May 19th @ Philladelphia

[Beckett95]

Game Info:

Date: Friday, My 19th, 2006

First Pitch: 7:05 ET

TV: NESN

Radio: WEEI 850

Starting Pitchers:

 

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/6099.jpg VS. http://i.a.cnn.net/si/images/baseball/mlb/players/5235.jpg

 

PITCHING MATCHUP:

 

BOS: RHP Matt Clement (3-3, 5.58 ERA)

Clement has been inconsistent thus far. In his last start, he gave up six hits and four runs over five innings, walking two and striking out four in a loss to the Rangers. Before being shut out last Friday in a rain-shortened game, the Red Sox had provided Clement with more run support (six runs per game) than any other Red Sox starter. Boston is 4-3 in Clement's previous seven starts.

 

PHI: RHP Jon Lieber (3-4, 5.50 ERA)

Lieber is coming off of one of the best performances of his long career. The veteran retired the first 20 batters he faced in and eventual two-hit shutout over 8 2/3 in beating the Reds, 2-0, on Saturday night. He's 1-1, with a 5.55 ERA in four career starts appearances against Boston, all coming as a member of the Yankees.

 

PREVIEW:

 

Interleague Play in National League venues means different things to different teams. For the Red Sox, it means that David Ortiz gets to break out his mitt.

For the first time since last July, Ortiz will start at first base when the Red Sox open their Interleague slate against the Phillies on Friday night.

 

Regarded as the best designated hitter in baseball, the menacing Ortiz rarely has to play defense.

 

"Wish me good luck," quipped Ortiz, who has started 85 games at first since 2003, but just 10 last season.

 

Ortiz has proven in the past that he can play solid defense without much practice. Look no further than Game 3 of the 2004 World Series, when he made a perfect throw across the diamond to nail Jeff Suppan of the Cardinals at third base.

 

But this isn't to say that playing defense with a rusty glove is easy.

 

"I think he gets concerned about -- I don't know if embarrassing himself is the right word -- but he's a pretty proud guy," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "To go out there after not playing for what, six, seven, eight weeks, that's not fair. I just don't know what else to do. He did a great job in the World Series.

 

"We'll just do the best we can. The first thing is, I hope he doesn't hurt himself because he hasn't been out there much. I hope he doesn't make errors because he hasn't been out there much. ... We want to win and I don't want him to embarrass himself. We're asking him to do something he hasn't done."

 

Ortiz, who will likely start two of the three games against the Phils, is taking it all in stride.

 

"It's all good," said Ortiz. "I handle it. I'll tell you what the toughest thing about baseball is: Heat -- and I handle it."

 

The Red Sox, who have Matt Clement pitching the opener against Jon Lieber, will be dealing with a Phillies squad that has caught fire of late.

 

"It's always a good test," said Red Sox right fielder Trot Nixon. "Philly's got a good ballclub. It's National League rules. We're going to lose a hitter, but we'll have a good bench. We'll get good pitching, play good defense. It's just like it is in the American League. You just lose one hitter."

 

The other difference is that Boston's pitchers will have to take their first hacks of the season. Not that Francona wants them to take that many.

 

"With the pitchers hitting, we took them in the cage at home and had them bunting and hitting off the tee," Francona said. "I've come to the conclusion now that they do more harm than good. They go in there and hit and they get hurt [when] they swing too hard. Hopefully they can get a bunt down."

[jsinger121]

just to let you know that schillingouttheks was suppose to start the gameday thread today.

[Beckett95]

just to let you know that schillingouttheks was suppose to start the gameday thread today.

 

sorry, had no idea

[jsinger121]

we need his karma on gameday threads with the record he has had this year.

[Beckett95]

ive brought good luck to clement this year. im pretty sure his 2-0 in my game threads this year.

[ORS]

We need a little psychadelic.......

 

http://images.misupply.com/products/original/Mojo%20Strings/250447.jpg

[schillingouttheks]

If we lose tonight, I'm making tomorrow's gamethread and posting it at midnight tonight.

 

I have the mojo!! I JUST NEED TO USE IT.

[Beckett95]

clements 7-4 with a 3.60 era against Phillidelphia life time

[schillingouttheks]

Piece of advice: If you're going to start the gamethread, at least spell the opponents' city correctly

[Sox Fan on Cape]

I have the mojo!! I JUST NEED TO USE IT.

 

That would make a great pick-up line !

[TheRivernator]

Lieber is a fugly bastard isnt he?

[mtbykr]

I like ORS advice on following SOSH's pattern. When we win the person who made that thread does so again until we lose, then it's up in the air. Keep the mojo going! Yeah baby!!!!

[yeszir]

Google has no good results for 'Dead Liberty Bell'

 

From the Globe, regarding the relationship between the sox/phillies:

Its only animosity being that everyone from New England despises those “Baby New York” Southwest ads.

"Well there's a lot, a lot of culture here"

[Cocos Disciples]

i hate that commerical, especially the baby new york part

[riverside sluggers]

Jon Lieber (4 games vs. Boston. 1-1 record with a 5.55 ERA---Career at Citizens Bank Park in 21 games, 10-8 record with a 4.77 ERA)

Trot Nixon, 4 for 8 (.500 avg) 2 Doubles, RBI, K

Mark Loretta, 4 for 26 (.154 avg) 2 Doubles, 3 Ks

David Ortiz, 4 for 13 (.308 avg) 2 HRs, 3 RBIs, 2 Walks, K

Manny Ramirez, 3 for 14 (.214 avg) HR, 3 RBIs, 4 Ks

Mike Lowell, 6 for 21 (.286 avg) 3 HRs, 5 RBIs, 2 Walks, 4 Ks

Jason Varitek, 0 for 5, 2 Ks

Wily Mo Pena --

Alex Gonzalez, 7 for 22 (.318 avg) Double, HR, RBI, 5 Ks

Matt Clement, 0 for 1

///

Alex Cora, 1 for 9 (.111 avg) Triple, K

Doug Mirabelli, 5 for 11 (.455 avg) HR, 3 RBIs, 2 Ks

Dustan Mohr, 2 for 3 (.667 avg) Double, HR, 2 RBIs, K

J.T. Snow, 11 for 34 (.324 avg) 4 Doubles, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, Walk, 6 Ks

Kevin Youkilis, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) K

 

Matt Clement (14 games vs. Philadelphia, 7-4 record with a 3.57 ERA---Career at Citizens Bank Park in 1 game, 1-0 record with a 1.29 ERA)

Jimmy Rollins, 2 for 26 (.077 avg) Double, RBI, 4 Walks, 2 Ks

Chase Utley, 2 for 6 (.333 avg) Double, RBI, K

Bobby Abreu, 13 for 34 (.382 avg) Double, Triple, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 8 Walks, 10 Ks, 2 SBs

Pat Burrell, 6 for 23 (.261 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, 5 Walks, 13 Ks

Ryan Howard --

Shane Victorino, 0 for 3, K

David Bell, 3 for 16 (.188 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, Walk, 4 Ks

Sal Fasano, 0 for 3, 2 Ks

Jon Lieber, 1 for 2 (.500 avg)

///

David Dellucci, 2 for 10 (.200 avg) 2 HRs, 4 RBIs, 5 Walks, 3 Ks

Abraham Nunez, 4 for 23 (.174 avg) Double, Triple, 5 RBIs, Walk, 6 Ks

Aaron Rowand, 2 for 3 (.667 avg) HR, RBI

[Jeff04]

Google has no good results for 'Dead Liberty Bell'

 

From the Globe, regarding the relationship between the sox/phillies:

 

"Well there's a lot, a lot of culture here"

 

haha, that guy is hilarious,,, anyway i think the sox need to bust out early and clement has to give us a decent start, but i think that the Sox should take this one

[YazYaz04]

dead liberty bell.. hilarious

 

 

gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sox!

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Go Sox! I'm going to the game Sunday, that will give us some mojo since when I went to the sox-phils game last year we won 8-0.

[Beckett95]

Red Sox

1. Trot Nixon, RF

2. Mark Loretta, 2B

3. David Ortiz, 1B

4. Manny Ramirez, LF

5. Jason Varitek, C

6. Mike Lowell, 3B

7. Wily Mo Pena, CF

8. Alex Gonzalez, SS

9. Matt Clement, SP

 

Phillies

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS

2. Chase Utley, 2B

3. Bobby Abreu, RF

4. Pat Burrell, LF

5. Ryan Howard, 1B

6. Shane Victorino, CF

7. David Bell, 3B

8. Sal Facano, C

9. Jon Lieber, SP

 

 

the sox also made a roster move and brought up Abe Alvarez and put Mike Holtz on the DL.

 

i think id rather see Alvarez start sunday instead of Dinardo. I think Dinardo's a bullpen only guy, while alvarez waas 5-0 in 7 starts at pawtucket with a 2.18 era.

[Cocos Disciples]

thank god, holtz was awful.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Red Sox

1. Trot Nixon, RF

 

Whattttt

[Beckett95]

what about it?

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Trot...leadoff? That's pretty weird.

[TheKilo]

Win. I have confidence we'll see the GOOD Matt Clement.

[Beckett95]

well theres no other choice really. With Youk not playing Trots the best option

[Beckett95]

tommorow Youk's playing 3rd and Lowell is sitting and on Sunday Youk's playing first and Ortiz is getting the day off. So Youk will be leading off Saturday and Sunday.

[riverside sluggers]

Alright Zito?...

 

Sox pregame report, Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe re-iterated that Barry Zito is rooting for Barry Bonds to break Aaron's record

[schillingouttheks]

It's because his name is Barry. Who knows why though.

[TheKilo]

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2004/10/19/1098240345_1377.jpg

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2004/10/19/1098240346_6969.jpg

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2004/10/19/1098244647_9907.jpg

[Dana Kiecker]

I just hope Clement is somewhat solid tonight...

 

If he starts nibbling behind in the count....

 

I swear I will snap..