Red Sox 2008 Game 80 Preview

			@
D. Davis		2-3, 3.65		J. Masterson		4-1, 3.00
Diamondbacks		40-37		Red Sox		47-32

Tuesday, June 24      Fenway Park  ✠ 7:05 p.m. ET

American League

East	W	L	GB	L 10	1 R W	1 R L	X W	X L
Boston	47	32	-	5-5	10	10	46	33
Tampa Bay	44	31	1.0	6-4	13	9	41	34
New York	41	35	4.5	8-2	13	9	40	36
Baltimore	38	36	6.5	6-4	17	11	36	38
Toronto	36	41	10.0	2-8	11	19	40	37

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From MLB.Com Scouting Report

Diamondbacks: Davis had a strong performance for the second consecutive outing, allowing just one run on three hits over six innings. He also had a season-high eight strikeouts. The one run he did allow was a bloop single to Oakland left-fielder Jack Cust. Davis is 3-2 against the Red Sox over his career, with a 3.78 ERA in 33 1/3 innings.

Red Sox: Masterson continues to make the most of his callup from the Minor Leagues, first filling in for the injured Daisuke Matsuzaka and now for Bartolo Colon. Though Masterson labored a bit in his last start, he still earned the win against a heavy-hitting Phillies team. In that one, Masterson gave up four hits and two runs over five innings, throwing 92 pitches. Opponents are hitting .176 against Masterson. The righty has allowed 22 hits over 36 innings.

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

Red Sox Batting History vs Davis

Player	AB	Hits	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	BA	OBA	Slug	OPS
J. Ellsbury	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
D. Pedroia	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000	.333	.000	.333
J. D. Drew	7	2	0	0	1	3	0	2	.286	.286	.714	1.000
M. Ramirez	11	3	0	0	0	1	1	1	.273	.333	.273	.606
M. Lowell	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	.000	.500	.000	.500
K. Youkilis	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
J. Varitek	8	3	0	0	0	1	1	1	.375	.444	.375	.819
C. Crisp	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
J. Lugo	12	3	0	0	1	1	1	1	.250	.308	.500	.808
Totals	45	11	0	0	2	6	7	6	.244	.346	.378	.724

A mixed bag versus Davis as far as the hitters go. None of them really dominate him but they have had some success against him. The way the offense is going right now though you have to think that Davis will shut them down.

Pitching Comparisions Career

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Davis	5	3	2	0	33 1/3	41	14	3	11	15	3.78	1.56	6.4
Masterson	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---

Davis has been up and down versus the Sox. When he has been good he has been lights out, as in all three of his Wins he has gone at least six innings and only given up four earned runs. When he has been bad though he has been bad as in both of his losses he has given up five earned runs. Let us hope we get the bad tonight.

Pitching Comparisions this year

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Davis	8	2	3	0	44 1/3	46	18	2	25	38	3.65	1.60	5.54
Masterson	6	4	1	0	36	22	12	5	17	28	3.00	1.08	6.00

Masterson by far has the better numbers this year. The kid has good stuff. Davis has too many walks which really raises his WHIP. Look for a patient Sox team to wait him out.

Inside Edge

Type	All	1st P	Early	2 S	Ahead	Behind	RHB	LHB	Op. BA
Fastball	66 %	71 %	64 %	62 %	56 %	76 %	67 %	63 %	.305
Curves	17 %	14 %	16 %	25 %	28 %	5 %	16 %	23 %	.167
Sliders	7 %	7 %	7 %	7 %	6 %	8 %	7 %	7 %	.269
Change Ups	10 %	9 %	13 %	6 %	9 %	11 %	11 %	7 %	.296
Totals	4,041	1,041	2,343	1,064	1,286	1,113	3,145	896	.278

Is this an important game? Yes I think it is, for the first time this year the Sox are about to lose two series in a row at Fenway Park. After last nights loss this is the only game that they can win versus the Diamondbacks.

"Wait there is another game tomorrow night", you say. Well, take a look at Johnsons career stats versus the Sox. He fragging owns them. So tonight is the night to prevent the sweep. My confidence level for that is at 10%.

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