Game time: 2:05 pm

Scheduled starters: Joe Blanton (8-8, 4.95) v. Kyle Snyder (1-0, 10.29)


Boston weather: 10 am observation at BOS: Wind variable at 3 mph, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 4,500 feet, temperature 83F, DP 69F

Forecast: A "triple H" day - hot, hazy, and humid...

The haze layer will develop as the day goes on... The day will have a tropical feel, with the dew point getting into the low 70's. There's practically no wind now, but there's a light pressure gradient over NE, and that could set up a sea breeze by early afternoon, which would mean the wind would be blowing in. That's also likely to keep the coastal areas about 5 -10 degrees cooler than the interior, where it will get into the mid-90's.

There's a slight chance that we could see some high clouds by the end of the afternoon - remnants from a system that brought rain to southern Ontario yesterday. If that happens, we won't get as much heating; that's what kept it cooler than forecast yesterday.

[codebox]Oakland Boston
------- ------

Pos Player HR RBI AVG. Pos Player HR RBI AVG.
--- ------ -- --- ---- --- ------ -- --- ----
C Kendall, Jason 1 22 .264 1B Youkilis, Kevin 10 44 .291
2B Ellis, Mark 4 18 .220 2B Loretta, Mark 3 37 .302
CF Kotsay, Mark 6 32 .254 DH Ortiz, David 32 90 .280
DH Thomas, Frank 19 48 .243 LF Ramirez, Manny 24 66 .305
RF Payton, Jay 5 33 .280 RF Nixon, Trot 6 44 .308
SS Crosby, Bobby 8 35 .232 3B Lowell, Mike 12 50 .303
LF Kielty, Bobby 3 18 .294 C Varitek, Jason 9 41 .238
1B Melhuse, Adam 3 14 .234 CF Crisp, Coco 4 15 .268
3B Scutaro, Marco 1 17 .218 SS Gonzalez, Alex 5 28 .280
P Blanton, Joe (8-8, 4.95) P Snyder, Kyle (1-0, 10.29) [/codebox]

It was smart of the A's manager to keep Milton out of the lineup, he was near vintage bradley last night

I have a question that I'm not sure if anyone will know the answer to....

I don't live in the New England area. I have the MLB package have always been able to get the pre-game shows on my directv dish...until Friday. The program has not been available in my area for the last 3 days. Would anyone happen to know why this might be? Am I going to have to learn to live without my pre-game show from now on?

Any information would be greatly appreciated...


Thanks

I wonder if the RedSox know how many RedSox fans outside of New England watch the Sox on Directv. It's got to be in the tens of thousands yet they instructed Directv to black out all baseball related programs(presumably on MLB orders)without any explanation or comment.
It's grossly unfair, other teams don't do it, the Dish isn't doing it.
Are we not even worthy of an explanation? I'm very dissapointed in the sox owners that I've strongly supported the last few years.

See this thread...

I just got a HDTV last night, and I have DirecTV. So how do I get NESN in high definition? Or don't I? Someone please let me know. Thanks!




I just talked to DirecTV...according to who I talked to it has something to do with other games being on right now which "has rights" to that time slot, which is why the pregame is blacked out. This must be a new thing, and I still don't understand it.

Bob G

If you're in the New England area, you should be able to get NESN-HD starting Tuesday the 18th. You will need the H20 receiver and the new AT9 dish (it will be spot-beamed using MPEG4 technology on one of the new birds). You should be able to get a free/cheap upgrade if you need one.

No Swisher either. Ray Fosse said you could see the imprint of the ball, stitches and all, everything except Selig's signature on his ribcage. Swisher is really pissed. In pre-game interview with Macha, he "indicated" that there would be no more retaliation. We'll see.

But what if I live in California?

Bob G

Game on. Kendall gets a hit off his red neck. Any decent chance for Lowell to get him?

And that's why Ellis should've won the GG last year.

Wow. Big Frank is excruciatingly slow. He can still rake though.

His legs are shot, obviously.

Farking White Sox down 6 - 2 already. I hope they lose 70% of their games the rest of the year. Sick of hearing 'the wild card will come out of the Central'.

Snyder's looked pretty good so far. He's definitely better than Jason Johnson.

I'll agree about the wild card statement. While sitting in the bleachers at the Red Sox - White Sox game last sunday (the freaking 19 inning one), one of the White Sox fans around me said "You know, if the White Sox were in the East, they'd be in first place". My response.... "If the White Sox were in the East, they'd be the Blue Jays"

Good response. I hope he didn't take a swing at you! Nah, only in NY.

Coco Crisp...I'd rather have Jay Payton right now.

Snyder is dealing

I would be watching the sportsticker, something is definitely going to be going down with the White Sox, they can't continue like this



Crisp has been improving his approach against pitchers, he is definitely more patient. I would like to see him on base more often so that he can use his speed, that is certainly one dimension of our offense that needs improvement. But, I also think he is a better fielder and a much better teammate than Payton.

Sounded like a great catch by Manny.

Have to get some runs off Blanton, he of the one barbecue pork sandwich away from a fat farm.

That sucks for Big Frank. I really like him.

DP!

what happened to Thomas?

What happened to Frank?

Swisher PH for him. Apparently he hurt his foot on his last AB running to first.

Thanks. Frank's gotta be in his last year. He needs to hit one 400 feet to even get a double.

Edit, now A's radio guys saying Frank left due to illness.

(*^&^(*% Payton. Trade Coco for him. Right now.

You're kidding, right?

****. It's Marco ****ing Scutaro.

UGH! and Seanez is warming

The man has got some sack. Finish the job, Kyle.

*****************

So close.

Ugh.

Drop some K-Bombs, Rudy.

Jesus. I hate when impatient hitters (remember the Francouer HR?) do that.

What a brutal series (except for last night).

A save is awarded for securing a win.

What's the stat for securing a loss?

The loss thursday really hurts...... They had that game.... Friday night they got blown out and today I expected them to lose anyways.... Sorry but the way this offense has been swinging, I don't see a way they come back from it. They all seem to be ice cold at the same time...

don't be mean to Seanez. He allowed only one line drive, and only one inherited runner to score.
He can do worse, we know that.

Anyway, it's by no means on Snyder and Seanez. If our offense doesn't show up, then no way we can win.

Unbelievable how we allowed a ton of hits and runs to the worst AL offense...

damn, as soon as I turned it on it was 0-0 but just a few blinks its 5-0 just like that! This may be one of the worst series I ever seen at Fens for this season!

The offense has been asleep ever since the 19 inning game in Chicago.

Edit: Thank god for our slugging shortstop.

AGone gets one back.

Youk has not been seeing the ball very well for the past few weeks

Seanez is still pitching. There goes all hope. I'm listening to the game on XM. The announcers were saying "Rudy, has had problems with the first batter. It's a given this season." Rudy has had problems with all batters. If no one is at the plate, I bet he's MarianoF&*kingRivera.

I hate Seanez.

Who was that guy and what did he do with Rudy Seanez?

The A's broadcasters are having a ball with Rudy. They just said they'd love if the Sox leave him for a couple of innings. Then they mentioned all the places he's been for his entire career including his minor league stops. It almost took them a whole minute. I thought they were reciting the lyrics to that "I've been everywhere man" Johnny Cash song.

PS....to do it justice they did mention he had a great year last year with the Pads. Of course that was last year and his team weren't the Sox.

What the hell is wrong with you? He's given up 1 hit in 1 1/3.

Mark Loretta is pretty good at making outs. But no, no one will call him out. The key to success in this town is to have total shit range so you don't make any errors and have the media fellate the shit out of you.

Man, like all of the Sox (except for Manny, Papi, Lowell) have been horrible this month, absolutely filthy in a bad way.

On the bright side however: Coco's OBP is about 100 points higher than his avg in July, he appears to be finally learning how to take walks. Is this possibly a sign of things to come?

I love you Manny, but what the **** was that?

Manny being Manny.

Rivera in for the ninth. Sox close to being up by 1/2 only, and even in the lost column. You would not believe how piss poor the A's were playing before they came to Boston.

You don't make the third out at third base Manny.

No.......Manny.......I can't believe this the ball was almost on Kotsay's glove when he was rounding second............

Well now we know what EEI will talk about for the next two weeks.

Manny was really silly.

Youkilis is hitting .288, his OBP is below .400. Before today he was .143/.285 in July. I think he should move down the order. The problem is that we're all just slumping together.

I can't believe we're playing this poorly.

Rivera was actually in for all three outs of the 8th after Farnsworth gave up a solo shot & let the next 2 guys on.

Rivera got out of that unscathed, but the WS have 2 on & no out in the 9th down 6-4.

Edit: Double play. goddamn it. Dye up as the tying run. Where have I seen that before?

Totally agree there. I follow this team closely too and they weren't hitting a lick. While everybody in the AL was kicking NL butt these guys scored like 3 runs in a three game series at Coors, got swept by Arizona in Oakland and dropped 3 out of 4 against the rival Angels to let them back in the pennant chase.

I am scratching my head here, can't believe this is happening.

Over in the Bronx. So much for a meaningful lead in the AL East.