Jump to content
Talk Sox
  • Create Account

August 31st Vs Anaheim

elsrbueno
 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 61
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

yeszir MVP

yeszir

Site Manager
Posted
Posted

Thats awesome. I dont want to go ahead without your permission, but would you mind copying and pasting the game preview that you type up into the game threads, along with a link to your site of course.

 

It's a great way to get into the game day state of mind, and it really has some useful information. Congrats on some awesome analysis and the like.

elsrbueno First Round Pick

elsrbueno

Verified Member
Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yeszir,

I don't mind posting stuff here, I just put it on my website for two reasons:

 

So I have complete control over what is posted (format and everything), and so I have an archive of all the stuff I write. This stuff really interests me, so I'm going to try to do this whenever I can (on my own website, and post the link).

 

I apologize for not posting my source for the statistics. All stats enclosed are courtesy of ESPN.com.

 

 

As requested, the text you'll find if you click on the link:

 

Boston Red Sox pregame analysis

August 31, 2004 7:05pm

Anaheim @ Boston

 

The Anaheim Angels enter today's action 1.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox for the AL Wild Card, and two games behind Oakland in the AL West. This series is key for both contenders as we enter the final month of the season.

 

The Angels are on a tear of late, and have won nine of their last 10 games On the mound for Anaheim is right hander John Lackey. Infamous in Anaheim for playing a key role in their championship run in 2002, Lackey hasn't done much since to establish himself as a top-notch pitcher.

 

In 2004, Lackey has an 11-10 record with a 5.00 ERA. In his last start, a 7-5 win against Kansas City, Lackey pitched five innings, and gave up five earned runs on seven hits. Lackey has especially struggled in August, going 2-1 with a 7.06 ERA in five August starts.

 

Lackey has pitched far less effectively on the road this season, as he enters today's game with a 6.21 road ERA.

 

Overall, Lackey is a control pitcher who has a 2:1 strikeout to walk ratio. His problem has been simply giving up too many hits on the road (opposing batters have hit .317 against him away from Anaheim).

 

Against Boston this season, he lost his only start, giving up five earned runs in 6 innings.

 

Some interesting tidbits about John Lackey:

 

Opposing batters are hitting .444 with 5 homers when swinging at the first pitch. Averages seem to drop when Lackey is working deep counts.

 

John Lackey has struggled against lefties this season, giving up 13 (of the 20 total) homers and a .315 average.

 

With nobody on base, opposing batters hit .265 against Lackey. With runners on, that average is raised to .308.

 

Lackey typically starts to loose effectiveness after the 4th inning and his 50th pitch.

 

Red Sox hitters in general have enjoyed facing Lackey, especially Manny Ramirez, who's 4-9 with two homers against him. Bill Mueller and David Ortiz are also hitting over .400 against Lackey.

 

On the other side of the spectrum, Johnny Damon is just 2 for 16 against Lackey.

 

Boston counters with their co-ace, Curt Schilling. Schilling is enjoying a very successful first season with the Red Sox. His 16 wins this season are second only to Mark Mulder, and he has already won 4 games in August.

 

Schilling is 8-1 at Fenway Park this year, and dominated Anaheim in his only appearance against them this season. He threw 8 innings and gave up just one run on three hits

 

Schilling has had pinpoint control this season, walking just 28 batters versus 158 strikeouts

 

The key to beating Schilling seems to be getting ahead in the count. On the contrary, Schilling is practically unhittable if he's getting ahead of hitters.

 

Because Schilling has spent most of his career in the NL, not many Anaheim hitters have significant experience against him.

 

Vladimir Guerrero (formerly of Montreal) has faced him 48 times, and has 12 hits, 8 of those hits for extra bases (4 doubles, 4 homers). No other Anaheim hitter has more than 2 hits against Schilling. Jose Guillen is 2 for 17 in his career against Schilling.

 

Although both of these teams are playing great baseball right now, the pitching matchup seems to heavily favor the Boston Red Sox in this series. Schilling, who has been everything Boston could hope for this season is looking to set the tone of the series in game 1.

 

Prediction: A Red Sox victory

yeszir MVP

yeszir

Site Manager
Posted
Posted

Does it seem to anyone else that the outcome of this game will dictate the rest of this series? If the sox win I can legitimately see a sweep. A victory tonight puts us 2.5 ahead in the WC, a very nice position to be in, and it gives us even MORE momentum going into the remaining 2 games with Anaheim.

 

A loss, however, places us .5 ahead with 2 games to go against our main opponent at this stage. Knowing this team, I'm not sure we could stomach a loss right now. I'm afraid we're like a 3 year old climbing up a slide, poised to slip if any gust of wind pushes him down but ALMOST to the top. You all know the feeling of climbing up a slide, and thats what I'm feeling about this team right now.

Chrupzilla Prep Ball

Chrupzilla

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
Originally posted by yeszir@Aug 31 2004, 03:26 PM

Does it seem to anyone else that the outcome of this game will dictate the rest of this series?

I definetly agree. A gem from Schill tonight would set the tone for the series. A sweep would not be out of the question -- would be tough -- but with this team, at home, anything can happen.

elsrbueno First Round Pick

elsrbueno

Verified Member
Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yeszir,

 

I think the first game of a series sets the tone quite often, and this series is no different. Both of these teams are RED hot right now, and each team has the chance to cool off their opponent.

 

If we lose tonight, we'll be half a game up on Anaheim after losing with Schilling on the mound, doesn't create a lot of confidence with two pitchers who, while decent starters....aren't Schilling.

 

On the other hand, if we win tonight, we'll be 2.5 up with 2 games left vs Anaheim. That's big because that means Anaheim can't singlehandedly take first from us.

 

Bottom line, this game could be huge. In my mind, with Schilling on the mound vs Lackey, there's no excuse for losing tonight's game. We need to prove ourselves against a real contender after beating up on some pretty lousy teams.

Zenny Draft Eligible

Zenny

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
An hour and forty-five minutes until the first pitch. I'm twitching with anticipation! I'd hate to see myself when they play the Yankees soon!
RedSoxRooter Greenville Drive

RedSoxRooter

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

The lineups from CNNSI.com

 

Angels

D Eckstein SS

D Erstad 1B

Vladdy RF

G Anderson CF

J Guillen LF

T Glause DH

B Molina C

A Kennedy 2B

C Figgins 3B

 

Sox

Damon

Bellhorn

Manny

Ortiz

Tek

Cabrera

Mientkiewicz

Mueller

Roberts

empirestrikesback26 First Round Pick

empirestrikesback26

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
Originally posted by CrespoBlows@Aug 31 2004, 08:34 PM

12-0 Cleveland!! Maybe it's time to quit making excuses yankees, your team isn't as good as you thought it was, and here come the SOX!!!!!!!

It's just one game, I wouldn't get so excited, but yea you can have the east.

YanksHater213 Greenville Drive

YanksHater213

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
Originally posted by empirestrikesback26@Aug 31 2004, 08:44 PM

It's just one game, I wouldn't get so excited, but yea you can have the east.

just like that game when you scored 18 runs right...

 

btw, 13-0

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing
The Talk Sox Caretaker Fund
The Talk Sox Caretaker Fund

You all care about this site. The next step is caring for it. We’re asking you to caretake this site so it can remain the premier Red Sox community on the internet.

Become a Caretaker

  • Member Statistics

    8,550
    Total Members
    48,845
    Most Online
    Leftier1
    Newest Member
    Leftier1
    Joined
×
×
  • Create New...