APRIL 27TH, 2007 GAME THREAD
Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-2, 4.00) @ Andy Pettitte (1-0, 1.78)
Boston Red Sox (14-7) @ New York Yankees (8-12)
7:05 PM EDT in Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY)
TV: NESN | RADIO: WRKO 680
TODAY’S AL EAST GAMES: TEX @ TOR l TB @ OAK l CLE @ BAL
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PRIOR GAME VS. NYY: Red Sox 7, Yankees 6 on 4/22/07 DECISION: W: Daisuke Matsuzaka | L: Scott Proctor STARS OF THE GAME: Ortiz, Drew, Lowell, Varitek: 4 straight HR RED SOX’S PREVIOUS GAME: Red Sox 5, Orioles 2 on 4/26/07 |
GAME NOTES: Can you believe the Yankees are 8-12? While the Yanks have a cup of coffee with Tampa at the bottom of the standings, the Red Sox are sitting with the best record in baseball. But don’t get too excited, the Yankees will be looking for some serious payback following a three-game sweep at Fenway last weekend. This time, the series, which Mike previews right here, features Chien-Ming Wang in the Sunday game instead of Chase Wright. The Sox also throw out Dice-K, Wakefield and, unfortunately, Julian Tavarez. Two out of three will be acceptable. For Friday, Matsuzaka gets another shot at beating the Yanks and facing their loaded lineup + Matsui. With the Yanks pen taxed and their starting rotation still a bit askew, this is the time to extend our AL East lead and get some more cushion. The Dice-Man leads the charge.
Note: Like last Friday, I’ll be live-blogging tonight’s game so check back right around 7 PM ET. This is barring rainout, a definite possibility.
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Beckett through his first 5 games this year:
5-0, 2.48 ERA, 1.04 WHIP
Beckett through his first 5 games last year:
3-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP
Farrell spent a lot of time working with him this offseason and you’re completely right that he deserves all the credit in the world for turning things around.
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/04/27/slinging_it_with_best_of_them/?page=1
I hate Dan Shaughnessy. He’s gotten so bad that now he’s writing Red Sox fan-fiction. He just make up an entire article on how much Daisuke likes to throw. There wasn’t a single sentence worth of significant content.
Um, I live in New York and the game isn’t being televised where I am…
Weather looks pretty bad right now in NY.
Before you move to deep into the Yankees stuff, I just have to say something about Josh Beckett.
Damn!
I knew the guy could pitch, but I don’t think I ever really appreciated it until last night. Despite giving up a bunch of hits, he managed to start the 6th inning with 56 pitches for the game.
That kind of efficiency is insane. His ability to baffle batters on location is some of the best I’ve ever seen. The guy’s not overpowering, but you have absolutely no clue where the ball is going to go.
Schilling’s getting all the press this week for better or for worse, but Beckett is one of the best pitcher’s I’ve ever seen.
Beckett got off to a tremendous start last year too and ended up imploding, so I won’t try to get too hopped up. But you’re right Mike, he’s a new pitcher.
I turned on the game around the 7th and they showed Beckett’s ball/strike ratio. I couldn’t believe my eyes. He didnt have a 3-ball count till that inning, as well. That’s the polar opposite of what we saw from Josh last year- inability to locate his fastball on the corners (something he mastered last night) and leaving the curve up in the zone (something he still does at times but its improved).
He just seems like a new pitcher to me and I really hope it continues throughout the season. Credit where credit is due to John Farrell.
Rain, rain, don’t go away! I will die happy if Julian Tavarez gets skipped again.
Mike Edelman:
I think if this one gets rained-out, there’ll be a double-header tomorrow. I don’t see Tavarez getting skipped. Here’s hoping he comes in and plunks a couple of Yankees, gets ejected, and is supplanted by Kyle Snyder.
Yeah, you’re probably right Daniel : (
On the other hand, a twinbill might favor the Sox, as we have the superior bench and more rested bullpen. Still, it’s probably not a great thing…
Weather update:
At gametime tonight, the forecast calls for a chance of light showers, with likelihood of rain decreasing later into the evening and night. Chance of precip: 50%
Gametime tomorrow: light showers likely early, but subsiding by mid-afternoon. Chance of precip: 60%
Sunday: partly cloudy. Chance of precip: 10%
Doesn’t seem like more than one of these games will be rained-out either way, so it’s quite likely that Juligan will be on the mound on Sunday.
Crisp Timing!
Red Sox
1. Julio Lugo, SS
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Mike Lowell, 3B
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Coco Crisp, CF
9. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
SP – Daisuke Matsuzaka
Yankees
1. Johnny Damon, CF
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Jason Giambi, DH
6. Hideki Matsui, LF
7. Jorge Posada, C
8. Robinson Cano, 2B
9. Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B
SP – Andy Pettitte
New break in the steroids investigation. I really hope the names are revealed and soon. Even any Red Sox players are involved, I hope the team can somehow void their contract and get rid of them.