jacksonianmarch

I want LA in a 7 game set. They have proven to be masters of the 5 gamer against us as they stack their pitchers and only go three deep. A 7 game set forces them to use a 4th starter and also forces their #3 pitcher to go in the deciding game if it gets that far. But regardless, I'll take watching the sox flatten LA while we flatten CLE and have a battle royale on the east coast again.

quote for EEI about 30 mins ago, Francona says that Manny "is not close" to returning.

JOBA CHAMBELAIN RULZ!!!!1!!!

If you want to take things into consideration, here's something they could consider. Make the sox the home team for the 2 series prior to the last one, flip an earlier date and then flip the last series of the season. I totally understand why the sox wouldnt do it, but it would be the perfect way for the most storied stadium in baseball to go out. With the yankes and their bitter rivals closing out a pennant chase. You figure, a place like Yankee stadium doesnt close its doors every yr. It should be a monumental event. It should end a week prior to the end of the season against Baltimore. And in terms of the yankees making the playoffs next yr, we shall have to see. Next season should be VERY exciting with all the young blood.

I posted this in the Manny thread, but figured it would be big news in the nation. Per WEEI around 6:30 this morning, Manny Ramirez had a setback in his recovery last night. He was doing running drills when he felt pain in his oblique. There is no timetable for his return, but this most certainly pushes back his return date.

Gom, aside from his last start against us, Lackey has owned us. But with the angels, they run 3 deep in terms of top notch pitchers. Lackey, Escobar and Weaver are one sick trio. And I dont care if Shields is struggling now, that guy completely owns us. And Franky Rodriguez isnt bad either. Our advantage over most every team is our ability to wear a pitcher down. For anaheim, they get through 6 with their starter and they have the last 3 innings locked up. For Cleveland, we knock out Sabathia in the 6th, who do they go to? Perez is pretty good, but other than that? betancourt? borowski? Their pen blows. That is where we make our hay. I would much rather see the Guardians.

Just heard on WEEI, Manny had a setback last night while running and his return is now going to be pushed back.

Buchholz will likely be a little rusty. Should be interesting as Litch has been torched of late.

does that mean Buchholz no-no was tainted? This point about "heralding success" against poorer teams comes back to bite you. Moose would have pitched well against anyone last night, just like Buchholz would have been solid against any other team 18 days ago.

Homefield is more important for the sox IMO. As much as the yankees love the friendly confines (and even have a better home record than the sox) Fenway park is its own advantage in that it plays differently than any other park in the game. And in that the sox lineup is built towards that advantage.

Mussina spins a gem and had his velocity in the 89-90 range all night long. This likely seals him as our 4th and final starter in the playoffs. 1. Wang 2. Pettitte 3. Clemens 4. Mussina Not a bad top 4 if they stay healthy.

right now, Cleveland and the Angels are tied for 2nd best record in baseball, one half game behind the sox for best record. The sox are in danger of falling out of the top spot tonight and if so, this jockeying around for Division vs WC could be moot in terms of home field.

the interesting thing about Gagne is that with his recent horrific struggles, he may not even be a class A FA anymore. Which would mean that the Rangers got a starting pitcher in their rotation, potentially a starting outfielder and a gem of a prospect in the low levels for 3 months of a guy who blew important games down the stretch and a 2nd round pick.

wow. Once Gagne walked the sacks full, I expected 'coma to take him out. Instead he leaves him in for 2 more spectacular batters. Wow.

tonight's pitching matchup is in Toronto's favor, but all the sox need to do is get to that mushy pen and they will be just fine. Burnett was untouchable against us last week. 97mph heaters and then 80mph slow curves. Just sucks that we get to face all the Jays have next week in our 4 game set at home. Halladay/Marcum/McGowan/Burnett Should be a wild ride. Enjoy the day, be back tonight.

Well, you could say that the yankees bats were a little dead too as they started their lull in Toronto and carried it into Boston. At the same time, we demolished your two reasons for this lead, Paps and Okajima. Your rotation deserves some credit for where you guys are, but your bullpen deserves the lions share as your team essentially doesnt blow leads. This is twice now that OkiPap was handed a lead in your park and squandered it. In the meantime, Beckett was the only pitcher who really impressed me. The kid is a monster and if he keeps pitching like that he will be great for a long time. I thought DiceK was mediocre at best, leaving way too many pitches up in the zone and missing badly many times as well. We just didnt take advantage. And Schilling was good, but his rapid decline in stuff has to be alarming. He was throwing 87mph fastballs in that 8th inning, and that is on the ESPN gun which is notoriously high (just like there was no way Clemens hit 96 in the 5th inning). Overall, I thought the story was how poorly our top 2 pitched. Wang couldnt get the ball down and seemed to shy away from the sinker which was puzzling to say the least. And Pettitte just couldnt stay out of the middle of the plate. To come away with 2 of 3 while playing as poorly as we did should send a message. Right now, the yankees are the better team, there is no question about it. Unfortunately, an early season horrific slump killed our chances of winning the division. But if we meet in the ALCS, it should be a wild and crazy time.

at least my prediction held up...for once.

3 games in the L column with more s*** in the future. Still a huge deficit when put into context and there should be no way the sox blow it.

YANKEES WIN!!!

that fenway frank looks GOOD. I like Fenway franks, not too bad.

Torre is a pretty stupid dude.

not over yet