Wilt
Game 78: July 1, 2005
Blue Jays (41-39), 15
Red Sox (45-33), 2
W: Ted Lilly (6-8)
L: Matt Clement (9-2)
Newsflash: that game was horrible. Lilly always brings his best stuff against the Red Sox, of this I’m certain. I think he continues to harbor a large amount of resentment against the team for when they taped his name on the backs of their jackets for his 2003 ALDS start. Were it not for the Eric Byrnes and Miguel Tejada incidents of that bizarre game, Lilly would have likely won Game 3 and the Red Sox would have been swept out of the playoffs.
When not grounding into double plays to kill rallies (Ramirez in the 5th and Mueller in the 6th), Boston was rarely getting on the basepaths. The team left 8 on base, which seems forgivable save for the fact there were only 12 Red Sox to reach base in the course of night.
Sports Illustrated’s midseason report arrived yesterday, with many Red Sox and Yankees tidbits generously sprinkled throughout:
- Brian Cashman was part of the Pop Culture Grid, and his responses were unsurprising: has watched Dancing With Stars, has not been to the beach this year, doesn’t have a preference between Shakira, Coldplay, and the White Stripes, has not seen Mr. & Mrs. Smith, does not watch Dr. Phil, and doesn’t own a Livestrong wristband. Cashman not go to the beach? I think researchers had to develop an industrial strength sunblock for him to be able to withstand mild daylight.
- Curt Schilling is number 1 on the Five to Watch list, and SI noted that the team was 25-7 in 2004, postseason inclusive. My assumption was the list was for players on contending teams or possible trades. For some reason Jim Thome on the list, and his lackluster season so far on a flagging club.
- Tom Verducci’s picks for the postseason at this juncture: Sox, both Red and White, Angels, and Twins for the wild card. In the NL, Marlins, Cardinals, Padres, and Braves for the wild card.
- For Verducci’s First-Half Awards, best closer went to Mariano Rivera and best free-agent addition went to Matt Clement. Rookie of the year went to Tadahito Iguchi, whom the Red Sox were rumored to be pursuing during the offseason. Worst free-agent addition was captured by the illustrious Tony Womack, who lost a job to Cesar Crespo last year. That wasn’t proof enough to the Yankee organization that they were making an egregious error in signing him?
- For a second year, SI had a listing of the top 50 moneymakers in sports. Funny anecdote under number 11, Alex Rodriguez’s entry: “Look closely at the Yankee’s superstar’s Speed Stick ad on TV. The stadium lights spell E5. Is someone at Mennen a Red Sox fan?” After Rodriguez, Jeter, Tom Brady, and Manny Ramirez follow in order. Six Yankees appear in the list for players of US citizenship; Hideki Matsui was number 19 of 20 in the foreign nationals list. Only Manny appears for the Red Sox.
