October 16th @ Cleveland: ALCS Game 4

[BSN07]

Guys I haven't made a game thread all season but thought I try it for some new Gamethread Mojo. I don't know how to put up all the stats and stuff so feel free to add in.

 

 

Game 4 win not crucial, but pretty big

Tribe counting on Byrd, while Wakefield looks to deliver for Sox

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

 

Paul Byrd is making his second start of the 2007 playoffs, and Tim Wakefield (right) his first. (AP)

MLB Headlines

 

• Rox the World: Colorado in Fall Classic

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• Holliday named NLCS MVP

• Angels GM reportedly stepping down

• Big decisions imminent for Yankees

• Complete NLCS coverage

• Rockies' organization kept faith in plan

• More MLB Headlines

 

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CLEVELAND -- The math suggests it's not a must-win game, especially given the comebacks in Red Sox postseason history. Yet given what awaits the Sox and Guardians, Game 4 could decide the command of the American League Championship Series.

Out of the 10 other times that the ALCS was tied at 1-1 since going to a best-of-seven format in 1985, eight Game 3 winners have gone on to win the series. However, the Guardians know that the pattern has exceptions. They got to the World Series in 1995 after dropping Game 3 to the Mariners to face a 2-1 series deficit. Three years later, they took a 2-1 series lead before the '98 Yankees showed their dominance by winning three straight games.

 

The Tribe also came home with a 1-1 series tie 10 years ago before taking Game 3 from the Orioles. The key was to follow it up with a Game 4 win, which they pulled off with a walk-off victory. From there, the Guardians went on to win the series in six.

 

Paul Byrd can't clinch this one for them, unlike the AL Division Series. Yet a win on Tuesday night would put them one win away from the World Series with their big duo of C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona coming back around in the rotation for rematches in Games 5 and 6 (if necessary). Their struggles in the first two games doesn't guarantee anything, but given the situation, the Guardians would be glad to take their chances that one of them could give them a shot.

 

To get to that point, they'll first have to count on another solid outing from the formerly forgotten man of the Guardians' rotation. When Byrd took the mound at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 8 for Game 4 of their ALDS, he was the secondary figure in the headline story -- the debate over why manager Eric Wedge chose not to start Sabathia on short rest. Five innings of two-run ball later, that question was moot, and Byrd was no longer a bit player in the Tribe's postseason run.

 

"I think the whole world wanted C.C. out on the mound, except for my mom, Eric Wedge and my wife," Byrd said on Monday. "So the fact that he went with me, I think it made me feel really good. I can sit there and get angry and say that I don't get any respect and I want to prove everybody wrong -- that's really not me. I'd rather be focused on proving a few people right, and he was one of them."

 

Byrd's win in that game set up Sabathia and Carmona to be well-rested for the first two games of the ALCS. A win on Tuesday wouldn't affect their rest at all, but it would at least lessen the pressure on the dynamic duo as they try to bounce back from their rough outings over the weekend in Boston.

 

Instead of debating Byrd, the question of starting an ace on short rest this time fell on Boston, where Game 1 starter Josh Beckett is coming off an 85-pitch performance in the series opener. Moving him up, however, was never a consideration, and the ball goes to knuckleballer Tim Wakefield for the first time since Sept. 29.

 

 

 

Home | News | Multimedia | PhotosAs Byrd jokingly advertised it, it could be the slowest-throwing matchup of right-handed pitchers that a postseason game has seen. But it's also a matchup of two savvy veteran starters that could provide the most unlikely of pitching duels in a series that has seen all three games decided in no small part from struggling starters. Sabathia didn't stand much of a chance with five walks in Game 1, Curt Schilling was unable to hold an early lead in Game 2 and Daisuke Matsuzaka was gone by the end of the fifth inning on Monday.

 

While Wakefield's knuckleball is one of the hardest pitches in the game to hit when he's on, Byrd forces opponents to hit his pitch by challenging hitters and issuing the fewest walks in the league by a regular starter.

 

Whoever wins the challenge puts his team in control. A Red Sox victory would merely tie the series at 2-2, but it would give the dominant Beckett a chance to send his team back home with a series lead that could make Game 3 a distant memory.

[mtbykr]

Some 2004 Mojo...this is a great video:

 

http://www.archive.org/stream/BrianFoxRedSox2004Playoffhighlights/soxReel_256kb.mp4

[RedSoxRooter]

GO SOX!

 

I'm not worried yet.... but if we lose tonight I will be. I think the only way I can feel good about this series is if we pull out a win tonight and Beckett comes through again on Thursday. I don't think we can win both of Schill's and DiceK's starts back home, though a game seven would be a battle of staffs by the 3rd inning.

 

And yes, please start Ellsbury over Drew. PLEASE TITO FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

[jacksonianmarch]

this is about as must win as a non-elimination game can be. If you lose tonight..

 

A. The Guardians will have a chance to close you out in their home park with their best pitcher on the mound.

 

B. You would have to face Sabathia, Carmona, and Westbrook in consecutive games, all as must wins.

 

C. You would need to win game 6 and game 7 with pitchers who have already failed in this series.

 

If you dont win tonight, then it really becomes Dicey.

[TheKilo]

GO SOX!

 

I'm not worried yet.... but if we lose tonight I will be. I think the only way I can feel good about this series is if we pull out a win tonight and Beckett comes through again on Thursday. I don't think we can win both of Schill's and DiceK's starts back home, though a game seven would be a battle of staffs by the 3rd inning.

 

And yes, please start Ellsbury over Drew. PLEASE TITO FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

 

I'd start Ellsbury over CRISP

[rician blast]

this is about as must win as a non-elimination game can be. If you lose tonight..

 

A. The Guardians will have a chance to close you out in their home park with their best pitcher on the mound.

 

B. You would have to face Sabathia, Carmona, and Westbrook in consecutive games, all as must wins.

 

C. You would need to win game 6 and game 7 with pitchers who have already failed in this series.

 

If you dont win tonight, then it really becomes Dicey.

 

No s***, Captain Obvious. However, one game at a time, no reason to look ahead unless you are (a) giving up or ( hoping the Sox lose the series.

 

I take it you're in camp (?

[jacksonianmarch]

you becha

[Beckett95]

Beckett should be going tonight, Wakefields way to questionable to pitch in a game this important on the road. Becketts a good career 3 day rest pitcher to.

 

4: Beckett

5: Schilling

6: Wakefield (Dice-K's done http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AuMaL0el55StRWcRQ.yELSA5nYcB?slug=dw-francona101507&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)

7: Beckett

 

also i'd switch the lineup a little bit tonight. id go with

 

ellsbury

youk

ortiz

manny

lowell

drew

varitek

pedroia

lugo

 

but it wont happen cause tito always sticks to his guns

[mosox]

Kielty has great numbers against Byrd, 10 for 30 with 4 HR's. Showers are moving in and there is a 70 percent chance of rain through the night.

[TheKilo]

I blame the losses the last two games on the Fitzy video posted in the other thread.

[rician blast]

I blame the losses the last two games on the Fitzy video posted in the other thread.

 

Fitzy is a poser. He does a fairly good job of playing his character in those vids but it ain't real and while he's somewhat humorous he's not that far removed from Affleck, Farrell et al.

 

Fk 'em all.

[VA Sox Fan]

The poser makes me laugh.

[Mr Crunchy]

i can pitch tonight and we'd beat paul byrd

just because he ended nys season doesnt mean he's capable of beating a talented club

[rician blast]

6 innings. 3 runs.

That's what I want out of Wake tonight. hell, even 5 1/3 might do it.

 

If he were to go 6 innings and give up no more than three runs, there is no way in hell the Red Sox should lose. Of course I said "should." Anything can happen, but if the Sox are legit they've got to be able to score a handful on Byrd.

 

6 and 3, Wake. Please?

[ksushi]

i can pitch tonight and we'd beat paul byrd

just because he ended nys season doesnt mean he's capable of beating a talented club

 

Last time we faced Byrd he shut us out over 7. Just letting you know.

 

Then again, last time we faced Westbrook, we lit him up for 5 or 6 in like 4 innings or something, so you never know with these things.

[ksushi]

Why won't Francona go with Beckett tonight? What is the possible down side to that? DiceK admitted to being physically and mentally exhausted, Terry talks about setting up the rest of the series - are you kidding me? You want to set up the series so that it could all potentially rest on DiceK in a game 7?

 

I don't know. I don't like this lack of action on terry's part.

[rician blast]

IMO, he's not looking to lose the series 4-2 or 4-3. He's looking to win it...period.

 

To win this series, in Tito's mind, they have to "steal" one (not that beating Byrd really is a great steal, but...), otherwise Schill and Dice don't get the extra rest that Tito and Farell think they need in order to have a shot.

 

I understand the philosophy of win today andworry about tomorrow, well, tomorrow. However I also undertsand Francona's thought process (although I may not totally agree) and I think you've got to respect it. He's a lot closer to the situation than any of us.

[Thumper]

I have faith in Wakefield. I have a feeling he's due for a good postseason performance. That's not saying he'll shut them out or strike them out batter after batter. But I got a feeling we'll be seeing a "good" performance from Wake. Enough to where the batters can keep us ahead.

[VA Sox Fan]

However I also undertsand Francona's thought process (although I may not totally agree) and I think you've got to respect it. He's a lot closer to the situation than any of us.

 

AMEN to that!!

[mtbykr]

I blame the losses the last two games on the Fitzy video posted in the other thread.

 

Maybe it's because i didn't post it again for game 2....after all i posted it in the game 1 thread and we won that game;)

[ksushi]

I don't know, IMO, pitching Beckett in game four is a better move for tomorrow than leaving DiceK in for game 7.

[VA Sox Fan]

I don't know' date=' IMO, pitching Beckett in game four is a better move for tomorrow than leaving DiceK in for game 7.[/quote']

 

If we lose tonight (God forbid) game 5 will obviously be a MUST and best if Beckett is in there.

[Rdsxmbnt]

lets just clear this up right now, Fitzy did not cause no losses. As mybykr explained, not having Fitzy was the reason we lost those past two.

[See Red]

Dear People,

 

Not only is Fitzy an act, but he's not a very funny one. Burping and saying Go f*** Yourself is not funny, nor is it clever. So please let us not use his "humor" for mojo... because unfunny mojo is bad mojo.

 

Thank you,

Management

 

edit: By the way, we really need to figure out what type of mojo the Rockies are using... because it works. Is it the black jersey mojo?

[Gom]

If you lose tonight, it doesn't matter how many games Beckett pitches in from this point on. You guys will be in serious trouble.

[VA Sox Fan]

If you lose tonight' date=' it doesn't matter how many games Beckett pitches in from this point on. You guys will be in serious trouble.[/quote']

 

No s***....

[BudLight]

I agree with Tito's rationale on this. If you pitch Beckett tonight you have to come back with Schilling tomorrow night. The extra rest you give Schilling can only help. He's not so young anymore. In addition, Dice-K appears to be spent both physically and mentally. He threw over 100 pitches last night. He can use the rest. If you were to throw Beckett tonight against Byrd and lose, you then have Schilling and Dice-K left to match-up against Cleveland's two big guns. If you win tonight with Wakefield, you have the match-ups you want in a tied series. Also, consider this. If you go with Beckett tonight he could pitch two more games if necessary in the ALCS. If you win the ALCS with Beckett getting 4 starts, how tired will he be for the WS.

[redsoxrules]

I agree with Tito's rationale on this. If you pitch Beckett tonight you have to come back with Schilling tomorrow night. The extra rest you give Schilling can only help. He's not so young anymore. In addition' date=' Dice-K appears to be spent both physically and mentally. He threw over 100 pitches last night. He can use the rest. If you were to throw Beckett tonight against Byrd and lose, you then have Schilling and Dice-K left to match-up against Cleveland's two big guns. If you win tonight with Wakefield, you have the match-ups you want in a tied series. Also, consider this. If you go with Beckett tonight he could pitch two more games if necessary in the ALCS. If you win the ALCS with Beckett getting 4 starts, how tired will he be for the WS.[/quote']

 

WTF? how the hell is it possible for beckett to start 4 games in the ALCS?

[redsoxrules]

god dammit.... I have a work meeting tonight right when the game starts , so i'l miss most of the game

[mtbykr]

If you lose tonight' date=' it doesn't matter how many games Beckett pitches in from this point on. You guys will be in serious trouble.[/quote']

 

Thanks for coming here and giving us such great insights