May 18th @ Tampa Bay

[ACL BoSox]

Heh, I've never started one of these threads before but what the hell, here's to good luck.


ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox try to continue their dominance of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays when the American League East teams open a three-game series at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night.

The Red Sox outscored the Devil Rays, 17-3, in sweeping a three-game series in Boston from April 28-29. Boston leads the all-time series, 64-33.

Boston has lost five of its last eight games, including Sunday's 3-1 setback to the Toronto Blue Jays. Pedro Martinez threw seven strong innings but was outdueled by Roy Halladay, who held Boston to one run and six hits in seven frames.

The Devil Rays were swept at Cleveland over the weekend and have lost 10 of their last 11 games. Rocco Baldelli had three of Tampa Bay's six hits in Sunday's 10-0 loss.

PITCHING:

Boston - Tim Wakefield (2-2, 3.64 ERA); 0-0, 0.00 vs. Tampa Bay in 2004.

Tampa Bay - Mark Hendrickson (2-3, 4.78); 0-0, 4.75 vs. Boston in 2004.

Let's continue the dominance of the D-Rays and carry this out for the rest of the season!

[JMDurron]

It's hard not to like this matchup. We're rested, we're annoyed at being back in 2nd, and we're playing the worst team in baseball.

[YanksHater213]

this is where wwe break out of this mini slump we are in. tampa has not only lost 10 of 11 but 17 of 20. if we can take advantage of their crappy pitcing expect a sweep and us to start getting on a roll.


GO SOX

[roary]

Plus, as an added bonus Wake has never lost at the Trop, going 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA in 43 innings. I wonder what it is about domes that makes his knuckler so effective. Or maybe it's just because the Devil Ray's hitting sucks. :D

[Tek04]

i think we are gonna see the bats explode tonight...:)

[yawkeyway]

Here's an intersting article about the whole "wait for something to happen" thing:
http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view...articleid=28273 (http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=28273)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - You get the sense they are waiting for something to happen, be it a three-run rally or the return of two important players. And if the Red Sox [stats, schedule] are expecting the latter, if they are anticipating the returns of Trot Nixon [stats, news] and Nomar Garciaparra [stats, news], they would be best served to stop waiting and start playing.

After all, it still might be a little while.

While the Red Sox were enjoying a much-needed respite after playing 20 games in 20 days, there were indications yesterday that the returns of Nixon and Garciaparra still could be as many as three weeks away. That would place the returns of the players about a week into June, give or take, which means the Sox will have played one-third of their season without two of their best hitters and most spirited competitors.

And if there is something the Red Sox have lacked lately, it is spirit.

There has been no indication that Garciaparra (right Achilles) and Nixon (back, left quadriceps) have suffered setbacks of any kind in recent days, but each continues to make relatively slow progress. In the case of Garciaparra, who was hopeful about beginning a rehabilitation assignment early this week, that step has been further delayed. Nixon, meanwhile, is running at approximately 50 percent in Fort Myers, where he returned recently after visiting team medical officials in Boston last week.

While in Boston, Nixon had two cortisone shots on his ailing leg. Garciaparra has received none, only because both he and the Sox have been reluctant to do so given a relatively high chance of rupturing the tendon.

So the bottom line is that we all have no choice but to wait for nature to take its course.

For those wearing the Red Sox uniform, however, waiting is something they have been doing too much of. The Sox have demonstrated little or no vigor of late, suggesting that the absences of Garciaparra and Nixon are starting to catch up with them. And when Johnny Damon [stats, news] stood in front of his locker at SkyDome on Thursday and talked about players being tired from the recent schedule, it was as sure a sign as any that the club was mentally beaten.

Will that change now that the Sox have had their precious day off? Time will tell, but what is certain is that the Red Sox better get their tails in gear relatively quickly because things for them are about to get more difficult. The Sox return to Fenway for a nine-game homestand following this week's three-game set with Tampa Bay, but the quality of opponents will improve.

Up to now, this month was supposed to be a cakewalk for the club. After opening 15-6, the Sox had their next 17 games scheduled against Texas, Cleveland, Kansas City and Toronto. The Red Sox were 7-10 in that stretch.

This is the same Sox club that opened 6-1 against the Yankees in the first three weeks, and we all know this is more about how the Red Sox have played than how their opponents have played.

Naturally, we have yet to see the real Red Sox. After an offseason and spring of unmatched hype, maybe we all expected the Sox to steamroll through the regular season, particularly after opening with 15 wins in 21 games. Maybe the players expected it, too. And all things considered, despite how lackluster the Sox' play has been of late, they still are 22-16, on pace for 94 wins, and we have yet to see anything close to this team's potential given the injuries.

Presumably, that will change at some point. Until that happens, however, the Sox have important games to play - and win.

[RedSoxRooter]

Bring on the BELLI!

[TheFens]

Damn, Mueller is starting. I was hoping we'd get another look at Youkillis. He's impressive. :D

Soon enough I guess, soon enough.

[YanksHater213]

Originally posted by TheFens@May 18 2004, 06:08 PM
Damn, Mueller is starting. I was hoping we'd get another look at Youkillis. He's impressive. :D

Soon enough I guess, soon enough.
i was kinda hoping to see Youkilis too

[Tek04]

eek!!! the fan who was always screaming at todd walker last year is now screaming at mark bellhorne! :D

[RedSoxRooter]

OH MAN! YES! The Heckler has chosen Bellhorn this year. Oh, this is gonna be one great series!!!!!!! :D

[yeszir]

Originally posted by Tek04@May 18 2004, 07:18 PM
eek!!! the fan who was always screaming at todd walker last year is now screaming at mark bellhorne! :D
That guy's hilarious, the best part of D-Ray games. He gets on everyone's back and makes the games enjoyable.

Here's an article about him:
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/08/06/Rays/The...n_Heckler.shtml (http://www.sptimes.com/2003/08/06/Rays/The_Gentleman_Heckler.shtml)

Good stuff. Also good that he isnt really crude and vulgar. It makes it more enjoyable for all that way.

[Tek04]

well 2-1 boston....men on base, scoring the runs....not a bad start.

[YanksHater213]

i would go as far as saying that this is the best start to a game the sox have had in a long time

[Tek04]

manny crushin the ball like always :)

[roary]

Originally posted by Tek04@May 18 2004, 08:28 PM
manny crushin the ball like always :)
He always does. 2 doubles in a game in 2 at bats is impressive though, I'll give him that.

And listening to these TB fans is weird. Its dead silence punctuated by a scream or too. Scary. :(

[stocker323]

I see that the TB taunter behind home plate has picked Bellhorn as his new victim this year.

[roary]

Not much is happening in the game. Boring, but in a good way I guess. <_<

[YanksHater213]

not anymore, gabe doubles in mueller


3-1 sox

[yeszir]

Originally posted by roary@May 18 2004, 08:58 PM
Not much is happening in the game. Boring, but in a good way I guess. <_<
Hehe, you should post about the boringness more often. Good things tend to happen when you do. :)

[YanksHater213]

4-1 on a caveman double, everyone is hitting tonight

[Tek04]

bellhorne with a nice 3 run shot&#33; :D

[YanksHater213]

that will shut up the heckler... lol


side note: randy jonhson perfect through 6 innings vs atlanta

[yeszir]

Originally posted by YanksHater213@May 18 2004, 09:11 PM
side note: randy jonhson perfect through 6 innings vs atlanta
Wow, if anyone deserves a perfect game, it&#39;s him. But I doubt it&#39;ll last. Those things are impossible to keep. Ask Mike Mussina.

[yagmaster]

I know this is a little late, but just on the topic of Manny&#39;s baserunning blunder on that double play, I was pretty surprised. He&#39;s a pretty good baserunner mostly, although he&#39;s slow. He has made some good plays, such as taking an extra base on a bounced ball late last year (don&#39;t remember the exact game). Although he&#39;s not quite the smartest PERSON, but he seems to be a smart PLAYER. Seemed like a stupid play that he won&#39;t make again.

[yagmaster]

Excelent, 7 -1

[YanksHater213]

johnson perfect through 7 innings now

[ACL BoSox]

Nice sox game so far. 7-1 bottom 7.

As I predicted the Sox will resurge in this series.

On a side note, Schilling&#39;s former Co-Ace Randy Johnson is pitching a perfect game through 7 innings down in Atlanta. It would be nice to see him pitch a perfect game... maybe the Sox will go after him. Think of that line up Johnson & Schilling + Pedro = unstoppable.

Enough of my babel, it&#39;s just a dream.

[YanksHater213]

"yankees suck, yankees suck, yankees suck"

ahh the sound of redsox nation in tampa, i love it

[YanksHater213]

johnson perfect through 8

derosa, nick green and a pinch hitter for the pitcher due up

[yeszir]

Dontcha hate it when your team&#39;s win is overshaddowed by a stupid perfect game?

[YanksHater213]

Originally posted by yeszir@May 18 2004, 08:58 PM
Dontcha hate it when your team&#39;s win is overshaddowed by a stupid perfect game?
yep

[ACL BoSox]

None the less, congrats to Randy Johnson.

Now as long as he&#39;s not a Yankee by season&#39;s end, he&#39;s cool with me.

[YanksHater213]

i hope you guys realize that the sox put a whoopin on the d-rays last night...

[dirtdogman5]

And theeeeee Yankees lose&#33;&#33; Back in 1st, baby. :)

[Tek04]

woohoo&#33; back in first...

and congrats to RJ for the perfect game&#33;&#33;&#33;