It's not too early, is it?!?
Posted on 10/12/2004 10:21:51 AM PDT by GraniteStateConservative
Game Time: 8:05 pm EDT
TV: FOX
Pitching Matchup: C. Schilling vs. M. Mussina
Aaron Boone ended the Boston Red Sox's season last year with a walk-off home run for the New York Yankees in the bottom of the 11th inning of Game 7 of the American League championship series.
An intriguing and eventful offseason and 19 more heated and sometimes bloody meetings have brought the Red Sox and Yankees together yet again, with another World Series trip on the line.
The highly anticipated rematch for the American League title begins Tuesday, with every indication that baseball's most bitter rivalry will deliver another classic playoff series to match last year's matchup.
``I know this is what everyone was hoping for, I imagine,'' Yankees Game 1 starter Mike Mussina said Monday. ``I think it's the way it should be.''
After both clubs advanced to the ALCS for the second straight year, it would be hard to argue that such a matchup wasn't inevitable.
Boone's heroics last year followed a rally from a 4-0 deficit against Pedro Martinez, who had long-suffering Boston five outs from the World Series before the Yankees tied it in the eighth.
The victory was even more satisfying for Yankee fans in that it came against Martinez, who sparked a bench-clearing brawl in Game 3 by throwing at the Yankees' Karim Garcia and hurling former New York bench coach Don Zimmer to the ground during the fight.
The aftermath of the comeback was an offseason that saw Red Sox manager Grady Little fired for not pulling Martinez earlier in Game 7, Boston nearly acquire star Alex Rodriguez from Texas before the Yankees swooped in to trade for him, and a good amount of public sniping between the teams' owners.
While the Red Sox failed to land Rodriguez, they did beat the Yankees to perhaps the most important acquisition of the offseason in ace right-hander Curt Schilling -- Boston's starter for the opener. A New York nemesis during the 2001 World Series, when he was named co-MVP after the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Yankees in seven games, Schilling didn't disappoint with 21 wins this season.
Schilling cited the intensity of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry as a major part of the appeal of joining Boston, and the 2004 season series with New York couldn't have been a letdown for him.
Things reached a boiling point July 24 at Fenway Park, when the Red Sox's Bronson Arroyo beaned Rodriguez, which led to a fight between Rodriguez and Boston catcher Jason Varitek, and a bench-clearing brawl that left Yankees pitcher Tanyon Sturtze bloodied.
Boston won that game 11-10 on Bill Mueller's two-run homer in the ninth inning off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, a victory that may have helped Boston come together and turn its season around. The Yankees, who swept the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium from June 29-July 1 in three thrilling games, led the Red Sox by 10 1/2 games on Aug. 15, but had to hold on to win the AL East as Boston went 31-11 after that point and pulled as close as 2 1/2 games.
``We're playing good ball now. I think we're the best team,'' Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon said Sunday. ``Hopefully, the best team wins. But we know they're no slouches.''
Schilling could be the player that gives the Red Sox the edge in this playoff rematch. While Boston's starting pitching couldn't match a Yankees rotation of Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina and David Wells last year, Schilling has a track record of dominant pitching in the postseason, as well as against the Yankees. He went 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA against New York in the 2001 Fall Classic, and is 6-1 with a 1.74 ERA in 12 career playoff starts.
``I'm not sure I can think of any scenario more enjoyable than making 55,000 people from New York shut up,'' Schilling said.
Schilling, who will be making his first start at Yankee Stadium since Game 4 of the 2001 World Series, could be at less than 100 percent Tuesday, as he's bothered by tendinitis high in his right ankle. Schilling pitched 6 2-3 innings and allowed three runs, two earned, in a 9-3 win over Anaheim in the division series, and manager Terry Francona thinks his ace will probably get a painkilling shot before Game 1.
``The thing that we don't want to have happen is, when he's out there pitching, have him feel it. I think that really bothers him mentally more than anything,'' Francona said. ``If he goes back to the shots, which I think he's going to, he doesn't feel it.''
Schilling has had a week off since starting Game 1 of the Angels series, which turned out to be little more than a Red Sox tuneup for the ALCS. Boston's powerful lineup outscored Anaheim 25-12 during the three-game sweep.
With its AL-leading offense led by MVP candidate Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and Johnny Damon, and a pitching staff anchored by Schilling and Martinez, Boston believes it finally has the team to beat the Yankees and go on to win its first World Series since 1918.
But the Red Sox's opponent was baseball's best at breaking opponents' hearts this year, and the Yankees look primed to do it to the Red Sox again after rallying past the Twins in the first round.
The Yankees fell behind 1-0 in the series, but closed out the Twins in Game 4 on Saturday with their third straight comeback victory. New York, which led the majors with 61 come-from-behind victories this season, got a tying three-run homer from Ruben Sierra in the eighth inning and won 6-5 in the 11th when Rodriguez doubled, stole third and scored on a wild pitch.
``You could see just when he went up to the box to hit ... there was that look in his eye,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre said. ``When he got on base, it just looked like he had a determination that something was going to happen.''
With Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui, the Yankees have a lineup that can match that of the Red Sox, one that never believes it's out of a game and seems to almost routinely pull off dramatic comebacks.
The Yankees need to be confident about their ability to battle back because of a fragile rotation that was weakened by the offseason departures of Clemens, Pettitte and Wells, and then suffered through a season of injuries and inconsistency. Right-handers Jon Lieber and Kevin Brown each had a strong start in the division series, but both are struggling with back problems that could limit them against Boston.
By eliminating the Twins in four games, New York was able to start ace Mussina in Game 1 of this series. Mussina is 17-12 with a 3.12 ERA and two shutouts in 42 starts against Boston, and pitched four scoreless innings of relief in Game 7 of the ALCS last year.
A major strength for New York this season was the back of the bullpen, where All-Stars Tom Gordon and Rivera gave the team an overpowering 1-2 punch as good as any in baseball. Rivera, though, will be pitching with a heavy heart in this series after tragedy struck at his home in Panama last week.
A cousin of Rivera's wife and the man's 14-year-old son died after being electrocuted Saturday in the pither's pool at his home in Panama. Rivera, who earned ALCS MVP honors last year and pitched three scoreless innings in Game 7, flew home to comfort relatives Monday, but said he expects to be back and available for Tuesday's game.
``We get too late in a game and Mariano is not here, obviously we know what we're going to do,'' Torre said. ``If he's not here tomorrow, and we're in position to save the game, it will be Tom Gordon.''
Boston improved its bullpen by signing Keith Foulke during the offseason, and boasts a deep relief corps with Mike Timlin, Alan Embree and Mike Myers also capable of getting big outs.
Mussina, Mike 12-9, 4.59 ERA Season Statistics: GS IP H R HR BB SO K/9 WHIP BAA 27 164.2 178 91 22 40 132 7.21 1.32 .276
Last 3 Starts: OPP IP H R ER HR BB SO MIN 10/5* 7.0 7 2 2 1 1 7 MIN 9/29 6.0 7 3 3 1 4 3 BOS 9/24 6.0 5 3 3 2 3 6 *Mussina had a 2.14 ERA in the month of September.
Against Boston 2002-2004: 5-3, 3.18 ERA, 85 IP, .263 BAA 2004 Boston Starts: OPP IP H R ER HR BB SO 4/17 (L) 5.0 7 4 3 1 4 2 9/19 (W) 7.0 7 1 1 0 2 8 9/24 (W) 6.0 5 3 3 2 3 6 Notable: Forgettable: Bellhorn: 3-9, 1.205 OPS Varitek: 4-44, .240 OPS Millar: 8-23, .988 OPS Ortiz: 2-29, .225 OPS Mirabelli: 2-6, .929 OPS Mueller: 0-15, .118 OPS
Schilling, Curt 21-6, 3.26 ERA Season Statistics: GS IP H R HR BB SO K/9 WHIP BAA 32 226.2 206 84 23 35 203 8.06 1.06 .239 *Schilling had a 2.61 ERA in the month of September.
Against New York 2002-2004: 2-0, 4.82 ERA, 18.2 IP, .239 BAA 2004 New York Starts: OPP IP H R ER HR BB SO 4/17 (W) 6.1 6 1 1 1 4 8 6/23 (L) 5.1 10 7 7 1 2 3 9/26 (W) 7.0 1 2 2 0 4 6 Notable: Forgettable: Olerud: 22-8, 1.031 OPS Sierra: 2-7, .571 OPS Matsui: 3-7, .984 OPS Jeter: 3-21, .468 OPS Williams: 5-17, .957 OPS Cairo: 3-13, .462 OPS
Lieber, Jon 14-8, 4.33 ERA Season Statistics: GS IP H R HR BB SO K/9 WHIP BAA 27 176.2 216 95 20 18 102 5.20 1.32 .301
Last 3 Starts: OPP IP H R ER HR BB SO MIN 10/6* 6.2 7 3 3 0 1 4 MIN 9/29 5.2 10 4 2 0 0 5 TB 9/23 7.1 11 3 3 0 0 3 *Lieber had a 3.12 ERA in the month of September.
Against Boston 2002-2004: 1-0, 4.19 ERA, 19.1 IP, .240 BAA 2004 Boston Starts: OPP IP H R ER HR BB SO 6/30 (W) 6.0 8 2 2 1 1 3 7/23 (W) 5.0 6 4 4 2 1 4 9/18 (W) 8.1 4 3 3 2 1 7 Notable: Forgettable: Ortiz: 4-10, 1.500 OPS Cabrera, 2-18, .269 OPS Millar: 9-21, 1.335 OPS Ramirez, 1-11, .182 OPS Mueller: 15-31, 1.161 OPS Reese, 1-19, 153 OPS
Martinez, Pedro 21-6, 3.26 ERA Season Statistics: GS IP H R HR BB SO K/9 WHIP BAA 33 217.0 193 99 26 61 227 9.41 1.17 3.90 *Martinez had a 4.95 ERA in the month of September.
Against New York 2002-2004: 2-0, 4.26 ERA, 76.0 IP, .231 BAA 2004 New York Starts: OPP IP H R ER HR BB SO 4/20 (W) 7.0 4 0 0 0 1 7 7/1 (L) 7.0 4 3 3 2 3 8 9/19 (L) 5.0 8 8 8 3 4 4 9/24 (L) 7.1 9 5 5 1 2 5 Notable: Forgettable: Wilson: 11-25, 1.062 OPS Olerud: 10-43, .600 OPS Sheffield: 9-32, 1.006 OPS Matsui: 3-22, .447 OPS Posada: 11-57, .777 OPS Rodriguez: 9-43, .602 OPS
Brown, Kevin 10-6, 4.09 ERA, 13.2 IP, .322 BAA Season Statistics: GS IP H R HR BB SO K/9 WHIP BAA 22 132.0 132 65 14 35 83 5.66 1.27 .262
Last 3 Starts: OPP IP H R ER HR BB SO MIN 10/8* 6.0 8 1 1 1 0 1 TOR 10/2 5.0 1 1 0 0 2 2 BOS 9/26 0.2 6 4 4 0 0 1 *Brown had a 9.45 ERA in the month of September.
Against Boston 2002-2004: 0-1, 5.93 ERA, 2004 Boston Starts: OPP IP H R ER HR BB SO 4/19 (L) 6.0 9 4 4 1 0 4 4/24 (L) 7.0 7 4 4 1 0 5 9/26 (L) 0.2 6 4 4 0 0 1 Notable: Forgettable: Varitek: 3-6, 1.571 OPS Damon: 0-7, .125 OPS Ortiz: 4-8, 1.375 OPS Cabrera: 7-21, .915 OPS
Arroyo, Bronson 10-9, 4.03 ERA Season Statistics: GS IP H R HR BB SO K/9 WHIP BAA 32 178.2 171 99 17 47 142 7.15 1.22 .249 *Arroyo had a 4.24 ERA in the month of September. (However, he was 3-0)
Against New York 2002-2004: 0-0, 4.94 ERA, 27.1 IP, .255 BAA 2004 New York Starts: OPP IP H R ER HR BB SO 4/19 (W) 6.1 8 4 4 1 1 5 4/24 (W) 6.0 4 2 2 1 2 4 7/24 (W) 5.2 10 8 6 0 0 4 9/17 (W) 6.0 4 2 2 1 1 3 Notable: Forgettable: Matsui: 5-12, 1.167 OPS Posada: 2-10, .500 OPS Rodriguez: 3-10, 1.167 OPS Sheffield: 4-18, .444 OPS xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Jeter: 1-11, .377 OPS
Vazquez, Javier 14-10, 4.91 ERA Season Statistics: GS IP H R HR BB SO K/9 WHIP BAA 32 198.0 195 114 33 60 150 6.82 1.29 .255
Last 3 Starts: OPP IP H R ER HR BB SO MIN 10/5* 7.0 7 2 2 1 1 7 MIN 9/30 6.2 7 5 5 1 4 3 BOS 9/25 4.2 7 5 5 1 2 4 *Vazquez had a 6.29 ERA in the month of September.
Against Boston 2002-2004: 1-2, 5.56 ERA, 22.2 IP, .287 BAA 2004 Boston Starts: OPP IP H R ER HR BB SO 4/16 (L) 5.1 9 6 4 3 1 5 4/25 (L) 6.0 4 2 2 1 1 8 6/29 (W) 6.2 7 3 3 3 1 8 9/25 (L) 4.2 7 5 5 1 2 4 Notable: Forgettable: Mirabelli: 4-9, 1.722 OPS Millar: 4-22, .467 OPS Ramirez: 4-12, 1.167 OPS Roberts: 2-10, .400 OPS Ortiz: 4-12, 1.000 OPS Varitek: 0-10, .000 OPS
Wakefield, Tim 12-10, 4.87 ERA Season Statistics: GS IP H R HR BB SO K/9 WHIP BAA 32 188.1 197 121 29 63 116 5.54 1.38 .264 *Wakefield had an 8.20 ERA in September.
Against New York 2002-2004: 3-3, 2.88 ERA, 60.2 IP, .202 BAA 2004 New York Starts: OPP IP H R ER HR BB SO 4/16 (W) 7.0 4 2 1 1 4 4 6/30 (W) 6.1 3 2 0 0 2 3 9/25 (W) 6.1 5 5 3 1 2 1 Notable: Forgettable: Jeter: 51-17, .911 OPS Rodriguez: 9-40, .579 OPS Cairo: 4-12, .883 OPS Wilson: 1-12, .167 OPS Olerud: 9-34, .975 OPS Sierra: 1-13, .154 OPS
Foulke (2.17 ERA, .94 WHIP) Rivera (1.94 ERA, 1.08 WHIP) Timlin (4.13 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) Quantrill (4.72 ERA, 1.51 WHIP) Embree (4.13 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) Gordon (2.21 ERA, .88 WHIP) Lowe (5.42 ERA, 1.61 WHIP) Loaiza (5.70 ERA, 1.57 WHIP) Leskanic (5.19 ERA, 1.78 WHIP) Sturtze (5.47 ERA, 1.40 WHIP) Myers (4.64 ERA, 1.59 WHIP) Heredia (6.28 ERA, 1.66 WHIP) Mendoza (3.52 ERA, 1.04 WHIP)
PLAYER BA OBP SLG OPS Damon .304/.380/.477/.857 Bellhorn .264/.373/.444/.817 Ramirez .308/.397/.613/1.009 Ortiz .301/.380/.603/.983 Millar .297/.383/.474/.857 Varitek .296/.390/.482/.872 Nixon .315/.377/.510/.887 Mueller .283/.365/.446/.811 Cabrera .294/.320/.465/.785
PLAYER BA OBP SLG OPS Jeter .292/.352/.471/.823 Rodriguez .286/.375/.512/.888 Sheffield .290/.393/.534/.927 Matsui .298/.390/.522/.912 Williams .262/.360/.435/.795 Posada .272/.400/.481/.881 Sierra .244/.296/.456/.752 Olerud .280/.367/.396/.763 Cairo .292/.346/.417/.763
Team Runs Hits 2B HR BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS Red Sox 949 1613 373 222 659 1189 .282 .360 .472 .832 Yankees 897 1483 281 242 670 982 .268 .353 .458 .811
Red Sox Yankees Mirabelli .281/.368/.525/.893 Flaherty .252/.286/.465/.750 Mientkiewicz .215/.286/.318/.603 Crosby .151/.196/.302/.498 Reese .221/.271/.303/.574 Clark .221/.297/.458/.755 Kapler .272/.311/.390/.700 Wilson .213/.254/.325/.579 Roberts .256/.330/.442/.772 Lofton .275/.346/.395/.741
A bit early, eh?
hehehe
Wow!! This is one of the earliest live threads I've seen. GO SOX!!
It's not too early, is it?!?
You're never too early for Armageddon.
Sorry, but baseball season's over, since the Braves hatched another turkey last night.
Not too early! Bring 'em on! Go Sox!!!
Sox in 5.
Those Astros can hit. It's hard to keep that offense in check.
The players haven't even woken up yet.
ping!
Yup, for me too.
The Yankees will crush the Bosox in seven.
If you don't understand how that is not a self- contradictory statement, you haven't been paying attention.
That said, I gotta spout off about how TV scheduling is ruining post-season baseball. All of these days off means that Boston can go into this season with what amounts to a two-man rotation and have a good chance of winning. This is just flat-out wrong. It should take the same thing to win in the post season as it does to win during the regular season. The quality of your fourth starter and the depth of your bullpen should be important issues. But in the modern post season, these things just don't matter.
Boston built their team to win this particular series. The Yankees will not allow this to happen.
Steinbrenner had the Yankees up at 7:00 am sharp for bed-making and callisthenics after doing curfew bed check last night.
Wow, from reading that, you'd think it was the Red Sox who won 101 games and the Division.
The Red Sox had the 3rd best record in the majors.
Never too early for baseball!!:-)
SOX SUCK. The curse is on. O^O
I see Kerry as the Red Sox (although Mannie Ortiz will not be playing this evening) and GW as the Yankees. The long haired unkemp Sox represent the rabble that supports appeasement of the enemy and the clean cut Yanks favor offense, offense offense. Therefore the Yankees will win.
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