Empyreal Environs

Game 131: August 31, 2005
Devil Rays (55-79), 6
Red Sox (77-54), 7
L: Casey Fossum (8-11)
W: Tim Wakefield (14-10)
S: Mike Timlin (4)
2.5 games ahead in the division
4 game winning streak

Fossum is the only former Red Sox player to look more scruffy away from Boston than when he was with the team. He even seems to have put on some weight so that he isn’t constantly adjusting his belt as he used to. He’ll always remember November 28, 2003, just as we should, because that was the day he was traded to Arizona, along with Michael Goss, Brandon Lyon, and Jorge de la Rosa, for Curt Schilling. If he had stayed on the Red Sox pitching staff, the team would have the highest HBP rate and would hold the top three positions in that statistic. So, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that Fossum hit Renteria in the 1st inning. Warnings were again issued, this time by home plate Tony Randazzo, because of the history between the clubs, which is ridiculous. Isn’t the proper procedure to wait until the opposing team also hits a player? The umpiring this season has been inconsistent and infuriating.

Wakefield, perhaps hankering to repeat the drama of Schilling’s game, gave up 5 earned runs in the first 3 innings, including 3 homers. The knuckleballer turned the screws from the 4th inning forward, allowing no baserunners for 16 straight outs. He struck out 5, walked 1, and gave up 6 hits throughout the course of his 8 inning appearance.

The story of the night, however, has to be Doug Mirabelli. To be sure, Kevin Millar silenced his critics, which are legion and include me, for one evening. The sunny first baseman showed signs of life by going 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs and home runs in the 2nd and 7th innings.

Not only did Mirabelli hit a home run to lead off the 4th inning, but he got on base for each of his 4 plate appearances, walking twice and getting 2 hits. He topped Millar by stealing second base during Bill Mueller’s at bat. (That was not a misprint.) Jesus Colome held on to the ball too long to get the backstop out, despite the fact we’re talking Mirabelli here. Because of Colome’s hesitation, Julio Lugo mishandled the toss and Mirabelli progressed to third base. Mirabelli’s only other steal this season was also against the Devil Rays. If he did this every game against Tampa Bay, he could have steal totals in the teens.

David Ortiz did try to wrest away the hero of the game title from Mirabelli with his opposite field homer into the Monster seats to tie the game in the 5th inning, but that’s de rigeur for him. To be game hero, one must to something outstanding as well as unusual given expectations of the player. If Ortiz hit a triple, that would warrant consideration.

Going foward, I’ll be officially scoreboard gawking and showing the gap between the Red Sox and their division rival with each game comment. Say, do you remember, dancing in September?

And the days dwindle down
To a precious few, September, November
And these few precious days I’d spend with you
These golden days I’d spend with you
Maxwell Anderson
Knickerbocker Holiday