4/17 vs. Blue Jays

[example1]

I don't know who is pitching and I don't care. The Sox need to win and they are the better team.

 

Continuing with the theme from the Optimism Thread, with some NEW additions thanks to today's victory:

 

Successful teams that started 3-10

 

1974 Pittsburgh Pirates

Started 3-10

Finished 88-74

**Division Champs**

 

2001 Oakland A's

Started 3-10

Finished 102-60

**Wildcard**

 

1982 Baltimore Orioles

Started 3-10

Finished 94-68

**Second Place**

(94 wins is good though)

 

1914 Boston Braves

Started 3-10

Finished 94-59

**World Series Champs**

 

2007 Philadelphia Phillies

Started 3-10

Finished 89-73

**Division Champs**

 

 

Only ONE team has started 2-11 and made the playoffs, that was the 1951 Giants. In terms of historical precedent, today's (4/16) win was a big one.

 

Let's keep the mojo going.

 

Go Sox!

[boston22407]

WIN!

Lester pitching

[msubulldogs21]

I like it.

 

Pitching matchup is Lester vs Litsch

[Youk Of The Nation]

I am prepared for a constant barrage of Litsch/Bitch puns.

[jacksonianmarch]

Wrath of the Litsch King

 

http://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/wrath_of_the_lich_king.jpg

[italstallianion]

Sub Zero!!!

[RedSoxFrank]

I'm confident with Lester on the mound, lets make it 2 in a row!

 

Go Sox!

[DirtDog]

I'm kinda hoping this gets rained out. I'm going to the game Monday and would rather see Lester pitch than Dice-K...

 

 

But lets win!

[jacksonianmarch]

It stopped raining here in Mass right now.

[ORS]

A graphical representation of Lester's Theorem....

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Lester_theorem.svg/575px-Lester_theorem.svg.png

 

Triangulate a win.

[CoachC.]

Crawford LF

Pedroia 2B

Gonzalez 1B

Youkilis 3B

Ortiz DH

Lowrie SS

Drew RF

Saltalamacchia C

Ellsbury CF

[RedSoxFrank]

Hopefully Crawford can start hitting the ball today.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Well at least Lowrie is starting.

[RedSoxFrank]

Well at least Lowrie is starting.

 

Should be leading off, Crawf should be hitting lower in the line-up.

[MJantomaso]

Crawford and Lowrie need to swap.

[CoachC.]

I assume Tito wanted to keep the L-R matchup throughout the lineup, although its L-L with Ells and CC

[CoachC.]

Crawford and Lowrie need to swap.

 

Agreed.

[Spudboy]

I hope to be watching. Spudboy Watching Mojo will be in effect.

[La Munson]

Crawford LF

Pedroia 2B

Gonzalez 1B

Youkilis 3B

Ortiz DH

Lowrie SS

Drew RF

Saltalamacchia C

Ellsbury CF

 

Seriously? What the hell is wrong with Francona. Not having Varitek catch tonight was expected, even if I disagree, but having Crawford lead off and Lowrie so low in the lineup makes no sense at all.

 

Highest batting average in the AL and your putting him sixth.

 

Watch us lose this game.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I wasn't aware this game was on TBS. Lucky me so looks like I'll be watching.

[example1]

Seriously? What the hell is wrong with Francona. Not having Varitek catch tonight was expected, even if I disagree, but having Crawford lead off and Lowrie so low in the lineup makes no sense at all.

 

Highest batting average in the AL and your putting him sixth.

 

Watch us lose this game.

 

This team needs Saltalamacchia to be a productive member of the team and he needs to improve his catching skills with these pitchers. That's not going to happen if he sits on the bench. It is frustrating, but Salty is this team's catcher for better or worse.

[Wasatch]

Let's Go Redsox!

[Palodios]

Has anyone read Crawford's Diary on ESPN?

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/9992/crawford-diary-only-going-to-get-better

 

People seem to want to know where I will be batting in the order. I really don't care. This team is so good and full of good players. Wherever they put you that's where they'll think you'll be best at. You don't want to go against the grain in regard to where a manager thinks you should be.

 

People seem to want to say that I hate batting leadoff. I don't hate batting leadoff, not at all, especially with this lineup. It's actually fun to bat leadoff. I get to do everything I like to do on a baseball field. I get to be exciting and run and set the table. There's nothing wrong with batting leadoff at all. People that say I hate batting leadoff don't know me that well. The most important things when you do bat leadoff are trying to get on base, to show the rest of the team what their pitcher has that day, and just try to set that table and start things off on a good foot for the team.

 

I haven't started off at the plate they way I'd like to. The issues have been my timing and I've been doing some stuff with my stance. I'm just trying to get back to swinging the bat the way I normally swing it. So I've been tinkering with stuff and going by trial and error right now. I don't usually have a slow start to a season. I've been working with my hitting coach [Dave Magadan] . We go down in the cage and work on some things and watch a little video. He might show me a picture that he had of my stance. We just go over stuff. I wish I knew what was wrong because if I knew I would definitely would be on top of it fixing it right now. Instead, I'm a little off right now, but I'm not going to try and stop figuring it out.

[ORS]

Seriously? What the hell is wrong with Francona. Not having Varitek catch tonight was expected, even if I disagree, but having Crawford lead off and Lowrie so low in the lineup makes no sense at all.

 

Highest batting average in the AL and your putting him sixth.

 

Watch us lose this game.

Looks to me like he's playing the platoon splits, which works for me. Crawford is a lot better when he's facing a RHP, Lowrie so far has been worse. As long as he's in the lineup against an RHP.....this is his first start against one this year, right?....I'm ok with it. If he starts to hit against RHP too, then the leadoff spot should be his full-time.

 

Right now, I absolutely have him leadoff against LHP.

[Cocos Disciples]

A graphical representation of Lester's Theorem....

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Lester_theorem.svg/575px-Lester_theorem.svg.png

 

Triangulate a win.

 

Complicated math mojo!

 

Hey a 2 game winning streak would be nice. Make it happen.

[Palodios]

Looks to me like he's playing the platoon splits, which works for me. Crawford is a lot better when he's facing a RHP, Lowrie so far has been worse. As long as he's in the lineup against an RHP.....this is his first start against one this year, right?....I'm ok with it. If he starts to hit against RHP too, then the leadoff spot should be his full-time.

 

Right now, I absolutely have him leadoff against LHP.

 

Lowrie has had 13 AB against LHP, and 9 against RHP, including a start against Nova. Against RHP, he has hit a respectable .556. That being said, I completely agree that getting Crawford involved while facing a low-tier RHP is more important than Lowrie getting one extra AB right now.

[boston22407]

WIN!

GO REDSOX!

[SoxFanForsyth]

I was originally pissed when I saw Crawford leading off, but Lowrie does need to be in a spot where he can drive in runs. He's squaring everything up right now.

 

Crawford is also 5/10 off of Litsch, so this is a perfect pitcher for him to turn it around against. I can't wait for him to get white hot.

[RedSoxFrank]

Lets go Sox!

 

I have no problem going 152-10.

[The_Destroyah]

woohoo bought MLB.tv!!! Best investment of my life.