[RedSoxAnni]

Game time: 8:10 pm EDT (7:10 pm CDT)

Scheduled starters: Josh Beckett (1-2, 5.03) v. Nick Blackburn (0-1, 5.56)

The game will be on NESN, MLBN, and WEEI

Minneapolis weather: 4 pm CDT (5 pm EDT) observation at KMSP: Wind calm, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 71F, DP 37F

Forecast: It will be in the upper 60s at game time, with a light wind blowing in from right. It will start to cloud up later in the evening, with a chance of rain, most likely after midnight.

[RedSoxAnni]

Boston                                  Minnesota                             
 ------                                  ---------                             
 
 Pos  Player               HR  RBI  AVG. Pos  Player              HR  RBI  AVG.
 ---  ------               --  ---  ---- ---  ------              --  ---  ----
  SS  Aviles, Mike          2    8  .291  CF  Span, Denard         0    2  .324 
  RF  Sweeney, Ryan         0    6  .400  SS  Carroll, Jamey       0    6  .246 
  2B  Pedroia, Dustin       3    6  .295  1B  Mauer, Joe           1    9  .313 
  1B  Gonzalez, Adrian      2   10  .267  LF  Willingham, Josh     5   12  .311 
  DH  Ortiz, David          2   12  .441  DH  Morneau, Justin      4    6  .236 
  3B  Youkilis, Kevin       1    5  .174   C  Doumit, Ryan         1   10  .245 
  LF  Ross, Cody            5   13  .283  3B  Valencia, Danny      1    7  .220 
  CF  Byrd, Marlon          0    0  .250  RF  Parmelee, Chris      0    2  .273 
   C  Shoppach, Kelly       0    3  .375  2B  Plouffe, Trevor      0    0  .125 
   P  Beckett, Josh (1-2, 5.03)            P  Blackburn, Nick (0-1, 5.56)

[RedSoxAnni]

I guess we found the answer. Face lousy pitching.

[rominer]

I feel as though I am witnessing a rape.

I am less than impressed by this strike zone.

[SoxAroundTheWorld]

I'm OK with the Twins getting one in every inning in which the Sox score three. Really.

[Lyford]

Can't blame Beckett for being upset. You keep throwing pitches on the corner at the knees and the umpire keeps calling them balls? Not cool.

[rominer]

SoxAroundTheWorld, on 24 April 2012 - 07:53 PM, said:

I'm OK with the Twins getting one in every inning in which the Sox score three. Really.

I'm not ok with Josh Beckett having to throw 37 pitches in an inning because the umpire is issuing 2-ball, 8 strike walks.

[Cambridge]

Having Aviles bunt in that situation is beyond stupid. Valentine is clearly way over his head managing in the big leagues.

[SoxAroundTheWorld]

Having Papi hit a home run in that situation, however, was pure genius. I'd suggest that they do more of that, and less of that bunty thingy.

[RedSoxAnni]

THAT was a lot better than the bunt!

[Cambridge]

Aviles reminding his unclear-on-the-concept manager that he has been swinging the bat well.

[rominer]

Youkilis starting to emerge from his coma.

[rominer]

Don Orsillo has apparently not checked the standings recently.

[BigSlick]

That list I made of players I want to see in 2013... maybe Mike Aviles deserved at least a thought.

[rominer]

BigSlick, on 24 April 2012 - 08:55 PM, said:

That list I made of players I want to see in 2013... maybe Mike Aviles deserved at least a thought.

He would have caught that ball if you didn't open your mouth.

[BigSlick]

There's no way the Red Sox can blow a 9 run lead right?*


*I mean twice in 3 games.

rominer, on 24 April 2012 - 09:06 PM, said:

He would have caught that ball if you didn't open your mouth.

I know.

[The Ghost of Ned Martin]

They will not blow this lead tonight. I may hate John Henry and be super pessimistic about this team but I'm not a pussy.

Nor should any of you be.

[BigSlick]

Why would a pitcher ever throw Cody Ross a fastball? He crushes them and can't hit anything else.

[rominer]

The Ghost of Ned Martin, on 24 April 2012 - 09:11 PM, said:

They will not blow this lead tonight. I may hate John Henry and be super pessimistic about this team but I'm not a pussy.

Nor should any of you be.

If you're the threshold for "not a pussy," then I'm not sure how any of us could be a pussy.

[FishCake]

Please keep playing like this.