Ailing
| Game 28: May 6, 2009 | |||
 Indians | 9 | W: Carl Pavano (2-3) S: Aaron Laffey (1) | 11-17, 1 game winning streak |
| Red Sox | 2 | L: Justin Masterson (2-2) | 17-11, 1 game losing streak |
| Highlights: I must have missed the announcement about the medical breakthrough that allows doctors to surgically excise suck from pitchers. Pavano seems to have underwent the procedure. The Red Sox should see about having Brad Penny submit to the same operation. | |||
For the entirety of the game I was on a train wending its way across the Eastern Seaboard. The tracks from Penn Station to South Station carried me from the empire and its possessions back home to the nation.
One of my friends sent me text updates on the game. I felt my mobile phone vibrate and I opened it excitedly, hoping to read about yet another Jason Bay homer. Instead, it was a fifth inning update about Victor Martinez’s two-run double. My phone battery was running low at that point and I was worried about missing a home team comeback.
I didn’t need to fret.
I also don’t worry about Manny Ramirez’s 50-game suspension. It is tempting to look for some sort of parable that somehow makes cohesive narrative of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. A few of the players who were anointed as anti-Bondses (Alex Rodriguez, Ramirez) have been exposed to be users. The next big revelation will not surprise me, I am beyond that emotion at this point. There are two players that I still believe in: Dustin Pedroia and Albert Pujols. Pedroia because he is the epitome of faith in oneself when surrounded by doubters and Pujols because he is the model of pure (hopefully) talent. In a recent issue of Sports Illustrated Pujols said don’t be afraid to believe in him. If either of them ever tested positive, I think I would be done with baseball.
I do worry about Jerry Remy. As much as I enjoy Dennis Eckersley filling in, it’s terrible that Remy can’t enjoy one of the things he enjoys. Take care and godspeed, Rem Dawg.
Rocco Baldelli was activated from the disabled list and Jonathan Van Every was optioned Pawtucket. Van Every had a painful encounter with the wall in center field but it’s David Ortiz who’s out tonight with a stiff neck.
