August 31st Vs Anaheim

[elsrbueno]

Hey guys!

Very excited about today's game. I wrote up another article in preview.

http://www.18eaststreet.com/articles/pregame20040831.html

Hey, I love stats, love the Red Sox, love baseball.

[YanksHater213]

wow, where did you find those numbers? great article/preview thing

[yeszir]

Thats awesome. I dont want to go ahead without your permission, but would you mind copying and pasting the game preview that you type up into the game threads, along with a link to your site of course.

It's a great way to get into the game day state of mind, and it really has some useful information. Congrats on some awesome analysis and the like.

[elsrbueno]

Yeszir,
I don't mind posting stuff here, I just put it on my website for two reasons:

So I have complete control over what is posted (format and everything), and so I have an archive of all the stuff I write. This stuff really interests me, so I'm going to try to do this whenever I can (on my own website, and post the link).

I apologize for not posting my source for the statistics. All stats enclosed are courtesy of ESPN.com.


As requested, the text you'll find if you click on the link:



Boston Red Sox pregame analysis
August 31, 2004 7:05pm
Anaheim @ Boston

The Anaheim Angels enter today's action 1.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox for the AL Wild Card, and two games behind Oakland in the AL West. This series is key for both contenders as we enter the final month of the season.

The Angels are on a tear of late, and have won nine of their last 10 games On the mound for Anaheim is right hander John Lackey. Infamous in Anaheim for playing a key role in their championship run in 2002, Lackey hasn't done much since to establish himself as a top-notch pitcher.

In 2004, Lackey has an 11-10 record with a 5.00 ERA. In his last start, a 7-5 win against Kansas City, Lackey pitched five innings, and gave up five earned runs on seven hits. Lackey has especially struggled in August, going 2-1 with a 7.06 ERA in five August starts.

Lackey has pitched far less effectively on the road this season, as he enters today's game with a 6.21 road ERA.

Overall, Lackey is a control pitcher who has a 2:1 strikeout to walk ratio. His problem has been simply giving up too many hits on the road (opposing batters have hit .317 against him away from Anaheim).

Against Boston this season, he lost his only start, giving up five earned runs in 6 innings.

Some interesting tidbits about John Lackey:

Opposing batters are hitting .444 with 5 homers when swinging at the first pitch. Averages seem to drop when Lackey is working deep counts.

John Lackey has struggled against lefties this season, giving up 13 (of the 20 total) homers and a .315 average.

With nobody on base, opposing batters hit .265 against Lackey. With runners on, that average is raised to .308.

Lackey typically starts to loose effectiveness after the 4th inning and his 50th pitch.

Red Sox hitters in general have enjoyed facing Lackey, especially Manny Ramirez, who's 4-9 with two homers against him. Bill Mueller and David Ortiz are also hitting over .400 against Lackey.

On the other side of the spectrum, Johnny Damon is just 2 for 16 against Lackey.

Boston counters with their co-ace, Curt Schilling. Schilling is enjoying a very successful first season with the Red Sox. His 16 wins this season are second only to Mark Mulder, and he has already won 4 games in August.

Schilling is 8-1 at Fenway Park this year, and dominated Anaheim in his only appearance against them this season. He threw 8 innings and gave up just one run on three hits

Schilling has had pinpoint control this season, walking just 28 batters versus 158 strikeouts

The key to beating Schilling seems to be getting ahead in the count. On the contrary, Schilling is practically unhittable if he's getting ahead of hitters.

Because Schilling has spent most of his career in the NL, not many Anaheim hitters have significant experience against him.

Vladimir Guerrero (formerly of Montreal) has faced him 48 times, and has 12 hits, 8 of those hits for extra bases (4 doubles, 4 homers). No other Anaheim hitter has more than 2 hits against Schilling. Jose Guillen is 2 for 17 in his career against Schilling.

Although both of these teams are playing great baseball right now, the pitching matchup seems to heavily favor the Boston Red Sox in this series. Schilling, who has been everything Boston could hope for this season is looking to set the tone of the series in game 1.

Prediction: A Red Sox victory

[Zenny]

Smells like a victory tonight, boys and girls.

[yeszir]

Does it seem to anyone else that the outcome of this game will dictate the rest of this series? If the sox win I can legitimately see a sweep. A victory tonight puts us 2.5 ahead in the WC, a very nice position to be in, and it gives us even MORE momentum going into the remaining 2 games with Anaheim.

A loss, however, places us .5 ahead with 2 games to go against our main opponent at this stage. Knowing this team, I'm not sure we could stomach a loss right now. I'm afraid we're like a 3 year old climbing up a slide, poised to slip if any gust of wind pushes him down but ALMOST to the top. You all know the feeling of climbing up a slide, and thats what I'm feeling about this team right now.

[Chrupzilla]

Originally posted by yeszir@Aug 31 2004, 03:26 PM
Does it seem to anyone else that the outcome of this game will dictate the rest of this series?
I definetly agree. A gem from Schill tonight would set the tone for the series. A sweep would not be out of the question -- would be tough -- but with this team, at home, anything can happen.

[elsrbueno]

Yeszir,

I think the first game of a series sets the tone quite often, and this series is no different. Both of these teams are RED hot right now, and each team has the chance to cool off their opponent.

If we lose tonight, we'll be half a game up on Anaheim after losing with Schilling on the mound, doesn't create a lot of confidence with two pitchers who, while decent starters....aren't Schilling.

On the other hand, if we win tonight, we'll be 2.5 up with 2 games left vs Anaheim. That's big because that means Anaheim can't singlehandedly take first from us.

Bottom line, this game could be huge. In my mind, with Schilling on the mound vs Lackey, there's no excuse for losing tonight's game. We need to prove ourselves against a real contender after beating up on some pretty lousy teams.

[Soxfan#1]

They mght play roberts against him instead of damon and maybe even kapler

[Zenny]

An hour and forty-five minutes until the first pitch. I'm twitching with anticipation! I'd hate to see myself when they play the Yankees soon!

[CrespoBlows]

I'm wearing my Yankee suck T shirt, their 0-2 when I wear it. I got Indians +2 tonight.

[RedSoxRooter]

The lineups from CNNSI.com

Angels
D Eckstein SS
D Erstad 1B
Vladdy RF
G Anderson CF
J Guillen LF
T Glause DH
B Molina C
A Kennedy 2B
C Figgins 3B

Sox
Damon
Bellhorn
Manny
Ortiz
Tek
Cabrera
Mientkiewicz
Mueller
Roberts

[empirestrikesback26]

yankees win by 4 runs.

[YanksHater213]

3 run homer for manny
3 run triple for hafner

3-0 Sox
3-0 Tribe

life is good

[yeszir]

4-0 sox
4-0 tribe
Texas Minnesotta hasn't started.

[YanksHater213]

5-0 Sox
6-0 Tribe

life is even better now!

[empirestrikesback26]

Life sucks.

[YanksHater213]

oops! i made a mistake, 9-0 tribe :lol:

[empirestrikesback26]

12 nothing or somethin like that, 3 1/2

[empirestrikesback26]

someone turn the power off! Either that or forfeit.

[empirestrikesback26]

I'm rooting for a perfect game, it got the braves going again.

[YanksHater213]

balks in a run, 6-0 sox

angels are just playing so bad tonight

EDIT: Ronnie Belliard hit a homer. 10-0 Tribe

I smell 3.5...

[element1151]

6-0 Sox now, 10-0 tribe vs. Yanks, 2-0 MIN over Texas.

[CrespoBlows]

12-0 Cleveland!! Maybe it's time to quit making excuses yankees, your team isn't as good as you thought it was, and here come the SOX!!!!!!!

[empirestrikesback26]

Originally posted by CrespoBlows@Aug 31 2004, 08:34 PM
12-0 Cleveland!! Maybe it's time to quit making excuses yankees, your team isn't as good as you thought it was, and here come the SOX!!!!!!!
It's just one game, I wouldn't get so excited, but yea you can have the east.

[YanksHater213]

Originally posted by empirestrikesback26@Aug 31 2004, 08:44 PM
It's just one game, I wouldn't get so excited, but yea you can have the east.
just like that game when you scored 18 runs right...

btw, 13-0

[YanksHater213]

sorry guys, im having a bad night... its 15-0

[element1151]

no... this is a good night!

[YanksHater213]

16-0 yankees losing. wow, they suck. vizquel is 5-5 with 4 RBI

[element1151]

Texas also losing 5-1 in the 4th.

[empirestrikesback26]

you know there is a sox game going on last I heard.

[YanksHater213]

yeah! me too! its 7-1 sox!

[YanksHater213]

Dave Roberts, 3 run jack, great to see him doing well. 10-1 sox!

3.5 games is looking good to me

[Zenny]

Originally posted by empirestrikesback26@Aug 31 2004, 06:57 PM
yankees win by 4 runs.
If by "win by 4", you mean "lose by 16", then I agree.

[element1151]

Originally posted by Zenny+Aug 31 2004, 06:19 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Zenny @ Aug 31 2004, 06:19 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-empirestrikesback26@Aug 31 2004, 06:57 PM
yankees win by 4 runs.
If by "win by 4", you mean "lose by 16", then I agree. [/b][/quote]
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[CrespoBlows]

I&#39;m reading the Yankee quotes on some boards, "this happens to every team" "the Sox are going to go in a slump." Hmm 13 out of 14, and a team with the number one offense number two pitching, and a vastly superior defense than the Yankees, this isn&#39;t common for the Yankees to lose like this. NO team loses like this, no good team like this anyway. The Yankees are so overrated it&#39;s not even funny. Their pitching is abysmal, as their horrible defense, and overhyped offense. C&#39;mon Yankee fans, so you skull fucked a bunch of teams who suck, you can&#39;t call this just a "slump" this is a dreadful collapse. C&#39;mon this is what 180 million buys you.

[element1151]

i find that when there are off game days the day goes by slow...grr

Today was worth the wait&#33;

[empirestrikesback26]

The sun&#39;ll come out tomorrow
bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow
they&#39;ll be sun
just thinking about tomorrow
cleares away the cobwebs and the sorow
&#39;till their none
when i&#39;m stuck with a day that&#39;s gray and lonely
i just think of my chin and grin and say oh

CHORUS
the sun&#39;ll come out tomorrow
so you gotta hang until tomorrow
come what may
tomorrow tomorrow i love ya tomorrow
your always a day away

when i&#39;m stuck with a day that&#39;s gray and lonely
i just think of my chin and grin and say oh

CHORUS
the sun&#39;ll come out tomorrow
so you gotta hang until tomorrow
come what may
tomorrow tomorrow i love ya tomorrow
your always a day away
tomorrow tomorrow i love ya tomorrow
your always a day away

[element1151]

anyway...

[empirestrikesback26]

Originally posted by Zenny+Aug 31 2004, 09:19 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Zenny @ Aug 31 2004, 09:19 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-empirestrikesback26@Aug 31 2004, 06:57 PM
yankees win by 4 runs.
If by "win by 4", you mean "lose by 16", then I agree. [/b][/quote]
http://dragon.stack.nl/~nushae/images/tryingtobefunny.jpg

[CrespoBlows]

Sorry, Zenny but that was pretty funny.

[empirestrikesback26]

OMG a bright side to this game. Loaiza pitches 2 scoreless out of thep pen. Great news.

[empirestrikesback26]

nevermind :lol:


10-7 boston&#33; rally monkey time..

[CrespoBlows]

22-0 Cleveland don&#39;t even send out the Yankee batters

[CrespoBlows]

so much for the rally&#33; 3.5 back&#33; HERE WE COME&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;

[empirestrikesback26]

I remember the yanks beating the sox 22-1 at fenway.

[CrespoBlows]

20-1 actually

[empirestrikesback26]

lol same difference, anyway a loss is a loss. It&#39;s still only 1 game in the standings.

[CalvnHobs6]

I was at the game. Um, didn&#39;t appreciate Myers giving up a grand slam, but Schill was great, and I&#39;ve never seen a crowd cheer like they cheered for Manny. It was great, Upper Bleachers have never been so fun&#33;

[Zenny]

Things that suck:
The Yankees starting rotation
The Yankees offense
The Yankees defense
The Yankees bullpen
Mike Myers (who was unable to get out Anaheim&#39;s AAA team)

Things that rock:
The Red Sox starting rotation
The Red Sox offense
The Red Sox defense
The Red Sox bullpen (minus Mike Myers)
Victor Martinez, Jake Westbrook, Coco Crisp and Omar Vizquel (among others) for their tremendous efforts in tonight&#39;s footba... I mean baseball game at Yankee Stadium

[element1151]

Originally posted by Zenny@Aug 31 2004, 07:48 PM
Victor Martinez, Jake Westbrook, Coco Crisp and Omar Vizquel (among others) for their tremendous efforts in tonight&#39;s footba... I mean baseball game at Yankee Stadium
:lol: :lol:

[empirestrikesback26]

Yea the offense sure sucked when they scored 18. :wacko:

[empirestrikesback26]

our bullpen sucks? look at your own backyard.

[yeszir]

Man, this is great. :D I didnt follow either game live, checked on my cell phone, and saw that the yankees were losing 19-0&#33; To the Indians&#33; One of the better days of the season, this is for sure.

[yeszir]

Read these threads to laugh:
http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread.php?threadid=69059
http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread.php?threadid=69074
http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread.php?threadid=69068
And most importantly, the game thread:
http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread.php?threadid=69051

Soooo enjoyable. Savor our moment guys.

[empirestrikesback26]

you don&#39;t have to worry the moments won&#39;t be few and far between.

[YanksHater213]

Originally posted by yeszir@Aug 31 2004, 11:31 PM
Read these threads to laugh:
http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread.php?threadid=69059
http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread.php?threadid=69074
http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread.php?threadid=69068
And most importantly, the game thread:
http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread.php?threadid=69051

Soooo enjoyable. Savor our moment guys.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: they are in so much denial it its funny&#33;

[CrespoBlows]

The Sox bullpen sucks? Maybe, but it&#39;s isn&#39;t near as bad as the Yankees. THe Sox have 5 guys who can go 7 innings every night, the Yankees don&#39;t have one. Timlin, Foulke, Embree, Leskanic, and when Williamson gets back look out. The Yankees?

[elsrbueno]

Yes guys, we have the right to be happy about Tuesday&#39;s results. How CAN&#39;T we be. We won, and all 3 teams in contention with us for playoff spots lost. That makes it a good day.

However, be careful about the gloating. That&#39;s what Yankee fans do, and we&#39;re better than that. Keep in mind that ANYthing can happen in a month. (well, I&#39;m pretty sure the Cubs won&#39;t win the NL Central).

Savor today, because it was sweet.

I won&#39;t be satisfied until we&#39;re 5 games up with 4 games to play. (or any similar situation with different numbers).

It would be sweet to win the AL East, but like Theo said....let&#39;s focus on the Wild Card and if we get the East, that&#39;s a bonus.

Joe Torre&#39;s the best manager in the game. He has a nack for turning embarrasing moments like this into positives, and turning his teams around. (hey, he&#39;s made the playoffs EVERY year as manager of the Yanks, so he knows a little something or two about leading a team to success)

[YanksHater213]

i found this and thought it was worthy of a post...

http://images.sportsline.com/u/ap/photos/NYY112083122_lower.jpg

[yeszir]

Haha, you can see the exasperation in their faces&#33; Thats an awesome picture yankshater.

[empirestrikesback26]

Ben afleck covering up his face last ALCS was better ;)