Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Aug 25, 2010, 10:44 am
Apparently Johnny Damon is more concerned with competing for a losing team than getting into a playoff race. Damon rejected a return to Boston based on Detroit manager Jim Leyland telling him that he would keep playing. At least that is what he says. But I think, and a lot of people think, Damon tur...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Aug 19, 2010, 11:35 am
As the Sox slowly try to field the lineup they envisioned all year long (dealt another blow by Ellsbury's glass-like ribs), they have fought to keep up with the Yanks and Rays in the AL East. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games, including last night's 7-5 win over the Angels. But Boston still finds ...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Aug 12, 2010, 9:59 am
With the wheels continuing to fall off the Tampa bandwagon (2-6 in their last eight games), Boston has slowly, steadily, come up right behind them. With Boston's convincing 10-1 win in Toronto last night the Sox are just 3.5 games behind the Rays for the AL wild card spot. And just five back of the ...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Aug 10, 2010, 12:14 pm
Anyone who is complaining about Boston's split in New York needs to have their head examined. And yes, I have heard a couple of complaints. Here's how I see it; if you are missing your two best position players and your bullpen is in shambles, and you go into the Bronx and take two from the Yankees,...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Aug 4, 2010, 11:29 am
Last night was a microcosm of Boston's season. The Sox won a thrilling 3-1 game over the Indians, gained a game on the Yankees, got a stellar performance from Beckett and a great reappearance from Lowell...but lose Youkilis to a freak thumb injury. An injury that could possibly result in a season-en...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Aug 2, 2010, 12:06 pm
After surviving what could have been a season-killing 10 game swing out west, the Sox came home to take two of three from the Tigers. Not that they made it easy; both wins came in the bottom of the ninth. But a win is a win is a win, and now the Sox sit just 6.5 back of the Yankees and 5.5 back of t...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jul 29, 2010, 10:38 am
With Red Sox fans on the verge of a mental collapse and airwave pundits declaring the season all but over, Boston reminded everyone why they cannot be counted out of the post-season race. At least, not yet. The Sox, after blowing a doable sweep in Seattle, responded by sweeping the Angels. The Sox ...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jul 26, 2010, 10:24 am
After a promising start in Seattle, the Sox saw the final two games slip away to leave them with a split. They stand at 3-4 on this road trip and are now eight games back of the Yankees in the AL East race, five behind the Rays for the wild card. The Sox are in a bit of a bind now. Their latest glar...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jul 23, 2010, 12:57 pm
That was the ugliest win I have ever seen for Boston. Lackey comes within breathing distance of a no-hitter before Delcarmen and Papelbon combine to blow the win in the ninth (with a nice assist from a Bill Hall throwing error). And then it takes until the 13th inning for the Sox to finally win. But...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jul 19, 2010, 4:11 pm
Yes, the numbers can be misleading. But for the 600th straight home game, the Sox had a sellout. The streak began on May 15, 2003, and has since surpassed the previous MLB record of 455, set by the Indians between 1995-2001. ... The longest recorded regular-season sellout streak in American profes...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jul 19, 2010, 10:34 am
I think we saw this weekend Boston's big challenge right now: generating runs. Against the Rangers the Sox never scored more than four runs in one game. The last time they scored more than four runs was in a 9-5 loss to the Jays on July 10. And while Boston still needs pitching help in the form of B...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jul 13, 2010, 10:15 am
Aviv may be on here later with a more in-depth memorial for George Steinbrenner. But I wanted to just add my two cents in now on his death this morning. George Steinbrenner was, to a Boston fan, our worst nightmare. He was the embodiment of our most bitter rival. Worst of all was that, until recentl...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jul 12, 2010, 11:26 am
With Boston's 3-2 win over the Jays on Sunday, the Sox reached the halfway point of the 2010 season. Last year, the Sox were in first with a 54-34 record. This year, they are five back of the Yankees with a 51-37 record. So despite all the injuries and the massive slumps, Boston is just three games ...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jul 7, 2010, 10:57 am
When Kevin Youkilis went down yesterday with an ankle injury, one that seems to be blessedly minor, were any of you really surprised? This kind of random injury is almost common-place these days.  2010 has been the Year of the Crutch in Boston. Here is the 2010 starting lineup most people project...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jul 5, 2010, 11:03 am
Well, we now have the rosters choices for the All-Star Game. And while no Sox made the starting nine for the AL, six players were named to the reserves. Buchholz, Lester, Beltre, Martinez, Ortiz and Pedroia all made the grade, and all six deserve to be on the team. While it is disappointing no Bost...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jun 21, 2010, 11:53 am
I'll be honest; I had serious doubts Clay Buchholz would ever tap into his obvious wellspring of pitching talent. I had no problems entertaining ideas about him on the trading block. He looked like the proverbial player who just never quite plays up to his ability. Well, I was wrong. Theo Epstein ke...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jun 20, 2010, 10:57 am
Does anyone else remember the blind panic back in April? The absolute fear that the Red Sox were done? Finished? Doomed to finish fourth in the AL East? Well, I think we can say that, for now, those fears have been proven hollow. With Boston's thrilling 5-4 win over the Dodgers at Fenway on Saturda...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jun 16, 2010, 10:08 am
No, Clay Buchholz did not have his best stuff last night, scoreline and K/BB ratio to the contrary. But he did what he needed to do, the batters did what they needed to do and the result was a 6-3 win for the Sox over Arizona. It's not often that a pitcher can exhibit the control to strike out eigh...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jun 15, 2010, 1:15 pm
What has been most remarkable about Boston's recent run of play is that they've been doing it while carrying a lot of injured players. How well would they be playing with a full roster?  Two-thirds of their starting outfield has been absent most of the year. Jaocby Ellsbury is still out and has pla...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jun 9, 2010, 10:55 am
I'm almost asking myself why I am writing this. During my hiatus, the Red Sox basically turned the dial up to 11 and stomped their way up AL East ladder. Now they sit just four games out of first and just two games behind the Yankees for what would currently be the wild-card slot in the post-season....
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Jun 8, 2010, 9:47 am
You'll have to forgive our long absence. We've been doing a lot of life- and work-related things that have taken us away from SvS these past few weeks. But that is winding up now and soon we'll be back to talking about the Sox and Yanks. And why the Sox are better than the Yankees. - Dave
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 26, 2010, 11:44 am
Where are the doomsayers? Where are the complaining and prostate pink hats? Where are all the voices that were telling us that Boston's season was over before we even had a chance to grill some burgers on Memorial Day? I don't know and frankly, I don't care. But they've been shut up by a stellar ru...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 24, 2010, 6:00 am
After Boston's 11-9 loss to New York, people were writing off the Sox. All the pink-hats were bailing, trying to sell off their tickets because Boston has the audacity to not be in first place. Sports pundits were talking about who the Sox should trade for prospects. All before two months of the...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 21, 2010, 11:38 am
Jon Lester showed yesterday that he is the best pitcher right now on Boston's staff and might be the best left-handed starter in the majors. His complete-game, 6-2 win over the Twins was a dominant performance. A performance that reflects the fact that, with 101 starts, Lester has a better win p...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 20, 2010, 1:53 pm
I thought that last night's pitching matchup was a good one for the Sox. I figured that even if Clay Buchholz got tagged for four or five runs, the Sox could get that off of Minnesota's Scott Baker. What I didn't expect was for Clay Buchholz to pitch brilliantly in a 3-2 Boston win. Over...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 19, 2010, 1:45 pm
For the second night in a row, the Sox found themselves in a 5-0 hole against the Yankees. For the second night in a row, the Sox came back to take a two-run lead into the ninth. But unlike Tuesday night, Jonathan Papelbon did just enough to get the save and snag a crucial 7-6 win for the Sox. No o...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 18, 2010, 2:44 pm
Get ready for it, Boston fans. After last night's down/up/down tilt with the Yankees that ended with Boston losing 11-9 on two two-run blasts in the bottom of the ninth, all hell should be breaking loose on the Intertubes today. And most of it will focus on Jonathan Papelbon and Theo Epstein. I...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 17, 2010, 2:23 pm
I wish I could do a proper post but work has been (and continues to be) hellacious. Suffice it to say, a promising start went south in a hurry. The bullpen imploded on Saturday (although Papelbon was stellar). But Sunday was worse, with the Sox stranding 10 runners in scoring position against Gala...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 14, 2010, 11:54 am
With the Sox having the day off, I thought it might be nice to see how some of the big names in the system are doing so far. These are guys whom you may have heard mentioned in trade rumors, talked about as future stars and the like. Casey Kelly: Kelly is the recognized #1 prospect in Boston's...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 13, 2010, 10:58 am
I don't like it when people complain about an umpire's strike zone as if it cost their team the game. There are always other, larger factors involved. But I think it is fair to say that in Boston's 3-2 loss to Toronto yesterday afternoon, Dale Scott sure didn't do Boston any favors l...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 12, 2010, 10:50 am
Ummm...where has this Daisuke been hiding for the past 1+ years? I like this model; he pounds the strike zone and goes after hitters. He doesn't walk batters. And he makes it very, very easy for the Red Sox to blow past the Blue Jays 6-1 and go two games over .500 for the first time this season....
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 11, 2010, 1:36 pm
Well, last night's game did nothing to argue against the reputation Al East games have for being long. The first two innings in Boston's 7-6 win over Toronto took over an hour and twenty minutes thanks to control problems from both starting pitchers. But at the end of the day, Boston's p...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 10, 2010, 12:16 pm
I am utterly grateful to Jon Lester for a couple of reasons. First, he dominated the Yankees and led the Sox to a 9-3 win that they desperately needed. Second, in winning that game and avoiding the sweep, Lester spared me and millions of others a week of "OHMYGODTHESKYISFALLINGFIRETITOANDTHEOWHYDID...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 8, 2010, 7:00 am
In a few months, and we hope a few years, when the details of Friday's 10-3 New York Yankees' victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway back fades into the recesses of our memories, it will be remembered vividly by one special kid. Earlier in the day Nick Swisher visiting the Boston Childre...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 7, 2010, 3:50 pm
It didn't look good at the beginning of yesterday's 11-6 win over the Angels. Daisuke had gotten the pattern exactly backwards, having his worst inning right off the bat. Putting the Sox in 4-0 hole to start the game...I thought he was done. But then, somehow, the old Daisuke reasserted its...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 6, 2010, 2:53 pm
The Red Sox have now taken three straight from the Angels, including last night's 3-1 victory. In the process, Boston's starters have allowed just six runs in those three games. They've nailed the Angels on two of three steal attempts. The law firm of Delcarmen, Bard and Papelbon have al...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 5, 2010, 11:22 am
We made our Internet radio debut last night on This Call To The Bullpen hosted by Steve Keane of the Ed Kranepool Society blog. You can hear the interview in its entirety here.
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 4, 2010, 1:01 pm
Red Sox by The Numbers is, as the cover says, "A Complete Team History of the Boston Red Sox by Uniform Number." Written by Bill Nowlin and Matthew Silverman, it takes what could be a very dry topic and turns it into an enjoyable read through Boston's past and present. Nowlin has written numer...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 4, 2010, 8:30 am
Well, you can't complain about too much for one game when your team posts 17 runs. Even if they did get sloppy in the ninth. But compared to the last series, it was a joy to watch the Sox beat up on the Angels 17-8 and begin this critical homestand with a resounding win. Whatever was said in tha...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 4, 2010, 7:30 am
Video may have killed the radio star, but talk radio is alive and well, especially on the Internet. Tonight, we will be making our radio debut at 10 p.m. when we join The Ed Kranepool Society's Steve Keane on his Blog Talk Radio show "This Call To The Bullpen." We will be discussing the Yankee...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 4, 2010, 7:00 am
Brian Cashman brought in Randy Winn to be the Yankees' 25th man -- a guy who might play a couple of times a week, pinch run, serve as defensive replacement, maybe get 250 at-bats for the season. The thing is, on a good team, the 25th man is actually important.Winning teams get contributions fro...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 3, 2010, 11:45 am
When your back is against the wall, you either toughen up and get going or you fall down. The Sox haven't fallen down yet. But they are on their knees and with a seven-game stretch against the Angels and Yanks, they have to find a way to get going. Getting swept by the Orioles in Baltimore for ...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 3, 2010, 7:00 am
Phil Hughes entered the season as the Yankees' No. 5 starter. He's pitched like anything but. Sunday Hughes allowed four hits and one walk while striking out six in seven shutout innings as the Yankees routed the Chicago White Sox 12-3 at Yankee Stadium to win their seventh series of the s...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 2, 2010, 9:26 am
We've all been there. Things are going along just fine and then -- WHAM! -- something catches us completely unawares and floors us. Well, that's what happened to Daisuke Matsuzaka yesterday in Boston's 12-9 loss at Baltimore. For four innings, Daisuke looked like the 2008 model that we...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - May 2, 2010, 7:00 am
From time to time, life has a way of reminding us what's important. Sports are not life and death, no matter how devoted we are to our teams. They are a diversion.One that can lift us up and even help us heal. Something that provides us some fun. But nothing more. For three hours a day (four i...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Apr 30, 2010, 2:56 pm
Interesting story in the Wall Street Journal the other day about how the Boston Red Sox are the second-most hated team in baseball. Contrary to popular belief, the Yankees are only the fifth-most despised team in the majors, according to an Internet algorithm built by Nielsen Co. that analyzes how ...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Apr 28, 2010, 11:51 am
Every pitcher has a team he loves to see. Roger Clemens enjoyed destroying the Royals (25-7 lifetime). Pedro salivated whenever he pitched against Seattle (13-1, 1.57 ERA, 0.854 WHIP). El Tiante? A perfect 9-0 lifetime against the Blue Jays. Which fittingly leads us to Clay Buchholz. In his short c...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Apr 27, 2010, 11:44 am
The most important thing about yesterday's 13-12 win by the Patriots Red Sox over the Argonauts Blue Jays is that they did, in fact, win. They are now 9-11 on the season and sport a winning record on the road (4-3). They are a game back of the Jays for third and 5.5 back of the Rays. Another go...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Apr 26, 2010, 11:08 am
Two games. Identical 7-6 scores. Boston was outhit by Baltimore in both games. Boston had an error in both games. Boston won the game on Saturday. Boston lost the game on Sunday. But there was very little difference between the two. Both games featured solid starting pitching for Boston. Lackey w...
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Aviv Blasbalg posted an article on Sox Vs. Stripes - Apr 24, 2010, 8:34 am
Granted, Boston's three wins in their last four games have been against Texas and Baltimore. And two of them were of the "come-from-behind" variety. But beating Texas or Baltimore is the same as beating Minnesota or New York when it comes to wins and losses. So last night's 4-3 win over the...
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