Let's get post-Manny era off to a good start. It's August 1st, there are 53 games left to play, we are 3 back of the Rays and 1.5 up on the Yanks. We're also 1st in the Wild Card standings, .5 game ahead of Minnesota, but that's not the focus yet.
Oakland is a half game below .500, and I really hope we take it to them this series. They should continue to have trouble scoring runs, although they are getting their best hitter back in Frank Thomas tonight, but we're facing their best pitcher, Justin Duchscherer.
Tim Wakefield birthday mojo tonight? He turns 42 tomorrow. Hopefully he'll put his last game against Oakland, where he gave up 8 hits and 8 ER in 5 IP, while walking and K-ing 4. It happened to be his worst start of the season. This Oakland team has a combined .892 OPS against Wake. Whoops. Here's to hoping that he also puts last Saturday's start behind him, when we lost 10-3 to the Yanks.
And, of course, Jason Bay arrives tonight.