5/17 vs. Milwaukee Brewers - Game 1

[Jayhawk Bill]

Interleague play begins. The Red Sox return home. Daisuke Matsuzaka is on the mound. The bullpen is rested. Red Sox Nation's fury reaches a crescendo, and the hapless Milwaukee Brewers are the target.

 

***

 

Vengeance time 7:05 EDT.

[Cocos Disciples]

Heeere we go baby.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Tonight's pitchers:

 

Boston:

 

Daisuke Matsuzaka

RHP

(6-0) 2.45 ERA

 

Milwaukee:

 

Jeff Suppan

RHP

(2-2) 4.63 ERA

 

Jeff Suppan's 2008 ERA is only 0.01 runs different from his 2007 ERA. More to the point his xFIP has varied only from 4.55 to 4.86 from 2004-2008. What we're seeing is his true level of performance.

 

As an NL starting pitcher.

 

Suppan has a 6.10 ERA over his career in Fenway. The AL has better talent than the NL; Fenway is a hitter's park. Suppan had a 10.12 ERA in Interleague games last year: he struggles against the AL.

 

Boston with Matsuzaka pitching has a better chance to win this game than Milwaukee with Suppan pitching. Keys to the Game:

 

1) No rainout; no long rain delay.

2) Boston scores early and continues to score late rather than scoring three times and trying to defend that lead.

3) Matsuzaka avoids the long ball and walks less than half as many batters as he strikes out.

4) Fair and accurate game-calling by the new umpire team.

[The Dustball]

According to the weather.com forecast for fenway park tonight there is a 100% chance of rain. There will be periods of rain accumulating about half and inch.

 

I hope they get this game in tonight. Suppan is just the kind of pitcher we need to break out of our slump. I would really like to see Dice work efficiently tonight and avoid walks that cause his pitch count to rise quickly.

[TheKilo]

Wow. Starting Game Threads on TalkSox is easier than I'd thought.

 

[Jayhawk Bill]

Wow. Starting Game Threads on TalkSox is easier than I'd thought.

 

 

Thanks, sensei.

[redsoxrules]

game delayed

[The Dustball]

game delayed

 

How long does it look like its going to be delayed?

[redsoxrules]

How long does it look like its going to be delayed?

 

15-20 min

[redsoxrules]

lineup

 

1. J Ellsbury, CF

2. D Pedroia, 2B

3. D Ortiz, DH

4. M Ramirez, LF

5. M Lowell, 3B

6. K Youkilis, 1B

7. J Drew, RF

8. J Varitek, C

9. J Lugo, SS

[The Dustball]

15-20 min

 

Oh sweet! Thanks for the info, although i'm a little worried about bringing Dice-K out there for a couple of innings only to have another rain delay and lose him for the entire night.

[das11209]

We are past that 15-20 minutes - any update?

[redsoxrules]

We are past that 15-20 minutes - any update?

 

just looked on boston globe , says the rain might be moving out around 7 p.m, Its pouring pretty hard

[BoSox21]

always take whatever weather info that comes out of the club with a grain of salt. they just wanna keep fans at Fenway as long as possible

[redsoxrules]

The rain isn’t letting up here at Fenway Park and a very real possibility exists that tonight’s game could be rained out if it is determined that a two-hour window (which would allow for five innings or so) isn’t going to be available. The problem is, however, that it appears unlikely that a doubleheader could be played this weekend due to the exclusivity rights of FOX, TBS and ESPN.

Tomorrow’s game is on FOX-25 and is scheduled to start at 3:55. That would make it extremely difficult to have a night game tomorrow. The Sox are going to want separate admissions and it’s going to take too long to clear the park, clean it and open the gates again. Realistically, it probably couldn’t start before 9 p.m., which makes it unworkable. No game can start before the nationally-televised games due to FOX’s exclusivity rights, which eliminates a noon (or earlier) start.

As for Sunday, TBS has that one at 1:35 p.m., while ESPN has exclusivity rights for any night game on Sunday, meaning the Sox and Brewers wouldn’t be able to televise a night game.

It’s not an easy one to figure out.

The Brewers may have to come back here on a mutual off day. Both teams are off on June 9 but the Brewers are in the middle of a road trip to Colorado and Houston. The next mutual off day is June 26. The Brewers play a day game in Atlanta the previous day and could potentially fly into Boston that night, play a day game on June 26 and head back out that night to resume their road trip in Minnesota the following night. The Sox are scheduled to play in Houston on June 27 and could fly out after a day game on the 26th. Of course, that’s all conjecture, folks

[The Dustball]

Ugh Postponed. Double header tomorrow at 4 and 8:35.

[BoSox21]

wow, theyre gonna have a short window to clear out and clean the stadium

[Jayhawk Bill]

wow' date=' theyre gonna have a short window to clear out and clean the stadium[/quote']

 

I predict a large strike zone tomorrow afternoon.

[Jayhawk Bill]

The game is rescheduled. From MLB.com:

 

BOSTON -- During the team's four-game slide through Minnesota and Baltimore, the Red Sox struggled to find their offensive rhythm.

 

Two reasons why were the injuries to J.D. Drew (left wrist) and Julio Lugo (mild concussion). Both were cleared to return in time for Friday's Interleague opener with Milwaukee. Unfortunately, neither saw action as the game was rained out, forcing a split doubleheader on Saturday with 3:55 p.m. ET and 8:35 p.m. first pitches.

 

"Lugo was cleared yesterday, so he's all set to go, and J.D. talked to the trainers and said he felt good," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who was back in the dugout after missing Boston's two-game series vs. the Orioles due to the death of his mother-in-law. "We checked back with [Drew] today, and [he] said he was ready to go, so that's good news."

 

...

 

Meanwhile, Coco Crisp (stomach ailment), was on the mend but not quite ready to go at full strength.

 

"He was checked this morning and everything they looked for, kidney stones and things, everything was negative," Francona said. "He feels better. I don't think he feels terrific. Whatever happened to him hit him pretty hard. He doesn't feel like he's going to get sick, but I don't think he feels 100 percent yet, but he is getting better."

 

...

 

Game 1 Pitching matchup

 

BOS: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (6-0, 2.45)

Matsuzaka is looking for his seventh win in eight starts this season. After a season-high eight walks on May 5 in Detroit, Matsuzaka settled down last Saturday in Minnesota and issued three over his seven innings, allowing six hits and two runs while earning his second win of the month. The right-hander will look to become the fourth Red Sox hurler this decade to start a season 7-0, joining Josh Beckett (9-0 in 2007), John Burkett (7-0, 2002) and Pedro Martinez (7-0, 2002).

 

MIL: RHP Jeff Suppan (2-2, 4.63)

Suppan will be facing the team with which he broke into the Major Leagues in 1995 and spent parts of three seasons, going 7-9 with a 6.10 ERA in 29 outings at Fenway Park. He will hope for better results as the Brewers begin Interleague Play and is coming off one of his best starts this season, a seven-inning, one-run performance against the Cardinals at Miller Park. The win snapped Suppan's two-game losing streak.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080516&content_id=2712455&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

[The Dustball]

This could be really tough on the bullpen. Not only is there a quick double header today, but they have to play a 1:35 pm game tomorrow as well. Dice-K is going to have to go deep into the game today because they have Wake going tonight and he is completely unpredictable. We're also going to need Beckett to step up and be the true Ace that we all know he is tomorrow.

[VA Sox Fan]

Red Sox

 

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. David Ortiz, DH

4. Manny Ramirez, LF

5. Kevin Youkilis, 3B

6. J.D. Drew, RF

7. Jason Varitek, C

8. Sean Casey, 1B

9. Julio Lugo, SS

 

Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP

 

Brewers

 

1. Rickie Weeks, 2B

2. Mike Cameron, CF

3. Ryan Braun, LF

4. Prince Fielder, DH

5. Corey Hart, RF

6. J.J. Hardy, SS

7. Joe Dillon, 1B

8. Bill Hall, 3B

9. Jason Kendall, C

 

Jeff Suppan, SP

 

Go Dice-K! GO RED SOX!!

[The Dustball]

As Jayhawk Bill said last night, with the double header being so close today there will probabaly be a big strike zone today which is really beneficial to Dice-K to help him keep his walk total down. Let's Go Sox!

[VA Sox Fan]

Posted by Amalie Benjamin, Globe Staff May 17, 2008 01:54 PM

 

Good afternoon from a lovely sunny day at Fenway Park. It's a whole lot better than it was last night here, though it seems that we'll be having quite the lengthy day at the park. Just remember, if you're coming in for the second game, that there will most likely be quite the traffic jam outside, given that about 35,000 people will be entering and exiting at roughly the same time.

 

As for the Red Sox, Hideki Okajima has a bit of a wrist injury, which the Red Sox will be monitoring. It doesn't appear serious enough that he will need a stint on the disabled list, but it will be checked out.

 

Mike Lowell is just getting a rest with three games to be played in about 36 hours.

 

Coco Crisp is not quite 100 percent, after working through his illness earlier this week, but said he can pinch run or play defense (or even pinch hit) in the first game. He might even be able to play in the second. He had a bit of vertigo, he said, something that came with the headaches. The pain was apparently about an eight on a 1 to 10 scale. It was not, however, bad enough that he was prevented from driving.

 

 

Hello all....from Cleveland. I'm sure I won't get the Red Sox game since the Guardians and the Reds are also playing. I'll get the late on MLB.TV.

[riverside sluggers]

Jeff Suppan (8 games vs Boston, 3-3 with a 4.78 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 29 games, 7-9 with a 6.10 ERA)

Jacoby Ellsbury ---

Dustin Pedroia ---

David Ortiz, 9 for 27 (.333 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, 4 RBIs, 2 Walks, 5 Ks

Manny Ramirez, 7 for 21 (.333 avg) Double, 3 HRs, 7 RBIs, 4 Walks, 5 Ks

Kevin Youkilis ---

J.D. Drew, 6 for 17 (.353 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, 5 RBIs, Walk, 3 Ks

Jason Varitek, 8 for 16 (.500 avg) Double, HR, RBI, Walk, K

Sean Casey, 6 for 18 (.333 avg) Double, HR, 3 RBIs, Walk

Julio Lugo, 5 for 11 (.455 avg) 2 Doubles, 2 RBIs, Walk, K

///

Alex Cora, 2 for 4 (.500 avg) 2 Doubles, RBI, 3 Walks

Mike Lowell, 0 for 11, K

 

Daisuke Matsuzaka (1st career appearance vs Milwaukee---Career at Fenway Park in 18 games, 11-4 with a 4.40 ERA)

Rickie Weeks ---

Mike Cameron, 0 for 1, 2 Walks

Ryan Braun ---

Prince Fielder ---

Corey Hart ---

J.J. Hardy ---

Joe Dillon ---

Bill Hall ---

Jason Kendall, 0 for 2, Walk

[ORS]

The combination of first game of the double header and the big strikezone JHB predicts and the Crew's swing happy lineup should bode well for Dice K, provided he pitches like normal.

[The Prodigy]

Not too much on the game today Dice k has only faced Mike Cameron and Jason Kendall and both have just walked so.... we'll see what happens:dunno: Other than that we have manny to look froward to 3 home runs against Jeff and maybe we'll see V-Teck and Ortiz do something they have 18 hits against him total..

[Jayhawk Bill]

OK, mod crew: we've been using yesterday's thread, and now we've got posts here...which is the Game Thread?

[ORS]

My vote is for the previous game's thread. By recollection, that is what we've done in the past.

[VA Sox Fan]

OK' date=' mod crew: we've been using yesterday's thread, and now we've got posts here...which is the Game Thread?[/quote']

 

Sorry dude. I didn't know about that rule. I'll delete this one.

[ORS]

Leadoff walk on 5 pitches. Nothing close, one grooved FB at 3-0. He really kind of sucks.