MLB '08 Season Discussion

[shieldsofwindurst]

Lots of credit to the Angels for a hell of a series. And yeah, they did kinda blow it. But man did they put up a fight.

[shieldsofwindurst]

Rays-Sox will be interesting. Time for Coco to start another fight!

[Viq]

That Sox and Angels series was incredible. Every one of the four games was super tight, and very very competitive. What a great bunch of games. I'm really looking forward to the ALCS match-up. Sox and Rays have played a lot of good games this season. It'll be interesting to see what Francona does with the roster since Lowell can't play, Ross most likely won't make the cut, and they'll probably be adding an 11th pitcher (Timlin would be my guess, although that's sort of by default.)

[jmc]

That Sox and Angels series was incredible. Every one of the four games was super tight, and very very competitive. What a great bunch of games. I'm really looking forward to the ALCS match-up. Sox and Rays have played a lot of good games this season. It'll be interesting to see what Francona does with the roster since Lowell can't play, Ross most likely won't make the cut, and they'll probably be adding an 11th pitcher (Timlin would be my guess, although that's sort of by default.)

I am just waiting to see who they throw in the starting rotation.... Byrd, or wakefield o.O

[Cephius]

I'm really fed up with people proclaiming Mike Scioscia the all around best manager ever.

The. Guy. Is. A. Moron.

When will modern day managers realize that bunting anyone but a pitcher or sub-200-hitting replacement is not a good move? On top of that, why would you bunt anyone, let alone a speedster pinch runner, from 2nd to 3rd in a tie game? On top of THAT, why would you do a SUICIDE SQUEEZE? Do you have that little confidence in your multi-million dollar hitters that they won't get a hit in 3 chances? Give me a break. Francona wasn't even pitching Papelbon, you gotta give your hitters a chance to get a blooper or a base hit there and possibly have a big inning. Instead, they give up not one but two outs without the Sox lifting a finger, and hand the Red Sox the series on a silver platter. Then again, what else is new?

Sincerely,

A sour Yankee Fan

[shieldsofwindurst]

While I agree that the squeeze is really risky, and clearly can fail miserably, I honestly think it was the right call last night. Aybar, by all accounts, is a good bunter (9 bunts for hits, 9 sacrifices during the season, according to espn). So you'd think that at least 60-70% of the time he'd get that bunt down, and if that speedy pinch runner is in motion on the pitch, it'd be really, really hard to get him.

Contrast that with the Entire Series where the only Angel able to get a hit with a RISP was Torii Hunter (rest of the team was 3-29), who they were not going to be able to get to, with the 8 & 9 hitters coming up. So if you were going to take a shot at it, based on what had happened for the entire series to that point, the squeeze was probably a good play to call.

That said, man, when you fail, you REALLY fail.

[Cephius]

Except most of those RISP failures were against the Boston starters , who were practically un-hittable for some god unknown reason. In that inning though, they were facing Masterson (ERA 3.16 1.22 WHIP) and Delcarmen (3.27 ERA 1.12 WHIP) who haven't exactly been lights out this year. They had just tied the game off Okajima. You'd think even the 7/8/9 hitters would be feeling confident now that Lester was out of the game. Plus just the fact you would be willing to give up outs in a do-or-die game (on the road no less, why play for only one run?) makes absolutely no sense to me.

[Viq]

You've got to remember that Aybar was the guy who drove in the winning run in game 3. As good a bunter as he may be, there was only 1 out at the time. I'd rather have two shots between Aybar and Figgins than attempt a suicide squeeze.

Terry Francona had his weekly interview on the Boston sports radio station today, and they talked extensively about that play. Earlier in the season, Sciocia had tried to squeeze bunt against Delcarmen. That was part of the reason that Francona put him in that situation. They purposely wasted two pitches up and in to both get Aybar off the plate a little and shaken, figuring that Sciocia would put the squeeze play on. It couldn't have worked out any better for the Sox.

[shieldsofwindurst]

I guess Francona successfully defended against the squeeze. So much for Scioscia outmanaging him.

[Akiyama]

It wasn't the manager's fault completely you know. I think the Angels were something like 6-46 with RISP as mentioned above. Also, I don't think it was him having doubts about getting him in, but more of a surprise buttsecks score. You wouldn't completely expect it, even though Aybar has done it 9 times before. I think the Angels are just a completely different team in the playoffs.

Red Sox earned it though. Yankees fans have no right to be pissy though. Wait til next year. =P

[Viq]

Francona's press conference going on right now. Confirmed rotation will be Matsuzaka, Beckett, Lester, Wakefield, Matsuzaka, Beckett, Lester

[Akiyama]

Dunno if I'd start Dice-K this early tbh.. but he knows what he's doing.

[Cephius]

Why would you push back Lester to game 3? He's been lights out, Beckett hasn't been himself, and Dice-k walks the park. Almost every guy on TB can run, putting people on is going to get him in trouble..

Does Francona know something we don't? Or is he just trying to psych-out Tampa? They're incredibly tough at home, the pressure is really on Boston to take 1 of the first two, otherwise they're relying on Wakefield in a do-or-die game.

[Akiyama]

I think Daisuke is pretty good on the road though. Walks hurt anyone, but he seems to be able to get out of sticky situations. I guess Francona just really trusts Daisuke. That and they need to give Lester full rest, plus starting him at home where he hasn't lost in 6 months.

Now that I think about it, it's a good rotation.

[Viq]

The reasoning is rest. Matsuzaka will be going on an extra day's rest I believe. Beckett will be going on regular rest. According to Francona, they believe that his struggles in the ALDS were due to rust, and they expect him to be back to his normal self for the ALCS. Lester gets an extra day of rest before game 3. Wakefield gets the nod over Byrd for two reasons. First, Wakefield historically has better success against the Rays. Second, it's easier to pull both Wake and Cash if things get out of hand early than it is to put Wake into a relief role and either pull Varitek or have to have Tek catch the knuckleball.

Another thing that can factor in: Matsuzaka has been better on the road this year than at home. Lester has been better at home than on the road. Both pitchers will have that in their favor for their first start of the series.

[Akiyama]

Yup. Agreed Viq. That's exactly what I think.

[Viq]

We were basically typing out the same thing at the same time, but I got sidetracked at work so I finished it 10 minutes later >_<

[Akiyama]

Haha. Yeah, I figured as much. I'm quick on the trigger, I admit.

[jmc]

Good rotation

I'm happy they are starting wake, I keep having flashbacks to the Sox/Yankees playoff game with wake doing relief work only to have Boone nail one out of the park for the yankees to win lol

[Cephius]

Dice-K is 1-0 with a ND and a 3.00 ERA against tampa this year, 17 innings 11 walks. That's a lot. I don't doubt the Sox are a good team, but this Tampa team is scary and playing with house money, and we saw what that did for the Dodgers against a heavy favorite. I guess we'll see how it goes, but I wouldn't be surprised if Dice-K got lit up tomorrow. Francona should know how much game 1 can set the tone for the series, and shouldn't count on a miracle comeback every year.