9/24 vs. Rockies -- On the Way to Home Field Advantage

[a700hitter]

From ESPN:

 

With home-field advantage in the AL still up for grabs, the Boston Red Sox won't take it easy during the final week of the regular season.

 

John Lackey looks to build on his best start of the year when the Red Sox visit the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night looking for an eighth win in 10 road games.

 

Headed to the postseason for first time in four years as East champions, Boston (95-62) hopes to hold off Oakland and Detroit in the race for the league's best record.

 

"We're going out to win games and be aggressive," said Felix Doubront, the winning pitcher in Sunday's 5-2 victory over Toronto. "We'll try to go hard every game."

 

Lackey (10-12, 3.44 ERA) likely won't let up after striking out eight during his two-hit gem in Thursday's 3-1 victory over Baltimore. The right-hander did not give up a hit until Adam Jones' homer in the seventh inning, then yielded a single to J.J. Hardy in the eighth to bounce back after he allowed 11 runs and 15 hits in 12 innings of his previous two starts.

 

"I felt pretty good," Lackey told the Red Sox's official website. "My arm felt good. It was fun."

 

In preparation for the playoffs, Boston originally intended to pitch Lackey out of the bullpen during this two-game set at Coors Field. However, they decided to push Jake Peavy to Wednesday and start Lackey on Tuesday and in Sunday's regular-season finale at Baltimore.

 

"We still want to play a good brand of baseball," manager John Farrell said. "We don't see the clinching of the division as a breather. It's a matter of continuing on and playing a very sound brand of baseball."

 

Lackey fanned a season-high 12 and gave up two runs over seven innings in a 5-3 home victory over Colorado on June 26, but pitching at Coors Field for the first time since 2010 might not be as easy. He's 1-4 with a 5.45 ERA in five road starts since the All-Star break.

 

The Rockies (71-86) have little to play for this week, but Michael Cuddyer still has the NL batting title in his sights. After missing the previous three games with a sore left wrist and forearm, Cuddyer raised his average to .334 with three hits in Sunday's 13-9 loss to Arizona.

 

He went 4 for 9 with two homers as Colorado was swept in two games by the Red Sox in June. With a solo shot off Lackey in that series, four of Cuddyer's seven hits in 22 at-bats against him have been home runs.

 

Boston's Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia each went 5 for 9 in that series.

 

Pedroia is 2 for 2 with a walk against the Rockies' Tyler Chatwood (7-5, 3.36), who gave up four runs over six innings in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to St. Louis. The right-hander has a 4.34 ERA in four September starts since returning from a month on the DL due to right elbow inflammation.

 

Chatwood gave up two runs and walked five in six innings in his only start against Boston, a 2011 outing with the Los Angeles Angels.

 

This will be the second-to-last home game for Colorado's Todd Helton, who will retire after 17 seasons. He had three hits and four RBIs on Sunday and is 12 for 30 in eight home games - including a pair in the 2007 World Series - versus Boston.

 

"It's good knowing that I can go out and be productive and help the team every once in awhile," Helton told the Rockies' official website

[VA Sox Fan]

RED SOX (95-62)

Victorino RF

Nava LF

Pedroia 2B

Ortiz 1B

Saltalamacchia C

Drew SS

Middlebrooks 3B

Bradley Jr. CF

Pitching: RHP John Lackey (10-12, 3.44).

[Thunder]

Can't do this on my iPad anymore with iOS 7:

 

RHP John Lackey (10-12, 3.44)

VS

RHP Tyler Chatwood (7-5, 3.36)

 

Game time: 8:40 p.m.

 

TV/radio: NESN / WEEI.

 

Red Sox vs. Chatwood: Napoli 2-5, Ross 2-5, Victorino 0-4, Carp 1-3, Ellsbury 1-3, McDonald 1-3, Ortiz 1-2, Pedroia 2-2.

 

Rockies vs. Lackey: Cuddyer 7-22, Torrealba 4-14, Gonzalez 4-12, Helton 4-10, Herrera 1-4, LeMahieu 0-4, Arenado 1-3, Rosario 2-3, Rutledge 0-3.

 

Stat of the Day: The Sox are 13-5 in interleague games. Only the Pirates (15-5) have more interleague wins. The Rockies are 4-14.

 

Notes: The Sox took two games from the Rockies at Fenway in June. But they trail the all-time series, 5-7, and are 2-4 at Coors Field. That does not include the 2007 World Series, however ... Lackey is 17-9, 3.08 in 36 career interleague games, 2-2, 2.48 in four starts this season. He beat the Rockies June 26, allowing two runs over seven innings and striking out 12 without a walk ... Chatwood is 0-6, 6.86 in five major league starts since July 31. He has not faced the Sox since April 21, 2011, when he was with the Angels ... The Sox are 14-6 in September. That matches the total number of wins they had in September 2011 (7-20) and 2012 (7-19) ... Colorado first baseman Todd Helton, who is retiring after the season, will play his final two home games against the Sox. In 17 years, he is a career .345/.441/.606 hitter at Coors Field and .287/.386/.470 on the road ... Will Middlebrooks is 4 of his last 35 over 10 games with one RBI and no extra-base hits ... Jackie Bradley Jr. is 5 of his last 10 with two extra-base hits ... The Sox have 36 successful stolen bases in a row.

 

Song of the Day: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Diana Ross.

[Thunder]

Random Red Sox notes from Colorado

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

 

DENVER — Plenty of questions out there about the tiebreaker for best record in the American League. Here's where it stands and why it matters:

 

The Sox (95-62) lead the Athletics (94-63) by one game in the race for the best record in the American League. The winner gets to play the wild-card winner and then has home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

 

With Detroit looking like the No. 3 seed, that's who the No. 2 seed would play. So finishing with the best record means you can avoid Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Miguel Cabrera, etc. That's a lot of incentive.

 

The tiebreaker is head to head. The Sox were 3-3 against the A's. The second tiebreaker is intradivision record. The Sox are 43-30 and the A's 42-29.

 

Here's a list of the other tiebreakers.

 

Also:

 

• The last time the Pirates were in the playoffs, in 1992, Tim Wakefield was a rookie. That's how long ago it was.

 

The Red Sox did a lot to help the Pirates this year. Mark Melancon is 3-2 with 16 saves and a 1.41 ERA over 71 appearances. He has a 0.91 WHIP.

 

Stolmy Pimentel appeared in four games after a solid minor league season. He has allowed two earned runs over 7.1 innings. They were the main pieces the Sox traded in the ill-fated Joel Hanrahan deal.

 

Catcher Mike McKenry was traded from the Sox to the Pirates in 2011. He has appeared in 41 games this season.

 

• Speaking of Hanrahan, he hasn't been around the Red Sox since his surgery, and that probably indicates he'll look to start over elsewhere once he's healthy. Andrew Bailey and Andrew Miller have been around. Both are arbitration-eligible. The Sox would seem likely to keep Miller, as he will be ready for spring training. Bailey looks like a non-tender, given that he may not return until next July.

 

• John McDonald is in line to receive playoff shares from the Guardians, Pirates, and Red Sox.

 

• Does it strike anybody else as odd that Quintin Berry has attempted one stolen base since being activated Sept. 1? That's it, one. He has been used as a pinch runner seven times, too.

 

Dave Roberts was 5 for 7 in the 2004 regular season for the Red Sox. They picked him up on July 31 that season.

 

• The Red Sox sold 94.4 percent of seats to their home games. That's third in baseball behind the Giants and Cardinals. The Sox averaged 34,979 at home, down 2,588 from last season. So for all the carrying on about attendance, they did pretty well.

 

• Only an astute Red Sox fan will recall that the team briefly held the rights to righthanded pitcher David Carpenter.

 

When John Farrell decided to leave the Blue Jays for the Red Sox, the teams had to work out a compensation package. Last Oct. 21, the Red Sox traded Mike Aviles to Toronto for Carpenter, an undistinguished reliever who had appeared in 33 games during the 2012 season (30 for Houston, three for Toronto).

 

On Nov. 20, Carpenter was designated for assignment (along with Danny Valencia, Sandy Rosario, Ivan De Jesus, and Zach Stewart) so the Sox could open 40-man-roster spots for Alex Wilson, Christian Vazquez, Alex Hassan, Dan Butler, and Allen Webster.

 

The Braves claimed Carpenter off waivers on Nov. 30. The transaction went largely unnoticed at the time. But this year Carpenter has appeared in 54 games for Atlanta and has a 1.84 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and is averaging 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

 

• There are 26 pitchers with more saves than Koji Uehara. Outside of maybe Craig Kimbrel, is there one you'd prefer on the mound over him right now?

 

• Mike Napoli buys Matchbox cars and tapes them to a column near his locker every time he hits a home run. There are 23 of them, all lined up.

 

• Daniel Nava is 13th among all outfielders in OPS. You would have to think the Sox won't do much to change how they handle left field next season.

 

• Here's betting Ryan Dempster gets some big outs in the postseason. Farrell has what seems like unshakable faith in Junichi Tazawa, but Tazawa might not have much rope.

 

• The Sox must be happy those pesky Baltimore Orioles won't make the playoffs. But they end the season with three games at Camden Yards, and Buck Showalter won't let his team lie down.

 

• Rays manager Joe Maddon said in a very confident tone of voice Sept. 12 that he was looking forward to seeing the Red Sox in the playoffs. One way or another, he'll probably be right.

 

• Thought the Red Sox ceremony for Mariano Rivera was fine, if a little bit too centered on his blowing a save many years ago. The best part of that day was seeing Rivera come in from the bullpen after the game was over and getting applauded by fans who had stuck around to do just that.

 

• My boss asked me to send him a list of the top 10 games this season. Feel free to email any suggestions you may have.

 

• Will the playoffs returning to Fenway Park give birth to the $75 parking space?

 

• Jacoby Ellsbury gets a qualifying offer for sure. But what of Jarrod Saltalamacchia? Even if he takes it, overpaying a catcher for one year isn't such a bad thing with Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart on the way.

 

• Dennis Eckersley was a resounding success on NESN filling in for Jerry Remy. He'll do the playoffs for TBS with Don Orsillo, too. Here's hoping they get the Red Sox series.

 

Fox should look at Eck to replace Tim McCarver. He's that good.

 

• The NBA is talking about putting player nicknames on jerseys for some games this season, like "King James" or "The Truth." Can't ever see baseball doing that. But a "Big Papi" Red Sox road jersey would sell, right?

 

• Speaking of souvenirs, Uehara wears a red Nike T-shirt under his uniform that says, "Koji Uehera (19) Do My Best!" in English and Japanese on the front.

 

Hey, Nike, sell this shirt at Fenway Park. People would line up for it.

 

• OK, time to head for the park. Thanks for following the journey this season. Lots more to come.

[Palodios]

• Only an astute Red Sox fan will recall that the team briefly held the rights to righthanded pitcher David Carpenter.

 

When John Farrell decided to leave the Blue Jays for the Red Sox, the teams had to work out a compensation package. Last Oct. 21, the Red Sox traded Mike Aviles to Toronto for Carpenter, an undistinguished reliever who had appeared in 33 games during the 2012 season (30 for Houston, three for Toronto).

 

The Braves claimed Carpenter off waivers on Nov. 30. The transaction went largely unnoticed at the time. But this year Carpenter has appeared in 54 games for Atlanta and has a 1.84 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and is averaging 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

 

 

 

Well s***.

[jung]

Can't do this on my iPad anymore with iOS 7:

 

Any idea why Thunder? I have not even tried since just downloading iOS7 to my iphone yesterday. So far, I despise the thing and I have not even run into something I can't do yet. Why release something that is categorically worse at everything?

[VA Sox Fan]

Also...Mike Timlin in the Booth MOJO!!!!

[User Name]

Because Apple sucks, that's why

[VA Sox Fan]

Because Apple sucks, that's why

 

Lay off the Apple hate. Love my gay ass IPhone dammit!!

[Thunder]

Any idea why Thunder? I have not even tried since just downloading iOS7 to my iphone yesterday. So far, I despise the thing and I have not even run into something I can't do yet. Why release something that is categorically worse at everything?

 

Haven't figured it out why yet, but it's not the end of the world. There are a lot of things about iOS 7 that I like a lot.

[jung]

Never really had a prob with my iphone...although I think I will skip 5 and wait for 6 or ultimately just switch off of an apple device. But iOS7 is just plain butt ugly. Maybe the more I do I will find things I like about it. but so far.....nope!

[Thunder]

Game 4 of the ALCS is on my birthday! I guess they changed the schedule because last month I read that my birthday would be on an off day.

[Palodios]

Anyone get ALDS tickets today? I went on today, but f***ing redsox.com is a piece of garbage and the website kept giving error messages.

[VA Sox Fan]

Game 4 of the ALCS is on my birthday! I guess they changed the schedule because last month I read that my birthday would be on an off day.

 

Quit posting about your birthday. But Happy Early Birthday!

 

Dammit. I have the non-HD broadcast AND the Rockies broadcast. Oh well.....WIN DAMMIT!!!!

[a700hitter]

It is more than a little surprising that Helton is still playing for the Rockies and Youkilis is not playing at all.

[Thunder]

Anyone get ALDS tickets today? I went on today, but f***ing redsox.com is a piece of garbage and the website kept giving error messages.

 

Ace Ticket has some. I looked there.

[Thunder]

What a great start...

[VA Sox Fan]

It is more than a little surprising that Helton is still playing for the Rockies and Youkilis is not playing at all.

 

I used to want Helton on our team. Oh and Renteria

 

Happy for Helton on his career in CO.

 

So weird about Youk. An anomaly. Curse of BV???

[Thunder]

Denver is a budding city of sports dynasties. Besides the Avalanche, every team has potential. Broncos, Rockies, and Nuggets.

 

Rockies have some good hitters, but a lot of injuries. Chacin is their ace, but they don't really have anyone behind him.

[jung]

Well this is little of what happens when a pitcher goes strike 1 as often as John did in his last start. It almost always helps to just try to be a bit finer in your next game after a game like John had. He was just ridiculous with strike 1 last time out.

[VA Sox Fan]

DFA Lackey....

[Thunder]

I have a big day at school tomorrow. I'm signing off for the night, but I'll be listening for another hour or so.

[VA Sox Fan]

I have a big day at school tomorrow. I'm signing off for the night, but I'll be listening for another hour or so.

 

Ok. We'll alert the media.....

 

Have a goodnight.

[jung]

Boy the last few opposing pitchers have just gone after WMB right in that vulnerable spot of his.

[Thunder]

Ok. We'll alert the media.....

 

Have a goodnight.

 

Please don't alert the media... I have some annoying girl stalking me already.

[Station 13]

Boy the last few opposing pitchers have just gone after WMB right in that vulnerable spot of his.

 

He doesn't make any adjustment. Pitchers just need to get ahead and never give him another fastball.

[Brennan]

Come on Sox, you can't win if you don't play.

[mvp 78]

DFA Lackey....

 

Was probably drinking bud light last night.

[VA Sox Fan]

Please don't alert the media... I have some annoying girl stalking me already.

 

JUST Joking.

 

It's a line from a movie. An old movie you've never seen. It's all good.

 

Good luck tomorrow and sleep well. I'm not far behind you. I AM tired, tired. tired...

[mvp 78]

Please don't alert the media... I have some annoying girl stalking me already.

 

The king of the humble brag.