2007 MLB Playoffs

[Cail]

grabbing Schilling one more time makes all the sense in the world.

i hate the sox but QFT

[pohibaba]

So it looks like the Sox are starting Ortiz at first in game 3. I honestly don't see why they're making that decision. Right now Ortiz is batting .385 with a .744 SLG %; Youkilis is batting .396 with a .771 SLG %. By those stats, they're not really losing anything offensively by starting Youkilis at first, but they're losing TONS defensively. Oh well, what do you guys think?

[Heian]

So it looks like the Sox are starting Ortiz at first in game 3. I honestly don't see why they're making that decision. Right now Ortiz is batting .385 with a .744 SLG %; Youkilis is batting .396 with a .771 SLG %. By those stats, they're not really losing anything offensively by starting Youkilis at first, but they're losing TONS defensively. Oh well, what do you guys think?

I agree completely, I love Papi to death but Youk is the fucking shit at first.

[RantCasey]

Francona probably betting on some thin air Big Papi bombs I'd guess.
Heian do you still sound like Steven Wright?

[Remyo]

isnt ortiz having back problems too? iirc he was kinda hoping to get through with the last few games asap to have surgery on his back.

[Ishido]

Francona probably betting on some thin air Big Papi bombs I'd guess.
Heian do you still sound like Steven Wright?

Coors is fairly normal now as far as HRs go, they use a humidor to store the baseballs used in games so they don't dry out and travel farther. The outfield is also fairly large compared to the norm.

[pohibaba]

isnt ortiz having back problems too? iirc he was kinda hoping to get through with the last few games asap to have surgery on his back.

I think it's knee problems.

[Remyo]

isnt ortiz having back problems too? iirc he was kinda hoping to get through with the last few games asap to have surgery on his back.

I think it's knee problems.

thats still bad, imo.

[Viq]

Ortiz isn't going to be lighting up the Gold Glove votes, but he is a decent 1B. Having Youk available as a defensive replacement for the late innings is a favorable choice as well (hi2u double switch).

Looking at pitching match-ups, the first two games are going to be against right-handed pitchers. Francis, a lefty, is pitching game 5. It makes sense to play Ortiz in games 3 and 4, then sit him against Francis in game 5. You'd still have him available to pinch hit, but for the most part he'd get two days off before going back to Boston if there needs to be a sixth game.

The other thing to factor in is that taking either Manny or Ortiz away from the each other in a line up hurts the Sox significantly. As hot as Youkilis has been, he's no David Ortiz. If Youk plays first with Ortiz on the bench, then the batting order has to get moved around more than it should. Youk isn't a #3 hitter, Manny traditionally does poorly in that role. Going further down the line, JD Drew struggles in the 5-hole, and Lowell has stated that he isn't as comfortable being higher in the order. Sitting Youkilis allows for a minimal amount of offensive adjustments going into an NL ballpark.

[Heian]

Francona probably betting on some thin air Big Papi bombs I'd guess.
Heian do you still sound like Steven Wright?

Who the fuck are you and how do you know about that.....

Kanopi?

[pohibaba]

Prediction: 7-3 with Colorado winning at home. I expect Dice-K to leave some breaking balls up and to get pounded early. Remember, the series doesn't begin until the home team loses.

[Kurp]

They should just give Boston the trophy now

5-0 now.

[RantCasey]

Francona probably betting on some thin air Big Papi bombs I'd guess.
Heian do you still sound like Steven Wright?

Who the fuck are you and how do you know about that.....

Kanopi?

:D




Dice-K is the next Babe Ruth!!!... yeah... seriously though that 2 out, bases loaded hit was the best thing ever.

[Boyiee]

Remember, the series doesn't begin until the home team loses.

So, yeah.

Looks like it'll end that way as well.

[Heian]

Francona probably betting on some thin air Big Papi bombs I'd guess.
Heian do you still sound like Steven Wright?

Who the fuck are you and how do you know about that.....

Kanopi?

:D




Dice-K is the next Babe Ruth!!!... yeah... seriously though that 2 out, bases loaded hit was the best thing ever.

Yeah it feels like Dice-K is finally getting the feel for American Baseball. He should be amazing next season, now that he is finally experienced what its like pitching against American sluggers.

[pohibaba]

The Rockies are still on life-support, but at least they're making it interesting! (6-2 game; 0 out, runners on the corners).

[Boyiee]

Now its REALLY interesting. 3R HR... there you go. 6-5 in the 7th

[Akiyama]

Holy shit. I turned the channel a bit ago wh en it was 6-0 >.> Wtf is it 6-5 now? Was that Holliday?

[pohibaba]

Yeah, Holliday hit the home run; runner on, still no outs! GoGo Rockies!

[Akiyama]

MVP Holliday. He's been nuts this postseason.