RedSoxRooter

Looks like he's ready for today.. From the Boston Herald: Alvarez called up for spot start: More help may be on the way By Tony Massarotti Thursday, July 22, 2004 The Red Sox will not make an announcement until today, but all indications at Fenway Park last night pointed to left-hander Abe Alvarez making his first major league start in today's doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles. For now, Alvarez' arrival is just one of several personnel moves being contemplated by the club. Drafted by the Red Sox in the second round of the 2003 draft, Alvarez will become the first draft pick of general manager Theo Epstein to reach the major leagues. The 21-year-old Long Beach State product is 8-6 with a 3.53 ERA in 19 starts at Double-A Portland this season. Alvarez left the Sea Dogs following a game Tuesday night to travel to Boston for today's doubleheader.

These Sox are almost exactly like the 2002 version of the Red Sox. Not a good thing.

pray for Alverez.

Greaaaat. The return of Rat-Boy. Mr. 6-15.....

Who said Pedro is pitching Sunday?

You guys are all nuts. He's the best pitcher in the bullpen. He's in a rut and the only way to get him past it is to pitch him. He'd have close to 25 saves by now if the games weren't always non-save situations.

1) Thou shall configure your best defensive teams behind your strikeout pitchers, and play your worst defensive team behind your groundball pitchers. 2) Thou shall never bunt. Ever. 3) Thou shall not DH your best hitter even when they say they can DH. 4) Thou shall keep the bullpen quiet even if the starter has thrown 115 pitches through 4 innings. 5) Thou shall place the same value on a game verses the Yankees as one does on a game against a last place team, even though the Yankee games represent a 2 game swing in the standings.

Oy, that one sucked. Nice way to stay up till 1:45 just to watch that train wreck... Anyway, it was a bad night for Foulke... but I wouldn't give up on the guy. Before last night the Sox werre 44-0 with a lead after 8. That's pretty damn good. I think it's just a bad stretch for Foulke. On the bright side, Arroyo did pitch a great game. On the down side, we have B-Lowe pitching today Nomar last night was taking hacks at the plate and he looked like he was in pain. Come to find out his heal seems to be killing him again. Don't be surprised if both Pokey and Nomar go on the DL if the Sox don't pick it up by the weekend.

Isn't the record for Ks in a row, 8? By like Seaver and someone else?

bastard. I hype the guy all year long here and on netsports and I get killed. KILLED. You make one post and you're a god. SCREWWW U

No need to bend my arm on this one... I don't think it will be an issue as I don't think we'll be seeing BK in Boston anytime soon. He'll need to be able to go longer than 2-3 innings and he'll have to throw harder than the 85-86 that's been reported out of Pawtucket. If he does get promoted to Boston, I see him in long relief for a while. What I think is more likely is Arroyo being involved in a trade to get a decent #3 starter - effectively making Lowe the #5. I said earlier this year that I'd like to see Arroyo pitch "10-15 starts" (I caught real hell for that too 1- He's got a Casey Fossum-ish build which doesn't help him. He's been trying to bulk up some which has added some velocity to the fastball. I think he's up to 91 or so, but he has to throw it with every ounce of his being, therefore causing him to be a little wild at times. 2- He keeps the ball down pretty well, but needs to avoid the hangers more. I think the reason he gets hit well at Fenway is because he doesn't pitch to the parks strength. He pitches like he's got 350 feet to play with in left, which has lead to a ton of balls hitting near the top of the scoreboard - which are outs in any other park. 3- He needs an out pitch, which could be taken care of if he gets just 1 or 2 more miles on the fastball. This is something I think he can do by the beginning of next year if he works out this winter. 4- Probably the best thing about Arroyo is he approaches each game the exact same way. He's very level headed and doesn't get rattled. It doesn't matter if he's facing the Royals or the Yankees, you basically know what you're going to get. 5- When he runs into a jam, he sloooowwws down the game. This is fine except with a less than perfect defense behind him, it can lead to defensive lapses - which always seem to hurt Arroyo. This is not Arroyo's fault, but he's got to find a way to keep his defense awake/involved like Schilling seems to. 6- I don't like the hit batsmen, but I do like that he throws inside. Those are just some of my thoughts on his season so far. He's certainly not a 3-7 pitcher but I think he can salvage this season and end with a winning record if given the chance.

I'm thinking split. Hopefully (god damn you francona!) Mueller, Manny and Tek will be in there tomorrow. And Schill is pitching. BTW.... I hate Mendoza as much as anybody, but he's been ok so far in his return. His "return" COULD be huge, but I doubt it.

I voted 5-6, but 10 seems like the reallity. I hope it's 5-6.

I just saw last night's game. I zonked out after the 3rd inning last night but recorded it. Anyway, I finally watched it. Ortiz WILL be suspended, but I hope he challenges it so he can play next week in the NY series. Or if it's under 6 games, he plays it out right now. The doubleheader on Thursday may actually help us out. I'd put my money on 10 friggin games. David, what where you thinking?

The whole Nomar fiasco makes no sense to me. I've probably read every article about him in the online versions of The Globe, The Herald and Providence Journal over the last 5 years. Only once, ONCE have I read a quote from him about living on the west coast. It was towards the end of a frustrating 2001 season and some reporter asked about the atmosphere in Boston. At that time the atmosphere there was really negative with Williams being canned, the Sox on the block and Duquette still there. Anyway, his response was something like "I only work here. I'm from California". Since that one quote, everybody from Shaughnessy to Gammons has speculated rumor about Nomar hating Boston. Nomar flat out denied he disliked Boston and even went so far as to buy a house on the Cape. I do think management wants him gone though, so the rumors (read: pushing of Nomar out, just like Mo and Roger) continue. The media has taken one quote made 3 years ago and effectively ended Nomar's stay in Boston. They created a story that wasn't even there. Nomar to me doesn't look one bit different than he did to me 3 years ago. He still plays hard. He's ALWAYS had a scowl on his face - it's just the way he plays the game folks. He's always been a first pitch hitter. Always given 110%. Always been a little too serious. Yes, he should have taken the 4 year deal last year. But I think even if he did, the media and management would have tried to ship him out anyway. Who, by the way, was the last great star to start and finish their career in Boston? Rice?

hit the quote button on the right.

Man, just don't go there tonight. I'm in no mood to start something.

Nice. 66 pitches through 3 tough innings. It's almost Mendoza time

That was one hell of a play put together by Kapler and Nomar! Nomar's lucky (so are we) he didn't get spiked.

The official line was. 4.2 innings pitched, 5 hits, 5 runs, 3 earned runs, 4 walks, 1 K, 5.79 ERA. There were 2 errors in the game, one by Zink and one by the catcher. The leadoff man got on base 3 of the 5 innings Zink started - 2 by walks. Not too impressive. I wish I could see him pitch, I have no idea how he looks. Maybe a first pitch fastball for a strike, then mix in the knuckler. Or vice versa, maybe that would help. I also wonder if maybe the umps are a little thrown off by the knuckler (wishfull thinking)... maybe Zen knows more.

Bet you all a nickle he starts game 2 of next Thursday's double header against Baltimore. Pray he pitches good then and he may be an O real soon.

Actually, I take that back. Schilling will probably start the Yanks series. They won't move him up a day to pitch to Baltimore. So I guess a spot start by somebody is in line for the double header.

When was the last time I didn't have that feeling?.. One thing I don't understand is this. It's a four game series so every starter except Arroyo will be pitched. Fine. But why have Lowe start the second half? As it stands right now, depending on who you choose as ace, the rotation is this: Pedro Schilling Arroyo Lowe Wakefield But because Lowe starts tonight, neither Pedro or Schilling will face the Yankees next week. (They are scheduled to pitch the doubleheader the day before the Yanks series)

Manny was gay for interrupting Ortiz in the derby. He called time out and walked over to Ortiz and pretended to press a button on the back of his neck. I guess it was a joke like "turning him on". If you are a guy trying to turn on another guy, you are acting GAY! Also, note to Manny, all the hugs, pointing, kissing, hair rubbing -- it's ALL GAY.

I definitely think he'll be offered something. The Sox would be stupid not to... And I think it will be a generous offer, but I'm not sure he won't go FA anyway. After all he's done, he DOES deserve that much respect.