Empyreal Environs

Yankee although he is, Yogi Berra can turn a memorable epigram. It would be fitting that the epitome of Yankeeness synopsizes Boston’s 2010 season, a season so luckless that we should not have worked up an iota of ire about it. But we did, because they had persevered, and even excelled. They performed beyond any reasonable expectations we could have about a club so afflicted, so we believed. This is what it feels like to be a fan of the Pirates or the Royals, except for them the onset is much earlier in the season.

Marco Scutaro will undergo an MRI on Tuesday to diagnose the shoulder pain he has been playing through for the past month. He was the only player to have driven in any runs in the day-night doubleheader, so of course it is he who finally succumbs to an ailment.

I’m no tobacco-chewing, sunflower-seed spitting, and crotch-scratching former MLBer, but I called John Lackey’s plunking of Carlos Quentin in the fourth inning. Lackey didn’t appreciate Quentin’s triple to the triangle and may have been retaliating on behalf of Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who got bowled over by Quentin on a play at the plate. Then again, we are talking about Lackey, who shows up his defense on nearly every close play and catch. Lackey was probably trying to throw at Saltalamacchia.

This season September doesn’t mean stretch run but showcase. Robert Coello, an independent league find in the vein of Daniel Nava but on the pitching side, was called up today.

Who else could be having a cup of coffee with Coello? Mike Lowell’s fractured rib and hobbled hip hopes for Lars Anderson.

Game 136: September 4, 2010
White Sox 75-60	3	W: Gavin Floyd (10-11) H: Scott Linebrink (3), Chris Sale (2) S: Bobby Jenks (27)
		2B: Carlos Quentin (22) 3B: Carlos Quentin (2)
Red Sox 76-60	1	L: John Lackey (12-9)
		2B: Bill Hall (11)