4/23 @ Twins

[boston22407]

WIN!

[jung]

Well there is one additional benefit that comes out of the Sunday rain out. In having Bard skip a start Lester moves to the front of the line and pitches tonight coming out of a five game losing streak and the Saturday disaster.

 

As I have said before, being the #1 pitcher in the rotation is not just about talent. It is about the ability to go out and be the stopper. Make no mistake about it either. There is very little wiggle room in this regard. This is not one of those cases where we can look for some silver lining if Lester does not do the job and the job is pretty well understood. It is goose eggs over significant innings. A #1 for a "contending team" thrown out there in this situation must put up goose eggs for at least 7 innings. Maybe 1 run over 7 innings would be tolerated and if this was 30 years ago, the job would be 8 innings to CG shutout. More than that is a FAIL.

 

Lester has never in my view stepped up to this challenge in the past and that is in large part why I do not consider him a #1 starting pitcher. So Lester has a great opportunity here to bang his flag into the turf around the pitching mound and finally claim that spot as his. Much more important than that it can go a long way to helping this team believe there is at least something they can rely upon, some one thing that does not seem like quicksand under their feet, something besides Ortiz bashing the hell out of the ball and Pedey being the usual Pedey cause that ain't enough.

 

None of what Lester has done so far this year excuses the rest of the team for the piss poor, stupid, selfish baseball that we have seen so far. However if he can do this tonight, it could be a start to healing what is a wounded, damaged team.

[a700hitter]

On paper, the pitching matchups favor the Red Sox for this series, but our team doesn't hit well on the road and Mauer and Morneau seem to be getting back to where they were a couple of years ago. Plus, Willingham is tearing the cover off the ball.

[TylerD]

Perfect series for the Sox to get back on track. I won't be able to watch the game. Here's hoping Lester has a good outing today. There's a guy I work with who is a Minnesota fan. There's a lot of free coffee riding on this series lol.

[Wil Corderos Wife]

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120422&content_id=29409332&vkey=news_bos&c_id=bos

 

Looks like Bard will be available out of the bullpen for just today's game, so there's that. Our resident AAAA first baseman/outfielder/zombie Lars Anderson is back up as well.

 

Offensive road numbers aside, I think what this team needs most is a change of scenery right now. I still want to firebomb the whole damn bullpen, and I'm a well-balanced and reasonable-minded fan. I shudder to think what a typical fan would do. A few days on the road with a chance to rebound and take away some of the sting from last weekend will do them well.

[TutGadol]

Well there is one additional benefit that comes out of the Sunday rain out. In having Bard skip a start Lester moves to the front of the line and pitches tonight coming out of a five game losing streak and the Saturday disaster.

 

As I have said before, being the #1 pitcher in the rotation is not just about talent. It is about the ability to go out and be the stopper. Make no mistake about it either. There is very little wiggle room in this regard. This is not one of those cases where we can look for some silver lining if Lester does not do the job and the job is pretty well understood. It is goose eggs over significant innings. A #1 for a "contending team" thrown out there in this situation must put up goose eggs for at least 7 innings. Maybe 1 run over 7 innings would be tolerated and if this was 30 years ago, the job would be 8 innings to CG shutout. More than that is a FAIL.

 

Lester has never in my view stepped up to this challenge in the past and that is in large part why I do not consider him a #1 starting pitcher. So Lester has a great opportunity here to bang his flag into the turf around the pitching mound and finally claim that spot as his. Much more important than that it can go a long way to helping this team believe there is at least something they can rely upon, some one thing that does not seem like quicksand under their feet, something besides Ortiz bashing the hell out of the ball and Pedey being the usual Pedey cause that ain't enough.

 

None of what Lester has done so far this year excuses the rest of the team for the piss poor, stupid, selfish baseball that we have seen so far. However if he can do this tonight, it could be a start to healing what is a wounded, damaged team.

 

I agree, Lester could really prove himself here if he hands the ball to Bard (Assuming he closes tonight).

[VA Sox Fan]

RED SOX (4-10)

 

Aviles SS

Sweeney RF

Pedroia 2B

Gonzalez 1B

Ortiz DH

Youkilis 3B

Saltalamacchia C

Ross LF

Byrd CF

 

Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (0-2, 5.82)

[onlybereaved]

Let's get a win today! Lester comeback + offense + Bard closing could make for a beauty victory

[MNSoxChief102]

I've been saving it up for a while now and will finally get to unleash my mojo by going to the game tonight... time for the Sox to rebound with a beatdown in Minneapolis tonight!

[scsoxsfan]

RED SOX (4-10)

 

Aviles SS

Sweeney RF

Pedroia 2B

Gonzalez 1B

Ortiz DH

Youkilis 3B

Saltalamacchia C

Ross LF

Byrd CF

 

Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (0-2, 5.82)

 

 

i really like this lineup very balanced i say that salty really starts lighting up the bat tonight..:thumbsup:

[Laser Show]

I'd rather see Gonzo hitting in front of Pedroia, but they'll both do fine in either spot.

[VA Sox Fan]

TWINS (5-11)

Span CF

Carroll SS

Mauer C

Willingham DH

Morneau 1B

Doumit RF

Valencia 3B

Plouffe LF

Casilla 2B

Pitching: RHP Jason Marquis (1-0, 7.20)

[SoxFanForsyth]

Anyone else notice that we still haven't worn our blues or reds this year? It's been all white and gray jerseys.

[jung]

The way they have stacked Pedey and Agons may finally be a response to Agons swinging at just about every first pitch he sees in an at bat. Pedey is generally more patient and more selective and that difference may well have him third and Agons 4th.

[ellsburyforMVP]

I've been pretty adamant about bard being our closer, but the fact that they " are going to try to keep him sharp in between starts" is very intriguing for my fantasy team!!!! Maybe bard gets me a sv and a win this week!!!

[Laser Show]

The way they have stacked Pedey and Agons may finally be a response to Agons swinging at just about every first pitch he sees in an at bat. Pedey is generally more patient and more selective and that difference may well have him third and Agons 4th.

 

I understand it's a relatively small sample size, but Pedroia-

 

Batting 3rd - 101 PA, .735 OPS

Batting 4th - 133 PA, 1.117 OPS

 

Career .837 OPS

[NZSox]

i really like this lineup very balanced i say that salty really starts lighting up the bat tonight..:thumbsup:

 

He started last time out! But yeah I agree, hopefully it's his time to shine.

 

The way Aviles/Sweeney are playing I love our top 5 right there.

[Whatsinaname]

Praying for a CG by Lester

[redsoxbeatz]

I'd rather see Gonzo hitting in front of Pedroia' date=' but they'll both do fine in either spot.[/quote']

 

Agreed. Anything to put Pedroia into the 4th hole where he digiforms into Ted Wiliams. Bobby V needs to look at Pedroias 4th spot #s.

[MANNYHOF24]

Anyone else notice that we still haven't worn our blues or reds this year? It's been all white and gray jerseys.

 

Yet to play a road game on friday, and the home game on this friday they wore the retro uniforms for the celebration.

[VA Sox Fan]

Praying for a CG by Lester

 

We can only hope and pray!

[SCM33]

We need someone else hitting leadoff.

 

Pedroia or Sweeney. Aviles is not a leadoff hitter.

[VA Sox Fan]

I've got the Fox Sports North broadcast.....

[boston22407]

Lets Go Redsox WIN!

[MANNYHOF24]

I've got the Fox Sports North broadcast.....

 

No Remy tonight on Nesn... it's a train wreck so far.

[VA Sox Fan]

The batting order is the least of my concerns.

[VA Sox Fan]

No Remy tonight on Nesn... it's a train wreck so far.

 

[SCM33]

No Remy tonight on Nesn... it's a train wreck so far.

 

Roy Smalley sounds like he knows his s***....

[SoxFanForsyth]

Not a big fan of the angle that they have on this game. Can't tell the height of the pitch all that well.

[Northern Star]

OK, good start.