Game time: 7:10 pm

Scheduled starters: David Wells (9-5, 4.45) v. Johan Santana (10-6, 3.65)

The Game will be on NESN.

Game weather...still indoors.

Well, so much for my solo mojo debut. I looked more like Bobby Sprowl out there than Billy Rohr. Or, for more recent comparisons, more like Cla Meredith than Jon Paplebon. But I must go back out there and try again. Because honestly, that's what you gotta do in times like these, right?

Today's mojo is a simple one, for a big game ahead. As we know there's several interesting characters on the Boston Red Sox. You got Millar whose the quintessential blabbermouth, Big Papi one of the friendliest and affectionate dudes out there, the guitar playing curveball throwing Bronson Arroyo, but none compare with the ultimate character. To describe this one man, is to try to give a reason for why the stars shine at night. There's nobody out there like him, and for that I am glad....today's mojo is



Manny Being Manny" Mojo! Each day, hopefully for as long as humanly possible, we focus one one amusing Manny story after another. We give our love to the man whose mind isn't always there, but his bat will always be swinging for the home team. Well, hopefully. Sometimes, all you can do is just say "Well, that's just Manny Being Manny"

Today's moment comes from 2004 in probably what was his best defensive play ever. It was a chilly September evening against the New York Yankees. Bronson Arroyo was pitching very decently and didn't have much run support. With the scored tied at 1-1, Bronson Arroyo served up what seemed to be a tailor made HR ball to Miguel Cairo. It went sailing towards left field. However, Manny had other plans.

He had reported in the papers after the game that he had "thought about robbing a HR" thinking it'd be cool, and well wouldn't you know? He did it

Click here for pic because it's too big

Now the best part is yet to come....Miguel Cairo thinks he has a HR and circles the bases all in celebratory mode. Suddenly, he gets word as he gets to the dugout that he is out. The reaction that took place there was priceless and I greatly regret not having a picture to accompany it.

Now you may be asking "How the hell do I celebrate Manny being Manny mojo" Well that's quite simple. Just cheer on the team, hoping they'd be like Manny. Minus the unforgiveable brain farts that lead to runs scored. Oh and to celebrate, hope for the Miguel Cairo Face to appear on the faces of all the Twinkies as our outfields rob them of HRs and base hits. Because, well, the Miguel Cairo Face is priceless.



Let Manny be Manny and may the Red Sox win

You see? This why we will eventually have to debate whether we should waive the five year wait for induction into the RR HOF when Piney hangs up her keyboard.

Bobby Sprowl? I'd be willing to be very few people, even among fanatical RSNers, would even know who this is.

Billy Rohr? All I have to say about Billy Rohr is that I was not yet a teenager when Rohr pitched his near no hitter.

Piney, it is humbling to be in the presence of true greatness.

Now I know what it must have been like to play with a young Willie Mays.

If she's a young Willie Mays of posters, I guess you must be Satchel Paige, eh?

I once saw Bobby Sprowl PITCH for the Sox. He was the Jon Papelbon of 1979.

Didn't Sprowl once take one (bullet) for the team.

Well, because of him, Bob Watson ended up on the Red Sox, and he's been shooting us ever since...

Transactions
June 7, 1977: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 2nd round of the 1977 amateur draft.

June 19, 1979: Sent by the Boston Red Sox to the Houston Astros to complete an earlier deal made on June 13, 1979. The Boston Red Sox sent a player to be named later, Pete Ladd, and cash to the Houston Astros for Bob Watson. The Boston Red Sox sent Bobby Sprowl (June 19, 1979) to the Houston Astros to complete the trade.

Yanks are losing by two in the bottom of the fifth as we speak, and Johnson's line looked a little bit like this:



Nothing makes me happier than seeing RJ continue to struggle going into August. Also, I know this may have been talked about somewhere else, but I'll ask in here since he is pitching tonight. What is the update with Wells' suspension?

Agreed about RJ struggling. Toronto has run themselves out of two innings and left a ton of men on base. Could have been a lot worse for the big ugly. Just get a W, GD-it, Toronto.

Tonight's home plate umpire is Tim McClelland. Tim McClelland calls balls: his 47.4% ball percentage is second among full-time MLB umpires this season, and his 1.56 K/BB ratio is lowest among full-time umps.

We've got David Wells pitching tonight. Wells doesn't throw balls--he's walked 12 in 117.1 IP this season. (If you throw more strikes you get to the beer cooler faster--that may or may not have a causal relationship with his stats.) Johan Santana doesn't walk many batters, either, but 29 BB in 150.1 IP is almost double Wells' walk rate. Furthermore, Santana's facing a lineup filled with guys who know the strike zone. Tonight he's gonna hafta pitch strikes.

You need every edge you can get when facing Santana. Getting McClelland behind the plate could be a little bit of an edge.

You need an edge

Yep = the kid had ice water in his veins....

Agreed. When Wells does occasionally get squeezed, it pisses him off ever more viscerally, because he knows he throws strikes. And because balls lengthen his time between pitch one and beer one.

The question is, if there is an edge in tonight's game, who is standing upon it?

Hey, SSA, I think I recognize the spot in that photo. Isn't it a ridge on one of those New Hampshire mountains in the southern part of the Presidential Range, where on a clear day with good binoculars you can see Fenway Park? I understood that next year you'll have to pay three bucks for viewing rights to climb up there during home games...

Old friend Jay Hillenbrand hits a 2 run HR, 8 - 4!

Yes, that's exactly right, and if you look closely, you can see where Paul K. Williams has already been out there to drill the holes for the sign-posts.

Of course, if someone were to drop in from Texas or something that's never been to New England, they might actually believe that pic is from NH.

Nah... We don't have sedimentary rocks in our mountain areas!

Are you calling us ignaceous? Are you? Cuz if you are, we have a real problem. I ain't from no IGNACEOUS region!!!

Edit: I certainly HOPE you are referring to our tectonicacity.

Some of you guys are just plain metamorphic!

Metamorphic, metaphoric, what's the difference?

This would be a good time for Manny to resume crushing lefties...

Tek has been unbelievable this year for us. He has suddenly become a good clutch hitter.

BTW, Sheff homered to start the ninth against Toronto. They are still losing by 3 and AROD struck out looking in the next AB.

Well, we got a run off Santana in the first, that's a good thing...

Now let's hope for a good one from the Rotund One.

Hmm, should I watch the Sox or the tape-delayed American Bowl from Tokyo?

Yankees lose behind the big ugly. 8 - 4.

Any ideas for the nickname of the Wells-Garces duo if El Guapo makes the big league team?

Roly and Poly.

The more I watch Fat Bastard pitch, the more I am convinced that no one else is even a candidate to start a Game 1 of a playoff series. Good for Wells, but not exactly a comforting thought...

I think he gets the nod just based on experience (assuming Schill isn't back in the rotation, of course.)

That was probably the fattest pitcher/batter matchup I've seen in a while.

Two Tons of Fun

Tastes Great/Less Filling.

Those 2 fat bastards who pitch for the Red Sox...

Yeah, I think we have a winner.

The Fat Pack?

I just don't see why Millar is playing everyday. If there's one thing Theo has done wrong this whole year, it's letting Millar be our everyday first basemen. I love his attitude towards the game and his teammates, but there's a point when you're not producing, and when you reach that point you need to be benched. Or at least not played as often. If we bring Petagine up, stick him in there for two straight games. Either he steps up or he doesn't.

Maybe we should've traded for Shealy, he's doing quite well so far with the Rockies.

Nice, Edgah. Too bad the Twins channel can't show a single decent angle of that play.

Except for Millar's flop at that single, there has been some nice infield play so far.

While I'd like to see Petagine starting against every RHP, I wouldn't have started him against Santana.

Let me start this by saying I cannot stand Millar. Now, having said that, exactly who else should be playing first tonight?

Gotta love the way Kapler's BA went from .214 to .267 with that double.

Oh, yeah, kudos to Sveum for holding Kapler at third on Damon's no-outs single.

We need a metric.

I love 8 pitch innings.

No that's true, I agree. It was more of a general statement/complain about Millar.

It also looks like Big Papi is in a little bit of a slump. Hopefully he'll break out of it soon!!

OK...

1) Outfield assists by opposing teams;

2) Actual runs - linear weights runs;

3) Record in one-run games

4) Number of posts in the Dale Sveum thread

Kevin please make your next at-bat your breakout at-bat haha. You hit .297 last year. Just remember that, please.

Probably not a bad foundation, since it takes into account a variable (#4) that is hard to randomize as necessary, yet quantifies an intangible permutation somewhat, eh?

What's the comparison factor?

Uh oh, Orson's got himself in some trouble here.

Somebody get the man some beer, quick!

This sucks.

Where has David Wells gone?