Empyreal Environs

Since Terry Francona shaves his head bald you can’t see the aging caused by seven years with the Red Sox by whitening temples. There are are a few more wrinkles, but when he talks about the Red Sox he still speaks with the same level of love and enthusiasm. In the December 4, 2003 press conference announcing his hiring as manager Francona said, “We’re supposed to win here. In talking to Theo and Larry and Josh, we’re trying to win next year, but we’re trying to win for a lot of years after that. The whole idea is to build a team that can win and keep it together and win consistently. That is wonderful pressure.”

And win he did. He added 715 Red Sox wins to his 285 victories with the Phillies to reach 1,000 wins last night. Rather than remarking on his personal accomplishment Francona deflected credit to his players, Josh Beckett in particular. “I’m just glad to win any way. Beckett was tremendous. He pitched out of a little bit of a mess at the end, but he was tremendous.”

When asked about Francona’s milestone Beckett replied dryly, “If he were a pitcher it would be more impressive.”

Beckett and Francona have Jacoby Ellsbury and the squad’s penchant for scoring in the seventh inning. With two down Jason Varitek smoked a single up the middle. Marco Scutaro was robbed of an RBI when a fan reached over into the field of play on his line drive to right and the umpires ruled it a ground-rule double. Instead of tying the game 1-1, the local nine had runners at second and third. Instead of a souvenir, that fan should have gotten ejected with a lecture about situational fan interference.

Knowing the situation, Ellsbury didn’t go flailing but shortened his swing so he could advance the baserunners. The center fielder knocked a gutshot single to plate the tying and winning runs. Scott Boras must have dollar signs rolling up into his eye sockets with cash register sound effects every time Ellsbury drives in a run.

Speaking of cash, Kevin Youkilis may have to shell out some simoleons because of his first-inning outburst. The third baseman flung his bat to the ground after Tim Timmons called the third strike. Jerry Remy remarked that Timmons reminded him of a parking enforcement officer. “I’d take that to traffic court.”

Game 98: July 23, 2011
Seattle Mariners 43-57	1	L: Blake Beavan (1-2)
		2B: Jack Cust (15) HR: Mike Carp ()2
Boston Red Sox 61-37	3	W: Josh Beckett (9-3) H: Daniel Bard (24) S: Jonathan Papelbon (23)
		2B: Dustin Pedroia (23), David Ortiz (25), Adrian Gonzalez (30), Marco Scutaro (7)