I would be surprised if tempers flaired. This series is too important for a bean brawl and possibly losing players to injuries or suspensions. Let's put it this way I'll be extremely upset if the Sox start something just for the sake of starting something. The Rays are a beat up team right now there's no reason to wake up a sleeping dog.
I think the key to the game was Lester shutting them down in the first inning and then the Sox putting up a 3 spot in the first. I would have liked the Sox to score a few more runs to avoid using Papelbon tonight but can't complain of a W. Matsuzaka/Kazmir tomorrow. Kazmir has had our number in the past but I think if the Sox wear him out and make him throw a ton of pitches they can get him out by the 5th and try to work on that bullpen. We need Daisuke to go deep in the game tomorrow.
I am very impressed with how this is developing for Sox and how your team has responded throughout the season. Disappointed with my Yanks, but sooner or later was bound to happen - heck of a run while it lasted.
Just a terrible game all around. Matsuzaka is almost as boring to watch pitch as Wakefield is. In a game where we needed him to go deep he couldn't even get out of the 6th. He gives up 3 runs on a bunt single, 2 walks, a HBP and a sac fly. Bay's HR was huge, if Papelbon holds that game in the 9th the Rays would be dead but Paps comes in throwing nothing but fastballs again, which is a concern. He hasn't had a good feel for a splitter all year so of course if you keep throwing fastballs MLB hitters will catch up to it. The bottom of the 9th was pathetic, Varitek looked absolutely horrible. Whatever we need to win tomorrow and then go into Tampa and take 2 out of 3 there. This game jsut leaves a bad taste in my mouth, it should have been a Sox win.
Definitely should have been a Sox win. Ellsbury should have been in the game with Varitek at the plate and Varitek should have never been allowed to bunt, he looked lost in space.
A couple of a things about that, first Ortiz is on deck, if Varitek bunts, the Rays would walk Ortiz so you're taking the bat out of your best hitters hands. Second, Varitek should have let Percival's 2nd pitch hit him instead of trying to bunt it, that was just pathetic. And if Francona was going to pinch hit Varitek I would have given Casey the bat there.
Matsuzaka sucks. I'm sick of this guy. Maybe he'll figure out how to consistently be around the strikezone within the next few years, but it sure isn't happening this year. This guy is going to kill us in the playoffs, with a combination of inconsistency and the amount of stress that will be placed on the bullpen as a result of his inconsistency. In a five game series, I'd give that game 3 start after Beckett/Lester to Byrd before Matsuzaka. Also, I've said it before and I'll say it again, why has Papelbon abandoned his splitter and slider this year? He's not changing speeds on hitters or changing their eye level. During his first few years in Boston, he was using his splitter as an out pitch, now he's strictly throwing fastballs. It's like Alan Embree (with movement) all over again. This is a very big deal heading into October.. if he's lost confidence in his offspeed stuff he needs to find it before these games get any bigger.
Keith Law actually wrote a good article on the Red Sox and Rays game on Monday about how Papelbon just threw fastballs and has been for awhile. He wasn't sure why he wasn't throwing his splitter much and instead throwing his 3rd best pitch a slider more. I know Papelbon either blew or lost a few games this year because of hanging splitters but he NEEDS to throw it if anything just to change speeds and locations etc.
Lets go Youk!!!! One run in need Bay to come up big here Good job Bay at least you didn't hit into a DP Pathetic. First Timlin comes in and does what he does best and then they get the bases loaded with no one out and only score one run. They are now down 2.5 games again should be 1.5. I'm pissed right now
I thought Francona had a bad night managing. I don't understand why he had Alex Cora pinch run for Lowell when he didn't even have Kotsay bunting, then why didn't he have Sean Casey pinch hit for Cora in the 13th? Why Cora was swinging at a 2-0 pitch is beyond me. I was very impressed with Okajima, Delcarmen, Masterson and Lopez last night they all did great, Timlin on the other hand is cooked. I don't see how he could be on the post season roster. Also I tip my cap to the Rays taking 2 out of 3 in Fenway but I really have no idea how they're this good. Talk about guys playing over their heads: Willie Aybar, Gabe Goss, Eric Hinske, Jason Bartlett. I just don't understand it. Sox have a big series with the Jays this weekend.
The Jays are playing unreal baseball right now. Do we see both Halladay and Burnett? If so, our quest for the division could be in jeopardy.
I think we will see Burnett. There is talk that Halladay could pitch Sunday on short rest too. I think the divison is out of reach now anyway, time to start to rest guys and get ready for LAAOACAUSA.
Big start from Wakefield last night, going 8 innings for us was huge. Hopefully Byrd can go deep today and maybe get at least 6 out of Colon. We need to rest the pen as much as we can with the Rays series coming up on Monday.
Lets get ready to rumble. This series is gonna be big. Tonight the Sox need to get there 1st win in Tampa this year. Lester is gonna be the #2 starter in the playoffs, he has proven it over his last 3 starts, just mowing guys down.
Lester v Santana game 2 of the playoffs maybe? 2 young studs who really stepped up this year. Kind of excited about the possibilities of that match up tbh
Yeah that would probably be the match up, I can't see how anyone but Lester would start the 2nd game. Beckett vs. Lackey Lester vs. Santana Matsuzaka vs. Weaver Byrd/Wakefield vs. Saunders/Garland All of those match ups look pretty good on paper.
Yeah it was nice to see Kazmir finally lay an egg and it was fun to see him with the Tom Gordon "I can't believe I'm pitching in a big spot, I just wish the manager would pull me now" face going on. He was just terrible and really didn't look right all game, I wonder if he was either hurt, has a dead arm or just couldn't handle the pressure. The only negative is Matsuzaka failing to go deep into the game. I mean seriously 100 pitches in 5 innings with a huge lead? Oh real. Nice to see the Sox swing the bats, I just hope they saved some runs for the next 2 games. Beckett vs. Sonnanstine tomorrow.
I too was glad to see Kazmir rocked and looking shaky. I am not sure any pitcher gets bigger leads than Dice-K but fails to go 7 innings. His run support has been crazy the last two years. Jed Lowrie needs to get more love. Lugo who, Jed is playing great defense and looks like a pretty capable major leagues hitter. I didn't know his D was this good.
Boston loses despite a great effort from Beckett. This offense needs to start scoring more runs on a consistent basis.
Totally Brutal game tonight. Beckett pitched very well. Teams better get to the Rays starters because there bullpen is great. Grant Balfour has turned into a beast, I am not looking forward when he enters the game.
Got to look at the positives: Beckett has been absolutely lights out since his DL scare. If he pitches like this in the playoffs this team will be tough to beat. Yeah tonight's loss was bad (how can they not hit Sonnanstine?) but if we win tomorrow we're still tied for first. I do wonder how bad Lowell's hip injury is. I'm nervous of Cora having a lot of playing time in October because of it.
Got to give the Rays credit. Every time you guys get a big win over them and I think to myself, ok now the Rays will fold and the Sox will take over the division, they answer right back. They're a much more resilient team than I would have thought.
Yeah you're right, it's surprising too. I'm really speechless as I have no idea how they're doing it.
Wakefield and Timlin need to retire.... yeah that loss was brutual, they go up 2-0 to start the game and then Wakefield coughs it right back up. I think I'd have to go with Byrd in Game 4 of the playoffs over Wakefield. The team just looked flat from the start.
Wakefield will be there when we need him. He will be in the pen when the playoffs start tho. Hopefully we can catch the twins
Big win for the Twins last night, hopefully they can keep the bats going tonight. The Lowell injury is extremely concerning. Who knows, this condition could potentially end his career. The media is making it sound like there is instability in his hip, which would limit just about everything he does on a baseball field.
If we have to catch the Twins we'll be in trouble, I believe we're at least 5 or 6 games up on them in the loss column. The Sox magic number to make the playoffs is 5. And there's no way Wakefield is in the pen. He's either starting or he's left off the roster. I'm worried about both Lowell and Drew. We need both, for defense and hitting. I'm not sure I can take seeing Alex Cora doing anything in the playoffs but being a cheerleader and keeping Ortiz company on the bench between his at bats.
Magic number to make the playoffs is 2. So a win today and a Twins loss will clinch it for us. By the way Colon has been suspended by the Sox without pay. Apparently he went to the DP for personal reasons and told the join he isn't coming back, he didn't want to pitch out of the bullpen. Too bad it was possible (although a long shot) he could have been some help. Oh well screw him now, more food for the rest of the club.
