Laugher
| Game 138: September 2, 2008 | |||
| Orioles | 2 | L: Radhames Liz (5-4) | 63-75, 5 game losing streak |
 Red Sox |
14 | W: Jon Lester (13-5) | 81-57, 2 game winning streak |
| Highlights: Two touchdowns beat a safety. Every Red Sox batter except David Ross added at least a hit to their stats last night. Dustin Pedroia blasted a rocket off the middle sign on the Monster and plated three runs. The second baseman is the current batting average leader for the AL and the chants of MVP that accompany his at bats are rivaling those for Kevin Garnett in the Garden. A visionary company simply must sign the two to pair up in an endorsement deal. | |||
Operatic home plate umpire Jim Joyce missed a crucial call in the second. The Orioles threatened to score on Oscar Salazar’s fly ball to Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury is not known for having a strong arm; indeed, his throw to the infield probably should have been cut off.
Instead it dribbled to home, losing all momentum but still on target for Jason Varitek’s mitt. Ramon Hernandez knows all the tricks backstops use to stop runners from scoring, so he likely wasn’t fooled by Varitek’s insouciant stance in front of the plate. The growing crescendo of the crowd’s roar as the ball bounded from left to home also clued Hernandez in to the fact that the play at home was going to be close.
Varitek block the dish effectively, but his tag didn’t brush Hernandez before he slapped home plate with his hand. Not only did Varitek’s bulk obstruct the plate but obscured Joyce’s view of the play.
Because of major league umpire’s egos, such plays will not be aided by the new video replay system. Instead, the incredible technology that powers cameras are used for closeups of Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo in the NESN booth.
It’s been a while since a game was such a laugher that New England audiences were entreated to Remy and Orsillo hijinks. I’d love to have over some baseball folks for a “Rock Band” party. Remy would play lead guitar (of course), Ed Montague would take bass guitar, Joyce would provide vocals (or perhaps Cowboy Joe West), and Orsillo would be the drummer. After three or four tries the quartet would finally get through “Say It Ain’t So” on easy.
