Just One More Inning: Martin Plays Hero and a Visit to SoSH
This has been a rather trying weekend for both the Jays and the Red Sox. These teams just beat up on each other. For the last game, I decided to visit my old friends at SoSH. And also the first since one of the guys that runs the site followed me on Twitter. I appreciated the early start because it meant this series was just that much closer to being over.
“Sack up Clay”
This was posted at 7:20 in the morning. A dedicated jerk face.
“Bars are open! Buchholz pitching on such a great day shouldn’t be allowed.”
I can't say I feel sorry for Buchholz, but Red Sox fans are notorious for eating their young. They've always done it, but given how winning Boston sports teams have been in the 21st century and that they continue to shit on their players like this tells you about all you need to know.
“Chris Young needs practice against lefties so he can again suck against righties when next called upon.”
In this case, they are eating their Young.
“Bit of a pity Papi doesn’t get the start on his last Marathon Day, though I’m sure we’ll see a dramatic AB.”
Stay tuned.
Game starts.
“Pitchers best friend!”
The double plays Buccholz was inducing were really making me miss the strikeouts. I mean, the strikeouts are little alarming but at least they are worth only one out and tend push the pitch count up.
Jose Bautista had three! That has to be against some sort of law.
“Back to back inning ending DP’s, very nice. Nice to have CV back.”
Christian Vazquez is really good in a baseball sense. I hate him.
“Thank you John Farrell for pushing all the right buttons.”
This was after the little run scored, which they nursed for 3/4 of the game. Just for the record, generally, they are not that much of a fan of Mr. Dream Job.
“Christ, that $5 haircut is not flattering, Clay.”
It probably didn't cost $5, which just makes it funnier.
“FU blue.”
You might want to copy and paste this one. It's going to come in handy later.
“With all due respect to Remy, why isn’t Eck the permanent color guy?”
Having the blowhard rooster stylings of Dennis Eckersley as the permanent colour man is about exactly what this fanbase deserves. I feel like this a good place for this.
“Damn, nice play by Encarnacion.”
It's true. It was a beauty. Let's look again.
“The heart of our order went waaaayyyyy to easily for Happ that inning.”
Happ shoved today. I must say, other than some wildness from Dickey (typical April stuff, really) the starters have brought it.
“Donaldson scares the crap out of me.”
Yes.
“We have 2 hits off Crapp?”
Must I call yours "Shitholz'? Cause the Jays were letting him off the hook, too.
“Man, Clay’s getting lucky on some of these hangers.”
See?
“Just need one more inning from him”
Knowing how this game ends, it brings a smile to my face to think how this dude's afternoon was completely ruined.
“Tulo hasn’t taken his hitting woes out to SS with him. I wish him the best against the rest if the AL.”
That's nice. I still like David Price. I'm totally ok with the Red Sox winning once every five games.
“You know what, great teams win 1-0. Let’s see what they got in that department.”
Not a lot today.
Re. Happ
“Didn’t he used to be a junk-baller, like low 80s fastball, or am I thinking of someone else?”
Low 80s fastball? He's not Mark Buehrle.
“Was he kissing or smelling that bat?”
This person not knowing about bat smelling when Ted Williams was the best hitter this team ever had is just sad. Bat smelling is a thing. Just Google "Ted Williams bat smelling" for endless stories. He asked everyone.
“Smell the burn, like Ted used to say.”
There is some hope for them after all.
After a beautiful play by Jackie Bradley Jr., this was posted.
“Its hilarious that the Yankees gave 153 mil to Ellsbury and he’s absolutely the worst defensive CF in the AL East.”
Sure, but CF is stacked in the AL East. Jones, Bradley Jr., Pillar and Kiermaier. Shit, son.
Clay's done for the day.
“Farrell has a sick 7/8/9. He’s going to use it.”
Is he ever!
“We might really regret only scoring one run off JA Happless.”
Then stuff got fun.
“Jeezus, infield hit, error, walk, passed ball. What a load of suck.”
I could eat this with a spoon.
“Sox just playing for walk-off dramatics on Patriots Day”
Or playing for crushing defeat.
“I’m generally a fan of Farrell but the last couple games are getting to me.”
Just the last couple of games? You'd think they'd be used to Farrell-Ball by now.
“Easy chance for Kimbrel, bases loaded one out in the 8th of a tie game with Encarnacion and Tulowitzki up.
If Toronto scores, then it’s all Kimbrel’s fault.”
I'll say!
“K here, Papi PH walk-off in the 9th.”
Or something like that.
“Are you shitting me? I thought this bullpen was supposed to be a strength.”
I know bullpen meltdowns are terrible, but the drama of this amazing.
I think my favourite Russell Martin moment since last season happens next. The most epic at bat.
“Martin’s career is torturing the Red Sox.”
And we dig that about him!
“This team just sucks.”
Sun is shining. The weather is sweet.
“whatever happened to Billy Koch”
Now they are just punch-drunk.
“Farrell has no feel for the game inside the game.”
Hot take.
“Thanks for the hot take.”
Hottest of takes.
“I wonder if J.A. Happ has a daughter, and if anyone ever refers to her as Little Miss Happ. And if so, I wonder if it pisses the Happs off, or just goes over their head.”
Um, good one.... or something.
Well, it went on and got a little adventurous for Drew Storen and the Red Sox scored two runs. It was 4-3 and David Ortiz was coming up. Papi, on his last Patriot's Day, could hit the walk off!
“Do it Papi.”
Can he?
“Come on Papi!!!”
Will he?
“So, does Ortiz like to be the hero, or what?”
Does he?
“Unreal.”
NOPE!
“That call is a fuckin joke.”
Kind of was, but I don't care. The Jays had plenty of calls go against them this series. Call it justice. Here's video of the pitch.
I mean, look at Russell Martin's face.
Yay! Best! Day! Ever!
Looking at pitch again, it's probably a strike. It ended up in a completely different place than the catcher set up but it got there. Or mostly there. Maybe there.
“Perfect location. Tip yer cap.”
Cap is tipped.
How do you feel, James Anthony Happ?
“I feel good about it. I feel like I wasn’t super sharp as far as getting first-pitch strikes, but got some big double-play balls for some great defense. And a huge eighth inning for us. The bullpen did a great job shutting it out. A big win for us today to split the series after going down in the first two.”
Final word from SoSH
“This is the kind of game which makes me wish I had never become interested in baseball”
Oh come on, this is fun!
Actually, no, it really isn't. The Jays don't need to see these jerks for a whole month and I'm thrilled.
Let us dance.