2009 Red Sox Game 4 Preview

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T. Wakefield		0-0, 0.00		Jered. Weaver		0-0, 0.00
Red Sox		1-2		Angels		1-2

Friday, April 10, 2009      Angel Stadium of Anaheim ✠ 7:10 p.m. ET

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

Red Sox:    -    The veteran knuckleballer is beginning his 15th season for the Red Sox. The only other active player in the Majors to have worn his uniform continuously for one team since 1995 is Mariano Rivera for the Yankees. Wakefield is second on the club's all-time list in appearances (504), second in strikeouts (1,797), third in wins (164) and third in innings (2,581 2/3). His 178 career wins are the ninth most among active pitchers. Wakefield pitched better than his record last year, finishing third in opponents' batting average at .228. Wakefield tied a career-high with 18 quality starts in '08. Lifetime against the Angels, he is 9-12 with a 4.80 ERA.

Angels:    -    His spring was delayed by shoulder soreness and then set back briefly by a back strain, but he bounced back and finished strong and appears ready to go fairly deep in games. Weaver gets by on deception with his delivery, quality stuff and a competitive instinct that enables him to do some of his best work in high-pressure situations. He was 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two outings against the Athletics last season and is 2-2, 2.56 in seven career starts against them. Weaver was better at home (6-5, 3.71) than on the road (5-5, 4.91) in 2008. If he puts it all together, he could fulfill the expectations of his dominant rookie season in 2006.

There are times when I just don't understand Francona. This is one of them. Wakefield has dropped his last four starts at Angel Stadium, where he has not won since 2002, posting a 9.78 ERA in those outings (from espn.com preview).

♊ -   Insanity is part of the times. You must learn to embrace the madness. Let it fire you.