Series Thread: Angels @ Red Sox (4/13, 4/14, 4/15, 4/16)

[The Rondo Show]

Game One: Friday, April 13th @ 7:05 PM EST on NESN.

Lackey vs. Wakefield

Angels: Lackey has it going in the early season, a rarity for him. He says he's made tremendous strides in controlling his emotions during the course of the game -- "I've stepped behind the mound," he said after throttling Oakland on Saturday -- and the results through his last start included the Angels' best start (5-1) since 1970.

Red Sox: The knuckleballer continued an unfortunate theme from last season when he was unable to get run support in his first start. Wakefield took a 2-0 loss to Robinson Tejeda and the Rangers. He hopes to have better luck in his home debut against the Angels. This will be appearance No. 228 for Wakefield at Fenway Park, where he is 67-60 with a 4.33 ERA.

Game Two: Saturday, April 14th @ 4 PM EST on FOX.

Carrasco vs. Schilling

Angels: Carrasco starts in place of Kelvim Escobar, who was placed on the disabled list Friday because of right shoulder irritation.

Red Sox: Schilling proved that his Opening Day debacle was a fluke, bouncing back with a vintage performance against the Rangers. In that one, Schilling held the Rangers to four hits and one run over seven innings while striking out six. Nobody loves pitching at Fenway more than Schilling, who posted a 9-1 record at home last year with a 3.06 ERA. In his career at Fenway, Schilling is 25-8 with a 3.99 ERA. Against the Angels, the righty is 4-1 with a 3.44 ERA in nine outings.

Game Three: Sunday, April 15th @ 1 PM EST on NESN.

E. Santana vs. Beckett

Angels: Santana struggled with his command early against the Indians on Tuesday night in Milwaukee, and he never found his rhythm, lasting only 4 1/3 innings and giving up six earned runs on seven hits and four walks. He had trouble driving through his delivery and keeping his fastball down, and he also left his slider and changeup in bad locations at key moments. Santana must focus on more first-pitch strikes and getting ahead of hitters to take advantage of his superior stuff.

Red Sox: In Tuesday's home opener, Beckett took another step towards proving that he can break out in the American League in 2007. He was masterful in seven innings against Seattle, allowing just two hits and one earned run while striking out eight. He did not walk a batter, and threw 61 of his 84 pitches for strikes. In two career starts against the Angels, he is 1-0 with four earned runs allowed in 12 innings.

Game Four: Monday, April 16th @ 10 AM EST on NESN.

Weaver vs. Tavarez

Angels: After a bout with biceps tendinitis held him back early this spring, Weaver has come on strong and appears revved and ready for his season debut at Fenway Park. Weaver, who won his first nine decisions as a rookie on his way to an 11-2 record with a 2.56 ERA, has made two strong rehab starts at Class A Rancho Cucamonga, reaching 92 pitches in seven scoreless innings in his most recent outing. He'll bring mid-90s heat with his complementary breaking balls.

Red Sox: Tavarez's start was pushed back three days because of an April 12 rainout against the Mariners. He'll be making this start on eight days of rest. Boston's No. 5 starter began his season on a down note, yielding five walks and four runs over four laborious innings. Tavarez has pitched 15 times in his career against the Angels, going 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA. The right-hander is 7-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 37 career games at Fenway.

Didn't have time/too lazy to do pictures and ****. Go Sox.

[Bleeding Green]

Seriously no one watched this? I only saw the 8th inning and yeah, that was cool.

Why take out Wake after 82 pitches? Give the bullpen a rest for when you actually need it.

Also, I heard that JD Durbin was claimed by the Phillies which really sucks balls. I bet he's claimed at least twice more.

Wow, it looks like Francona used Papelbon in the highest pressure situation in the game. I love that. I'm sick of seeing the best reliever on teams saved until the 9th inning after the middle relievers have already lost the game by that point.

[canman1971]

Seriously no one watched this? I only saw the 8th inning and yeah, that was cool.

Why take out Wake after 82 pitches? Give the bullpen a rest for when you actually need it.

Also, I heard that JD Durbin was claimed by the Phillies which really sucks balls. I bet he's claimed at least twice more.

Wow, it looks like Francona used Papelbon in the highest pressure situation in the game. I love that. I'm sick of seeing the best reliever on teams saved until the 9th inning after the middle relievers have already lost the game by that point.

I watched it. Good game. One thing about Papelbon, he was coming out in the 9th if they hadn't got those runs. That moron Felger was saying "Why are they trying to reinvent the wheel? You need to use your setup guys." Saying they are actually putting Bill James theory into play. Oh yeah, no on ever uses their closer for more than 3 outs. How do people like Felger get a job?

[wetsthebed]

How do people like Felger get a job?

because he's a football guy. He makes an ass of himself whenever he talks about any other sport.

[wetsthebed]

btw, Tim Wakefield's ERA: 1.38

[canman1971]

-= original quote snipped =-

because he's a football guy. He makes an ass of himself whenever he talks about any other sport.

Actually, he was a hockey guy who tries to be a football guy. He sucks at football stuff too. And I guarantee he grew that beard just to shake that "pretty boy" image.

[Basketball Jesus]

Felger sucks at everything. Hence why he covers Boston sports locally.

[Basketball Jesus]

If I ever have a son I'm teaching him to throw the knuckleball at an early age. Wakefield may be the last true knuckleballer to ever have a career in the bigs. (That is, unless the White Sox do the smart thing and trade Chuck Haeger to the Nationals.) That's a shame; the knuckeball may be the second-hardest pitch to hit when thrown properly (after the slider, of course).

[Chach]

All I have to ask Felger is, "Who do you want facing Vlad Guerrero with two runners on and a three run lead, Timlin, Piniero, or Papelbon?" His answer, of course, would be Papelbon (because if he picks the other two he should be run out of town). We have to monitor Papelbon's shoulder very carefully because of last year and if bringing in Timlin for mop-up action means that Paps is good for tomorrow, then so be it. I really do love this relief ace strategy that Tito has been using (is it by design or just a manifestation of his **** managing?). The reason the 200IP versu 70 IP argument weigh so heavily in favor of a starter is because half of those closer innings are fluff innings. Any Johnny from Burger King can get three outs with a clean slate and a three run lead. But if you are actually going to use Papelbon in extremely high leverage situations like last night, the gap between the two closes. Last night's game speak perfectly to why having a guy at the end of the game is so important. Wakefield pitched one hell of a game and the Sox got a lead. But if you entrusted the game to Donnelley and then Timlin or Romero or Piniero and they gave up the lead, those strong seven innings completely demoralizes your team and is a complete waste. But instead, you have a bulldog like Papelbon who gets two big outs on 6 pitches and then you add on a bunch of runs and bring in someone to mop up the mess. mahalo
~Chach~

[canman1971]

All I have to ask Felger is, "Who do you want facing Vlad Guerrero with two runners on and a three run lead, Timlin, Piniero, or Papelbon?" His answer, of course, would be Papelbon (because if he picks the other two he should be run out of town). We have to monitor Papelbon's shoulder very carefully because of last year and if bringing in Timlin for mop-up action means that Paps is good for tomorrow, then so be it. I really do love this relief ace strategy that Tito has been using (is it by design or just a manifestation of his **** managing?). The reason the 200IP versu 70 IP argument weigh so heavily in favor of a starter is because half of those closer innings are fluff innings. Any Johnny from Burger King can get three outs with a clean slate and a three run lead. But if you are actually going to use Papelbon in extremely high leverage situations like last night, the gap between the two closes. Last night's game speak perfectly to why having a guy at the end of the game is so important. Wakefield pitched one hell of a game and the Sox got a lead. But if you entrusted the game to Donnelley and then Timlin or Romero or Piniero and they gave up the lead, those strong seven innings completely demoralizes your team and is a complete waste. But instead, you have a bulldog like Papelbon who gets two big outs on 6 pitches and then you add on a bunch of runs and bring in someone to mop up the mess. mahalo
~Chach~

I really don't think there is anything different about how they are using Paps. He came in the 8th and would've been out there for the 9th had they not got all those runs. I don't think we will see him any earlier is what I am saying. If he comes out in the 8th, you can be sure he'll be there in the 9th unless something like last night happens with the additional runs.

[Flaming Mo]

Thank you Gary Matthews...

[Bow2Yao11]

Schilling pitching great. Hopefully Big Papi can hit some HR's.

[Flaming Mo]

Another great outing by Schilling, the Red Sox' starters are really going deep into the games so far which is huge. Hopefully they keep that up...

When will we see finally someone replace Coco Crisp?! This guy is awful at the plate and Wily Mo Pena is being wasted on the bench...

[Chach]

-= original quote snipped =-



I really don't think there is anything different about how they are using Paps. He came in the 8th and would've been out there for the 9th had they not got all those runs. I don't think we will see him any earlier is what I am saying. If he comes out in the 8th, you can be sure he'll be there in the 9th unless something like last night happens with the additional runs.

I slightly diagree. Papelbon has pitched in three games thus far and in two of them, he's come in during the 8th and faced the heart of the line-up. Now maybe this is just a freak occurance that it's happend twice so far and it might not happen again all year. But if the Sox don't score all those runs, it's still a close ball game so it's alright to leave him in there. I think that if this were last season, Papelbon would have been left in the game to finish the nine regardless of the score. If Tito keeps using Papelbon in the 8th to get crucial outs and be willing to use someone else to end the game if need be, I will be an extremely happy camper. mahalo
~Chach~

[Bleeding Green]

Word to that. It'll be interesting to see if they use him even earlier than the 8th. For instance, if they are facing the Yankees, the Red Sox are up 1-0 in the 7th and Beckett has just walked the bases loaded on 12 pitches; there are no outs. The top of the lineup is coming up.

Do you put in Papelbon? Obviously the answer is yes, but does Francona?

The one thing that isn't taken into account in the Relief Ace role proposed by Bill James is that all these relievers today have been groomed since they broke into the league to perform set roles. You have your closers, your set-up men, your middle relievers, etc. Players don't deviate from their role once they're put in it (i.e. you don't see Mariano Rivera coming into a tie game in the 6th and you don't see a LOOGY closing out a game just because three lefties are coming up). It's hard to have pitchers unlearn what they've had bashed into their heads for 10 years.

But with Papelbon, he doesn't have to unlearn any of this. I really hope they're going to use him in this role (put him in the highest pressure situations regardless of whether it's a save opp. or not.) Similarly, I hope they're planning on doing it with Bryce Cox and any other similarly ultratalented rookie relievers they have coming up through the minors (Hansen, Delcarmen, Martinez, et al.)

[The Rondo Show]

Today's game has been called off. That sucks- I was looking foward to watching Beckett pitch today. That guy can be one of the most fun pitchers in the league to watch when his command is working and he isn't throwing 25 fastballs in a row.

[Chach]

Are they playing a double header tomorrow? I guess we'll be the only team celebrating Jackie tomorrow. If you can't stand the weather in New England, just wait because 10 minutes later it will be more to your liking.

I think you're spot on BG. Obviously, Papelbon needs adequate time to warm up and while Papelbon has come out to say he thrives on closing, it's not the ending game part I think but "the game's on the line and I need to be my best for us to win" moments that he lives on. I think, given the proper warm-up time, he would be alrght coming into the game in the 7th. But you hope that guys like Hansen and Cox and Delcarmen develop like we hope so you may not have to make that choice. mahalo
~Chach~

[wetsthebed]

Working during the game.........Hate day games.

[Chach]

You job sucks dude, tell m that you make like a real living and aren't scraping by on like a $10 an hour job. mahalo
~Chach~

[Flaming Mo]

Entertaining start to the game...

For everyone not able to watch it on TV, game is on sopcast (livestream) on channel 22621...