Monday, September 10, 2007

Red Sox 07 Game 145 Preview

TB@ Bos
S. Kazmir11-8, 3.79C. Schilling8-6, 4.04
Devil Rays60-83Red Sox87-57

Monday, September, 10      Fenway Park  ✠ 7:05 PM ET
American League
EastWLGBL 101 R W1 R LX WX L
Boston 8757-7-321219054
New York81625.57-313178558
Toronto727014.05-525237666
Baltimore618125.03-711286478
Tampa608326.57-319155984

ESPN.Com Preview .
Yahoo's Preview .
ESPN.Com after the game Recap.
MLB.Com Press Pass
From MLB.Com Scouting Report
Baseball-Reference - Preview

Devil Rays: Kazmir overcame a tough beginning Tuesday against the Orioles to give the team seven innings. The Rays left-hander allowed four runs on nine hits en route to a no-decision. After a first half in which he struggled to find his mechanics, Kazmir has been a different pitcher in the second half, limiting his pitch count and lasting longer while still showing electric stuff. He is 5-4 with a 2.82 in 15 career starts against the Red Sox.

Red Sox: Schilling was solid but unspectacular during a Wednesday night start against the Blue Jays, the victim of a fifth-inning singles binge that put the Red Sox in a 3-1 hole. Otherwise, Schilling threw six efficient innings. He gave up three earned runs on eight hits and was in line for the win when the bullpen blew the lead. Schilling took responsibility for the loss. "I fell into a rut," he said. "It ended up being the game."

As usual all statistics were found at the day by day database at Baseball Musings and this year at Baseball Reference.

Hitting History vs Kazmir
PlayerABH2b3bHR'sRBIBB'sK'sBA
J. Lugo112000204.182
C. Crisp205200017.250
D. Pedroia127100111.583
M. Lowell196102533.316
B. Kielty167102412.438
K. Youkilis2351000511.217
J. Varitek184100256.222
J. Ellsbury-----------
A. Cora42000101.500
Totals12338704151635.309

Want to know why the Sox struggle vs Kazmir? Just look at the two big guns of Ortiz and Ramirez, they are a combined 11 for 73. That is a minuscule .151 BA and they strike out almost once every three at bats. Not good numbers for the home team. Lowell, Pedroia and Kielty are the only players with 10 or more at bats who are hitting over .300.

Historical Pitching Lines

PitcherGSWLShoIPHERHRBBKERAWHIPIP/GS
Kazmir1554189 1/37128642992.821.265.96
Schilling161050112 1/31194815191013.851.237.02

An intriguing match up tonight. You have the old gun going against the young gun. If familiarity breeds success then the Sox have the edge. Especially since this is the 5th time this year that Kazmir has faced the Sox. In those four games he is 0-2 with a 3.42 ERA and averaged 5.92 innings per start.

In his career Kaz is 3 and 3 at fenway in 8 starts. He has a very respectable 3.15 ERA and does average 5.71 IP/GS. His WHIP is an unimpressive 1.42 though.

Schilling is 5 and 1 at Fenway vs the Rays with a 4.11 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He averages 6.57 IP/GS though. The problem with Schilling has been that he is either very good (3 games with 1 earned run or less) or very bad since the other four games he has allowed at least four runs. I think tonight we will see the good Schilling!.

♊ - When all else fails, get a bigger hammer!

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