Game time: 2:05 pm

Scheduled starters: Roy Halladay v. Bronson Arroyo


The game will be on NESN.


Boston weather: 11 am observation at BOS: Clear, visibility 10 miles, temperature 72F, DP 52F, wind out of the east at 6 mph.

Forecast: More of the same.... East wind will pick up to between 9-12 mph by late afternoon, which means "blowing in".

Anni

I'd tucked away a mojo song parody of Eli's Coming for Bronson in case he ever needed it, though, and this seems as good a day as any to use the mojo--so here goes!

(Apologies to Three Dog Night and Laura Nyro in advance!)

Bronson's Coming

Bronson’s comin'
Bronson’s comin' (Bronson’s a-comin')
Francona says he’ll start, he’s gonna sta-aht
Bronson’s a-comin' and Francona say... he’s gonna start!

Bronson’s comin', he’s our starter
Bronson’s comin', he’s our starter
Girl, Bronson’s a-comin', he’s lookin’ fine
Girl, Bronson’s a-comin', he’s on our side
Girl, Bronson’s a-comin', he’s gonna ride
Girl, Bronson’s comin', he’s our starter (ride it)
He’s comin’ and he’s gonna start
Bronson’s comin', an’ if he walks one

Then he’ll get a double play
Yeah he’ll get a double play from Bellhorn an’ Edgah
If needs one, then he’ll just record a K
Watch those blond locks flow-oh! Bronson’s a-comin' (he walks one, he’ll get a double play)
Bronson’s a-comin' (he needs one, he’ll just record a K)
Bronson’s a-comin' and he's comin' to git ya (he wants one... he wants one...)
Get down on your knees (he wants one, he’ll just record a K…hey!)

Bronson’s comin' (ride it, ride it, ride it)
Girl, Bronson’s a-comin', he’s lookin’ fine
Girl, Bronson’s a-comin', he’s on our side
Girl, Bronson’s a-comin', he’s gonna ride
Girl, Bronson’s comin', he’s our starter (ride it)
He’s comin’ and he’s gonna start
Bronson’s comin', an’ if he walks one

He walks one, he’ll get a double play, yay!
No, you'll never get away from the cheers and adulation
From Fenway, to Narragansett Bay,
Everywhere I go though, Bronson’s a-comin' (he walks one, he’ll get a double play)
Bronson’s a-comin' (he needs one, he’ll just record a K)
Bronson’s a-comin' and he's comin' to git ya (he wants one... he wants one...)
Get down on your knees (he wants one, he’ll just record a K…hey!)
Get down on your knees

No-no, no-no
Could be a no-no, no-no, no-no

(ride it) He can
(ride it) He can
(ride it) He can
(ride it) He can
(ride it) Could be
(ride it) Oh, my
(ride it) No-no-no-no-no-no-no

NU 50 is getting a running headstart on his 2nd half-century, so LW will be posting today’s Red Sox Mojo on NU 50’s behalf. After last week’s debacle, Looies had a heavy heart and a his frail shoulders buckled under the weight of the crushed expectations of Red Sox Nation. Spirit unbowed, however, Looies took the defective Mojo and subjected it to Malfunctioning Objective and Jinxed Observations (MOJO) Review with a search delimiter of “Bronson Arroyo”.

Jayhawk Bill was the first of many Rooters to point out the ridiculously small sample size (thanks to a series of effective Mojos for Bronson, there were only a few defective Arroyo Mojos). Undaunted by such dire criticisms, Looies subjected the results to non-parametric bootsrap resampling and while the results would not withstand even most casual observations, let alone scientific scrutiny, a conclusion was drawn. Bronson Arroyo is a man of both Justice and Peace.

The last two Arroyo Mojos were part of the Star Wars and Comeuppance Mojos, respectively. Clearly these Mojos, while effective for the Sox, were at odds with Arroyo, the pitcher. After learning of these findings, NU 50 hurried to change the latest Mojo to accommodate Bronson’s anticipated Sunday start.

What better example of Justice than the American Colonies shaking off the tyranny of British Rule. What could be more peaceful than ice cream and music? So as we Rooters celebrate Independence Day weekend with a series against a team from a country still in thrall to the British Empire, LooiesWindup is pleased to post on his behalf NU 50’s Mojo for Sunday, July 3.

Sunday, July 03, 2005


**MOJO** - Ice Cream Day 2
Mmmmmmmm, the sweet taste of victory.

Today, Bronson Arroyo takes the hill against former Cy Young winner Roy Halladay. Arroyo is known for many things to Sox fans: his laid back attitude despite his death wish name, his delightfully awkward decisions concerning his hair (seriously? frosted cornrows? that sounds more like a cereal than hair style), and perhaps most notably, his budding musical career. For this, there is only one flavor that suits Arroyo best:



The Chocolate ice cream mixed with marshmallow and caramel is like him setting you up with the fastball/change combo, and then Wham! The fudge fish hits you like the curveball, and you are out. Get the Toronto bench some Ben and Jerry's, even if they won't have much time to enjoy it.

So have a pint of Phish Food this fine afternoon (after all, the proceeds do benefit charity), and enjoy watching Bronson pitch the Sox to a series win.

JHB,
No prob. LooiesWindup is all over the Mojo like warts on a toad
But thank, you can't be too rich, too thin, or have too much Mojo.
LW

Blue Jays-Red Sox Preview

GAME: Toronto Blue Jays (41-40) at Boston Red Sox (46-33).

TIME: Sunday, 2:05 p.m. EDT.

Roy Halladay looks to continue his dominant pitching and help the Toronto Blue Jays take the decisive game of their weekend series with the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Halladay allowed just one earned run and seven hits in nine innings of the Blue Jays' 11-inning, 3-1 win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The Devil Rays scored their only run in the first inning, after Halladay gave up his first walk in 33 innings to Julio Lugo.

Lugo advanced to third and then scored when Halladay failed to check him before throwing to first on a grounder.

''I just went to first - didn't even think about checking him at third.'' Halladay said. ''You can't give them free ones, and that's a real good example why not.''

The walk, Halladay's only one of the game, was the first he allowed since June 3, when he walked two in a 6-2 win at Oakland. The 2003 AL CY Young Award winner has allowed two runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts, and has gone at least six innings in each of his 17 outings.

''It's fun to be in that situation,'' Halladay said of pitching in the ninth inning Tuesday. ''Obviously, you'd like to have a lead, but you kind of find out what you're made of. That's what I enjoy about it - I enjoy the challenge.''

Halladay failed to join Jon Garland of the Chicago White Sox as the AL's only 12-game winners. Garland won his major league-leading 13th game Saturday.

''Another outing for him that wasn't an easy one,'' manager John Gibbons said. ''There wasn't any breathing room. That's why he is who he is.''

The Red Sox beat the Blue Jays 6-4 on Saturday, coming from behind one night after losing 15-2. Manny Ramirez hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the seventh for Boston, which has won 14 of 18 but just two of its last five.

Bill Mueller doubled in the tying runs in the sixth inning for the Red Sox, and struggling closer Keith Foulke got the final four outs for his 15th save in 18 chances.

Boston starter David Wells was ejected in the seventh by second base umpire Chris Guccione after turning his back to home plate and waving his glove in apparent disgust about the home plate umpire's strike zone. After being thrown out, Wells walked toward Guccione and the pair screamed at one another before they were separated.

Orlando Hudson and John McDonald each drove in two runs for the Blue Jays, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.

STANDINGS: Blue Jays - 3rd place (tied), 6 GB, AL East. Red Sox - 1st place, AL East.

BLUE JAYS PROBABLE STARTER: Halladay (11-4, 2.40 ERA). Halladay is 6-6 with a 4.66 ERA in 22 career appearances, including 19 starts, against the Red Sox.

RED SOX PROBABLE STARTER: Bronson Arroyo (6-4, 4.21 ERA). Arroyo allowed a season high-tying seven runs - five earned - and six hits in 6 2-3 innings of Monday's 7-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians. The 28-year-old right-hander had allowed just two earned runs in 14 innings in his previous two starts, both wins. He is 2-1 with a 3.23 ERA in six career starts against the Blue Jays.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Blue Jays - Shea Hillenbrand, .305 avg. and 52 runs; Vernon Wells, 15 HRs and 38 RBIs; Alex Rios, 7 SBs. Red Sox - Johnny Damon, .343 avg., 59 runs and 8 SBs; Ramirez, 20 HRs and 70 RBIs.

SEASON SERIES: Blue Jays, 7-3.

STREAKS AND NOTES: Blue Jays - The Blue Jays have scored 10 runs or more seven times this season, twice against the Red Sox. ... Toronto has two walk-off wins this year, both coming against the Red Sox (April 10 and May 24). ... RHP Halladay is 6-2 with a 2.03 ERA in nine starts on the road this season. Red Sox - The Red Sox placed RHP Matt Mantei on the 15-day DL Saturday with a left ankle ligament sprain and recalled LHP Abe Alvarez from Triple-A Pawtucket. ... CF Damon had a pair of doubles Saturday, extending his hitting streak to 18 games - the longest active run in the majors. The multihit game was his major league-leading 35th. ... LF Ramirez's homer was his 20th of the season, the 11th straight year he has reached the mark.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Blue Jays - 21-24 on the road; Red Sox - 24-13 at home.

INJURIES: Blue Jays - 3B Corey Koskie (thumb), 15-day DL. Red Sox - RHP Mantei (ankle), 15-day DL; RHP Curt Schilling (ankle), 15-day DL; OF Adam Stern (thumb), 60-day DL.

I'd coordinated with NU Five-Oh, and I knew that he wouldn't be posting, so he gave me the Mojo-go...odd that we would Mojo post at the same exact minute!

Lance Barksdale is behind the plate today per MLB Gameday. He's a pitcher's umpire: for whatever reason, his 3.55 Run Average is lowest of any MLB umpire who's called six or more games this season. I'm not sure exactly why--Barksdale calls a fair number of balls, he just hasn't allowed hits, runs or home runs very much.

Let's hope that he and Terry Francona have made up from last night!

Looks like popups will be an adventure today.

Let's hope that walks don't become an adventure.

Work the pitch count, clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.

Come on JD!! Career high hitting streak... lets hope the rest of the nine can hit halladay too.

First game thread post, yay!

wow! a red sock stealing a base! a rare treat

Hmm...I guess this is what happens when you're facing (one of) the best pitcher(s) in baseball.

So much for working the count.

2 first ball swinging outs. Against Roy Halliday.

16 pitches over the last 3 innings. Pitiful.

Not good - Halladay's only thrown 46 pitches after 4 innings. I'm even tempted to do some uni work rather than keep watching...

Edit: ok so now that two of us have put the pitch count info up it seems even more depressing!

Thankfully Tek isn't giving up! Nicely done captain.

ARGH!!!!!!

That sucks right there...what happened at home? I'm just following on CBS Sportsline.

Monster throw from center cut Rent down at the plate.

Was the out at home Sveum's fault or Renteria's fault or just a great 8-2 play by the Jays?

The latter. Perfect, strong throw.

He looked safe to me at first glance, that the foot got in there ahead of the tag. Unfortunately replay proved Blue correct. When you have a Cy Young winner on the ropes with 3 on and 0 out, putting up a goose egg might be a back breaker.

OK. I'm listening on WEEI, and I knew that the out was to shallow center field, so I was wondering whether Renteria should've tagged up and gone home at all.

Thanks!

It appeared deep enough, especially for Renteria.

Was a perfect play by Wells. Unfotunately, since that Halladay is looking very comfortable. And now it's over to the sturdy sox bullpen to keep the slim chance alive....

And Timlin lets some inherited runners score.

What's new?

Have to feel that walking Johnson may have been an option there. Very glad to see the back of him after this series.

I wonder what would happen to Embree and Mantei's ERA if you get rid of Timlin letting inherited runners score (or applied it at a league-average rate).

1. Gary Sheffield.
2. Miguel Tejada.
and now rocketing to the #3 spot, Reed Johnson.

Who are major league players I'd like to see eaten alive by mutant leeches?

Well it looks like the Sox aren't dead yet.

Edit: Looking ahead, I'd like to see a PH for Bellhorn. (Millar?)

Going into today, I believe Timlin has allowed 9 of 16 inherited runners to score. While it's not good, it's not too terrible either, especially since he's a setup man that doesn't lean heavily on the strikeout.

I'd like a Bellhorn walkoff please.

Edit: Or a Damon walkoff. That would work.

THAT'S IT, I DON'T WANNA SEE MAAAAHK BELLHOOONNE. I WANT DUSTIN PEDRORORORIA!

Alright Damon, it's time.

Is it just me, or is it time for another Red Sox commercial, to the tune of Tessie, accompanying a walkoff home run?

Edit: Or not. I'm going to scapegoat this one on Timlin. If it were a one-run game, Varitek (or possibly a PR) scores on Mueller's single and the game would be tied.

I smell a double down the RF line.

Your smeller don't work.

On a more positive note, the Orioles are down 5-0 in the 2nd inning.

Also positive is that the team in first place on the Fourth of July usually wins the division. Couldn't find a percentage of the time by using Google. Anybody have a number?

7 - 2 Injuns top of the seventh.