pm- Given a 4-nothing lead to start the game, Jon Lester fires a first pitch strike. Great to see him back on the mound. Never thought I'd see him pitch again.
7:29pm- A great looking slow curve that just missed on the inside corner. Next pitch results in a hard grounder to Youkilis. Big relief. The parents are in attendance tonight and look like Little League parents watching they're 8 year old on the mound, standing up every time the ball is hit.
7:31pm- High heat gets Casey Blake swinging for Lester's first strike out of the outing. He's looking pretty good so far.
7:32pm- 2007 fantasy bust of the year Travis Hafner flies out to center to end the inning. For those who don't know, Travis Hafner has the greatest nickname in sports. Pronk. He got that name coming up in the minor leagues. It's a hybrid of "Project Donkey".
7:37pm- Coco Crisp has been absolutely on fire. He doubles hard opposite field to the warning track. What a turnaround.
7:41pm- Youkilis drives in Coco from second and the lead is extended to 5. Manny's up and I don't think people realize how long his dreds are. This has got to be some sort of record. The locks are now extending past the "RAMIREZ" on his jersey.
7:43pm- Argument #3 between Orel and Steve has ignited as Steve Phillips starts Yankee bashing. Orel says "You still have that Mets blood and you can't say anything good about the Yankees, can you?" The play-by-play guy jokingly holds Orel back from Steve. We get a good shot of Steve trying to defend himself but ends up blabbering incoherently about how he has a radio show in New York so blah blah blah. . I think it says something when the lovable Orel Hershiser can't stand Steve.
7:48pm- Somethings wrong with the ESPN sound. The crowd noise keeps fading in and out. I feel like Lucille 2 from Arrested Development.
7:52pm- Jon Lester gets a 5-3-2 double play and a strike out on a fastball to end the inning. His fastball looks hittable but the Indians' bats keep missing. A great start for Lester so far. His parents are cheering as if he's pitching Game 7 of the World Series. Very cool.
7:55pm- JD Drew gets robbed by Garko dive on a hard grounder. Orel points out something about JD Drew that every fan of any team JD Drew has played for told me: he looks like he just doesn't care about anything. Everywhere he goes, fans describe him as a heartless robot. When the Red Sox signed him to the monster contract, I think I cried. I would bet 100 dollars that JD Drew and David Ortiz have never exchanged more than 8 words this year.
8:03pm- Steve Phillips has mysteriously left the booth. Orel and the PBPG discuss whether Selig should be at Bonds' games as he tries to break the record. I can't think of a time that all Big 3 Sports have had damaging scandals like this. Just a bad time to be a sports fan.
8:08pm- This is tough. In the stands, Steve Phillips is interviewing Lester's dad while Jon gives up a 2 run bomb mid-interview. That was unfortunate. Mr. Lester handles it as well as you could though.
8:13pm- Travis Hafner has become my favorite non-Red Sox. Phillips informs us that Pronk is from North Dakota and he was his high-school valedictorian.
8:23pm- Dustin Pedroia is fuming in the dugout after he grounded out into a double play. Steve Phillips drops this one on us: "You know, that just goes to show you why he's hitting .320 at 5'8" and has no power or speed. Look at him! He's mad! In a good way! That's why he's a major leaguer." There you have it kids. Get angry. Become a Major League baseball player. Chase your dreams, kiddo!
8:28pm- John Kruk cut his hair. It's about time.
8:38pm- Jon Lester is unraveling here. Orel talks about how we'll learn about Jon Lester's character. Orel and Steve have used the word "character" about 839 times tonight.
8:53pm- Wow. Jon Lester somehow came out of that inning unscathed with a ha-yoooge strikeout. His parents were pumped. His line so far: 4 in 2 ER 6 K 4 H 3 BB. Not bad for a going through chemotherapy in the past year.
8:58pm- Oh. God. Steve Phillips is doing the "just pitching good enough to win and lose" speech. I HATE IT. Talking about Westbrook's bad record, Steve Phillips tells us that some pitchers just seem to pitch well enough to lose. What does that mean? Let's say a pitcher gets no run support from his team--something he has NO control over-- and let's up one run in 8 innings. According to Steve Phillips, he pitched "just well enough to lose". If your team scores 3 runs in that game, did that pitcher pitch "just well enough to win"? It's a completely asinine comment. I know what he's getting at, that some pitchers have more courage and guts and grittiness and fire and balls than others that allow them to get out of tough innings. But, pitching wins and losses are poor indicators of pitching performance. Pitchers have NO CONTROL over how their hitters perform. Getting a win or a loss is subject to how your hitters play that night.
9:13pm- Lester gets an inning-ending double play to finish the 6th. Looks like his night is over. What a performance. His final line: 6 innings 5 H 2 ER 3 BB 6 K's. Everyone congratulates him in the dugout and shakes his hand. And I mean everyone. Francona gives him a big hug. Good feelings all around.
9:22pm- Steve Phillips says "The Red Sox tend to want base runners on when Manny Ramirez steps to the plate." Really? ARE YOU SURE???
9:46pm- Why is Timlin coming out again for another inning?
9:47pm- This MLB actober.com marketing strategy is dumb. I like the choice to have Dane Cook do the new MLB Playoffs commercial but don't like the slogan "There's only one October". Dumb. Although I especially like the "DestiNY" banner shot that was put up in the 2004 ALCS at Yankee stadium. DestiNY. haha.
9:52pm- Hey, did you know Barry Bonds is about to break Hank Aaron's HR record??? Did you know that ESPN2 is showing Barry Bonds and his AB's during this game??? Did you know that they are showing the Giants game after this one???
In case you did forget, luckily there will be an ad every 38 seconds with Barry Bonds smiling or acting cute. Hey ESPN-- it's a lost cause. You won't get the American public to like Barry Bonds no matter how many "cute" clips of him at batting practice you show. I promise you.
9:55pm- Travis Hafner. When will you ever produce on my fantasy team. I got you in the 2nd round. HORRIBLE.
9:59pm- Say what you want about Francona but he did a great job in that inning with the bullpen pitching matchups. Timlin comes in and gets an out. Javier Lopez K's a very scary Pronk. MDC comes in to strike out Garko. Awesome. Here we go Papeybomb as my Dad calls him.
10:17pm- Did you know that the Indians got in at 5 am this morning ?
10:23pm- Trot Nixon's up. I went to his return to Fenway. Awesome moment. Can't really describe how much he means to the Red Sox and their fanbase.
10:26pm- MDC closes it out. Lester gets the win.
Congratulations, Jon.
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