The fascination that the Red Sox have with paying a ton of money for "proven closers" is astounding. Over the last two seasons, they've dumped no less than nine players off onto other teams for three closers: Mark Melancon (later one of those nine), Andrew Bailey, and Joel Hanrahan. They've gotten a total of 19 saves from those three since the start of last year, as Hanrahan and Bailey have dealt with injury after injury while Melancon wasn't effective at all. Meanwhile, their new closer has been their best closer: Koji Uehara. Uehara converted his third save of the year on Thursday night, bringing his career total all the way up to 17 (with 13 of those coming in 2010). The Red Sox got Uehara on a modest one year, $4.25 million contract this offseason, less than what they're paying Hanrahan through arbitration and pretty much the same as what they're paying Bailey…only without having to have give up any players in return. Uehara has a 1.97 ERA this year to go along with a 46:7 strikeout to walk ratio in 32 innings. Uehara has been one of the best relievers in the first half this year, and guess what? It didn't cost Boston an eight figure, multi-year deal or a cadre of prospects to bring him in. Teams are going too crazy about back-end relievers when sometimes, the solution is simple. Hell, just look at Melancon and Jason Grilli in Pittsburgh.
Oh, and another DD update: I'm arbitrarily choosing the best pitching matchup for today's games. You can find that at the bottom of the post with the rest of the stuff for today.
PIC OF THE DAY
David Ortiz is angry that he struck out. So. Damn. Angry. (Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)
Game of the Day: Mets 3, Rockies 2. Another one of those "by default" days, as the couple of extra inning games we had didn't exactly light the world on fire. Anyway, the Rockies jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second, scoring two runs on a pair of outs. The Mets were held scoreless by Tyler Chatwood until the fifth, when their pitcher Jeremy Hefner drove in a run on a fielder's choice groundout. It remained a 2-1 game until the eighth, when Marlon Byrd (yes, *that* Marlon Byrd) belted his 12th homer of the year, a two-run shot off of Matt Belisle, to put the Mets in front 3-2. Scott Rice allowed a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning, but the runner was erased on a caught stealing. They got Josh Rutledge to second with two outs, but Carlos Gonzalez struck out to end the inning. In the ninth, Michael Cuddyer led off with a single but was thrown out stretching at second, and Wilin Rosario and Todd Helton couldn't get the ball out of the infield, ending the game.
Pitching Lines of the Day: Derek Holland threw a complete game shutout for the Rangers in their 2-0 win over the Yankees, allowing two hits, two walks, and striking out seven in the dominant effort. Phil Hughes pitched very well in the losing effort for the Yankees, allowing two runs on five his in eight innings, walking only one and striking out five. Jered Weaver pitched well for the Angels in their ten inning, 3-1 win of the Tigers, giving up one run on four hits in seven innings, punching out six and walking a pair. Matt Garza ran roughshod for the Cubs in their 7-2 win in Milwaukee, allowing just one run on eight hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out ten. Samuel Deduno had an efficient start for the Twins in their 3-1 win over the Royals, giving up one run on five hits in seven innings, punching out three and walking one.
Hitting Lines of the Day: Lonnie Chisenhall had a good game for the Indians in their rain-soaked 7-3 loss in Baltimore, going 3/4 with a double, a homer, and two RBI. In the Phillies' 6-4 loss in Los Angeles, Chase Utley went 3/5 with a double, a homer, and two RBI. Mike Trout continued to do Mike Trout things in Detroit, going 4/5 with a double and a run scored in the Angels' victory. Marlon Byrd finished his day in Denver by going 2/4 with that big two-run homer. In a losing effort for the Royals, Sal Perez went 2/4 with a solo homer. Dioner Navarro went 1/4 for a three-run homer for the Cubs in their win at Miller Park.
Other Games: The Diamondbacks beat the Nationals 3-2 in 11 innings. The Red Sox lost Jon Lester, but beat the Blue Jays 7-4 at Fenway.
What You Missed: Amanda Rykoff previewed the awesome food at the All-Star Game next month. Mark Teixeira will have wrist surgery, and his season is over in New York. The Pirates, yes, THE PIRATES, are in first place.
Today's Games: Trevor Bauer returns to the Indians rotation to take on the White Sox in Chicago for game one of a doubleheader. Josh Johnson starts for the Blue Jays in Boston against Allen Webster. Johnny Hellweg makes his major league debut for the Brewers against Gerrit Cole and the Pirates. Matt Harvey and the Mets host the Nationals. Max Scherzer starts in Tampa Bay for the Tigers. Ricky Nolasco makes potentially his final start as a Marlin against the Padres. Julio Teheran takes on former teammate Randall Delgado of the Diamondbacks as Chipper Jones' number gets retired in Atlanta. Johnny Cueto starts for the Reds in Texas. James Shields and the Royals take on the Twins. Bud Norris and the Astros host the Angels. Jhoulys Chacin and the Rockies host the Giants. Shelby Miller starts for the Cardinals in Oakland against Bartolo Colon. Travis Wood and Hisashi Iwakuma will battle in Seattle.
National TV: Reds-Rangers (8 PM, MLB Network), Royals-Twins (8 PM, MLB Network)
MLB.tv Free Game: Giants-Rockies (8:40 PM)
Best Pitching Matchup: Shelby Miller vs Bartolo Colon (Cardinals at A's, 10 PM)
Enjoy your day of baseball, everyone.
