there are games that just frustrate me endlessly.

last night's game was one of those games.

1. i'd be lying if i said it didn't unnerve me just a little to see Matt Clement in the dugout last night. i was trying to calm myself with repeated reminders that his contract is done after this season, but Daniel mentioned that his being there was a sign of bad luck. i initially shook it off, but it would turn out later that maybe Daniel was, in fact, on to something.

2. Ellsbury's double in the first "completed" yesterday's missing piece of the cycle. and the bonus of Ellsbury hitting ahead of Papi is that it often eliminates the possibility of a double play!

3. last night's game was a tale of squandering opportunities. *sheesh* but i find nothing more maddening that wasted base runners. bases loaded, first inning, one out. only one run managed to score. lather-rinse-repeat in the fifth. and when they loaded 'em up for a *third* time in the seventh, not a single, solitary runner crossed home plate. count them. *three* chances to come up with some big runs. nine men on base. only two lousy runs scored?? ARG. i feel like this is the freaking theme song for this season. doesn't matter how many men you get on base if you can't bring any of them in!

4. Schill's two out melt-downs scare me a little.

5. i think Remy should be required to let us in on the joke when he's laughing so hard he can't finish a promo.

6. ok seriously. does Youk have some invisible target on him that only opposing pitchers can see or something? last night the pitch that clipped him actually skinned his elbow & made him bleed.

7. i felt a tremor of residual 2006 bullpen fear when Bryan Corey entered the game in the seventh. he did all right, considering. better than MDC, that's for sure. >=[

8. i have no problem admitting that the Sox turned a double play in the top of the seventh that i think was a gift. the first out was good but i think the runner beat the throw to 1B for the second out. no one complained -- and neither am i. but i still think we got a gift. turns out it didn't matter since we blew the game anyway.

Evil Empire, six games back & off this evening. Wakey stepping up to attempt keeping up with Joshy, going for win number seventeen tonight.

Sox on MLBtv for me, NFL opening night on tv (muted til the Sox are done playing).

GO SOX!
(and go Saints! boo Peyton Manning.)