4/18 vs Rangers

[Laser Show]

Maybe we'll have a chance with this game thread. It's not nearly offensive enough to incur the wrath of the 90's Bills Gods like yesterday.

[BornToRun]

Oh and can I ask what's so bad about Salty's defense? I'm not saying he isn't bad I just dont know what to look for when evaluating a catchers defensive capability.

[a700hitter]

Ross batting cleanup tonight.

[a700hitter]

D Mac and Repko in the lineup together.

[redsoxfan3]

RED SOX (4-7)

Aviles SS

Pedroia 2B

Gonzalez 1B

Ross RF

Ortiz DH

Youkilis 3B

Shoppach C

McDonald LF

Repko CF

Pitching: RHP Josh Beckett (1-1, 5.68)

[redsoxfan3]

I am trying to figure out why Sweeney is not in the lineup and why we keep using Repko?

[BornToRun]

I am trying to figure out why Sweeney is not in the lineup and why we keep using Repko?

 

Sweeney can't hit lefties very well. I actually kinda like having Ross in the 4 spot though.

[a700hitter]

Sweeney can't hit lefties very well. I actually kinda like having Ross in the 4 spot though.

Can Sweeney hit lefties better than Repko?

[BornToRun]

Can Sweeney hit lefties better than Repko?

 

That thought crossed my mind but can Ryan cover CF? Not that Repko's any good at it. Hell, I probably would've put Sweeney in.

[a700hitter]

That thought crossed my mind but can Ryan cover CF? Not that Repko's any good at it. Hell' date=' I probably would've put Sweeney in.[/quote']Put D Mac in CF.

[BornToRun]

Put D Mac in CF.

 

Perhaps. I know Sweeney's Ops is less than 600 vs lefties. I'm not sure with repko and I just want DMac outta the lineup.

[jung]

The contact actually helped Josh against Tampa as they were swinging at the off speed stuff early in counts and not doing anything with it. Josh threw 33 pitches in the first two innings when he was on plan A and only threw 61 pitches in the remaining six innings of his stint because the hitters kept swinging at that off speed stuff he started throwing early in counts starting when he reverted to plan B with the third inning.

 

Presuming that Josh does again go to plan B if the Rangers force Josh to prove he can throw that off speed stuff for called strikes by laying off of it that will tell the story of what Josh might do for the remainder tonight and going forward. This might be one of the most important starts of this part of Josh's career.

 

He is transitioning as all pitchers that have relied on high heat have had to transition at some point or another. I do think both he and we expected the FB to have more velocity than he has shown so far. I would not bet that his velocity will go up that much simply because of the period of the season we are in. Don't see the fast ball pitchers around the league suffering 5 and 6 mph reductions in velocity. Still not sure he is fully sound for one thing.

[a700hitter]

Perhaps. I know Sweeney's Ops is less than 600 vs lefties. I'm not sure with repko and I just want DMac outta the lineup.

We have Repko and DMac in the lineup together.

[a700hitter]

Perhaps. I know Sweeney's Ops is less than 600 vs lefties. I'm not sure with repko and I just want DMac outta the lineup.

Ross could play CF.

[BornToRun]

The contact actually helped Josh against Tampa as they were swinging at the off speed stuff early in counts and not doing anything with it. Josh threw 33 pitches in the first two innings when he was on plan A and only threw 61 pitches in the remaining six innings of his stint because the hitters kept swinging at that off speed stuff he started throwing early in counts starting when he reverted to plan B with the third inning.

 

Presuming that Josh does again go to plan B if the Rangers force Josh to prove he can throw that off speed stuff for called strikes by laying off of it that will tell the story of what Josh might do for the remainder tonight and going forward. This might be one of the most important starts of this part of Josh's career.

 

He is transitioning as all pitchers that have relied on high heat have had to transition at some point or another. I do think both he and we expected the FB to have more velocity than he has shown so far. I would not bet that his velocity will go up that much simply because of the period of the season we are in. Don't see the fast ball pitchers around the league suffering 5 and 6 mph reductions in velocity. Still not sure he is fully sound for one thing.

I always remembered him sitting at 93-94 last year. Could he still hit 96? I don't recall him hitting that mark.

[BornToRun]

Ross could play CF.

 

I guess. Either way, maybe v's just trying to get something out of repko, he kinda has to.

[Station 13]

I always remembered him sitting at 93-94 last year. Could he still hit 96? I don't recall him hitting that mark.

 

 

Josh was around 92-94 most of last year. He's not at mid 90s since 2008.

[BornToRun]

Josh was around 92-94 most of last year. He's not at mid 90s since 2008.

 

That's what I thought. So 90-91 doesn't seem like such a drop off. Maybe he can work his way back to 93-94. Its early.

[jung]

Beckett did hit 93 last year with his FB. However he is aging. He was at an average of 94 for the period from 2007-2009 and had been at 96 for a period in his ealier years occasionally throwing at 97 but not with regularity. He is not getting younger. I would put the chances that he hits 93 with any regularity this year at 50-50.

[VA Sox Fan]

More from The Globe:

 

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

 

TV/Radio: NESN, ESPN2 / WEEI

 

Song of the Day: "The Night Before" by The Beatles.

 

Rangers vs. Beckett: Young 4-24; Beltre 4-23, 10 K; Napoli 4-19, 3 HR; Hamilton 6-14, 2 HR; Andrus 2-10; Torrealba 4-13; Cruz 1-8; Kinsler 2-9; Murphy 3-6; Moreland 2-5.

 

Red Sox vs. Holland: Pedroa 1-8; Punto 3-7 Ortiz 1-5; Gonzalez 1-6; Youkilis 0-6; Sweeney 0-5; Aviles 0-4; McDonald 0-2; Ross 0-1; Shoppach 1-8.

 

Notes: The Rangers have won five straight and are 4-0 on their road trip. ... The Sox have been out-homered 17-11 so far this season. ... The Sox are 10-20 against the Rangers the last four years. ... Beckett is 3-2, 5.03 in eight career starts against Texas. He faced the Rangers once in 2011, allowing one run in six innings in a 13-2 victory on Aug. 24. ... Holland is 2-1, 2.95 in three career starts against the Red Sox. He faced them once last season, throwing seven shutout innings on Sept. 2 in a 10-0 win. He allowed two hits without a walk and struck out six. ... Holland has allowed four earned runs in 11.2 career innings at Fenway. ... Youkilis (6 of 34, 12 K) and Saltalamacchia (2 for 24, 7 K) are struggling.

 

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox were 2 for 32 (.062) with no runs scored in the first inning in the first 10 games. They were 4 for 7 with two runs on Tuesday.

[BornToRun]

Sweet, didn't know we were on espn

[VA Sox Fan]

Sweet' date=' didn't know we were on espn[/quote']

 

Thought you'd be psyched.

[BornToRun]

Thought you'd be psyched.

 

Getting to watch Josh wiggle his sweet ass on the mound? Mmmmmm yes.

[kapsis21]

Getting to watch Josh wiggle his sweet ass on the mound? Mmmmmm yes.

 

with a lisp..

[BornToRun]

with a lisp..

 

Of course.

[a700hitter]

with a lisp..

I think you meant a lithsp.

[kapsis21]

I think you meant a lithsp.

 

:thumbsup:

[jung]

ESPN guys might be fun for a night and a change from the NESN crew. I have to admit though Don and Jerry were really kinda' funny to listen to last night.

[BornToRun]

ESPN guys might be fun for a night and a change from the NESN crew. I have to admit though Don and Jerry were really kinda' funny to listen to last night.

 

Espn is pretty awful, though.

[NativeBostonian]

At least we don’t have to deal with Mark (make me want to slit me wrists) Melancon. By the way, if I see another guy defend this pile of s***, I am going to lose it. How can you defend that? He’s given more homeruns then he has gotten outs.