August 13th vs. Tampa Bay

[mtbykr]

No game thread yet, so here we go:

 

 

 

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/931/394e56984f73459eb585a40so6.jpgVS.http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/2658/wakefieldfn3.jpg

 

 

 

 

It's the top against the bottom, the best against the worst, the kings against the pawns.

However it's spelled out, The Red Sox enter their three-game series against the Devil Rays, the team with the worst record in the Majors, with both past and present on its side.

 

The Sox are 5-1 against the Devil Rays this season, outscoring them, 47-22. They lead the all-time series, 98-53, and have won 51 of the 66 games at Fenway Park since 2000.

 

Tim Wakefield will look to continue the winning trend when he makes his 24th start of the season. Wakefield has 17 career wins against Tampa Bay, more than any other pitcher in Major League history. He's received a decision in every start this season, including a loss to the Angels in his last outing. In that game, he allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks in four innings of work.

 

Boston will face right-hander James Shields for the second time this year. In late July, the Sox managed three runs and six hits in five innings off Shields. His last time on the mound, Shields threw a great game against Detroit, surrendering just one run on five hits and picking up a win. His nine wins are tied for the most among Devil Rays starters.

 

Pitching matchup

TB: RHP James Shields (9-7, 4.32 ERA)

Shields is 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA in three career starts against Boston.

 

BOS: RHP Tim Wakefield (13-10, 4.81 ERA)

Wakefield is 17-2 with a 2.96 ERA in 34 career games against Tampa Bay.

 

Player to watch

Designated hitter David Ortiz is 3-for-8 (.375) with two home runs and three RBIs in his career against Shields.

[mtbykr]

Boondock Mojo:

 

 

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

[mtbykr]

Line-up's out:

 

1. Julio Lugo, SS

2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B

3. David Ortiz, 3B

4. Manny Ramirez, LF

5. J.D. Drew, CF

6. Mike Lowell, 3B

7. Alex Cora, 2B

8. Doug Mirabelli, C

9. Eric Hinske, RF

[Anuj09]

Dispatch mojo

 

 

http://eye.columbiaspectator.com/images/uploads/040507-music-dispatch.jpg

[BoSox21]

angry cat mojo worked when things were going well, time to go to the well once again

 

http://sa.nextwish.org/Photoshops/Fiesta%20Kitty/Angry_cat.jpg

[Cocos Disciples]

I'm going to this one. Win please.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Win the game or I swear to someones' god I'm going to kill an orphaned nun with a f***ing shovel and drink her blood on ice with a cocktail umbrella and a god damn lemon wedge.

[riverside sluggers]

Heres hoping the Sox can get something going. No Varitek (naturally), Crisp and Pedroia.

 

James Shields (4 games vs Boston, 0-1 with a 4.69 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 1 game, 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA)

Julio Lugo, 2 for 5 (.400 avg) Double, RBI, Walk, 2 Ks

Kevin Youkilis, 0 for 10, 4 Ks

David Ortiz, 4 for 11 (.364 avg) Double, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks

Manny Ramirez, 1 for 10 (.100 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, 2 Walks, 5 Ks

J.D. Drew, 2 for 6 (.333 avg) Double, RBI, K

Mike Lowell, 3 for 6 (.500 avg) K

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

Doug Mirabelli, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) HR, RBI, Walk, K

Eric Hinske, 0 for 2, K

///

Coco Crisp, 2 for 7 (.286 avg) K

Wily Mo Pena, 0 for 2, K

Jason Varitek, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) RBI, K

 

Tim Wakefield (35 games vs Tampa Bay, 18-2 & 3 saves with a 2.83 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 240 games, 76-64 & 13 saves with a 4.36 ERA)

Akinori Iwamura, 3 for 8 (.375 avg) Double, 2 Walks

Carl Crawford, 23 for 70 (.329 avg) 4 Doubles, Triple, 2 HRs, 8 RBIs, 3 Ks, 8 SBs

B.J. Upton, 2 for 10 (.200 avg) Walk, 3 Ks

Carlos Pena, 2 for 19 (.105 avg) Double, HR, 2 RBIs, 5 Walks, 3 Ks

Delmon Young, 0 for 9, K, SB

Brendan Harris, 1 for 9 (.111 avg) Double, 2 Ks

Jonny Gomes, 5 for 20 (.250 avg) Double, HR, RBI, 5 Walks, 7 Ks

Josh Wilson, 0 for 3, K

Dioner Navarro, 2 for 6 (.333 avg) RBI, Walk

///

Greg Norton, 1 for 11 (.091 avg) Double, 2 Walks, 4 Ks

Josh Paul, 1 for 4 (.250 avg) Double

 

Shields this season vs Boston in 2 games, 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA. On the road in 12 games, 5-5 with a 4.55 ERA

 

Wakefield this season vs Tampa Bay in 3 games, 3-0 with a 2.24 ERA. At home in 13 games, 9-4 with a 4.82 ERA

[Rdsxmbnt]

does francona want to win games or what?

[Gom]

Win the game or I swear to someones' god I'm going to kill an orphaned nun with a f***ing shovel and drink her blood on ice with a cocktail umbrella and a god damn lemon wedge.

 

I didn't think I could root harder for the Devil Rays, but you just gave me another reason to root against the Red Sox.

[yeszir]

Maybe the problem is the mojo? What if we do a game where the mojo is that there is no mojo?

 

Until then, MOJO DOJO mojo!

http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2002/07/03/powerpuff/story.jpg

 

(At 4 am in France, when you're curled up in the fetal position trying to fight jet lag and fall asleep, the only thing on in English is the Power Puff Girls. I know their whole story.)

[SoxFan25]

Wakefield is 17-2 with a 2.96 ERA in 34 career games against Tampa Bay.

 

wow i knew the numbers were great, but wow...:knock on wood:

 

go sox

[BoSox21]

nice NESN, playing Chris Benoit's old theme music when showing the Sox stats at Fenway this year

[See Red]

Sure do hope Shields is alright. Scary stuff.

[BoSox21]

f***, nicely hit ball by Lugo but I hate seeing that happen to any pitcher

[BoSox21]

f***ING s***. we got lucky there that it wasn't yet another stupid baserunning error

[See Red]

Two beautiful throws right there. Good thing Navarro couldn't grab it.

[Thumper]

Glad to hear the voices of NESN again!

 

Wakefield's doing exceptionally well, so far. Hasn't allowed a hit yet, granted it's only the bottom of the 3rd but hopefully he can keep that consistancy.

 

Let's get a win. I think we can sweep the D-Rays.

[See Red]

Upton has a cannon.

[Thumper]

Lugo gets a double?! Nice, and he's 2-2! Maybe he's finally settling in!

[See Red]

Lugo gets a double?! Nice' date=' and he's 2-2! [b']Maybe he's finally settling in![/b]

 

Welcome to about a month ago.

[BoSox21]

yea, he's been very solid with the bat since the end of june

[Thumper]

Welcome to about a month ago.

 

I've been busy the past month. I know Lugo has been hitting, but not as much as I knew of.

 

Hope he can just keep it up.

 

But then again, it's gonna take a lot more than a Lugo double to make up for an Ortiz strikeout.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I didn't think I could root harder for the Devil Rays' date=' but you just gave me another reason to root against the Red Sox.[/quote']

 

Orphan loving bastard!

[Thumper]

My God what is going on in Manny's head?

[ORS]

They've got to be leading the league in stranding runners. Hell, they have scored 40+ runs lower than their EqR.

[BoSox21]

Lugo's up to .237 now

[Thumper]

Drew in center? Where have I been? Where's Coco?

[Thumper]

Wakefield pitches 4 hitless innings, and I just heard someone on NESN snort like a pig...

[ORS]

What a cockbiter. You would figure of all the nimrods on this site, the supposed AAA ball player and baseball historian would know not to jinx it. I smell a farce.