Welcome To Red Sox Mid-Atlantic

Fenway Park at Camden Yards

Red Sox Nation has invaded Camden Yards.

Here’s a look at a few of Amalie Benjamin’s Extra Bases posts from the first two days.

We’re here in Baltimore for another Red Sox-Oriole tilt. There weren’t quite so many Red Sox fans on my mini-plane out of Boston this morning, but there are quite a few in the press box right now, taking a tour of Camden Yards. Just learned that 125 of them are here with Red Sox Destinations.

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Want to see what the Red Sox do for the Orioles?

Try an attendance of 48,993 tonight.

Last night’s?

Against Seattle, the Orioles drew just 18,679.

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And now a look at a few of Steve Buckley’s posts from Clubhouse Insider

The Orioles say thank you, thank you, thank you, to Red Sox fans, as attendance tonight at Camden Yards is 48,993 . . . with all but the 993 being Red Sox fans.

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As was the case Friday night, the joint is crawling with Red Sox fans. There are so many Sox fans here, in fact, that manager Terry Francona made note of it during his pre-game session with the media today.

Following Friday’s game, “Pickles Pub,” a bar located across from Camden Yards was taken over by the Sox crowd. You’d have thought you were in Kenmore Square.

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Thanks in large measure to the mega-throng of Red Sox fans on hand, today’s attendance at Camden Yards is 49,242, the largest of the season.

The two games here have drawn a combined 98,235. With another sellout expected tomorrow — only a few standing room seats remain — this will be the largest attendance for a three-game series in Camden Yards history.

Of the seven largest crowds in the history of this magnificent ballpark, seven of them have been for games involving the Red Sox.

The O’s have had six sellouts this season, for a total attendance of 1,526,638 through 56 dates.

It’s a shame the Orioles have become Bruins-like in their annual makeup. They have such an awesome facility and it’s a great baseball town. But it’s the baseball that’s lacking.

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Strong Outing By Beckett Just What the Dr. Ordered

Josh Beckett was strong for 8 2/3 innings Saturday afternoon as he helped lead the Red Sox past the Orioles 6-2 in front of a sellout crowd at Fenway Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The strong outing for Beckett led to his MLB leading 15th win of the season.

Although he was flirting with a complete game shutout, Beckett had to rely on the bullpen to finish off the game for him as he ran into some trouble in the 9th. Brian Roberts led off with a double to deep left. Beckett then got Corey Patterson to foul out and he struck out Nick Markakis. Beckett got Miguel Tejada down to his last strike but Miggy laced a single to left bringing in Roberts from second. Former Marlin and Red Sox Kevin Millar got the better of his old Marlins teammate as he doubled to left bringing in Miggy from second. Millar’s RBI double cut the lead to 6-2 and chased Beckett from the game. Terry Francona brought in Manny Delcarmen to face Aubrey Huff. Huff worked a walk from Delcarmen and Francona went to the bullpen again for Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon had a little easier time than Delcarmen as he got Melvin Mora to pop out to Dustin Pedroia for the Red Sox win and his 27th save.

The Sox got on the board in the 2nd inning off of O’s lefty starter Garrett Olson. Jason Varitek started the inning with single and went to third on a J.D. Drew double. Olson got Coco Crisp to ground back to him on the mound for the first out of the inning. Julio Lugo followed that with a double to deep left that scored Varitek and Drew, giving the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. Olson settled down as he got Pedroia to fly out and he struck out Youkilis to get out of the inning.

The home visiting team added two more runs in the 3rd inning. Olson started out the inning by getting David Ortiz to fly out to left. He then walked Manny Ramirez. Mike Lowell moved Manny over to third with a double. The O’s then decided to walk Varitek to face the lefty Drew. Drew made them pay for it as he hit a single that landed just inside the left field line that scored Manny and Lowell, making it 4-0 Sox. Olson got out of the inning as he got Coco to ground into a 6-4-3 double play.

Beckett was dealing throughout the game. The only time runners reached third base off of him was in the first inning and the 9th inning. In his 8 2/3 innings, he scattered 8 hits, gave up 2 runs and struck out 8. He didn’t issue a free pass to anyone.

Boston would add two more runs in the 8th inning off of Orioles reliever Paul Shuey. Varitek started the inning with a walk. Shuey then got Drew striking out looking. But then he got a little wild as he walked Coco and Lugo to load up the bases for Pedroia. Pedroia kept up his hot hitting as he laced a single, bringing in Varitek and leaving the bases loaded for Youk. O’s skipper Dave Trembley went to the bullpen for Brian Burres. Burres came in and walked Youk bringing in Coco from third for the sixth run of the game for the Sox. Burres finished off the inning by by striking out and Big Papi and getting Manny to ground out.

Curt Schilling will take the ball for his second start since returning from the DL tomorrow. He will be opposed by the “human rain delay” Steve Trachsel. Gametime in Fenway Park Camden Yards is 1:35 PM.

 

Got Chocolate Milk?

One college football team is trying to do a little something different for it’s players after a long hard practice in the summer heat. The Washington Huskies are making their players drink chocolate milk along with Gatorade after practice to replenish the nutrients lost in the heat.

“This is just another way to facilitate post-exercise carbohydrate replenishment. This is another facet that we can use in our supplement program,” Washington director of sport performance Trent Greener said. “The research substantiates it and it’s something too that the kids are going to be compliant with.”

“We’ve always used Gatorade,” athletic trainer Rob Scheidegger said. “But we’re always trying to find ways to get natural foods into people. So if we can find a natural product at the end of practice that aids with recovery, keeps them hydrated and gives them the energy that they need we’re going to go with something like that.”

The players are required to drink a bottle of Gatorade and a small carton of chocolate milk after each practice. And if you don’t like milk, too bad. You still have to drink it. The lactose intolerant players are given a substitute drink with the same or similar nutritional benefits. They could just buy some Lactaid milk and choclate syrup mix.

I don’t know about you but after I’ve been outside working my ass off in the summer heat, I don’t want some heavy chocolate milk sitting in my system.

Red Sox News & Notes – 8/11

 

It was a pitcher’s duel for 7 2/3 innings last night in Baltimore as both Erik Bedard and Daisuke Matsuzaka were dealing. Then the Sox got to Bedard for 3 runs in the 8th and 2 more off the Orioles bullpen. Now normally you would say ok we are in good shape here but Eric Gagne came in and choked it for the Sox. Gagne hasn’t really had any success since coming over from the Rangers. Maybe he’s having trouble pitching in the 8th inning or maybe he just flat out stinks now. Who knows? What I do know is that Hideki Okajima came in and gave up the tying run and eventually the winning run in last night’s 6-5 loss. So let’s take a look at the headlines from the Boston and Baltimore area media about last night’s game.

Response was stinging. [Boston Globe]

Orioles Rally for Win. [Washington Post]

Sox ‘Pen Men Slip [Hartford Courant]

Happy ending for O’s [Baltimore Sun]

Gagne with a spoon [Boston Herald]

Orioles do sad number on Sox [Pro Jo]

Ripken Will Represent [Washington Post]

Ortiz gives it a shot again [Boston Globe]

Boras mum about Wieters negotiations [Baltimore Sun]

Lugo gets lost in shuffle: Heady bunt overlooked [Boston Herald]

Return to rebuilding [Baltimore Sun]

New Setup Man Gagne In A Free Fall [Hartford Courant]

For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Providence Journal, Hartford Courant, Baltimore Sun, and Washington Post websites.

Saturday Salute To Bloggers

Salute this!Super Sexy Texy from Center Field didn’t let a little rain stop her from watching the Phillies game on Thursday night.

Sam from MetsSox asks if Red Sox fans should panic just yet.

Holly from Ladies… wasn’t happy with the way the Dodgers fans were dressed at a game she recently attended.

We Are the Postmen are big fans of the new Transformer shoes.

Yankees Chick shares her love hate of “Balco” Barry in her latest installment of Yankeechickography.

Home Run Derby has a look at the life-sized Mariners’ bobbleheads.

Sooze from Babes Love Baseball thinks Hank Aaron is a swell guy.

J.D from SporTech Matter tells you about Lil’ Penny and Shaq reuniting.

You Been Blinded has a look at the new NBC Sunday Night Football promo.

Sons of Sam Malone brings you a look at the the She-Man Woman Hater’s Club.

Awful Announcing has the video from the Josh Towers-AROD fight.

Dan from Red Sox Monster has the lastest “Friendly’s Scoop with Jonathan Papelbon” video. His guest is Kevin Millar.

And last but not certainly least, I present to you the lastest “Wicked Pissah” webcast from Fitzy of the Townie News. As always, his video’s are NSFW.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lFVwvpMfers[/youtube]

Coin Flip To Decide Browns Starter at QB

How bad are things in Cleveland when you have to flip a coin to decide who your starting QB will be for your first preseason game? Actually right now the race between Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson is too close to call right now, so head coach Romeo Crennel decided a coin flip was the best way to settle it.

“That’s the fairest way,” he (Crennel) said.

Who makes the call, coach?

“Maybe we’ll play rock, paper, scissors for that,” Crennel cracked.

A hopscotch tournament is not planned.

Crennel was probably hoping that Brady Quinn would be the starter but he decided to hold out and miss 10 days of training camp so he’s not even in consideration right now.

Pretty funny way to decide who starts the game. Whoever starts might not play that much anyways but with a QB battle going on, you never know.

Just like there’s something exciting in a coin flip, sometimes it’s fun to play the football odds. There’s also the classic fun in horce race betting. The sport thrives on the betting that goes on behind the scenes. Look into the latest on grand national betting today!

Buccaneers Swashbuckle Patriots, 13-10

 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers edged the New England Patriots in the pre-season opener at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa 13-10 on a Matt Bryant field goal as time expired.

we want baby newsThe big news of the night was that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady played 13 plays and was 5 of 7 for 34 yards. None of those 7 attempts went to Randy Moss or Dante` Stallworth who sat out the game as did running back Lawrence Maroney.

Jeff Garcia started for the Bucs and he worked a pair of 3 and out series.

Pre-season games, especially week one, usually show case many of the minor players and this game was no exception as each team played three quarterbacks. The Pats also gave signal calling time to Matt Cassel and Matt Gutierrez, while Tampa saw Luke McCown and Bruce Gradkowski see time behind center.

New England got on the board first when Sammy Morris scored on a two-yard run that capped a long second quarter drive led by Cassel. Morris had 27 yards for nine carries on the night.

The Bucs got on the board, when Bryant kicked the first of two field goals on the night this one a 36-yarder that cut the lead to 7-3. McCown, who didn’t play at all last season, threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Paris Warren and the Buccaneers led 10-7 at half.

Gutierrez would lead the Patriots on a 4th quarter drive that was capped by a Stephen Gostkowski 23-yard field goal and the Pats had tied the game 10-10 with about 11 minutes left.

That set the stage for the final drive and Bryant’s field goal to win it as time expired.