7/5 @ New York - Masterson in the Bronx

[riverside sluggers]

Masterson attacking hitters

Boston (52-37) at New York (45-42), Saturday, 3:55 p.m. ET

 

It's different now. Justin Masterson can't just say he wants to blow a fastball by a hitter and then dial it up as much as he can and watch the whiff. It's not college and it's not the Minor Leagues, and Masterson understands this. In fact, it is precisely this understanding that Boston's 23-year-old right-hander says is the biggest difference between dominating in the Minors and thinking before every fastball he throws in the Major Leagues.

 

"Really, it's just an understanding of myself," said Masterson, who's scheduled to start against New York at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. "It's more of a progression and developing as a pitcher in the sense of how to throw; not just mechanically, but philosophically as far as using pitches effectively -- four-seam, sinker, slider, changeup.

 

"It's kind of dissecting hitters and saying, 'OK, this is the approach we can take,' and executing that plan." A plan. It's the only layer Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell said Masterson's added since making his first Major League start April 24. "It's been more attack plans, how to use his stuff differently than he might have been exposed to prior to coming to the Major Leagues," Farrell said. "So that's been more the learning curve as opposed to the checkpoints in his delivery."

 

Since being drafted by Boston in the second round in 2006, Masterson has built his repertoire and made an already nasty slider even nastier. In Class A, it was mechanics and balance, attitude in Double-A and fine-tuning in Triple-A. And in eight starts and 48 innings in the Majors, Masterson's seen what he and his 6-foot-6 frame can and can't do.

 

"When you can settle down and say, 'OK, it's not just trying to throw as hard as you can. It's a well-educated pitch,' that's how you're successful," Masterson said. "Not a perfect pitch but well-executed. So if you're throwing a slider, you want to make sure it's away. Throwing a changeup and you don't want it for a strike? Then you make sure you miss down. So it's those minor things that help you be successful."

 

He's currently examining how to be more successful against left-handed hitters. Lefties are batting .231 with six home runs against Masterson. Righties are hitting .163, and he's trying to narrow the gap. "When he throws strikes, locates, he does fine," manager Terry Francona said. "When he doesn't, he can give up runs. Because of his style, he's always going to be tougher on right-handers. That doesn't mean he can't get left-handers out, but when he has made a mistake to a left-hander, there's been some extra-base hits."

 

Masterson understands this. He says it's only mistakes he's made recently that hitters are taking advantage of, but it assures him when his stuff works when it's on. "Guys in the Major Leagues, they hit mistakes," Masterson said. "They don't miss the mistakes. Even in the Minor League levels, you make a mistake, a guy might pop out. But here -- and I've been one to know it in my last few starts -- the few mistakes that you make, guys make you pay.

 

"Instead of five out of 10, you're making sure you get eight or nine quality pitches," he added. "That's what I've been developing and working on, the difference that you go from there to here." Indeed, his stuff worked at tiny Bethel College (Ind.) and San Diego State after that. It's worked in the Minors for the relatively brief time he was there and can continue as the changes in the levels unravel. Because it is different now.

 

"Even at the beginning of this year, I would never expect to be here at this time," Masterson said. "I wouldn't ask for anything else."

 

Pitching matchup

BOS: RHP Justin Masterson (4-2, 3.75 ERA)

The sinkerballer has been plagued by control problems in his past couple of starts. On Monday, Masterson walked five and allowed four runs over six innings in a 5-4 loss to the Rays. Masterson has walked three or more batters in four of his past five starts. In six June starts, Masterson was 3-2 with a 4.54 ERA. This is his first career start at Yankee Stadium.

 

NYY: RHP Mike Mussina (10-6, 3.87 ERA)

Mussina's ERA has been under 4.00 over his past four starts. It seems like it's just a mistake here and there that's costing him. He hasn't walked more than two batters in a game this season. In 54 career starts against Boston -- the most he has against any team -- the righty is 19-17 with a 3.80 ERA.

 

Tidbits

Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-4 on Friday and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. He's batting .528 during that stretch. ... For just the second time this season, pitcher Josh Beckett was scored on in the first inning. ... Friday was the 101st game Manny Ramirez has played at Yankee Stadium, passing Eddie Murray and Robin Yount for fourth place among visiting players since the remodeled stadium opened in 1976, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

[riverside sluggers]

Justin Masterson (1st career appearance vs New York)

Melky Cabrera ---

Derek Jeter ---

Bobby Abreu ---

Alex Rodriguez ---

Jason Giambi ---

Jorge Posada ---

Robinson Cano ---

Jose Molina ---

Brett Gardner ---

 

Mike Mussina (54 games vs Boston, 19-17 with a 3.80 ERA---Career at Yankee Stadium in 127 games, 66-40 with a 3.68 ERA)

Jacoby Ellsbury, 2 for 3 (.667 avg) 3 SBs

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

J.D. Drew, 1 for 11 (.091 avg) K

Manny Ramirez, 28 for 100 (.280 avg) 6 Doubles, Triple, 9 HRs, 24 RBIs, 8 Walks, 20 Ks

Mike Lowell, 11 for 19 (.579 avg) 2 Doubles, 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, Walk, K

Kevin Youkilis, 6 for 19 (.316 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks

Coco Crisp, 8 for 24 (.333 avg) 3 Doubles, RBI, 6 Ks, 4 SBs

Jason Varitek, 11 for 64 (.172 avg) HR, 3 RBIs, 4 Walks, 25 Ks

Julio Lugo, 8 for 33 (.242 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, 5 RBIs, 5 Ks

///

Sean Casey, 3 for 12 (.250 avg) HR, 3 RBIs

Alex Cora, 0 for 2

 

Masterson this season on the road in 3 games, 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA

 

Mussina this season vs Boston in 2 games, 0-2 with a 9.35 ERA. At home in 11 games, 5-5 with a 4.10 ERA

[TheKilo]

Masterson's gonna get lit up today.

[das11209]

Against NYY - I feel more confident in Masterson than Wakefield. Last few years - Yankees had the number of Wake.

 

but Buchholz should be moved to rotation and Masterson to pen.

[MANNYHOF24]

Materson prediction, 7 innings 5 hits 2 runs. Book it.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Pitching matchup

BOS: RHP Justin Masterson (4-2, 3.75 ERA)

The sinkerballer has been plagued by control problems in his past couple of starts.

 

Masterson has been plagued by umpire problems his last two starts. In his last start, he had 14 pitches in the strike zone called balls by Sam Holbrook. (Sam Holbrook also called Ellsbury out at second base two games later based upon Lugo's slide into second.) With Mike Everitt he lost only two calls based upon the regulation strike zone, but he didn't get strike calls on six other pitches right off the edge of the black at locations where Everitt called strikes for other pitchers of both teams. When a pitcher takes a net loss of twenty-odd ball-strike calls, it costs him and his team about 2-4 runs. Give Masterson back three runs and his ERA for those two games goes from 6.00 to 3.75, and 3.75 is right where we'd expect Masterson's ERA to be.

 

So let's look at the umpire for today's game. Kerwin Danley is scheduled. Some factoids:

 

1) The Yankees have won four in a row with Danley calling balls and strikes.

 

2) The Red Sox have lost three in a row with Danley calling balls and strikes.

 

3) Going back to 2001, here are Mike Mussina's games started with Danley behind the plate:

 

4/4/06 7 IP, 3 ER, ND (2 HR allowed)

6/26/03 7.1 IP, 2 ER, W

7/19/02 8 IP, 2 ER, L

6/18/02 6 IP, 5 ER, W (2 HR allowed; Coors Field, light wind blowing out)

10/13/01 7 IP, 0 ER, W (ALDS)

 

Mussina's ERA in those five games is 3.06. A third of the runs allowed were home runs. Discounting the win at Coors with the wind blowing out, Mussina has a 2.15 ERA with Danley calling balls and strikes.

 

***

 

Here's my take: the first thing to check is whether Danley is calling the same strike zone for Masterson and Mussina, especially regarding Masterson's inside pitches to LHH (that's where Holbrook screwed Masterson). If they're getting the same strike zone, more or less, the issue then becomes whether or not the Red Sox can get a couple of home runs--that seems to be the ticket for scoring enough runs to have a chance against Mussina with Kerwin Danley calling behind the plate.

[VA Sox Fan]

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. Coco Crisp, CF

8. Jason Varitek, C

9. Alex Cora, SS

 

Justin Masterson, SP

 

Yankees

 

1. Brett Gardner, LF

2. Derek Jeter, SS

3. Bobby Abreu, RF

4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B

5. Jason Giambi, DH

6. Wilson Betemit, 1B

7. Robinson Cano, 2B

8. Melky Cabrera, CF

9. Jose Molina, C

 

Mike Mussina, SP

 

Let's make it WIN #3 in a row!!

[Jayhawk Bill]

The Yankees are starting four LHH and two switch-hitters. LHH (counting switch-hitters batting as LHH) are posting a .231/.381/.484 line against Masterson in 2008.

 

Exactly why isn't Buchholz back with Boston?

[VA Sox Fan]

The Yankees are starting four LHH and two switch-hitters. LHH (counting switch-hitters batting as LHH) are posting a .231/.381/.484 line against Masterson in 2008.

 

Exactly why isn't Buchholz back with Boston?

 

 

Maybe for this reason:

 

Buchholz has faced the Yankees twice this season. After holding them to four hits and a run in six innings at Fenway Park April 11, he was knocked around for seven runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings five days later in the Bronx . .

[Jayhawk Bill]

Maybe for this reason:

 

Buchholz has faced the Yankees twice this season. After holding them to four hits and a run in six innings at Fenway Park April 11, he was knocked around for seven runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings five days later in the Bronx . .

 

Maybe...but Buchholz did fine against the Yankees in Fenway, and he got unlucky three ways vs. Yankees in the Bronx: with BABIP, giving up 8 hits on 7 ground balls, 8 fly balls, and just 2 line drives; with concentration of hits, giving up 7 runs while only allowing 9 baserunners; and with conditions, giving up two of his three home runs for 2008 in those four innings, on a day when other pitchers allowed 17 runs themselves in 13.3 IP.

[schillingouttheks]

Pedroia's not that fast... damn it.

[a700hitter]

Pedroia go a very bad jump out of the box.

[a700hitter]

Drew's got more speed than Drew. Will Moose pitch to Manny?

[schillingouttheks]

Drew's a little quicker. Come on Manny.. RBI 180 feet away.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Jacoby Ellsbury struck out on three called strikes, none of which were in the strike zone.

 

This may well be a long afternoon.

[schillingouttheks]

BTW, that other Yankee hat is bothering me. It's not filled in...what's with that?

[a700hitter]

Was that a strike to Manny?

[Jayhawk Bill]

Pedroia's not that fast... damn it.

 

They were testing Gardner's arm. He bounced the throw to second, but it was right on line.

 

I wouldn't have done it, but I understand why he tried for second base.

[schillingouttheks]

They were testing Gardner's arm. He bounced the throw to second, but it was right on line.

 

I wouldn't have done it, but I understand why he tried for second base.

 

On the replay, it looked like Pedroia was set on 2B right out of the box despite starting a little slow out of it. I guess I understand testing a lefty LF Gardner though.

 

Let's go Lowell.

[VA Sox Fan]

BTW' date=' that other Yankee hat is bothering me. It's not filled in...what's with that?[/quote']

 

 

They are stars and stripes for the 4th, Sox have the same ones.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Was that a strike to Manny?

 

Yes, by about three inches.

 

Bad swing by Mikey to end the inning.

[schillingouttheks]

They are stars and stripes for the 4th' date=' Sox have the same ones.[/quote']

 

Oh aight. I couldn't really tell what that design was. Thanks!

[a700hitter]

They cost themselves with another out on the bases. Yesterday they made 3 or 4 outs on the bases. They are starting where they left off.

[a700hitter]

They have the midget batting lead off?

[See Red]

Oh aight. I couldn't really tell what that design was. Thanks!

 

Here's a pic of the Sox hat...

 

http://mlb.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pMLB2-4836941dt.jpg

 

... I think. I'm not actually watching the game, though.

[a700hitter]

Good move by Girardi batting an .077 rookie at the leadoff spot against the Red Sox.

[yankeessuck013]

great inning by masterson

[Jayhawk Bill]

Good move by Girardi batting an .077 rookie at the leadoff spot against the Red Sox.

 

Gardner is a LHH speedster whose 2008 MiLB MLE suggests he's very suitable to lead off. Against Masterson, I don't fault Girardi.

[schillingouttheks]

Here's a pic of the Sox hat...

 

http://mlb.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pMLB2-4836941dt.jpg

 

... I think. I'm not actually watching the game, though.

 

Thanks. That's actually pretty cool.

[a700hitter]

Nice inning by Masterson.

 

BTW If Pedroia and Gardner stand back to back, who is taller. Neither one is close to his listed height.