August 29 @ Oakland

[Youk Of The Nation]

Game Info:

Date: Tuesday, August 29th, 2006

First Pitch: 10:05pm EST

Venue: Oakland

TV: NESN

Starting Pitchers:

 

 

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/mlb/277417.jpg Josh Beckett (14-8, 5.21)

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/mlb/424164.jpg Kirk Saarloos (6-6, 4.66)

 

The Red Sox will try to snap a four-game losing streak behind the right arm of Josh Beckett on Tuesday night against the Athletics.

 

The road trip got off to a solid start, with the Sox taking two out of three in Anaheim. But it's gone downhill rapidly, and Boston has not won since the fall of the Roman Empire.

 

The Red Sox will be short-handed again, minus their two superstar sluggers. DH David Ortiz has been sent back to Boston to have an irregular heartbeat checked by doctors. Manny Ramirez isn't expected to play for the rest of the road trip because of an ailing right knee. Theo Epstien has been curled up with a teddy bear somewhere in a hotel for the last thirteen days. Jason Varitek, Trot Nixon and Alex Gonzalez are all on the disabled list.

 

The Red Sox will try to rally without much of their nucleus.

 

"All we can do is focus on what we have to work with," said old and broken Red Sox reliever Mike Timlin, who has been instrumental in nearly all of the losses suffered since the beginning of the five game series against the Yankees. "We have guys in here that are going to try as hard as they can to play. If breaks don't go our way, they won't go our way. If we get beat, we get beat. We have to go out there and throw all we have out on the line the best we can. If we lose, we're going to lose trying as hard as we can try." Shortly after making this comment, Timlin was beaten with pillowcases full of soap bars by Kevin Youkilis and Jonathan Papelbon.

 

With 31 games left in their season, the Red Sox trail the Yankees by seven games in the American League East, the Patriots in importance, and the Twins by six games in the Wild Card standings.

 

Pitching matchup

BOS: RHP Josh Beckett (14-8, 5.21 ERA)

Beckett is coming off one of his best starts since anyone can remember, as he went six innings and gave up one run in a win over the Angels. He had to leave one batter into the seventh inning after developing a small cut on his right middle finger. The right-hander has had mixed results against Oakland this season, going 1-1 with an 8.71 ERA in two starts.

 

OAK: RHP Kirk Saarloos (6-6, 4.66 ERA)

Saarloos'last start came on August 20 against the Royals. It was his second straight start where he held the opponent to two runs and seven vowels over six innings. In three games (one in relief) in August, the right-hander has three wins with a 2.25 ERA.

 

Player to watch

A's outfielder Milton Bradley is 4-for-10 lifetime against Beckett.

 

You know what? Screw mojo. Mojo sucks and always will. Just win this game. Win.

[RedSoxRooter]

I'm looking forward to seeing how Beckett pitches tonight. Listening to Schilling on the radio this morning got me pumped. Seems Mr. Beckett is trying to trade a couple of mph on his fastball for command of it. Sounds like a good plan to me.

[MC Hammer]

I'm looking forward to seeing how Beckett pitches tonight. Listening to Schilling on the radio this morning got me pumped. Seems Mr. Beckett is trying to trade a couple of mph on his fastball for command of it. Sounds like a good plan to me.

He needs to find a way to put some movement on it. It's not about location ... it's about his fastball going dead straight. There's no easier pitch to hit than a straight fastball ... obviously.

[RedSoxRooter]

Beckett needs command of his fastball. Spot it on the corners like he did last start. It's not how fast your throw it and you can't magically put movenment on your pitches if it's not there. Look at Wells and Schill. They're not throwing 97mph but they can spot the fastball. Beckett's supposedly trying this tactic. Worked last time and that's why I want to see if he can do it again.

[Youk Of The Nation]

There's no easier pitch to hit than a straight fastball ...

 

 

Underhand toss?

[Youk Of The Nation]

In his first MLB plate appearance, just now, Delmon Young was hit by the first pitch from Freddy Garcia. Maybe it was an introduction from the big leagues and a reminder that acting like a spoiled kid will just get you plunked more often?

[MC Hammer]

Beckett needs command of his fastball. Spot it on the corners like he did last start. It's not how fast your throw it and you can't magically put movenment on your pitches if it's not there. Look at Wells and Schill. They're not throwing 97mph but they can spot the fastball. Beckett's supposedly trying this tactic. Worked last time and that's why I want to see if he can do it again.

You can put movement on your pitches. Schilling's and Wells' fastballs have movement.

[ORS]

You can put movement on your pitches. Schilling's and Wells' fastballs have movement.

Boomer cuts his a bit, but Curt's is pretty straight. He just throws it where it's very tough to handle.

[BoSox21]

You can put movement on your pitches. Schilling's and Wells' fastballs have movement.

 

and Tavarez throws nothing straight....bad example

[MC Hammer]

and Tavarez throws nothing straight....bad example

Not being able to throw accurate, and having movement on your fastball are different things.

[RedSoxRooter]

And Beckett's supposedly trying to throw more accurately with less gas. Anyway, no need to fight over this. I"m just looking forward to seeing how well he can do it.

[MC Hammer]

And Beckett's supposedly trying to throw more accurately with less gas. Anyway, no need to fight over this. I"m just looking forward to seeing how well he can do it.

Yeah I wasn't trying to fight ... I just think the movement on it is as if not more important. I wasn't disagreeing with you.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Hammer is right. Its all about movement and control. Ask Greg Maddux who is going into the hall based on being able to make his ball move and putting the ball where he wants too.

[RedSoxRooter]

Well that's the thing. Command of your pitches. Being able to put them where you want, no matter how much (or not) they move.

 

You want movement, Matt Clement's got movement. He can't control it. Beckett can throw 100 mph, if it's down the middle where he didn't want to throw it, he's in trouble.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Well that's the thing. Command of your pitches. Being able to put them where you want, no matter how much (or not) they move.

 

You want movement, Matt Clement's got movement. He can't control it. Beckett can throw 100 mph, if it's down the middle where he didn't want to throw it, he's in trouble.

Your right and most of the time thats what seperates good pitchers from great pitchers. Pedro Martinez cant break a window anymore yet he can cut his fastball, sink his fastball, and put the ball where he wants to. The NL over the past 2 seasons have a BAA just over .200.

[RoyNHSox]

Posted on behalf of riverside sluggers:

 

Kirk Saarloos (7 games vs Boston, 1-0 record & 1 save with a 3.71 ERA---Career at McAfee Coliseum in 29 games, 10-8 record with a 4.57 ERA)

Coco Crisp, 1 for 4 (.250 avg)

Alex Cora, 2 for 5 (.400 avg) RBI, 2 Walks, K

Mark Loretta, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) Walk

Kevin Youkilis, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) RBI, 2 Walks

Eric Hinske, 1 for 7 (.143 avg) 2 RBIs

Mike Lowell, 1 for 5 (.200 avg) Double, 2 Ks, SB

Carlos Pena, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) Walk, K

Doug Mirabelli, 0 for 1, K

Dustin Pedroia --

///

Manny Ramirez, 2 for 10 (.200 avg) RBI, Walk

Gabe Kapler, 0 for 2, Walk

Javy Lopez, 2 for 7 (.286 avg) RBI

 

Josh Beckett (2 games vs Oakland, 1-1 record with an 8.71 ERA---Career at McAfee Coliseum in 1 game, 1-0 record with a 4.50 ERA)

Milton Bradley, 4 for 10 (.400 avg) 2 Doubles, 3 RBIs, 3 Walks, 2 Ks

Eric Chavez, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) K

Bobby Crosby, 0 for 4, Walk

Mark Ellis, 2 for 4 (.500 avg) HR, 2 RBIs

Jason Kendall, 1 for 8 (.125 avg) 4 Walks, K

Mark Kotsay, 2 for 8 (.250 avg) 2 Walks, 3 Ks, SB

Jay Payton, 3 for 8 (.375 avg) RBI, K

Antonio Perez, 0 for 3, 2 Ks

Nick Swisher, 2 for 4 (.500 avg) HR, RBI, Walk, K

Frank Thomas, 1 for 8 (.125 avg) RBI, 2 Ks

[BoSox34]

Just lose...reverse psychology? Hey, we've tried just about everything else.

[RedSoxRooter]

jeez. will this stupid Pirates game ever end? 5-5 in the 11th vs the Cubs. I'm blacked out right now!!!!

[Bostons_Finest]

is anybody watching the game? *changes to the contender*

[Youk Of The Nation]

Delmon Young hit his first career home run in his second at bat and third plate appearance.

 

He is 1-2 with a HR, HBP, K and two RBI.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Youk with a leadoff walk. Odds he scores?

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

jeez. will this stupid Pirates game ever end? 5-5 in the 11th vs the Cubs. I'm blacked out right now!!!!

Do you have extra innings?

[MC Hammer]

Youk with a leadoff walk. Odds he scores?

Without Manny or Papi ... 0.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Delmon Young hit his first career home run in his second at bat and third plate appearance.

 

He is 1-2 with a HR, HBP, K and two RBI.

That was quick. I'm sure the D-Rays would have been better if they kept him in the minors and let the Greg Norton's and the Russell Branyon's of the world start.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Oh, and also Jered Weaver is getting burned in the first at Seattle.

 

The first inning went like this:

 

Ichiro Homer

Snelling Homer

Beltre Double

wild pitch, Beltre to third

Ibanez Double

groundout

K

popout

[Youk Of The Nation]

That was quick. I'm sure the D-Rays would have been better if they kept him in the minors and let the Greg Norton's and the Russell Branyon's of the world start.

 

 

Branyan is actually the kind of player Id like on the bench, hes done good in his first game with the Padres.

[MC Hammer]

Oh, and also Jered Weaver is getting burned in the first at Seattle.

 

The first inning went like this:

 

Ichiro Homer

Snelling Homer

Beltre Double

wild pitch, Beltre to third

Ibanez Double

groundout

K

popout

Well if nothing else this year maybe we at least ruined Weaver by giving him his first loss.

[a700hitter]

Pena, more garbage discarded by other teams. How many teams have dumped him.

[RedSoxRooter]

Do you have extra innings?

 

Yeah, the Sox game is next on channel 460. Right now it's Cubs 6, Pirates 5 in the bottom of the 11th.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Well if nothing else this year maybe we at least ruined Weaver by giving him his first loss.

 

 

I dont see that as a positive, I like watching young, impressive talent no matter what team its on. I only root against them when they play the Sox.