Posted on 10/12/2007 12:34:23 PM PDT by GraniteStateConservative
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.
This is how I’m looking at the situation...
The Indians haven’t lost more than two games consecutively since August 14 (nine weeks ago).
And it took the Red Sox seven innings to score off Westbrook in Game 3.
I’d bet you dollars to donuts the game is a rather close one tonight (within 1-3 runs, max).
Don’t give up yet! :O)
So who will win tonight's game? I have no idea, but I do know a few things that will go a long way in determining the outcome. For Cleveland, Westbrook needs to continue to get ground ball outs. If he's letting up too many pop ups, he may not be around for long. Also, the Indians need to jump on top early for two reasons. One, it would help silence what may otherwise be a very raucous home-field crowd. Two, it would give them much needed confidence after getting blown out the last two games. Also, in what may be a very tight game they will need to continue to have good outings from Jensen Lewis and Rafael Betancourt and need Joe Borowski to shake off any lingering effects from last night's game in which he gave up two earned runs in one inning. Borowski struggled all year long in non-save situations, so you would figure he would be just fine in a possible save situation. But you never know. If I were Cleveland, I'd make sure to throw Betancourt for two innings. He's given up all of one hit in 6 1/3 innings.
For Boston, the Sox need the entire lineup to step up as it did last night. When Papi and Manny have help the Sox are potent. Boston also needs to be patient and work the count. Laying off the low, ground ball inducing pitches from Westbrook is important. A major question is how Dice-K will pitch. Much was made about his sulking after Game 3 in which he stared silently at his locker long after teammates had left Jacobs Field. Maybe the home crowd will help him out, but make no mistake about it. After this game a lot will be written about rather Boston's investment in the Japanese pitcher was worth it. So far, Matsuzaka hasn't shown the same ability to deliver in the clutch with the Sawx as he did overseas and in the World Baseball Classic. Lastly, the Sox need to continue to play Jacoby Ellsbury over Coco Crisp in center. Ellsbury only had one hit last night, be made solid contact several other times. And at no time should Eric Gagne even get up off the bench if the Sox are interested in winning.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7358706
“Byrd says doctor prescribed HGH”
Byrd says he never hid his use of HGH because it was prescribed to him under a doctor’s care.
Byrd said that three different doctors diagnosed him as suffering from adult growth-hormone deficiency. In spring training, he said, he was diagnosed with a tumor on his pituitary gland at the base of his brain, a condition that may have contributed to his deficiency, doctors told him.
I meant Bud would tell the Indians behind the scenes.
Millar's option already vested so he's on their payroll next year unless they want to pay him and cut him. I thought we should have traded Hinske for him at the deadline. We would have won the division a lot easier with Millar taking Hinske's ABs in September. In fact, Millar beat the Sox at least once this season when he took Wake deep.
I had to go out so I didn’t follow it up. This turned out to be incomplete reporting by ESPN, Fox Sprts etc. There was a medical reason for him getting the stuff and it appears that the lack of response by Byrd made it reasonable in the reporters minds to run the story.
"The possession, sale or use of any illegal drug or controlled substance by Major League players or personnel is strictly prohibited ... This prohibition applies to all illegal drugs ... including steroids." -- Jun. 7, 1991 – Memo by Commissioner Fay Vincent
Byrd is in violation of this memo's directive. He illegally obtained the HGH.
You did good, Meg, getting some rest instead of some grief...:)
Hmmm....
Yeah, seems all on the up and up to me. [/sarc]
There’s a news conference in 20 minutes. Let’s see what he says and if the dentist issue is true or someone telling lies.
He didn’t say a whole lot overall. Stated that he has never hidden anything, he’s never tried to deceive anyone, he doesn’t want this issue to distract the team. He stated that a doctor issued the scrips and he isn’t a cheater. Some people won’t believe him no matter what.
Frankly he seems like a genuine guy and I will give him the benefit of the doubt.
I think you need to amend your tagline. ;-)
Thanks
Where is my ping, is game time not soon? ;-D
Are you ready?
1. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. J.D. Drew, RF
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
9. Julio Lugo, SS
PREVIEW
In more than a century of major league postseasons, only 10 teams have rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven series. On Sunday night, the Boston Red Sox will try to do it for the second time in four years.Boston looks to complete its latest remarkable postseason comeback at Fenway Park in Game 7 of the AL championship series against the Cleveland Indians, who haven't lost three straight in more than two months.
Since dropping three consecutive games to be pushed to the brink of elimination, the Red Sox have used a resurgent offense to storm back. They defeated the Indians 7-1 in Thursday's Game 5 to send the series back to Boston, where they got a two-out, first-inning grand slam from J.D. Drew and added six more runs in the third en route to a 12-2 rout on Saturday.
Drew had been 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position in this series following a regular season when he batted only .237 in RBI situations.
"J.D. Drew is a special player," said Boston starter Curt Schilling, who earned the win with seven strong innings. "I'm sure he's not real proud of the year he had ... but he is the definition of 'even keel.' I mean, he doesn't snap.
"He doesn't get too high, too low. He just goes up and he plays the game. And tonight, that wins the game."
Although the Red Sox are trying to become just the 11th of 66 teams to win a seven-game series after facing a 3-1 deficit, they pulled off an even more impressive comeback in the 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees, winning four consecutive games after losing the first three - the only time that has happened in major league history. That set the stage for a World Series sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston's first title since 1918.
The Red Sox also rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win a best-of-five division series versus the Indians in 1999.
Cleveland has lost consecutive games for the first time Sept. 6-7 against the Los Angeles Angels, and is trying to avoid three straight losses for the first time since Aug. 10-14, when they dropped four in a row to the Yankees and Tigers.
"It just has to stop, and it has to stop tonight," Indians manager Eric Wedge said after Saturday's defeat. "They need to go to bed tonight with clear heads and think clear thoughts and come here tomorrow expecting to win."
Catcher Victor Martinez was a bright spot for Cleveland, going 2-for-4 with a solo home run to continue a strong postseason in which he is batting .350 (14-for-40) with two homers and seven RBIs.
Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-1, 6.75 ERA) may see Game 7 as a chance for redemption. The Japanese rookie right-hander -- whom the Red Sox spent a total of $103 million in the offseason to acquire -- fizzled in Monday's Game 3 at Cleveland, giving up four runs, six hits and two walks in 4 2-3 innings of a 4-2 defeat. After the loss, Matsuzaka was so despondent he spent more than an hour silently staring into his locker.
He also failed to make it out of the fifth inning in Game 2 of Boston's AL division series against the Angels, allowing three runs and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings. The Red Sox rallied to win 6-3.
Still, Boston remains confident in Matsuzaka, who went 15-12 but won just twice after Aug. 4.
"I think Dice is very capable of coming out and pitching a gem," Drew said. "It's still a matter of us playing good defense behind Daisuke, him working ahead and throwing strikes."
Should Matsuzaka falter again, Boston's bullpen is well-rested. Schilling's performance Saturday followed Josh Beckett's eight-inning effort in Game 5. Beckett could be available in relief for this contest, as could knuckleballer and Game 4 starter Tim Wakefield.
A long outing from the starting pitcher may be more vital for the Indians, who got only two innings from Fausto Carmona in Game 6. They'll rely on right-hander Jake Westbrook (1-1, 6.17) to duplicate his Game 3 success.
Opposing Matsuzaka on Monday, Westbrook limited the Red Sox to two runs while scattering seven hits and three walks over 6 2-3 innings. The victory improved the right-hander to 4-2 with a 4.46 ERA in seven starts against Boston. However, he has given up 10 runs and 21 hits in 10 2-3 innings during two career starts at Fenway.
"It's going to be a challenge and definitely a lot of emotions," Westbrook said. "I'm excited about the opportunity."
Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez is 9-for-18 lifetime versus Westbrook, but designated hitter David Ortiz is just 1-for-9. Neither slugger has homered against him.
Each of the last four times the ALCS has gone seven games, Boston has been involved. The Red Sox defeated the California Angels in 1986 and lost to the Yankees in 2003. This is the first Game 7 for Cleveland since the 1997 World Series, when it lost 3-2 in 11 innings to Florida.
"Hey, it's going to come down to Game 7, the two teams that won more baseball games than anybody in the regular season, two teams that have beat each other up over the course of the past week," Wedge said. "And that's the way it should be. It's something everybody should look forward to."
The winner of this contest will host NL champion Colorado in Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday.
And our good luck charm throwing the ceremonial first pitch...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.