2007 Winding Down

Well, 2007 is finally winding down and it is obvious that there are some serious bowl games to be played yet in this year. Well, not really, but there are a few left in this year. So far I have picked 8 winners and 7 losers, but today is another day. Before we get to the bowl picks for today though, it should be mentioned that the Celtics just keep on rolling along.

Last night they completed their four game west coast trip by beating the Lakers, well, actually they rolled over the the Lakers like a cement truck heading to the construction site. The closest the Lakers got in the second half was at 3:16 in the 3rd quarter when Kobe fed Derek Fisher for a three pointer that made the score 72-66. The Lakers didn't score again until the 4th quarter and by that time the Celtics had a 16 point lead that would never be threatened again.

As for the just completed road trip, the C's went to Sacramento on the 26th and won 89-69, a twenty point shellacking over a losing team. This was followed by a game on the 27th in Seattle that the Celtics won 104-96 over an even worse team than the Kings. Still it was Ray Allens first trip back to Seattle and it was their sixth set of back to back games this year (6-0 on the second game of these sets) so a close game was to be expected.

Following a day off the C's continued to impress by beating the Jazz on the 29th by a 104-98 score that included an embarrassed Paul Pierce who hit the winning basket with 28 seconds left in the game. In this game the Celtics trailed at half time as they just could not stop the Jazz from shooting over 60% in the first half. Once again though they out scored their opponent in the third quarter and only trailed by two going into the fourth. The Celtics were now 3-0 on the trip and rumbled into Los Angeles trying to do two things, prevent Phil Jackson from passing Red Auerbach on the win list and sweep the road trip.

Mission accomplished! Another double digit win and another milestone achieved!

Setting The Pace
The Celtics are now off to a better start than the Bulls team that won an NBA-record 72 games. Here are the best winning percentages before New Year's Day:
Team	Record	Pct.
1971-72 Lakers	36-3	.923*
1966-67 76ers	35-3	.921*
2007-08 Celtics	26-3	.897
1995-96 Bulls	25-3	.893*
* -- Won NBA title.

Some things are just meant to be and that is being accomplished by this Celtics team. As the box to the right says (lifted from ESPN.Com), the Celtics have joined a select few teams in the upper echelon of NBA history and the historic runs of the teams from Boston just keep on rolling (16-0 Patriots, 2007 World Series Champs) along in this last week of 2007.

Next on the docket for the Celtics will be a home game vs the Rockets on 1/2/2008 (got to get used to typing 2008) and another back to back as they face the Grizzlies on 1/4 at home and then travel to Detroit on 1/5. The Detroit game will be interesting since the Pistons beat the Celtics on 12/19 in Boston. I expect fireworks in that game!!

Enough about the Celtics though. Lets make our picks for today's Bowl Games!

The first game today at 12:30 is the Armed Forces Bowl! This game pits California (6-6) against Air Force (9-3). I think the Falcons will beat the Bears 31 - 27.

Next set of games has the Humanitarian bowl at 2:00 with Georgia Tech (7-5) playing Fresno State (8-4). Look for the rambling wreck to win this game 35-21. The other 2:00 game has #21 South Florida (9-3) playing Oregon (8-4). I just don't think that Oregon can hang with the Big East team and fully expect the Bulls to beat the Ducks 28-10.

Our 4:00 game features Kentucky (7-5) playing perennial bowl team Florida State (7-5) in the Music City bowl. Since Florida State has an academic scandal (gee another school in Florida with a thug reputation, who woulda thought that - ed) which will cause a good number of players to be left in Florida for this game, I expect the SEC to continue to roll as Kentucky blasts the Seminoles 35-10.

The 6:00 game features Indiana (7-5) vs Oklahoma State (6-6) in the insight.com bowl. I expect this game to be a shoot out and I even might watch a little bit of it on the NFL network. Indiana 31 - Oklahoma State 30.

The last game of the day will be at 7:30 on ESPN as the Clemson Tigers (9-3) take on the Auburn Tigers (8-4). This should be another good game but I fully expect the SEC team to beat the ACC team in a low scoring affair. Lets go with Auburn 18 over Clemson 17.

Well, time to do some menial errands on this last day in 2007. Catch you all later!

Red Sox 07 Game 149 Preview

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C. Wang		18-6, 3.69		J. Beckett		18-6, 3.27
Yankees		84 - 63		Red Sox		89 - 59

Saturday, September, 15      Fenway Park  ✠ 3:55 PM ET

American League

East	W	L	GB	L 10	1 R W	1 R L	X W	X L
Boston	89	59	-	6-4	22	23	92	56
New York	84	63	4.5	8-2	14	18	88	59
Toronto	73	74	15.5	3-7	26	24	77	70
Baltimore	63	83	25.0	4-6	11	28	65	81
Tampa	61	87	28.0	4-6	20	18	61	87

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

Yankees: Wang was a winner once more in his last effort against Kansas City, twirling seven innings of three-run ball to win his 18th game and fifth straight start. Now comes a true matchup of Cy Young candidates, both having terrific seasons in the midst of the baseball's biggest rivalry. Wang last faced Boston on Aug. 30 at Yankee Stadium and beat them 5-0, limiting the Red Sox to one hit while striking out five for win No. 16.

Red Sox: Beckett has been a machine for the Red Sox all year long. A leading contender for the American League Cy Young Award, Beckett is coming off a 3-2 victory over the Orioles. In that one, the righty gave up two runs over seven innings while striking out eight. Beckett is holding opponents to a .245 average. Beckett is 1-1 with a 5.49 ERA in three starts against the Yankees this season.

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

Hitting History vs Wang

Player	AB	H	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	BA
D. Pedroia	6	3	2	0	0	1	0	0	.500
K. Youkilis	19	7	3	0	0	1	8	1	.368
D. Ortiz	27	12	3	0	2	8	5	4	.444
M. Ramirez	22	13	0	0	2	5	4	3	.591
J.D. Drew	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
M. Lowell	22	4	1	0	0	0	3	2	.182
J. Varitek	13	1	0	0	1	1	2	3	.077
C. Crisp	20	5	0	1	0	0	1	2	.250
J. Lugo	28	6	1	0	0	1	5	5	.214
Totals	166	51	10	1	5	17	28	20	.307

A .307 average would be pretty good but this can be so much better. First I would sit Lowell and his anemic average and move Youkilis to third and add Hinske. Hinske is 10/22 with 2 home runs against Wang. I also might switch Lugo and Cora since Cora is 5/18 with home run. Mirabelli is also better than Varitek but I don't expect Doug is able to play, still Cash has to be better than Tek's anemic .077 batting average. I also would sit Drew.

Just by adding Cora and Hinske you raise the line ups average to .359 with a .603 Slugging %.

This year Wang has a .280 BAA left handed batters. Load up the Lefties! Overall his BAA is .262.

Historical Pitching Lines

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Wang	10	5	4	0	65 1/3	73	31	6	31	26	4.27	1.59	6.07
Beckett	7	3	3	0	39 2/3	54	33	6	22	32	7.49	1.92	5.67

This Years Pitching Lines

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Wang	4	3	1	0	25	24	9	2	12	12	3.24	1.44	6.25
Beckett	3	1	1	0	19 2/3	30	12	1	6	18	5.49	1.83	6.56

Overall Wang does not have bad numbers vs the Sox. A 4.30 ERA will win you a lot of games if you are a Yankee pitcher which makes it hard to believe that he is only 5 and 4. This year though he has been lights out as his 3.24 ERA is over one run less and he has gone deeper into games, though that is not much of an improvement.

Beckett has improved more though as ERA is two runs better and he goes 1 inning deeper. Still, what worries you is that he has no as in none as in zero quality starts. Another slug fest in the making? Yes I think it is as Wang has a career 5.83 ERA at Fenway in five starts and 29 1/3 innings. Those numbers include two quality start numbers (his record at fenway is 2-2).

Beckett at Fenway vs the Yankees has a 8.20 ERA in three starts (18 2/3). Hard to imagine that he is 1-1 at Fenway. Actually after last nights fiasco, right now I have no, zip, none, as in zero confidence in this team. It would not surprise me if this game ended up being a blow out for the spankees.

This Date in History:

2005 W  L  GB  RS   RA
Bos  85 61  -  823  733
NYY  83 62 1.5 786 700

1978 W  L  GB  RS  RA
NYY  89 57  -  673 522
Bos  87 60 2.5 716 608

2007 W  L  GB  RS  RA
Bos  89 59  -  794 601
NYY  84 63 4.5 866 697

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

Red Sox 07 Game 148 Preview

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A. Pettitte		13-8, 3.78		D. Matsuzaka		14-12, 4.44
Yankees		83 - 63		Red Sox		89 - 58

Friday, September 14  Fenway Park  ✠ 7:05 PM ET

American League

East	W	L	GB	L 10	1 R W	1 R L	X W	X L
Boston	89	58	-	7-3	22	22	92	55
New York	83	63	5.5	7-3	13	18	87	59
Toronto	73	73	15.5	3-7	26	24	77	69
Baltimore	62	83	26.0	3-7	11	28	65	80
Tampa	61	86	28.0	5-5	20	17	61	86

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

Yankees: Pettitte continued his incredible second half with another strong performance Saturday night against the Royals. He allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings and earned his 13th win this season. Pettitte, who won for the seventh time in eight starts, is one win shy of 200 for his career. Pettitte also captured his 162nd win as a Yankee, which tied him for Herb Pennock for seventh on the all-time Yankees list and fourth among left-handers. Pettitte is 9-2 in 12 second-half starts and has allowed three earned runs or fewer 11 times. Pettitte is 2-1 with a 4.75 ERA in six games, five starts, against the Red Sox this season, and he holds a career mark of 15-6 with a 3.32 ERA versus Boston.

Red Sox: Once a leading contender for American League Rookie of the Year, Matsuzaka has fallen on hard times of late. Over his last four starts, Matsuzaka is 1-4 with a 9.57 ERA. In particular, his last two outings have been bad. The Orioles hit him for six hits and eight runs over 2 2/3 innings on Saturday. In the outing before that, Matsuzaka gave up 10 hits and seven runs over 5 1/3 innings against the Blue Jays. Matsuzaka is 2-1 with a 6.98 ERA in three starts against the Yankees.

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

Sox Batting vs Pettitte

Player	AB	H	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	BA
D. Pedroia	14	4	1	0	0	3	0	0	.286
K. Youkilis	11	5	1	0	1	2	3	2	.455
D. Ortiz	36	11	3	0	1	6	3	10	.306
M. Ramirez	72	31	8	0	4	19	6	7	.431
J. D. Drew	17	6	1	0	2	2	1	6	.353
M. Lowell	14	4	1	0	0	2	1	0	.286
J. Varitek	48	17	1	1	2	7	5	14	.354
C. Crisp	16	4	0	0	0	0	1	5	.250
J. Lugo	22	6	0	1	0	0	3	3	.273
Totals	250	88	16	2	10	41	23	47	.352

Sometimes you have to wonder how somebody beats a team so many times. Look at those numbers, those are outstanding numbers vs a pitcher yet he wins over 4 games per 7 games started. You just have to wonder.

Pitching Comparisions Career

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Pettitte	26	15	6	0	171	174	63	8	49	133	3.32	1.30	6.41
Matsuzaka	3	2	1	0	19 1/3	19	15	3	8	16	6.98	1.40	6.44

Pitching Comparisions this year

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Pettitte	5	2	1	0	30 1/3	36	16	4	12	19	4.75	1.58	5.87
Matsuzaka	3	2	1	0	19 1/3	19	15	3	8	16	6.98	1.40	6.44

Pettitte's numbers (for this year) were actually helped by pitching 1 inning of relief this year vs the Sox. If you take out that inning his ERA goes up to 4.91. Still he has been on a roll and his last start vs the Sox was more than adequate. Once again the spankees expect him to step up big vs the Sox, the Sox though need to come out swinging and make him pay for every mistake. I say its 50/50 for that to happen.

This year Pettitte does not have very good numbers vs right handed or left handed batters. Lefties are batting .291 / .358 / .477 and righties are .280 / .327 / .392. How does this guy have a winning record? Simple he has an outstanding offense.

Not a lot to say about Matsuzaka, if I had my druthers I would go with another rookie here, one who just so happened to pitch a no-hitter this year. At least then I would think that the Sox have a chance to stop the Yankee hitters. It would not surprise me to see Tavarez in this game by the fourth inning.

This day in 1978
ALE W L GB WP RS RA
NYY 88 57 - .607 669 522
BOS 87 59 1.5 .596 716 604

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

Today in History 9/10 - 9/13 1978

Have been meaning to post these look backs in game recaps but I keep on forgetting.
Some times it is good to remember the past.

1978 - Standings in AL

9/10 -

1. Boston - 86 - 56 (B. Sprowl lost a 7-4 Game to E. Figueroa)
2. New York - 86 - 56 the massacare was complete

9/11 -

1. Boston - 87 - 56 (B. Stanley beats O's 5-4 J. Kerrigan was the loser)
2. New York - 86 -56 (off day)

9/12 -

1. Boston - 87 - 57 (Loss to D. Martinez by M. Torrez)
2. New York - 86 - 57

9/13 -

1. New York - 87 - 57
2. Boston - 87 - 58 (D. Clyde of the Indians beats Eck 2-1)

Will start putting this in the recaps of the games as we go forward! Chow!!