Red Sox 2008 Game 45 Preview

			@
D. Bush		1-4, 6.06		T. Wakefield		3-2, 4.25
Brewers		20 - 22		Red Sox		25 - 19

Saturday, May 17 (game 2 of Double header)        Fenway Park  ✠ @8:35 PM ET

American League

East	W	L	GB	L 10	1 R W	1 R L	X W	X L
Tampa Bay	25	18	-	8-2	4	6	24	19
Boston	25	19	.5	4-6	7	6	25	19
Baltimore	22	19	2.0	6-4	10	5	20	21
Toronto	21	23	4.5	5-5	6	9	21	23
New York	20	23	5.0	3-7	5	5	21	22

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

Brewers: Bush put together his best start this season against the Cardinals on Monday, allowing a Rick Ankiel home run with two outs in the first inning but then blanking St. Louis through the end of the sixth. It was his first win this season and his second win in 11 starts dating to last year, when Bush tied for the team lead with 12 victories. It's been a much tougher road this year, but Bush found success in his most recent start by using the inner half of the plate, somewhat of a departure from pitching coach Mike Maddux's philosophy.

Red Sox: The knuckleballer is coming off his shortest outing since Sept. 2003, allowing seven hits and seven runs -- six earned -- in just 2 2/3 innings last Sunday night at Minnesota. Wakefield has had an up and down month, going 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA in three starts. Wakefield is looking forward to returning to Fenway Park. The right-hander is 3-1 this season with a 2.95 ERA on grass in five starts. He is 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA in three starts on turf.

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

Red Sox Batting History vs Bush

Player	AB	H	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	BA	OBA	Slug	OPS
J. Ellsbury	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	---	---	---	---
D. Pedroia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	---	---	---	---
D. Ortiz	8	3	1	0	0	4	1	1	.375	.444	.500	.944
M. Ramirez	5	3	1	0	1	4	3	0	.600	.778	1.400	2.178
M. Lowell	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	---	---	---	---
K. Youkilis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	---	---	---	---
J. D. Drew	3	3	2	0	0	2	0	0	1.000	1.000	1.667	2.667
K. Cash	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	---	---	---	---
J. Lugo	14	1	0	0	0	3	0	1	.071	.167	.071	.238
Totals	30	10	4	0	1	13	4	2	.333	.436	.567	1.003

Basically one game, of course results like that for one game would be a blow out with those 13 rbi's. Not sure what to think about these results, but some players should feel comfortable, and winning the first of the double header games should help. Will have to see.

Pitching Comparisions Career vs teams

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Bush	4	0	3	0	16	22	16	3	8	9	9.00	1.88	4.00
Wakefield	10	5	2	0	67 2/3	67	24	6	26	54	3.19	1.37	6.77

Bush has been horrible vs the Sox in his career (all with Toronto) so you have to like the Sox chances. In two games at Fenway he has been even worse with an 11.25 ERA / 2.13 WHIP and is 0-2. Yep, I like are chances!!!


Pitching Comparisions this year

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Bush	6	1	4	0	35 2/3	36	24	7	16	21	6.06	1.46	5.78
Wakefield	8	3	2	0	48 2/3	44	23	6	23	27	4.25	1.38	6.08

Really the only terrible start for Tim was his last start. Giving up 6 runs in 2 2/3 innings in Minnesota was horrendous. In all of his other starts this year he has gone at least 5 inning (once) and has went 8 innings twice. If you take out the Minnesota start he has a 3.33 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP. So, taking his usual solid starts and his career record vs the Brewers into consideration, I am saying look for Mr. Timothy Wakefield to come out smoking tonight!!!


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