ALCS Live Thread: Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox

10-12-07

[GraniteStateConservative]

Game 1 @ BOSTON:

WEATHER:: Forecasts for tonight predict that the rain will cease enough to get the game in, certainly. It should be cloudy, with temperatures dipping to the mid-50s.

Starting Pitchers

C. C. Sabathia (19-7, 3.21 ERA) vs. Josh Beckett (20-7, 3.27 ERA)

Game 1 LINEUPS

1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B
3. Travis Hafner, DH
4. Victor Martinez, C
5. Ryan Garko, 1B
6. Jhonny Peralta, SS
7. Kenny Lofton, LF
8. Franklin Gutierrez, RF
9. Casey Blake, 3B

1. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. Bobby Kielty, RF
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Coco Crisp, CF
9. Julio Lugo, SS

NOTES: This is the first time since the start of the three division era that the two LCS series have each matched the two best records in their league (96-66). Computer baseball sim Imagine Sports/Diamond Mind Baseball ran the 2007 ALCS 1,000 times, and the Red Sox won 59% of the time. If the Red Sox won game 1, they won the series 72.5% of the time, and if Cleveland won, the Indians won 59% of the time.

[nutmeg]

I have said for some time now that I don’t believe that this Red Sox is team is good enough to win the WS.

Yes, you and I have had this discussion several times throughout the season. I'm surprised that the Red Sox got as far as they have, quite frankly.

Whatever team wins the ALCS are going to have a tough task ahead of them in the WS. The Rockies are nothing short of astounding... they swept their way to the World Series, and have won the last 21 of 22 games. Unbelievable.

Have you seen their young shortshop Troy Tulowitzki? I'd trade Lugo for "Tulow" in a heartbeat if I could...

[nutmeg]

Thanks... maybe basketball or hockey? I listen to WEEI once in awhile, but only for the baseball discussions. We actually can get WEEI FM (103.7?) down here in the Hartford, CT area, although there's lots of static sometimes. I stream it online as well. The show I've heard most often is the Planet Mikey show.

My husband was becoming a semi-regular WEEI caller back in August and September, mostly complaining about the Sox' lack of baseball fundamentals... ie, "smallball"... move the runners along. Can't rely on the Big Homeruns all the time, etc.

He is a diehard Red Sox fan, but was SO disgusted with last night's game, he gave up watching it in about the third inning. He went upstairs to watch something else on the other TV. Very unlike him...

[misterrob]

I’d trade Lugo for a bag of bats and batting practice balls.

[misterrob]

No prob on the 2B post.....actually FR has about as many dbl posts as the Sox have dbl plays!

I will go on record as saying that Dave Magidan needs to be fired yesterday. Crisp, Drew and Lugo have all had terrible years at the plate and Tek has slumped on and off through the year. Manny pretty much stunk the first two months of the year. Youk wants to be something he isn’t.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Ellsbury
Pedroia
Ortiz
Manny
Lowell
Drew
Youk
Tek
Lugo

Coco actually has good numbers against Byrd. I'd move Drew to leadoff. No chance of a DP and he can draw walks if he is told it's his job.

Drew
Youk
Manny
Ortiz
Lowell
Tek
Pedroia
Lugo
Coco

[nutmeg]

Just heard a few minutes' worth of Red Sox baseball discussion on WEEI 103.7FM. WEEI guys (I'm not sure who they were) said tonight's lineup card is up, and Ellsbury is once again NOT in the lineup. The WEEI guys were also incredulous that Ellsbury was not at the top of the lineup (and hasn't been in any of the playoff games).. "Perhaps Francona is saving him as a pinch runner for late in the game," someone suggested.

Also discussed... The Red Sox supposedly "hit Byrd pretty well"... Coco particularly "has good numbers against Byrd".

"Another reason to have that sparkplug off the bench - Ellsbury - at the top of the lineup tonight: Mirabelli. Tek isn't a great hitter, but at least we got something from him last night. Chances are we'll get nothing from Mirabelli."

"The Red Sox bats have gone cold, and once again (as in the past) we're relying on the power hitters. All Byrd has to do is to shut down two of our three power hitters: Ortiz, Manny and Lowell - and they win the game."

All of the above, my paraphrases

*sigh* How's that weather forecast looking for Cleveland tonight? Any rain, ya think?

[nutmeg]

I'd move Drew to leadoff. No chance of a DP and he can draw walks if he is told it's his job.

You make a good point there...

[nutmeg]

I’d trade Lugo for a bag of bats and batting practice balls.

LOL. Lugo seems like such a genuinely nice guy (we see him at BP very often during the year), and he really appreciated all those "Let's Go Lugo!" chants when he was in that awful slump, but....... yeah. "Nice" doesn't = winning games, obviously.

[nutmeg]

I will go on record as saying that Dave Magidan needs to be fired yesterday.

YES. I've been complaining about Magidan all season. There have GOT to be some better hitting coaches out there for next season.

[Red Steel]

I still think Boston can win the series if they can somehow get it back to Boston, but it's definitely a uphill climb.

If the Sox win tonight, the Red Sox will have the momentum again because the Indians have to face slam-the-door Beckett in game 5. The series is going back to Boston.

[misterrob]

Tonight is a must win. If they can get it done tonight, they can get Beckett back for Game 5 and if they win that they have Schill and Mediocre-san to try and get a victory in games 6&7.

[Red Steel]

I still think Boston can win the series if they can somehow get it back to Boston, but it's definitely a uphill climb.

If the Sox win tonight, the Red Sox will have the momentum again because the Indians have to face slam-the-door Beckett in game 5. The series is going back to Boston.

[big'ol_freeper]

Game 4- Go Red Sox!!!

[happinesswithoutpeace]

LET’S GO!

[Red Steel]

I still think Boston can win the series if they can somehow get it back to Boston, but it's definitely a uphill climb.

If the Sox win tonight, the Red Sox will have the momentum again because the Indians have to face slam-the-door Beckett in game 5. The series is going back to Boston.

[Red Steel]

Hmmmmmmm. FR causing double and triple posts....

[misterrob]

If you post and get temporarily unavailable, just hit the back button and see if your post makes it up on the site.

[Red Steel]

I’m thinking if the Sox lose tonight, they go with Beckett in game 7 with 3 days rest, if they get to game 7.

[#1CTYankee]

Missed you guys last night, had business in New York (Gag) State testing a new product. I left the laptop home because my daughter think it's hers.

I'm counting on Wakefield and our offense to come though tonight, we can do it so I'll hope we won't have to be behind another game down.

Go Sox!!!!!!!

[nutmeg]

Glad to see you back here, #1CTYankee.

GO RED SOX!!!

It's do or die time...