9/15 vs Tampa Bay Rays

[VA Sox Fan]

Red Sox (86-62)

 

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B

4. David Ortiz, DH

5. Kevin Youkilis, 3B

6. Josh Reddick, RF

7. Carl Crawford, LF

8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

9. Marco Scutaro, SS

 

SP: Kyle Weiland

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Welcome back Papi!

 

WIN!

[SoxFanForsyth]

VA Lineup AND Thread MOJO?!? :thumbsup:

 

Oh. s***. Hellickson is screwed.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

GAME OVER

[a700hitter]

What is Francona's explanation for going with Weiland tonight instead of Miller? I thought he'd want the lefty because the Rays have few lefties: Damon, Joyce, Kotchman, Brignac and Jaso.

 

I have to say that this gives me flashbacks to 1978 when Zimmer started rookie call up Bobby Sprowl in the crucial Yankee series.

[SoxFanForsyth]

What is Francona's explanation for going with Weiland tonight instead of Miller? I thought he'd want the lefty because the Rays have few lefties: Damon, Joyce, Kotchman, Brignac and Jaso.

 

I have to say that this gives me flashbacks to 1978 when Zimmer started rookie call up Bobby Sprowl in the crucial Yankee series.

 

From WEEI, main points in bold:

 

PRE-GAME NOTES: WEILAND PITCHING THURSDAY

 

The Red Sox have set their rotation for the series against Tampa Bay, with rookie Kyle Weiland (0-1, 6.75) taking the ball for the series opener, followed by Josh Beckett (12-5, 2.49), Jon Lester (15-7, 3.07) and Tim Wakefield (7-6, 5.13). The Sox will then have John Lackey (12-12, 6.30) pitch in one game of Monday’s day-night doubleheader against the Orioles, with the other starter to be determined.

 

That alignment reflects a few different factors. Among them:

 

–The Sox believe Weiland did a solid job of limiting the damage as he pitched his way through early-innings trouble against the Rays in his four-inning, three-run performance in Saturday’s 6-5, extra-innings loss.

 

“The other day down in Tampa, that was pretty tough circumstances for him, away against them and he got through his first inning,” said manager Terry Francona. “We just think he can rise to the occasion and give us a chance to win. I don’t doubt Andrew [Miller] would do the same thing.”

 

–That said, whereas Weiland has managed to limit the damage, Miller has some starts that unraveled quickly in which the game, by the pitcher’s own account, sped up on him. While the left-hander (6-3, 5.58) has shown an ability to dominate at times, in his last two games, he’s allowed 11 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings against the Rangers and Rays.

 

–As a team, the Rays are hitting .243 with a .314 OBP, .398 slugging mark and .712 OPS against right-handed pitchers. Against lefties, they are hitting .248/.331/.409/.741. The Rays are 54-47 (.535) in games started by righties, and 28-18 (.609) against southpaws.

[SoxFanForsyth]

What is Francona's explanation for going with Weiland tonight instead of Miller? I thought he'd want the lefty because the Rays have few lefties: Damon, Joyce, Kotchman, Brignac and Jaso.

 

I have to say that this gives me flashbacks to 1978 when Zimmer started rookie call up Bobby Sprowl in the crucial Yankee series.

 

But. The 1978 season didn't have VA starting GT's. :thumbsup:

[a700hitter]

The numbers don't overwhelmingly support going with a lefty or a righty. I still don't like going with a kid with 2 major league starts under his belt to start the first game of the biggest series of the season. Miller doesn't have a load of experience either. The two options are really bad. There is no good choice. I'd probably still go with Miler, because when he is on he has demonstrated some ability to dominate. Bad options. Kevin Millwood would have been a much better option.

[a700hitter]

But. The 1978 season didn't have VA starting GT's. :thumbsup:

How do you know? There were no computers, but maybe she did it on paper.

[a700hitter]

We need Hellickson to come down with a case of intestinal turmoil.

[Station 13]

Hellickson throws a ton of pitches each time they face him. I don't know why Scooter is hitting 9th. He's been hot lately. Youk is hitting like s*** and anything offspeed makes Youkilis look terrible this year. Hellickson throws a lot of changeups.

[a700hitter]

Hellickson throws a ton of pitches each time they face him. I don't know why Scooter is hitting 9th. He's been hot lately. Youk is hitting like s*** and anything offspeed makes Youkilis look terrible this year. Hellickson throws a lot of changeups.

Why? Look at the idiot in your avatar.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Well. I'm going to go ahead and make a couple predictions.

 

Weiland throws a gem, 7 IP, 2 Runs (1 ER).

 

Pedroia and Ellsbury put this team on their back.

 

Aviles ends the game at 3rd base.

 

Aceves throws a scoreless 8th.

 

Red Sox win, 6-2

[a700hitter]

Well. I'm going to go ahead and make a couple predictions.

 

Weiland throws a gem, 7 IP, 2 Runs (1 ER).

 

Pedroia and Ellsbury put this team on their back.

 

Aviles ends the game at 3rd base.

 

Aceves throws a scoreless 8th.

 

Red Sox win, 6-2

I'm predicting a sell out crowd

[SoxSport]

Didn't Weiland pitch pretty well last start?

 

I mean "pretty well" for the Sox.

 

Which means the team wasn't down by 5 runs the first 3 innings.

 

Makes sense to start him over Miller, who should be in AAA anyways.

[VA Sox Fan]

VA Lineup AND Thread MOJO?!? :thumbsup:

 

Oh. s***. Hellickson is screwed.

 

My mojo has been a bit off my last couple of starts. Thought I'd give it one more try before the end of the season.

[VA Sox Fan]

How do you know? There were no computers' date=' but maybe she did it on paper.[/quote']

 

[a700hitter]

My mojo has been a bit off my last couple of starts. Thought I'd give it one more try before the end of the season.

You are going to need some strong mojo to overcome tonight's pitching matchup. If you can't pull them through tonight, I'll do tomorrow's GT. I haven't done one all season. I've been saving up and conserving my mojo for the big games.

[VA Sox Fan]

You are going to need some strong mojo to overcome tonight's pitching matchup. If you can't pull them through tonight' date=' I'll do tomorrow's GT. I haven't done one all season. I've been saving up and conserving my mojo for the big games.[/quote']

 

:thumbsup:

[VA Sox Fan]

RAYS (82-66)

Jennings LF

Upton CF

Longoria 3B

Zobrist 2B

Damon DH

Joyce RF

Kotchman 1B

Jaso C

Brignac SS

Pitching: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (12-10, 2.96)

[jacksonianmarch]

Well. I'm going to go ahead and make a couple predictions.

 

Weiland throws a gem, 7 IP, 2 Runs (1 ER).

 

Pedroia and Ellsbury put this team on their back.

 

Aviles ends the game at 3rd base.

 

Aceves throws a scoreless 8th.

 

Red Sox win, 6-2

 

and now the sox are gonna be blown out

[a700hitter]

and now the sox are gonna be blown out

If that happens, I'll be making tomorrow's GT and my mojo will run the table to the end of the season.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

What is Francona's explanation for going with Weiland tonight instead of Miller? I thought he'd want the lefty because the Rays have few lefties: Damon, Joyce, Kotchman, Brignac and Jaso.

 

I have to say that this gives me flashbacks to 1978 when Zimmer started rookie call up Bobby Sprowl in the crucial Yankee series.

 

He's starting Weiland instead of Miller because Miller couldn't even beat the Special Olympics baseball team right now. The dude is horrendous.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

And we all know that a Jacksonianmarch prediction always goes opposite of what he says. Every time.

[Spudboy]

VA Lineup AND Thread MOJO?!? :thumbsup:

 

Oh. s***. Hellickson is screwed.

 

:D:D:D:D:D

[a700hitter]

He's starting Weiland instead of Miller because Miller couldn't even beat the Special Olympics baseball team right now. The dude is horrendous.

He might if Weiland pitched for them.

[Reck]

Who cares about who's pitching? You can put jesus on the mound and Sox may still lose.

 

The whole picthing squad save from Beckett has been a disaster this past month or so.

 

Fact is, if Red Sox lose even one game of this series. You can say goodbye.

[a700hitter]

Who cares about who's pitching? You can put jesus on the mound and Sox may still lose.

 

The whole picthing squad save from Beckett has been a disaster this past month or so.

 

Fact is, if Red Sox lose even one game of this series. You can say goodbye.

Explain.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

That makes no sense

[MNSoxChief102]

Who cares about who's pitching? You can put jesus on the mound and Sox may still lose.

 

The whole picthing squad save from Beckett has been a disaster this past month or so.

 

Fact is, if Red Sox lose even one game of this series. You can say goodbye.

 

Uhh... how's that?

 

Winning 3 out of 4 would put us 6 games up and reduce our magic number to just 5 for the wild card with 10 games to go, 7 of which are against the Orioles. I'd say that's about as close to a lock as it gets.

[Reck]

Explain.

 

 

Perhaps I was been too harsh with that comment but Red Sox got a thing for losing in bunches.

 

They lose one and the bad mojo trickles to the next game and so forth.

 

We have already seen Red Sox is incapable of even beating sub par 500 teams anymore.

 

They have a double header coming up with the Orioles. They need those games badly.