Paul Byrd and Jason Varitek went to the park to play catch on Thursday in Toronto.
The Boston Red Sox head into this afternoon’s game having a chance to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Of course for that to happen they need to win and they need the Twins and Yankees to lose. That’s right folks, the Red Sox magic number is down to 2 games to make the playoffs. While a playoff berth is all but certain, the race for the AL East is still up for grabs.
They did their part last night to keep pace with the Rays as they were able to overcome their arch enemy in A.J. Burnett. They got solid pitching from Paul Byrd who kept them in the game and some timely hitting against Burnett helped them to the win.
In the end it became a battle of bullpens and this battle was won by the Red Sox bullpen as they didn’t allow a run in the final 3 innings of the game. The Red Sox got to the Jays bullpen in the 8th inning for the eventual winning run.
Now we all know how valuable Jason Varitek is and has been to the Red Sox. With the Red Sox off on Thursday and Byrd liking to throw the day before his starts, they went to a park to throw on the off day.
“Twice he has brought back to the hotel a bunch of his gear, and walked through the lobby in Boston Red Sox shorts and shirt and socks and turf shoes, and he has walked through the city with me, down the street, and played catch in a park,” Byrd said of Varitek. “That our starting catcher is ready to go with his catcher’s mitt, that’s just the sign of how much he cares.”
“It doesn’t get any more grunge work than that.”
Trust me folks, you aren’t going to see anyone like that except with Varitek. As Byrd says at the end of the article, that’s why he’s our captain.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s worst fear is the Red Sox winning the wild card.
The Blue Jays were dealt a blow for 2009 when they found out Shaun Marcum will need Tommy John surgery.
Mike Lowell will take at least the weekend off after a conference call about his ailing hip.
The Blue Jays don’t want A.J. Burnett to leave after this season.
Bartolo Colon has decided he doesn’t want to pitch for the Red Sox anymore this season and has been suspended without pay.
Michael Berger of WEEI updates his Red Sox in one-run games post.
If you missed Dennis Eckersley ripping on Colon during the pregame show, I have the video for you.
The Boston Red Sox signed a two-year Player Development Contract with the Salem Avalanche.
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant and Providence Journal websites.
And if you must see what the enemy papers are saying, head over to the Toronto Sun, Toronto Star and Globe and Mail websites.
