June 4th @ Oakland

[Rdsxmbnt]

Ill try my luck tonight to start a win streak. Haren is the ERA leader. It ends tonight!

 

Game Info:

Date: Saturday, June 4, 2007

Teams: Boston Red Sox (37-18) @ Oakland Athletics (28-27)

First Pitch: 10:05 EDT

Venue: McAfee Coliseum

TV: NESN

Starting Pitchers:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c65/rdsxmbnt/tavarez.jpghttp://bellsouthpwp.net/c/h/chinigor/TALKSOX/VS.GIFhttp://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c65/rdsxmbnt/haren.jpg

 

The Red Sox knew well in advance that their first West Coast trip of the season would begin with a big challenge.

Following a nationally televised game against the Yankees, the team had to hop on an early morning red-eye flight to California to open a four-game series with the A's starting Monday in Oakland.

 

For that reason, the team decided to send out starter Julian Tavarez (4-5, 5.40 ERA) and Tuesday's starter Daisuke Matsuzaka a day early so they wouldn't have to battle jet lag.

 

"We got Tavarez out and Dice-K," Red Sox skipper Terry Francona said. "Best case scenario, we're going to pull in around 6 a.m. PT. Worst case, who knows?"

 

Adding to the challenge, the bleary-eyed Sox will be facing baseball's ERA leader for starters in Dan Haren, who is 6-2, with a 1.64 ERA. Haren's teammate Chad Gaudin is second with a 2.32 ERA.

 

Francona said the team is grateful to ownership for making the extra effort to accommodate the pitchers.

 

"The Red Sox have always been terrific about doing that when we ask, and we really appreciate it," he added. "If everybody's going to feel bad, maybe our starting pitcher won't and that hopefully will help."

 

The Red Sox split their two games against Oakland on May 1 and 2 at Fenway, losing the first game 5-4 in 10 innings, their lone extra-inning game of the season. Boston bounced back to win the second behind Josh Beckett's sixth consecutive win to start the season.

 

This is Boston's only trip to Oakland but the first of three different West Coast swings this season. The Red Sox will travel to San Diego and Seattle beginning June 22 and will head to Seattle and Anaheim as part of a three-city, nine-game trip beginning Aug. 3.

 

Pitching matchup

BOS: RHP Julian Tavarez (3-4, 4.50 ERA)

Tavarez will make this start on seven days of rest, as the Red Sox used their off-day to make some adjustments to the rotation. Tavarez has been solid in May, going 2-2 with a 3.99 ERA in five outings. In his last start, he surrendered a 3-0 lead by giving up four runs in the bottom of the sixth. He took a no-decision in a game the Red Sox went on to win. Tavarez is 1-1 lifetime against the A' with a 4.85 ERA.

 

OAK: RHP Dan Haren (6-2, 1.64 ERA)

Haren was brilliant yet again his last time out, holding the visiting Rangers to a run on four hits and three walks in eight innings. Haren, who has won his past six decisions after starting the year 0-2 despite a 0.69 ERA, hasn't lost in 10 starts and has worked at least seven innings in eight of his past nine assignments. He's won all six of the starts in which he's received at least two runs of support.

 

Player to watch

Right fielder J.D. Drew will make the trip and could return to the lineup Monday night, after missing the last two games of the Yankees series with a strained right hamstring. Drew is hoping the rest will help break him out of a .155 slump over his last 32 games, dropping his average to a season-low .222.

 

Just win.

[yeszir]

God, Tavarez looks like such a schmuck. Hopefully he doesn't implode.

[Beckett95]

Julian has to keep them under 4 runs or we got no shot

[riverside sluggers]

Julian Tavarez (21 games vs Oakland, 1-1 with a 4.87 ERA---Career at McAfee Coliseum in 8 games, 1-0 with an 8.52 ERA)

Shannon Stewart, 1 for 3 (.333 avg)

Travis Buck, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) Double

Nick Swisher, 1 for 5 (.200 avg) Double, RBI, 3 Ks

Dan Johnson, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) Walk, K

Eric Chavez, 3 for 6 (.500 avg)

Bobby Crosby, 2 for 5 (.400 avg) 2 Walks

Mark Kotsay, 6 for 14 (.429 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, Walk, K

Mark Ellis, 4 for 6 (.667 avg) 2 Doubles, Triple, HR, 4 RBIs

Jason Kendall, 6 for 33 (.182 avg) Double

///

Milton Bradley, 4 for 14 (.286 avg) RBI, 2 Ks

Jack Cust, 0 for 2, Walk, K

Adam Melhuse, 0 for 1

Marco Scutaro, 2 for 2 (1.000 avg)

 

Dan Haren (5 games vs Boston, 1-3 with a 3.29 ERA---Career at McAfee Coliseum in 40 games, 15-13 with a 3.39 ERA)

Dustin Pedroia, 0 for 4, K

Alex Cora, 3 for 13 (.231 avg) Double, HR, RBI, K

David Ortiz, 4 for 13 (.308 avg) Triple, HR, 3 RBIs, Walk

Manny Ramirez, 6 for 12 (.500 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 Ks

Kevin Youkilis, 1 for 9 (.111 avg) K

J.D. Drew, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) 2 Ks

Wily Mo Pena, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) HR, RBI, 2 Ks

Doug Mirabelli, 0 for 8, 5 Ks

Eric Hinske, 2 for 11 (.182 avg) HR, 4 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks

///

Coco Crisp, 5 for 12 (.417 avg) RBI, 3 Ks

Mike Lowell, 4 for 8 (.500 avg) 2 Doubles, 3 RBIs, K

Julio Lugo, 1 for 7 (.143 avg) RBI, 2 Ks

Jason Varitek, 0 for 5, 3 Ks

 

Haren at home in 7 games, 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA.

 

Tavarez on the road in 7 games, 2-2 with a 5.09 ERA

[mtbykr]

A little boondock mojo

 

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/7276/theboondocksaintsbykadaaf1.gif

[yeszir]

I hope the Red Sox beat the A's like Rocco beat that guy with the pool ball. Too far?

 

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m90/amyclaire3808/BOONDOCK2-1.jpg

[ORS]

I get up at least two hours before the ass-crack of dawn, so I'll be asleep well before this game starts. Hold the fort down, kids.

 

Oh, and win.

[schillingouttheks]

You need to leave your mark though ORS! What mojo do we have from you today?

[schillingouttheks]

A little boondock mojo

 

Bah! It's NOMINE, not NIMINE! That's why we lost on Friday...our mojo had a typo in it..

[mtbykr]

Bah! It's NOMINE' date=' not NIMINE! That's why we lost on Friday...our mojo had a typo in it..[/quote']

 

sorry i just found it, didn't make it and dont' know how to fix it....crap

[mtbykr]

I hope the Red Sox beat the A's like Rocco beat that guy with the pool ball. Too far?

 

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m90/amyclaire3808/BOONDOCK2-1.jpg

 

Wow, i didn't know Haren was in the movie....pretty crazy:D

[schillingouttheks]

Wow' date=' i didn't know Haren was in the movie....pretty crazy:D[/quote']

 

He dies too...maybe it's a sign that we'll murder him tonight?

[adam123]

is dan haren stoned

[adam123]

Here we go sox time to rebound

[Anuj09]

lets try this again

 

 

http://www.onlineseats.com/upload/concerts/768_con_mightymightybosstones.jpg

 

 

DO SOMETHING CRAZY

 

 

RED SOX PREVAIL

[Cocos Disciples]

is dan haren stoned

 

Look at JT's picture...

[Ray10]

Going to be a good game Sox need to start hitting early on and need to rip the ball as much as they can. Hope Tavrez can pitch well if he does we will win. GO SOX GO.

[Cocos Disciples]

As for the game...this is one that heavily favors the A's. Haren has been the best pitcher in baseball so far. Tavarez is mediocre. Hopefully we can pull this one out of our asses, but I predict a 6-3 loss.

[ORS]

Haren has been the best pitcher in baseball so far.

Sure, in the bizarro world where there is no Jake Peavy.

 

 

MOJO TIME

 

JT's bringing sexy back.

 

[youtube=Oh yeah]GCex8dMbhCk

[schillingouttheks]

LMAO at ORS's mojo.

 

Red Sox for the win tonight solely because of ORS

[riverside sluggers]

Um guys... checkout the lineup I'll be editing in the matchups. Pedroia is leading off but Lugo, Varitek and Lowell are all getting the day off vs Haren

[schillingouttheks]

Um guys... checkout the lineup I'll be editing in the matchups. Pedroia is leading off but Lugo' date=' Varitek and Lowell are all getting the day off vs Haren[/quote']

 

Uh, what the f***?

 

Is this injury related or are they just getting the day off?

[riverside sluggers]

Uh, what the f***?

 

Is this injury related or are they just getting the day off?

 

I have no idea maybe one of Tito's loopy days where he throws a bum lineup at an ace starter. Ive edited the lineups officially, go check it out

[jacksonianmarch]

I'd assume they are getting the day off, considering that they probably arrived in Oakland some time this morning.

[ORS]

Think about it, they just played a game that ended at midnight EST. Plane leaves at 2:00 am, lands at 4:00 am local in the Bay Area. I've got no problem giving the toughest position, catcher, a dinged player, Lowell, and the can't get on base SS (in favor of Cora who has hit him better) the night off.

[schillingouttheks]

I'd assume they are getting the day off' date=' considering that they probably arrived in Oakland some time this morning.[/quote']

 

Oh s***, you're right. I remember Tina Cervasio on the pre-game show last week talking about how the Sox were pissed that they had to play a night game on Sunday and then go out to Oakland immediately following the game for a 7:05pm PT start the following night. Tito said he was going to give guys days off during the first few games of the west coast swing so that they could adjust.

 

In that case, I don't mind. Oakland hits so poorly anyway that we have the ability to pull a win out. Hopefully we actually do it instead of saying that we can.

[Cocos Disciples]

Sure, in the bizarro world where there is no Jake Peavy.

 

 

I think I meant AL.

[riverside sluggers]

Tito suggests we probably wont see a game on this 7 game road trip that features the regular lineup together

[yeszir]

I sincerely hope that the combination late game/west coast trip doesn't throw the team entirely out of whack. It would suck to have scheduling cause the team to go into a slide.

 

Hell, I don't know if I'm even gonna make it to gametime.

[jacksonianmarch]

I sincerely hope that the combination late game/west coast trip doesn't throw the team entirely out of whack. It would suck to have scheduling cause the team to go into a slide.

 

Hell, I don't know if I'm even gonna make it to gametime.

 

yeszir, if you guys go into a slide, you may only gain one or two games in the standings per week instead of the customary 3 or 4. The Yankees need a molten sand enema right now followed by a napalm facial.