Chasing the Dream - A RTTS Dynasty (MLB '09 The Show)

[Sun Tzu]

The date is May 23rd, 2017 and I'm a Starting Pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. I just finished pitching in a game against the Yankees where I had a very strong outting. I allowed only 3 hits over 7 innings, and one earned run (inherited and given up by the Pen). I didn't get the win, but it's not the end of the world because not only is it still early in the season, but I'm noticing improvements in my game everytime I'm on the bump...

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Not all stories start out at the beginning. Some stories do start at the beginning, and work their way to the end. Some stories start at the end, and work backwards. My story starts somewhere in the middle. However, just so you have a little bit of background on how I got to to this place, here's a narrated flashback. Enjoy!

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(All-Star difficulty, default sliders)

Feel free to make comments throughout my career :)

[Sun Tzu]

I started out as a high school kid in a small town in Ohio. I dominated the division and we wound up going state. I decided to forego college and was drafted by the Pittsburg Pirates and immediately signed a 3 year deal worth just under 100k. They invited me to Spring Training right off the bat (so to speak) to see what I was made of. I had a few strong outtings and was starting to get my confidence up, but then we played against the Yankees and I got a taste of what the Big Leagues is about. I got shelled, and subsequently got shelled again over and over until Spring was over. Still, they liked what they saw and said they'd like to give me a spot in the starting rotation with their AA club, the Altoona Curve. I accepted, and immediately starting working with the coaches down there learning a couple new pitches. Now I'm not a power pitcher, nor am I a quirky pitcher with a rising fastbal or a knuckle-curve. What I do have is great control over my current stable of pitches, and a knack for killing rallies before they start. Coming in I had a respectable fastball that topped out around 93, a changeup, and a curve that would keep hitters honest. Coach told me that the best pitches to compliment my style were a slider and a hard sinker to get hitters to ground into double plays. We would work on these over the next several months before I would use them regularly.

I was successful very fast in AA, and wound up making the All-Star team as a starter. I was 10-3 before I hit a cold spell and couldn't seem to get hitters out. Still, I finished the year in AA with the following line.

10-9, 3.63, 22 GS, 11 QS, 93 K, 32 BB, 1.39 WHIP.

I led the league in HR's allowed with only 3 all year, as well as total walks. I knew if I kept this up, I'd be called up to AAA in no time.

[Sun Tzu]

In 2010 I wasn't invited to Spring Training and was a bit let down. I decided I was going to make a statement on the field. Eight starts into the year I was 3-1 with an ERA around 3.30. In my ninth start I pitched my first career complete game. I was 1 out away from a shutout but the runner scored from about a half second after the guy behind him got caught trying to stretch a double into a triple. That night I went out to celebrate, and when I came home I had a message on my machine. It was the coach for the Indianapolis Indians, and he said that I had just been promoted to his AAA club and given a spot on his starting rotation. On top of all this, my salary was going to increase from a measley 35k all the way to 95k! Woohoo! Back out to celebrate!

AAA was a real eye openner for me. I came in thinking I was hot shit, and wound up getting blasted in my first couple starts. I was worried that I was going to get demoted but I worked with the pitching coach and straightened up my game before it came to that. I didn't make it to the All-star game that year, in fact I didn't even have a winning record. I had hoped for a september call-up, but deep down inside I knew that if I did get called up to the show that I just wouldn't be ready. I did improve accross the board in my mechanics, but my stats weren't stellar. My final AAA stat line for 2010 was as follows.

4-7, 4.40, 19 GS, 11 QS, 45 K, 24 BB, 1.26 WHIP

[Sun Tzu]

In 2011 I was invited to Spring Training, but I didn't do so well. I didn't mind though, because to me it was just a sign that the club was really starting to take an interest in me. I started 2011 very much like I started last year in AA. I felt like I had something to prove and I went out trying to prove it during every outting. I pitched very well, and though I didn't make the All-star game again, that was partially due to my inflated ERA (I had one or two very, very bad games), along with my club just flat out not giving me any run support. 3/4 of the way through the season I was 3-4 with an ERA just above 4.00. In early July I took the hill feeling like I really had my stuff. I guess I was right, because that day I threw my first career shutout. I was so dialed in that I didn't even realize that one of the representatives from the big league club was in the stands watching me. After the game he came to me and said he had made a call to the pitching coach up in the bigs about this game and that I might get my shot pretty soon. Apparently pretty soon was very soon, because before my next start I got a call from the Pirates Manager and he told me that there was a plane waiting for me at the airport. There was even someone was at the PNC park waiting to measure me out for my new uniform. We talked for a bit and he said that his team was playing very poorly and he felt lke he needed some fresh blood in the clubhouse. He told me that the Pirates were buying the remaining years of my minor league contract, and I was going to make over 300k each of the next two years! On top of that, I was going to be the #5 starter! I had finally made it to the Big Leagues! Lets celebrate baby!

[Sun Tzu]

Playing in PNC Park for the first time was amazing. It was obviously built very recently, and it just completely towered above those shitty hole in the wall minor league parks I had been playing in. Sure I had been to some pro games, but that was watching from the stands. When you're standing there on the mound it's completely different...the park dwarfs you.

I didn't start out like I had hoped with the Pirates. I wound up losing 4 of my first 5 starts. I didn't pitch horribly, but I pitched bad enough to have an ERA somewhere around 6. I was 0-4 and really needed to start improving my game or I was going to be demoted. I worked hard over the next couple months and got in some really good starts. In fact I put together a small winning streak of 3 games and had several official "quality starts". Unfortunately the Pirates were the lowest scoring team in the league, and by a very large margin, so a good outting on the hill paired with run support was hard to come by. In late August I was flailing again on the hill. I had lost a couple more games, and my ERA was still around 6...I was in a slump. Coach brought me in and I expected the worst. He said he was dissapointed in my production, but he didn't think that I should be sent back down. Instead he was taking me out the rotation and giving me shorter outtings out the bullpen. I was just happy not being demoted. I had gotten too used to the royal treatment that you get when you're up with the Pro's. I didn't want to go back to riding buses to and from road games, wearing uniforms that were dirty from the game before, and only playing in front of a few thousand fans. I mean, we were barely attracting 10-15k fans each game, but at least during the weekends there would be families and the stadium would somewhat fill up.

The move to the pen really worked for me, and I wound up winning another game, and even getting my first career save. We finished dead last and were only a few away from losing 100 games when the season ended. This depressed a lot of the guys in the locker room, and it was somewhat depressing to me, but everything was still so shiney and new to me that it didn't effect me as much as most. My final MLB stat line for 2011 was as follows.

4-7, 4.70, 13 GS, 6 QS, 56 K, 15 BB, 1.43 WHIP

[Sun Tzu]

In 2012 I was invited to Spring Training again, but this time as a starter that worked in long relief out of the pen. I was dissapointed by this, and probably even had a bit of an attitude. I think they noticed, because after Spring Training was over, they optioned me back down to Indianapolis. Not only that, get this...they didn't even give me my old spot back in the starting rotation. They said they saw how good I had pitched out of the pen in the Bigs, and they wanted to try me as their setup man in AAA. Sonufabitch.

So I did what they told me to do. I came in usually in the 7th or 8th innings when the games were close or when we were winning (which wasn't often mind you), and I pitched fairly well. About 2 months in I had pitched in 37 games, posted a 2-0 record, had an ERA of 3.70 and I was leading the league in Holds with 11. I got a call from someone who called themselves the coach of the Pirates, only it was a different voice. The old coach had apparently been replaced early in the season and this new guy was letting me know that they were bringing me back up to the Bigs. Excellent news! When I got there I asked about the starting rotation and explained my situation, but he said that my rookie ass was going to be the long reliever again, and he walked away grumbling something about FNG's.

In the bigs, once again, I did what they asked me to do. We lost most of our games, again almost losing 100 of them. The shitty thing about long relief is the majority of the games you come into are blowouts, and on the wrong end. You have very few chances to rack up wins, plus the other team usually has some hot bats going so you really have to be on your game or they'll light you up, just like they lit up the starter that you replaced. By years end I had the following statline.

2-4, 5.37, 31 K, 5 B, 1.37 WHIP

[Sun Tzu]

In 2013 once again I was invited to Spring Training, and once again I was told that I would be working as the setup man for the Indianapolis Indians in AAA. This was getting old, and I was getting frustrated. I knew they could see it, but what was I going to do?

I pitched the first part of the season like a man possessed. We were an absolutely horrible team that year, so it was rare for me to get into the game...but when I did I was on. In 11 appearances I had yet get a win, or loss, but my ERA was 1.69, I hadn't blown a single potential save for the closer, and I had a couple holds to my credit as well. I had yet to give up a single longball, and I had only walked one person. I got a call from the new skip again up in the bigs, and once again he said I was coming up. I didn't discuss specifics with him since I was so used to it, so I got the details on where the plane was and when it was leaving, packed my shit, and said my goodbyes...hopefully for the last time.

When I arrived I was told that one of the starters had sprained his shoulder and that he was out for a couple months...and that I was going to be his replacement. Back in the starting rotation baby! Celebration!

I didn't exactly pick up where I left off in AAA...in fact, like the last time I was a starter up here, I got shelled. Over and over I got shelled. I was worried they were going to demote me or put me back in the pen but I guess they didn't have anyone to replace me, so I kept plugging away. I worked with the pitching coach on my mechanics and started to show some improvement. I started collecting some wins...in fact if it weren't for our completely lack of offensive product I think I would have been back up to .500. The guy I replaced came back in very late July, and I was told that I was going to be put in a middle relief role. This was both good news and bad news to me. Good news because I couldn't stand that long relief spot...that was like being the bitch of the pitching staff. You're not really a reliever, but you're not a starter either. It was bad news because I was no longer a starter, and I was stuck on a team with zero offensive production that didn't seem to be going anywhere. I thought it over, and looking at the calendar I realized there were still a couple days before the trade deadline. After very careful consideration, I decided to talk to the coach about possibly being traded. He said he'd talk to the guys upstairs and let me know by the days end. Sure enough, right before dinner I got a call from the coach telling me that there was a plane waiting for me in Pittsburg, and that I was being traded to the Baltimore Orioles. The O's were looking to fill some holes in their staff for a possible run at the wild card. I was going to a potential contender! If I had only known what was waiting for me.

[Sun Tzu]

The New York Yankees. The Boston Red Sox. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Toronto Blue Jays.

Ho-Ly-Shit. How could these guys possibly think they were going to win the wild card? They didn't have nearly enough talent on their roster to beat out most of the teams in their own division, let alone take the wild card spot to the playoffs. I mean sure they had more talent then the Pirates, but hell who didn't? I was relegated to the middle relief spot again, but I was really not ready for these batters. Every outting was like a nightmare, and we lost a few games because of me. I was put into several games where we were up by 1 or 2, or it was tied, and the Yankees or Red Sox would just pummel me until my spirit was completely broken. I got very little sleep that year. Needless to say we didn't make the wild card spot, we didn't even finish with a record above .500. My final statline for 2013 was as follows.

7-12, 5.19, 20 GS, 7 QS, 70 K, 24 BB, 1.55 WHIP

This was also my first contract year. Yeah...not good.

[Sun Tzu]

The Orioles re-signed me to a 3 year deal for 1.5 million dollars. It was exciting signing a contract that had 7 figures on it...I have to admit. I knew it wasn't much compared to everyone else on the team, but christ common, most of my buddies were either still in college or were making 30-40k fresh out of college. I was making over 10 times that.

It was in 2014 that I started getting a taste for winning. I wanted to be on a winning team, and I wanted to finish with a winning record...badly. I wanted to play in a game with playoff implications. I wanted to feel the electricity of the crowd and know that an entire season could be decided on my next pitch. The Orioles had let a lot of their talented players go during the offseason, and were apparently picking up a good amount of cheap and young talent. This might work in the future...maybe...if the talent pans out, but for now it spells the cellar of the AL East. Not where I wanted to be.

I kept these feelings to myself, and I even pitched decently to start out the year. I worked hard, and wound up getting a nice amount of wins added to my resume too. The Orioles would bring me in during a tie game, and then get some clutch hits late...lucky for me this became a trend. By mid-June I was 6-1 with an ERA in the mid 3's. I decided that now was the time to talk to the Coach about wanting to be on a contender, and he said he understood how I felt. Just like the old Pirates coach, he said he would talk to the big wigs upstairs and let me know what they said.

Again, just before dinner, I recieved a phone call. He told me that I was being traded to a contender, in fact I was being traded to a the defending World Series Champs! I was now a member of the Red Sox organization! A plane was waiting for me at BWI airport in Baltimore and I was headed north. I couldn't believe it...I was barely 23 years old and I was getting a shot to play in the playoffs, and maybe even the World Series.

After arriving in Boston and meeting with the coach there, I was high on life. I didn't care where they stuck me, as long as I got to put on that Red Sox uniform and pitch in some meaningful games.

And that's exactly what I got to do...which was not good news for the Red Sox. Once again, I got lit up. Oh boy did I get lit up. I saw my record drop from 6-1 to 6-5...and every one of those games was against either the Rays, who led the division, or the Yankees who we were battling against for the Wild Card. Ugh...what the hell. But the Red Sox stayed classy and didn't point any fingers. They never said anything negative, they just kept trying to coach me up while they watched their playoff chances get slimmer and slimmer. The trade deadline came and went, so I figured they wanted to keep me around. They didn't demote me, but...

It was late august when I had a message on my voicemail. It was a guy who's name sounded familiar but he didn't say what he did, or where he was from, he just said to call him and to do it asap. So I did. It was the GM of the Red Sox, and he was letting me know that he didn't want to demote me back to AAA because I was too good, but he couldn't keep me around anymore because of my lack of production, so I was being placed on waivers. Shit.

[Sun Tzu]

The Minnesota Twins claimed me the next day. On the plane ride I looked them up in that Baseball newspaper you find in airports, and saw that they were on pace to lose 110 games. Jesus, really? 110 games? What the hell kind of club was I going to?

When I got there I was told that even though my production was lacking in Boston, they liked what they saw in Baltimore and in Pittsburg, and that I was immediately going to be their setup man in the bullpen. Well I guess that's good news, but if they're losing so often how am I ever going to see any innings? Well, I didn't get to see much at all. I pitched in a handful of games and we lost a rediculous 119 games. My final statline for 2014 (split between Balt/Bost/Minn) was as follows.

7-6, 5.64, 56 K, 21 BB, 1.63 WHIP

Goods news = I finished with a winning record. Bad News = I was on the worst team in the League and my confidence was absolutely shot.

[Sun Tzu]

in 2015 I pitched well in Spring Training. Very well in fact. So well that they told me that if I continued at that pace thru April that they would give me a spot on the Starting Rotation. So, I continued at that pace. by the end of April I had a sub 2.00 ERA (in very limited work mind you), and I was given the #5 spot in the Rotation just like they said.

Now I knew there was no way, absolutely no way that I was going to win a good chunk of games pitching for the Twins, but at the same time I knew that I just wasn't ready, talent wise, to be on a contender and pitching in playoff implication games. So, I stuck it out the year with Minnesota. I had some great months, and I had some terrible months. I would go several starts in a row pitching 6-7 innings and only allowing one or two runs, then I would mix in some awful starts where I would allow 5-6 runs and be pulled early. Minnesota wasn't quite as bad as they were the year before, but they still stunk to high heaven. I was given a promotion to the #3 spot in July. I was placed on the trade block by GM (without me asking), and the deadline came and went. I was given another promotion to the #2 spot in August after a string of solid starts. Then, in September, I was named the staff Ace. Yes...YES! I was a staff Ace. I didn't care that it was on a team that won all of 43 games last year, I was an Ace baby. The go to guy. We finished out the year losing ONLY 95 games, a shitty but still improved year over the year before. Hey, maybe we'll sign some studs in the offseason and make some moves...who knows right?

Wrong.

Well...my stats were at least somewhat respectable. Here was my final statline for 2015.

7-11, 4.52, 25 GS, 14 QS, 103 K!!!, 22 BB, 1.50 WHIP

I was the league leader in Walks allowed, granted I wasn't a starter the entire year. Still I qualified, and it was something to be proud of.

[Sun Tzu]

In 2016 I came into the year as the Staff Ace. There were articles about me in the Newspaper and in ESPN the magazine. I did an interview with Sports Illustrated, and even shot some commercials for local companies. I didn't tell anybody that I had no intention of staying with the Twins beyond July. They just weren't making any moves to get better, and I was feeling confident and improving fast. I felt like if I were on a contender that I could make a difference now, I mean...how could I not? I'm the Ace of a pro Ball Club.

Then it happened. In the third inning of my first start...I felt it. It shot down my arm all the way to my hand, and suddenly I could move my arm at all...well at least not without excruciating pain. I waited overnight for the MRI results and...oh have you ever been in one of those things. Loud, long, and unnecessary. Do they HAVE to be that loud? I mean really? Anyways, I had apparently torn my deltoid...aka my shoulder muscle. That meant that I was going to be out for two months and placed on the 60 day Disabled List. Shit on toast.

When I healed up in early June, Minnesota did something I never thought they would do. They must have sensed that I didn't want to stick around through the year, because I was placed in the Bullpen. The Bullpen!?!?!? I was the top guy on your starting rotation and now you're relegating me to middle relief? That's an insult...now I'm going to enjoy telling the coach that I want to be traded...but not yet.

I wanted to wait until the last minute...wait until a contender really needed me and until the Twins think they've got me. So...on July 30th I march into the coaches office and tell him I'm sick and tired of them turning my requests to be a part of the rotation again down, and that I want out. I wanted out asap, and I wanted to be part of a "real" organization who actually wanted to win some games.

They traded me...back to the team that they had originally claimed me off of waivers from. I was once again a member of the Red Sox Organization. :) Celebration!

[Sun Tzu]

After arriving in Boston, the coach again told me that I was going to be a member of the Bullpen. I didn't care...they were in first place in the AL East by 2.5 games over the Blue Jays, The Yankees were 1 game behind them for the Wild Card spot, and I was in the thick of a playoff race! He told me he had hoped there was no hard feelings left over from putting me on waivers a couple years back, and I assured him that I understood that it's a business. I was 1-1 with an ERA in the mid 4's upon arriving, and I was really looking forward to pitching in some bigs games in the upcoming months.

I did, and this time I was good. Not stellar, just good. I jumped my record up to 6-1 by mid August, and my ERA had dropped to the low 3's. We were still leading the AL East by 2 games and things were going great. That's when the coach asked me to come into his office. Shit, what now? I'm pitching fine, I've won several games, I was even named player of the game once after pitching into the 14th inning and only allowing 1 hit and no runs...against the Yankees. He told me not to sit down for my own good...ok here goes. He was making me the #5 Starter. No shit? A member of the Boston Red Sox Starting Rotation! Hell yeah! Completely out of the blue...talk about a confidence booster. My fist start was going to be in 3 days against the Blue Jays in an important divisional matchup. Celebration again!

So I pitch a strong game, in fact I get a "Quality Start" for going 6 innings and only giving up 3 runs (and only 2 Earned), but I get nothing for run support. Nothing...we lose 3-0. My next start doesn't go so well...I lose again but this time my bullpen lets some inherited runners score. My next start I lose again. The start after that I also lose. This is becomming a trend, and it's late September. I'm 0-4 in September and I really need to fix this losing streak...I'm pitching decent but I'm getting nothing for run support. In fact going into my last start, on the last day of september, with only 2 game remaining after this, we're only up in the Wild Card Standings by 1 game over the Yankees. We're finishing up the season with a 3 game series against the O's, and they've been hot lately. So, I take the mound, I take a deep breath, and I let the ball fly. I pitch a very strong game...in fact I go 7 innings and only allow 1 earned run. The only problem is, as usual, we have a big goose egg on the scoreboard until the 6th and all we're able to muster up then is one lousy run. I leave the game in the 8th after allowing a single, and hoping the pen can hold this thing together. They don't. They allow that run to score, and then another, and then five more in the ninth. We lose, and the Wild Card standings are tied. Unbelievable.

We win out against the O's, and we take the Wild Card spot by 1 game over the Yankees. To the Playoffs! In September we played less than .500 ball, so we really need to step it up if we're gunna go to the World Series. The ALDS we're playing against the Angels, and the only way I'm going to pitch is if it goes all the way to game 5. Well...we win games 1 and 2, but lose 3 and 4. Here we go. So, just like I did in my last start against the Orioles, I pitch a strong game. A very strong game. I allow 2 runs right off the bat in the 1st, but I pitch another 6 innings and hang zeros on them. Unfortunately, we still have yet to get on the board. So they tell me after the 7th that they're pulling me, and I watch us lose the game 2-0. Pack your bags, you've got a 6 hour flight from L.A. to Boston ahead of you. Gooooodnight.

The Royals of all teams won the World Series, sweeping the Phillies. My final statline for 2016...

6-6, 5.88, 5 GS, 2 QS, 1 SV, 6 HLD, 64 K, 19 BB, 1.41 WHIP

This was my contract year.

[Sun Tzu]

7 Months ago I signed my first major-medium sized contract with the Red Sox. They decided they wanted me to stay, and offered me 2 years for 7.5 million dollars in the MLB Rotation. I countered with 2 years for 9.9 million, and they counter that with 2 years for 9.5 million. I accept!

3 of their starters retired in the offseason, and we lost Youk. I was promoted to the #3 spot, and to replace Youk we picked up my old teammate Justin Morneau (2 years/18m). We also signed Ian Kinsler (5 years/53m) to replace the departed Dustin Pedroia. Last year they signed Even Longoria (5 years/55m). To replace the starters who retired (Rich Hill and C.C. Sabathia are the notables), the Sox signed stud David Price (3 years/51m).

The Rotation looks like this...

David Price
Josh Beckett
Me
Jon Lester
Daniel Bard

CL - Papelbon

Our Lineup looks like this

LF - Abdul Morneau - contact hitter with blazing speed...never lets anything get by him
DH - Howie Kendrick
3B - Evan Logoria
2B - Ian Kinsler
1B - Justin Morneau
RF - Alex Rios - Gold Glover
C - Geovany Soto - awful...awful arm accuracy
CF - Jacoby Ellsbury - absolutely blazing speed...also never lets anything get by him
SS - Chris Burke - we need an upgrade here, and fast

Our defense is stellar with our Outfield being the strong point. They are all very fast and rarely let anything get into the gaps. Our infield is good, but out middle infield has quirky issues. Kinsler is great with the glove, but his arm accuracy on a scale of 1-10 is a 2 at best. Chris Burke is just awful. He will bobble almost 1 grounder per game, and blows DP's on a regular basis.

Starting out the season I pitch strong games over and over, but in my first 3 starts I get a total...a total of zero runs of support. One of these games is a loss, but thankfully in the other two games we were able to put a couple runs on the board after I was pulled. Starting out my fourth game, I take the hill in Detroit with a very surprising 2 run lead. This nearly puts me into a state of shock, and I wind up pitching my first career professional shutout. Allowing 5 hits and striking out 5, walking none and getting my first win of the year. Woohoo! Afterwards my coach tells me that he's moving me ahead of Josh Beckett on the rotation...promotion! Woohoo again! In my next start I go 7 innings, allowing only 1 run and 3 hits against the Yankees. Unfortunately we are only able to put up 1 run on the board too...and again I get a no decision.

48 games into the year...here we are. We are feeling the loss of our starters, while still trying to build some kind of identity on offense. We are 2 games under .500, sitting 4.5 games behind the Rays in the AL East. Our record is 23-25, and I'm getting no decisions left and right due to our lack of offensive production. Here is my current statline...

3-1, 4.17, 10 GS, 5 QS, 1 SHO, 30 K, 6 BB, 1.22 WHIP

[Sun Tzu]

On 5/23 we lose to the Yankees 0-2

On 5/24 we beat the Yankees 7-6

On 5/26 we lose to the Rays 1-2

On 5/27 we beat the Rays 9-4

Hot Players on the year so far
Ian Kinsler - .291, 9 HR, 36 RBI
Geovany Soto - .296, 7 HR, 28 RBI

Josh Beckett and I are the only starters with winning records.

I'm taking the hill tomorrow (sunday) against the Rays in the final game of a 3game series. We are now trailing them by 5 games.

Rays - 29-21
Orioles - 5 GB
BoSox - 5 GB
Jays - 5.5 GB
Yankees - 7 GB

[Sun Tzu]

Today I'm pitching against the Rays who are starting Jake Peavy. Peavy is 5-2 on the yaer with an ERA of 3.47. I'm hoping we can mount some kind of an offense here. The game is in Boston in front of a crowd of 34k.

TB - A high heater sits the leadoff man (Vizcaino) down on strikes. Bauer crushes a ball to left but it hits off the monster for a double...not a good start. Osuna swings, and misses at a high fastball for the second out. Their cleanup hitter belts a liner to right which drops in front of our RF (Rios), who then guns down their runner trying to score for the third out.

RS - Even Longoria belts a 2 run homer in the bottom of the first! That brings up Kinsler...who belts a solo shot of his own! Back to back! up 3-0.

TB - Their #6 man fans at a sinker low and outside for the 2nd out. 1-2-3 second.

RS - Burke hits a leadoff double and ellsbury singles him in to increase the lead to 4!

TB - Kouzmanoff hits a single to right to lead off the third. Figgens hits a chopper and gets tagged out, but Kouz advances to second. Next man hits a liner right to longoria for #2. Bauer back up but he grounds to longoria for the third out.

TB - shipman with a single to right after Osuna grounds out. Guiel spanks one to the short porch in right field, and it bounces over the wall for a GRD...thank god. Shipman has to hold at third. 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Grounder to Kinsler for out #2 but shipman scores to make it 4-1. Colon grounds to morneau for the third out.

RS - Holy crap. Evan Longoria hits another 2 run homer, Ellsbury knocks in 3 runs on a bases loaded double, and both Kendrick and Burke knock in runs of their own. We put 7 runs on the board in the bottom of the 4th. 11-1 now

TB - ground to longoria...1 down. Figgins squirts a single up the middle after a 12 pitch at bat. Good riddance. Vizcaino out on strikes looking. next man pops up and that's 3 outs.

RS - Fowler and Morneau add two more runs...13-1

TB - Struck Guiel on a changeup for out #2...the next man singles up the middle...and they pull me! Oh well...Garko comes in to replace me and gives up the inherited run...rediculous.

We put up another 4 while they score 1 more. Final score 16-3. That's the biggest run output i've ever had in support.

Line - 5.2, 7 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO...1 out away from a QS. My record is now 4-1 and I have a 4 game win streak.

[Sun Tzu]

5/30 we lose to the Angels 6-10

5/31 we lose to the Angles 6-9

6/1 we beat the Angels 6-4

6/2 we lose to the White Sox 1-7

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting in the second game of a 3 game series against the ChiSox. Ryan Rowland-Smith is on the hill for them, and he is 2-5 with an ERA of 5.62

We are 27-30, they are 35-19 and in first place in the Central. It's a beautiful Saturday day game in Boston.

Barker pounds a ball to the warning track in center, but ellsworth brings it down. Murphy goes down swinging for out #2. Bouncer to third gets the last out. top 1st done

Casto Pops up to lead off the second. My control goes wacky and I walk Utley on 4 pitches. rosas grounds into a beautiful DP to end the second

liner about takes my headoff for a leadoff single in the third...but I pick him off at first! Second man goes does swinging...and so does the third to end inning no 3

RS -Ian Kinsler knocks an run in on a sac fly to put us up 1-0

base hit to center with one out...Hanley Ramirez pops behind the plate for the second out...a double down the right field line, uh oh. The runner rounds third base and the throw from right field is extremely weak. run scores...game tied. utley follows that with another double bringing in the go ahead run...ouch. Grounder to morneau for the third out.

fly to left for one, fly to center (warning track) for two, last man goes down chasing a heater out of the zone for 3. still down 1-2 after 5 innings

My control is all over the place again...a very rare second walk of the game to leadoff the 6th...but we try a pitchout and catch him running! grounder to morneau for 2, Hanley Ramirez doubles in the gap...but high heat takes the last man down to end the 6th.

I get pulled after that, and we lose. The ChiSox put up 3 in the 7th, but we put up 4 to tie it...only to give up a run in the top of the 10th and lost 6-5.

My line - 6.0, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, QS, no decision.

[Sun Tzu]

6/4 we beat the ChiSox 8-3

6/5 we beat the Rangers 9-3

6/6 we lose to the Rangers 2-4

6/7 we lose to the Rangers 0-8

We are now last in the AL East with a record of 29-33. The good news is, we're still only 3.5 games out of first place.

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting in the last game of a 4 game series against the Rangers. Derek Holland is on the hill for them, he is 3-5 with an ERA of 4.74.

The game is being played in Arlington.

Juaquin Arias leads off and lines to Kinsler for the first out. The career thorn in my side, Matt Holliday slaps a single to left field. FC grounder to first to move holliday over. Whoops...I boink the next batter. what's going on with my control? Josh Hamilton hits a deep grounder into the left infield hole, but Burke our SS digs it out...a VERY weak throw to first which allows him to reach safely. bases loaded with two away...grounder to morneau to get out of the jam unscathed

RS - Kendrick knocks in 2 with an RBI single and Ellsbury knocks one in of his own...we go up 3-0 in the top of the second inning

damn...solo homer by Gavin Philips to right to start out the bottom of the second. Good recovery as the rest of the inning goes 1-2-3

RS - Longoria doubles and Morneau drives him in to put us back up by 3.

Thorn in my side Holliday grounds to longoria...ha! one out single to left but the next batter grounds into a pretty DP.

RS - Morneau belts his 8th homer of the year to put us up 5-1

Josh Hamilton grounds to longoria for one...saltalamachia with a one out single...philips checks his swing but goes too far for out number two...teagarden with a double to left but the runner stays at third...Aybar grounds to Kinsley for the third out...out of the jam again

Holliday with a one out single up the middle, bastard...hard grounder to longoria and they turn the DP to end the 5th inning...love it

1-2-3 6th inning as the ball doesn't leave the infield

surprisingly they let me pitch into the 7th as I'm usually pulled after 6. one out single to center...easy grounder to burke, over to kinsler, then to morneau for yet another beautiful DP to end the 7th.

I'm pulled after the 7th and we put up another 4 runs to their 1, making the final score 9-2. A very impressive win.

My line - 7.0, 8 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 1 QS and I get my 5th win in a row.

[Sun Tzu]

Stud David Price has been put on the Trading Block. His hefty pricetag doesn't match his production right now. He's 3-4 with a 5.67 ERA while making 16.1 mil. Ouch...

6/9 we beat the Mets in interleague play 5-4

6/10 we lost to the Mets 3-4

6/11 we lost to the Mets 5-9

6/13 we lost to the Marlins in interleague play 1-13

Aparently I am given the day off for my next start, and Josh Beckett has gone on the 15 day DL.

6/14 we lose to the Marlins 5-6

6/15 we lose to the Marlins 3-6

6/16 we lose to the Phillies in interleague play 8-9

6/17 we lose to the Phillies 4-8

We are now on a 7 game losing streak...ouch

We are 31-40 and 6.5 games behind first place

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting the last game of a 3 game series against the Phillies. On the hill for them is Carl Crawford who is 4-3 with an ERA of 3.27. Crawfords statistics are impressive but he has walked more batters than he has struck out. The game is being played on a beautiful saturday in Philadelphia, which means I will get to bat for the first time since my days with the Pirates.

routine fly to ellsbury in center for the first out...then a ground to burke...Ryan Howard absolutely CRUSHES an 0-1 pitch, but it's foul...charlie sawyer calls a very obvious strike three a ball on the outside corner...and Howard goes down swinging

1 out double into the gap by curtis granderson...dioner navaro pops to shallow center and granderson stays at second...weak line drive right to burke for the third out of the second inning

RS - I'm leading off in the top of the third...I make crawford throw 7 pitches before I popup

leadoff single by herrera which brings up the pitcher...who I'm sure will bunt...which he does and he moves herrera over...single up the middle which scores the run easy, and the throw is WAY off when it comes home so the runner moves up to second...chopper right to me for out number 2...and Ryan Howard goes down swinging again! that ends the inning but we go down 0-1

leadoff single up the middle again...I try a pickoff move and he gets back safely...but then he steals second easily as our catcher has one of the worst arms in the league...next pitch the catcher has go by him (passed ball) and he gets it fast enough to gun the guy down at third, but as is the norm the throw is several feet off the target and the third baseman has to dive off the bag to get it...lazy fly to right to score the runner on a sac fly...next two batter fly out to center and then shortstop. down 0-2 after 4

RS - I'm leading off in the top of the 5th...my plan is to just make him throw as many pitches as possible since he's already up to 73 pitches. OH!!!! He plunked me in the head! I stumble down to first...single to left moves me to 2nd base...justin morneau is up common baby get me over at least...line drive to left field right to him...dammit I stay at second...now longoria is up...popped up to shallow center so I stay at second some more...Kinsler us up...and he grounds out to third...awesome

yet another leadoff single...got the pitcher to popup his bunt to the catcher...a drive deep to right field aaaand it's off the top of the wall for a double...2nd and 3rd with one out...grounder to kinsler brings home the run...two down man on third...Ryan Howard goes down again! three strikeouts for Howard this time it's looking at a backdoor slider...but we're down 0-3 after 5

Jason Werth slaps a fly ball to right field right along the line and Rios dives...but it bounces off his glove. He gets up, fires a beautiful throw to the cutoff man, who then fires an ass ugly throw to third base and Werth gets in safely. That's it and they pull me. Jose Aradondo comes in to relieve me, and though he has a 2.14 ERA I'm sure he'll give up the inherited run...

Which he does, and we manage to score a juggernaut 2 runs in the top of the 8th. Not enough as we lose our 8th straight, and I fall to 5-2.

My line - 5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, and the loss

[Sun Tzu]

6/20 we beat the Cardinals in interleague play! Losing streak ended

6/21 we beat the Cardinals again

6/22 we sweep the Cards!

6/23 we beat the Marlins in interleague play

The 4 game win streak just may be the longest one of the year! Very exciting...

[Sun Tzu]

I'm starting against against the Marlins in the second game of a 3 game series. Starting for them is Jackson Mims, who is 6-5 with an ERA of 5.30. The game is being played on a saturday in Boston so the DH will be in effect. The Marlins are by far the slowest team in the majors with a total of 28 stolen bases...compared to the league leader who has 170.

It looks like Kinsley has been given the day off and Adam Everett (a gold glover) is his replacement. Hopefully we wont miss his bat, because I know we wont miss his glove.

leadoff single down the left field line...Adrian Gonzales swings at strike three in the dirt, which gets away from the catcher...but the runner doesn't advance...next batter goes down looking at an inside heater...cleanup hitter grounds weakly to longoria for out number three

Uggly Dan Uggla grounds to longoria for one...so does the next guy...hermedia strikes out on a curve to end the top of the 2nd

RS - Rios gets plunked, and then Ellsbury hits an RBI double, and then gets caught trying to steal 3rd...but we're up 1-0!

leadoff double off the monster...struck the next guy out on a low change...next guy grounds to longoria who holds the runner at 2nd before throwing to morneau, single through my legs scores the runner from second...fly out to left to retire the side. it's tied 1-1

RS - Burke nails a triple and then Adam Everett singles him in to put us back up...2-1

Ground to Burke for 1...uggly uggla grounds to everett for 2...several pitches that even the announcers felt were strikes were called as balls as I walk the next batter...hermedia breaks his bat on a easy pop to longoria for the third out to end the top of the 4th inning

lazy fly to left for one...grounder to burke for two...struck the third guy out looking at a low and away heater...

Adrian Gonzales goes down swinging for the first out...routine fly to right for the second out...single down the line in left...uggly uggla groundsn to longoria for the third out...lets see if they pull me after a strong 6 innings. I feel like I still have a lot in me...

pitching into the 7th inning...weak grounder for the first out...everett goes VERY deep to get a grounder up the middle but the man reaches on an infield single...here comes coach and I'm out of here. Arredondo is replacing me again, hopefully he can hold the runner...

and he does!

Arredondo pitches an inning, William gets the last two outs of the 8th via strikeouts, and Papelbon gets into trouble allowing two hits but shuts the door with a big K. We win 2-1!

My Line - 6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 QS, and I get my 6th win!

[Sun Tzu]

6/25 we beat the Marlins 11-3 for the sweep!

6/26 we lose to the Orioles 4-9

6/27 we lose to the Orioles 3-5

6/28 we avoid the sweep and beat the Orioles 4-1 (David Price is really coming around)

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting the first game of a 4 game series against the Blue Jays. Starting for the Jays is the AL strikeout leader Rich Harden. Harden is 4-5 with an ERA of 3.86 and he has 99 Strikeouts already. This is the last game during the month of June. This game is being played in Toronto...the Jays have the same record as us on the year.

RS - Harden strikes out the leadoff hitter but then gives up back to back singles, followed by three straight walks. We take a 2-0 lead before I even take the mound!

I strike out the leadoff hitter too on three pitches...chopper to me for out number two...Joe Mauer with a slow grounder up the middle but Burke guns him out for the third out

grounder to morneau who takes it himself for the first one...one out single up the middle...lazy fly to right for the second out...very slow grounder down the left side turned into an infield single...grounder to longoria to end the second inning

weak liner to center and ellsbury races in to catch it...inside fastball catches Andrus looking for out number two...routine grounder to Kinsler to end the third inning

RS - Kendrick with a RBI double in the top of the 5th to put us up 3-0!

hard grounder to the right but morneau snags it and takes it to first himself...baaaaah their cleanup hitter hits a solo shot to left...grounder to longoria for out number two...dammit! another solo shot on a 3-2 pitch and this one was crushed into the second deck...single to first on a line drive to the gap that ellsbury races to get...I dunno what's going on with my control but my pitches are all over the place...I try to hold the man on first with a pickoff AND a pitchout, but he goes on the next pitch anyway...naturally my catcher throws the ball into center field and he takes third base too...I throw three straight balls taking the count to 3-0...what the hell is going on? single to center scores the run to tie it up...OMG two run shot to left jesus christ this is rediculous I'm getting hammered...all of my pitches are just drifting right down the middle to every single batter and I allow another single to right...all of this mind you with two outs...the runner takes second and I might as well just walk anybody with half way decent speed down to second with this catcher who couldn't throw my grandmother out on a pitchout...my 1-2 pitch boinks the guy in the back to put a man on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs...single up the middle scores the run...why am I still in this game? and as if on queue I get pulled...absolutely unbelievable two out rally.

We lose 5-6 as the relief allows both of the inherited runners to score as well, giving me the loss.

My Line - 3.2 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 2 SO, un f'ing believable game

[Sun Tzu]

7/1 we lose to the Jays 3-4

7/2 we beat the Jays 7-1

7/3 we lose to the Jays 3-5

7/4 we beat the Orioles 6-4

We are now 40-46 and 5.5 games out of first place in the East.

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting in the second game of a 3 game series against the Orioles. On the bump for the O's is youngster Kosuke Kobayashi, whoi s 3-9 with an ERA of 5.51. I'd really like to bounce back strong after my last showing. This will be my last start before the All-Star break. The game is being played on a wednesday evening in Baltimore.

first batter pops to ellsbury...ground to the right side barely gets past morneau for a one out single...the runner steals second thanks to a throw that was off target...struck out Chris Davis on a low change...great stop by longoria on a shot down the line and he hits morneau for the third out

longoria can't stop this one as it skips over the bag for a leadoff single...seeing eye single to the right...struck out the next batter on 3 pitches...single to left and it's a beautiful throw to get the guy heading home...but longoria jumps and cuts it off for the relay?!?!?! WHY? Runner scores by a quarter of a second...another seeing eye single to right to load the bases with one out...grounder to burke who takes too long to get it out of his glove so they can't turn the DP, which allows another run to score...my defense is falling apart along with my confidence...liner to left to end the inning. down 0-2

Davis grounds to longoria for one...again I'm having trouble spotting pitches on the corners...grounder to kinsley for the second out...single off the wall down the right field line but the runner tries to stretch it into two, the throw is WAY off line and the second baseman has to run to get the ball which makes it a double...and naturally the next batter puts the first pitch into the left field bleachers for a 2 run homer...sent the next guy back to the dugout looking to end the inning...down 0-4

we are being 1 hit

popup to kinsley for out number one...another grounder to kinsley for out number two...and grounder number three to burke ends the inning...

leadoff hitter crushes an 0-2 pitch to right center for 410 feet...routine single to burke turns into an infield single due to his inability to get the ball off again...which brings out the coach who pulls me. good riddance

Kobayashi throws a 2 hit shutout as the O's completely dominate us for the win 0-5.

My line - 4.0 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, and the loss. My ERA has jumped a full point since my last two starts.

[Sun Tzu]

7/6 we lose to the Orioles 6-7

7/7 we beat the Yankees 4-2

7/8 Josh Beckett is back off the DL and gets the win against the Yankees 7-5

7/9 we complete the sweep of the Yankees by a score of 2-1 to climb out of last place!

I am not elected to All-Star team thanks to my last two rotten starts. Boston All-Stars include...

Evan Longoria ~ .278, 20 HR. 53 RBI
Justin Morneau ~ .271, 12 HR, 63 RBI
Clay Buchholz ~ 6-5, 4.01, 93 K, 46 BB

The highest batting average on our team is .286. Our overall team batting average is .265 which is good for 25th in the laegue. It seems that we are an all-or nothing team, tied with the Padres for 7th in Home Runs and 8th in total runs scored. Either we go long or go home. We are 27th in the league in OBP. Our defense is stout however, only committing 66 errors good for 5th in the league, and Jacoby Ellsbury has yet to commit a single error in center field.

Notables at the break...

Aldo Gaston, SS of the Stros is batting .369 to lead the league
Radhames Navarro, 3B of the Padres is leading the league with 27 HR
Claudio Gonzalez, LF of the Reds is leading the league with 79 RBI's

John Danks is 11-3 with a 3.59 ERA, and he shares the league lead in wins with Cole Hamels (now pitching for the Yankees) who is 11-1 with a 2.25 ERA.

My statline at the break

6-4, 4.50 ERA (ugh), 17 GS, 8 QS, 1 SHO, 55 K, 9 BB, 1.29 WHIP

[Sun Tzu]

The Red Sox traded our defensive replacement catcher (great) for a new starting SS in Clint Barmes. Barms is hitting .265 with 13 HR. His fielding ability is average, arm strength is very good, but is extremely innacurate. Now we have two big arms in the middle infield who couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat :). Barmes will bat 9th in the day to day lineup.

Coach came to me and told me that if I don't start hitting my spots...well...I had better start hitting my spots. I guess I can't say I wasn't warned.

[Sun Tzu]

I'm starting in the first game of a 3 game series against the Division Leading Devil Rays. Starting for them is Andy Sonnanstine who is 7-6 with an ERA of 3.62. I hoping that the 9 days since my last start has been enough to calm me down. The game is being played on a Friday evening at old Fenway.

First pitch of the game is a clear strike only to be called a ball, don't start with me already...pops back behind the catcher for the first out...line drive off the monster for a single, and he tries to stretch it to a double, Ellsbury with the throw and ugh, again it's waaay off line as the kinsler has to come off the bag to get the ball...man on 2nd with one out...another liner off the monster which brings in the run, and another throw several feet offline bringing kinsler off of second, giving the runner a double...strike out the cleanup hitter on an akward swing with low inside heat...doc bryant is *really* squeezing the strike zone on me early on...rocket single gets past kinsler to the right and surprisingly the runner rounds third heading home, not surprisingly the throw home is WAY off target and the catcher has to run down the first base line to get the ball, so another run scores...what is going on with my outfield...routine fly to ellsbury to end the inning. down 0-2 on only 3 hits and 3 awful throws from the men in the outfield

one hopper to morneau who takes it himself...pop to rios in right field for the second out...a 1-2-3 would be great if I can get the next guy...and he grounds to kinsler for the out...excellent and I feel my nerves dying down

another leadoff grounder to morneau for one...Doc Bryant seems to be giving me the outside corner so I'm going to take advantage of it...Kinsler takes a grounder in for the second out...Barmes takes his first grounder for us and fires the man out to end the inning...1-2-3 again...

RS - Kendrick brings home a runner with an RBI double, which brings Longoria up to bat who then pokes one out of the Park! I jump up out of my seat after that one. We're up 3-2 after 3

soft grounder which Soto picks up from the catcher spot for one...single past barmes who dives but can't come up with it...single past kinsler who dives for it but misses, and the runner is rounding second, uh oh ellsbury up with the throw, and it's in time! two down...got him waving at a slider trailing away to end the inning...

Doc Bryant with a very inconsistent strike zone today...colon with a leadoff groundout on a full count to kinsler...bloop to right for a single...single right past barmes and the runner rounds second with blazing speed, far too fast for ellsbury to throw him out, and the throw was offline anyways...first and second with one out...the ball is destroyed to right, but foul...line drive right to barmes who pulls it in for the second out...routine fly to rios in right for the third out, crisis averted!

RS - Our leadoff man (the LF also named Morneau) hits a triple into right center, and Longoria knocks him in with a single and his third ribbie of the night...we're up 4-2 after five innings!

first pitch was supposed to be a fastball on the outside corner but it wound up going right down the pipe, and then it goes over the short porch in right for a solo shot...deep breath...grounder to kinsler's right but he nabs it and fires the man out deep from the outfield...liner right past me for a single...will the coach let me try to get him to ground into a DP or pull me? He leaves me in...hard grounder down the line to third but longoria backhands it and ignores the man going to second to get the sure out at first...2 outs with a man in scoring position...my control is really starting to falter as my pitch count approaches 100...grounder into the hole on the right side but kinsler does it again, and hits morneau for the final out of the inning...

I'm almost positive that's all the work I'll get on the day, and I'm right. The coach pats me on the back and tells me to let the bullpen do the rest, and they do! Soto, Barmes, and Kendrick knock in a few more runs as we win 7-3!

My line - 6 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1 QS, and a much needed win

[Sun Tzu]

7/15 we beat the Rays again 4-2 to tighten the gap between us and first place

7/16 we lose to the Rays as Peavy shuts us out 0-4

7/18 we beat the Royals 4-3

7/19 we lose to the Royals 7-9 as David Price gets rocked again

We are now 46-50 and 4 games behind the Rays for first place. The division standings look like this.

Rays ~ 49-45
Jays ~ 47-50 3.5 GB
Sox ~ 46-50 4 GB
O's ~ 45-51 5 GB
Yanks ~ 44-50 5 GB

[Sun Tzu]

I'm starting the third and final game of a series against the Royals. Starting for them is Boof Bosner, who is 5-2 with an ERA of 4.64. The game is being played on a thursday at Fenway during the day. Historically I have done very well against the Royals, both as a member of the Twins and the Red Sox.

The ump once again squeezes the plate on the first at bat, leading me to throw several obvious strike threes that were called balls en route to a leadoff walk...grounder to barmes who hits kinsler quickly, who turns the DP!...liner down the left field line gets into the corner and bounces around, and he slides in under the tag for a double...their cleanup hitter waves at a fastball low and away for the third out

RS - Ellsbury leads off with a walk, and two batters later Longoria knocks it out for his 22nd homer of the year...we're alredy up 2-0!

popup to kinsler for one...routine pop to short right and rios takes it in for two...routine pop right above me and I take it in to end the inning

pop to shallow left for out number one...routine fly to left again for out number two...I am really hitting my spots again as I get the last batter swinging at a backdoor slider...my confidence soars

leadoff single past kinser...grounder to morneau who throws to second for one, but they can't get it back to me in time enough to get two...single right through my legs and the speedy runner advances to third easily...1st and 3rd with one away...hard grounder right to kinsler, who then fires to barmes, who taps second and turns two to end the inning...clutch!

strike out the first batter waving at a curve in the dirt, and he gets tagged for the confirmed K...very hard liner but barmes reaches to his right and grabs it for out number two...high fly to left down the line, but it's only to the warning track...1-2-3 fifth inning

leadoff single to left...hard liner past my head for another single, ellsbury holds the runner at second...seeing eye single into left and the runner scores easily...1st and 2nd with nobody out...ball rocketed to right field for a single...bases loaded with nobody out for their cleanup hitter...liner right to barmes! here's a chance to double them up, but it bounces off his glove! no! UGH they're pulling me after that. Arredondo gives up an inherited run...

we score another two before the game is out to tie it up, but we lose in 10. I don't get the loss, but it's still a bad outting after 5 very promising innings...

My Line - 5 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, no decision.

i'm giving up a very high number of hits lately

[Sun Tzu]

7/21 we beat the Orioles 6-5

7/22 we beat the Orioles 6-5 yet again

7/23 we sweep the O's with a 4-3 win, three straight 1 run games

7/24 David Price shuts down the Mariners and we win our 4th straight game 2-0

We are now 1 game away from .500, and are alone in second place in the East. We're 3.5 back from the Rays who like us are 7-3 in their last 10 games.

[Sun Tzu]

I'm starting the second game of a 3 game series against the Mariners. On the hill for them is Greg Smith who is 6-2 with an ERA of 4.03. The game is being played on a tuesday night in Seattle. Despite my rocky 6th inning last week, my confidence is returning and I'm looking forward to a strong outting against the M's. Adam Everett is a defensive replacement for Barmes at SS today...which makes me happy.

RS - Our leadoff mnan singles, and works his way over to third. Rios knocks him in on a two out single to put us up 1-0 before I even taken the mound!

first pitch strike for the first time in 4 games, followed by a grounder to longoria who puts him away for the first out...struck out the next batter on a nasty slider low and away...their #3 hitter launches one to left field but it hangs at the warning track for the third out

RS - Ellsbury leads off with a triple! Burke gets him in with a sac fly to put us up 2-0

My curve is looking absolutely wicked today...single poked thru the right side to leadoff...two straight pitchouts as I don't want this guy to steal second...he takes off but it's a hit and run, the batter pops a high fastball behind the catcher for the first out...a few pickoff attempts to hold him...the runner goes anyway and of course steals second due to, you got it, a throw that was offline...routine fly to left for the second out...kinser takes a grounder in for the 3rd out

hard shot down the line in left that longoria just can't quite get for a leadoff single...the entire Mariner team seems to have lightning speed...high fly to center that ellsbury gets for the first out...the runner takes off and a bad throw, yeah I think you get the idea...I walk the next batter who fouls off several attempts to strike him out...hard grounder right to kinsler who flips it to everett, they turn the DP and I get out of a potential jam

a high heater takes down the leadoff man...grounder to everett who guns him out for #2...my confidence is soaring yet again...skied to shallow center and ellsbury makes the third out to end the 4th inning

RS - Morneau hits a bases loaded double which clears the bases! We take a 5-0 lead, and I can just smell the victory now.

one hopper to morneau who misplays the ball! it bounces up and over him and into right, they score it a hit...hard grounder to longoria who fires it to kinsler, and off to morneau for a close DP!...high popup right over morneau who takes it in for the 3rd out

grounder to morneau for the first out...uh oh after a hard fastball on the outside corner for a strike I feel something hurting on my throwing hand, I try to shake it off but it's just too painful so I come out of the game. Hopefully an MRI will show it's nothing. I watch us light up their bullpen from the clubhouse and we drop 13 runs on them. Our pen holds the shutout and we win 13-0! We get back to .500 on the year!

My Line - 5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, and I get the win!

[Sun Tzu]

The MRI reveals nothing and I'm fine, however the pain still lingers and the doctors say I should rest it for a few weeks. I'm not placed on the DL, and we have two days off between now and my next slated start so I'm not going to miss any time.

There are only 3 days left before the trade deadline, and the Sox are only shopping one player. David Price finally started heating up so they took him off the block, and now we're only shopping around a young SS. It looks like we're in the market for a new Catcher, which would make me oooooh so happy. I keep my fingers crossed as the deadline approaches.

7/28 we lose to the A's 4-7

7/29 we lose to the A's 4-9

7/30 we get swept as the A's beat us 4-6

The deadline comes...and goes. We don't make any trades for a Catcher :(

My finger is still sore when my next start comes so it's pushed back a few more days.

8/1 we lose to the Blue Jays 2-3

8/2 we get swept in a 2 game series by the Jays, losing 5-10

We have now lost 5 straight after winning 6 straight. So much for being above .500

We are now 52-56 and 5.5 games out of first place in the East. The Royals lead the Wild Card race with a record better than the first plays Devil Rays in our Division. We need to win the East to earn a playoff spot this year.

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting the first game of a 3 game series against the Yankees. On the hill for the Bronx Bomers is Breslow, who was a reliever earlier in the year. He is 4-3 on the year with an ERA of 3.49. This game is being played on a Friday night at Fenway Park.

After three straight fastballs in the low to mid 90's, the first batter waves at a changeup low in the zone for out number one...I accidentally hang a fastball over the middle and the next guy belts it into the stands in right field...oh no, I do it again on the first pitch and Texiera absolutely crushes it to right for 417 feet, a good 20 rows into the stands...Sizemore destroys a 3-2 changeup, but thankfully it curves foul...I walk him as my control is understandably shaken...Sizemore runs on a first pitch fastball and Soto throws an accurate ball to second! Sizemore gets tagged easily for the second out...I get a very generous strike three call on an inside curve to end the inning...well hopefully I can get some run support since we're already down 0-2

RS - Our leadoff man walks to start the game, and Kendrick singles him over to third. 2 batters later Kinsler steps up and launches a 3 run homer over the wall! YES! Justin Morneau is the next batter and he turns on one and belts it out for back to back homers! Talk about run support, we're up now 4-0! Rios and Soto both single after that, and Ellsbury moves them over, but Barmes can't drive either of them in and the first inning is over.

hard liner to lead off the first bounces off the monster, and the LF tries to jump up against the wall to get it but he can't, so it turns into a stand up double...next batter pops to longoria for the first out...high fly to left that stops just in front of the warning track for out number two...liner to left and once again our LF tries to jump up against the wall and misses it, the run scores easily and it's the second stand up double I've allowed this inning...a single to left brings the runner around third to home, and the throw is 15 feet offline as the catcher sprints up the first base line to catch it, now we're tied...I walk the next batter as I'm having problems placing my curve now...Texiera knocks a ball off the monster and the LF plays ring around the rosey with the ball for a few second before picking it up and hitting the cutoff man, two runs score...I strike out Sizemore looking only the ump says it's a ball, and then I try to slip a backdoor slider past Sizemore and he lifts it over the monster for an opposite field 2 run bomb UUUGH...please take me out...and I'm still in...the next batter looks at strike three on two straight pitches, both of which were clearly in the zone but called a ball...single into left field...this has to be the worst 2 innings of my career, and the umps aren't helping me out any...routine groundout to barmes to stop the profuse bleeding...we're down 8-4 as I give up 6 runs

surprisingly I'm left in the game...weak grounder to morneau for one...one hopper to longoria for two...could I really go 1-2-3 after that last inning?...routine groundout to longoria and I start to breath again...

lineshot to the right side and kinsler lays out, but he can't quite get it...and that leads the coach to pull me...it's about time!

Hopefully we can score some runs. Eduardo Gmoes relieves me and he has done wonderful so far this year. in 79.2 innings pitched he has posted a 1.47 ERA...well Gomes allows the inherited runner to score and then gives up another 2 runs.

We don't score again until the 9th, and it's too little too late. The Yankees blow us out and we lost 6-11. This actually was the worst start of my career.

My Line - 3 IP, 9 H, 9 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO...my ERA is starting to soar to unsafe heights.

[Sun Tzu]

The next day Coach tells me to come into his office. He says he has been noticing my performance steadily declining over the last month, and lately my control has been awful. He was hoping it would right itself but he thinks this last game against the Yankees was a wake-up call. He thinks I need to mix things up a little bit, and that I need to take a short break. He's moving me to the pen in the long relief spot so I can sure my game up without costing the team some much needed wins. This is very damaging to my confidence, and almost eliminates any chance of me having a strong second half of the year. He told me that if I work hard over the next 6 series and get my mechanics back in order, that he'll put me back into the starting rotation without a second thought. I leave, and most certainly do celebrate.

How embarassing to get demoted from #2 starter down to long relief...

Over the next 3 games pitched, I find myself improving little by little. My first outting I pitched 3 innings, and gave up 2 ER. My second outting I pitched 2.1 innings and allowed no runs on one hit. The outting after that I pitched 3.1 innings and again gave up no runs on one hit. I'm not striking guys out like I was early in the year, but that's never been my strong suit. I've always been a corners guy, getting people to pop up and ground out during crucial moments.

[Sun Tzu]

Today is September 3rd. Over the last 4 weeks we have won 12 games and lost 10. It's better than what we've been doing, but unfortunately it hasn't been enough as the Yankees went on an absolute tear. Our record currently sits at 65-70, and we are 5.5 games out of first place in the East. Outside of us ripping through the month of September, the playoffs are not very likely for us this year. I am still pitching out of the bullpen. I have been moved to Middle Relief which I guess is an improvement from the long relief spot, but it's not a spot in the starting rotation. My stats since joining the pen are stellar, and read as follows.

1-1, 21.2 IP, 1.88 ERA, 17 K, 2 BB.

I have really found a grove in my delivery, and I'm reading batters better than I have since the year started. I'm currently sitting at 9-6 on the year, and I'm tied with David Price for the most wins. Price is 9-8 with an ERA 0.10 points below mine.

[Sun Tzu]

Two days later...Coach asks me into his office and I sit down. He tells me that Jon Lester just got injured, and the starting rotation is down a man. He's moving me into that spot while he's out. He knows I've earned it but he didn't want to mix things with the rotation while we were winning. Lester is only listed as being out for a week, so I'm going to have to make the best of my spot start this coming weekend.

We split a 4 game series at home against Cleveland, and then travel to Minnesota to face off against my old team the Twins. We win the first game 6-4.

[Sun Tzu]

Tonight I'm starting in the Metrodome for the first time since being in a Twins uniform. I'm going for my 10th win of the year which would really mean a lot for me. On the hill for the Twins is Renato Durazo, who is 9-6 just like me, and also shares an identical ERA at 4.43...how about that! I have recorded 8 more strikeouts than him. Amazingly the Twins have a winning record, but are in worse playoff shape than we are, as the White Sox are cruising on route to a possible 90+ win season.

I'm excited to pitch against my former team.

leadoff batter skies a 3-2 fastball to shallow right for the first out...second batter grounds a VERY slow ball down the third base line that he beats out for a hit...popup to right for out number two...line to right for a single...men on first and second with two away...popup to the catcher to end the first inning

I walk Delmon young on 4 pitches, all of which could have been called strikes...high fly to deep left but it's foul and playable for the first out...another popup in foul territory but playable for out number two...groundout to short to end the inning

bloop to center but ellsbury races in to catch it, one down...hard liner back up the middle for a single...check swing and they say he didn't go around on ball four...grounder back to me and I get the man at second, but they can't turn two...men at 1st and 3rd with two away...slow grounder down the first base line and longoria comes in barehanded, but he airmails it! the runner scores...dammit...unfuckingbelievable a curveball gets by Soto and he completely loses it, he runs around with no idea where the ball is and the runner crosses the plate before he even picks the ball up...grounder to barmes to end the inning...we're down 0-2 going into the 4th

RS - Morneau comes to bat with 2 men on and crushes it into the bleachers! His 24th home run of the year and 107th, 108th, and 109th RBI's give us the lead 3-2!

struck out the leadoff man with a 3-2 change...pop to center for the second out...struck the last guy out with a hard inside heater

grounder to short for one...pop to left for two...fastball CRUSHED to right but it curves foul...liner to right and Rios sprints to take it in...5th inning over and we're still up

RS - Morneau knocks in his 4th RBI of the game to put us up by 2!

routine grounder to kinsler and he lobs it over morneaus head for an error...

Uh oh when I attempt a pickoff move I feel a twinge in my shoulder...I can't keep pitching witht he pain and they have to bring in Arredondo. Hopefully the pen can hold the lead...

They can't, in fact Arredondo gives up the inherited run along with another one and blows the lead right off the bat. We retake the lead in the top of the ninth but then Papelbon blows that in the bottom of the ninth. Finally we re-retake the lead in the top of the 11th and Buchholz, a starter, comes in to close the game out. We get the Win! But I wind up leaving too early for both the Quality start as well as the W.

My line - 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, no decision thanks Arredondo...

I have an MRI immediately after the game ends...hopefully the results will be fine.

[Sun Tzu]

Ooooh man, I have separated my shoulder. That puts me out for the year...so much for getting that 10th win. I'll be watching the rest of the games this year from the dugout it looks like, as coach lets me know that they're putting me on the 60 day DL. It doesn't matter much anyway, as I would have been out of commission for 2-3 months regardless.

The win put us at 70-72 for the year, but we aren't gaining any ground on the Yankees because they are on a serious roll.

The big question now is, what kind of role are they going to give me when I finally heal up?

[Sun Tzu]

9/10 we beat the Twins by a score of 7-2

9/11 we complete a 4 game sweep of the Twins with a 3-2 win

9/12 we travel to Toronto and beat the Jays 4-2 for our 6th win in a row

9/13 we sweep the Rays in the 2 game series with a 12-4 win...7 wins in a row! That's a season high

We're now 74-70 but still 6 games out of first...The Yankees are 9-1 in their last 10 games. We have closed the Wild Card gap to 4 games though, with the Royals leading the way, followed by the Rays at 2.5 back, and then the Rangers at 3.5 back.

9/15 we beat the Orioles in Camden Yards 9-3 to win 8 straight

9/16 we make it 9 straight against the Orioles with a 14-5 win

9/17 we finally lose 5-9

3.0 back in the Wild Card, and 5 back in the East. Up next is a HUGE 3 game series against the Yankees...god I wish I could play in one of these games.

9/18 we lose the first game 1-2

9/19 we win the next game 7-3, and David Price collects his 11th win of the season

9/20 we lose the third game which realistically eliminates us from the East race

now we are 3.5 back in the Wild Card

We host the Mariners in a big 4 game series, and get swept...losing 2-3, 1-3, 6-7, and 8-11. We are now 5.5 games back in the Wild Card race with only 6 games to play. The Yankees are 1 win away from clinching the Division.

We get swept by Tampa too, and wind up losing 12 of our last 14 games. Good thing we weren't especially close to making the playoffs, or heaven forbid, actually in the lead. That would have been one hell of a collapse.

[Sun Tzu]

In the AL

The Yankees win the East with a record of 88-74.
The White Sox win the Central at 90-72.
The Mariners Surprisingly take the West by 2 games over the Rangers, with a 87-75 record.
The Devil Rays sneak into the playoffs as the wild card, going 85-77.

In the NL

The Mets take the East and have the Leagues best record at 101-61
The Reds win the Central with a 93-69 record
The Giants win the West! They go 90-72 and nobody is close to them
The Phillies win the wild card with a better record than any team in the AL, they finish 94-68

The Playoff Bracket looks like so...

CHW
TB

NYY
SEA

NYM
SF

CIN
PHI

The White Sox win in 4 games.
The Mariners win in 5 games.
The Mets win in 5 games
The Reds win in 4 games

nobody sweeps in the first round.

The ALCS pits the White Sox and the Mariners, while the NLCS pits the Mets and the Reds.

The White Sox beat down the Mariners and sweep them in 4 games.
The Mets take the series to 7 games and beat the Reds.

The Mets face off against the White Sox in the World Series. The White Sox win the first two games, but then lose 3 straight, only to tie it up at 3 games a peice and force a game seven in New York. John Maine would pitch 6 innings for the Mets and only allow 1 run, while youngster Dante Walton would give up 4 runs before he was pulled in the 5th...the Mets win the Championship!

Walton Bankston wins the WS MVP batting .500 with no homeruns but 5 RBI.

Cladio Gonzales of the Reds wins the NFL MVP, hitting .304 with 36 bombs and 146 RBI's

Wiley Couture of the ChiSox wins the AL MVP batting .276 with 41 bombs and 119 WBI

Eldridge Hermansen of the Marlins wins the NL Cy Young going 18-7 with a 3.04 ERA...surprising. He only struck out 62 batters and had a 1.26 WHIP

Latroy Prince wins the AL MVP with a 20-5 record and a 2.11 ERA...he finished with a stellar 1.05 WHIP

Boston Players to win awards...

Justin Morneau took home another Gold Glove
Evan Longoria took home a Gold Glove of his own

My final line of the year looks like this...

9-6, 147.1 IP, 4.34 ERA, 22 GS, 9 QS, 1 SHO, 79 K, 18 BB, 1.28 WHIP, .288 H vs RH, .299 H vs LH

[Sun Tzu]

Notable Retirements in the offseason...

Adam Everett...damn
Jeremy Guthrie
Cole Hamels
Chase Utley
Kerry Wood
Barry Zito
Josh Hamilton
Jorge Cantu
Dan Haren
Adam Wainwright

Pedro Martinez was inducted into the Hall of Fame. His career record was 236-121 with an ERA of 3.06

Red Sox Free Agent Losses...

3B josh Fields
SP Clay Buchholz
CF Dexter Fowler
SS Clint Barmes
CP Jonathan Papelbon (damn)
RP Daniel Bard
SP Jon Lester

Papelbon signs with the Indians for 5 years/62m

the Indians also sign 1B Adrian Gonzales for 4 years/34m

The Tigers resigned Tim Lincecum to a 5 year/100m deal

The Rangers signed Nick Markakis to a 3 year/17.37m deal

The Reds signed SP Zack Greinke to a 4 year/90.28m deal

The Giants spent about 100m and resigned all of their big talent Pitchers to long term deals

The Giants also re-signed Pablo Sandoval to a 3 year/16.44m deal

We re-signed Jon Lester to a 2 year/12.6m deal

We traded SP Michael Bowden away to the Nats for SP Sean Marshall

We Signed an all star CP to replace Papelbon, Erwin Guidry to a 2 year/6.02m deal

We signed RF Corey Hart! It will be nice to have another quality bat in the lineup. 3 years/19.44m

We re-signed SP Clay Buchholz to a 2 year/6.88m deal

[Sun Tzu]

Our lineup remains the same this season, the only exception being Corey Hart playing in the outfield.

LF - Abdul Morneau - Last year this speester finished strong with 23 HR and 74 RBI in the leadoff spot despite not having much power
C - Geovany Soto - I was really hoping for an upgrade here...he has a very strong arm but he just can't corrall it
3B - Evan Longoria - He is good for 30 jacks and 100 RBI, plus his glove is outstanding
2B - Ian Kinsler - Another strong bat, but his arm is very innacurate
RF - Corey Hart - Should be good for 20 jacks and 70-80 RBI, plus he's speedy and has a great arm in right field
1B - Justin Morneau - Definitely our strongest offensive weapon. Morneau finished last year with 28 HR, 128 RBI, a .297 AVG, and a gold glove
DH - Alex Rios - Last years RF moves to DH with the addition of Hart. Rios will hit 15-20 bombs and around 80 RBI's.
SS - Howie Kendrick - Last years DH moves over to SS (thank god). Burke was our biggest hole in the infield, and Kendrick is great with his glove.
CF - Jacoby Ellsbury - Jacoby is a near .300 hitter and is far and away the fastest player on the team. His reaction time in CF after the ball comes off the bat combined with his speed is a very valuable asset. I love this guy

Our Starting rotation is identical to last year.

I have been given my spot back as the #2 starter!

David Price
Me
Josh Beckett
Jon Lester
Clay Buchholz

Hopefully Price and Beckett can put together quality seasons this year. Without those two performing like they are capable, we have no chance at making the playoffs.

[Sun Tzu]

In the Spring we go 20-15 which hopefully means something. We finish with the second best record in the grapefruit league. I go undefeated in my best Spring ever, finishing 6-0 with a 2.66 ERA. This is a contract year, so hopefully it's a sign of things to come.

[Sun Tzu]

The 2018 Regular Season has started!

We open the season with a 3 game series in Boston against the Devil Rays. David Price is pitching in the openner against Jake Peavy.

4/2 we beat Tampa 4-1 as Price pitches 8 innings only allowing 1 run, while Morneau and Ellsbury both go long.

I celebrate my 27th birthday!

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting this evenings game against the Devil Rays. There are 34,533 fans in attendance tonight. The opposing pitcher is a fellow 27 year older Cam Hanigan.

Defensively we are starting Burke at SS instead of Kendrick for...well I'm not sure why. Hopefully Burke will play solidly.

after a 10 pitch at bat, I get their leadoff man to groundout to longoria for the first out...another groundout to longoria for the second out...routine fly to ellsbury in center for the final out...1-2-3 to start the game

struck out the leadoff man with a slider...liner to left that abdul runs down for the second out...groundout to burke to end the second...1-2-3 again

struck out the leadoff man with a nasty curve...hard low liner back up the middle for their first hit, after I threw two very obvious strike threes that were called balls...liner to hart in rightfield to takes it in for the second out...routine fly to ellsbury for the third out

RS - Abdult Morneau whacks a leadoff solo shot in the bottom of the third, and Just Morneau drives in Evan Longoria who walked his way on base later on. 2-0 lead

I walk the leadoff man after a few breaking balls get away from me...next batter hits a hard grounder right to burke who turns a 6-4-3, two down...hard liner right back at me but I don't react fast enough, two out single...hard grounder into the hole in left but burke snags it, though he can't quite get the guy out at first...1st and 2nd with two away...liner to left that morneau dives for, and just can't quite get, so a run scores...liner right back up the middle and ellsbury is damn near back at the warning track so two runs score now, this is an awful 2 out rally they've got going...routine grounder to burke to end the inning, but I blow the lead. We're down 2-3

routine fly to Hart in right for the first out...I've been getting squeezed on the corners on nearly every batter so the counts have gone very high. i've already thrown 81 pitches...grounder towards the hole on the left side but longoria snags it on the run and throws the man out...grounder to morneau to takes it to first to end the inning..1-2-3 but a lot of high counts again

RS - Ian Kinsler with an RBI double in the bottom of the 5th to tie it back up, 3-3

I'm at 89 pitches before the inning starts, so i'm almost positive this will be my last inning...slow grounder to longoria who fires him out for the first out...groundout to kinsler for out number two...hard grounder back up the middle for a two out single...easy grounder to kinsler for the final out

I get pulled as expected after 6 innings and 109 pitches, and the coach pats me on the back for a good effort...

In the bottom of the inning Geovany Soto doubles to leadoff, and after Ellsbury moves him over, Burke singles Soto in to take the lead.

Arredondo pitches the 7th and gives up no hits, William pitches the 8th and does the same, and our new closer Guidry shuts them down with a perfect ninth for his first save of the year! We win 4-3!

My line - 6 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 QS, and I get a win in my first start!

[Sun Tzu]

4/5 - we sweep the Rays to start out the year as Josh Beckett pitches a strong game, we win 3-1.

4/6 - we start out a 3 game series against the Blue Jays by losing a close one in the late innings 2-3

4/7 - we win this one in the late innings as our bullpen pitches over half the game giving up zero runs. final score 6-4

4/8 - the Jays win the third and final game of the series, blowing up David Price and our bullpen, 2-16

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting the first game of a three game series in Seattle. This is our first road game of the year. The opposing pitcher is Donaldo Sosa who got a no decision in his first start despite pitching 6 innings and giving up 3 runs just like me.

defensively Ellsbury is getting the day off, and he is replaced by Phil Lentz. Ian Kinsler is also getting the day off and is being replaced by our RF last year Rios. That puts Kendrick at SS (yes!) and Burke at 2B (booo).

RS - Abdul leads the game off with a double, and with two outs Justin Morneau singles him over to second. Corey Hart walks and with the bases loaded Soto singles in a run. Next up is Rios who then singles in another two runs! We're up 3-0 before even take the mound

groundout to burke to start the inning...deep but very high fly to right down the line that Hart drifts under for the second out...hard grounder through my legs for a two out single...the runner goes on the first pitch, but it's a 95 mph heater and Soto nails him at second to end the inning!

little chopper to the right which I pick up and throw to morneau for the first out...long fly ball to the warning track in left but Abdul tracks it down before it falls for out #2...annother chopper this time right two me, and I underhand it to morneau to end the 2nd inning

high first pitch popup in foul territory that longoria takes for the first out...a drive down the line in right which Hart lays out for but just misses, one out double...soto can't handle a curve and the runner advances to third...popup right behind third that Kendrick runs over and gets for the second out...liner to the right side which Burke dives for but is way late on, it goes into right and the run scores...a wicked slider strikes out the last man to end the inning

burke goes deep to get a grounder and throw the leadoff man out...struck out the next man on three pitches with a fastball out of the zone...hard grounder through the hole on the right side for a two out single...routine fly ball to Abdul to end the 4th inning

groundout to burke for the first out...easy flyball right to Lent in Center for the second out...struck the last man out on 3 pitches with another fastball out of the zone

the ump calls 4 straight pitches on the corners balls, and I go from 0-2 to a walk...the ump squeezes me AGAIN and I give up liner to left which gets to the wall, and that's a double...men on 3rd and 2nd with no outs...fucking ump is going to hear it, as I watch the next pitch sail into the stands for a 3 run blast...and now I get pulled after blowing the lead

Thankfully we score 2 runs in the top o fthe 7th and we win 5-4.

line - 5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, no decision

[Sun Tzu]

4/10 - we lose the second game of the series to the Mariners 5-6

4/11 - we take the third and final game to win the series, 11-5

4/13 - we travel to New York to face off against the Yankees in a 4 game series. we lose the first game as buchholz gets lit up, 1-8

4/14 - we lose the second game of the series too, this time the bullpen blows it late, 3-4

[Sun Tzu]

Today is Jackie Robinson Day! I'm starting todays game in New York. The opposing pitcher is Ubaldo Jiminez who is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA.

Defensively we have all of our regular starters, however Kendrick is again the DH while Burke is at SS.

We are wearing throwback unis today!

a bullet right back up the middle for a leadoff single...hard liner into the gap in left that rolls to the wall for a double...2nd and 3rd with no outs...grounder to morneau for the first out and runners hold...I intentionally walk Texiera to create several DP oppotunities...hard liner right at Kinsler for the second out!...popup to shallow right where Hart takes it in to end the inning! WHEW...escaped that one

hard one hopper to kinsler to fires to morneau for one...struck out the next man with a change...grounder right to morneau to takes it to first himself to end the 2nd inning

struck out the leadoff man with a very mean curve...my confidence is returning after that shakey 1st inning...grounder down the left field line that longoria snags, but he can't get the throw off in time and it's an infield single...popup to short right and kinsler can't bring it down!...1st and 2nd with one out...Texiera pops up to shallow center where Ellsbury brings it down for he second out, and the runner at second tries to test his arm! I don't think so, and neither does Ellsbury who guns him down easily to end the 3rd inning

leadoff single past kinsler who isn't haven't the greatest day in the field...hard grounder to burke who steps on second himself and fires it to morneau for a 6-3 double play...hard liner toward the alley in left center but Abdul races it down for the final out

hard liner to right to start out the 5th with a single...hard grounder right up the middle but burke backhands it, then behind his back's it to kinsler, who just BARELY beats Gordon at first with the throw for the DP...Gordon doesn't like the call and gets in the umps face, and gets tossed from the game!...I blow the next batters bat up as he hits a popup that the catcher brings down for out #3

RS - Just Morneau leads off the 6th inning with a single, Hart moves him over, and Geovany Soto hits an RBI double for the first score of the game! We're up 1-0

routine fly to Ellsbury who brings it down for the first out...Rickie Weeks pops to shallow center and Ellsbury takes it for the second out...Texiera hits a weak grounder right in front of Soto who hits Morneau to end the 6th

coming into the 7th I've thrown 69 pitches, so I have an outside shot at going the entire way...and as if on queue I'm forced to throw 9 pitches but I get the groundout to burke for the first out...surprise bunt down the left side and Soto guns him down...deep liner to left field but Abdul gets there with time to spare for the third out

RS - Justin Morneau puts one into the seats for a solo shot in the top of the 8th! we're up 2-0

leadoff double into the gap in right as I don't get a few calls on the corners...I have to say that up until now the ump have been doing an excellent job calling balls and strikes...single to right and the runner scores...and as expected I get pulled which leaves me responsible for the man on first with no outs...

Freddy William replaces me, who has pitched 6.1 innings and has yet to allow a run this year.

Until now.

He allows the runner on first to score, along with TWO more runs, and we lose 2-4. Ugh

line - 7 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 QS, no decision

[Sun Tzu]

4/16 - We get swept by the Yankees in a 4 game series, and that really hurts. Beckett loses a well pitched game, 1-3

4/17 - We head back to Boston for a 3 game series against the Indians, and lose our 5th straight 4-12

4/18 - We beat the Tribe as Buchholz pitches very well, score 3-1

4/19 - We take the series from the Indians and David Price earns his second win of the season...score 5-3, and we are now back to .500

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting tonights game in Boston. This is the first of a four game series against the Mariners, who are starting the young and impressive pitcher Stan Azzopardi who is 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA.

It feels good to be back in Boston after that road trip :)

Defensively Abdul is getting the day off in left and Lentz is filling in for him. Kendrick is starting at SS instead of Burke which makes me happy.

I strike out the leadoff man waving at a great slider on the outside corner...routine fly to Hart for the second out...groundout to Kendrick for the third out and a 1-2-3 first

RS - We load the bases in the bottom of the first and Morneau knocks a runner in with a single, which brings up Hart who then doubles in two runs. We're already up 3-0!

routine grounder to kendrick for the first out...I strike out the next guy on three straight fastballs, but Soto somehow lets the last one get past him and the runner makes it safely to first, you've got to be kidding me...popup to kendrick for the second out...liner to center for a single and the runner tries to round second and test Ellsbury's arm, who guns him down at third for the last out

liner to left and Lentz is very slow getting to the ball, and then follows that up with a 5 hopper to the cutoff man, the runner takes two for a leadoff double...single up the middle scores the run from second...struck out the next man with a mean curve...the runner takes second easily...grounder to kinsler for the second out, and the runner moves to 3rd...hot grounder through the hole on the right side which scores another run...very high popup down the line in left for the final out...we're still up 3-2

long drive to left but Lentz takes it on the warning track in front of the monster for the first out...high heat takes down the second man...liner to shallow right which Hart picks right off of his shoetops for the third out

got the leadoff man looking at a backdoor slider...high deep drive to right center but Ellsbury sprints and takes it down...Struck out Segovia looking at low heat for the third time of the game to end the top of the 5th

RS - Hart with an RBI double and Morneau brings in another run to give us a 5-2 lead!

liner back up the middle for a leadoff base hit...a grounder up the middle that nobody can get to, Ellsbury is playing too deep and the runner takes third...liner to left to score the man at third...1st and 2nd with nobody out...I need a DP or something here...an inside fastball takes down the next guy swinging and I really needed that first out...a very slow grounder to the left side and there's some confusion as to who's getting it! all of the runners reach safely and the bases are loaded with one out...STRUCK out the next guy on a nasty backdoor slider...their RF Montanez comes up with a chance to change the ballgame with one swing of the bat, and on a 2-2 count I throw a sinker on the outside corner-STEEEERIII!!!! I pump my fists as I strike out 2 men with the bases loaded to get out of a jam.

I'm still only at 82 pitches so the coach tells me to go back out there for the 7th inning...routine grounder to Kendrick for one...high popup to shallow center and Hart takes it down for the second out...Burris comes up and clobbers it but it curves foul and to the left of the monster...fly ball right to Hart and he doesn't have to move for the third out

As expected they pull me after 7 innings and the game is in the bullpens hands now. William comes up (uh oh) and pitches a strong 8th for his 7th hold (we only have 9 wins mind you), and Guidry pitches a strong 9th for his 7th save. We win! 5-3

line - 7 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO (my career high is 10), 1 QS, I improve to 2-0 with the win

[Sun Tzu]

4/21 - we take the second game of the series too, this time 4-3

4/22 - we lose to the Mariners as out staff falls apart, 5-15

4/23 - we take the series as we score 7 runs and Clay Buchholz comes through on the mound. 7-3

4/24 - The Rangers are coming to town for a quick 2 game series, and David Price loses out to Noah Lowry in the first game...3-6

[Sun Tzu]

I'm starting todays game here in Boston against the Rangers. The rangers are 15-5 coming into this game and in first place in the West by a good margin. On the bump for them is Ja-Hoon Ye who is 2-2 and isn't getting much for run support as he is sitting at a 3.04 ERA.

Defensively Burke is back at SS and Kendrick is the DH. Hart is getting the day off and Lentz is taking his spot in RF.

Taylor Teagarden is killing it in April so far, batting .452 with 7 dingers. Not surprisingly he is leading the AL in batting. The Rangers batting order is stacked. In fact only 3 players are hitting below .315.

Matt Holliday, aka the perenial thorn in my side if you remember, leads off with a double into the gap in left. He just barely beats out the throw at second...struck out he next man whiffing at a dirty changeup low...hard liner right at kinsley for the second out, Holliday moves over to third with two outs...another grounder right at Kinsler to end the inning as Holliday is stranded

Saltalamachia hits a grounder that skips over first base for a leadoff single...a VERY generous strike at the chins gets Melky Cabrera looking at a sinker...Teagarden goes down on another very low sinker...Earl Hendricks (home plate ump) is going to be my new best friend today...a single to center moves the runner to third...1st and 3rd with 2 out...a very slow grounder up the middle somehow gets past both the 2B and the SS and the runner scores...Holliday is already back up and he singles of coures, scoring another run...liner right at ellsbury who ends the inning...we're down 0-2

RS - Morneau belts a solo shot to start out the bottom of the 2nd inning (his 7th of the year), and then Ellsbury brings Kendrick home with a 2 run homer of his own! We take the lead 3-2

grounder to burke who bobbles the ball and the runner (who is unfortunately their fastest player) gets on to leadoff, Burke gets the Error...YES I try a pitchout and the runner goes. Soto still barely gets him but that's the first out...liner high off the monster for a one out double...the runner breaks for third on the first pitch! Soto guns him down for the second out! Wow...what's gotten into Soto?...Earl Hendrick calls 3 straight strike threes as balls, all of which were much more in the zone than the two punchouts he called looking last inning, and I walk the batter...Kinsler takes a grounder but bobbles it! I am just not getting any help this inning...another grounder gets past kinsler and the runner scores to tie the game up at 3...linedrive down the line in right brings home two runs...a grounder to longoria and I hold my breath, but he takes it in fine and fires a strike to morneau for the last out...unbelievable, we're down 3-5

Holliday hits an easy grounder to morneau after 10 pitches...burke takes a grounder that bounces several times in front of morneau but morneau scoops it out for the second out...burke takes another one and this time hits morneau just fine...1-2-3 4th inning

RS - Longoria and Kinsler both get RBI's as we rally in the bottom half of the 4th to tie it back up! 5-5

A hard liner down the line in left bounces off the green monster, but Abdul plays it extremely well and guns the runner down trying to turn it into a double!..liner to shallow left by saltalamachia for a single...another liner off the monster in left for a single, but the runner rounds second and tries to test Abdul for the second time in the inning, and he's out at third by several steps...yet another liner but this time right at kinsler

I get pulled as they were getting very good wood on the ball that last inning, and I don't blame them. I leave when the game is tied.

The Rangers light up out bullpen for 5 runs in the 6th, and 4 more in the 7th. We lose out 7-14...

line - 5 IP, 12 H!!!, 5 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, and a no decision

[Sun Tzu]

4/27 - We travel to Baltimore to face off against the O's in a 3 game series, and Beckett gets lit up in game one. We lost 3-9

4/28 - Lester gets lit up this time as we lose the second game too, 7-10

4/29 - We win the third and final game by a score of 10-3

4/30 - The last game of the month is the first game of a 2 game series against the Blue Jays in Toronto. We loes game one 4-5

The Month of April has come and gone. We did not start out strong.

AL East Standings
Yankees 18-8
Blue Jays 2.5 GB
Orioles 5.0 GB
Red Sox 6.0 GB
Devil Rays 11.5 GB

Jacoby Ellsbury is hitting .337 so far, and has 9 doubles, 2 triples, and 8 stolen bases
Justin Morneau is hitting .313 with 7 jacks and 20 RBIs

Our starting rotation has been decent, but our bullpen has been awful.

David Price 2-2 4.88 6GS/2QS
Josh Beckett 1-2 4.40 5/2
Clay Buchholz 3-1 5.19 5/1
Jon Lester 1-3 8.34 5/1

My line through April

2-0, 4.20, 5 GS, 3 QS, 19 K, 4 BB, 1 HR, 1.47 WHIP, .311 H v RH, .354 H v LH (that last game against the Rangers killed my WHIP)

We are 12-14 so far on the year

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting game two of a two game series on May 1st against the Blue Jays. The game is being played in Toronto. The opposing starter is Max Sherzer who is 2-1 with a 3.68 ERA

Defensively Ellsbury is getting the day off, and Lentz is starting in his place. I'm sure we will miss Ellsbury at some point today. Kendrick is the DH and Burke is starting at SS.

first pitch grounder right to kinsler for the out...I don't get a call on a backdoor slider as I walk the next batter on 11 pitches...Joe Mauer lines it right to Abdul in left for the second out...I do get the call on a backdoor slider this time as the cleanup man goes down looking

The leadoff man goes down waving at an outside 94 MPH fastball...single down the left field line by spilborghs...grounder to longoria and he hits kinsler, who then hits Morneau for a DP to end the inning

grounder to kinsler after yet another battle at the plate for the first out...I'm already at 44 pitches...first pitch bullet right to longoria for the second out...a grounder gets past burke for a two out single...grounder to the left side which burke slides to pick up, and then fires a one hopper to morneau for the third out

RS - Evan Longoria hits an RBI double, Kinsler moves him over to third, and Morneau sacrafices him in for the second score of the inning! We're up 2-0

grounder right to burke who gets out #1...on the 10 pitch I get their cleanup man to wave at a great curveball...i'm at 62 pitches here in the bottom of the 4th...a grounder goes right through burkes legs but the count it a single...a very high fly ball to the gap in right gets taken in by Lentz for the final out of the 4th

RS - Howie Kendrick hits an RBI double in the top of the 5th to put us up 3-0!

easy grounder to kinsler for the first out...very hard grounder but right to longoria for the second out...easy pop to right center that Hart brings down for the third out

RS - Soto gets his first homer of the year as he hits a solo shot into the skydome stands...we're up 4-0 now

a liner up the middle turns into a double as the runners speed as well Lentz complete lack of fielding awareness allows the runner to get to second...skied popup to Abdul in left for the first out...Mauer rips a hard single to right but it's too hard as the runner has to stay at third...runners at the corners with one out...hard grounder to kinslers right but he has to run to get it keeping him from turning two, that allows the runner to score...a very hard single to left through the hole but again it's too hard and the runner from second has to hold at third...spilborghs slaps and easy grounder right to kinsler for the third out

RS - We get two more runs in the top of the 7th as Cory Hart and Kendrick knock get an RBI each...we're now up 6-1!

I wait for the coach to tell me to watch the rest of the game from the dugout but surprisingly I don't hear a word as I go back out there for the 7th inning...hard liner slapped to right for a single to leadoff...I'm up to 110 pitches now and I'm gassing, wondering why I'm still in the game...and as if on queue my next fastball drifts right over the plate and gets plated into the upper deck fora 2 run bomb...finally I get pulled, what gives?

Sean Marshall replaces me who has a 6.48 ERA in 16 innings...ouch, hopefully the pen can protect thsi 3 run lead. I sit down in the dugout and coach comes over to pat me on the back and shake my hand, I guess that's his way of saying "sorry for leaving you out there"

The pen holds!

Marshall pitches through the 7th, William gets his 10th hold in the 8th, and Guidry gets his 10 save in the ninth. We win 6-3!

Line - 6 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1 QS, and I improve to 3-0 on the year!

[Sun Tzu]

4/2 - we head back to Boston to face off against the White Sox in a 2 game series...we lose game 1 by a score of 4-9

4/3 - we get swept in the short series and again it's not even close. Jon Lester gets destroyed 1-11, and his ERA balloons up to 10.08

4/4 - Tampa comes into town for a 3 game divisional series to determine who the worst team in the east really is. They take the first game by beatting Clay Buchholz 3-6

4/5 - David Price pitches another quality game as we win game #2 by a score of 5-1

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting the last game of a 3 game series against the Devil Rays. They are 10-22 while we are 14-17. The game is being played during the day at Fenway Park on a Sunday. There are a few couds in the sky, and just over 32k fands in the stands. The starting pitcher for them is Barack Mackey who is 0-2 with an ERA of 5.34...I'm hoping we can light him up

We have a winning record at Fenway, going 10-9. On the road we are 4-8.

Defensively we have out regular starters in the game. Burke is at SS while Kendrick is the DH.

I strike out Viciano looking at some high gas to leadoff...groundout to burke for #2...liner to kinslers right and he dives but comes up short by several feet...their cleanup hitter, Shipman, is batting sub .200 with 1 homer, so I take him lightly, and he obliterates my first pitch fastball 400 feet over the monster...burke digs one out in left field but he's way late and it's a two out single...slow easy grounder to kinsler for the third out

morneau takes an easy grounder to first himeslf for one...Jody Gerut looks at a looping curve for strike three...burke with a beautiful play sliding to stop a ball and then firing a two hopper to morneau who gets it just in time

grounder to morneaus right, he flips it to me and I step on the bag for the first out...low inside heat strikes out their bauer for the second time...Hart takes in a routine fly for the last out

RS - Howie Kendrick with a 2 RBI double in the bottom of the 3rd to tie the game up! 2-2

I wind up walking Shipman this time which is ok by me...my control starts getting away from me as I drill the next batter in the leg on a 1-2 pitch...a base hit to left prompts Adbul to throw an absolutely terrible throw home to try to get the runner who scores...grounder to burke who flips to kinsler and they turn the 4-6-3 DP...man on third with two gone...Gerut pops it up to very shallow left and Abdul takes it in for the third out

RS - Kinsler belts a solo shot to tie the game back up! 3-3

I'm really not getting the low strikes today which is hurting my pitch counts...a leadoff single gets past kinslers diving glove...the runner goes one pitch after a pitchout, but Soto guns him down after the batter whiffs at the sinker!...burke very nearly sails one over morneaus head but morneau snags it out of the air for the second out...oooo I get the last man waving at a curve to end the 5th

RS - Ellsbury hits a triple into deep right center and Abdul singles him in, we take the lead 4-3!

very lazy groundout to longoria for the first out...Shipman comes up now and crushes another one to left field, thankfully this time it curves foul...he hits a long ball but not too long as Ellsbury brings it down in left-center...I can feel myself gassing now but I only need one more out to get out of the 6th...I get the last man to pop up to Abdul on the first pitch and the 6th is over!

As expected coach pulls me after and I watch the rest of the game from the dugout. Hopefully the pen cal hold this 1 run lead. Garko comes in who has an ERA of 2.10 and I watch him load the bases with two outs on a walk, but he gets the next guy out. William comes in in the 8th and gives up and hit and walks somebody too, but then strikes the next batter out and gets out of the inning. We score 1 insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Guidry comes in for the 9th and slams the door yet again. We win 5-3!

Line - 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO, 1 QS, and I improve to 4-0 on the year!

[Sun Tzu]

Despite the decent run support i've been getting, we are 23rd in the league in runs scored up to this point, and 24th in home runs. Our team ERA is 5.31 and ranked 29th in the league! I have the lowest ERA of all the starts at 4.29. We are 7th in Strikeouts with 183, and I lead the team with 26

5/8 - Toronto comes into town for a quick 2 game series, and knocks Beckett and the rest of the staff around for 12 runs. We lose 4-12

5/9 - We split the series by winning game 2 by a score of 5-3

5/10 - We travel to Minnesota for a 4 game series against my old team the Twins. We lose game one 1-6

5/11 - We still can't get any offense going as we lose game two 0-6

[Sun Tzu]

Tonight I start against my former team in the Twins. This is the third game in a 4 game series. They are 18-18 to our... The opposing pitcher is...

Defensively we have all of the regulars. Burke is starting at SS again with Kendrick the DH. Unfortunately I'm thinking this will be the norm.

the first pitch of the game is a very nicely placed fastball which didn't miss the plate in any way, shape, or form, but is still called a ball. the next pitch gets belted to shallow left, and Abdul misses badly diving for it which leads to a double...liner over burkes head for a single, the runner only gets to third. men on the corners with nobody out. popup to shallow left to hart, the runner at third starts to tag but then thinks twice and heads back...I don't get a low ball called for a strike and the next ball is singled to right which brings home the runner at third...Delmon Young goes down looking at a great curve for the second out...a slow chopper comes right back to me for the third out...we're down 0-1

hard liner right between my legs for a leadoff single...liner to left but longoria leaps and snags it out of midair...a very routine grounder right to kinsler bounces off of his glove ruining the chance of the DP, and then he sails the ball over morneaus head allowing the runners to advance to 2nd and 3rd with 1 out...jesus christ common guys...fly to center which scores the run, ellsbury throws it to the cutoff man (kinsler) who then tries to get the runner heading to third, and the throw is 5 feet above his head. thankfully longoria is able to jump off the bag into the air and get it...this is getting rediculous...a line drive directly to burkes right goes right past his diving glove as his reaction time was just awful, another run scores...a grounder to kinsler, I hold my breath, he fields it, I hold my breath again as he throws, and it's a strike to morneau to end the inning...we're down 0-3

single past longoria on the left side...I haven't seen defense this sloppy since playing AA ball...the runner takes off and gets a horrible jump, but soto's throw is well over burkes head and he has to run and jump to get the ball as the runner is in safely...ok I give up...I walk the next batter...fly to shallow center and ellsbury takes it down, and the runner takes off, but ellsbury decides to spin around for no particular reason, and then throws a lazy 3 hopper to third and the runner is in safely...fly ball to left field and the runner tags from 3rd base, abdul fires a beautiful ball into the infield but the cutoff man LEAPS into the air and then decides he's not going to relay the throw...what in the holy fuck?...the next ball is a strike but GETS AWAY FROM SOTO and the runner advances from 1st to 2nd...a slow roller to me as I underhand it to morneau for the last out...we're down 0-4

RS - Longoria belts a solo shot into the stands, we're down 1-4

long fly ball to the wall in right that hart brings down jogging...morneau makes a beautiful diving catch and tags first himself for the second out...liner to center that ellsbury...backs up and lets bounce in front of him, then takes it on one hop...?????????...I walk the next guy on 4 pitches that were rediculously out of the zone, despite aiming for down the middle every time...my control obviously a bit shaken...high popup to shallow left that Adbul takes in to end the 4th

ellsbury decides he wants to catch this one, one away...popup to burke that he takes for the second out...liner into the gap in left center for a two out double...struck the last man out on 9 pitches with a nice curve that he whiffed on

I get pulled after pitching 73 pitches...and we tie the game up in the top of the 8th, only to lose in the bottom of the 9th, 6-5

Line - 5 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, no decision

[Sun Tzu]

5/13 - We're swept by the Twins as our Bullpen can't hold the lead, wel ose 4-2

5/15 - We travel to Tampa to face the last plays Devil Rays in a 3 game series. They take game one 3-7

5/16 - Tampa blows Buchholz away with 10 runs and we can only score twice

5/17 - We avoid the sweep and David Price improves to 4-3 with a 9-6 win

[Sun Tzu]

I had done a write up for my last game, but I accidentally didn't post it. It basically went like this.

Roughly half of the starters were given the day off...and there were a half dozen botched plays by the defense again, on top of them getting no hit for the first 5 innings.

My line - 4.1 IP, FIFTEEN HITS, 5 ER (2 given up by the pen), 0 BB, 2 SO, I get my first loss of the year.

We lost 8-2

[Sun Tzu]

5/19 - we win the second game of a three game series against the Mets, 7-3

5/20 - we take the series against the Mets! Winning the third game on a stellar pitching performance by Jon Lester, 8-0

5/21 - We come back home to Boston, thank goodness, and the Orioles are in town for a 3 game divisional series to determine the 3rd place spot in the East. We lose the first game 3-6

5/22 - We win game 2 in the late innings 4-3, as David Price pitches a great game but gets a ND

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting the third and final game of a 3 game series against the Orioles, here in Boston. First pitch is at 1:05, and the opposing pitcher is Nick Masset who is 3-5 with a 5.40 ERA. Hopefully we can do better than the last two games I pitched in.

Defensively Geovany Soto has been given the day off again. It is very likely that he was benched permanently but I am not 100% sure. Burke is starting at SS and Kendrick is the DH.

grounder right to morneau for the first out...a one hopper to morneau again for the second out...popped up to, you guessed it, morneau as he makes all three outs un-assisted in the first

sat down their cleanup man looking on three pitches with some high heat...after a first pitch fastball against their #5 man, I feel something pull...I can't continue to pitch and I'm sent to get some MRI's done immediately.

The Orioles light up my replacement for 4 runs in the top of the 2nd, but we score 9 over the next 8 innings to take home the 9-4 win.

Line - 1.1, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, no decision

[Sun Tzu]

aparently I've just strained my oblique muscles on one side. I'm listed as day to day but I may miss a start.

5/24 - Kansas City comes to town for a 4 games series, and they take game one, shutting us out 0-7

5/25 - The Royals also take game two, as we mount a comeback but fall just short. 10-11

5/26 - We lost again to the royals who are 23-27, losing the final game 2-6

5/27 - We win the pride game against KC, 5-4

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting tonights game, and I don't miss any starts due to my injury. Tonight we travel to Oakland for a 3 game series. The A's have the same record as us at 22-29, and they are starting Rickey Pulliam who is 1-5 with a 6.93 ERA. I'm really hoping for a win here as it has been nearly a month since my last one.

soto has officially been benched for Yabuta, thank goodness. I haven't had a chance to see what his arm is like, but it can't be any worse than Soto's. Defensively we are starting our best lineup with Kendrick at SS, Kinsler at 2B, and Rios as the DH.

liner to left to leadoff with a single...grounder to Kinsler, to Kendrick to Morneau for a beautiful DP...routine grounder and OH it goes right through Kinslers legs...ouch...skied popup above kendrick who pulls it down to end the 1st

liner to right center to leadoff but hart with an excellent play to pluck it just before it hits the ground...slooow grounder up the middle but we can't get to it and it's a single...fly to shallow left which Abdul takes in for the second out...popup off to the left in foul territory and the catcher brings it down

Rajai davis with a nice bunt single to leadoff for the A's...little chopper in front of the mound, the guy is out at first but the runner advances...Rajai Davis tries to steal second but he's just barely out!..hard single up the middle past kinsler...routine fly to middle/deep right field and Hart pulls it down

3-2 heater strikes out their leadoff man...grounder to Kendrick's left and he runs it down, but his throw is very weak and it's an infield single...linedrive to left that Abdul drops!...very dissapointing error with 1 out, now there are men on 2nd and 3rd...I walk the #7 hitter to force a potential DP from almost anywhere...hard liner to the left side and it's just over longorias head, but he doesnt' try for it for some reason, 2 runs score...Rajai davis goes down swinging for the second out...a pitch gets away from the catch somehow, the runner comes home and he gets the ball to me before he scores, I tag the runner out by several feet, but for some reason he's called SAFE?!?!?!?!...struck the guy out looking with a curve, un fucking believable again...we're down 0-3

grounder right to morneau to leadoff the first...single down the line...very hard grounder to longoria who hits kinsler, who then turns the DP

They pull me after the 5th

We manage to score once, and lose 1-3. I lose my second straight

Line - 5 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, My record drops to 4-2

I have received a total of 1 run in support in my last 4 starts.

[Sun Tzu]

5/29 - We beat Oakland in game 2, 10-0

5/30 - Oakland takes ther series as we lose 2-7

May Wrapup

We were 11-17 in the month of May, and out overall record dropped to 23-31. I was 2-2 this month, receiving a grand total of 1 run of support in my last 4 starts. Our offense has been anemic as of late.

We are 25th in the league in runs scored, 17th in hits, 25th in HR, 26th in OBP, and 18th in total bases

We are 25th in ERA at 5.20, and 28th in hits allowed

AL East
Yankees 35-19
Blue Jays 2 GB
Orioles 10 GB
Red Sox 12 GB
Devil Rays 19 GB

I am on a cold streak :(

[Sun Tzu]

6/1 - today we start a 3 game series at the Angels who are 17-37 and one of the worst teams in the league. We win game one 8-4

6/2 - They take game two, 1-3

[Sun Tzu]

I'm starting tonights game, and I'm very hungry for a win. This is the third and final game of a 3 game series against the Angels. We are playing in Anaheim and Jered Weaver is on the bump. Weaver is 3-3 with a 4.62 ERA, just .06 points below mine.

Defensively Esparza is starting in place of Abdul in LF :(...Burke is also starting at SS.

Hard liner into the gap for a leadoff double...I get 3 straight pitches on the corner called balls, Grabor hits a liner to right and Hart dives at a ball that is nowhere near him. the ball rolls to the wall and it's an RBI double...my confidence is already completely shot...Grabow tries to take third but he gets gunned down for the first out...Hairston then swings and misses at a nasty slider as my head starts clearing...I sit their cleanup man down on 3 pitches and my confidence returns just ever so slightly

RS - Ellsbury hits a RBI Triple! He then unfortunately gets gunned down trying to take home on the next play, Yabuta our new catcher comes up next and pokes a solo shot out of the park! We're up 2-1!

high easy pop to shallow center, ellsbury comes down with it...Fred Lewis comes up and then goes down swinging on a backdoor slider...a very softly hit grounder to the left that I charge and then hit morneau to barely get the runner

their leadoff man looks at a changeup for strike three that pains the inside corner...a liner to right but morneau leaps and plucks it out of midair!...struck the last guy out with an absolutely wicked inside curve to end the inning

liner right at kinsley for out #1...I'm pitching very soundly now...a little bloop right at kinsler which takes forever to get to him, and it bounces off his glove, hairston reaches on an error...sloooow grounder to longoria who charges it hard, picks it up barehanded and fires to kinsley to second, who jumps over the diving man trying to take him out of the DP, but Kinsley hit Morneau who stretches for the DP...out of the inning

RS - Yabuta gets another RBI, then Cory Hart brings two men home with a bases loaded single. We go up 5-1

easy grounder that burke one hops to morneau for the out...fred lewis hits the first pitch on the ground right to morneau for the second out...loooong drive to deep center, but the wall goes way back where it was hit and ellsbury settles under it right at the wall for the third out

another long drive this time to right center but Ellsbury brings it down on the warning track...michael bourn grounds it to burke who charges and releases quickly for the second out...one hopper to burke again who one hops it to morneau for the third out

popup in foul ground which I jog over and bring down for the first out...deep fly to left center but Ellsbury gets there quickly and there's two down...Ugeuto nails a second pitch fastball and sends it over the left field wall...that's only my 3rd hit allowed up until now...I'm left in and the next batter hits a line drive down the line for a double...I'm still in the game surprisingly...Fred Lewis who I have absolutely owned throughout my career comes up and waves at a high fastball for the third out...we're still up 5-2

They give me the rock into the 8th inning for the first time this year!..I'm only at 77 pitches...easy pop right to morneau to takes it down for one...the next guy hits a ball down the left field line that, wait a minute, what? It's a homerun that bounces off the top of the wall? It went all of 338 feet.


They pull me for Jolber Vidro who has a 6.00 ERA in 16 innings...ouch...coach pats me on teh back and tells me I did a hell of a job. Hopefully they can hold them. Video gives up a hit but no runs. Guidry comes in and gives up a solo shot to cut the lead to one, but then closes the door for the win! 5-4 is the final score

Line - 7.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO, 1 QS, My record improves to 5-2

[Sun Tzu]

6/6 - We lose game 2 against the A's 3-5

6/7 - We take our second series in a row! Clay Buchholz pitches a fine game and we win 5-1

6/8 - We head back to Boston for a 3 game interleague series against the Marlins. We get shut down in the first game 0-7

[Sun Tzu]

I'm start tonights game against the Marlins. This is the second in a three game interleague series. The Marlins are 35-27, and on the bump for them is Yusmerio Petit who is 6-2 with a 5.68 ERA. The Marlins are in 1st place in the NL East. There are 32,157 fans here this evening.

Abdul has been given the night off in LF and Rios is starting in his place. Burke is at SS.

Rung up Rosas leading off and looking on 3 pitches with the heat...hard grounder back up the middle for a one out single...Gil Quantanilla has been a hell of a hitter throughout my career, and it looks like he's still tearing things up with a .348 AVG and 20 bombs...the catcher can't handle a curve and the runner advances...grounded to burke who holds the runner and hits morneau...liner up the middle and instead of charging and trying to get the man at home, ellsbury just stops and waits for it so the runner scores standing up...the ump is just killing me right now with 5 or 6 strikes that he's called balls in the last two at bats...longoria hauls in a hard grounder and guns out the last man...we're down 0-1

if the ump keeps this up it's going to be a long game...popped to longoria in foul ground for one...another pop to longoria for two...burke takes a slow grounder from deep in the hole and just gets the runner for the third out

routine groundout to kinsler for one...morneau snags a grounder for two...hard liner up the middle for a two out single...that brings up quintanella who thankfully lines to LF

routine grounder to burke who sails a ball nearly into the stands on an error...fly out to ellsbury for one...another fly to ellsbury for the out...got the last man looking at a looping curve to end the inning

RS - Longoria with a solo blast to tie it up! 1-1 heading into the 5th

hard grounder right back up the middle for a leadoff single...long fly to left but Rios brings it in just in front of the monster...liner to right that Hart takes on a hop...grounder up the middle and it's off of burkes glove, I would say unbelievable but...that brings up quintanella with the bases loaded and 1 out...hard grounder to burke who, of course, can't come up with it and it goes into center, two runs score...grounder to kinsler who unfortunately flips it to burke, who fires a high throw to morneau that he reaches up and pulls down for the DP...we're down 1-3

burke takes a grounder in for out number one...fly out to hart for the second out...hard grounder back up the middle for a two out single...morneau takes a grounder to first for the final out in the 6th

As expected the Coach pulled me after 6, and in the bottom of the 7th we actually tied the game up, but Vidro gave up a solo jack in the 8th and we couldn't respond. We lose 3-4.

Line - 6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1 QS, no decision

[Sun Tzu]

Though I'm not known to be a strikeout pitcher, I read an article in the newspaper saying that I recorded my 500th career strikeout last game. Exciting stuff!

6/10 - We take the final game from the Marlins as Josh Beckett only allows 1 run over 8, and improves his record to 4-5. We win 7-1

6/12 - More interleague play as Philadelphia comes to town for a 3 game series. We take game one 7-0 as Lester pitches a beauty.

6/13 - We win our third straight! Buchholz pitches very well and we win 2-1 over the Phillies

6/14 - We can't quite complete the sweep as the Phillies light up David Price. We lose 1-10 and Price's record drops to 4-6

[Sun Tzu]

I'm starting tonights game as we travel to Atlanta to face off against the Braves in a 3 game interleague series. The Braves have won one game more than us this year. I will get my second at bat of the year in this game, and I'm excited for the opportunity to take some cuts at the plate. Starting for the Braves is Boyce Kieschnick who is 4-5 with a 4.95 ERA.

Defensively Ellsbury is playing LF tonight, while Abdul is taking the day off. Rios is starting in CF, and Kendrick is playing SS thank goodness. This looks like a pretty good defensive lineup, so I'm excited.

For the second straight game I have allowed a leadoff double to start the game, this time to their 2B Mesa...a groundout to kinsler moves the runner to third...another groundout to kinsler scores the run...and a third straight groundout to kinsler ends the inning...we're down 0-1 after 3 straight sacrafices

RS - Corey Hart blasts a 2 run bomb in the top of the 2nd...we're up 2-1!

yet another groundout to kinsler for the first out...I let a slider slip and it gets belted to left, but Ellsbury pulls it down just in front of the warning track...a foul pop gets pulled down by none other than kinsler for the third out

RS - I'm leading off in the top of the third...I guess the pitch will be low and on the first pitch I'm correct, but I ground it right to their second baseman...it's too bad I didn't get on because Evan Longoria hit our second 2 run bomb of the game. We go up 4-1!

longoria gets an easy grounder and records the first out...popup to center as Rios comes in to take it for the second out...Mesa comes up to bat again and this time pops up to Hart in right

RS - I'm coming up to bat in the top of the 4th with a man on 1st and two out...I get the sign to swing away...I ground to third to end the inning

soft grounder to third and...nobody charges it! infield single...and of course the very next pitch goes 380 feet into the stands in right field as their 3B Dozier clobbers a low inside fastball...longoria can't handle a ball to third and it gets by him, which then turns into a double...high fly to deep right but Hart brings it down in front of the warning track...man on third with only one out...yunel escobar hits an RBI double down the right field line...liner right at kinsley who takes it in for the second out...the pitcher flies out to Hart as I blow the lead...we're tied up 4-4

RS - Evan Longoria hits ANOTHER 2 run jack, putting us back up 6-4! I love that guy!

Struck out the leadoff man looking at a backdoor slider...drive to left that longoria can't quite reach up and grab...hard liner to left that Ellsbury makes an AMAZING play charging it and nabbing it just before it hits the ground...dozier back up to bat now, again with a man on...liner to right for a single that I'm more than happy with...runner son the corners with two down...kinsler is out of position and he can't get a routine grounder to the right side and a runner scores...hard grounder to the left but it's right to kendrick who hits morneau for the last out...we're still hanging on to a 6-5 lead

Surprisingly they leave me in for the 6th inning, more than likely because I've only thrown 69 pitches...routine grounder to Kendrick for the first out...hard grounder down the line on the left side but longoria makes a great play and fires a bullet to morneau for the second out...another hard grounder down the line but to the right side this time, and morneau is there to take it to first

amazingly, they're leaving me in to hit and leadoff the 7th inning...I hit a long fly ball to the gap in right center, but it's too high and they pull it down for the first out

routine grounder to kinsler for one out...popped to longoria for two...routine fly to center and rios pulls it down to end the 7th...I'm sure that's all for me today, and i'm right. Coach sits me down and says next time I need to keep the big innings to a minimum...

hopefully the pen can hold the 1 run lead for 2 innings...and they do! Eduardo Gomes pitches the 8th and allows only 1 hit, and Guidry gets his 18th save of the year.

Line - 7 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, and my record improves to 6-2!

[Sun Tzu]

Is this holding anyones interest by the way? I know it's unorthodox to start a dynasty thread 8 years into a career. I plan on starting one from scratch after this one is over as a 3B, but if nothing else this would be practice.

Candor is appreciated.

[Karlifornia]

I just started reading. Hadn't been in the dynasty forum for a while. Keep it goin'.

[mrkilla22]

I've been following along when I get a chance. You're doin a great job. :)

[Sun Tzu]

Good to know you're enjoying it. I'll continue tonight then :)

Thanks!

PS - Karl...pm sent

[mrkilla22]

I just got MLB 09 The Show for my PS3 a few weeks ago and I'm having a good time with it. I like reading dynasties of others.

[Sun Tzu]

I just got MLB 09 The Show for my PS3 a few weeks ago and I'm having a good time with it. I like reading dynasties of others.

Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I picked this thing up 3-4 weeks ago and I've been playing it nonstop. I really enjoy reading EF and Dex's dynasties, and they were my motivation for posting this one. I just wish I had started from the very beginning.

[Sun Tzu]

6/16 - In game two of the series against Atlanta, Josh Beckett gets his record back to .500 and we win 6-3

6/17 - We take our second straight series as we win game three 5-2

6/19 - We travel to DC to face off against the Nats in a 3 game series. They take game one 2-3

6/20 - They take the second game as well, 1-4. David Price sees his record drop to 5-7

[Sun Tzu]

I'm starting tonights game in Washington DC. This is the third and final game of the series against the Nats. This is also our second to last interleague series of the season. The opposing starting pitcher is Lloyd Moffett who is 5-4 with an ERA of 6.78

struck out their leadoff man waving at a nice curve off the plate...liner to left that Rios picks off easily...two out double off the right field wall...Kata hits a rocket off the left field wall JUST fair and the runner scores, but Rios guns Kata down trying to stretch it into a double

RS - I'm coming up to bat with men on 1st and 2nd with two away in the top of the second inning, and my lack of experience at the plate shows as I strike out swinging at two straight pitches out of the zone

grounder to morneau who surprisingly bobbles the ball for an error...grounder to Kendrick, who flips to kinsler, and they turn the 6-4-3...two out single to right past morneaus diving glove...popped in foul terriroty on the left and longoria stretches out to get it

their pitcher, Moffet, CRUSHES a ball to right field that Hart pulls down on the run at the track for the first out...whew...easy pop to right center that Hart takes in for the second out...groundout to kinsler to end the inning

RS - Justin Morneau with an RBI double in the top of the 4th to tie it up! 1-1

easy grounder right to morneau for the first out...VERY hard liner to the right side but morneau makes a great play leaping into the air and snagging it, two away...Kurt Suzuki with a liner up the middle for a single...groundout to longoria for the third out

RS - I'm leading off in the top of the 5th...I hit a nice fly ball to left but it's too high and their LF snags it

easy pop to shallow right that kinsler runs out and takes down...liner to kinslers left and he runs over and snags it for the second out...the pitcher flies to center to end the 5th

leadoff double into the gap and off the wall to left center...grounder to the right gets past morneau and lets the run score...DAMN...two run blast to right field just skims over the wall...groundout to longoria for one...I walk Kurt Suzuki on 11 pitches, and they pull me after the 3 run inning. Ryan Perry with a 6.75 ERA replaces me and I have a bad feeling abotu this one

well Perry doesn't let any runs score, but don't don't get another hit the rest of the way. We lose 1-4

Line - 5.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, My record drops to 6-3

[Sun Tzu]

6/22 - We head back home for the last interleague series of the year. This time against the Mets. They take the first game 5-6 as our bullpen falters in the late innings.

6/23 - We take the second game 4-3

6/24 - We lose the third and final game against the Mets, and the last interleague game of the season. 5-6

6/25 - The other team from New York comes to Boston for a 3 game series, this time it's the red hot division leading Yankees. David Price pitches a gem of a game, going the full nine innings for a 4 hit shutout! We win 3-0

I have been on a cold streak list just about the entire month of June :(

[Sun Tzu]

I'm starting tonights game against the Yankees. This is the secodn game of a 3 game series against our Division leading rivals. The game is being played at night in Boston. The opposing pitcher is their Ace, Phil Hughes, who is 6-1 with a stellar 2.34 ERA. 36,298 people are here to see this game! That means there are barely 1,100 empty seats int he house.

Justin Morneau has been given the day off, unforunately. Howie Kendrick will play 1B in his place. Jacoby Ellsbury has also been given the day off, which removed the only two players on our team batting above .290. Phil Lentz will be playing in his stead in CF. Abdul Morneau has been moved to DH in place of Arnie Esparza who takes the field in Left...this is definitely not a good defensive, or offensive lineup.

9 pitch leadoff at bat results in a ball that hits on the line in right for a single...backfoot slider takes down the next man looking...single to right on the first pitch by Texiera and the runner takes third...I walk the next batter to load the bases with one away...he hits a hard grounder to longoria! he tosses it to kinsler, who turns two...out of the inning!

liner to left for another leadoff single...I'm already to the #8 man and I have only seen one player hitting under .300...liner right at kinsler for the first out...double off the monster on a hanging curve :(...men at 2nd and 3rd with one out...pop to very shallow right and rios takes it, the man tags and he fires a rocket to the catcher, but the throw is 10 feet off and the runner scores easily...grounder up the middle past kinslers diving glove that scores another run...my control is absolutely everywhere tonight, I dont' think I've ever seen it this bad...fastball right down the chute gets plowed over the monster for a 2 run blast...I plunk Texiera...deep fly to center but it's not deep enough and it's the third out...this is going to get uglier before it gets any prettier...down 0-4

routine grounder to Kendrick filling in at first and he bobbles it! error...another blast to left but it stops at the track for the first out...my control is absolutely awful tonight as I give up another single to center...Kendrick with a surprising leaping grab on a liner to the right side for the second out...another groundball to center and Lentz is waiting for it almost at the warning track, a run scores...easy grounder to burke at SS and he bobbles the ball for another error, which allows another runner to score, and the coach pulls me after.

We lose 3-6 and I can't wait for tomorrow to come.

Line - 2.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, My record drops to 6-4

[Sun Tzu]

6/27 - We take the series from the Yanks! we win the thidr game 7-6 as our offense comes alive

6/28 - We travel to Arlington for a 3 game series against the Rangers...we lose game one 4-5 as our bullpen falters

6/29 - We lose the second game as well, 4-5

6/30 - We win the pride game 7-6, and David Price gets some run support for a change. He improves to 6-7

[Sun Tzu]

Around the League

Well...Boston had a very streaky month of June. We won 3 games in a row several times, but also lost 5 games in a row. We finished with a 14-14 record in June, and we are now 37-44.

AL East
Yankees - 53-27
Blue Jays - 6.5 GB
Orioles - 14.5 GB
Red Sox - 16.5 GB
Devil Rays - 25.5 GB

The following teams are leading their division
Tigers/White Sox are tied for the lead in the Central
Rangers hold a 1.5 game lead over the Mariners
Mets hold a 3.5 game lead over the Marlins
Brewers hold a 7.5 game lead over the Reds
Giants have the leagues best record at 54-27 and hold a 10.5 game lead over the Rockies

Matt Holliday of the Rangers was leading the league in batting with a .382 average, however Tike Brewer of the Mariners has joined him with an identical AVG.

Tike Brewer is also leading the AL in Homers (25) and RBI (86), making him an early potential Triple Crown threat.Ryan Braun of the Brewha's is leading the Majors with 26 Homers.

Latroy Prince of the Blue Jays is leading the AL with 11 wins, and Jordon Bettances of the Brewha's is tied with him in the NL with of his own.

Terrmel Burke of the Yankees has 31 saves to lead the Majors.

Phil Hughes of the Yankees has the lowest ERA in the league at 2.48, and the top 4 in the Majors are all in the AL.

Ivan Manuel of the Pirates is leading the Majors in strikeouts with 126, and Tim Lincecum of the Tigers is second with 110.

Edison Volquez of the cubbies is leading the Majors with a 1.13 WHIP

The replacement catcher we brought up from AAA to replace Soto (who is aparently injured) is batting .324! Longoria is the team batting leader, hitting .337, as well as homers with 19, and RBI's with 50.

David Price, Clay Buchholz, and I are all tied for the team lead in Wins with 6, however I am the only pitcher with a winning record.

My line after June

6-4, 86 IP, 5.13 ERA, 8 HR, 11 BB, 45 K, 1.52 WHIP, .307 v RH, .368 v LH

Definitely not pretty, as pretty much the entire month of June was awful for me. I'd do anything to end this cold streak.

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting tonights game in Arlington. This is the last game of a four game series against the Rangers. They are 45-36 and in first place in the AL West. The opposing starting pitcher is Mike Pelfrey who is 8-6 with an ERA of 4.55

defensively, Abdul is being put into the DH spot for the night, and Esparza is taking his spot in left. Howie Kendrick has been given the night off entirely. Burke is at SS.

struck out Arias leading off as he swung through a changeup...easy two hopper to morneau for the second out...struck Rush out on a mean outside sinker to end the first

AL batting leader Mat Holliday leads off with a single up the middle, no surprise there...Saltalamachia flies out to center for th e first out...holliday takes off for second and the throw is way off base, and nearly into center field...grounder nearly into the hole on the left side but longoria snags it on the run and throws melky cabrera out for #2, holliday moves over to third...Teagarden with a man on third and two outs hits a routine grounder to burke to end the inning BUT HE BOBBLES IT, thankfully he recovers in time and he guns down Teagarden.

leadoff grounder to morneau for the first out...grounder up the middle the burke makes a nice play on but takes aaaaabsolutely forever getting out of his glove, on top of a completely unnecessary spin move, and it's an infield single...routine fly to right that hart only has to take 5 steps for, but ellsbury calls him off and SPRINTS over from center, only to miss the ball! runners advance to 2nd and 3rd with one out, and of course it doesn't count as an error...struck the next man out on a nice outside changeup to make it 2 outs...I walk the next man on 10 pitches to load the bases...Matt Holliday struts up to the plate...he does what he does 90% of the time and hits an 0-2 grounder up the middle for a single, two runs score...saltalamachia grounds to burke (heart stops) for the last out...we're down 0-2 after three innings

cabrera leads off whiffing at a slider...Teagardens grounds to Kinsler for the second out...flyout to Hart in right to end the inning

leadoff single to right by their speed demon leadoff man...he takes off for second on the first pitch but I decided to do a pitchout and he gets gunned down!...grounder to burke for the second out...Fly to somewhat deep left but Esparza brings it down 10 feet in front of the warning track to end the 5th inning

RS - Jacoby Ellsbury with an RBI single to get us on the board, and then Yabuta our new young catcher pokes one into the stands for a 2 run shot! We're leading 3-2!

routine grounder to kinsler to get the leadoff man...Holliday nails a single to right just past kinslers diving glove...saltalamachia goes down waving at an outside changeup, which was waaay out of the zone...liner to the right side on the first pitch but kinsler leaps and brings it down! stranding saltalamachia and ending the 6th inning...

I started gassing a bit last inning as I hit 96 pitches, so I'm expecting to be pulled now, and I am. Hopefully the pen can hold this thing.

Some kid named Perry with an 0-2 record and an ERA around 6 comes in after me, and promptly walks a batter, which he then follows up by allowing 3 hits and 2 runs. We lose 3-4 :(

Line - 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, no decision

That was my strongest showing in quite a while, and hopefully I'm on the road to getting off of this cold streak.

[Sun Tzu]

7/2 - We continue our road trip, this time traveling to Oakland to face off against the A's in a 3 game series. We take game one 6-5 as Josh Beckett gets his 6th win.

7/3 - We take the second game of the series too, crushing them 13-6.

7/4 - We sweep the A's! Clay Buchholz has a strong game and we take it home 5-3.

7/6 - We finally head back home to Boston to play against the Orioles in teh last series before the all-star break. David Price pitches a very good game but gets a no decision. We score late and win our 4th in a row 2-1!

[Sun Tzu]

I'm starting tonights game in Boston against the Orioles. This is the second of a 2 game series against the O's. They are 42-47, just one game better than us. The starting pitcher on the mound for them is Nick Masset who is 5-7 with an ERA of 6.00

Kendrick has been given the day off, and Rios is taking Adbuls spot in Left Field. Abdul is still in the lineup but as a DH.

Leadoff single right up the middle to start the game...I try a pickoff move and the ball sails into the stands, already a man at third with nobody out...oy vay...deep fly to center that ellsbury takes in, defintely deep enough to score the first run...rung up the next batter on a generous fastball called a strike low...high/inside fastball is somehow turned on for a grounder down the third base line for a two out single...gilbert root blasts my next pitch off the monster for a double scoring the runner from first...oy vay here we go AGAIN...struck the last man out on a nasty curve...at least I've got some movement going. down 0-2

every pitch I throw low winds up down the middle, and every pitch I try to throw high ends up down the middle...this is not going well...single to lead off the 2nd inning...double play grounder up the middle turns into a single somehow which moves the runner to third as ellsbury is playing deep center...runners at the corners with nobody out...the runner takes off for second and OF FUCKING COURSE the ball goes flying into center field which scores the run...grounder down the third base liner that hops over the bag fair, scoring the 4th run of the game...the runner takes off for second and ONCE AGAIN the throw is off target, thankfully he does not advance to third...how in the hell did we win any games when I wasn't pitching?...flyout to left that rios brings down, who then throws a 5 hopper to third trying to catch the man tagging, the 3rd baseman has to run towards the ball as it starts dying before it reaches him and the runner is safe...fly to center for the third out...down 0-4

popped up to morneau for the first out of the 3rd inning...Gilbert Root pumps a changeup that was right down the middle 405 ft over the fence for a solo shot...grounder past burke at short (surprise surprise) for a single...longoria misjudges a foul popup and can't bring it down...struck the next man out waving at some heat...a breaking ball gets away from me by a good 5 feet and plunks the next batter on a 0-2 count...hard grounder down the line on the right side but morneau, the only competent fielder on my team the last month and a half snags it and takes it himself

I punch out the leadoff man with a VERY favorable backdoor slider on a 3-2 count...liner to right field which Hart bobbles on one hop, but the runner does not advance...runner steals second...grounder right at morneau for the second out, the runner advances to third...liner to right that hart grabs on the run to end the inning

RS - Ellsbury puts a fat pitch into the stands for a 2 run homer, Yabuta knocks in 2 on a 2 RBI double, and then Cory hart brings home another run with an RBI single!!! We're all tied up 5-5...amazing

I walk the leadoff man in 5 pitches, the pitches were TERRIBLY out of control :(...liner to hart for the first out...the runner takes off for second but I did a pitchout and OH MY GOD the ball goes into center field again, this is absolutely impossible. Ellsbury picks it up and then guns the runner down at third!...two away...line drive to right for a single...god I am just getting crushed with liners...not surprisingly the runner takes off for second (hell at this rate I would too) but he gets thrown out to end the inning!

They pull me after that inning as I'm up to 96 pitches already, and I'm surprised I lasted that long. Jolbert Video, my replacement, gives up 4 runs in his first inning of work. We score 3 and almost tie it up, but fall just short, losing 8-9.

Line - 5 IP, 10 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO, no decision by some miracle. How awful is this

[Sun Tzu]

7/8 - We take the Series against the Orioles and continue the superb play lately. Winning game three 4-3 behind another strong pitching performance by Josh Beckett.

7/10 - The All-Star game is today! Here is the AL All-Star Roster.

Starting Pitchers
LaTroy Prince
Phil Hughes
Ambiorix Baez
Tim Lincecum
Asdrubal Zamora

Relief Pitchers
Logan Kensing
Terrmel Burke
Joel Hanraham
Jonathan Papelbon
Erwin Guidry
Chad Cordero
Napoleon Gunn

Position Players
Cesar Vizcaino
Mike Napoli
Coy Place
Lionel rush
Adrian Gonzalez
Yusmeiro Saldana
Warner Ruzicka
Ian Kinsler
Tike Brewer
David Wright
Malik Melhuse
Hanley Ramirez
Joakim Segovia
Matt Holliday
Saul Vermilyea
Val Bauer
JT McMillon
Luigi Zambrano
Livan Rosas
Linwood Shuey

The NL won the game however, blowing the AL out 8-1.

7/13 - We continue our winning ways this time traveling to Cleveland for a 3 game series. We take game one 5-4

7/14 - We keep rolling along, winning game two 9-5 and taking the series

7/15 - David Price can't keep the ball in the park as we get lit up for the final game against the Indians, 5-8.

[Sun Tzu]

I'm starting tonights game. This is the first game of 3 against the last place Devil Rays. We are playing at Tropicana field. The Devil Rays are 32-62, and we are just 3 games away from being back to .500, 44-47. On the hill for the Rays is Terrance Clevlen who is 2-10 with a 8.20 ERA. I'm feeling VERY good about this start.

Defensively we have Rios in left for Morneau who is the DH. Kinsler has been given the day off as Ian Kendrick is starting in his place.

RS - Howie Kendrick makes a case to be starting more often with a solo shot in the top of the first, we're already up 1-0!

Carl Crawford looks at a beautifully placed 3rd strike fastball to start out the bottom of the first....fastball gets away from me but it stays in the park, barely, Rios brings it down at the track in left field...breathe...pop to morneau for a 1-2-3 first

their cleanup hitter whifs at some 95 mph high heat for the first out...easy groundout right to longoria...Jody Gerut strikes out looking on three pitches with a dirty backdoor slider...

curveball popped to longoria for the first out...hard fly ball to the gap in right center but ellsbury sprints there and brings it down...easy grounder right to Kendrick and he throws to morneau to end the 3rd inning

RS - Cory Hart has an RBI double to put us up 2-0

Carl Crawford strikes out again, but at some high heat...flied out to Rios in left for the second out...heater blown by the last man to end the inning...

RS - Burke leads off with a single, Howie Kendrick brings him home with a double, and Cory Hart then brings Kendrick home with an RBI single...we're up 4-0!

I walk the leadoff man on 6 pitches, after starting otu 0-2 :(...popup in foul territory that morneau takes in for the first out...Jody Gerut gets their first hit of the game, and the runner advances to third, Ellsbury takes FOREVER to get the ball out his glove, and he throws a rainbow to third, allowing Gerut to move to second...ugh...struck colon out on a very nice pitch speed mix for the second out...routine grounder to morneau to end the 5th

Marquez goes down swinging at an inside curve for the first out...Carl Crawford smacks a liner to the left side but Burke surprisingly makes a leaping grab for the second out...line drive single to left field for their second hit of the game...fastball popped to medium center which ellsbury takes down easily to end the 6th inning

RS - Cory Hart has his second double of the game, this time bringing home 2 men and putting us up 6-0!

very hard grounder on a 3-1 count right to morneau for the first out...popup in the middle of the infield which I take for the second out...two out double to right...grounder to kendrick for the third out of the 7th

hard grounder to burke who guns out kouzmanof for the first out...struck out the second man with some high heat out of the zone...burke can't quite get a slow grounder up the middle and Crawford finally gets on base with a two out single...Bauer waves at two fastballs in a row that were nowhere near the zone for the last out of the 8th

leadoff single to start the 9th as longoria can't quite get his glove on a grounder to his right...Hermedia swings ugly at a high fastball for the first out...two away from a shutout!...DP groundball to the left side but burke cant' get it and it's a single into left instead...Jody Gerut misses a fastball low and inside for my 11th strikeout of the game! That's a new career high!...two away...grounder up the middle, burke dives, and it bounces off his glove!...he gets up but the runners all reach safely, bases loaded with Kouzmanoff up and two away...1-2 count...single to left that scores two :(

I swear to god I'm going to stab burke in the neck

They pull me. We win 6-2

Line - 8.2 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 11 SO, my record improves to 7-4

sigh

[Sun Tzu]

7/17 - We lose the second game 7-8 as a late comeback attempt falls just short.

7/18 - We take yet another series as we win the third and final game on a late rally, 6-3

7/20 - We travel to New York to play the slumping Yankees in a 3 game series. Game one belongs to us as we spank Kevin Correia 15-3

7/21 - We take our 5th series in a row as things are starting to look up, winning game two 4-2

-----------------

7/22 - I started this game against Ubaldo Jiminez. I was given 3 runs to work with right off the bat, but my control started falling apart and I just couldn't hack it against the Bronx Bombers today. I was pulled in the 6th inning and I should have been pulled earlier.

Line - 5 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO, an my record dropped to 7-5

We lost 5-7

-----------------

7/23 - We head back to Boston after a 2 week road trip for a 34 game series against my former team the Twins. They take the first game in a pitchers duel, 3-2.

7/24 - They take the second game too, as our closer blows a save by giving up 3 runs in the top of the ninth. We get a couple back in the bottom half but it's not enough. 7-10 is the final

7/25 - We lose the third game as well, The Twins came to play. 4-6

7/26 - We are swept in a very depressing 4 game series. They light up David Price and take game 4 by a score of 4-13

-----------------

7/27 - I started todays game. The Yankees came to Boston for a 3 game series seeking revenge for the last time we met, and I was seeking redemption from my last terrible outting against them. I would go 5.2 innings before allowing a single run this time! I missed on a fastball to Ricky Weeks and he sent it sailing over the monster to tie the game up in the top of the 6th, but in the bottom of the inning we went back up by a run. I was pulled in the 7th inning after walking a man, and the pen held the 1 run lead all the way through!

Line - 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, and my record improved to 8-5. This was a huge confidence booster for me.

We win the series openner, taking this game 3-2.

-----------------

7/28 - Beckett pitched a strong game and we took game two by a score of 7-3, we took another series from the Yanks!

7/29 - Jon Lester did not pitch well in this game, adn we lost 2-10 as the Yankees flew out later that night

7/30 - We travelled to Kansas City for a 4 game series against the last place Royals...in game one our bats were hot as we won 13-7.

7/31 - In game two, their bats were hot, beatting us 5-9

-----------------

8/1 - I started this game against Edwin Jackson, who was 5-13. This was another strong showing for me as my work with the pitching coach since the all-star break has started to really show. We didn't do much offensively, but thankfully we didn't need to. I once again pitched 5 scoreless innings and only gave up a solo shot in the bottom of the 6th. I finished out the inning and the bullpen took care of the rest.

Line - 6 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, and my record improved to 9-5!

We took the game 2-1...very good game.

-----------------

8/2 - We win game four 4-2 and take the series!

8/3 - We travel to Baltimore for a 3 game series, and the O's are shut down by Jon Lester. We win game one 3-0

8/4 - On the fourth of July, near our nations capital, the hometown Orioles were unstoppable as we lost 6/10.

8/5 - The Orioles showed once again why they are a better team than us this year, knocking Price out early and winning 2-6.

-----------------

8/6 - We headed back home for a 3 game series against the LA Angels. I pitched the first game and it did *not* start out well for me. I allowed the bases to load up with no outs in the first, then a run came home, followed by a 3 run homer. We were down 4-0 before we even came to bat. I really settled down after that, but it just wasn't enough. We only scored 3 runs the entire game, and that 4 run fourth was the deciding factor in the game.

Line - 4.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, my record drops to 9-6

We lost this game 3-4

-----------------

8/7 - We take game two against the Angels as Josh Beckett gets the W. 6-3

8/8 - The Angels take the series as our closer once again can't hold a lead in the 9th. We lose 9-10

8/10 - The Rangers come into town for a very tough 4 game series. They are in the thick of a playoff race, while we are doing everything we can to just play .500 ball. We take game one 4-3

8/11 - We take game two by the same score! David Price comes through in the clutch and gets the W.

-----------------

8/12 - I started this game against the Rangers, and a perfect word to use would be "frustrating". I pitch a very strong game, however on two straight plays in the 3rd, we commit errors that allow runs to score. First Longoria sails a 2 out grounder over Morneaus head, then on the very next play Burke does the same thing, except this time it goes into the stands. We also could not get any offense going whatsoever.

Line - 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, and my record drops to 9-7.

We lose 6-1

-----------------

8/13 - Josh Beckett gets outpitched by Derek Holland, and the Rangers split the series. We lose 2-5

8/14 - The homestand is over and we travel to Canada to face off against the Blue Jays in a 3 game series. Game one features Jon Lester pitching yet another gem (he has really come on late in the season) and we win 5-1

8/15 - Game two we rack up some runs, but our bullpen falters in the late innings, which unfortuantely is becoming a trend. We lose 8-11

8/16 - We take the third game and the series. David Price is impressive and we win 7-1

-----------------

8/17 - We travel to Cleveland for a 3 game series at Jacobs field. I started this game in the hopes of securing my 10th win of the season. I pitched an absolute gem of a game. The Sox gave me a run to work with before I even took the mound, and I didn't even need that. I worked all the way into the 8th inning before getting pulled, but unfortunately, as seems to be the case lately, our closer blows a save. Thankfully we win it in 11.

Line - 7.1 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO, but I get a no decision thanks to the pen.

We win 3-1

[Sun Tzu]

My agent has just informed me that I have just passed the 6 years of MLB service threshold. I will be a free agent after this year!

During this last month the Red Sox placed just about every single above average player on the trade block, and I have been informed by the GM that although they are interested in keeping me with the club, they are now officially in "rebuilding mode" and will be trading away most of their talent for younger and cheaper players. I guess all of that free spending didn't quite pan out when they couldn't reach the WS.

So, that means with roughly a month and a half left in the season, it's time to start scoping out the other teams in the MLB. I would like to be a team that is a perenial playoff contender who isn't in purge mode. More than anything I want to be a major contributor on a team that takes home a World Series Trophy.

[Sun Tzu]

8/18 - We lose the second game of the series to the Indians 6-7. Ryan Perry came out from the pen and blew another game, as his record drops to 0-4.

8/19 - We lose the series as Jon Lester gets lit up. 5-11

8/20 - We continue the road trip this time flying to Chicago for 3 games against the White Sox. They take game one, racking up some runs against our pitiful bullpen, and winning 4-5

8/21 - They take game two as well, 8-10. needless to say they blew up our bullpen this time for seven runs in the last 3 innings...and David Price leaves with a 8-2 lead only to get a no decision. Truly amazing

[Sun Tzu]

I'm starting the last of a 3 game series in Chicago. The White Sox are 69-57 and in first place in the AL Central. On the bump for them is Yovani Gallardo who is 7-10 with a 3.79 ERA. Hopefully we can put some runs up on the board and the bullpen can avoid giving up a half dozen runs in this game.

The White Sox lead the league in stolen bases, so hopefully Geovany Soto is going to be riding the bench. Otherwise we're going to see a lot of balls in center field. We do *not* stack up well at all against this team. All of our weaknesses match up perfectly with their strengths, and I get the feeling this may be a long game.

Unfortunately Soto is in the lineup and behind the plate. Other than that, we have our best defensive lineup in the field today. Kendrick is starting at shortstop while Abdul is back in the field in Left.

Hanley Ramirez leads off, and he's batting .291 with 27 jacks and 85 RBI. Some leadoff man! He goes down though, waving at a low fastball that he can't catch up to...single to right...David Wright comes up and hits it to left where abdul comes down with it about 20 feet in front of the track...Quentin laces a very hard hit line drive down the left field line bounces just inside the line and hits the wall on one hop. Abdul plays it beautifully though and it's only a single that advances the runner to third...two away...single up the middle scores a run as this lineup is absolutey stacked with guys hitting over .300 with 15+ bombs...I strike Couture out with 3 straight fastballs to end the inning. we're down 0-1

liner just to Kendricks right side but he elects to not even try to get it...???...single to left...struck out their #8 batter swinging with a mean slider for the first out...I'm finding myself trying to pick off their base runners several times during every at bat, which is taking forever but holding them...hard double play grounder to Kendrick who gets a bad hop and it hits off of his shoulder into left-center field!...runners on the corners again with one out...Hanley Ramirez comes to the plate...double play grounder to Kendrick who, yes here it comes, sails a ball over morneaus head and nearly into the dugout...that scores a run...here we go again...fly ball to Abdul in left and both runners try to advance, but Abdul guns the man down trying to get from second to third before the other runner can score! That ends the inning...but we're down 0-2

David Wright pumps a curveball that I tried to but low and inside but wound up away and down the pipe over the right field wall for a solo homerun to lead off the 3rd inning....Carlos Quentin follows that with a solo shot of his own as my confidence is completely shattered...I can't trust my teammates and I can't trust my control, so I might as well just get pulled here in the 3rd...longoria takes in a grounder for the first out...liner to left that Adbul takes an absolutely rediculous diving attempt at, which he misses by a good 15 feet, allowing the ball to roll to the wall and resulting in a triple for the batter...no error was given on the play...easy grounder to Kendrick which he one hops to Morneau for the second out, scoring another run...liner to right field which Hart takes in, we're down 0-5. This is like playing with little league kids in the field...

Oliveros goes down looking at some inside heat on the black to start out the 4th...Hanley Ramirez looks at 7 straight pitches as I walk him...grounder to the left side which Longoria, naturally, can't come up with...sigh...high chopper to Kendrick who guns down David Wright for the second out...

I get pulled after that

We are no hit through 6 innings, but then we score 4 runs to bring the game to within 1 in the top of the 7th. Our bullpen then allows 6 more runs over the next two innings as we lose 5-11. I feel like I'm back on the Pirates.

Line - 3.2 IP, 9 H, 5 ER (they don't count any of the runs scored via error as an unearned run????), 1 BB, 4 SO...my record drops to 9-8

[Sun Tzu]

It's becomming disgustingly apparent that the only teams we are capable of beating are the truly terrible teams of the league. Whenever we try to match up against even mediocre teams we either can't mount any kind of offense, or our bullpen gives up 7 runs.

8/23 - We head back home, thank goodness, and play the Tigers who are slumping in a 4 game series. Becktt pitches a gem but we can't get any run support for him, but we eventually win 2-1 as Morneau and Soto each knock in a run in the bottom of the 9th.

8/24 - We win late again, scoring a run in the bottom of the 13th to take the second game.

8/25 - We win our third in a row 7-5, Buchholz improves to 9-10.

8/26 - We sweep the slumping Tigers as we score several runs late to win it 6-3. David Price again pitches a great game but can't seem to get hsi 10th win.

[Sun Tzu]

I'm starting tonights game against the Devil Rays. The Rays are in town for a 3 game series at Fenway. They are 43-89 and have the worst record in the bigs. On the hill for them is Andy Sonnanstine who is 4-13 with a 5.81 ERA.

Longoria has been given the day off at third and Burke is starting in his place (oh no)...Kendrick is at SS. Esparza is starting in place of Abdul in Left, while Rios is hitting in the DH spot. Soto is behind the plate

grounder to burke at third on the first pitch...deep breath...and he throws a high but catchable ball to Morneau for one...their catcher is Val Bauer who is hitting .312 with 22 HR...I need to watch out for this guy... he hits a one hopper to my left which I reach out and grab for the second out...Osuna strikes out swinging at a low slider to end the first

easy fly to Hart in right for the first out...another easy fly this time to Esparza in left for out #2...low inside sinker takes Harden down swinging for the third out...

RS - Rios has an RBI double int he bottom of the 2nd to put us on the board! 1-0 lead

Colon goes down whiffing at a high-inside fastball. That's my 100th strikeout of the year!...slow grounder down the line that burke, oh no, he barehands it and I can't bare to watch, he sails it over Morneaus head and the runner takes second...big surprise...I sit down Marquez with some high well placed heat for the second out...easy groundout to Kinsler to end the inning

RS - Rios brings home another two runners on a 2 RBI single, and Corey Hart then brings him in with a triple! We're up 4-0

groundout to Kinsler for the first out...single up the middle past kinsler and that's their first hit of the game...I strike the next man out swinging with a very ncie slider low and inside...I get their last man looking at an outside changeup on the black after 7 straight foul balls to end the inning

RS - Ian Kinsler gets in on the action with a RBI triple to put us up 5-0 after 4 innings!

grounder to Kinslers right that goes right under his glove and it counts as a single...Colon goes down swinging for the second time tonight, this time at some high inside heat...grounder up the middle that goes under kendrick's glove (that's twice this inning) for a single, and the runner advances to third...liner right to Kendrick who reaches out and takes it in, almost making up for the failed DP...high fly to left that Esparza takes in for the third and final out

Bauer pops it straight up and Soto brings it down for the first out...Osuna with a little flare into right for a one out single...damn, Hermida pulls a hanging curve into right field and over the short porch for a 2 run shot...groundout to burke (whew) for #2...Harden whiffs at a nice curve to end the top of the 6th...we're up 5-2

RS - Kendrick extends the lead to 4 runs with a two out single that scores Ellsbury...we're up 6-2

Hart makes a pitiful dive attempt at a short liner that rolls to the wall. The runner takes second to leadoff :-\...line drive single to left center into the gap scores another run...I imagine that will be it for me...and it is. I'm pulled for Jolbert Video who is 5-5 with a 3.43 ERA. Hopefully he can finish out strong...

Video allows 4 runs...and Gomes allows 4 more in the top of the 9th. We lose 7-10. I would argue that we have the worst Bullpen in the majors right now.

Line - 6 IP, Vidro gives up the inherited run so I have 4 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO, no decision yet again.

[Sun Tzu]

8/28 - we loes the second game of the series as we can't get any offense going. 1-6

8/29 - We take the third game as Jon Lester is able to hold them to 1 run. 2-1

8/31 - The Mariners are in town for a 3 game series and are tied for the best record in the AL at 79-56. Not surprisingly we lose the first game 1-5

[Sun Tzu]

Around the League - August Edition

Division Leaders
Yankees by 3.5
White Sox by 8
Mariners by 12
Mets by 8
Reds by 1 over the Brewcrew
Giants by 10.5

The Dodgers hold a 0.5 game lead over the Brewers for the NL Wild Card.
The Blue Jays hold a 7.5 game lead over the Indians, Orioles, Tigers, and Twins surprisingly for the AL Wild Card.

The Giants are sporting the leagues best record at 85-52

Tike Brewer of the Mariners is the AL batting leader with a .369 AVG
Brent Holloway of the Pirates is the NL batting leader with a .350 AVG

Tike Brewer is also the AL home run leader with 39
Ryan Braun, still with the Brewers, is the NL leader with 40

Tike Brewer is gunning for a triple crown, and leading the AL in RBI's with 140
Brent Holloway and Arnoldo Valdez of the Cards are tied at 111 atop the NL

Latroy Prince of the Blue Jays is leading the AL in wins with 18. he is 18-5 on the year
Jon-Su Na and Eldridge Hermansen are leading the NL in wins with 15. They are 15-5 and 15-6 respectively.

Latroy Prince is also leading the AL in ERA at 2.58
Jong-Su Na is also leading the NL in ERA at 2.83

Tim Lincecum of the Tigers is leading the AL in strikeouts with 169
Ivan Manuel of the Pirates is leading the NL with a very impressive 208

Latroy Prince as the AL's lowest WHIP at 1.13
Jong-Su Na not surprisingly has the NL's lowest at 1.18

My stats after August are...

9-8, 27 GS, 12 QS, 4.93 ERA, 149.2 IP, 22 BB, 105 K, 18 HR, 1.49 WHIP, .291 v RH, .360 v LH

I am #1 in the MLB in BB's, and #13 in the AL in strikeouts.

As a team we are 65-71, and for we are for all intensive purposes eliminated from the Playoffs.

[Sun Tzu]

9/1 - David Price pitches a respectable game and leaves with a 6-4 lead, but as per the usual, the bullpen gives up 4 runs in the top of the 8th and we lose 8-9

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting tonights game at home against the Mariners. On the hill for them is Stan Azzopardi who is 10-10 with a 3.87 ERA. I am openly not looking forward to this game, as my defensive support has been terrible and the bullpen is in one of the worst slumps I've seen in my life.

Defensively Soto is behind the plate, Burke is at Short, Esparza is in left, and Rios is the DH. Abdul has been given the day off

fly to center that Ellsbury takes just in front of the warning track for one...grounder to morneau for two...potential triple crown winner Tike Brewer steps up to the plate and dribles a grounder down teh 1st base line which Soto jumps on and hits morneau, inning over

RS - Longoria and Ian Kinsler both have RBI singles as we go up 2-0 after 1 inning!

pop to right that hart takes in for the first out...Chris Dickerson belts a line drive single to left...popped up to Hart in right for the second out...Dickerson steals second easily...easy grounder to kinsler who charges it and hits morneau for the last out

RS - Justin Morneau comes alive for the first time in weeks, hitting a 2 run shot over the wall and putting us up 4-0!

the first pitch is popped right to morneau for the first out...I'm feeling very good about this game suddenly...first pitch grounder to morneau for the second out...two hopper to longoria on the second pitch for the last out. I only threw 4 pitches that entire inning

I get some terrible calls from the homeplate ump and walk the leadoff guy, after being ahead 0-2...Tike Brewer comes to the plate...easy DP grounder to Kinsler but he has trouble getting it out of his glove, combined with Burkes very weak arm, and they can't get Brewer at first for the second out...Kinsler with a beautiful diving stop, he hits Burke at second for the first out, but Burke rainbows it to morneau and it's another missed DP...the runner steals second easily...Chris Dickerson up with a chance to knock in a run with a single...he slaps a hard grounder to the right side into the hole, but Kinsler makes another great diving stop! He gets to his knees and hits morneau for the third and final out

RS - Longoria has an RBI single, which is followed by a 2 RBI double by Ellsbury! We go up 7-0 after 4!!!

single through the hole on the right side to leadoff...the next man whiffs at some high inside heat for the first out...two strikeouts in a row as the next man swings way too early at a nice low changeup...single to the left side as it just barely squeaks over longoria glove...very easy grounder to kinsler who charges this one and hits morneau to end the inning

grounder to kinslers right and he dives over top of the ball...Brewer up to the plate...the ump has called several very blatant strikes as balls this inning...brewer walks on 4 pitches, and I start spouting off curse words directed at the home plate ump...and THEY PULL ME??!?!?!?! I pitch 5 shutout innings and they pull me after walking a batter

Vidro comes in to relieve me and I have a strong feeling that both of the runners I allowed on base will be scoring very shortly...and...I watch as Video allows three straight hits and gives up another run on top of that. How does this guy have a job?

Thankfully he is pulled after the 6th and our bullpen only allows 1 more run through the end of the game. We win 8-4!!!

Line - 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER (sigh), 2 BB, 2 SO, and I get my 10th win of the year! That's a career high! My record improves to 10-8

[Sun Tzu]

After I got pulled I decided to talk to the coach about his decision. He told me that he knows I pitched a great game, and he doesn't want to say he made a mistake, but he will definitely give me a little longer to work out of those types of jams in the future.

[Sun Tzu]

9/4 - We travel to New York to play against the first place Yankees for two games. We win the first game as Josh Beckett becomes the teams second 10 game winner after me. 5-1

9/5 - We sweep the Yankees even though our Bullpen gets rocked. We win 9-8

9/7 - We then travel south to Tampa to play the Devil Rays in a 3 game series. We take the first game 9-2 as Clay Buchholz is the third pitcher on our staff to win 10 games.

9/8 - David Price pitches a strong game and leaves with a 4-2 lead, but our pen loses the game in the bottom of the 9th and Price misses out on a chance to be teh 4th pitcher with 10 wins...again

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting todays game at Tropicana Field. This is our last game against the terrible Devil Rays. They are 47-97 and on their way to losing 110 games. On the hill for them is their worst starter, Terrance Clevlen, who is 2-15 with a 7.15 ERA. I guess they just let any old pitcher play now :)

Defensively Abdul is starting in left, Soto is behind the plate, and a September callup Robert Douglas is starting at SS in place of burke...yes!

RS - We start the game strong as Abdul leads the game off with a solo homerun! Longoria has an RBI double later in the inning as we almost bat through the order. We're up 2-0 before I even take the mound.

Single to the left side past longorias diving glove to leadoff...the leadoff man tries to take second but I fire a heater outside off the plate and Soto is able to *just* get him out before he gets to 2nd...double down the left field line by their one major threat Bauer...fly to middle center that ellsbury takes in, and Bauer starts tagging up to third, but Ellsbury guns him down to end the inning! Yes!

RS - Longoria belts a fastball into the bleachers for a 2 run Homer and his third RBI of the game! We're up 4-0 already

grounder through my legs for a single...fly to left at the track but Abdul takes it in for an easy out...seeing eye single through the hole on the right side...runners on first and second with one away...a fly ball down the line in left actually bounces ON the line for a double scoring a run...Harden goes down waving at a slider way out of the zone on a 0-2 count...groundout to kinsler to end the inning with men on 2nd and 3rd...we're up 4-1

leadoff man waves at three straight pitches out of the zone for the strikeout...Bauer slaps a grounder to the Rook at shortstop, Douglas, and he hits morneau for his first assist of the day...grounder down the right side skips over first base for a two out double into the corner...I walk the next man as I miss on several pitches...my control isn't what it usually is today...the Rookie takes another grounder in and fires a strike to Morneau for the final out to end the 3rd

RS - Abdul hits his second homer of the day! this time it's a 2 run shot. 2 batters later Longoria hits his second homer of the day, and it's another 2 run shot! Up next is Ian Kinsler, and HE puts one into the stands! Three home runs in the top of the 4th, and we go up 9-1!!!

a hard hit grounder to the Rookie who again fires a perfect strike to Morneau...routine grounder to right center that ellsbury takes in for the second out...easy fly to center that ellsbury pulls down to end the 4th inning

line drive single to right that Hart almost snagged before it hit...DP grounder to Kinsler who underhands it to the Rookie, who then hits morneau for an easy 6-4-3...that's the first DP I've seen turned in 4 games...Bauer with a single up the gut...Osuna pops it up and the Rook pulls it down to end the 5th

RS - Justin Morneau leads the inning off with a Solo shot, and then two batters later Geovany Soto plants one in the bleacher for a 2 run blast of his own. The route is on, and we're up 12-1

hot shot to the left side just over longoria glove to leadoff...the ump starts squeezing me in the 6th just like last game and I walk the next guy...sonufabitch, are you serious? They pull me again after only 5 innings, that coach is going to get an earful. Seriously, after 68 pitches and only 1 earned run you're pulling me. My replacement gives up FIIIIIIIVE RUNS in relief. It's a good goddamn thing we were up by so much. We give up another 3 runs in the 8th inning, and get by with a 12-9 victory.

Line - 5 IP, 3 ER (2 by relief, yet again), 9 H, 2 BB, 2 SO, and my record improves to 11-8 on the year. I guess I can't complain...much

[Sun Tzu]

9/10 - We head back home for a 4 game series against the Blue Jays which I wont be a part of. Josh Beckett gets his 11th win of the year too, as we take game one 9-6

9/11 - We get shutout in game two, losing 0-3

9/12 - We get shutout in two straight games as the Wild Card Leading Jays win 0-6

9/13 - David Price pitches 7+ innings and allows only 1 earned run, but our closer gives up 3 runs in the 9th. We eventually win it in 11 innings 5-4, but Price is unbelievably still waiting for his 10th win. That's 4 games in a row that he left with the lead and got a ND.

[Sun Tzu]

The Yankees are in Boston for a 3 game series for the last time this year. They are still in first place in the East. A familiar foe in Scott Kazmir is on the mound for them, and he is 7-10 with a 4.62 ERA. The Yankees are in the top 6 in the MLB in pitching, in every single major category. Offensively they also rank 3rd in AVG and 4th in RBI's.

Defensively another september callup is starting tonight, this time in Justin Morneaus place. Virgil Braun is his name, a great name for a first baseman. Yabuta is behind the plate for Soto, Rios is the DH, Kinsler has the day off and he is replaced by Burke at 2nd. Kendrick is playing SS.

a line drive to the left side gets past longoria and it's a double by Ricky Weeks (who has absolutely ROCKED me throughout my career) to start the game...a pop to shallow right is taken by Hart, but I guess he didn't think Weeks was going to tag (OF COURSE HE IS!!!!) and he just lollygags around, looping a liner over to third after counting how many stars are in the sky...I intentionally walk texiera for the DP possibility...a ball that was 100% in the strike zone is called a ball as I shake my head in disgust, and the batter takes his base to load the bases with one away...I take down the next man with a great curve to make it two outs...the next man STRIKES OUT!!! three straight fastballs up high get him swinging and I get out of the jam without allowing a run

o...m...g...this ump is absolutely rediculous today...slow dribbler in front of the plate is taken by Yabuta and there's one away...a ball gets under burkes glove into right...the runner takes off for second but Yabuta guns him down with seconds to spare for out #2...at this point I'm about ready to start aiming for the umps head if he keeps this up...the last man goes down swinging at some 95 MPH heat

Ricky Weeks hits one to deep right, and Hart misses it trying to run it down, which then turns into a leadoff triple...I truly do despise Weeks...grounder to burke who throws a high ball to first, but it's still catchable for the first out, and Weeks scores...I throw several strike threes only to have them called balls, which works the count to 3-2, and then Texiera hits one well over the monster as the routine Yankee route begins...followed by another solo homer, surprise surprise. Here we go with "get no hit for 6 innings and give up 5 runs every single time we play the yankees"...longoria throws the next man out after a grounder...two away...I walk the next batter as I start cursing obscenities at the ump under my breath...grounder to kendrick to end the inning, and we're down 0-3

RS - We manage to get a couple hits

leadoff solo shot over the monster...grounder to kendrick for the first out...I peg Ricky Weeks, and I'll let you be the judge of whether it was intentional or not...grounder to the left side that should be a DP but instead bounces off of longoria's glove...Texiera hits a grounder to longoria that doesn't bounce off his glove this time, and he throws to Burke who then throws it in the dirt to Braun at first, but he scoops it for the final out

one hopper to Braun at first for the first out...liner up the middle for a one out single...another liner up the middle for a single...I get pulled and I fully expect both of the runners I've allowed, along with two more runners to score. A september callup gets his first appearance in relief of me.

I was wrong, he only allowed my inherited runners to score, then he was fine the rest of the game. We don't score once all game, and lose 0-6. That's the third time in 4 games that we have been shutout.

Line - 4.1 IP, 9 H, 6 ER (fourth game in a row pen has allowed inherited runs to score), 3 Bb, 3 SO, My record drops to 11-9.

Every day I pitch, I look forward to A.) not having the worst pen in baseball and B.) not being in the AL East.

[Sun Tzu]

9/15 - We lose game two to the Yankees 2-4

9/16 - We take the last game 11-3 as Jon Lester impresses

9/17 - We fly south to Baltimore to face off against the Orioles in a 3 game series. In the first game we blow a late lead and lose 8-10

9/18 - In the second game we blow another late lead, and David Price is robbed of his 10th win for the 6th consecutive game. We lose 8-9

9/19 - I started this game. I pitched six strong innings, only giving up 3 hits, but I walked 3 men, and allowed 2 runs. I thought that would be enough, but I was wrong. We only managed to score 1 run all game, and we lost 1-3.

Line - 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO, my record dropped to 11-10. I started to get worried that I wouldn't even finish the season with a winning record

9/21 - We travel to Detroitto face off against the Tigers who are fighting for a Wild Card spot. In game one Josh Beckett pitches excellent and is the firs pitcher on our staff to get to 12 wins. We win 8-2.

9/22 - In game two we come on strong in the late innings and win 9-3.

9/23 - Clay Buchholz loses his 13th game of the year in game three, as we can't seem to put any runs on the board. Score was 1-4

9/24 - We fly to Toronto for our last road series of the season. David Price is pitching in his second to last start in game one against the Jays and hoping to finally win his 10th game. He is unsuccessful as we are shutout...that poor bastard. We lose 0-7, and the Blue Jays secure a spot as the Wild Card team in the playoffs.

9/25 - I started game two of this series. I came into this game hoping I could nail down a guaranteed winning record. I pitched very solid, only holding them to no runs and one hit through the 5th inning, and giving up my only earned run in the 6th inning. In the 7th I was pulled with two men on and two away. I held my breath as I watched a young kid just called up take the mound, but he got the next man out. He did allow one run in the 8th, but our Closer came in and slammed the door in the 9th sealing the victory.

Line - 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO, and my record improves to 12-10...I only have one start left this year so I will have a winning record no matter what.

9/26 - Josh Beckett gets rocked for his 10th loss in his last start, and we lose the third game of the series 2-8.

9/27 - Jon Lester pitched an amazing game but we couldn't put a single run on the board for him, and he finishes the year with a loss too. 0-1 was the score

9/28 - We come back home for the last series of the year. The Orioles are in town and surprisingly have a winning record at 83-76. Clay Buchholz pitched a great game but our closer blows yet another save in the ninth inning. We lose 2-4

9/29 - David Price goes for his 10th win for the last time this season, and only allows 1 run over 7 innings. Unfortunately for David, we got shutout. Just unbelievable...we lose 0-1.

[Sun Tzu]

I am starting our last game of the season, here at Fenway, against the Division Rival Baltimore Orioles. They are 85-76 coming into this game, and we are 76-85. On the hill for the O's is Edmundo Varela who is 10-10 with a 4.71 ERA. There are 33,466 fans on hand to see our season finale.

Defensively Esparza is starting in left, while the september vet callup Schumaker is starting in place of Kinsler at 2nd.

This game was terrible, as my control was everywhere from the very first pitch. I allowed 5 runs, well 6 including the inherited runs the pen gave up, in 4 innings pitched. This game put my ERA above 5 for the year.

We lose 6-12

[Sun Tzu]

We ended the year a laughable 76-86. We are in full rebuild mode and I have zero intention of re-signing with the club.

We finished the year with a team ERA of 4.76. Our Bullpen had only one player with an ERA below 4.00. Here is our final statistical tally...

Evan Longoria ~ .302, 34, 98 RBI
Abdul Morneau ~ .305, 6 HR, 67 RBI
Justin Morneau ~ .278, 22 HR, 95 RBI
Jacoby Ellsbury ~ .281, 10 HR, 72 RBI
Alex Rios ~ .277, 6 HR, 56 RBI
Ian Kinsler ~ .279, 16 HR, 91 RBI
Howie Kendrick ~ .276, 6 HR, 60 RBI
Cory Hart ~ .250, 13 HR, 68 RBI <--very dissapointing as these are all career lows

David Price ~ 9-13, 3.68 ERA, 1.49 WHIP
Me ~ 12-11, 5.03 ERA, 1.51 WHIP
Josh Beckett ~ 12-10, 4.68 ERA, 1.50 WHIP
Clay Buchholz ~ 10-13, 6.64 ERA, 2.00 WHIP
Jon Lester ~ 9-9, 4.91 ERA, 1.48 WHIP

Our bullpen finished the year with a combined 25 blown saves.

[Sun Tzu]

The Playoff Brackets look like so...

AL

CHW
TOR

SEA
NYY

NL

SF
CHC

NYM
CIN

Tike Brewer ran away with the Triple Crown. He finished with a .373 AVG, 43 bombs, and 156 RBI's. He was awarded the AL MVP

Ryan Braun finished with a .316 AVG, 47 bombs (led the MLB), and 133 RBI's. He was awarded the NL MVP

Latroy Prince finished the year 22-5 with a 2.58 ERA and a league low 1.10 WHIP. He was awarded the AL Cy Young Award.

Jong-Su Na finished the year 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA and a NL low 1.11 WHIP. He was awarded the NL Cy Young Award.

Joakim Segovia of the Mariners finished with a .311 AVG, 21 HR's, and 87 RBI's. He was awarded the AL ROY.

Christian Stairs of the Brewers finished with a .258 AVG, 15 HR's, and 57 RBI's. He was awarded the NL ROY.

Red Sox award winners

Unbelievably, Geovany Soto won a gold glove award. He was only listed as having 2 errors on the year, and they must have both come while catching my games.

Justin Morneau collected another gold glove for his stellar work at 1st base.

Jacoby Ellsbury won another gold glove for his work in Center Field.

My final line for the year...

12-11, 5.03 ERA, 33 GS, 14 QS, 180.2 IP, 33 BB, 123 K, 1.51 WHIP.

I led the league once again in walks allowed.

I have decided that I would prefer to sign with a team in the NL. I have looked long at hard at a lot of teams rosters, and I have 3 top choices in this order.

1. San Francisco Giants - The Giants have, by far, the best pitching staff in the majors. They finished the year with the best record in the Majors, going 101-61 and winning the west by 13 games over the Dodgers. They have a team ERA of 3.79, and also finished 8th in the majors in runs scored.

2. Chicago Cubs - The Cubbies look great, and made it to the playoffs as a wild card team this year. They have a lot of talent in a lot of places, and they are younger than the Giants. They too finished near the top in most major categories.

3. Cincinnati Reds - The big red machine is in the same division as the Cubbies which would be tough, but they are built a lot like the Cubbies are as far as having an abundance of young talent.

I'm really hoping that at some point during the offseason, one of these teams offers me a contract for 3-5 years.

[Sun Tzu]

The Yankees won the ALDS 3 games to 1 over the Mariners.

The White sox won the ALDS 3 games to 2 (winning the last three) over the Blue Jays.

The Giants won the NLDS 3 games to 1 over the Cubbies.

The Mets won the NLDS 3 games to 0 over the Reds.

The Brackets now look like this.

AL

NYY
CHW

NL

NYM
SF

-----------

The White Sox lost the first game of the ALCS to the Yankees, but then stormed back and won the next four games, advancing to the World Series.

The Mets were up 3 games to 1 against the Giants, then lose two in a row as they went to a game 7. The Giants had a 7-6 lead going into the 9th, but Grady Sizemore hit a 2 run homer to take the 8-7 lead, and the Mets advanced to the World Series to meet the White Sox.

This is a rematch of last years World Series, when the Mets took home the Trophy in 7 games.

The Mets were favored to win the World Series, and took game one as Johan Santana pitched a gem. The White Sox stormed back though, winning games 2, 3, and 4. In game 5 the Mets were facing elimination and the Sox were on the verge of a World Series Championship. The Sox went up early 5-0, but the Mets came back strong in the 4th and 5th innings, bringing the score to within 1, making it a 4-5 game. But the Sox pulled away, and won the game on big bats and strong pitching, 6-5.

The White Sox are the 2018 World Series Champions!

CF Yoslan Avalos of the White Sox takes home the MVP Trophy, hitting .412 with 4 RBI's against the Mets fine pitching.

[Sun Tzu]

We have advanced to the offseason. The following notable players have retired.

Ryan Garko
Dontrelle Willis
Matt Holliday (celebration!)
Matt Garza - SP of the Reds
Jeff Samardzija - SP of the Cubs

Mariano Rivera has been inducted into the Hall of Fame. He finished his career with 712 saves.

-----------

On October 30th, in an attempt to retain my services, the Red Sox offered me a 3 year contract for $33.84m to be their staff ace. I respectfully decline and proceed to file my papers to become a free agent.

-----------

On November 13th, the Cincinnati Reds offered me a 3 year contract for $31.77m to be their staff ace! It's very early in the FA year however, and I would like to see if the Giants are interested. I tell them I'm going to think about it and discuss this with my new Wife.

-----------

On November 14th, the Houston Astros (76-86) offered me a 2 year contract for $22.78 to be their staff ace. I have no intention of signing with the Astros, but I think it's great that so many teams are already interested in me. I'm hoping this will drive up the cost of my contract, as I've been eyeing a house on the beach in Santa Barbara, CA.

-----------

On November 16th, the Red Sox withdrew their contract offer.

One hour later, I recieved a call from the Anaheim Angels (76-86). They are offering me a 5 year contract for $62.65m to be their staff ace. I respectfully decline.

I start hoping that the Reds don't withdraw their offer...

-----------

On November 19th the Reds withdrew their offer...shit! What now?

While I'm on the phone with the Reds GM, I get another call and switch lines. It's the Cubs! They are offering me a 2 year contract for $21.78m to be their staff ace. I'm not going to decide immediately, but it is *very* tempting to just jump on board and sign on the dotted line. I tell them I need a couple days to think about it before I sign, but I appreciated the offer and they were in my top couple teams to sign with.

The Astros have upped their offer to 5 years for $53.04m...

-----------

On November 19th, The Reds re-offered and have upped their offer! They are now offering a 3 year contract for $34.56m

-----------

The Reds have signed stud SP Kosuke Kobayashi to a 6 year/$88.62m contract. Damn...

-----------

The Cubs have withdrawn their offer!

On November 26th, the Braves (79-83) offered a 5 year contract for $69.5m to be their staff ace. I respectfully decline.

-----------

On November 29th, The Cardinals (65-97) offered a 5 year contract for an even $70m to be their staff ace. No way.

-----------

On December 2nd, my former team the Twins offered me a 3 year contract for $38.88m to be their staff ace. I tell them I appreciate them giving me a chance when I was coming up as a young pitcher, but that time has past. I have no intention of returning to Minnesota.

-----------

On December 2nd, the Rangers (78-84) offered me a 3 year contract for $39.00m to be their staff ace. I decline.

Later that night, the Dodgers offered me a 3 year contract for $40.86m...now I think long and hard about this. The Dodgers are a decent team, but they also are in the same division as the best team in Baseball, and the team I'm hoping will offer at some point, the Giants. I decline...

-----------

December 8th - I decline Salary Arbitration with the Red Sox

-----------

December 19th...oh boy...The World Champion Chicago White Sox have offered me a 4 year contract for $51.92m to be their staff ace. Wow...just wow. I am starting to wonder if the Giants are even interested. I decide I'm going to give the Giants 48 hours. If they don't offer, i'm going to sign with the Chisox.

-----------

December 20th. The unthinkable has happened. The New York Yankees have offered me a 4 year contract for $51.52m to be their staff ace. I think about it, hard, but I just can't do it. I grew up hating the Yanks and I just can't imagine pitching regularly in that damn park.

-----------

Ok...well after talking it over with my wife...we decide that we are going to decline the White Sox offer. Though I would love to play for them and possibly win a title, we want to raise our kids in the San Francisco Bay Area...The Sox GM understands and tell me that if I change my mind, or the Giants don't offer, to give him a call.

-----------

December 31st. I've tried to get my mind off of the whole Free Agent market. It's stressing me out waiting for it, and I've already gotten pretty close to calling the White Sox back a couple times.

It's 11pm and we have all of our friends over for a new years party. Evan Longoria hands me my own phone (why the hell would he answer it?) and says it's someone asking for me. I ask who it is and it's the GM of the San Francisco Giants!!! He says he apologizes for waiting so long to offer me a contract, but they wanted to make sure they offered me something fair. They are offering me a 5 year contract worth $67.35m to be the ace of their staff! Hell yes! I tell him that I'll be there in the morning...well...maybe early afternoon :)

I celebrate like it's about to be 2019!!! WOOHOOO!!!

[Sun Tzu]

I fly into San Francisco International Airport on January 1st, 1019. A limo is there waiting to pick me and my wife up, and we head to AT&T Park. I get there and it is absolutely stunning. I couldn't be happier that not only am I going to get to play here for the next 5 years, but I'm going to be contending for a World Series title.

We decided that the asking price was fair, and I don't want to tie up too much of the clubs money to sign other people, so I accept under one condition. We add a player option to the 5th year...just in case. I'm still just ever so slightly cautious ever since the BoSox took a dive just a year after I signed with them.

So I sign the dotted line.

5 years, $67,350,000 with a player option in the last year. Staff Ace!

[Sun Tzu]

A closer look at the Giants roster shows they have an incredible amount of talent.

The Starting Rotation looks like this.

1. Me - Age - 28 - OVR A
2. Diego Quevedo - Age 26 - OVR A+
3. Jong-Su Na - Age 32 - OVR A (Last years Cy Young Winner)
4. Marcos Moreno - Age 27 - OVR A
5. Florencio Jaramillo - Age 33 - OVR A

Their Lineup looks like so...

CF - Shea Swain ~ Fast, perenial .300 hitter who hit .314/13/56 last year ~ 26 y/o
SS - Ambriorix Collazo ~ slower than molasses, but last year he hit .340 in 150 at bats. 26 y/o
1B - Miguel Cabrera ~ slow, but has hit 30 or more home runs while hitting .299 or higher each of the last 6 years. 35 y/o
RF - Jay Bruce ~ average speed, excellent power, perenial .275-.300 hitter. 31 y/o
LF - Melky Espinosa ~ slightly below average speed, perenial .300 hitter every year, hit .294/25/100 last year. 29 y/o
3B - Pablo Sandoval aka "Panda" ~ slightly below average speed, will hit .275-.295 every year. Last year hit .276/19/91. 32 y/o
C - Ryan Doumis ~ I'm desitined to play for a team with an awful catcher, and this is no different. Doumis has a great arm, he's just a bit innacure. Definitely an upgrade from Soto though. Last year he hit .277/13/67. This will more than likely be his last year, and we have a nice prospect waiting in AAA. 37 y/o
2B - Kelly Johnson ~ Johnson is a strong fielding 2B. He still contributes a surprisingly large amount at the plate, hitting .272/12/56 last year in the #8 spot. This is probably his last year too. 37 y/o

[Sun Tzu]

In the Spring we finished with the best recod in the Cactus League, going 23-15.

It is Openning day of the 2019 Baseball Season!

I am starting today, and we are playing at home in AT&T Park. Out opponent is the Cardinals who are starting their Ace, Keenan Sutherland. Last year Sutherland was 12-8 with a 3.76 ERA. This is only his third year in the big leagues. There are 41,503 on hand for the Season Openner today. It's a bit overcast, but this park is absolutely stunning.

on a 3-2 count I strike their leadoff man out looking at some heat at the knees...liner up the middle as I can't quite place a slider on the corner...I am having problems placing my curve as the next man slaps a single to the right side on a hit and run...men at the corners with one out...high fly ball to right and it goes to the brick wall, and it hits off of it while Jay Brue tries to jump up against the wall. A run scores and there are now runners on 2nd and 3rd...yeesh...I can't place anything on the outside corner to save my life...I throw 3 straight balls to start out the next batter, then I work the count back and get him swinging on a beautiful curve to get the 2nd out...easy grounder to Panda who guns the runner down at first to end the inning...huge jam that I'm lucky to get out of only down 0-1

SF - Melky Cabrera with a solo shot on his first at bat of the year, and we're tied up already :)

pop to Bruce in right to leadoff the 2nd...routine fly right to Espinosa in Left and he takes it down for the second out...tapper back to me for the 3rd out...

Panda makes a great play on a really bad hop at third, and throws the man out at first...tapper to me again and I flip it to Cabrera for the second out...routine groundout to johnson for the third out

SF - I'm coming to bat in the bottom of the 3rd. Kelly Johnson is on first base and there are no outs. The third base coach is telling me to do a sacrafice bunt. I bunt and it is popped up but the pitcher misses it! Unfortunately Johnson wasn't running when it was in the air and he is thrown out at second, while I reach safely at first on a FC...I run on contact and though I try to break it up at second, we get doubled up :(

grounder to Cabrera who takes it himself to first...bloop down the left field line for a single...Panda makes a diving stop down the line at third but when he gets up to throw it to second he drops the ball...a ball is slapped to the right side and Johnson can't quite get it as he dives, and the ball goes into right center scoring a run...men on 2nd and 3rd with 1 away...I elect to intentionally walk the next man to create a force at any plate and bring the Pitcher to the plate...god dammit my control has been awful all game and I let a fastball slip right down the middle, the pitcher laces it into center and 2 runs score...popped to very shallow right for the second out...strike three is called a ball, but the next pitch is grounded to Cabrera for the 3rd out. We're down 1-4...awful start to the season

ball hit to the warning track in right but it's a long loud out...struck the next man out as my control seems to come and go by the batter...slow grounder to cabrera who flips it underhand to me and I step on the bag for the 3rd out...

I am pulled after that, and I don't blame them. We score two more times and the pen holds, but it's not enough. We lose 3-4.

Line - 5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, and I get the loss.

[Sun Tzu]

4/3 - We take the second game of the openning series, 8-5

4/4 - We win the third game and take the series from the Cards! Jong-su Na pitches a great game and we win 10-1

4/5 - We travel just 8 hours south to San Diego for a 3 game series. Game one is ours thanks to some great pitching. We win 5-1

4/6 - Game two has more great pitching, but on both sides. We only allow 1 run, but they allow none. We lose 0-1

[Sun Tzu]

I'm starting tonights game against the Padres at Petco Park. This is the third and final game agains the Padres in this series. On the hill for them is Geovany Taveras who is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA.

We have three different starting players in the lineup Today. Dexter Fowler is leading off and starting in place of Jay Bruce in RF. Casey Kotchman is batting 7th and starting in place of Melky Espinosa in LF. Emmanuel Burriss is batting 8th and starting in place of Kelly Johnson at 2B. Strange that both our #3 and #4 batters are off today...hopefully it wont come back to bite us.

Bj Upton pops it straight up to lead off...deep fly to center but Swain pulls it down for the second out just in front of the track...another popup for doumis behind the plate and the 1st inning is over

SF - I'm coming to bat with men on 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Coach said to swing away...the score is still 0-0. I swing at the first pitch and hit a ball in four territory that is just barely playable for the third out

their cleaup man goes down looking at a curve, as my control is spot on so far...I put my foot in my mouth and walk the next batter on 5 pitches...grounder to cabrera at first but we can't turn a DP, only getting the man at second...their hot hitter named "shackleford" who is hitting .440 with 2 jacks already goes down swinging at some low heat to end the inning

SF - Miguel Cabrera with an RBI double in the top of the 3rd to put us up 1-0

grounder to burriss for the first out...tiny tapper by the pitcher right to me and I tag him out...BJ Upton with a two out single to left...one hopper to cabrera who takes it to first himself to end the 3rd inning

SF - I'm coming up to bat in the top of the 4th. There is a man on 1st with two outs. Coach says to swing away...groundout to third

liner into the gap in left center to start the 5th inning with a double...Duane Clark puts a changeup that floats up over the plate into the right field stands for a 2 run homer...grounder to panda and he throws the man out at first for out #1...curveball grounded to burriss and he launches a ball into the dugout...thanks...another grounder to burriss and he hits the target this time for the second out...runner at third with two away...I go from 0-2 to 3-2 and then walk shierholtz on a very close sinker that could have gone either way...the pitcher comes up and waves at an inside fastball to end the 4th...the damage is done though and we're down 1-2

BJ upton looks at an inside fastball for strike three...grounder to burriss for the second out...I walk the next man on FIFTEEN pitches on a pitch that was a bonafide strike...a hard grounder to the right that bounces off of burriss' glove, they call it an infield single and there are men on 1st and 2nd now...single to left but the runner holds at third...bases loaded now with two down...man this was looking like a 1-2-3 what's going on?...high fly to the gap in left center and it's caught for the third out...whew!

SF - I may get pulled for a pinch hitter, I may not...and I'm being told to hit in the top of the 6th with men on 1st and 2nd with two outs. Swing away he says! I work the count to 3-2 but I go down swinging on a nasty curveball low

soft liner right at cabrera for the first out...Shierholtz grounds it right to panda for the second out...the pitcher coming up now...very soft very easy grounder right to burriss and it's a 1-2-3 6th inning

as expected i'm pulled after that, and I watch the rest of the game from the dugout hoping we can score some runs.

Unfortunately we can't score any more runs at all. We lose 1-3 :(

Line - 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, and my record drops to 0-2

[Sun Tzu]

4/8 - We travel to LA to face off against the hated Dodgers for a 3 game series. In game 1 the Dodgers win 1-2 off of some great pitching from both sides.

4/10 - We take game two as our defending Cy Young winner wins his second game. 7-4

4/11 - The Dodgers win this round, taking the third and final game 3-4.

4/12 - We head back to San Fran for a 3 game series against the Diamondbacks. They win the first game 7-10 off of some serious hot bats.