World Series Game 1 Updates

(I wish I had more time to blog about the World Series, but with as busy as I am at work these Tuesday-Wednesday games are killers. But I digress...)

Could Jake have any worse luck? His top hitter, Carlos Pena, is out for the season with broken fingers. Yovanni Gallardo is skipping every other start because of what... youth? And to top it off his ace, Tim Lincecum, was scratched from his Tuesday start with a weak back (that he got about a week back.) All of this while he was asleep waiting for the World Series to start.

Neither team burst out of the gate in Game 1, but Avery holds the slightly better hand. With a 39-36 lead going into today's action. His only player on the board is his closer Jose Valverde of Houston. Just by appearing in tonight's game against the Braves, Valverde would erase a -4 game from Trevor Hoffman and have a chance to add to Avery's total. Houston's ace Wandy Rodriguez is on the mound for the Astros.

With no other pitchers than Lincecum scheduled to start, Jake got two relievers and lucky for him. Mariano Rivera and Jason Frasor each scored 8 points and combined, represented nearly half of Jake's point total. His player to watch tonight, and only player on the board, is Mike Lowell who apparently had a routine day off on Tuesday. If Valverde doesn't pitch, Lowell would need only 5 points to give Jake the Game 1 win. The Red Sox are at home against Baltimore's Jason Berken. Lowell is 1-for-1 lifetime against Berken. Game time is 6:00. I'll try to post an update once the starting lineups are in. If Lowell doesn't play, then it is Moop.

UPDATE 650pm
I can do a little of this tonight I guess. Mike Lowell is in the lineup for Boston and is 0 for 1. 39-36 Avery. If Lowell gets 4 points, Avery will need Valverde to pitch in order to have a chance to win.

UPDATE 700pm
Checking the news - Tim Lincecum says he's better and will be ready to pitch on Monday. What a screw job for Jake. Monday doesn't count for anything.

UPDATE 705pm
Looking ahead to Game 2, it looks like Jake will get Jon Lester on Saturday. Avery's only option at this point is Mat Latos. Although there's a couple of good pickups sitting out there. I think. Can anyone say 'Chris Smith'?

Boston 2, Baltimore 1 heading into the bottom of the 3rd. Lowell is due up 5th.

UPDATE 715pm
I'm watching women's tennis on ESPN2 - the 17 yr old chick from the U.S. against someone named Wozniacki (Poland?). I read an article today about the U.S. chick. She got booted out of here hotel in Manhattan because her reservation was up - didn't think she'd be there that long. Tuned in to see if she was a babe.

I have bigger tits than that. The other chick is a babe though.

UPDATE 720pm
Mike Lowell reached on an erro and stole second base. 39-37 Avery.

Varitek doubled him in. 39-38 Avery. Getting interesting.

UPDATE 755pm
I flipped over and watched a few minutes of The Obama. What a lying sack of...

Lowell singled in the 5th. It's 39-39. Avery wins the tie breaker so Jake needs one more opint out of Lowell to keep it alive.

On Lowell's single, Youkalis was throw out at the plate to end the inning. He will get one more AB for sure but probably no more.

UPDATE 825pm
The Braves lead the Astros 1-0 in the 6th. This is significant because of Valverde's chances of getting in the game. Valverde is apparently involved in some sort of age discrepancy dispute.

UPDATE 850pm
Lowell is up in the 7th with two on.

Lowell walks. Jake leads 40-39. Valverde must pitch or Jake wins Game 1.

Lowell was replaced by a pinch hitter - he's done. If Valverde pitches, a -4 from Hoffman is erased. Avery would lead 43-40 once he enters the game.

UPDATE 900pm
Houston doesn't score in the bottom of the 8th. Still 1-0 Atlanta. We'll see if Valverde pitches the 9th.

VALVERDE IS IN!

Anything better than a -4 and Avery wins.

Pop out. One down. 44-40 Avery.

Strikeout. Two down. 46-40 Avery.

Another strikeout. Side's retired. 48-40 Avery. Braves still lead 1-0. Astros coming up to bat in the bottom of the 9th. Jake's only chance is if Houston ties and then Valverde blows up in the 10th. Highly unlikely.

One out in the bottom of the 9th.

Single by Matsui and double by Berkman. Runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out.

Carlos Lee gets intentionally walked. Bases loaded with one out. A base hit ends the game and Avery wins. Jake needs a tie.

Tejada batting. BASE HIT. Two runs. Game over.

Valverde gets the win. Avery wins Game 1, 52-40.

Good night.