2009 World Series Championship Begins Today

Today, weather permitting, the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees will play game one of the 2009 World Series in Yankee Stadium. The Phillies defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Angels in their respective league championship series to advance to the World Series. No Freeway series for LA. If it were possible, I would not want either the Yankees or the Phillies to win the series. Not wanting the Yankees to win is a given, but I don’t want the Phillies to win because they would tie the Boston Red Sox in having two World Series Championships in the twenty-first century. However, since having the Phillies share in the two World Series Championship accomplishment means that the Yankees would still not have a championship in the twenty-first century, is an outcome I can support. Therefore – Go Phillies, sweep the Yankees!!!

Note: It was two years ago today (in a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies) that the Boston Red Sox won the 2007 World Series Championship; their second championship this century!

Happy Fifth Anniversary Boston Red Sox!

Five years ago today the Boston Red Sox broke their seemingly never-ending, angst-ridden, curse-filled, eighty-six year old World Series Championship drought by shutting out the St. Louis Cardinals 3 to 0 in the fourth game of the 2004 World Series. It was this four game sweep against the Cardinals that swept away decades of frustration for the Red Sox and brought unbelievable happiness to their devoted fans throughout the world Think back to where you were that historic moment when the final out was made and allow yourself to re-experience those emotions for a bit today. I know I will. Today I will play the DVD of the fourth game and remember the place (my favorite New England sports living bar) where and the people (Nora, JP, Lisa, Mike, et. al.) with whom I shared this marvelous, long-awaited experience. So, cheers and happy anniversary to the Boston Red Sox and their fans – 2004 was just the beginning!!

Red Sox ALDS Recap, 8 to 11 October

Between Thursday 8 October and Sunday 11 October 2009, the Boston Red Sox played three games – first two games at Angel Stadium and the third game at Fenway Park - in the American League Division Series “B” against the Los Angeles Angels. Here are the breakdowns for those games.

Each Game Totals

Red Sox: 0 runs, 4 hits, 3 errors
Angels: 5 runs, 7 hits, 1 error
No win, one loss
Analysis: Red Sox had 0% of the total runs, 36% of the total hits, 75% of the total errors

Red Sox: 1 run, 4 hits, 0 errors
Angels: 4 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors
No win, one loss
Analysis: Red Sox had 20% of the total runs, 40% of the total hits, 0% of the total errors

Red Sox: 6 runs, 7 hits, 1 error
Angels: 7 runs, 11 hits, 0 errors
No win, one loss
Analysis: Red Sox had 46% of the total runs, 39% of the total hits, 100% of the total errors

Overall Series Totals

Red Sox: 7 runs, 15 hits, 4 errors
Angels: 16 runs, 24 hits, 1 error
No wins, three losses
Analysis: Red Sox had 30% of the total runs, 39% of the total hits, 80% of the total errors

The 2009 postseason for the Boston Red Sox has ended. The Los Angeles Angels advance to the American League Championship Series and will play the New York Yankees (who had defeated the Minnesota Twins). In the National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers (who had defeated the St. Louis Cardinals) will play the Philadelphia Phillies (who had defeated the Colorado Rockies).

Angels Avenge Red Sox

LA ANGELS: 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 3 - 7 11 0

BOSTON: 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 - 6 7 1

Sweet Sunday. That's what I thought I would be naming this day after watching the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots win consecutive games in my favorite New England sports living bar. (I would have even be willing to name it Bittersweet Sunday, as long as the Red Sox won, with the Patriots losing). Instead it is Bitter Sunday (perhaps Sour Sunday would be more appropriate) because both teams lost. Most difficult to bear is that the Los Angeles Angels swept Boston in the ALDS in a game in which the Red Sox held the lead from the third through the eighth innings. Then it happened - despite his regular season success with the bases-loaded, the odds finally caught up with Papelbon in the ninth inning and he gave up the tying and winning runs. This was the worst possible situation for the laws of probability to be displayed in Fenway Park. So, the Boston Red Sox 2009 season has come to, a too early and a two runs too many, end. Savor the sweet memories, refuse the sour grapes, and replace the bitter emotions with warm ones for the Red Sox. April will come again.

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LA ANGELS: Starting Pitcher: Scott Kazmir, Winning Pitcher: Darren Oliver

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Clay Buchholz, Losing Pitcher: Jonathan Papelbon (1)

LA ANGELS: Save: Brian Fuentes

LA ANGELS: Homerun: Kendry Morales

BOSTON: Homerun: J. D. Drew (1)

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RED SOX: ALDS: Wins: 0, Losses: 3

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Next game: Monday 5 April 2010, Time: TBD, New York Yankees, Fenway Park, Pitcher: TBD

Angels Redress Red Sox

BOSTON: 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 4 0

LA ANGELS: 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 x - 4 6 0

First Inning: Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury (CF) strikes out looking, Dustin Pedroia (2B) grounds out to third, Victor Martinez (C) flies out to center

Angels: Chone Figgins (3B) grounds out to shortstop, Bobby Abreu (RF) grounds out to second, Torii Hunter (CF) grounds out to third

End of first inning score: Red Sox 0, Angels 0

Second Inning: Red Sox: Kevin Youkilis (1B) flies out to center, David Ortiz (DH) flies out to left, Jason Bay (LF) strikes out swinging

Angels: Vladimir Guerrero (DH) flies out to center, Kendry Morales (1B) grounds out to first, Juan Rivera (LF) strikes out looking

End of second inning score: Red Sox 0, Angels 0

Third Inning: Red Sox: Mike Lowell (3B) flies out to second, J. D. Drew (RF) grounds out to pitcher, Alex Gonzalez (SS) flies out to center

Angels: Maicer Izturis (2B) flies out to left, Mike Napoli (C) lines out to right, Erick Aybar (SS) singles to left, Figgins flies out to left

End of third inning score: Red Sox 0, Angels 0

Fourth Inning: Red Sox: Ellsbury triples to center, Pedroia grounds out to third, Martinez singles to center, Ellsbury scores, Youkilis flies out to center, Ortiz strikes out swinging

Angels: Abreu singles to left, Hunter lines out to third, Guerrero singles to right, Abreu moves to third, Morales flies out to right, Abreu scores, Rivera grounds out to shortstop

End of fourth inning score: Red Sox 1, Angels 1

Fifth Inning: Red Sox: Bay flies out to center, Lowell flies out to right, Drew walks, Gonzalez strikes out swinging

Angels: Izturis strikes out looking, Napoli flies out to center, Aybar grounds out to second

End of fifth inning score: Red Sox 1, Angels 1

Sixth Inning: Red Sox: Ellsbury strikes out swinging, Pedroia grounds out to pitcher, Martinez strikes out looking

Angels: Figgins strikes out looking, Abreu grounds out to first, Hunter flies out to right

End of sixth inning score: Red Sox 1, Angels 1

Seventh Inning: Red Sox: Youkilis grounds out to pitcher, Ortiz grounds out to second, Bay walks, Lowell flies out to center

Angels: Guerrero walks (Howie Kendrick pinch runs for Guerrero), Morales flies out to left, Kenrick steals second, Rivera grounds out to third, Izturis singles to center, Kendrick scores, Izturis steals second, Napoli hit by pitch, Aybar triples to center, Izturis scores, Napoli scores, (Boston pitcher Billy Wagner relieves Boston starting pitcher Josh Beckett), Figgins strikes out swinging

End of seventh inning score: Red Sox 1, Angels 4

Eighth Inning: Red Sox: Drew strikes out looking, (Los Angeles pitcher Darren Oliver relieves Los Angeles starting pitcher Jered Weaver), Gonzalez (Jed Lowrie pinch hits for Gonzalez) strikes out looking, Ellsbury singles to shortstop, (Los Angeles pitcher Kevin Jepsen relieves Los Angeles pitcher Darren Oliver), Pedroia grounds out to pitcher

Angels: Abreu singles to left, (Boston pitcher Jonathan Papelbon relieves Boston pitcher Billy Wagner), Hunter flies out to center, Abreu out attempting to steal second, Kendrick strikes out looking

End of eighth inning score: Red Sox 1, Angels 4

Ninth Inning: Red Sox: Martinez flies out to center, Youkilis doubles to center, (Los Angeles pitcher Brian Fuentes relieves Los Angeles pitcher Kevin Jepsen), Ortiz flies out to left, Bay walks, Lowell flies out to center

Angels: End of game

End of game score: Red Sox 1, Angels 4

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett, Losing Pitcher: Josh Beckett (1)

LA ANGELS: Starting Pitcher: Jered Weaver, Winning Pitcher: Jered Weaver

LA ANGELS: Save: Brian Fuentes

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RED SOX: ALDS: Wins: 0, Losses: 2

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Next game: ALDS: Sunday 11 October 2009, 9:07 a.m. PT, Los Angeles Angels, Fenway Park, Clay Buchholz

Angels Astound Red Sox

BOSTON: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 4 3

LA ANGELS: 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 x - 5 7 1

Well, this was not the start of the ALDS for the Boston Red Sox that was envisioned. Today's game was a surprising shutout by the Los Angeles Angels on magnificent Angels pitching and inefficient Red Sox hitting. It was a pitcher's duel for four innings, then one bad pitch by Lester changed the game completely. Also errors and bad umpiring calls in Angel Stadium contributed to the Boston loss in this first game of the ALDS. In tomorrow's game, the Red Sox need their hitting to increase and to capitalize when men are on base. Boston has to win tomorrow so that the return to Fenway Park is with the series tied and not with the Red Sox down two games. Let's go Red Sox!!

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester, Losing Pitcher: Jon Lester (1)

LA ANGELS: Stating Pitcher: John Lackey, Winning Pitcher: John Lackey

LA ANGELS: Homerun: Torii Hunter

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RED SOX: ALDS: Wins: 0, Losses: 1

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Next game: ALDS: Friday 9 October 2009, 6:37 p.m. PT, Los Angeles Angels, Angel Stadium, Josh Beckett

Joy Continues Today!

From the warm Spring mornings of April, through the hot Summer afternoons of June, and into the cool Autumn evenings of September, Joy is encouraged by the Boston Red Sox as they pitched, hit, scored, and won their way to another postseason. Now it is October and once again the Los Angeles Angels are the first hurdle on the path to a third Red Sox World Series championship in the Twenty-First century. This Divisional Series play begins in a California stadium and ends in a Massachusetts park. Accompanied by Joy, I will watch excellent pitching, double digit hitting, frequent scoring, and decisive winning in my Southern California abode as Boston dominates Los Angeles and moves on to the Championship Series. Joy looks forward to the process – pitch, hit, score, and win – repeat itself throughout October and into November, ending with the Boston Red Sox victorious. The triumphant end of the journey begins today, the acquisition of the third ring starts today, and the ever present Joy continues today! The inclusive seasons of Spring, Summer, and Autumn converge into the elusive Postseason once more.

Red Sox 2009 Regular Season Overview

The Boston Red Sox 2009 – regular season – month by month

April 14 Wins 8 Losses 64% Winning Percentage
May 15 Wins 14 Losses 52% Winning Percentage
June 18 Wins 8 Losses 69% Winning Percentage
July 13 Wins 12 Losses 52% Winning Percentage
August 16 Wins 12 Losses 57% Winning Percentage
September 15 Wins 13 Losses 54% Winning Percentage
October 4 Wins 0 Losses 100% Winning Percentage

All Months 95 Wins 67 Losses 59% Winning Percentage

End of season tops lists

Runs Scored – Dustin Pedroia 115, Jason Bay 103, Kevin Youkilis 99
Runs Batted In – Jason Bay 119, Victor Martinez 108, David Ortiz 99
Homeruns – Jason Bay 36, David Ortiz 28, Kevin Youkilis 27
Batting Average – Kevin Youkilis .305, Victor Martinez .303, Jacoby Ellsbury .301
Wins – Josh Beckett 17, Jon Lester 15, Tim Wakefield 11
Complete Games – Josh Beckett 4, Jon Lester 2, Tim Wakefield 2
Strikeouts – Jon Lester 225, Josh Beckett 199, Brad Penny 89
ERA – Jon Lester 3.41, Josh Beckett 3.86, Clay Buchholz 4.21
Saves – Jonathan Papelbon 38, Takashi Saito 2, Daniel Bard 1

Highlights

April – Wins Opening Day game; sweeps of the Yankees, Orioles, and Twins; Jason Varitek hits grand slam
May – Establishes AL record by scoring twelve runs in an inning before one out was recorded; David Ortiz hits first homerun of the season
June – Terry Francona 500th win as Red Sox Manager; sweep Yankees; Leads AL East
July – Six Red Sox on AL All-Star team (greatest number for either League); David Ortiz hits 300th career homerun; Jim Rice inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame
August – Leads AL Wild Card; Infielder Nick Green makes MLB pitching debut with two scoreless innings in relief
September – David Ortiz all-time DH leader in homeruns; sweep of Orioles and Rays; wins AL Wild Card
October – Sweeps Indians; Jacoby Ellsbury franchise leader in stolen bases; grand slams hit by Victor Martinez and Jed Lowrie

Red Sox Recap, 28 September to 4 October

Between Monday 28 September and Sunday 4 October 2009, the Boston Red Sox played seven games at home – three against the Toronto Blue Jays and four against the Cleveland Indians. Here are the breakdowns over the time period.

Total Each Series

Red Sox: 12 runs, 24 hits, 1 error
Blue Jays: 31 runs, 42 hits, 0 errors
No wins, three losses
Analysis: Red Sox had 28% of the total runs, 36% of the total hits, 100% of the total errors

Red Sox: 32 runs, 42 hits, 1 error
Indians: 15 runs, 29 hits, 3 errors
Four wins, no losses (sweep)
Analysis: Red Sox had 68% of the total runs, 59% of the total hits, 25% of the total errors

Combined Series Totals

Red Sox: 44 runs, 66 hits, 2 errors
Opponents: 46 runs, 71 hits, 3 errors
Four wins, three losses
Analysis: Red Sox had 49% of the total runs, 48% of the total hits, 40% of the total erros

Season-To-4 October 2009 (End of Season)

Red Sox: 872 runs, 1493 hits, 83 errors
Opponents: 736 runs, 1490 hits, 110 errors
Ninety-five wins, sixty-seven losses
Analysis: Red Sox had 54% of the total runs, 50% of the total hits, 43% of the total errors

AL East Standings (at the start of Monday 5 October 2009 – End of Season)

New York 103 59 .636
Boston 95 67 .586
Tampa Bay 84 78 .519
Toronto 75 87 .463
Baltimore 64 98 .395

AL Wild Card Standings (at the start of Monday 5 October 2009 – End of Season)

Boston 95 67 .586
Texas 87 75 .537
Detroit 86 76 .531
Minnesota 86 76 .531
Seattle 85 77 .525

Boston Controls Cleveland,12 to 7

CLEVELAND: 1 0 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 7 8 0

BOSTON: 3 1 0 1 2 5 0 0 x - 12 11 0

It's Sunday and once again I'm in my favorite New England sports living bar watching the simultaneous broadcasting of the Red Sox/Patriots games. Today both teams won! Also here to enjoy this feat is Lisa, who has been back East for the past several weeks getting reacquainted with nieces and nephews. Welcome back! The last regular season game for the Boston Red Sox ended in victory and a sweep of the Cleveland Indians. And for the second day in a row, Fenway Park witnessed another first career grand slam by a Boston player - this time, Jed Lowrie. Congratulations to you Jed! Keep up the hitting Red Sox, and the stealing. Jacoby Ellsbury stole his seventieth base of the regular season today. Is he good for stealing ten bases during the postseason? Although today's Boston starting pitching was not as impressive as the other starts in this series have been, Buchholz is scheduled to be the number three pitcher for Boston in the ALDS. Speaking of the ALDS, Detroit and Minnesota both won again today, so there will be a tiebreaker game on Tuesday at Minnesota. The winner of that game will be the AL Central champion and the New York Yankees can finally decide if it's the seven or eight day series that they want to play. So, as of today, Boston does not know if their postseason will begin on Wednesday or on Thursday. No matter which day it is, Boston will be ready. Welcome back to the postseason and let the games begin!

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CLEVELAND: Starting Pitcher: Tomo Ohka, Losing Pitcher: Tomo Ohka

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Clay Buchholz, Winning Pitcher: Michael Bowden (1)

CLEVELAND: Homerun: Luis Valbuena

BOSTON: Homeruns: Alex Gonzalez (8), J. D. Drew (23, 24), Dustin Pedroia (15), Jed Lowrie (2, Grand Slam)

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RED SOX: Wins: 95, Losses: 67, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: ALDS, Wednesday 7 October 2009 OR Thursday 8 October 2009, Time: TBD, Los Angeles Angels, Angel Stadium, Jon Lester

Boston Batters Cleveland,11 to 6

CLEVELAND: 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 - 6 10 0

BOSTON: 1 7 2 0 0 0 0 1 x - 11 11 0

Although today's Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians game was one of the last of the season, it did provide a first in a most grand way. In Fenway Park, former Indian Victor Martinez blasted his first career grand slam as a member of the Red Sox. It was the highlight of the seven-run second inning. Congrats Victor! Plus Dusty Brown had his first long ball of the season. Way to contribute! And on the pitching front, Beckett's back seems to be free of spasms, which is wonderful to know as the postseason approaches. Lots of run support for Josh. Boston has won this series against Cleveland and tomorrow they will go for the sweep. Would be a terrific way to end the regular season and enter the postseason. Regarding the postseason, the Dodgers have clinched the NL West and the Rockies have won the NL Wild card. However, the winner of the AL Central is still to be determined. Detroit and Minneesota now have identical records and both will be playing games tomorrow. Will there be a winner or will a tiebreaker be necessary? Drama on the last day of the regular season - what could be better?

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CLEVELAND: Starting Pitcher: Aaron Laffey, Losing Pitcher: Aaron Laffey

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett, Winning Pitcher: Josh Beckett (17)

CLEVELAND: Homerun: Shin-Soo Choo

BOSTON: Homeruns: Dustin Pedroia (14), Victor Martinez (23, Grand Slam), Brian Anderson (4), Dusty Brown (1)

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RED SOX: Wins: 94, Losses: 67, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Sunday 4 October 2009, 10:35 a.m. PT, Cleveland Indians, Fenway Park, Clay Buchholz

Red Sox Inflict Indians, 6 to 2

CLEVELAND: 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 - 2 8 3

BOSTON: 1 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 x - 6 8 1

Another winning game, another pitching gem for the Boston Red Sox today in Fenway Park. And though the Cleveland Indians matched Boston in the number of hits, they were kept from capitalizing on them by the Red Sox starting and relief pitching. Boston is halfway to sweeping the Indians and ending the regular season victoriously. Two Boston players did become injured during the game - Rocco Baldelli (hip) and Alex Gonzalez (wrist). Hope their injuries heal quickly in time for the postseason. Detroit and Minnesota are still battling to be the AL Central champion and the Dodgers and the Rockies are still competing for first place in the NL West, with the second place team becoming the NL Wild Card winner. Glad the Red Sox are set!

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CLEVELAND: Starting Pitcher: Jeremy Sowers, Losing Pitcher: Jeremy Sowers

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Winning Pitcher: Daisuke Matsuzaka (4)

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RED SOX: Wins: 93, Losses: 67, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Saturday 3 October 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Cleveland Indians, Fenway Park, Josh Beckett

Boston Contains Cleveland, 3 to 0

CLEVELAND: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 3 0

BOSTON: 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 x - 3 12 0

Today's game against the Cleveland Indians was just what the Boston Red Sox needed to return to the winning track. Lester came back strong from his recent encounter with a line drive to pitch six plus innings and give up just two hits. Although having Lester complete the shutout he started would have been great, the Boston bullpen did not disappoint and kept the Indians from scoring any runs. Almost everyone in the Boston starting lineup had a hit in contributing to the first game win of a four-game series in Fenway Park. In breaking the losing streak, Boston maintains six games as the longest winless duration this season. On the postseason front, Detroit and Minnesota are still vying for first place in the AL Central, due to today's win by the Twins.

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CLEVELAND: Starting Pitcher: Carlos Carrasco, Losing Pitcher: Carlos Carrasco

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester, Winning Pitcher: Jon Lester (15)

BOSTON: Save: Jonathan Papelbon (38)

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RED SOX: Wins: 92, Losses: 67, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Friday 2 October 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Cleveland Indians, Fenway Park, Daisuke Matsuzaka