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September 22nd Vs. Baltimore

element1151
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element1151 FCL Red Sox

element1151

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Game #151: Baltimore Orioles @ Boston Red Sox

Date: September 22nd, 2004

First Pitch: 7:05 PM, Fenway Park, Boston

TV: NESN, ESPN

Season Series: BAL leads, 8-5

 

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/bal.gif >>> (70-79) >>> http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/132260.jpg Ponson 11-14, 5.22 ERA

@

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/bos.gif >>> (90-60) >>> http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/276520.jpg Arroyo 9-9, 4.01 ERA

elsrbueno First Round Pick

elsrbueno

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Sydney Ponson is Baltimore's version of Bartolo Colon. They brought him in to anchor that pitching staff, and there has always been concerns about him keeping in shape.

 

Ponson also can dominate when on, but when he's off he tends to be erratic at best. This season he beat Boston on opening day, then 2 weeks later the Red Sox got 7 runs over 4 innings. Baltimore won that game (scoring 5 runs in the 11th inning), but Ponson didn't get a decision.

 

Ponson's has pitched well in his last 3 starts, 2 of which were against New York. He had 3 bad starts before that, however, getting hit hard by Oakland (twice) and Texas. He seems to be the classic streaky pitcher, so hopefully the Red Sox can snap his good streak tonight.

 

Bronson Arroyo has only faced Baltimore once this season. Coincidentally enough, he gave up the 5 runs in the 11th inning of the abovementioned game. Granted, only 2 of those runs were earned, but Arroyo only recorded 1 out, so his ERA vs Baltimore this season is 54.00.

 

As I said in a previous post, Arroyo has also pitched very well of late. He didn't get a decision against New York, but pitched VERY well, giving up just 2 runs over 6 innings. Bronson continues to pitch SIGNIFICANTLY better on the road, where his ERA is 3.12 (his home ERA is 5.12).

 

As predicted, Bronson's struggles occur against lefthanded hitters. The 2 Yankees to get RBIs against him were both lefties (Posada and Olerud).

 

It may work to Arroyo's advantage that of Baltimore's sluggers (players with 20+ homeruns), only 1 (Rafael Palmiero) bats lefthanded.

 

Bigbe, Gibbons, and Surhoff may get a start to try to counter Arroyo's dominance vs Righties...

 

The key to this game (as usual) will be starting pitching. The Red Sox are coming off an emotional win and need to keep momentum.

RedSoxRooter Greenville Drive

RedSoxRooter

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I think the key to this game and series will be Boston's offense. They need to take last night's win and translate that into runs early in this game. The Sox are averaging only 4.7 runs/game in their last 10 games (the number drops to 3.8 in their last 9) and they are only 4-5 in that stretch.

 

Sure they've seen some decent pitching but nothing good enough to keep this offense down like it's been (Jon Leiber no hit bid???)..

 

Anyway, how did they win last night? A rally! Walk, double, double. They need to stop swinging for the fences trying to hit HRs and start getting on base and put pressure on the pitcher.

 

Ever notice how some pitchers become a lot less effective if a runner gets on base? They can shrug off a HR, but force a guy to pitch under pressure and I bet the sox will start to score.

 

ramble ramble ramble. :wacko:

elsrbueno First Round Pick

elsrbueno

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RedSoxRooter,

I agree with you 100%. There are some pitchers who just come apart when the opposition starts a rally. After I read your post, I looked up Sydney Ponson's numbers this season with nobody on base. Here are opponents Batting Average/On base Percentage/Slugging Percentage:

 

.286/.338/.401

 

Compare that to the same stats with runners on:

 

.320/.373/.492

 

Hitters fair MUCH better against Ponson with runners on base. Like you said RedSoxRooter (I'm not taking credit for this I'm just backing up your theory), that might be the key to victory tonight.

 

That, and Bronson pitching well.

Zenny Draft Eligible

Zenny

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I expect nothing short from Arroyo but another gem. That ERA is going under 4.00 tonight. He's going to get some nasty breaking stuff going and the Sox will be all fine and dandy.
elsrbueno First Round Pick

elsrbueno

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Originally posted by Zenny@Sep 22 2004, 04:46 PM

I expect nothing short from Arroyo but another gem. That ERA is going under 4.00 tonight. He's going to get some nasty breaking stuff going and the Sox will be all fine and dandy.

I hope your prediction is correct.

 

The key for Arroyo should be getting the lefties out.

RedSoxRooter Greenville Drive

RedSoxRooter

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Originally posted by Zenny@Sep 22 2004, 04:46 PM

I expect nothing short from Arroyo but another gem. That ERA is going under 4.00 tonight. He's going to get some nasty breaking stuff going and the Sox will be all fine and dandy.

I don't know if I have come to fully expect a gem, as you are Zen, but it wouldn't surprise me. I'm also keeping tabs on that ERA. If Arroyo can finish the season with a sub 4 ERA, I think our postseaon #3 man has been found without much debate.

 

Oh, forgot to mention it before, but good writeup elsrbueno (again).

stocker323 FCL Red Sox

stocker323

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Lineups

 

Orioles

Roberts 2B

Newhan RF

Mora 3B

Tejada SS

Surhoff LF

Lopez C

Gibbons 1B

Bigbie CF

Lopez DH

 

Red Sox

 

Damon CF

Bellhorn 2B

Ramirez LF

Ortiz DH

Nixon RF

Millar 1B

Varitek C

Cabrera SS

Mueller 3B

Zenny Draft Eligible

Zenny

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This is the lineup I have been waiting for for quite some time. I can't wait to see them in action. I really hope Manny picks up the pace as well, he's really been scuffling.
ACL BoSox First Round Pick

ACL BoSox

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Embree had a strong 11th, maybe the momentum will carry into the bottom of the inning.

 

I think we only have lescanik, adams, and... KIM???? to work with.

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