September 3rd vs. Toronto

[BoSox21]

Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox

 

Date: September 3rd, 2007

Time: 7:05 PM ET

Location: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

 

Pitching Matchup: Jesse Litsch (5-6, 3.40 ERA) vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka (13-11, 3.88 ERA)

 

Fans can be forgiven for wondering whether the Sept. 1 roster expansion date was specially invented for the 2007 Red Sox.

 

On Monday night, after a weekend of heroics by no-hit man Clay Buchholz, center-field whiz Jacoby Ellsbury, and a raft of others -- Jon Lester, who won on Sunday, and Brandon Moss, who filled quite capably for Manny Ramirez in left field -- Daisuke Matsuzaka has a chance to restore some Major League normalcy. The wily 26-year-old veteran will start Monday night, opening a three-game home series against the Blue Jays.

 

Matsuzaka, one of the top American League Rookie of the Year candidates on a Red Sox team that could dominate the final voting, leads the starting staff in games (27), innings (176 1/3), strikeouts (174), strikeout rate (8.88 per nine innings), and opponents' batting average (.240).

 

But he hails from Nippon Pro Baseball in Japan, a product of six-man rotations and shorter seasons. On Monday, in the middle of a pennant race, Matsuzaka will have a chance to start on an extra day of rest.

 

"I hope that when the season's all said and done, it's huge," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "We're trying to use good judgment when sometimes good judgment isn't easy to use."

 

Francona acknowledged the existence of a fatigue factor in Matsuzaka's inaugural American season. Matsuzaka struggled through a July 8 start on a hot day in Detroit, allowing 10 hits and six runs in five innings. That day was a sort of psychological hump, the Red Sox manager said.

 

"Every year, I get to a certain point," Francona said Matsuzaka told him, "and I have to get over it mentally."

 

Since then, Matsuzaka owns a 4.00 ERA and 3-5 record, the latter resulting mostly from poor run support. Since the All-Star break, his ERA is 3.97.

 

"To me," Francona said, "he looks like there's plenty left. I think he thinks that, and I know I think that. I think he looks like a guy that you can lean on later in the year."

 

He wouldn't be the only rookie carrying that weight.

 

Mojo of the Day:

 

http://www.okusuriya.com/imagem/exlax.jpg

 

Let's get some runs for Dice-K

[riverside sluggers]

Just a disclaimer: When I post the matchups more than 2 hours before the game, they are not the set lineups for the game at hand. Its just me drawing a matchup from their previous game. I do edit the matchups once I hear the official lineups.

 

Youkilis has the day off after his 4 K performance last night, Tito said he was looking "haggard". Glaus is set to play tonight for Toronto.

 

Jesse Litsch (2 games vs Boston, 1-1 with a 7.20 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 2 games, 1-1 with a 7.20 ERA)

Jacoby Ellsbury, 2 for 2 (1.000 avg)

Dustin Pedroia, 2 for 2 (1.000 avg)

David Ortiz, 2 for 4 (.500 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, K

Mike Lowell, 2 for 4 (.500 avg) HR, 3 RBIs, Walk

J.D. Drew, 0 for 1, RBI

Jason Varitek, 0 for 2, K

Coco Crisp, 1 for 5 (.200 avg)

Eric Hinske, 2 for 5 (.400 avg) Double, K

Julio Lugo, 2 for 5 (.400 avg)

///

Alex Cora, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) Double

Doug Mirabelli, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) Double

Manny Ramirez, 1 for 3 (.333 avg)

Kevin Youkilis, 0 for 2, Walk, K

 

Daisuke Matsuzaka (4 games vs Toronto, 3-1 with a 5.23 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 12 games, 7-4 with a 5.24 ERA)

Vernon Wells, 2 for 12 (.167 avg) Double, K

Matt Stairs, 2 for 2 (1.000 avg) Double, Walk

Alex Rios, 5 for 11 (.455 avg) 2 Doubles, RBI, 2 Walks, 2 Ks

Frank Thomas, 2 for 10 (.200 avg) Double, RBI, 2 Walks, 3 Ks

Troy Glaus, 6 for 9 (.667 avg) Double, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, K

Lyle Overbay, 3 for 11 (.273 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, Walk, 3 Ks

Aaron Hill, 5 for 11 (.455 avg) Double, HR, 2 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks

Gregg Zaun, 1 for 7 (.143 avg) RBI, Walk

John McDonald, 0 for 8, 2 Ks

///

Sal Fasano, 0 for 3, 2 Ks

Reed Johnson, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) K

Adam Lind, 0 for 6, Walk, 4 Ks

 

Litsch this season on the road in 9 games, 3-4 with a 3.71 ERA

[TheKilo]

Isn't Glaus questionable for this series?

[Youk Of The Nation]

Sal Fasano was released like two months ago, wasn't he?

[riverside sluggers]

Sal Fasano was released like two months ago' date=' wasn't he?[/quote']

 

Fasano was released, but he opted for the minor league assignment. He's one of the Sept callups for the club

[Ray10]

Huge game tonight. With the Yankee lost today this is a huge opportunity for the Sox to make some more ground on them a win tonight and we go 7 games up on New York with only a few more weeks to play in the season. Also some good news Seattle is only 1 game behind New York for the wildcard let's hope Seattle can sweep the Yankees. .

[a700hitter]

Ellsbury and Pedroia doing their jobs and setting the table, but Papi k's on 3 pitches.

[zackredsox]

Home Run Lowell!!!!! 3-1 Red Sox!!!!

[schillingouttheks]

LOWELLLLL!!!!! Second half MVP of the Red Sox. Is there any doubt?

 

That's what we can run support for Dice-K.

[Cocos Disciples]

AIIIIIGHT LOWELL. 3-1.

 

Thats Lowell's 100th RBI.

[ORS]

Mike Lowell has brought sexy back.

[a700hitter]

And Lowell cleans off the table. He should have been the 5-Hole hitter all year. Tito dicked around too long with Drew and experimenting with Youk and others in that spot. Lowell should bat behind Ortiz and Manny without exception from here on out when all three are in the lineup. We should resign the guy for two years.

[schillingouttheks]

Mike Lowell has brought sexy back.

 

And Jesse Litch just don't know how to act.

[schillingouttheks]

And Lowell cleans off the table. He should have been the 5-Hole hitter all year. Tito dicked around too long with Drew and experimenting with Youk and others in that spot. Lowell should bat behind Ortiz and Manny without exception from here on out when all three are in the lineup. We should resign the guy for two years.

 

Unless we can get our hands on A-Rod.

 

Look, I would have loved Lowell to be the 5-hole hitter all year as well, but that's hindsight abuse. Besides, our record's pretty good anyway, eh?

[Cocos Disciples]

Yeah, I'm good with 99.9% chances of making the playoffs.

[a700hitter]

Unless we can get our hands on A-Rod.

 

Look, I would have loved Lowell to be the 5-hole hitter all year as well, but that's hindsight abuse. Besides, our record's pretty good anyway, eh?

Some here including myself wanted to see this long before Tito even tried it. So, it's not all hindsight. For some it's a validation.

[Cocos Disciples]

By the way, I know this is the wrong thread but it doesn't merit its own:

 

Bank on the Tribe in the central.

 

Thats from February. I had to get that outta my system.

[riverside sluggers]

100 RBIs for Mikey! His career high is at 105, at this rate he should finish in the 120 range

[a700hitter]

I'd rather have Lowell for a shorter term and much cheaper option than ARod. Plus, Lowell apparently brings tremendous value with his clubhouse presence while ARod tends to be a divisive influence because of the jealousy factor. We could use the extra money to bolster the pitching or the OF. Getting rid of Drew might be a move to consider and it would cost a good deal of $.

[schillingouttheks]

Some here including myself wanted to see this long before Tito even tried it. So' date=' it's not all hindsight. For some it's a validation.[/quote']

 

Well, when did you want to start seeing it? I guess that's the fair question. He wasn't really doing anything in April to suggest he shouldn't have been the 5 hitter...

[a700hitter]

Well' date=' when did you want to start seeing it? I guess that's the fair question. He wasn't really doing anything in April to suggest he shouldn't have been the 5 hitter...[/quote']When it became apparent that he was the only other legitimate power threat in the lineup, and that was pretty early on. A few weeks after Drew had his minor power surge in AZ, it was apparent that he was a bust from a power standpoint. Really, there was no other viable alternative.

[EvilDonut]

Now a chance for Papi to redeem himself.

[ORS]

I could get used to this leadoff tandem.

[riverside sluggers]

I like this Ellsbury/Pedroia combo

 

Haha Rios tried to throw out Ellsbury outs when he was already rounding 2nd

 

EDIT: Woohoo Papi, 4-0

[riverside sluggers]

Drew has an out, but its a productive one Maybe theres still hope he'll top 50 RBIs

[a700hitter]

I like this Ellsbury/Pedroia combo

 

Haha Rios tried to throw out Ellsbury outs when he was already rounding 2nd

 

EDIT: Woohoo Papi, 4-0

They are the best 1-2 table setters that I have seen all year. Ellsbury gets better each day as his confidence grows.

[a700hitter]

Pedroia is sizzling.

[riverside sluggers]

ho hum Ellsbury/Pedroia are showing us what 2008 & beyond will be like

[BoSox21]

finally, some run support for Dice

[VA Sox Fan]

Great game! Great TEAM effort!!!!