Red Sox / Tampa Bay - Game 12

Yesterday was a wicked nice day in Massachusetts (and yes I do use the word "wicked" on a regular basis). It was sunny and about 70 degrees. That's funny because the night before it was below freezing.

I didn't see the entire game because it was too nice a day. I walked the mile to the local American Legion, had a beer and watched an inning and a half. I then walked another mile to a local Chinese restaurant, had another beer and watched an inning. Then I walked the mile back to the American Legion, had another beer and watched another inning. I caught the end of the game back at home.

Tim Wakefield continues to have a Cy Young caliber season. Yesterday he went 6 innings and only gave up one run. For the season he's 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA. If the season ended today, Wakefield would probably be in the top 5 for the AL Cy Young voting.

Speaking of "if the season ended today" - if the season ended today of the top 10 teams in terms of payroll - only three would make the playoffs (St. Louis, Atlanta and either Seattle or Anaheim but with the possibility that Oakland would drop both Anaheim and Seattle out of the playoffs). None of the top 4 teams in payroll would make the playoffs if the season ended today.

Edgar Renteria hit his second HR of the season yesterday and he seems to be settling in nicely. Just for the sake of comparison - look at these numbers:

Renteria - .255 BA / 2 HR / 8 RBI / .271 OBP / .468 SLG
Garciaparra - .182 BA / 0 HR / 4 RBI / .245 OBP / .205 SLG
Cabrera - .233 BA / 1 HR / 6 RBI / .327 OBP / .419 SLG