6/10 vs. Baltimore Orioles

[Jayhawk Bill]

Manager Terry Francona has done nothing more than scratch his head...

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080608&content_id=2869192&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

 

I couldn't agree more.

 

That said, Terry Francona's injury-riddled Red Sox are atop the AL East. Tuesday evening they face the surprising 31-31 Baltimore Orioles, with their ace pitcher Daniel Cabrera on the mound.

 

Facing Cabrera will be Josh Beckett.

 

The Red Sox surrendered perhaps the best young player in baseball, Hanley Ramirez, three other talented minor league prospects, and accepted the then-overpriced contract of Mike Lowell to acquire Josh Beckett. They did this not because Josh Beckett is a crafty warrior; Josh Beckett is dumber than a crafty warrior's warhorse. They did this because Josh Beckett can throw.

 

In 2006 Beckett threw largely gopher balls. In 2007 Beckett threw victories. Thus far in 2008, Josh Beckett has been somewhere in between. He botched his first start, failing to go five innings and posting a 9.64 ERA. He worked that down below 4.00 for the first (and only) time on May 8, allowing just one run in seven innings pitched. His next outing he surrendered 11 hits and five runs; his next outing was worse; his ERA is still over 4.00.

 

But Red Sox Nation believes in Josh Beckett, and Terry Francona believes in Josh Beckett, and somewhere in the chamber of echos between the hulking man's ears, Josh Beckett believes in Josh Beckett. And even his critics believe that Josh Beckett can throw.

 

Look for a pitcher's duel tomorrow, tempered perhaps by heat and lightning. The forecast for Fenway Park:

 

TUESDAY

SUNNY. HUMID WITH HIGHS IN THE MID 90S. SOUTHWEST

WINDS AROUND 5 MPH...BECOMING SOUTH 10 TO 15 MPH IN THE

AFTERNOON. HEAT INDEX VALUES UP TO 101.

 

TUESDAY NIGHT

PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND

THUNDERSTORMS. HUMID WITH LOWS IN THE UPPER 60S. SOUTHWEST WINDS

10 TO 15 MPH...BECOMING WEST AFTER MIDNIGHT. CHANCE OF RAIN

40 PERCENT. EARLY IN THE EVENING.

 

That wind will be blowing out to left field...Boston will need Manny at his best, and it will be a great chance for Dustin Pedroia to get back on track.

 

But most of all, the decision will ride upon what Josh Beckett can do with his mighty arm...with the brilliance of Jason Varitek guiding him...thank goodness.

 

Game time: 7:05 pm EDT Fenway Park

 

Baltimore:

 

Daniel Cabrera

RHP

(5-2) 3.98 ERA

 

Boston:

 

Josh Beckett

RHP

(6-4) 4.07 ERA

[riverside sluggers]

Daniel Cabrera (14 games vs Boston, 2-9 with a 7.11 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 5 games, 0-3 with an 8.88 ERA)

Jacoby Ellsbury, 8 for 17 (.471 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, RBI, K, 4 SBs

Dustin Pedroia, 6 for 13 (.462 avg) 2 Doubles, RBI, K

J.D. Drew, 4 for 10 (.400 avg) Double, HR, 2 RBIs, 5 Walks, K

Manny Ramirez, 6 for 19 (.316 avg) Double, HR, 4 RBIs, 3 Walks, 3 Ks

Mike Lowell, 7 for 17 (.412 avg) 2 Doubles, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs, 4 Walks

Kevin Youkilis, 6 for 22 (.273 avg) 5 Doubles, 4 RBIs, 3 Walks, 7 Ks

Jason Varitek, 5 for 22 (.227 avg) Double, HR, 4 RBIs, 4 Walks, 10 Ks, 2 SBs

Coco Crisp, 4 for 14 (.286 avg) 3 RBIs, 3 Walks, 3 Ks, SB

Alex Cora, 11 for 27 (.407 avg) Double, Triple, HR, RBI, 4 Ks///

///

Sean Casey, 2 for 7 (.286 avg) Double, 2 RBIs

Kevin Cash, 0 for 3, K

Julio Lugo, 3 for 19 (.158 avg) Triple, RBI, 3 Walks, 3 Ks, SB

Brandon Moss, 0 for 3, K

 

Josh Beckett (9 games vs Baltimore, 4-2 with a 3.73 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 39 games, 20-11 with a 4.55 ERA)

Brian Roberts, 8 for 26 (.308 avg) 4 Doubles, HR, 4 RBIs, 2 Walks, 7 Ks, 4 SBs

Nick Markakis, 7 for 26 (.269 avg) Double, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 Walks, 10 Ks, SB

Melvin Mora, 4 for 19 (.211 avg) 3 Doubles, HR, 2 RBIs, 9 Ks

Aubrey Huff, 9 for 30 (.300 avg) Double, HR, 2 RBIs, Walk, 10 Ks

Kevin Millar, 5 for 19 (.263 avg) 2 Doubles, 4 RBIs, Walk, K

Luke Scott, 5 for 8 (.625 avg) HR, 3 RBIs, 2 Walks, K, SB

Ramon Hernandez, 6 for 27 (.222 avg) 3 Doubles, 2 RBIs, Walk, 5 Ks

Adam Jones, 3 for 12 (.250 avg) Double, 4 Ks

Freddie Bynum, 3 for 9 (.333 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks

///

Alex Cintron, 2 for 4 (.500 avg) Double, Walk, K

Jay Payton, 9 for 24 (.375 avg) 2 RBIs, K

Guillermo Quiroz, 0 for 3

[yeszir]

Game time is actually at 6:05 because of the Celtics game. Thanks NBA playoffs for making my T commute home hell!

[VA Sox Fan]

Orioles

 

1. Brian Roberts, 2B

2. Nick Markakis, RF

3. Melvin Mora, 3B

4. Aubrey Huff, DH

5. Kevin Millar, 1B

6. Luke Scott, LF

7. Ramon Hernandez, C

8. Adam Jones, CF

9. Freddie Bynum, SS

 

Daniel Cabrera, SP

 

Red Sox

 

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, LF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. J.D. Drew, RF

4. Manny Ramirez, DH

5. Mike Lowell, 3B

6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B

7. Jason Varitek, C

8. Coco Crisp, CF

9. Alex Cora, SS

 

Josh Beckett, SP

 

Go Josh!! GO RED SOX!!!!

[The Dustball]

Pure luck that my tv was set to NESN when I turned it on or I wouldn't have tuned in until 7. Jacoby's back in there which is good to see.

[The Dustball]

1-2-3 first for Beckett. It seems like he's finally settled in this season. Now it's time to get some early runs off Cabrera and not let him get into a groove.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Damn it Manny.

[The Dustball]

Ugh. Manny grounds into the double play with the sacks full and no one out. We can't let Cabrera off the hook this easily. 1-0.

[ORS]

Worst possible outcome there for Manny.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Worst possible outcome there for Manny.

 

Second worst...he could have hit into a triple play.

[The Dustball]

Weak s***. At least Cabrera threw 24 pitches.

[Youk Of The Nation]

KevinFC missed a home run by an ass hair.

[The Dustball]

God Damn it. Nice meatball right down the middle of the plate. 2-1.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Congrats to Freddie Bynum on his third and fourth RBI of the season on June friggin tenth.

[ORS]

Beckett is just s***ing all over himself this inning.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Youve got to be s***ing me.

[The Dustball]

That was lame. Again a terrible pitch, right down the middle, thigh high.

[ORS]

Fenway is hurting him too. Oh well, that's the park you pitch in, deal with Mr. Fastball.

[The Dustball]

f***kkkkkkkk. Remy is right, Cora looks like he's in pain after that. I hope he's alright.

[redsoxrules]

another f***ing DP

[The Dustball]

Bases loaded again. Time to take take it to Cabrera. PLEASE NO DP.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Argh stop going foul by a foot.

[The Dustball]

Eh, At least it wasn't a double play. Let's go Youkkkkkkkkkkk

[The Dustball]

Good hustle by Youk. 4-3. Nice job by Lowell to go in hard.

[ORS]

They've stranded 7 in 3 innings. Holy f***, that's awful.

[TheKilo]

It'd be nice if Beckett could throw his curve for strikes.

[TheKilo]

OBP!

[The Dustball]

JD!!!! 5-4 Boston!!!! He's in the f***ing zone.

[TheKilo]

Boner

[redsoxrules]

JD DREW !