Game Time: 7:05 pm

Scheduled Starters: Kelvim Escobar (6-9, 3.88) v. Jon Lester (5-0, 3.04)

Boston weather: 1 pm observation at BOS: Wind out of the southwest at 16 mph, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 3,500 feet, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet, broken layer at 25,000 feet, temperature 91F, DP 71F.

Forecast: The NWS just issued a severe thunderstorm watch for all of Massachusetts until 9 pm. There is a line of potentially severe storms in NE NY State right now, moving into VT, and another line in central NY, moving east. Some of these storms could affect eastern MA around game time.

The layer of cumulus clouds that is forming to our west will keep some of the heating down, and that can mitigate thunderstorm formation to some extent. It does appear that we will get some storms in the area, though.

Right now we've got a hot, humid, unstable air mass over us, and we're likely to get wet before the day is over.

At game time the temperature will be in the upper 80's. The wind will be out of the west to southwest at 15-10 mph. That's blowing OUT.

They should be able to play the game, but there could be a rain delay, either at the beginning or during the game.

Stay tuned...

Anni

[codebox]LA Angels Boston
--------- ------

Pos Player HR RBI AVG. Pos Player HR RBI AVG.
--- ------ -- --- ---- --- ------ -- --- ----
3B Izturis, Maicer 2 19 .284 1B Youkilis, Kevin 11 47 .293
2B Kendrick, Howie 1 8 .280 2B Loretta, Mark 3 39 .309
SS Cabrera, Orlando 7 51 .292 DH Ortiz, David 34 95 .279
RF Guerrero, Vladimir 20 78 .316 LF Ramirez, Manny 28 79 .315
CF Rivera, Juan 15 50 .295 RF Nixon, Trot 7 47 .297
LF Anderson, Garret 8 51 .264 C Varitek, Jason 11 50 .242
DH Salmon, Tim 6 19 .266 3B Lowell, Mike 13 52 .294
C Napoli, Mike 12 29 .256 CF Crisp, Coco 4 20 .271
1B Quinlan, Robb 5 23 .308 SS Gonzalez, Alex 8 35 .276
P Escobar, Kelvim (6-9, 3.88) P Lester, Jon (5-0, 3.04)[/codebox]

Wow the kids are playing in LA these days huh. I love when Lester pitches, I'm such a fanboy.

The line of thunderstorms is inside Route 495 now. The leading edge of the rain will be in Boston by around 6:30. Right now it looks like the heavy cells will pass both north and south of Boston, so there may not be severe weather, but there will be about an hour of rain. Expect a rain delay, maybe until around 8 pm.

Anni

*MOJO* BOS vs LAA - Monkeys Day 1



Nothing entertains quite like our simian friends, and we certainly could use some primate love to counteract their "so 2002" Rally Monkey. Today, the lovable organ grinder's helper is around to remind the Sox to grind one out against the first of a group of 3 tough Anaheim (seriously, you're from Anaheim, get over yourself) starters. Just like Red Sox fans, the organ grinder's monkey doesn't need a scoreboard to tell him when to clap and cheer, he just knows it on his monkey instincts.

Jingle your little cup, monkey, and lets see the Red Sox donate some runs for you.

It's getting dark and quite ominous here in Cambridge. The National Weather Service says there are severe thunderstorm warnings for the next few hours, and I believe it.

The severe storm is over Arlington now. I expect that it will be raining in Boston by 7 pm. The game will not be able to start until at least 8 pm, maybe later.

You back East guys and your weather! At least baseball can be played in heat waves. I better stfu or the weather gods will get me when I'm back there in August.

Just announced...

The game is delayed. No start time has been given yet.

Game delayed


The Red Sox have just announced that tonight's game has been delayed due to heavy rains. Right now, it is pouring at Fenway, as sheets of rain are pouring down on the field. The rain is falling so hard that the bullpens in rightfield are not visible from the press box. There are also high winds and thunder and lighting. The rain is expected to last at least one hour, according to the team. The grounds crew has placed the tarp on the field and fans were evacuated from the Monster Seats.

It looks like a start around 8:30. We'll update as we get more info.

I just hope the Angels used all their runs up Wednesday when I saw them at the trop. They found every hole there was to be found.

Please post the anticipated start time when someone hears!

Thanks Annie!

I know there is a delay but it's not even listed on DirecTV's on-screen schedule. According to their website the game is supposed to be on channel 736 but the on-screen schedule lists an upcoming game for Saturday with the Mariners and Indians for that channel.

Does anyone know what is going on?

Anni, I have a question for ya.... I was wondering do you think its possible to have doubleheader games for tomorrow if tonight game is totally washed out? like 1:05 PM then 2nd game starts at 8:05 something like that, I hope not tho!

Still a steady rain as I type this.

They could do that, but right now it looks like they are going to try to get this game in. This game is in the hands of the umpires because the Angels won't be coming back to Boston.

The back edge of the rain shield is right around Route 128 (I-95 for you out-of-towners), and the line is moving east at around 35 mph, so the rain should clear out of Boston in about a half hour. After that they'll need to get the tarp off the field and do a little landscaping in the infield.

Looks like a 9 pm start?

I hope they get this game in...we need a W tonight, as the Yanks are beating up on the Devil Rays. Or perhaps I should say the Devil Rays are beating themselves. 6 walks in 3 1/3 innings plus an error that led to two unearned runs. Cocrcoran being lifted for Harville, Yanks lead 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded and 1 out.

When's the latest that they would start this game? I mean, they wouldn't wait till midnight.

They just announced a 9:05 start time.

It's delayed on NESN.

I just checked the radio, but it's in a commercial.

I'll let everyone know if it's delayed there as well.

Some rain delay entertainment... Foulke starting for the Spinners.

1st inning:
2 infiels pop-ups, 1 swinging strike out. 12 pitches- 10 strikes. No mention of speed on your home for Vermont Lake Monster radio.

There's someone warming in the pen so I guess he gets just one inning tonight.

Wow - for some reason, I hear the transmittal in Morse code.

Ricky No-lasco loses his No-hitter with 2 out in the 7th...

mlb.tv has brought the game up for viewing so we are getting close.

Hmm... I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Anyway, Travis Beasley followed Foulke up with a perfect inning of his own. Now I'm bored.

Mike Lowell kicks off Mike Lowell night with a 2-bagger.

I need to see a good at bat from Coco.

Runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1 out...I'd rather have Gonzo batting.

Coco has to make contact there..... very frustrating not to score atleast one ...

I wish Coco would display the power he had last year.

35 pitches for Lester- now lets get some runs-
As for Coco I want to like him- but his routes to balls is getting weird, I do like his new aggressiveness going after balls, I don't like his seemingly always swing hard at all that is thrown his way, would like to see him swing to make contact and slap a few around.

I think Youkilis better change his bat there must be a hole in that one.

We should be able to do something to Escobar.

Nice pick off by Lester. Here's hoping the slumbering bats wake up now.

we shall see

I hate Trupe, with a passion.

Idiot fans. He could have been held to a single.

How much would it suck for Lester to pitch this well and possibly be dealt his first loss?

Neat to see Lester give that little hint of a fist pump on that K realizing that he is trailing by a run.

Gonzo, baby!

Anyone think Loretta should intentionally strike out so he doesn't possibly GIDP?

EDIT: Goddamnit, Loretta.

isn't it frustrating to be 1-1 after we left guys on second and third with one out, and now again a man on third with one out with a DP? This really sucks!
He might have as well struck out leaving Ortiz with the chance...

This team has an LOB issue...

Hopefully crisp can get his act together to get him out of that 2 hole...damn

You just knew Loretta was going to do that; nothing worse than an inning ending DP with Ortiz on deck.

What is it with these on/off-the-bag calls?

10-5 GB-FB, 2 K's, 0 BB's. I like this left handed version of Brandon Webb. No walks either!

And with a serious offense, he would be in line for the win. Oh, those LOB's really stink...

Let's get runs now, please!

Ortiz meant that.
Really.

That is pure comedy.

RUN BIG MAN RUN!

Brutal AB by Tek; can no one on this team hit a fly ball with runner on third?

it's DISGUSTING the way we're stranding guys at third with less than 2 outs. I mean, we couldn't score with man at third an nobody out and the heart of the order up!

We're really begging to lose. I can't believe we're back to early season poor RISP hitting... I thought it was a thing of the past.

An extra run would have really helped now...

Pardon me as I haven't been able to pay much attention tonight, but what was Lester's PC at going into the 7th?