Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

by Randy Booth on Aug 17, 2007 12:30 AM EDT in Open Thread

First Game: BOS Buchholz (0-0, n/a) LAA Santana (5-11, 6.22) Second game: BOS Beckett (15-5, 3.24) LAA Lackey (15-7, 3.07)

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OTM Game 1

Player of the Game: Papi
Buchholz's Line: 5 IP 5 H 2 ER 2 BB 4 K
Above and Beyond: Sox get at least 4 ER off Santana

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Aug 17, 2007 7:24 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

Game 1
Player of the Game: Lugo
Buccholz's Line: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Above and Beyond: Buccholz makes his major leauge debut. Just kidding I'll go with Lugo doubles twice.

Game 2
Player of the Game: Crisp
Beckett's Line: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Above and Beyond: Papelbon works a scoreless 9th

by gnick55 on Aug 17, 2007 7:29 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

POTG: Lowell
Buccholz: 5.0, 7 H, 4 ER, 3 BB 4 K
A&B: Sox strand more than 7 baserunners.

POTG: Lugo
Beckett: 7.2, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
A&B: More than one steal by the Sox.

by theartolater on Aug 17, 2007 7:48 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

potg: Lowell
LIne: 5IP, 4H 2ER 2bb 6k
A&B: sox strand 6+, but score 4+

Potg: Beckett
line: 7IP, 5H 1ER 1BB 7K
A&B: pitcher's duel, Paps gets save(fingers crossed)

"We don't need him"~Curt Schilling on Roger Clemens

by LuXu on Aug 17, 2007 8:47 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem- both games

Game 1:
Player of the Game: Manny

Buchholz's Line: 5IP 6H 2ER 3BB 5K

Above and Beyond: Santana out by 5th inning; Sox hit 3+ doubles; Santana hits a batter

Game 2:

Player of the Game: Blisters

Blisters Line: 8IP 5H 2ER 2BB 10K

Above and Beyond: Blisters strikes out the side at least once

by MassGal on Aug 17, 2007 8:50 AM EDT reply actions

Translation

Santana = Lackey...

by MassGal on Aug 17, 2007 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

I'm on my way out of town right now, but all my picks for the next several days are here. If someone would copy them to the appropriate threads for me, I'd appreciate it.

In any case, for today's games:

Friday, 8/17, game 1:

Player of the Game: Lowell
Buchholz's Line: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Above and Beyond: Sox have at least 5 extra base hits

Friday, 8/17, game 2:

Player of the Game: Manny
Beckett's Line: 7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Above and Beyond: Sox hit 2 HRs

by RSNexile on Aug 17, 2007 9:01 AM EDT reply actions

? Most important games of the year!

No individual predictions from me because I don't care to partake in that arena, but I will predict the following:

The LAA are likely or one of the best teams in baseball, and this is a critical time for the Sox. The Yankees are hiccuping a bit, and the Sox are sliding a bit more than would be good for a championship caliber team. Today's doubleheader will put the Sox on notice that if they are a championship caliber team, they need to sweep this doubleheader. If they don't, I predict they will quickly become irrelevant because they will be mentally down and very susceptible to another Yankee sweep in the upcoming series. So hopefully managment and fan support can be at its maximum efficiency today because for me, this series/doubleheader is the World Series entry primer!

by NG on Aug 17, 2007 9:08 AM EDT reply actions

Interpretation...

"hiccuping" = Returning to normalcy after an unsustainable win streak against the weakest teams in the league.

"slipping" - .576 win percentage since the All Star break. While not as good as their first half win percentage, an overall win percentage of .576 would still have them in first place in 5 of 6 divisions, including the AL East. They would only be in second place in the AL West to the Angels, the second best team in baseball, if you believe that actual record actually means anything in regards to how good a team actually is.

"they need to sweep this doubleheader" - Clay Buchholz is making his first major league start against the second best team in baseball. However if he does not win his first major league start, or at least put the Sox in position to win his first major league start, then the Sox are not a championship caliber team. If Buchholz manages to win his first major league game, but Cy Young candidate Josh Beckett loses to fellow Cy Young candidate John Lackey, then the Sox are not a championship caliber team.

"irrelevant"- If the Sox split the double-header, their record will be 73-49, still the best in baseball. However, this will belie the fact that the sky has already fallen around Fenway Park. If the Sox do not win both games, look for them to place Papelbon, Matsuzaka, Beckett and Ramirez on waivers to help any contenders fortify themselves for the final stretch run.

Just my two cents. Keep the change.

by tommy.otm on Aug 17, 2007 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Interpretation...

Tommy. C'mon. This is getting ridiculous. You really think anyone is going to pick up a talentless scrub like Beckett/Papelbon/Matsuzaka for the stretch run? Give me a break. :)

by Allen Chace on Aug 17, 2007 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Interpretation...

Who couldn't use an extra RH bat off the bench? And surely either Beckett or Daisuke could be a serviceable long-man on an actual contender, helping keep the contender's championship caliber arms fresh for the playoffs.

You're proably right about Papelbon though.

Just my two cents. Keep the change.

by tommy.otm on Aug 17, 2007 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Interpretation...

For many of us that were not born yesterday concerning Red Sox psyche and experience, I believe my post speaks for itself. This series is the critical test quite late in the season against a very good team, and if the Sox rally and win both, they should have the proper mindset to prevail, espceially against the upcoming series with the Yanks. If they lose especially both these games, well let us just hope they are as good as some of you optimists think they are! I really will get no pleasure out of saying I told you so, so again, all stops should be removed to win this doubleheader at this critical juncture, IMO!

by NG on Aug 17, 2007 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Interpretation...

"For many of us that were not born yesterday concerning Red Sox psyche and experience"

Whatever dude. You have no standing to lecture me on the Red Sox psyche. You're a "concern troll," a nattering nabob of negativism, and not a very good one at that. I just went back and looked over some of your comments from the last few months. Very instructive.

Your very first post on this site was on June 2nd and entitled "Are the Sox about to slide??" Here's the money-shot: "I have been watching the Sox for well over 40 years, and I am beginning to see trouble." June 2nd.

Three days later, June 5 - "Has the big slide begun??" "Convince me otherwise."

Two days later, June 7 - "And so the slide begins!"

Fast forward to June 27 - "Observation: I was at Safeco Field last July when the Sox lost a serties that started their unending slide for the second half of the season. From what I have seen on this road trip, this team could well do the same this years."

July 1 - "Lost 5 of the last 6 including 2 in a row to the Rangers. It is beginning (the big slide); count on it!"

July 20 - "Another bit of prediction wisdom based on over 50 years of sox viewing, the sox will not even make the play offs with this team unless some miracle of healing or fountain of youth with Schilling and Papi takes place fast!"
[tommy's editorial note - in a month and a half, NG's viewing experience of the Sox has gone from "well over 40 years" to "over 50 years." Though these aren't inconsistent, as 50 is certainly well over 40, my hunch is that NG has a little problem with truthiness.]

August 8th - "It is not how you start, but how you finish" - "For all you blind Red Sox optimist fans here, it is not how you start, but how you finish! The track record of the Sox on starting strong and staying strong is very poor, IMO. The team I have been watching the last 2 weeks is not of championship team caliber, and even if they squeak into the playoffs (as a wildcard team maybe), they will go nowhere. After the series with the Yanks, it is likely over. It is not the weak teams that show championship caliber status, but how you do against the good ones. This team fails that test!"

So once again, whatever dude. Your stripes are showing.

Just my two cents. Keep the change.

by tommy.otm on Aug 17, 2007 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

OTM Double Header

Partido Numero Uno

POTG: Pedroia
Buccholz: 6IP, 5H, 2ER, 2BB, 6K
A&B: Youk hits a double

POTG: Beckett
Beckett: 7.1 IP, 4H, 2ER, 2BB, 8K
A&B: Lowell has an error

by sdkramer.otm on Aug 17, 2007 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

POTG: Manny
Buchholz: 5.2IP, 7H, 1ER, 1BB, 7K
A&B: Papi & Manny go yard.

POTG: Youk
Beckett: 8IP, 5H, 0ER, 1BB, 9K
A&B: Youk gets 3 hits.

by MatthewRI on Aug 17, 2007 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

Game 1
Player of the Game: Lowell
Buccholz's Line: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
Above and Beyond: Dougie. Is going. Deep. Tonight! Er, this afternoon.

Game 2
Player of the Game: Cap'n Tek
Beckett's Line: 8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
Above and Beyond: Sox take advantage of a big inning, batting around and plating at least 4

Tony the Pony

by Tony the pony on Aug 17, 2007 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

papiiiii! way to support the kid!

We've got TWO Jews on this team, Mel! -- Denis Leary

by SweSox on Aug 17, 2007 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

hahaaaaaaa! now we're cookin! man-ram and j.d. delivers!

We've got TWO Jews on this team, Mel! -- Denis Leary

by SweSox on Aug 17, 2007 1:28 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

how you doin, lackey? not so hot?

We've got TWO Jews on this team, Mel! -- Denis Leary

by SweSox on Aug 17, 2007 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

when belli hits you like that, you kinda suck...

We've got TWO Jews on this team, Mel! -- Denis Leary

by SweSox on Aug 17, 2007 1:37 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

Wow, only the first inning and it's 6-1

by Realistic on Aug 17, 2007 1:43 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

belli getting injured kinda dampens the joy of it all, though

We've got TWO Jews on this team, Mel! -- Denis Leary

by SweSox on Aug 17, 2007 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

what happened? at work --gameday only...

by MassGal on Aug 17, 2007 1:47 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

looked like he fucked up his knee/foot/ankle when rounding third. started hobbling pretty noticeably on the last 90 feet home.

We've got TWO Jews on this team, Mel! -- Denis Leary

by SweSox on Aug 17, 2007 1:48 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks

by MassGal on Aug 17, 2007 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

what's buchholz' weight listed at? he looks like a human incarnation of the pesky pole with a cap on top...

We've got TWO Jews on this team, Mel! -- Denis Leary

by SweSox on Aug 17, 2007 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

jesus christ... they just used a new angle from which he looked even scrawnier.

i'm now conviced that if folded properly, he could easily fit inside one of belli's thighs...

We've got TWO Jews on this team, Mel! -- Denis Leary

by SweSox on Aug 17, 2007 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

The Yanks Clippard has a similar beanpole look about him...

by MassGal on Aug 17, 2007 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

Great to get home from practice and see everyone crushing the ball today. Everyone except Youkilis and Crisp that is.

by gnick55 on Aug 17, 2007 2:17 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Open Thread: 8.17.07 vs. Anahiem

This has gotta be the last inning for Buchholz.

by gnick55 on Aug 17, 2007 3:13 PM EDT reply actions

Nice win

Would've preferred that we didn't use Paps in what turned into an 8-4 game, but Clay was outstanding, considering. I look forward to seeing a lot more of him down the road.

Of course, if Beckett doesn't win tonite then the season is over. Right, NG?

Just my two cents. Keep the change.

by tommy.otm on Aug 17, 2007 4:41 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Nice win

I would say that Red Sox management senses exactly what I am referring to, and despite your preference, that is why they went to Paps in the 8th. I applaud Red Sox Management for the latest moves both on and off the field (trades and promotions from minor leagues), and it is exactly the kind of bold intervention that was needed to try and stop the slide, which surely was beginning. You don't go from a 14 game lead down to 4 without sliding. If the Sox win tonight, I will become a believer, albeit still insecure, for the first time this year since May.

by NG on Aug 17, 2007 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Nice win

haha, i enjoyed tommy's little analysis of all your comments. and now this golden nugget to boot :)

just to clarify... the "big slide" has begun/was beginning/is beginning on:

June 7, July 1, August 18th.

whoa nelly. 2+ months of the big slide about to begin/having begun. this is not counting the numerous mentions of possible slides and such between these dates. the slide doesn't seem to have ocurred yet, though, unless i'm missing something in your comments. it's just perennially lurking in the shadows.

personally, i'm almost eager for "the big slide" with the buildup you've been giving it! it sure seems to have been coming for a while ;)

i, personally, don't mind critique of the team even if it was to finish the season 162-0. it's just that... for crying out loud, friend. get some new material already ;)

We've got TWO Jews on this team, Mel! -- Denis Leary

by SweSox on Aug 17, 2007 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Nice win

oh and also... if you can't convince yourself to become a "believer" (even a believer with doubts) in the team with the best record in baseball, regardless of how they're currently playing, what the hell are you doing watching sports? :)

We've got TWO Jews on this team, Mel! -- Denis Leary

by SweSox on Aug 17, 2007 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Nice win

what the hell are you doing watching sports?

Maybe this will help. I actually do not like baseball, but I fire up only when the Red Sox have a real chance, as I have explain here before. When they are goners either from the beginning of the season or by slding off the page, I totally lose interest in Baseball. I believe my condition is the result of my early years on the North Shore and is indelibly imprinted in my psyche. Sorry if you disagree, but what you are witnessing is my rising disappointment for all the time this year that I have invested in this team as a fair weather fan.

AND YES, ERIC GAGNE IS A YANKEE PLANT AND NEEDS TO BE STOPPED!

by NG on Aug 18, 2007 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions