Game Preview: Sox @ Baltimore GM2

Lester (2-2) vs. Cabrera (3-1)
GM 2 of 2 305 PM @ Camden Yards

Beware: Do not try and reach base against this man - he is armed with an unpredictable cannon and could go off at any time!

Finally the Sox catch a break with the MLB schedule makers.

After two consecutive 4-game road series ended with night games necessitating red eye's for the Sox both in the air and on the ground, Boston gets a businessman's special this afternoon at Oriole Park at Camden Yards before the team heads into its first off day in 17 days.

And it's a great thing for all the Nation's unemployed/laid off workers/lazy asses, who get to watch their favorite ballclub play in the daytime, thus providing a convenient excuse to start drinking early(er).

Another bonus for myself, er I mean those guys I mentioned above, is that the game is on MLB InDemand HD, a new for 2008 channel my local cable provider conveniently added to my high def tier last week.

Thanks, BrightHouse Networks! (plug plug, honey)

Unfortunately I'll be exposed to the annoying tones of Mssrs. Gary 'let me rephrase that' Thorne and Jim 'paint dry' Palmer instead of Rem Dog and Don-O, but still.

As for the Sox they better get things going in the right direction today because what started out as a terrific road trip, with a series win in Detroit coming on the heels of a sweep of the Rays at home, has turned into a roadie from hell as the team has dropped four of its last five games, including last night's 5-4 defeat to these Os.

If the Sox hope to split this mini series it will be up to Jon Lester to pull off the difficult feat. On this trip the starters have been less-than spectacular, evening factoring in Wake's 2-hit, 8 inning gem in Game 2 in Detroit.

In the 9 games of the trip thus far the Boston starting pitchers have combined to throw 49 innings while allowing 60 hits, 22 walks and 30 earned runs, which equal out to sub-par stats of a 5.51 ERA and 1.67 WHIP.

Considering the Sox have dropped four of its five losses by only one run, many after the hitters had either handed them an early lead or come back after falling behind, and it's easy to see how starting pitching has been the main downfall of the club on this trip.

Unfortunately Lester will be opposed by the always erratic, most of the time psychotic Baltimore starter Daniel Cabrera.

The hard throwing right has made a name for himself over the years by being a supremely talented pitcher who cannot control his lively heater, thus leading to a multitude of high strikeout, high walk games. He is also renowned for his high strung temperament and idiotic antics on the mound.

I'm sure all you in the Nation remember last September's game against the Sox in which the animated Dominican native went all Chuck Norris when Coco Crisp had the gall to try and bunt his way on base in the 4th inning of a game at the Yards, an incident that was well documented here at the Sock.

God forbid the Sox get a lead today and then attempt to keep getting on base or Hairtrigger Cabrera might channel Tito Ortiz and try and take out thew whole team, not just mites like Coco and Little Big Man.

It might have something to do with the fact that he is 1-9 with a 7.84 ERA in 49.1 innings over 11 career starts against the Sox.

Should be a good one this afternoon the combo of day baseball, HD, brews and the threat of a nuclear mound meltdown looming on the horizon making for a memorable contest at Camden.

For all you working folk, I will try and recap it by the time you finish dinner.

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Anatomy of a Meltdown: Daniel Cabrera

Last night Baltimore starter Daniel hair trigger Cabrera had a temper tantrum a two-year old could appreciate.

Here at CBS we like to delve deep into these fits of baseball misconduct to try and find out that really happened to create such an explosive situation.

1.)Cabrera glares at Coco because he had the nerve to attempt to bunt his way on base to start the frame; "Why don't you try to homer off me like everybody else, you little piece of...."
2.) After Coco singled his way on and made it around to third base, Cabrera lost his cool as Coco danced around trying to distract the pitcher....

...and ultimately forced Cabrera into a balk that allowed Coco to scamper home gleefully

3.) His blatant foolishness and complete misunderstanding of baseball etiquette then drove Cabrera into a blind rage, when he decided to punish the next man who dared try to reach base on him......who just happened to be 5' 9" (cough!) Dustin Pedroia, the smallest member of the Sox. Did I mention Cabrera is 6' 7" and throws 100 mph?

4.) Even the ump took issue with Cabrera's bush league tactics, telling him "that was a chickenshit thing to do, pal, and if you do it again you won't be able to play in AAU ball!"
5.) This admonishment caused Cabrera, who had not be subjected to that kind of public humiliation since his mom pointed out that he had pissed his pants at the grammar school playground, to go all MMA on, well, no one in particular

6.) The classless clown even tried to pull the tired old "let me at him/hold me back" shtick, using teammate Melvin Mora as a human barricade

7.) Only after the entire Boston ballclub entered the fray and threatened to expose Cabrera as a thumbsucking bedwetter and then string him up on the Cask-n-Flagon sign by his extra large Underoos...

...did the Dominican decide to exit the premises and seek the help of a guidance counselor at the local middle school to help him control his anger


The end.

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