Sox fan in Tex
06-10-2005, 11:59 AM
For the first time since 1918, the two teams will duke it out. This one takes play at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. Game time is scheduled for 2:20 EDT and it looks to be a hell of a game.
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/bos.gif http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/276520.jpg
Bronson Arroyo: 4-2, 3.89 ERA
vs.
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/chc.gif http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/118120.jpg
Greg Maddux: 4-3, 4.12 ERA
The game preview...
Only the Cubs know as well as the Red Sox what it is like to play 81 home games in a historic shrine.
The Red Sox get to visit the National League's version of Fenway Park when they play at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon, marking the first time two of baseball's most tradition-laden teams have faced off since the 1918 World Series.
There are storylines galore. Red Sox right-hander Bronson Arroyo will pitch against Greg Maddux, the legendary righty that he idolized as a kid. Former Red Sox icon Nomar Garciaparra -- now an injured Cub -- is likely to get his World Series ring.
This will be the first time the Sox have seen former teammate Todd Walker since 2003, when he was their best hitter during the postseason. The second baseman who replaced Walker in Boston (Mark Bellhorn) is a former Cub. Red Sox right-hander Matt Clement -- who won't pitch in the series -- played three years for the Cubs.
"That's my favorite place to go to in the National League," said Arroyo, who knows Wrigley from his years with the Pirates. "Old ballpark, tiny locker room, but good character to the place. Great vibe in the stadium, even during batting practice. It's a little different than any other stadium, man. It's more like a party in the afternoon. People come in almost like they're going to the beach or something. It's fun to play in that park and I'm definitely looking forward to it."
The last time most Sox players saw Garciaparra was the night of July 31, 2004, when he packed his bags in the visitors' clubhouse at the Metrodome, just moments after learning that he had been traded to the Cubs. Garciaparra has been out since severely tearing his left groin on April 20, and there's no word on when he'll return.
"Nomar meant so much to this team," said Sox center fielder Johnny Damon. "It's unfortunate how his career has been going the past couple of years, with the string of injuries and being traded. We always wish Nomar the best. Hopefully he does get his ring this weekend. Hopefully he's there, so we can catch up. Nomar meant a lot. I'd love to see him."
What Damon doesn't look forward to quite as much is facing Maddux.
"You look for him to move the ball around," said Damon. "The guy knows how to win. He doesn't give in. We need to try to get on him early. He can definitely carve you up a little bit. He's a really good pitcher."
Just ask Sox first baseman Kevin Millar, who knows all about the type of infamy that can occur against Maddux.
"I hit three double plays off him my first three at-bats in one game, which is my claim to fame," said Millar. "He's just a competitor. There's no secret. You just see the ball, hit the ball with Greg Maddux."
While Boston pitchers will be rooting for the wind to be blowing in all weekend, the hitters hope for the opposite.
"When the wind is blowing out, it's an absolute launching pad," Millar said. "You could have eight or nine home runs in a game there by accident. You see guys throw their bat down there like they've hit a popup and it's a home run. If the wind is blowing in, it's a tough stadium to score runs at because it plays bigger than it is. It just depends on the weather. It's one of the few stadiums where the weather dictates what kind of game it's going to be."
There figures to be a good bit of envy from the Chicago natives over the weekend. Last October, the Sox snapped their mammoth World Series championship drought at 86 years. The Cubs haven't won it all since 1908.
"Going up against the defending champs, it's going to be a lot of fun," said Cubs catcher Michael Barrett. "I'm excited for the fans in Chicago. We look at it not just as another game, but another game we need to win."
Some notes of my own, here are all of Bronson's starts this year:
H/A IP H R ER SO/BB HR BF G/F PC GSc
04/08 B.Arroyo..... A 6.0 3 2 2 4/1 1 22 7/7 95 61 W
04/14 B.Arroyo..... H 5.2 9 5 5 1/4 0 30 10/6 104 28
04/19 B.Arroyo..... H 7.0 8 1 1 3/1 1 30 10/8 103 59
04/24 B.Arroyo..... A 6.0 7 3 3 2/0 1 25 11/5 84 48 W
04/30 B.Arroyo..... A 7.0 5 2 2 5/1 0 27 5/11 99 63 W
05/05 B.Arroyo..... A 8.0 3 1 1 8/2 1 29 4/12 113 78 W
05/10 B.Arroyo..... H 6.2 3 2 1 4/3 0 27 6/10 106 63
05/16 B.Arroyo..... A 7.0 6 4 4 4/1 0 29 8/9 104 52
05/25 B.Arroyo..... A 6.0 6 5 2 1/0 0 25 11/6 90 47 L
05/30 B.Arroyo..... H 2.2 10 7 7 3/2 1 18 2/1 64 11 L
06/01 B.Arroyo..... H 1.1 0 0 0 1/0 0 4 2/1 13 -
06/04 B.Arroyo..... H 6.0 6 2 2 2/1 1 26 6/10 102 53
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/bos.gif http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/276520.jpg
Bronson Arroyo: 4-2, 3.89 ERA
vs.
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/chc.gif http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/118120.jpg
Greg Maddux: 4-3, 4.12 ERA
The game preview...
Only the Cubs know as well as the Red Sox what it is like to play 81 home games in a historic shrine.
The Red Sox get to visit the National League's version of Fenway Park when they play at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon, marking the first time two of baseball's most tradition-laden teams have faced off since the 1918 World Series.
There are storylines galore. Red Sox right-hander Bronson Arroyo will pitch against Greg Maddux, the legendary righty that he idolized as a kid. Former Red Sox icon Nomar Garciaparra -- now an injured Cub -- is likely to get his World Series ring.
This will be the first time the Sox have seen former teammate Todd Walker since 2003, when he was their best hitter during the postseason. The second baseman who replaced Walker in Boston (Mark Bellhorn) is a former Cub. Red Sox right-hander Matt Clement -- who won't pitch in the series -- played three years for the Cubs.
"That's my favorite place to go to in the National League," said Arroyo, who knows Wrigley from his years with the Pirates. "Old ballpark, tiny locker room, but good character to the place. Great vibe in the stadium, even during batting practice. It's a little different than any other stadium, man. It's more like a party in the afternoon. People come in almost like they're going to the beach or something. It's fun to play in that park and I'm definitely looking forward to it."
The last time most Sox players saw Garciaparra was the night of July 31, 2004, when he packed his bags in the visitors' clubhouse at the Metrodome, just moments after learning that he had been traded to the Cubs. Garciaparra has been out since severely tearing his left groin on April 20, and there's no word on when he'll return.
"Nomar meant so much to this team," said Sox center fielder Johnny Damon. "It's unfortunate how his career has been going the past couple of years, with the string of injuries and being traded. We always wish Nomar the best. Hopefully he does get his ring this weekend. Hopefully he's there, so we can catch up. Nomar meant a lot. I'd love to see him."
What Damon doesn't look forward to quite as much is facing Maddux.
"You look for him to move the ball around," said Damon. "The guy knows how to win. He doesn't give in. We need to try to get on him early. He can definitely carve you up a little bit. He's a really good pitcher."
Just ask Sox first baseman Kevin Millar, who knows all about the type of infamy that can occur against Maddux.
"I hit three double plays off him my first three at-bats in one game, which is my claim to fame," said Millar. "He's just a competitor. There's no secret. You just see the ball, hit the ball with Greg Maddux."
While Boston pitchers will be rooting for the wind to be blowing in all weekend, the hitters hope for the opposite.
"When the wind is blowing out, it's an absolute launching pad," Millar said. "You could have eight or nine home runs in a game there by accident. You see guys throw their bat down there like they've hit a popup and it's a home run. If the wind is blowing in, it's a tough stadium to score runs at because it plays bigger than it is. It just depends on the weather. It's one of the few stadiums where the weather dictates what kind of game it's going to be."
There figures to be a good bit of envy from the Chicago natives over the weekend. Last October, the Sox snapped their mammoth World Series championship drought at 86 years. The Cubs haven't won it all since 1908.
"Going up against the defending champs, it's going to be a lot of fun," said Cubs catcher Michael Barrett. "I'm excited for the fans in Chicago. We look at it not just as another game, but another game we need to win."
Some notes of my own, here are all of Bronson's starts this year:
H/A IP H R ER SO/BB HR BF G/F PC GSc
04/08 B.Arroyo..... A 6.0 3 2 2 4/1 1 22 7/7 95 61 W
04/14 B.Arroyo..... H 5.2 9 5 5 1/4 0 30 10/6 104 28
04/19 B.Arroyo..... H 7.0 8 1 1 3/1 1 30 10/8 103 59
04/24 B.Arroyo..... A 6.0 7 3 3 2/0 1 25 11/5 84 48 W
04/30 B.Arroyo..... A 7.0 5 2 2 5/1 0 27 5/11 99 63 W
05/05 B.Arroyo..... A 8.0 3 1 1 8/2 1 29 4/12 113 78 W
05/10 B.Arroyo..... H 6.2 3 2 1 4/3 0 27 6/10 106 63
05/16 B.Arroyo..... A 7.0 6 4 4 4/1 0 29 8/9 104 52
05/25 B.Arroyo..... A 6.0 6 5 2 1/0 0 25 11/6 90 47 L
05/30 B.Arroyo..... H 2.2 10 7 7 3/2 1 18 2/1 64 11 L
06/01 B.Arroyo..... H 1.1 0 0 0 1/0 0 4 2/1 13 -
06/04 B.Arroyo..... H 6.0 6 2 2 2/1 1 26 6/10 102 53