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Pitchers are specialists. They spend about a decade honing their craft and even then they may not be successful in the majors. So it’s always a treat to see an American League pitcher flail away in a National League park. General managers from the American League must grimace when their prized assets attempt a bunt, swing, or jaunt on the bases (should they even reach). Commissioner-elect Rob Manfred’s first act should allowing the senior circuit to have designated hitters. Pitchers like Mark Melancon, who were middling in the AL but outstanding in the NL, would suffer. But with the overall downturn in offensive production a designated hitter added to 15 teams may help. Pitchers can’t multitask but this fan can. He snared a foul ball off Travis Snider’s bat in the first inning while talking on the phone. With the expanded rosters the Red Sox could add him along with Rusney Castillo, Bryce Brentz, Garin Cecchini, Ryan Lavarnway, Edwin Escobar, and Heath Hembree. Your browser does not support iframes. Pirate Parrot sprayed Silly String on this young Red Sox fan. It was an amusing antic but not a terribly nuanced act. The MLB mascot that is outdoing all his peers...
With the Red Sox trailing 4-3 in the fifth Dustin Pedroia touched first as Tony Abreu’s throw pulled Eric Hosmer’s foot off the bag. Boston’s second baseman represented the go-ahead run with Jacoby Ellsbury at second. Dan Bellino called Pedroia out much to the infielder’s chagrin. The home team had just surrendered the lead in the previous inning so even the slightest advantage was worth fighting for. Bobby Valentine sprang from the dugout and confronted Bellino. Valentine got the boot. Not that kind of boot. Valentine’s ejection may have fired up his crew. Cody Ross worked a walk and James Loney singled up the middle to plate the tying run. The Red Sox batters scored in each of the next three innings, culminating in Pedroia’s solo shot in the eighth inning. Mark Melancon notched his first save of the season. Thankfully Alfredo Aceves was already suspended so there wouldn’t be another tantrum. Game 128: August 26, 2012 Kansas City Royals56-70 6 L: Will Smith (4-6)HR: Lorenzo Cain (5) Boston Red Sox61-67 8 W: Pedro Beato (1-0)H: Craig Breslow (6)S: Mark Melancon (1) 2B: Dustin Pedroia (30), Mike Aviles (27)HR: Pedro Ciriaco (2), Pedroia (12)...
I knew that I would miss Jonathan Papelbon but I didn’t know it would be this hard and this soon. How I’ll miss hearing “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.” The way the pitchers tapped to replace Andrew Bailey have been pitching Ken Casey probably won’t let them use his song. My suggestions? Alfredo Aceves’s entry song should be Franz Ferdinand’s “Take Me Out” and Mark Melancon’s “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” by the Smashing Pumpkins. Things are falling apart; the center is not holding. Around the pitcher’s mound swirls a maelstrom of uncertainty. Clay Buchholz didn’t give up the longball like Josh Beckett did but in the four innings Buchholz pitched he allowed 8 hits and 7 runs. The best relief arm on the Red Sox roster, Daniel Bard, is starting this Tuesday night’s game against the Blue Jays. As disappointing as the pitching has been, the Red Sox offense finally came to life. Mike Aviles knocked in key hits in the second and third innings to chip away at the Tigers’ lead, executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to add to his team’s lead in the ninth, and singled and scored in the eleventh. Adrian Gonzalez swatted his first home run...
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Photo courtesy of the Boston Public Library’s Sports Temples of Boston.