9/13/11: Red Sox 7, Yankees 4

Box Score

When I tuned into the radio this morning, there was a lot of discussion on John Lackey, none of which had to do with anything he did on the field (in case you were wondering, he had a quality start, the first by a Red Sox pitcher in nearly two weeks). Apparently,  in his post-game interview, he complained about some paparazzi website harassing him about blah-blah-blah, and now the media are having a feeding frenzy on him.

You won’t find any of that here. Look, I’ve hated watching Lackey pitch this year. But what I hate more, exponentially more, is the whole pop culture atmosphere that exists today. Reality TV, gossip columns, all of that stuff is a scourge on Western society. (Wow, do I sound like a bitter old man!)

I can’t really blame the website that contacted Lackey, because they were just producing a product that is in high-demand: schadenfreude. Basically, what you are seeing is someone going through a horrible situation, and the general public reveling in it like a pig rolling around in its own waste. Welcome to 21st century America.

Key Players:

• Hero of the Game: Jonathan Papelbon (2.1 perfect innings, 4 Ks, 48.0% WPA)
• Goat of the Game: Scott Proctor (gave up a 3-run HR in the 14th inning, -51.3% WPA)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury hits a 3-run HR with 2 outs in the top of the 14th inning. (45.8% WPA)
2. Jonothan Papelbon strikes out AUstin Romine with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 9th  (16.8% WPA).
3. Jason Varitek hits a go-ahead RBI single with 1 out in the 7th (14.6% WPA).

“Time to grind and shine. If you don’t like this, you don’t have blood going through your veins. Right? If you don’t like this, if you’re not going to play tired, if you’re not going to play hurt, and you’re in this clubhouse, you ain’t got blood running through your veins.”

- Jonathan Papelbon

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