Red Sox 2008 Game 78 Preview

			@
J. Pineiro		2-3, 4.02		J. Lester		6-3, 3.18
Cardinals		44-32		Red Sox		46-31

Sunday, June 22      Fenway Park  ✠ 1:35 p.m. ET

American League

East	W	L	GB	L 10	1 R W	1 R L	X W	X L
Boston	46	31	-	6-4	10	9	45	32
Tampa Bay	44	30	.5	6-4	13	8	40	34
New York	40	35	5.0	7-3	13	9	39	36
Baltimore	38	35	6.0	6-4	17	11	35	38
Toronto	35	41	10.5	2-8	11	19	39	37

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

Cardinals: Exhibit 14,591 on why wins are a bad way to judge a pitcher: Pineiro hasn't won since April 29. In the interim, however, he's pitched well enough to win at least three times, most notably in his most recent start, when he allowed a single run over seven innings. Fenway Park probably isn't high on Pineiro's list of favorite places, but he's going well enough that he might be able to erase the bad memories of a frustrating '07 with the Red Sox.

Red Sox: Lester has been Boston's best pitcher over the last few weeks. He has won his last three starts, giving up a total of three runs in 20 1/3 innings. Lester is holding opponents to a .249 average on the season and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 10 consecutive starts. Lester has thrived at Fenway this season, going 4-1 with a 2.55 ERA.

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

Red Sox Batting History vs Pineiro

Player	AB	Hits	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	BA	OBA	Slug	OPS
J. Ellsbury	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
D. Pedroia	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
J. D. Drew	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.333	.333	.333	.667
M. Ramirez	23	10	0	0	3	5	3	3	.435	.536	.826	1.362
M. Lowell	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	--	---	---	---	---
K. Youkilis	9	2	1	0	0	1	0	2	.222	.222	.333	.556
J. Varitek	13	0	0	0	0	1	2	5	.000	.125	.000	.125
C. Crisp	11	4	0	0	1	2	1	3	.364	.417	.636	1.053
J. Lugo	9	3	1	0	1	1	1	1	.333	.400	.778	1.178
Totals	71	21	2	0	5	10	7	14	.296	.375	.535	.910

Unlike the last two days where the Sox have been facing the pitcher for the first time, they know Pineiro. Boy do they know Peneiro. If I was Terry I would sit Lowell for this game and start Casey at first base. At least Casey has seen this guy and is 1 for 4 with a walk. Will be interesting to see what Terry does.

Pitching Comparisions Career

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Pineiro	9	3	5	0	50 2/3	69	38	8	22	40	6.75	1.80	5.63
Lester	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---

A fragging 6.75 ERA, are you kidding me? Look if the Sox can't torch this guy then this season will be a repeat of 2006. They own this guy, absolutely own this guy. Break out the bats and get ready for a show.

Pitching Comparisions this year

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Pineiro	10	2	3	0	56	57	25	6	14	33	4.02	1.27	5.60
Lester	16	6	3	1	96 1/3	90	34	7	38	62	3.18	1.33	6.02

All across the board, except for the K/BB ratio Lester has been better. He needs to challange these Cardinals, especially since the Cards are only 14-12 versus Lefties. He also needs to be a stopper for this team.

Taking a look at espn's scouting / inside edge for Pineiro:

Inside Edge

	ALL	1st PITCH	EARLY	2 STRIKES	AHEAD	BEHIND	VS RHB	VS LHB	OPP BA
Fastballs	58%	63%	60%	49%	49%	73%	59%	57%	.294
Curves	14%	14%	14%	18%	20%	5%	11%	18%	.241
Sliders	17%	16%	16%	20%	18%	12%	25%	6%	.287
Change Ups	11%	7%	11%	14%	13%	10%	5%	19%	.211
Totals	2125	588	1316	593	808	427	1209	916	.273

A fastball pitcher with a pretty good change up and curve ball. Even better is the fact that this year his ERA is over 2 runs higher on the road (2.84 home, 4.99 road) and his ERA during a day game is a horrendous 6.33. I like our chances versus this guy.

♊ - Well, let's hope we get some funny hats too.