So we tuned in on Saturday in the second inning to hear Dice-K load the bases and then get yanked. Then Francona goes to the pen and brings in a rookie, Chris Smith, without an inning of experience in the majors.
Seems familiar doesn’t it?
Remember Cla Meredith?
Entering with 2 outs, a runner on second and the score tied at 2-2 in the top of the 7th, Cla issued two walks before giving up a grand slam that wrapped around Pesky’s Pole. The homer was the first allowed in his pro career. He appeared twice more with the Sox, giving up a pair of runs in an inning of work May 9 vs. Oakland and May 13 at Seattle before being returned to Pawtucket. Never to pitch for the Sox again.
Cla was dealt the following season as part of the Doug Mirabelli and Josh Bard trade. Sure he flourished that first year in San Diego, but he was scarred for life as far as pitching for the Sox again.
Which brings us back to Smith. Smith came in and got the first batter out. Great, he’ll be able to get out of it and not be emotionally destroyed.
Or not.
He gave up a grand slam to Troy Glaus. Sure he settled down and didn’t give up a run after that in 3 innings of work and only one of the runs on the grand slam was charged to Smith but that can’t really help his psyche can it?
It destroyed Meredith.
I guess the only good news in the series against St Louis was that Grandpa Timlin was sent to the disabled list. Or a retirement community in Boca Raton where he can where his pants around his nipples and play shuffleboard and bridge with all the other senior citizens. Hopefully this is just a precursor to his eventual release.
A caller on WEEI was talking about how Schilling deserved the $8 Million contract as a “thank you” for all he did. Sean McAdam was quick to point out that baseball is a business and there’s no room for “thank you” contracts. I couldn’t agree more and will take it a step further and say that Timlin has been collecting “thank you” contracts for 4 years now.
Time to cut the cord. I’ve been saying for over 2 months now. (Technically longer that but I’ve only been writing that long).
At least a walk off two run shot by Youk prevented a sweep but for the most part it was a sucky weekend at Fenway. Let’s hope Arizona stinks up the joint and Randy Johnson acts his age. We’ll see.
2 Comments
June 22, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Ok, I worked Sunday’s game. How would I describe it? Wet, frustrating, painfully long! Right from the start with the hour long rain delay, just after the National Anthem , to Papelmania blowing another save opportunity. How many is that now? 4 or 5 at least. This stat has gone under the radar, because he won one of them. Lots of men left on base ( a 2008 Sox trademark)! It never should have went 13 innings, and tell LaRusa to stop delaying the game with his long slow walks to the mound! Jackass!
Have fun with AZ, because that will be the cap Shilling will wear if he ever gets into the HOF in the steroid era. Go Sox!
June 23, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Hey, ahh, didn’t Cla go off and set some silly record….? yeah, I think he did just fine after the trade, like going 30 something innings without allowing an earned run… Yeah, ummm I think Cla recovered well from his first appearence. But where is he now America?
RIP George Carlin… He always knew how to SHAKE IT UUUPPPPP!
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