June 30 @ New York

[Noah]

Boston looks to Wake up

Boston (42-33) at New York (48-26), 7:05 p.m. ET

By Ian Browne / MLB.com   

 

Free-falling of late in the American League East standings, the Red Sox badly want to stop their slide on Wednesday night when they face the Yankees in the second of a three-game series.

 

The Sox were manhandled by the Yankees in the opener, committing three errors in a 11-3 loss. They enter this contest a season-high 6 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the division.

 

"We've got to regroup tomorrow, period," said Sox catcher Jason Varitek.

 

Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield hopes to have his knuckleball dancing in his first Yankee Stadium appearance since Aaron Boone took him deep to end Game 7 of the American League Championship Series. Wakefield baffled the Yankees in an April 16 start at Fenway Park.

 

As for the AL East race, the tables have turned in a big way over the last two months. The Sox actually led the Yankees by 4 1/2 games after completing a three-game Bronx sweep on April 25.

 

After losing six of their first seven head-to-head meetings against the Sox, the Yankees were glad to exact some revenge on Tuesday night.

 

"This was a big win for us, because the last time we saw these guys, they treated us badly," said Yankees manager Joe Torre.

 

Not only have the Yankees turned their season around, but the Sox aren't playing with the same swagger and crispness they did earlier in the season. Red Sox manager Terry Francona remains confident that he has the horses to snap out of this inconsistent spell, which has seen the Sox produce a 27-27 record since May 1.

 

"If I'm any judge of talent, I think we'll be fantastic," said Francona. "I love these guys. I think we're going to find a way to be a very good team. I also think we have to improve. I think we're going to do that. I believe that and that's what we're going to do."

 

Sox leadoff man Johnny Damon says his team has not reached the point of deflation.

 

"Our character is in good shape here. We plan to come out here and win [Wednesday] night," said Damon. "[Tuesday] was an off night for us. But we're ready to strap it on again and try to get a win."

 

Pitching matchup

BOS: RHP Tim Wakefield

4-5, 4.59 ERA in 2004

1-0, 1.29 vs. NYY in 2004

7-8, 4.85 lifetime vs. NYY

 

NYY: RHP Jon Lieber

5-5, 5.26 ERA in 2004

First appearance vs. BOS lifetime

 

Must win for the Sox. When I say must win, I mean must win. Hopefully Wakefield can keep the potent MFY lineup intact.

 

I'll be flippin' between the Met game and this tonight.

[YanksHater213]

lieber sucks, wakefield has been bad, so lets hope we can win a 10-9 squeaker. manny and ortiz have been on fire lately so we do have the offense to do it

[elsrbueno]

I just hope Pokey's playing SS for tonight's game. It's pretty sad when I'd feel more comfortable with Crespo than Nomar!

[YanksHater213]

to be honest, id feel more comfortable with friggin millar at short than crespo lol

[elsrbueno]

Well, anyone BUT millar.

 

Remember in Spring Training when Kapler was playin third? Let's try that out. Can't be worse than it is now!

 

3B Gabe Kapler

SS Pokey Reese

2B Mark Bellhorn

 

Or Youk playin 3rd is fine too. As long as Nomar's sitting on the bench awaiting his trade to LA, NY, or whoevever Theo can find to take him!

 

In all seriousness, Boston.com was reporting that Nomar is being shopped.

[JMDurron]

Of course Nomar's being shopped. He's an unhappy guy in his walk year who isn't performing up to his previous level. Problem is, we won't be able to get anywhere close to market value for him, because he's an unhappy guy in his walk year who isn't performing up to his previous level. We need an easily fooled GM to trade with, or we'll have him for the rest of the season. I suspect that we'll have him for the rest of the season. Which is ok by me, because I think Nomar's going to pull a Jeter, suck for 3 more weeks, then tear it up in late July, August, and September. Just as Jeter has been doing now after his terrible start.

[elsrbueno]

In 3 weeks, this team will be so far outta the race that it won't matter!

 

Even if Nomar does heat up...they won't catch anyone.

 

I would imagine there's ONE GM dumb enough to take on Garciaparra's salary and attitude. San Fransisco? Los Angeles? Both need a good SS

[RedSoxRooter]

How about we use this lineup?

 

Damon - cf

Youkilis - 3b

Ortiz - dh

Manny - left

Nomar - ss

Nixon - rf

Varitek - c

Reese - 2b

Bellhorn - 1b

 

Hitting Bellhorn last increases the chances of Damon coming up with runners on. Though I think McCarty is probably better defensively at 1b. Either way, I think Millar needs a day or two off.

 

BTW, don't get so down on Nomar's defense. His throwing errors would not be errors with a good defensive firstbaseman.

[elsrbueno]

I agree Millar needs time off. He probably should spend some time in AAA and see if he can remember how to hit!

 

I'd rather see McCarty at first than Bellhorn. McCarty's sure-handed over there, and can't be WORSE than Millar with the stick.

 

Bellhorn at first means Crespo's the backup if someone else goes down. Yikes!

[JMDurron]

Originally posted by RedSoxRooter@Jun 30 2004, 10:51 AM

How about we use this lineup?

 

Damon - cf

Youkilis - 3b

Ortiz - dh

Manny - left

Nomar - ss

Nixon - rf

Varitek - c

Reese - 2b

Bellhorn - 1b

 

Hitting Bellhorn last increases the chances of Damon coming up with runners on. Though I think McCarty is probably better defensively at 1b. Either way, I think Millar needs a day or two off.

 

BTW, don't get so down on Nomar's defense. His throwing errors would not be errors with a good defensive firstbaseman.

Yes, it would be much better for Damon to get more ABs with runners on, as opposed to DAVID ORTIZ. Excellent plan. Sounds like you're really just desperately searching for a reason to bump Bellhorn down. Millar could use a season off, although I wouldn't be opposed to him PHing for Ortiz in a late inning situation against a LHP. Then McCarty comes in for D. My "shakeup" lineup would look like this.

 

Damon - CF

Bellhorn - 2B

Ortiz - 1B

Manny - LF

Nixon - RF

Varitek - C

Youkilis - 3B

Nomar - DH

Reese - SS

 

Nomar may need some time lower in the order to get his swing back, and I'd rather not have him in the field while we wait for his rhythm to return. Let him find his swing (at every 1st pitch), then put him in the field again once his bat cancels out the errors. I think Nixon deserves a few more ABs, and we need to try SOMETHING with Varitek to get him hitting again. Moving him in the lineup is as good an idea as any, IMO. Moving him down would be bad, as you have to either move Youk too high, or not move Nomar down far enough. This leaves Ortiz at 1B, which isn't great, but is probably better than Millar (not bat), McCarty (ditto), or Bellhorn (he's better at 2B than 3B, and he hasn't seen 1B yet this year). Plus you get Millar off the bench to PH, and McCarty for D. They can both play a couple of positions if necessary. Just plug Mueller into Youk's slot upon his return, since he seems to like the 7/8 hole anyway.

[trot4mvp]

I agree with JMD...this team needs to do whatever it takes to keep Millar out of the starting lineup. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Ortiz at 1B...anything would be an improvement right now. We might as well DH nomar because he's not helping us in the field. Also, JMD's lineup trades Millar's bat for Youkilis', which is a great exchange in my book. Of course, would Francona have the guts to make such a rearrangement? Doubt it!

 

I can think of one GM who would be stupid enough to trade big for Nomar: Kenny Williams, Chicago White Sox. Remember last year when he took on Carl Everett and Roberto Alomar? I can see him pulling off a similar move for Nomar, possibly at the expense of Magglio Ordonez (yes, wishful thinking). BDD reported the other day that Williams was the first to mention that Nomar was on the market too...

[elsrbueno]

JMD, I like your lineup. Ortiz isn't horrible at first, and Bellhorn's bat is better than McCarty (in my opinion).

 

Against Lieber tonight, this lineup should tee off!

[yeszir]

I fixed the date

[YanksHater213]

it better tee off...

[Zenny]

Our lefties are absolutely are going to tee off on Lieber. Trot and Ortiz are hitting homeruns tonight, guaranteed.

[RedSoxRooter]

Sounds like you're really just desperately searching for a reason to bump Bellhorn down.

 

You got that right!

 

How many times did Blowhorn K last night in front of Ortiz? At least Youk has a similar OBP and doesn't K all the time. Everybody talks about OBP like they know what the hell they are talking about. How about the K - it is worth absolutely nothing. It's a big stinky black hole in the lineup and I'd rather have the K man at the bottom of the lineup. As far as OBP, Youk actually has a HIGHER OBP, Slugging Percentage and OPS than Blowhorn.

 

Batting Nomar 8th? Now that is a nice move

[RedSoxRooter]

Oh, and Youk is batting 40pts higher too .

[YanksHater213]

but how many more rbis does bellhorn have than youks? nothing against youks....

[RedSoxRooter]

Originally posted by YanksHater213@Jun 30 2004, 06:06 PM

but how many more rbis does bellhorn have than youks? nothing against youks....

Weak arguement as Blowhorn has played a lot more games. How about these numbers?:

 

Bellhorn with runners on is batting .276

Bellhorn with runners in scoring position .300

 

Youk with runners on is batting .360

Youk with runners in scoring position .345

[YanksHater213]

and what did bellhorn just do???

 

thats right, shut up and stop you bellhorn hating

[RedSoxRooter]

That's right, Bellhorn is a god now. Killer single. Great arguement.

Forget everything I just wrote.

 

Actually, if you want to start a "what did bellhorn just do???" thread, I'd be happy to post on it.

[YanksHater213]

haha, but you said he sucks and shouldnt start, so i just wanted to prove you wrong. its all good

[RedSoxRooter]

Originally posted by YanksHater213@Jun 30 2004, 06:18 PM

haha, but you said he sucks and shouldnt start

When did I say that? I never said that. I said Youk should bat second because....... oh christ, nevermind. I gotta stop posting here.

[JMDurron]

Bellhorn moves the runner across...Nomar pops out yet again. I really think he should move down in the lineup until he gets back into the groove. Also, Millar at RF and Nixon DHing? Wha? We're following up our miserable defensive outing with Millar IN THE OUTFIELD?!?

 

RSR, just might want to keep in mind that your "look how many games they've played" argument kind of comes back to hurt your "Youk has higher averages" due to small sample sizes. I'm not against Youk at all, in fact I wish he was at 3B today with Pokey at SS, and Bellhorn at 2B.

[YanksHater213]

wow, lieber really sucks. millar got a hit

[JMDurron]

2 big innings killed by DPs.

 

Another note for RSR - if we didn't have Damon, I wouldn't mind seeing Youk bat 2nd. In fact, if I recall, there was a series in mid-May where Damon sat and Bellhorn-Youk batted 1st and 2nd. I recall a fair number of runs being scored in those games. Not that I'd ever advocate such a lineup regularly, when we have a speedy OBP alternative in Damon.

[YanksHater213]

and bellhorn reaches again...

 

it seems that everytime RSR displays his displeasure about Bellhorn, he does good

[RedSoxRooter]

Originally posted by JMDurron@Jun 30 2004, 06:28 PM

RSR, just might want to keep in mind that your "look how many games they've played" argument kind of comes back to hurt your "Youk has higher averages" due to small sample sizes. I'm not against Youk at all, in fact I wish he was at 3B today with Pokey at SS, and Bellhorn at 2B.

This is true, thanks for the reminder. Just a little fast fact.

 

 

In 274 at bats, Bellhorn has 44 rbis.

 

In 114 at bats, Youk has 19. If youk had 274 at bats at this rate, he'd have 46 rbis right now. Do the math. Conversion is 2.4.

 

Going to watch the game now folks.

[JMDurron]

You're reduced to making the RBI argument? I never brought it up for Bellhorn, because it's such a crap stat.

[Tek04]

holy crap, we just turned a double play!