ALCS Game 1: Red Sox @ Yankees (Live Thread)

Yahoo! Sports ^ | 10-12-04 | Various

[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

[sinclair]

"Sorry, but baseball season's over..."

I was saying that last July. Boy was I wrong. Geaux Astros.

[Libertarian444]

A bit early, eh?

Avoid the rush - hate the Yankees early.

[eastsider]

You do realize, I'm sure, how the Spartan soldiers got their jollies ...

[GraniteStateConservative]

We appreciate your support. There's room on the bandwagon!

[luv2ndamend]

I have grown up being a redsox fan. Just like some grow to be a Yankee fan etc.

I love the game of baseball! Just like my kids do. We live in the northeast and would love to play year round, but we can't. So, other like minded parents (with the love of the game) opened up an old school with funds from other people who loved the game. Now our kids can at least hit in the batting cages and do infield practice year round. It ain't much, but it shows in the kids come spring. This past year my 14 year olds team one the div. and went to win states.

I know I went out on a tangent and apologize. I would like nothing better to see the Sox win, but the love of good baseball has no favorite. Enjoy the series!

[GraniteStateConservative]

Hey, I didn't write the preview.

[montag813]

[Fierce Allegiance]

Good. I am glad I didn't send the post I had written regarding the Braves.

[ElTianti]

Yes, but wasn’t it something all the greek me did, not just Spartans.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I know what you pray for.

Red Sox win Game 1, 10-0
Red Sox win Game 2, 20-0
Red Sox win Game 3, 30-0
Yankees win Game 4, 4-3 on a 9th-inning GS
Yankees win Game 5, 4-3 on a 9th-inning GS
Yankees win Game 6, 4-3 on a 9th-inning GS
Yankees win Game 7, 4-3 on a 9th-inning GS

[GraniteStateConservative]

Done.

[TheBigB]

Careful. :)P

[GraniteStateConservative]

Our team colors are red, white, and blue.

[gopwinsin04]

[dfwgator]

All this will do is determine which team gets to lose to the 'Stros in the World Series.

[TXBSAFH]

Thanks.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Were it the Braves VS Yanks, my newfound Allegiance to the Braves would be Fierce!

[Born Conservative]

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.

Wouldn't have been easier to say "The Red Sox are libs, the Yankees are conservatives"?

[wireman]

It took Houston 43 years to win ONE playoff series.

You really think they can win two in the same year?

I would love to see Clemens pitch against the Yanks in the Bronx. Oh my!

[gridlock]

After the games they have had this year, I think we will see some great baseball. In the end, however, I believe that the Yankees will have the confidence and experience they need to win, and the Bosox will remember that they are, after all, the Bosox. This will be the difference.

I intend to enjoy all seven games.