Are you ready?

[riverside sluggers]

i saw a stat in the paper that he is 12-13 when pitching on 3 days rest. he hasnt done so since 2003

[yankees228]

Wow. Who would have thought he had done it that much, but I guess knuckle ballers can do things like that. By the way, I know Schilling is a tremendous big game pitcher, but I also know he has not been the same this year (probably mostly due to injury). What is the confidence level among Red Sox fans with him on sunday if the Yanks and the Red Sox split the first two and he is playing in an elimination game. Also Yankee fans with Mussina, I'm so up in the air with him because he seems to be feast or famine, ie. last two starts.

[riverside sluggers]

im confident, i will have to be anyway really because its game 3, but also because of the start he had against the yankees recently

[See Red]

Wow. Who would have thought he had done it that much, but I guess knuckle ballers can do things like that. By the way, I know Schilling is a tremendous big game pitcher, but I also know he has not been the same this year (probably mostly due to injury). What is the confidence level among Red Sox fans with him on sunday if the Yanks and the Red Sox split the first two and he is playing in an elimination game. Also Yankee fans with Mussina, I'm so up in the air with him because he seems to be feast or famine, ie. last two starts.

 

Basically, I will never doubt Schilling's ability to play in a big game. I had confidence in him last year, and he came through -- I expect the same in this weekend series.

[riverside sluggers]

same should be said really about mussina's pitching woes. only lasting 1.2 innings last week against the O's, and against the Sox this season he has an ERA above 7

[26 to 6]

The last time he started on 3 days rest in a really meaningful game was Game 4 of the 2003 ALCS. 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 8 K ain't too shabby. He's been solid as a rock lately too. Saturday will be a pitching duel.

 

Wang throwing 96? Yeah, occassionally, but he's pretty consistent in the 90-93 range, which isn't bad. However, if I'm a Yankee fan, I'm a little nervous about sending a kid with 16 career starts out to the bump in a game of this magnitude. His 3.5K/9IP wouldn't inspire a lot of confidence either. That's a lot of balls in play. At Fenway Park.

 

But, as we've all seen, this pronostication is pretty worthless when it comes to these two teams. Not many thought '03 would go to the Yankees with Pedro on the hill in game 7. Just like not many thought the Sox would recover from 3 down last year.

 

Strap on your helmets.

I have no problem sending Wang out, he has had no problem keeping his cool out there the entire year. He's one of those guys who doesnt fold under pressure...but tonight will be the real test.

[yankees228]

Yeah, I said Moose is either feast or famine. It seems like if he has his A stuff he is unhittable, but if he doesn't he seems reluctant to differ from his gameplan. Thats why he never seems to go 6 innings 4 runs or something like that. Never an average start. That can either be a really good thing or a really bad thing.

[CrespoBlows]

Talk all you want about Wang, and how you want to suck his Wang.

 

He's going to get whipped like a bondage slave.

[RedSoxRooter]

And going to tonight, if Wang is healthy (96 on the radar gun?) and locating you guys are screwed. His sinker is deadly, Kevin Brown good days-esque.

Well, you were right about the Kevin Brown comparison......

 

Strike One.

[yankeessuck013]

Well, you were right about the Kevin Brown comparison......

 

Strike One.

 

haha yep.

 

wang sure "screwed" us

[BoSox21]

Wang did pitch decently but no doubt Damon and Trot helped him out with the baserunning gaffes

[ORS]

Trot's was not a base running blunder. It was a failed hit and run. He doesn't have the speed to straight steal. I think it is hard to blame him in that situation. It was just unfortunate luck that Wang's pitch was 2 feet off the plate, making it impossible for Tek to make contact.

[See Red]

Out of curiosity... do you guys know if Damon thought Jeter had the ball? Or if he was just trying for an extra base? I figure he might've mentioned it in a press conference or something.

[riverside sluggers]

what had killed wang last night was really the walks--6 walks in 6.2 innings, everyone knows that you dont give a powered offense like the sox extra bases

[Lightsout42]

I agree, Riverside sluggers. The walks killed wang last night. What also killed us was Giambi throwing the ball home instead of just tagging the base. I mean given it was the right play for ANYONE else, but he just doesn't have the accuracy and or the range. Without that walk to Nixon and that horrible throw by giambi we would've been tied 3-3 in the 9th.

[riverside sluggers]

yea im sure wang no doubt will be a solid pitcher down the road for you guys. i do give him props for having pitch in that type of important game, he still went into the 7th inning which avoided your middle relief being called in, Proctor relieved and gave nothing to the Sox batters. This is Wang's first season, once he is able to command more of the strike zone and able to hold baserunners he could be tough to beat, he did afterall held the sox to 3 hits

[derekn]

RJ has been pitching very well the past few outings. He's found his fastball and his slider is kicking. Sox don't hit well against lefties.

 

About Wake, Gammons on Baseball Tonight pointed out that today at Fenway, it's supposed to be sunny. This bodes well for Wake because the same conditions he pitched against BlueJays. The sun will be glaring at the hitters and they will have a hard time picking up the knuckleball.

 

We just need the Guardians to lose both games. And if the Sox lose the next 2 games they are the Wild Card. I prefer the Red Sox to win both games, but it helps knowing they can get some help from the struggling Tribe (bunch of 1 run loses) to make the playoffs.

 

I am mixed too because I live in Cleveland and bought playoff tickets in hopes of a ALDS match up (Guardians vs AL East Winners Red Sox). But I would rather have the Red Sox make playoffs than see a game live..

[riverside sluggers]

RJ has been pitching very well the past few outings. He's found his fastball and his slider is kicking. Sox don't hit well against lefties.

 

Sox since the All Star break have the 2nd highest batting average against lefties