And The Sox Win, Bo-Sox, That Is: Game 137 Thoughts

ChiSox crash and burn in 10 innings...2-3

(Note**** When I say Sox, I naturally mean the ChiSox)

-I've been trying to keep my recaps positive, as of late, but if I do that, this post will be all of 6 lines. So instead, I'm going to unleash an avalanche of negatives and poor play; all this losing is finally getting to me.

-First, I'll get through those first few lines of good stuff. Garland continues to be our ace. He pitched brilliantly, scattering 5 hits and 1 run over 6 innings. Mike Mac came on and pitched 1 2/3 of perfect baseball (lowering his ERA to 1.14), and Thornton came on to record the final out of the 8th.
Thome hit a thomer, for the second straight night.
Crede, Iguchi, and Paulie had multi hit games.
That's really all the good things I can say about this game.

-So now the bad stuff.

1. The Sox looked destined to lose from the start. The BoSox got miraculously healthy just in time for this game. Manny and Cpt. Jason Varitek came back for this game.
2. The Sox only mustered 6 hits against a pitcher that has been released by TWO separate teams this year. They managed to score a meager two runs, but looked like they were going to be shut out until they posted 2 runs in the 7th.
3. The Sox grounded into 3 DP's
4. The Sox struck out 8 times.
5. 4 starters went 0-fer
6. Bobby Jenks blew his third save of the year, at perhaps the worst time of the year
7. B-Mac faced on batter and served up a gopher ball to end the game. NOTE to Ozzie, get him starting. He's not a relief pitcher. These high-leverage situations aren't meant for him. You're setting him up to fail. He needs to be pitching with a 0-0 scoreline.
8. Entering the 10th, we had an outfield of Pods, Mack, and Gload. That's gold glove caliber defense there. (Please note the insane amounts of sarcasm). Seriosuly, not only does Ozzie put BMac in a high pressure situation, but he gives him the worst possible defense behind him.
9. Jermaine Dye, Mr. MVP, left the game with what Hawk called a stiff back.
10. Sox fall a half game back in the WC standings, and are giving minute bits of hope back to the Carmines.

Onto the awards...

Bad Ozzie Move of the Day - Using Thornton as a LOOGY. MacDougal was dealing. There was no need to burn Thornton for one batter. I know hindsight is 20/20 and all that, but he should have kept him on the off chance that Jenks blows it. Had he kept Thornton on the bench, he would have been able to pitch the 11th.

Good Ozzie Move of the Day - Leaving MacDougal out there for a long time. He was filthy.

Play of the Game - The double by Lowell. I think everyone was confident that our Sox were going to lose after they tied the ball game up.

Big Ups of the Night to Crede for coming through in the clutch, and for MacDougal for pitching very, very well.

Sox Player of the Night

Jon Garland (8)

Sox Record: 79-58