riverside sluggers

If you have a guy who is 10 for 16 against a team's ace, youve gotta put him in the lineup somehow

A demotion back to Double A might be needed sometime this season if he doesnt turn things around 18 games- .206 avg, .265 obp, 3 Doubles, 2 RBIs, 4 Runs, 4 Walks, 23 Ks

Really hope Hinske is in there for today over Lowell, he needs the day off to work on that defense. Its troubling his errors have been on the most routine plays. Im guessing Torre will stick with Mienky, even though its obvious Phelps should be the starting 1st baseman.

Eh thought Id give it a shot today. The Sox and Yankees have taken one game apiece. And now comes the rubber game of the series with Julian Tavarez taking on last year's ace Chien-Ming Wang. Comfort is that we wont have to hear Joe Morgan's voice today. I guess both sides are looking for a miracle. Majority of Sox fans have been uneasy about Tavarez since he came here, at select times he will be cruising... other times well chock full of bad memories I have at the back of my head. Some Yankee fans on here and I know outside of the site are on edge a little that it might not go their way. If the Sox are able to edge out a W, Georgey just might flip his lid. Game Info: First Pitch: 1:05 pm ET Location: Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York TV: NESN, YES Starting Pitchers: http://www.dvdreview.com/assets/images/FreddyPortrait1.jpghttp://bellsouthpwp.net/c/h/chinigor/TALKSOX/VS.GIFhttp://www.cantstopthebleeding.com/img/wang0930.jpg Once in a Blue Moon Mojo!! http://fullcircle.typepad.com/full_circle/images/blue_moon.jpg

And so what do you suggest about the 5th starter? Leave Tavarez in there and just hope he pitches decent? Like last year the Sox have put themselves in a hole

If Yankees lose today against Julian Tavarez with their ace of last year opposing him, that'll be a big sucker punch to New York

All got to do is tip our cap. The Sox just werent ready for Igawa. They had spent their preperation to face Karstens, who theyve handled before and quickly got 2 men on. Had he not gotten injured (out for maybe 2 months) it wouldve been some runs early on for the Sox. Instead the Sox out of the gate had to face a completely different pitcher. Still not impressed by Igawa as my belief is that he'll still be at most a 5th starter, he just had a good game against an offense thats been starting to click. Example... David Pauley facing New York last year. I knew driving home from the casino that Im going to hear "the rotation is starting to settle down, the pen will no longer be tired, the Red Sox will go downhill from here, yadi yadi yada" As for this series I was thinking we would be 1-1 at this point (loss against Pettitte, win against Karstens), hope is not there much for Tavarez vs Wang. After that I really like our rotation. Beckett has just been a completely turn around thus far, Dice-K will have his bumps but doing so while racking up Ks/innings with ease, Schilling is basically the 3rd starter and he should give respectable numbers, and Wake with his steady dose of knuckleballs will give the pen more rest as he is an innings machine. Lester might soon be in the rotation, a clear upgrade over Tavarez as the 5th starter. Watch out for the offense once Manny & now Drew wake up from their spring training swings. The bullpen if kept being provided quality innings from a good portion of the staff should remain solid.

Well you are right about Phelps not being in the lineup today New York Post I guess Wake will see a lineup like this 1. Damon dh 2. Jeter ss 3. Abreu rf 4. Rodriguez 3b 5. Giambi 1b 6. Matsui lf 7. Posada c 8. Cano 2b 9. Cabrera cf

http://www.russwicks.com/images/wile_e_coyote.jpg Jeff Karstens to save the bullpen today against these hot Sox bats?

Nothing at all wrong with asking that Kilo. He seems like he has a good swing and presence at the plate. I passed the info along to the guy who handles mlbtraderumors.com, see what he can dig up Thanks for the clips Example

Damn just saw the stat on NESN, Lugo's last HR came 241 ABs prior to him taking Scott "my arm is about to fall off" Proctor deep Sox players still looking for their first HRs are Dustin Pedroia, Coco Crisp, and Eric Hinske

No doubt, he could be joining the rotation next month.

Haha 7 straight baby! Sox improve their MLB best record (its early in the season I know) to 15-7. Sox have taken the first 4 matchups of the year. Dice worked very hard for the 4th inning but god still love this kid for having the presence like "no biggie, I can get out of this". He did enough for his team to get the W. The offense seems to continue on this groove that they have going, tremendous game for Lugo (sans the error). I may be wrong but wasnt that Lugo's first HR since when he was a D-Ray? Just one of those shots that look harmless off the bat. Pedroia's bat steadily coming around, early in his career he has gotten his hits while facing New York As I said Jacko... your bullpen will be in arm slings

http://pixelengineer.com/images/portfolio/images/aag2.jpg Can the Yankees bullpen be saved this series?

April 2006 vs April 2007, Beckett pitching stats 2006, 5 starts- (3-1, 4.50 ERA) 32 innings, 27 Hits, 18 Runs (16 ER), 6 HRs, 13 Walks, 21 Ks 2007, 5 starts- (5-0, 2.48 ERA) 32.2 innings, 27 Hits, 10 Runs (9 ER), 1 HR, 7 Walks, 28 Ks Sitting pretty at the Yankee fans who kept insisting that he'll never get close to what he was in Florida

Paps shuts down the door for his 7th save of the season! Sox improve their season record to 14-7 Beckett has been lights out, and is now baseball's first 5 game winner. Wily Mo obviously is the pure offensive star of the game. Hope this game winning hit boosts him up with some confidence Tomorrow, weather permitting, its Dice-K vs Pettitte...

I Heart Beckett, I just knew he'd be a force in his 2nd year in the AL Okajima for the save? EDIT: Nevermind I now see Paps warming in the pen

Okajima for the 8th, Paps for the 9th. Lets get Beckett to 5-0 : )

Wily Mo!@!! grand slam

First glance, thought Drew was sending that ball to the bleachers in center field... Chris Ray in the game to do 5 outs-- Varitek, Wily Mo, Pedroia, Lugo, Youkilis

8 LOB, Beckett could be a tough luck loser tonight

Blah, Lugo 1st pitch out