The Red Sox Magic Number Is 112

Yup.
The Red Sox who started the season 0-6 and 2-10 are in first place by themselves.

(Thank you A. J. Burnett's high pitch count and mediocre Yankee middle relief.)

So now any combination of Red Sox wins and Yankee losses that equal 112... and the Red Sox are the 2011 American League Eastern Division Champions.

And they got there BEFORE Memorial Day. They had a disappointing first third of the season and are STILL in first place by themselves.

Ain't no stopping us now!

Hisanori Takahashi better be buying drinks after this game

Seriously, Hisanori Takahashi was a whole lot of suck for the Angels in the first two games of their series with the Red Sox.

Aces Jeff Weaver and Dan Haren got the losses, but they actually pitched well.
Jeff Weaver went 6 innings with 3 earned runs on Monday

Dan Haren was throwing a shutout today into the 6th and finished with 7+ innings, 4 runs, 8 strikeouts and no walks.

But Takahashi gave up 2 earned runs in 1/3 of an inning on Monday. Then today he let up 2 more homers and 3 earned runs in a single inning.

That's 5 earned runs in 1 1/3 innings of late relief. Two tight games that turned into blowouts. I am not even including 2 come from behind wins against two of the best pitchers in the AL on my Dodged Bullet/Teeth Grinder ledger because Takahashi made the games no brainers.

Seriously Takahashi. Pick up the tab at the bar.

A Note to All MLB teams... Kevin Gregg Stinks!

The Orioles were on the verge of a confidence building win... they beat up Phil Hughes (which will probably be a regular occurrence this season and were going to leave Yankee Stadium with a split.

They brought a one run lead into the 9th inning and Buck Showalter handed the ball to Kevin Gregg. The minute I saw that I thought "Well, the Yankees are going to tie the game."

First batter, Jorge Posada, parked a game tying shot.

The Yankees won in 10, but make no mistake, this was Gregg's game to lose.

And so now we have the fourth straight season that I have been telling people that he stinks as a closer and teams are nuts for signing him.

And the Orioles are his fourth team in as many years.
And believe me, there will be many more demoralizing losses for a young Orioles team this year. This team should not be handing the ball to Kevin Gregg. That is a recipe for devastation. That is a formula that will keep a growing team from building on positive moments like taking early leads and hitting well in the Bronx.

Nothing positive happened for them tonight.
Buck, Gregg may indeed have some talent, but handing the game to him in the 9th is a terrible Armando Benitez-esque mistake.

Throw Josh Rupe out there. Give Chris Jakubauskas a few save chances. Koji Uehara is no spring chicken. Have him come out to close games.

Call up Eddie Gamboa from AA and see what he can do.
How can it be worse than Gregg?

It is no longer a small sample size of games nor teams.

It's a rebuilding year for the Orioles but with a break here and there they can sniff .500. But that won't happen with Gregg giving away games, which is EXACTLY what he will be doing all season long.

Unless you think the last 4 years were a fluke!

Is there any Louisiana Lightning left in that arm?

Ron Guidry was at Yankee Old Timers Day today... he looks pretty good.

I'm serious. With all of the lousy bullpens in baseball these days and everyone looking for a left hander, are you telling me that Ron Guidry couldn't make a staff or two?

OK, maybe not the Yankees, but are you saying the Mariners, the Orioles, the Royals and the Diamondbacks would have no place for him?

Make some calls, Ron.

Hey Cardinals bullpen... nice job

You would think that after hanging a 9 spot on you in the bottom of the 9th inning last night, you'd button down a little more.

Maybe show a little bit of moxie and say "Hey, let's not see that happen again" especially when you know the Reds won tonight and you don't want to fall 3 back in the NL Central race.

You would think that.

But a 3 run 8th inning homer by Dexter Fowler and a walk off shot by Chris Ianetta later and the Cardinals pen coughed it up again.

Granted, blowing a 3 run 8th inning lead isn't as bad as blowing a 6 run 9th inning lead... but that's not the kind of comparison you brag about winning.

Ubaldo Jimenez is going tomorrow against Chris Carpenter... could be a great game.
Let me recommend to Tony LaRussa that Carpenter goes 9.

There seems to be a lot of pictures like this of Joba Chamberlain

Another day, another run let up late in the game for Joba Chamberlain.

His ERA is now a robust 5.40 and yesterday blew a lead that could have been a huge morale builder for A. J. Burnett.

I hate to say this as a Red Sox fan, but as a human being I feel bad for him.

Just trade him already... it will help all sides out!