Silver Lining.

I suppose one thing to take away from that game is that the bullpen, with the exception of Mike Timlin (whom I don't see earning himself a post-season roster spot, anyway), was good tonight. And a good bullpen is vital.

Okajima's first inning was cake. He had trouble in his second but in came Justin Masterson. I just wanted to hug the big lug or buy him a drink or something (though in his goody-two-shoes-ness he probably doesn't drink) after he got out of a bases-loaded-one-out jam with a strike out of the only good batter the Rays have and a ground out. He strutted out there for the ninth inning (and with the help of Kevin Cash) mowed them down.

And then it was Manny Delcarmen's turn. *Gulp* Manny Del did Dennis Eckersley proud. Eck has said repeatedly that Manny Del is too good to be scared of batters and tonight he wasn't. He got a strike out, a ground out-with some heads up fielding by Delcarmen, and a fly out in the tenth. And in the eleventh got a ground out-with some slick fielding by Lowrie, a strike out, gave up a double, but got a ground out to end the inning.

Then came old buddy Javier Lopez. On Javier's birthday I promised to try to be nicer to him but if he continues to pitch like he did tonight, and has been doing recently, I probably won't have to try. Javier got through his first inning with two ground outs and a strike out. He gave up a double and a walk to start off his second inning but then got a double play and ground out to finish it off. He even came out for the first batter of the fourteenth inning and got a strike out.

Granted, the Rays aren't the Angels or even what Chicago was a couple of weeks ago in terms of hitting. But it's all good stuff to see.

Happy Birthday Ells!

Jacoby Ellsbury turns twenty-five today. So...happy birthday to him.

He seems like a sweet kid. And I know that there's a certain faction of fans enamored of his cheekbones. It is fun to watch him run. Hopefully, he can learn to hit left-handed pitching and become really, really useful.

Regardless, a happy birthday and many happy returns.

Woot!

Jason Bay is friggin awesome. Papelbon? Not so much tonight.

XYZ.

Oh, Josh. Kitten.

When one pitches as well as you did last night, one (meaning me) hates to nitpick; however, when one (meaning you) is about to step onto a baseball field in front of thousands of people, in your home state of Texas, with thousands more people watching from home, and have their picture taken by Reuters, one should always remember to check their zipper first.

Jason Bay for the Win.

"Curt Shilling came up to me the first day I arrived and said 'Welcome to baseball heaven,' " Bay said. "I thought I understood what he meant, but I didn't. You have to play here awhile and live it. It's unlike any place I have ever played. Everywhere you go there's passion, including on the road. Red Sox fans are everywhere. I now know exactly what Curt was talking about."

Awww. He likes us.

And I guess that answers the question: Where in the world is Kristen Bay? Boston. I'm very impressed with her. About to pop she picks up and moves to a new city where, presumably, she doesn't know anyone, two-year-old in tow, and not only does she get to set up house but also gets to try and find herself a new doctor. Good times.

To Alex Cora, With Thanks.

Chim chiminey

Chim chiminey

Chim chim cher-ee!

A sweep is as lucky,

As lucky can be.

Chim chiminey

Chim chiminey

Chim chim cher-oo!

Good luck will rub off when

I shake 'ands with you

(Or blow me a kiss

And that's lucky too!)

Now as the ladder of life

'As been strung,

You may think a sweep's

On the bottommost rung,

Though I spends me time

In the ashes and smoke,

In this 'ole wide world

There's no 'appier bloke.

Up where the smoke is

All billered and curled,

'Tween pavement and stars

Is the chimney sweep world,

When the's 'ardly no day

Nor 'ardly no night,

There's things 'alf in shadow

And 'alf way in light.

On the roof tops of London

Coo, what a sight!

I choose me bristles with pride

Yes, I do.

A broom for the shaft.

And a broom for the flume.

Though I'm covered with soot

From me 'ead to me toes,

A sweep knows 'e's welcome

Wherever 'e goes.

Chim chiminey

Chim chiminey

Chim chim cher-ee!

When you're with a sweep

You're in glad company.

No where is there

A more 'appier crew

Than them wot sings

"Chim chim cher-ee

Chim cher-oo!"

On the chim chiminey

Chim chim cher-ee

Chim cher-oo!

Inspector Papi Closeau.

So, Sean Casey has been vlogging for WEEI. He mostly talks about wrestling (which pretty much goes right over my head) but the latest entry features David Ortiz's top five movies. Turns out David's tastes are eclectic: Gangster, Action, Sci-fi, Imaginary (there is no movie called Anna Likes This on IMDB), and slap-stick comedy.

I chose to believe that Papi's fav Inspector Clouseau was Peter Sellers and not the more recent Steve Martin. And if that is the case, I definitely wouldn't mind going to the movies with him-except for the Rambo 3, not sure I could watch that.