Opening Day (Night)

[FourZeroSix]

It is almost upon us.

 

The Red Sox are sending Pedro to the hill amid lots of questions about his health, velocity and arm angle. All of which have a direct correlation. On the mound for Baltimore will be Sidney Ponson (17-12, 3.75 ERA in ’03). The Red Sox will be without two key players: Nomar Garciaparra (ankle) and Trot Nixon (back). Early May is when both are expected/hope to return.

 

Pedro’s career numbers against the Baltimore Orioles coming into the bout:

 

12 GS

8-2

83.2 IP

2 CG

7.0 IP/GS

2.80 ERA

0.86 WHIP

91 K

16 BB

5.7 K/BB

9.79 K/9

.187 AVG allowed

 

Best outing to date:

 

05/12/00: 9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 BB, 15 K - WIN

 

Worst outing:

 

04/12/03: 4.1 IP, 9 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 5 K - LOSS

 

Most recent outing:

 

09/10/03: 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 9 K - WIN

 

It’s funny that arguably the BEST and WORST outings of his career have come against the Baltimore Orioles. I’ll take the more recent one, though.

 

I know a lot of people are down about Pedro’s velocity this past ST, but do you really think he is going to allow himself to get smashed like that? His PRIDE won’t allow it. His pride won’t allow him to not be the most dominant starter on this staff. The most dominant in baseball. Especially not after how he’s been questioned this Spring about his velocity and most likely not having a contract for 2005. I expect 7-8 innings of 1 run or less baseball from him. If not, 9. It’d be a great way to set the stage for Schilling and Lowe and end any skepticism right off the bat.

[dirtdogman5]

Unfortunately I don't think Petey will be dominant Sunday night. The forecast calls for it to be rainy and cold so that surely won't help him. I see him going 6-7 innings while giving up 2-3 runs with the Sox offense backing him up for the win.

[yeszir]

Is it not a tradition that the sox lose opening day, no matter who they play? Being the pessimist that I am I would not be surprised if the sox dont put up the best show this Sunday. Pedro will pitch well (maybe dominantly, unlike what dirtdogman up there says) but it just wont click.

 

Oh, but dont worry! It will click soon enough.

 

But then again i could be wrong and they could route the O's.

[FourZeroSix]

Originally posted by dirtdogman5@Apr 2 2004, 09:49 PM

Unfortunately I don't think Petey will be dominant Sunday night. The forecast calls for it to be rainy and cold so that surely won't help him. I see him going 6-7 innings while giving up 2-3 runs with the Sox offense backing him up for the win.

Well, he's got his motivation to be.

[dirtdogman5]

I just remembered something about this series that could be good for Schilling but bad for Pedro. The last time the Sox met the O's in the first series of the season (in Baltimore), the first game was lost, but something special happened in the second game. A 2nd no hitter by Hideo Nomo. Maybe Schilling will repepeat history?

[FourZeroSix]

That would be insane if he did that in his Sox debut.

[yeszir]

Originally posted by FourZeroSix@Apr 2 2004, 10:17 PM

That would be insane if he did that in his Sox debut.

I couldnt have said it any better myself.

[FourZeroSix]

Geez... look at all the posts already totalling up.

 

This place is going to be booming like America in the 1920s before long. This really is a great board. Anything else is a step above from that troll infested RedSox.com board.

 

As for Schilling, I wouldn't put it past him. He is so focused and determined that it's almost as if he CAN'T fail. He may not throw a no-hitter, but you can bet he'll be out there looking to go 9 innings, K's galore.

[dirtdogman5]

Originally posted by FourZeroSix@Apr 2 2004, 10:42 PM

Geez... look at all the posts already totalling up.

 

This place is going to be booming like America in the 1920s before long. This really is a great board. Anything else is a step above from that troll infested RedSox.com board.

 

As for Schilling, I wouldn't put it past him. He is so focused and determined that it's almost as if he CAN'T fail. He may not throw a no-hitter, but you can bet he'll be out there looking to go 9 innings, K's galore.

Curt definitely seems like a very motivated individual. The RSN has already christened him as our son and we all hope he lives up to his expectations.

[CalvnHobs6]

Francona said that even with Foulke's poor spring outings, he's confident enough to put him in on Sunday night. I can't wait to see him show his stuff.

My prediction: Petey goes 7 IP, surrendering 2 runs.

[dirtdogman5]

Originally posted by CalvnHobs6@Apr 2 2004, 10:51 PM

Francona said that even with Foulke's poor spring outings, he's confident enough to put him in on Sunday night. I can't wait to see him show his stuff.

My prediction: Petey goes 7 IP, surrendering 2 runs.

I agree. I'm very excited to see Foulke pitch after all that anticipation of him signing here. I think he should do fine. Maybe he can prove people wrong that his tandem of only fastball and changeup can get hitters out.

[yeszir]

I dont remember where i was reading it, I think it was sports illustrated, but they voiced a (what I think is legitimate) concern over how what were fly balls to left in Oakland may be homeruns over the monster in Boston, as Foulke tends to be a flyball pitcher.

 

I dont think its anything to worry about. In his career, over 13 innings, he has a 2.70 era and 4 saves at fenway park.

[CalvnHobs6]

In the Globe today, there was an awesome sports baseball section with lots of comparisons between the Red Sox and MFYs. I'll type some of them up and post them tomorrow, it's getting a little late now. But it was really quite interesting. Here are some of the Head-to-Heads according to the globe:

1B: Millar v Giambi : Edge Yankees

2B: Reese v Wilson: Edge Boston

3B: Mueller v Arod: Edge Yankees

SS: Nomar v Jeter: Edge Boston

C: Tek v Posada: Edge Yankees

LF: Manny v Godzilla: Edge Boston

CF: Damon v Lofton: Edge Boston

RF: Nixon v Sheffield: Edge Yankees

DH: Ortiz v Williams: Edge Boston

Bench: Edge Yankees

SP1: Martinez v Mussina: Edge Boston

SP2: Schilling v Brown: Edge Boston

SP3: Lowe v Vasquez: Split

SP4: Wakefield v Contreras: Edge Boston

SP5: Kim v Lieber: Edge Boston (both currently on DL)

Closer: Foulke v Rivera: Edge Yankees

Bullpen: Split

Manager: Terry v Joe: Edge Yankees

 

Yankees: 7

Boston: 9

2 tied.

Keep in mind those non bostonians: This is from a Boston paper.

I'll post some more tomorrow.

[FourZeroSix]

I'm not too concerned about Foulke. I just look at what he's done over the last couple of years and assume that he'll be able to get the job done just about everytime an opportunity presents it self.

[dirtdogman5]

I really don't like those position by position comparison things because unlike other sports, position by position doesn't matter in baseball.

[CalvnHobs6]

I totally agree with you there, but the whole section is really interesting. It breaks down the whole rivalry. Plus I disagree with a few of the comparisons.

[FourZeroSix]

Apparently the weather in Baltimore tomorrow night is going to be quite ugly.

 

The Weather.com forecast for the Inner Harbor shows snow flurries at game time, with increasing winds and temps holding steady through the upper 30s until 10pm.

 

God damn.

[yeszir]

That type of weather never makes for great pitching performances.

Here's the link to weather.com:

http://www.weather.com/weather/detail/USMD...m=1&from=search

It shows snow flurries and windchill of 27 degrees at 7 o'clock. Is the game gonna be postponed?

[FourZeroSix]

I really don't like the idea of having a rather rusty Pedro at this point, out there pitching in that environment. Hopefully Ponson will be worse.

[Benny9Sox7]

atleast it aint gona rain thats all i care about