3/26 @ Oakland Athletics ... get outta Japan!!

[MANNYHOF24]

Does anybody know who is starting the two games in Oakland next week? Is it Lester and Matsuzaka again?

[MANNYHOF24]

Well, I guess he got the job done. Time for a rally!

[a700hitter]

I dont understand this move' date=' Lopez stinks against lefties. Seriously? Why Tito?[/quote']Maybe he wants to get Aardsma out of there on a high note. I can't imagine that he will stick with the team when they return to the states, so he may be showcasing him for a trade.

[MANNYHOF24]

Maybe he wants to get Aardsma out of there on a high note. I can't imagine that he will stick with the team when they return to the states' date=' so he may be showcasing him for a trade.[/quote']

 

I don't know, I think Tito likes him. He did stick with the team last year, so he is probably safe on the roster for the time being. I would actually rather have Lopez then Timlin who was just awful during spring training.

[MANNYHOF24]

Tek has been awful in this series.

[MANNYHOF24]

Crisp ropes a double.

[a700hitter]

I don't know' date=' I think Tito likes him. He did stick with the team last year, so he is probably safe on the roster for the time being. I would actually rather have Lopez then Timlin who was just awful during spring training.[/quote']I wa referring to Aardsma. I don't think he will stay with the team. Lopez is locked in as the second lefty.

[MANNYHOF24]

Too bad we werent at Yankee stadium on that pop up

[BoSox21]

ah well, a split isn't that bad. at least we can get the f*** out of Japan now

[soxfan17881]

I know it's very early, but I'm not diggin' the 6 k's in 8 ABs for Tek. I mean, all the talk was about how lousy Cash is at the plate, but...

[VA Sox Fan]

I know it's very early' date=' but I'm not diggin' the 6 k's in 8 ABs for Tek. I mean, all the talk was about how lousy Cash is at the plate, but...[/quote']

 

Just keep remembering it's early.

[ORS]

It might be early in the season, but it isn't in Tek's career.

[Cocos Disciples]

Harden was awesome today. Lester sucked. Not a recipe for success. The real Opening Day is Monday.

[VA Sox Fan]

Does anybody know who is starting the two games in Oakland next week? Is it Lester and Matsuzaka again?

 

From the Globe:

 

March 28: Red Sox at Dodgers, 10:40 p.m. (Exhibition) -- No TV -- Bartolo Colon

March 29: Red Sox at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. (Exhibition at LA Coliseum) -- on NESN -- Tim Wakefield

March 30: Red Sox at Dodgers, 4:10 p.m. (Exhibition) -- No TV -- Clay Buchholz

April 1: Red Sox at Athletics, 10:05 p.m. (Regular season) -- on NESN -- Daisuke Matsuzaka

April 2: Red Sox at Athletics, 3:35 p.m. (Regular season) -- on NESN -- Jon Lester

April 4: Red Sox at Blue Jays, 7:15 p.m. (Regular season) -- on NESN -- Pitcher TBD

April 5: Red Sox at Blue Jays, 1:07 p.m. (Regular season) -- on NESN -- Pitcher TBD

April 6: Red Sox at Blue Jays, 1:07 p.m. (Regular season) -- on NESN -- Pitcher TBD

April 8: Red Sox vs. Tigers, 2:05 p.m. (Opening Day at Fenway) -- on NESN -- Pitcher TBD

[VA Sox Fan]

Tek has been awful in this series.

 

 

Unfortunatley, so has Papi.

[das11209]

Papi has not been AWEFUL since 2005 summer.

 

Just waiting to jump in Tek discussion - but I seriously hope they don't extend his contract.

[ksushi]

They will, because what other options do they have? Kevin Cash?

 

I know he looks bad, but by some miracle of god, his BA will most likely be around .260 and his 15ish home runs will come, and he'll do a good job behind the plate. Thats fine and solid. They'll extend Tek.

[das11209]

They will, because what other options do they have? Kevin Cash?

 

 

Kottaras - I hope or trade. Extending Tek is not a good idea IMO.

 

BTW - Tek numbers at this rate will be similar to Cash.

 

First impression from two games - Sox seems to continue their lack of offense from last year which will be an issue if they can't pick-up. I think Drew will really hold the key on how good or bad the offense will be.

[Cocos Disciples]

"At this rate"? At this rate I think he'll do plenty worse than Cash. It's two games. He'll be okay.

[jacksonianmarch]

The Redd Sox have no choice but to be patient with him' date=' but he has not shown an ability to command the zone since he arrived in the Bigs in 2006. This spring on one occasion Francona expressed frustration at Lester's inability to attack the strike zone. This A's lineup is one of the weaker ones that he will see this year, and he couldn't handle them.[/quote']

 

and now with Schilling's injury, you get to see Lester throw 30 times this yr. I have said it all along. He has crafty lefty stuff without the location to be a crafty lefty. He doesnt attack the zone. He doesnt have the command to keep the ball on the corners and frequently is forced into giving a cookie to the hitter it seems twice an inning. While his supporters point to his record and not so bad ERA, anyone who watches this guy can see his massive inability to keep runners off the bases. He was Houdini the past 2 yrs. You cannot continue to put guys on without eventually getting burned. As bad as he was today, he could have been torched much worse against a horrible lineup.

 

Thus far, DiceK and Lester have combined for 8BB in 9IP. If they continue to give these erratic efforts, you guys are in trouble.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Thus far' date=' DiceK and Lester have combined for 8BB in 9IP. If they continue to give these erratic efforts, you guys are in trouble.[/quote']

 

Good thing it's March 26th and these guys have 7 more months of baseball to play. I have a hard time thinking they will combine for 400IP and 400BB.

 

Calm down it's still very early and please don't start with the "I've been saying it all along" garbage. If we get to the All Star break and he has a .500 record with a 4.5+ ERA then we can discuss a real problem....but we still have 3 1/2 MONTHS until that point.

 

By the way his cutter was looking better as the game progressed. As for Dice K his stuff improved as the game went on as well....they will get there stuff back. Don't jump ship yet...160 games left to go.

[jacksonianmarch]

DiceK finished last yrs regular season walking 42 in his last 85 innings. He starts ST with 5BB in 12IP and then 5BB in 5IP. I have never said anything badly about his stuff. I continue to think that his stuff, when he is on is in the top 10% of starting MLB pitchers. But his inconsistency has only worsened since the All Star break. He has shown nothing to prove that he is reverting to his pre-AS break form. If he does, he is at least a #2. If he doesnt, his stuff will be enough to make him a solid back end pitcher, but he'll continue to be erratic.

 

Lester has been someone I have admired for his cancer battle, but I have questioned his baseball ability from day 1. While I think Buchholz is the real deal, Lester never fit the billing. Nice curveball, but overbilled fastball. A cutter that is average at best and location of all of the above that is terrible. He consistently falls behind hitters and has survived off luck for his MLB career. I dont typically use that argument, but how else can you explain how he parlays a 1.57WHIP into only a 4.68 career ERA. He has thrown 144IP, allowing 152H and 74BB. With those numbers, poor location and mediocre stuff, he either has to locate better, or he will eventually start getting tattooed. Today was just the first example against a team that is terrible. The A's offense is loaded with players who dont belong in the bigs. How is this guy going to fare against the Detroits, New Yorks, Torontos, White Sox of the world?

[a700hitter]

Jackson, I will not argue with you about Lester who I consider as nothing more than a #5 starter at this point. He needs to improve his command a great deal if he is going to be a top of the rotation guy. I don't think that will be for a couple of years if ever.

[jacksonianmarch]

A lot of players show inconsistency early on. But something just doesnt fly with this kid IMO. He doesnt have that ability to throw the strike when he needs to. He is too willing to fall behind. There isnt much of a sense of urgency. And while that may be fine if he is slowly taking a batter off the plate like Maddux and Glavine did, but he might miss 6 inches off the zone then miss 6 inches up. He doesnt seem to have a clue where the zone is half the time.

[MANNYHOF24]

Kottaras - I hope or trade. Extending Tek is not a good idea IMO.

 

BTW - Tek numbers at this rate will be similar to Cash.

 

First impression from two games - Sox seems to continue their lack of offense from last year which will be an issue if they can't pick-up. I think Drew will really hold the key on how good or bad the offense will be.

 

No they wont. I still expect Tek to hit .250 hit 15-18 hrs and drive in 70. No way Cash could do that. I think we should watch them play a little more before we jump to such rash conclusions. Plus Tek hit pretty well in the spring didnt he? Let's talk at the beginning of May.

[BoSox21]

lol, two games in Japan and already two players are being sent down the river

[jacksonianmarch]

Its not like the statements are all that out there. DMats faded down the stretch and Lester has been pretty bad over his MLB career.

[das11209]

Let's talk at the beginning of May.

 

Sure - I wish I am wrong - but I doubt it.

[MANNYHOF24]

Its not like the statements are all that out there. DMats faded down the stretch and Lester has been pretty bad over his MLB career.

 

I wouldnt call leauge average bad... Lester has been about leauge average in his career so far.

[TheKilo]

Tek looks crispy, but he's still one of the better offensive catchers in baseball. I think he's vastly overrated, but I think the worst thing the Sox could do right now is give Cash the starting job.

 

Kottaras and Tek should be platooning.