Red Sox 2008 Game 60 Preview

			@
T. Wakefield		3-4, 4.70		J. Guthrie		2-6, 3.64
Red Sox		35 - 24		Orioles		26 - 29

Monday, May 12  Oriole Park at Camden Yards  ✠ 7:05 PM ET

American League

East	W	L	GB	L 10	1 R W	1 R L	X W	X L
Tampa	35	22	-	8-2	9	7	32	25
Boston	35	24	1.0	5-5	9	8	34	25
Toronto	31	28	5.0	7-3	9	12	33	26
New York	28	28	6.5	7-3	9	6	27	29
Baltimore	26	29	8.0	2-8	12	8	25	30

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

Red Sox: With Daisuke Matsuzaka experiencing shoulder fatigue, Wakefield will likely be moved up one day to pitch the finale of this four-game series against the Orioles. Thanks to Thursday's day off, Wakefield would be on regular rest. The knuckleballer was brilliant in his last start, yielding just a run and five hits over eight innings. He walked none and struck out eight. The bad news? It came in a losing effort on a night the Red Sox were stifled by Seattle's Erik Bedard. Wakefield had pitched well at Camden Yards over the years, going 7-5 with a 3.58 ERA in 22 appearances.

Orioles: Guthrie lost another close game in his last outing and is currently mired in a string of hard luck. The right-hander has allowed three earned runs or less in nine of his 12 starts, but Baltimore has scored a total of eight runs in his six losses. Nine of Guthrie's 12 starts have been decided by two runs or less, but he's 2-4 with three no-decisions in those games.

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

Sox Batting vs Guthrie

Player	AB	H	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	BA	OBP	Slg.	OPS
J. Ellsbury	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250	.250	.250	.500
D. Pedroia	9	5	1	0	0	0	2	1	.556	.636	.667	1.303
D. Ortiz	12	4	3	0	0	1	1	3	.333	.385	.583	.968
M. Ramirez	9	4	1	0	0	2	1	1	.444	.500	.556	1.056
M. Lowell	10	1	0	0	0	3	0	1	.100	.100	.100	.200
K. Youkilis	13	2	1	0	0	0	1	4	.154	.214	.213	.445
J. Drew	7	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	.143	.250	.286	.536
K. Cash	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
J. Lugo	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Totals	71	18	7	0	0	6	6	11	.254	.312	.352	.664

If I was Francona I would play Cora and Crisp tonight. Combined they are 5 for 21 with a couple of walks. But hey, that is better than Lugo's 0-7.

Pitching Comparisions Career vs Respective Teams

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Wakefield
Guthrie	4	1	0	0	26 2/3	29	8	2	9	19	2.70	1.43	6.17

Guthrie has been lights out vs the Sox. Today would be a good day to look for defense as opposed to offense, because you just ain't going to get the offense versus Guthrie.

Wakefield has lost his last three starts at Camden Yards. Each start was progressively worse than the previous. Here's hoping the wind is blowing the right way tonight to get that knuckleball to really knuckle.

Pitching stats for this year

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Guthrie	12	2	6	0	76 2/3	70	31	10	23	48	3.64	1.21	6.39
Wakefield	11	3	4	0	67	63	35	10	30	44	4.70	1.39	6.09

Actually, Wakefield and Guthrie have pitched better than their stats. Wakefield has 6 Quality starts and has only allowed 3 runs or fewer 8 times. Of course when Wake has been bad he has really been bad. Lets hope he's more like the Seattle start then the Minnesota or Oakland start this year. Wake has also lost 3 of his last 4 starts with a No decision thrown against Milwaukee.

Guthrie has 9 Quality Starts this year. 2-6 does not equate to that, so, a little of bad luck and some mistake pitches have definitely cost him this year. Here's hoping he makes a bad mistake or two tonight.
♊ - When all else fails, get a bigger hammer!

Game 26 of 2008 Red Sox Season Preview

Game 26 at Tampa Bay

AL East Standings  

Team	W	L	Pct	GB	X W	X L
Boston	15	10	.600	--	13	12
Baltimore	13	9	.591	0.5	11	11
Tampa Bay	12	11	.522	2.0	13	10
New York	12	12	.500	2.5	12	12
Toronto	10	14	.417	4.5	12	12

Clay Buchholz, RHP (1-1, 4.79) Red Sox (15-10) @ Edwin Jackson, RHP (2-2, 4.63) Rays (12-11)

Scouting Report: Red Sox: Buchholz pitched brilliantly in his last start, firing six shutout innings in a victory over the Rangers. He allowed five hits and struck out six. Opponents are hitting .274 against Buchholz. This will be his first career appearance against Tampa Bay. Buchholz has given up three earned runs or less in three of his four starts. Buchholz has pitched eight games in his young career, going 4-2 with a 3.12 ERA. Rays: Jackson suffered through another sub-par start Sunday against the White Sox when he allowed six earned runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander continues to show electric stuff, but struggles on the days when his stuff is not at its best. Jackson has worked to try and minimize the big inning, which he did not do well against the White Sox, when he allowed the White Sox to put away the game with a four-run fifth inning.

Associated links for tonights games:

MLB.coms probable.
ESPN.com preview.
ESPN.com recap.
ESPN.com boxscore.
MLB.com Press Pass.

Probable Line Up Vs Jackson

Player	PA	AB	H	2b	3b	HR	RBI	BB	K's	BA	OBP	SLG
Ellsbury	6	5	2	1	0	0	1	1	0	.400	.500	.600
Pedroia	5	3	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.667	.600	.667
Ortiz	14	9	4	1	0	1	4	5	1	.444	.643	.889
Ramirez	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000
Youkilis	8	7	1	1	0	0	0	1	3	.143	.250	.286
Drew	12	9	4	3	0	0	2	3	4	.444	.583	.778
Lowrie	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000
Cash	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000
Lugo	11	11	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.182	.182	.182

Totals

57

45

15

6

0

1

7

11

9

.333

.456

.533

Some pretty good numbers vs Jackson especially from Ortiz and Drew (Pedroia discarded since only 5 PA's). If I was Terry Francona though I would consider sitting Manny tonight and play Coco. In Coco's 14 PA's he is batting .308 / .357 / .462, which is better than Manny's 0-1. Still, Manny is on a roll so, it is defensible to start Manny.

Oh, even if Varitek is healthy, play Cash. At least he has no history which is better than Varitek's 0 for 7.

Pitcher Comparison

Player	GS	CG	GF	W	L	Sv	Sho	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
Jackson	4	0	0	2	1	0	0	26 2/3	31	16	16	2	17	23	5.40	1.80
Buchholz	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0

As a starter Jackson has went 22 1/3 innings in 4 starts (high 6 twice, low 5) with both of his wins coming at the Tropicana field. In Tampa he has given up only 4 runs in 11 1/3 innings. So, this guy is tough at home. Very tough at home.

So, do not be surprised if Jackson is tough tonight at the Trop.!

Red Sox 07 Game 95

			@
J. Vazquez		6-5, 3.77		D. Matsuzaka		11-6, 3.94
White Sox		42-51		Red Sox		56-38

Thursday, July 19    Fenway Park  7:05 PM ET 

American League

East	W	L	GB	L 10	X W	X L
Boston	56	38	-	3-7	56	38
New York	48	44	7.0	8-2	54	38
Toronto	45	49	11.0	4-6	47	47
Baltimore	42	52	14.0	5-5	46	48
Tampa Bay	37	56	18.4	4-6	36	57

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

White Sox: A streak of two straight complete games came to an end for Vazquez, as he lasted 5 2/3 innings against Baltimore. Although the White Sox lost in extra innings, Vazquez finished with a no-decision after allowing four runs on six hits, while striking out six. Vazquez has a 1-4 career record with a 4.02 ERA against the Red Sox and has posted a 0-3 record and 4.50 ERA over four lifetime starts at Fenway Park. The right-hander lost a 1-0 decision in Boston on Sept. 5 of last season, yielding three hits in eight innings, while striking out 11.

Red Sox: Matsuzaka's troubles with making adjustments resulted in a second straight mediocre start on Saturday night against Toronto, but the Red Sox right-hander still got his 11th win after squandering a 4-2 lead. He allowed nine hits, including four doubles and two home runs, but held the Blue Jays to four earned runs in six innings. He has yet to face the White Sox.

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

Hitting History vs Vazquez

Player	AB	H	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	BA
J.D. Drew	23	9	2	0	3	4	2	5	.391
D. Pedroia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
D. Ortiz	15	4	1	0	1	2	2	5	.267
M. Ramirez	16	4	0	0	2	3	0	7	.250
K. Youkilis	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	.000
M. Lowell	40	12	5	0	2	6	2	10	.300
J. Varitek	10	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	.000
C. Crisp	10	3	0	0	1	3	0	1	.300
J. Lugo	21	7	1	0	1	4	2	7	.333
Totals	140	39	9	0	10	22	9	43	.279

This team has some pretty good history vs Javier. What would make it even better is if Mirabelli was playing, especially since he is 4 for 11 with 2 home runs and 1 double. Come on Tito, play Dougie!

Historical Pitching Lines

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Vazquez	6	1	4	0	40 1/3	40	18	8	11	43	4.02	1.26	6.44
Matsuzaka	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0

In six starts Javier has four quality starts. When he has been good he has been very good including his last start vs this team last year on 9/5/2006. When he lost a 1-0 game to Kason Gabbard.

What I would do if I was Theo / Tito - Put J.D. on the DL to heal his hammy and call up Ellsbury.


Chow!

Red Sox 07 Game 91 Recap

Final

Press Pass l Box Score l Play-By-Play l Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Toronto	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		2	8	0
Boston	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0		1	11	1

W: Litsch (2-3) L: Beckett (12-3) S: Accardo (13)

► Hero - The wind - you didn't know how any balls were going to fall
► Goat - The wind - I'm not giving this to Beckett when he goes out and pitches 8 innings of 2 run ball.

Game thoughts!

A freaking pitchers duel that was decided by three batters in the second. The only time that Beckett even came close to struggling. After 8 innings his ERA is now 3.35.

Two for nine with RISP and a player thrown out at the plate to end the fourth leads to this loss. The biggest failure came in the third when Lugo and Crisp started off the inning with singles. With Cora at the plate he tried to lay down a bunt towards third that Litsch was able to grab and get Lugo at third. Papi then swung at the next pitch and hit into a 1-6-3 double play.

With the following numbers - Varitek vs Accardo - 1 for 1, Drew vs Accardo - 0 for 2, Pena vs Accardo - 2 for 5. Why was Hinske batting in the bottom of the ninth? Its even more perplexing when you see that left handed batters were 8 for 64 vs Accardo this season.

Sox have lost 14 games decided by 1 run. Jays are 3 - 0 in those games vs the Sox.

Freaking Jays.

Chow!

Red Sox 07 Game 58 Recap

Final
Press Pass l Box l Wrap
Game 58						1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9				R		H		E
				BOS (37-21)		0		0		0		0		0		0		2		0		0				2		8		0
				OAK (31-27)		0		0		0		3		0		0		0		0		X				3		8		0
			W: J. Kennedy (2-4, 3.23); L: T. Wakefield (5-7, 4.22); SV: S. Casilla (1) HR: None.

► Hero - Kennedy (Sox are now 9-7 vs Lefties
► Goat - How about an offense who hits into 3 double plays 8 in 18 innings.

Idle thoughts

Four straight games, count them, four straight games lost. This is not the offense that we were counting on. Lugo and Drew have got to start hitting or this is a season that will be full of gnashing of teeth. You can not count on your pitching staff to be lights out every game in a 162 game schedule.

Maybe Tito needs to have Drew hitting lead off. At least he takes walks and has some speed. Why not try - Drew, Youkilis, Ortiz, Manny, Varitek, Lowell, Lugo, Crisp and Pedroia. As an alternative you could put Pedroia second, Youkilis fifth, and move the rest down the order.

Schilling on the mound today. He has a pretty good showing vs the A's. Lets hope he can stop this mess.

Chow!

Red Sox 07 Game 15 Recap

Final score - Boston 7 NYY 6

Hero - NESN gave it to Cora, but I feel like it was Coco. Seeing him jump on that cutter / fast ball that Mo throws, on the first pitch no less and having it blitz down the line into the corner making it a tie game and him standing on third being pumped got my heart racing. Without that triple they may still be playing this game.

Goat - Tough one to choose in a win, but it has to go to #38. He started out so well with an 8 pitch and 10 pitch 1st and 2nd inning only to lose control in the 3rd through 5th innings. Still am glad he didn't take the loss. Am equally glad that they were able to get to Mo in the 8th.

Besides my comments earlier during the game some other thoughts:

1. Made Mo work but not too much as he still only threw 14 pitches. He was well rested coming into the series so will still be available the next two games.
2. Lot of BS from the managers before this game about it being one of only 18 this year but I noticed a lot of managerial moves, with the biggest one being Mo for a 5 out save.
   
3. I hope Wily Mo was watching J.D. Drew's at bat in the eighth. When the first two batters get on in an inning you have to move them over, not take a K.
   
4. Speaking of Wily Mo, for those of you who are screaming that he should be playing every day, I hope you were watching his at bat in the seventh. Nothing but breaking balls and off speed stuff. He has to hit those if he wants to see his playing time increase.
5. What was Mientkiewicz doing so far off the line in the eighth on Coco's triple. The Yankees scouting report must have been that Crisp is not able to get around on the fast ball, otherwise he would have been guarding the line during Coco's at bat.
6. Schilling struggled badly, not good if you were expecting him to rise to the occasion. Still if every third outing is a stinker followed by two sterling starts this year I like his chances to do really well.
7. What is with Manny going after the first pitch lately?
8. Is Tito losing faith in Pedroia?
9. Varitek seems to be hitting the ball better.
10. Of the regular starters only J.D. Drew is hitting over .300, with Lowell at .296 and Papi at .291. I really wish Tito would change the batting order, because the bats need to wake up if we are going to take advantage of our pitchers going 7 or more innings.
11. Okajima was the hero in the dark tonight.
12. What was Sexy Lips talking to Daisuke about during the ninth?
    
13. If it was just another game in a 162 game season why was the dugout fences lined with players gesturing, moaning, etc. in the eighth and ninth innings

Here's hoping Beckett brings his A-game tomorrow, because we can't afford a 9.45 ERA at this juncture.

Game 16 preview later, need to do some work now.

Press pass for this game is here.

Recap MLB 07 - Game 14

Final Score - Bos 5 Tor 3

Hero - Cora and Ramirez. Cora for the save on the double play throw from Timlin while getting killed by Overbay saving a 3 - 3 tie in the eighth inning followed by the one out triple in the ninth that put the Sox ahead. Manny because he went from goat (bases loaded 1 out DP) to hitting his first homer of the year to tie the game.

Goat - Manny would have had this locked up if the Jays hadn't have blown the game in the eighth and ninth or I should say would have tied with the Captain. Varitek has to get going or the bottom of the order is really going to look pathetic.

Of course part of the problem is that on weekday games I usually don't get to see the game. I have to make do with WTIC, and due to the in and out nature of the job, I usually don't get to listen to a whole inning. That was true today and Manny might have played much better than it sounded, but every time I got in the car it seemed that Manny just left a ton of players on base in a game where the starter was mowing down the order. Still, I will gladly take 1 for 4 days from Manny if he will promise to hit in the winning runs in the eighth or ninth innings.

I notice by looking at the box score that Coco went 2 for 4 again with a Sac Fly. Hmm, second game in the last three that Coco was not hitting in the bottom third of the order and he gets 2 hits. Is there a pattern there?

Not much else for rambling thoughts on this game. A good win for the boys and the way you want to leave a town on an abbreviated road trip, especially a town where you have had your lunch handed to you over the last two years.

MLB.Com press pass is located here.

Recap MLB 07 - Game 13

Final Score 4 - 1 Sox, Wakefield wins his 2nd and Papelbon gets his 3rd save. HR's by Lowell, Mirabelli and Ortiz.

Hero - Lowell for breaking up the no hitter with the 2 out Homer in the 5th. I almost gave it to Mirabelli for knockin in 2 of the 4 runs, but Lowell's homer seemed to say, look, we can hit this guy.

Goat - None, a very crisp game for both teams with no errors and good pitching. 2:24 time for the game so this one really moved along well.

Yo, Tito, did you notice how uncomfortable Crisp looked again. Please, I beg of you, move him into the second slot or just admit that you are sabotaging his season so that Ellsbury can start in CF.

Good pitching by Donnelly and Papelbon. Though Papel-bot did make it interesting by giving up his first single and walking his first batter this season. Now, hopefully the game tomorrow won't require his services so that he is fully rested for the Yankee series.

Tomorrow's preview up shortly.

Today's press pass is here.

Introducing Tito's Corner

At PLLS we are always looking to help the Sox become a better team. So, today we introduce a new category here at PLLS - Tito's Corner. This will be the label I place on those posts where I think Tito needs some help or if he has done a good job.

I have been looking at some numbers, lets compare a couple of players, both of them young players, at a couple of different places in the batting order. The numbers are their career numbers when batting in certain spots of the line up.

Player	AB	Hits	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	GDP	BA	OBA	Slug
Player B	523	163	38	4	14	63	40	67	8	.312	.357	.480
Player A	103	28	7	0	5	20	11	17	1	.272	.356	.485

Now take a look at those averages. Player A has a higher BA and OBA (slightly) while the slugging percentage is also really close to being identical.

Player	AB	Hits	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	GDP	BA	OBA	Slug
Player A	88	27	6	0	2	13	19	15	0	.307	.434	.443
Player B	192	53	9	1	7	35	15	27	5	.276	.327	.443

In this situation player A is the one with a higher BA (31 points), has a 107 point higher OBA and they have the same slugging percentage.

So how should these players be batting in the order? Ready for some hints - Player A is Youkilis, player B is Coco. The first comparision is Coco and Youkilis's numbers batting in the 2nd slot of the line up. The 2nd comparison is batting in the 8 spot. It seems clear to me that you should be batting Coco 2nd in this lineup.