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The Official 2009 Boston Red Sox Thread

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by Ray Finkle, Feb 11, 2009.

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  1. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Up 5 in the loss column right now for the WC. It's starting to look like Texas might be fading a bit. Hopefully the Sox play a strong series vs. LAA this week, although it might be tough with Matsuzaka and Byrd going in the 1st two games.
     
  2. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    2010 Red Sox schedule was released today. It doesn't look good. Sox open up at Fenway vs. the Yankees and close the season playing 6 of their last 10 games vs. NY with a 3 game series at Fenway. Sox will play the Phillies for some reason in Philly and also at Fenway. I thought the Braves were the Red Sox rivals not Philly but that's one of the many reasons why Interleague is dumb (can someone explain why the Cubs have never been to Fenway Park yet when interleague has been going on for 12 or 13 years now?) and the schedule is unbalanced. They also will travel to SF and Colorado and play the Dodgers (welcome back Manny) and Dbacks in Boston. The Sox also have a 10 game west coast road trip after the ASB and 1 more West Coast trip in the middle of Sept against Oakland and Seattle.

    I really don't like opening and closing the season against the Yankees but what can you do?
     
  3. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Matsuzaka looked good last night, is this the new Dice-K? I sure as hell hope so but the guy still scares me. It's nice to know that he's still capiable of throwing a good game and not walking the ballpark.

    Wakefield is suppose to get the start on Sunday.

    And I think it might be officially over for Texas for the Wild Card hunt, they're not 6 games back in the L column.
     
  4. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Too bad the Yankees had to ruin things and win tonight. If they lost than the AL East would have gotten a little interesting.

    Nice to see the Sox get a few wins without Martinez and Youkilis.

    Hopefully Beckett can build on his past 2 outings and pitch well tomorrow.
     
  5. Brown42000

    Brown42000 Chillin

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    That was strike 3 but I'll take it.

    Too bad the Yankees won we would have been 5.5 games back.
     
  6. bbqpitlover

    bbqpitlover Well-Known Member

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    Boy talk about bad umpiring pitch down the middle of the plate and it's ball four. Alex Gonzalez came up big with his bloop single to win the game. If Boston wins the wildcard they will beat Ny because the yankees is a bunch of all starts playing together and Boston is a team that plays together and the ego's will destroy.
     
  7. FaninPatsyLand

    FaninPatsyLand The Truth

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    Yes, it was strike 3 to Nick Green but Fuentes was all over the place during his outing last night and during that at-bat in particular. When you're missing badly, you're not going to get borderline strike calls. That's just the way it is.

    Regardless, great win last night.

    Also, are the Angels scaring anyone this year? The Sox are so far into the head of that team its comical. The facial expressions of Sciocia and Lackey and Saunders and even Fuentes over the last two nights basically speak for themselves.
     
  8. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Yeah it was definitely strike 3 but over the course of 162 games stuff like that happens and usually it evens out. I'm sure there's been a game the Angels won during the season where they shouldn't have due to a bad call. If it happened in the playoffs I can understand it but in a regular season game that is meaningless to them (I guess you can make the arguement that they're trying to get the best record in the AL but the Yankees are 5 or 6 games up in the L column) not a big deal. Plus as I said in the Angels thread, am I the only one that noticed Juan Rivera was jogging to that fly ball? He made zero effort to get it. I'd be more angry at that play than the non strike 3 call.

    No the Angels don't scare me and I'm not taking anything away from them. They're a great team but we just match up better against them for whatever reason. I know people point to them being a different team this year because they're in the top of the AL in offensive stats but the other real difference is Bobby Abreu. I know Morales is having a great year but there's really no big difference between him this year and Teixeria's production last year. Bobby Abreu is a very good player but he's a not a power hitter. The Angels have a line up of slap singles hitters. Plus their bullpen, which used to be a big strengthen for them in years past, is a big weakness for them minus Kevin Jespen. Although I guess you can argue losing Scot Shields and K-Rod could help, until you see Fuentes pitch. I don't see how this team is different from past teams. I'm not saying the Angels have no shot at beating the Sox in the playoffs because its going to happen sooner or later (I thought last year was in the bag for them) but they don't worry me.

    And yes those facial expressions kill me especially Lackey and Sciocia. If there was a camera just on Sciocia the whole game you could take exactly what's going on.
     
  9. FaninPatsyLand

    FaninPatsyLand The Truth

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    Here's the thing, I'm not thoroughly convinced that was a strike to Green with the way the game was being called last night. The homeplate umpire definitely had some inconsistencies in the bottom of the strike zone, for BOTH teams. I seem to remember Daniel Bard not getting that call in the top half of the inning.

    Don't believe me? Fine, take a look at this graphic:

    http://brooksbaseball.net/pfx/szone...tr=|9/16/2009|Anaheim Angels @ Boston Red Sox

    There's an awful lot of green marks in the bottom of that strike zone.
     
  10. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    I didn't see the top of the 8th inning, except for the at bat against Abreu, by the way I would have walked Abreu once Bard got down 2-0 to him and took my chance pitching to Macier or was it Aybar, wait are they the exact same person just cloned?

    The ball to Green looked like a strike to me and on NESN's pitch zone they had it as a strike. Either way it doesn't really matter that much. Like I said both teams are getting into the playoffs and its not going to have any impact on the standings. So whatever.

    By the way nice to see Alex Gonzalez finally drawing a walk last night in just under 100 at bats. There is word that Nick Green has a 'dead' leg, not sure what that means but he said he could barely stand and almost fell down a few times at the plate last night. If it's serious hopefully Lowrie can get some at bats in just in case the Sox need him for the playoffs as a back up (personally he probably should be the back up anyway).

    And which team collapsed faster: the Rays or Rangers?
     
  11. DonShula84

    DonShula84 Moderator Luxury Box

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    He should have struck out on the check swing. So even if that wasnt a strike (which it was) it never should have gone that far because Green himself knew he went around based on his body language.

    It isnt a big deal. A game in September is rather meaningless, and nothing can be done about it now.
     
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  12. Brown42000

    Brown42000 Chillin

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    Only 5 GB in the division.

    They still have a shot at the AFC East title.
     
  13. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    I don't know, that Jet defense looks pretty good right now. But on the plus the Patriots offense looks about as good as Baltimore's did this weekend and the Bills are playing like the Pirates.

    In all seriousiness (why so serious?) if there was maybe at least another 2 weeks left in the season, I think we'd have a real shot at catching them. And they might have had a good shot IF the Sox didn't have the wild card to fall back on but I think the Sox will rest their players, especially the pitchers, rather than try to overtake the Yankees.
     
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  14. FaninPatsyLand

    FaninPatsyLand The Truth

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    Honestly, I'd rather play the Angels than the Tigers in the ALDS. That's not a knock on LAA either, as I think they're a good team. However, the 1-2 punch of Verlander and Jackson that the Tigers can throw out there would certainly make me nervous in a short series.
     
  15. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    I don't know. Verlander is very good but Jackson hasn't been the same pitcher in the 2nd half of the season. Add that to the Tigers iffy line up and bullpen, I don't want to say they're an easier match up but we would get 3 home games against them. Of course that's what everyone was saying about them in 2006 and look what happened so becareful what you wish for.
     
  16. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Now that was a bad loss last night and pretty much ended the AL East race for good. The only thing that might save it is a win tonight vs. Grienke. Manny Delcarmen is slowly pitching himself out of Boston next year, and really there's no reason he should be included on the playoff roster right now. He's been terrible. The team was up what 5 runs when he came in? Just terrible.
     
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  17. Jt0323

    Jt0323 Fins Up! Luxury Box

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    Yeah, if they won today they would have been 4 games back, with a 3 game series left against the yankees, i still think they have a chance, because there is a good chance that the Yankees get swept by the angles, and think the Sox win out against the Royals, being 3 games back with a 3 game series against the Yankees.
     
  18. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    I hope the Sox give Bowden a shot at getting a pen slot for the playoffs. He has good control and was throwing in the mid 90s last night with a good change up. He can't be any worse than Delcarmen. The only other pitcher the Sox could turn to is Byrd. Either way those guys would only be used as mop up men or if the game went into extra innings.
     
  19. Brown42000

    Brown42000 Chillin

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    I put the game on tonight saw the 5-0 score and saw Greinke pitching in the 4th inning.

    I changed the channel almost immediately.
     
  20. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Sounds about right. I didn't think we had a shot to begin with. Greinke pitched great.
     
  21. GreenMonster

    GreenMonster New Member

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    Your not that over concerned about winning if you are starting Paul Byrd, especially against Greinke.

    Delcarman should just be shut down for the rest of the season, he has gotten worse with every outing. The Sox have trotted this guy out there too much the last couple of months..
     
  22. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    He probably just needs that cliched 'change of scenery'. The guy has good stuff, I don't think anyone can doubt that. He just bombs everytime he gets put in a big spot. Not sure if its because he puts too much pressure on himself or that he has trouble throwing his curveball and change up for strikes so hitters just sit on his fastball. I don't think it's the work load or that the Sox should shut him down, the best thing for him is to go out and pitch and try to get out of his funk. I wouldn't put him in a close game for the rest of the year that's for sure but there's no reason why he shouldn't be in there getting work if the team is down by 5 or 6 runs.

    With that being said I'm sure if the Sox trade him in the offseason he'll go to an NL team (probably St. Louis as they seem to be the team that always takes our cast offs) and save 40 games.
     
  23. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    It was nice to see Francona give Martinez the start behind the plate with Beckett going. Should be interesting to see if Martinez will catch Matsuzaka at all before the end of the year. Good seeing Francona start to realize you can't have an automatic out (Varitek) in the line up come playoff time.
     
  24. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Order up those AL Wild Card Championship t-shirts. Always nice to clinch a playoff spot because the other team loses. Of course the Sox have been playing like they clinched a week ago lately.
     
  25. GreenMonster

    GreenMonster New Member

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    Seriously, this last week has been just show up baseball. I can't wait to get back to games that mean something.

    I was interested in the Braves for a bit this week, but last night may have been the last nail in the coffin. Braves always play well with not much on the line..
     
  26. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    I'd be surprised if the line up tonight isn't filled with the Paw Sox roster. Apparently the team stayed and watched the Ranger/Angels game last night and partied afterwards. Time to start resting the players and get them set for next Thursday.

    Yeah it's too bad about the Braves, I've been rooting for them these past 2 weeks, it would have been nice to see them get in over Colorado. Makes you wonder what could have happened if they simply called up Tommy Hanson earlier in the year instead of holding him back to delay his free agency.
     
  27. Jt0323

    Jt0323 Fins Up! Luxury Box

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    no offense but i wouldn't want a Wild Card t-shirt of any team. and to be honest i would not like division t-shirts either, unless you win the world series then it was all for nothing. The only division shirt i would actually buy was last year dolphins division shirt, just because of what type of season that was
     
  28. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Haha, it was all tongue in cheek, I wasn't being serious.
     
  29. Jt0323

    Jt0323 Fins Up! Luxury Box

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    i knew that :escape:
     
  30. GreenMonster

    GreenMonster New Member

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    It was much worse than even I thought it would be. What a beating the Sox took tonight, even with a Pawsox lineup.. Congrats to Joey Gaithright and Rocco for showing up, everyone else had zeros across the board, nobody pitched even decent.
     
  31. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    That's not fair. Dusty Brown says hello.
     
  32. BigDogsHunt

    BigDogsHunt Enough talk...prove it!

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    http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...onic_lab_thumped_remains_of_baseball_imm.html

    wow, what a shame, and sad sad acts.....

    Staff at Arizona cryogenics lab Alcor used Ted Williams' frozen head for batting practice: book






     
  33. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Yeah very weird and sickening. It doesn't matter if its Ted Williams or John Q what would make someone do something like that. I don't get it. I'm almost completely giving up on the human race. Hopefully if true whoever did that gets thrown in jail and the company should be sued big time.
     
  34. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Nice season, tons of ups and downs but hey the Sox are in the playoffs and that's all that matters. Anyway it's official Lester goes Game 1, Beckett Game 2 and Buchholz Game 3. Game 4 starter isn't announced yet, it depends on how the series is going.

    Besides the obvious guys making the roster for the First Round, I'm sure Gathright will be added along with Lowrie as back up infielder, and probably Anderson if Baldelli's MRI. I bet Byrd gets added to the roster instead of Delcarmen.

    Either way can't wait until Thursday, hopefully we don't get stuck with the 10 pm game.
     
  35. DonShula84

    DonShula84 Moderator Luxury Box

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    Is it definite we play Thursday? I thought we wouldnt know until the Central was decided and the Yankees decided what they were doing.

    Angels rotation will be Lackey/Weaver/Kazmir/Saunders, with Santana goin to the pen, btw.
     
  36. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Yeah, it's pretty much a given that the Yankees are going to choose the longer series (extra off day) so that series starts Wednesday. It won't be official until an hour after the Tigers/Twins game on Tuesday but apparently the Yankees have already told both the Tigers and Twins they're going to play Wednesday.

    Also Don Orsillo will be doing the play by play on TBS, he's the Red Sox play by play announcer, who imo is pretty good. Sure as hell beats the other guys doing the games.
     
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  37. DonShula84

    DonShula84 Moderator Luxury Box

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    Cool. Gives me more time to prepare lol. Cant believe we have to face you guys again
     
  38. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Just found out IF the Sox/Angels play Wednesday the game would be at 6:07 eastern. If they play Thursday it will be at 9:37pm eastern. Friday's game will be at 9:37pm eastern no matter what.
     
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  39. FaninPatsyLand

    FaninPatsyLand The Truth

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    Those 9:30 start times are so brutal.

    Looking forward to the playoffs. I'll admit, I haven't watched a Sox game in its entirety in more than 2 weeks. It will be good to watch some meaningful baseball games again.
     
  40. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    I agree, it wish they could be on a little earlier but I understand why they're not. Hopefully theyre not the usually 3 plus hour games.
     

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