July 3rd vs. Tampa Bay

[schillingouttheks]

I'm starting the thread tonight since BoSox34 seems to have forgotten. It's always good to have some pregame talk so I'm starting it about 40 minutes before gametime. Sorry BoSox (I claim tomorrow's gamethread if they win tonight, btw). Anyway, tonight's going to be a huge challenge going up against Scott Kazmir...the Red Sox killer. Fortunately, we have Matsuzaka going for us tonight so if we can grind Kazmir and get him out early, we might be able to squeeze out a win. It'll be ugly, enfuriating, and annoying, but if we can get this W it'll be well worth it. Go Sox...WIN!

 

Game Info:

Date: Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007

Teams: Tampa Bay Devil Rays (33-48) @ Boston Red Sox (50-31)

First Pitch: 7:05pm EDT

Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

TV: NESN

Starting Pitchers:

http://pics.forecaster.ca/mlb-player/3143.gifhttp://bellsouthpwp.net/c/h/chinigor/TALKSOX/VS.GIFhttp://pics.forecaster.ca/mlb-player/6423.gif

 

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/tb.gif#19 Scott Kazmir (5-4, 4.26)

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/bos.gif#18 Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-5, 3.80)

 

Mojo of the day:

Austin Powers uses his mojo to destroy the opposition. The Sox should do the same tonight.

 

[youtube=Austin Powers]4wBlpm0HQ2I

 

AUSTIN POWERS MOJO!

[riverside sluggers]

Crisp is back after three days off with a sprained thumb. Wily Mo gets his first playing time in awhile as he gives Drew the day off against the lefty

 

Scott Kazmir (12 games vs Boston, 5-3 with a 2.78 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 7 games, 3-3 with a 3.67 ERA)

Coco Crisp, 4 for 13 (.308 avg) Double, Walk, 3 Ks

Dustin Pedroia, 1 for 3 (.333 avg)

David Ortiz, 5 for 29 (.172 avg) Double, HR, 4 RBIs, 4 Walks, 9 Ks

Manny Ramirez, 4 for 31 (.129 avg) Double, HR, RBI, 3 Walks, 10 Ks

Kevin Youkilis, 2 for 15 (.133 avg) Double, 4 Walks, 6 Ks

Mike Lowell, 4 for 13 (.308 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks

Jason Varitek, 4 for 17 (.235 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, 4 Walks, 5 Ks

Wily Mo Pena, 1 for 10 (.100 avg) RBI, 8 Ks

Julio Lugo, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) 2 RBIs, K

///

Alex Cora, 2 for 4 (.500 avg) RBI, K

Eric Hinske, 0 for 2, 2 Ks

Doug Mirabelli, 2 for 7 (.286 avg) Double, 2 Walks, 2 Ks

 

Daisuke Matsuzaka (1 game vs Tampa Bay, 1-0 with an 0.00 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 8 games, 5-2 with a 4.64 ERA)

Akinori Iwamura, 1 for 4 (.250 avg) Double, 2 Ks

Carl Crawford, 0 for 3

Brendan Harris, 1 for 3 (.333 avg)

Carlos Pena, 0 for 2, Walk, K

Greg Norton, 0 for 3, 2 Ks

Ty Wigginton, 0 for 3, K

Delmon Young, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) K

Jonny Gomes, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) K, SB

Dioner Navarro, 0 for 3

 

Kazmir this season on the road in 8 games, 5-2 with a 4.49 ERA

[redsoxrules]

kazmir or not , anything less than a sweep and il be disapointed

[Cocos Disciples]

Let's win.

[ksushi]

TONIGHT IF OKAJIMA TAKES THE MOUND ALL ONLINE ARE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OKI-VOTE

 

Presumably in the 8th inning if we have a lead, if our boy Oki gets in the game lets vote him into this all star game through out his half inning. If you don't really wanna vote, or you haven't voted, just for this one inning open up another window and lets get some votes in for this guy. He deserves to be there more than anyone else he is competing against. The guy has a sub - 1 ERA as a rookie in the majors, lets get the guy to the ASG.

[ksushi]

Is it me or does DP always have a fantastic AB?

[HeadOfSoxNation]

Is it me or does DP always have a fantastic AB?

 

I was just signing on to say something of the like.

 

I was a doubter, but I love the kid.

[redsoxrules]

1-2-3 for kazmir but we did make him throw 22 pitches

[ksushi]

I hope everyone is down with the 8th inning oki vote.

[Rdsxmbnt]

bases loaded no outs

[redsoxrules]

1-0 sox

[redsoxrules]

f*** WMP

[Rdsxmbnt]

he did it!

[CrespoBlows]

???

[redsoxrules]

WOW LUGO WITH A HIT 3-0

[a700hitter]

There goes his chance at the record and immortality.

[riverside sluggers]

oh phew, thank god that streak was over. What a way to end it, a 2 run single against Kazmir and the Rays. Maybe playing vs his former team can help jump start his season, like how Drew playing against national leagu teams had revived him

[redsoxrules]

great start to this one we have a 3-0 lead and kazmir is up to 53 pitches allready in 2 innings

[DUSTINMOHR4LIFE]

Good for Lugo.

[CrespoBlows]

Check these splits out:

 

Home - .262/.340/.373/.713

 

Away - .129/.190/.206/.396 (BABIP - .133)

[TedWilliams101]

Come on Ortiz, start swinging like you did the last 3 years.

[ksushi]

Not surprised. He hits great in fenway. Come on, lugo turn around time.

[Cocos Disciples]

Nice for Lugo...good to see this team finally do something against Kazmir.

[ksushi]

Come on Ortiz' date=' start swinging like you did the last 3 years.[/quote']

 

He has been, but for some reason has had warning track power. Still has an OPS of 1.000, which is outstanding. The homers will come. Remember, this is a guy who hit 29 HR's in the second half in 03. He can do stuff.

[CrespoBlows]

Players like Ortiz tend to fall off the cliff, when the approach they age 31 level. I think he might be good for 30 HR's, but I think we've seen the last of his 40 HR power.

[a700hitter]

Players like Ortiz tend to fall off the cliff' date=' when the approach they age 31 level. I think he might be good for 30 HR's, but I think we've seen the last of his 40 HR power.[/quote']I'll take 30+ HRs with 1.000+ OPS. I remember the Darren Lewis years

[CrespoBlows]

I'll take 30+ HRs with 1.000+ OPS. I remember the Darren Lewis years

 

The only thing Ortiz has in common with Lewis, is their skin color.

[a700hitter]

The only thing Ortiz has in common with Lewis' date=' is their skin color.[/quote']If you added 5 or 6 guys from the lineup in those years you wouldn't get 30+ HRs.

[CrespoBlows]

K

[CrespoBlows]

This guy needs to be traded. He can't possibly succeed with the way he's being used.