Ted's Army: The Voice of Red Sox fans

Recap: The Houston Astros didn't have a lot of fun tonight

Can I go home now?  (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

How bad are the Houston Astros, you ask?  They made Ryan Dempster look like Clay Buchholz tonight as Boston cruised to an easy 7-3 victory.

The Red Sox had no trouble trouble at the plate or on the mound tonight.  Their 5 pitchers combined for 14 strike outs, and they amassed 17 hits and 4 home runs with their bats.

Dempster was awesome, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs over 6 innings with 10 K's.  Mortensen, Tazawa, Uehara, and Anderson finished off the game, allowing 3 hits and one run between them.  For Houston, the Sox made Erik Bedard throw 96 pitches in 3+ innings (!!!!!!), and not one at-bat ended in a walk.  Insanity.  They tagged him for 3 home runs as well.  Not going to be a happy evening in the Bedard household.

Everyone but Nava got a hit for Boston.  Papi and Gomes were the only batters to only get one hit.  Everyone else had two or three (or four, in the case of Ross).  All but 3 batters drove in a run.  It was that kind of night.  Two of Ross's 4 hits were solo shots.  Papi and Middlebrooks each had a home run as well.  Pedroia and Napoli had two doubles a piece.  Ciriaco had a triple.  Ellsbury swiped his 11th base. 

At least one team in Boston had some offense tonight. 

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Your Morning Dump... Where Rick VandenHurk happened

This sums up the Sox season pretty well (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

Erik Bedard didn’t need a thesaurus to describe the third inning of the Red Sox’ 7-5 loss to the Orioles last night.

He summed it up in one word.

“Long.’’

He hadn’t started since Sept. 3 because of a sore knee and a left lat strain, and after the long layoff manager Terry Francona wanted to keep him on a pitch limit.

There was no way, Francona said, Bedard would come anywhere near 100 pitches.

He wound up throwing 54 in the third inning alone, giving up four runs (just one earned) on three hits. His night lasted just 2 2/3 innings as the Sox took their fourth loss in the past five games.

“It was a long inning,’’ Bedard said. “I just tried to battle and tried to limit the damage.’’

Globe - Long third inning does in Bedard

This is my fourth attempt at writing this morning's dump.  The previous three were an odd mixture of vulgarities and incoherent swipes at the keyboard in between violent, heaving sobs.  Did you know it's possible to cry so much that you short out your keyboard? 

The Red Sox lost a game where the Orioles threw Rick VandenHurk on the mound to start.  Not even Rick VandenHurk's mother thought Baltimore stood a chance last night.  And while Rick VandenHurk didn't pitch so well (yes, I really really enjoy the name Rick VandenHurk), the Red Sox pitching was just that much worse. 

Tell me if this sounds familiar: Red Sox starter struggles early, is out of the game by the third inning.  Sox batters battle back, giving the Sox the lead heading into the 8th.  Tito turns the game over to his oh so amazing bullpen, who immediately vomit all over your hopes and dreams. 

With the Yankees taking down the Rays last night, we didn't lose any ground in the Wild Card.  But if this is the type of effort we take to the field against an Orioles squad lead by Rick VandenHurk, I don't know that I want to deal with the anger and frustration of getting blown out in October.

And in related news, I'm pretty sure I've lost the ability to pretend to be optimistic about this season. 

Also, be sure to check out the 'Yankee fan' link from CSNNE below.  What a dick.

On Page 2, Manny is picking up a bat again (to play baseball this time).

Taking Stock: Rangers - Sox series

After each series, we'll be taking stock in each player's...and maybe manager's...performance. If we like what we see, we're buyin'. If we don't, we're sellin'. Or maybe we'll just hold onto our stock until we see more next series.

Jacoby Ellsbury: The only Sox batter to record a hit in each game of the series. A 3-for-12 series is not one to brag about, but showing consistency and getting hits when the rest of the team is.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia: He has really come around and combined with Tek, they are the best catcher in baseball. Salty hit his 14th homer of the season in game 2, and has nothing more to prove at the plate. His .251 average could be better, but I am beyond happy with what we have seen from him.

The entire pitching staff (except Bedard and Wakefield): Everyone sucked. Aside from Bedard's decent performance and Wake's 4 score-less innings, that was some of the worst pitching to stomach. The bullpen couldn't do a damn thing and almost let the Rangers back in to a blowout. I hope they got all the suck out of their system and can get their acts together moving forward.

Carl Crawford:  He didn't play in game 1, but made a big splash in game 2 with a grand-slam and a double. Crawford added a single in the third game and joined his teammates in the game of not doing a damn thing off of Rangers pitching. His OBP is shooting up there, now at .286. That explosive-ness that we saw in game 2 needs to become a habit going into October.

Erik Bedard: He finally got his first win, but we are all waiting for him to make it past the 6th inning and show some dominance. If he is going to make a case for the third starter position in the post season, we need to see this pitch count limit lifted and see what he can do past 101 pitches.

Recap: Lackey shelled as Rangers top Sox 11-4

And another piece of evidence in the case for Erik Bedard for 3rd starter in the playoffs.

John Lackey walked three, allowed eight hits, and gave up six runs in five innings as Texas pummeled the Sox today. There's not much left to say about Lackey. We're two years in: this is what he is. It feels very similar to the Daisuke Matsuzaka experience -- isolated gems surrounded by subpar outings. And much like Dice, Lackey's record is buoyed by strong run support, as he falls to just 12-11 on the year.

Young callups Felix Doubront and Michael Bowden didn't fare much better. Doubront gave up three runs when relieving Lackey; Bowden gave up two solo homers in the 9th. The best pitcher on the day was Matt Albers, who pitched 1.2 innings without allowing a run. That's right, Albers was the best pitcher. The best. Ugh.

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Your Morning Dump... Where Bedard finally got some support

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

"It was great — when you put 12 runs on the board it makes it easier on the pitcher,” said Bedard, who had seen an average of only 3.46 runs in support in his first five starts since coming over at the July 31 trade deadline from the Seattle Mariners. “We got some key hits, a grand slam, another home run from Salty (Jarrod Saltalamacchia) – we just played good tonight.”

[...]

“I threw a lot of pitches in the first couple of innings,” said Bedard. “Just tried to battle, throw strikes and keep the ball down. Eventually I did and got through six and we scored some runs.”

Bedard faced the minimum in his final three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four.

“I was just missing a lot with my fastball early in the game,” said Bedard. “Gradually, as the game went on, I got better and better.”

Herald: Big bats back Erik Bedard in first win

It is about time Erik Bedard won a game in a Red Sox uniform. Since the trade and prior to his start yesterday, Bedard was 0-2 with 3 no-decisions. I was beginning to think that Bedard and Wakefield were having a competition on who could go the longest without a victory. Bedard lost.

After the harsh blow to the gut Texas gave the Sox on Friday, Bedard handled them pretty well by holding them to just 3 runs over 6 innings. The next step is figuring out how to win with a bit less run support.

Related: CSNNE: Bedard picks up first Sox win | WEEI: Red Sox finally give Erik Bedard run support, and he finally wins | Globe: Bedard is finally over hump  

(Photo credit: AP)

On Page 2, The Red Sox clinch a division title

Taking Stock: Sox - Rays series

After each series, we'll be taking stock in each player's...and maybe manager's...performance. If we like what we see, we're buyin'. If we don't, we're sellin'. Or maybe we'll just hold onto our stock until we see more next series.

Jon Lester: Jon Lester looked great in the first game of the series. Lester went 7 strong, giving up only 1 run, 3 hits, 1 walk, and struck out 8. That was Lester's best performance since facing the Phillies on June 30th.

Jacoby Ellsbury: Ellsbury provided much of the Sox scoring in the double-header, hitting a 3-run homer in the first game, and one of the solo variety in the second. Ells was one of only 3 batters to get a hit off of Price in the series finale  To sum it up, Jacoby only went 3-for-11 in the series, but drove in 4 of the Sox 5 runs in the series.

The rest of the offense: This series pissed me off. Other than Jacoby Ellsbury hitting the 2 homers, nothing else happened. Oh, right, Tek hit a home run. Including Ellsbury, not one Red Sox batter had a multi-hit game. The Red Sox only had 3 hits in each game. NINE HITS IN 3 GAMES! AWFUL!

Erik Bedard: I don't know what to think of him just yet. He got the loss for his first decision as a Red Sox, but he wasn't that bad. Tito is stretching him out much more, as Bedard went 6 innings, giving up 7 hits, 1 earned run, and striking out 6. His pitch count broke 100 (102) for the first time since the trade. I'll make up my mind after another start, or two.

John Lackey: I can't believe I am not selling and giving him a chance. He had pitched well prior to the Rays series, and his recent start was not that bad. I know he has some more good stuff left, so I'll wait to sell.

Taking Stock: Sox - Twins series

After each series, we'll be taking stock in each player's...and maybe manager's...performance. If we like what we see, we're buyin'. If we don't, we're sellin'. Or maybe we'll just hold onto our stock until we see more next series

David Ortiz: By far, the best performance of any player in this series. Ortiz batted .636 (7/11) with a pair of home runs, and 5 RBI. Talk about making a case for a contract.

Adrian Gonzalez: Gonzo came into the series with a .348 average, and finished with a .348 average. He went 4-for-11 in the series and added an RBI in the first game. Nothing astonishing, but consistency is a wonderful thing.

Since J.D. Drew was placed on the DL, this category has been a challenge. I'd rather keep it this way and keep Drew on the DL.

 

Erik Bedard: He got into a tiny amount of trouble, but it was a very good performance. I'll buy when he can go more than 5 innings and get the pitch count over 100. For now, he is a pleasant surprise.

Jacoby Ellsbury: Not ready to give up on him after a 3-for-15 series. He brought his average back up to .319 with a 2-for-5 night in game 3, but no flashes of power. Don't worry, it's still there.

Your Morning Dump... Where Bedard hangs in

(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

Bedard, who allowed two runs on just three hits while striking out six in five innings, had a rough first inning, walking four -- including one with the bases loaded.

"Just lack of control in the first," shrugged Bedard, who dismissed any suggestion that he was the victim of a tiny strike zone by home plate umpire Tim McClelland. "I tried to battle and limit the damage . . . It could have been (a lot) worse. You have to bear down in those situations. If you let it get it out of hand, the score could have been 6-0."

From the second through the fifth, Bedard didn't walk a single batter and allowed just two hits -- both singles.
   
"Physically, I feel fine," said Bedard, who missed a month with a knee injury before coming to the Red Sox at the trade deadline.

CSNNE - Bedard stays cool and collected on the mound

That first inning was rough, but if you watched the game, you can hardly blame it on Bedard.  The strike zone was teeeeeeny. Bedard was actually nailing the edges of the plate (assuming that was his intention) he had great command.  With another ump, it would have been masterful.  But with McClelland it was a ball-fest.

But to his credit, Bedard hung in there, adjusted, and pitched four consecutive scoreless innings before getting pulled.  Final line on the night: 5 IP 2 ER 3 Hits 4 Walks and 6 K's.  If we're treating Bedard as our number 3 starter, you have to feel pretty good about that type of production.

Even better, he went up to 90 pitches last night so one has to assume that the training wheels will be off for his next start. 

Also worth noting, the Sox 3rd, and winning, run of the night came on this play.  Notice any similarities to Monday's game?  Mainly how players are unable to pick up the baseball when Papi is "sprinting"?  You all know the scene from Jurassic Park, where the water in the glass shakes because the T-Rex is near by?  I like to think that's what's happening on these plays.  Papi's pounding the ground so hard that the ball is pouncing off the turf and the Twins can't grab it. 

On Page 2, we ask about Gonzo's lack of power

Your Morning Dump... Where Bedard gives us hope

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

The best word to describe Erik Bedard’s first start in a Red Sox uniform: encouraging.

That’s certainly a good jumping off point for both the individual and for the collective.

Bedard needed 70 pitches to get through five innings of work, but fanned five Indians hitters and exited Thursday night’s game with a 3-3 tie before the Sox bullpen dropped the ball in a 7-3 loss to Cleveland at Fenway Park.

“It’s hard to sit up here after a loss and say we’re excited, but I thought he pitched pretty well,” Terry Francona said of Bedard. “I thought his [pitching] line was certainly worse than he pitched. I thought he pitched a really professional game. He cuts his fastball, good feel for his breaking ball, good change up, he holds runners and throws strikes. I think that will all improve as he gets a few innings under his belt.”

CSNNE - Bedard's Red Sox debut a solid one

Let's all just assume for a moment that Bedard is going to remain healthy for the rest of the year.  It's a big leap I'm asking you to take, I know, but let's just take it together.  We believe (because Tito told us to, and, well, it's common sense) that Bedard is going to only improve as he gets a few starts under his belt and gets comfortable on the mound.  If that's true - if this 5 inning, 3 run, 6 K, 0 BB outing, against a solid Cleveland lineup is the first building block for Bedard - then I think Theo's hit a home run.

Before you pounce, I don't mean that this guy is going to go on a tear a la CC in Milwaukee back in '08.  But if we now have a legit #3 starter -- someone other than Lackey and Beckett that we can count on every 5 days to give us a chance to win -- that's going to be the difference between making a deep playoff run and getting bounced in the first round.

And if he does give us that production, the meager price we paid for him starts to look like a steal.

On Page 2, there's kind of a big series this weekend

Recap: Sox fall to Tribe in Bedard debut

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

The Red Sox fell to Justin Masterson again, as they lose to the Indians 7-3, and split the series. The Indians have taken the season series 6-4.

Erik Bedard did better than some expected, going 5 innings, giving up 7 hits, 3 runs (all earned), and striking out 5. He missed a key defensive play when he failed to cover first base on a ground ball to Gonzalez. Other than that, Bedard looked good, but got the no-decision in his Red Sox debut.

Franklin Morales got the loss after giving up a 2-run home run to Carlos Santana in only going 1/3 of an inning. Andrew Miller had a bit trouble out of the pen, giving up 4 hits, 2 runs, and striking out 4 over 2 2/3 innings.

Ellsbury had the only multi-hit game for the Sox, going 2-for-3 with 2 singles. Josh Reddick hit his 5th home run of the season, a solo shot in the 4th inning.

Gonzo went 1-for-4 tonight with a double, and extended his hit streak to 14 games.

Justin Masterson (6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 9 K) continues to dominate the Red Sox, moving to 3-0 in his career with a 1.95 ERA. Why can't we get guys like that?

The Yankees won again, and will come into town tie with the Red Sox for first in the East. Bring 'em on!

Box Score