6/7 vs. Seattle Mariners

[Jayhawk Bill]

MLB.com:

 

BOSTON -- It's been a head-scratching two days at Fenway Park, neither of which the Red Sox are particularly happy about.

In Thursday's 7-1 win over Tampa Bay, Boston was part of a benches-clearing fracas that led to three of its players -- Coco Crisp, Jon Lester and Sean Casey -- being suspended by the league. Meanwhile, Jacoby Ellsbury and Manny Ramirez each left the game with injuries, leaving manager Terry Francona with no choice but to play five different outfielders.

 

Then on Friday, the Sox, who sport the league's best home record, lost, 8-0, to a Mariners squad that came into the contest with a 7-20 road record.

 

The Red Sox will try to slow that trend of unexpected losses, both to their roster and in the standings, when they take on the Mariners on Saturday in an afternoon showdown.

 

Enter Tim Wakefield.

 

Now in his 14th season with the Boston Red Sox, Tim Wakefield has seen it all. His single MLB-quality pitch may be a fickle mistress, but he will take the mound today unfazed by recent turmoil, ready to baffle the Mariners' batters in his 350th start for the Boston Red Sox.

 

When Tim Wakefield first pitched for Boston, the youngest player in the AL was a shortstop for Seattle named Alex Rodriguez, and the oldest was a DH for Cleveland named Dave Winfield. Tim Wakefield has seen torn tendon sheaths and twisted right wrists and, most likely, he's even seen Manny being angry instead of Manny being Manny. In the past few years Wakefield has liked pitching in daylight, and he's certainly liked facing Seattle: he's only started two games against the Mariners from 2006-2008, but he only allowed three earned runs in those two starts.

 

Expect an exciting game today with Tim Wakefield on the mound, but don't expect to see the veteran knuckleballer affected in any way by all of the media turmoil. Veterans have a role--this is why Tim Wakefield is on our team.

 

Game Time: 3:55 PM EDT Fenway Park

 

Weather Forecast: Fog clearing by game time, high around 90, wind out to LF at 10-15 mph.

 

Seattle Mariners

Miguel Batista

RHP

(3-6) 5.90 ERA

 

Boston Red Sox

Tim Wakefield

RHP

(3-4) 4.50 ERA

[yeszir]

Let's make up for last night' pathetic showing. 90 degree heat expected.

 

93 tomorrow, when I'll be going and sitting directly in the sun.

 

And then 95 for me to start work and wear pants.

[The Dustball]

Miguel Batista sucks. Win this one. Hopefully Wake can turn in another gem and we can get back on track. Go Sox!

[RedSoxRooter]

Dude, tell me about it. It's 95 degrees down here. It's supposed to be like that all week. I set the AC to 67 but it can only knock the house down to 75. All the plants in the back are dying and the grass is turning brown.

 

And I was behind a guy yesterday that smelled like your grandfather's armpit. God I hate summer.

 

GO SOX!

[The Dustball]

Manny's Back. Pedroia with the day off.

 

SEATTLE

Ichiro Suzuki 8

Jose Lopez 4

Raul Ibanez 7

Adrian Beltre 5

Jose Vidro D

Richie Sexson 3

Wladimir Balentien 9

Kenji Johjima 2

Yuniesky Betancourt 6

 

Miguel Batista 1

 

BOSTON

 

Coco Crisp 8

Julio Lugo 6

JD Drew 9

Manny Ramirez D

Sean Casey 3

Kevin Youkilis 5

Brandon Moss 7

Kevin Cash 2

Alex Cora 4

 

Tim Wakefield 1

[a700hitter]

I don't like this line up with Crisp and Lugo at the top.

[ksushi]

With no Jacoby, what exactly are we gonna do other than that? It isn't like Pedroia is showing signs of getting a pulse anytime soon. He is a corpse right now.

[The Dustball]

With no Jacoby' date=' what exactly are we gonna do other than that? It isn't like Pedroia is showing signs of getting a pulse anytime soon. He is a corpse right now.[/quote']

 

Maybe move Youk up in the order.

[a700hitter]

With no Jacoby' date=' what exactly are we gonna do other than that? It isn't like Pedroia is showing signs of getting a pulse anytime soon. He is a corpse right now.[/quote']Just because we have no other options today doesn't mean that I have to like the batting order.

 

BTW: How long will Ellsbury be out?

[Jayhawk Bill]

Manny's Back. Pedroia with the day off.

 

BOSTON

 

Coco Crisp 8

Julio Lugo 6

JD Drew 9

Manny Ramirez D

Sean Casey 3

Kevin Youkilis 5

Brandon Moss 7

Kevin Cash 2

Alex Cora 4

 

Tim Wakefield 1

 

Mike Lowell is also out.

 

Only three of Boston's nine regular starters are playing their normal position; none are at their normal spot in the batting order.

 

Tito always likes giving his regulars a break with Wakefield pitching, it seems. Today is no exception.

[ksushi]

I'm a little worried about our situation right now, I think we could wind up going in a funk with Ortiz, Dice, and Ellsbury on the DL and with Pedroia and Lugo playing like corpses.

[yeszir]

Saturday afternoon games, gotta love em

[Jayhawk Bill]

Tim Wakefield demonstrates composure under pressure.

[The Dustball]

Nice job by Wake to work out of trouble. Time to see how this lineup will work out.

[The Dustball]

Drew continues to be on fire. Now get him in.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Close play at third with two outs on that triple by JD Drew. Two-run home run by Manny--but Drew almost ran Boston out of the inning.

[The Dustball]

A BOMB BY MANNY!!!!! 2-0. That was absolutely crushed over the Monster.

[Cocos Disciples]

Mannnnnyyyyy

[The Dustball]

Uh... did FOX just get all f***ed up for anyone else?

[ORS]

That ball is dancing today.

[yeszir]

Uh... did FOX just get all f***ed up for anyone else?

 

You mean aside from their announcers?. I mean, this color guy sounds like an older Elmer Fudd.

[The Dustball]

You mean aside from their announcers?

 

Haha they really do suck. They know s*** about the team. But I still can't see or hear the game. It's getting a little annoying.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Haha they really do suck. They know s*** about the team. But I still can't see or hear the game. It's getting a little annoying.

 

No trouble for me on DirecTV, New York City feed.

[Jayhawk Bill]

On-base machine Kevin Cash goes to first with two out.

[yeszir]

Haha they really do suck. They know s*** about the team. But I still can't see or hear the game. It's getting a little annoying.

 

HD or regular?

[The Dustball]

HD or regular?

 

Regular, s***** quality.

[das11209]

This is the weakest Sox line-up I have ever seen. Wake better be good today.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Dammit. 2-2.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Wakefield OWNS Beltre. Letting him walk with two outs may make sense 3-1, but I still don't like it, especially with just one out.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Nice steal by Crisp...he's trying to make the most of his moments without Ellsbury.