Hamels Rolls, Red Sox Drop Interleague Opener

by Ben Buchanan on May 21, 2010 10:03 PM EDT in Game Stories

The Red Sox went up 1-0 on a Victor Martinez solo shot in the first inning. From there, it was all bad news.

John Lackey continued to fail to live up to his massive contract, allowing 4 runs in just 5 innings. His control was bad as ever, as he gave up 5 free passes to the Phillies, and he still could not miss bats, with only 3 strikeouts.

The Phillies tied the game in the 4th inning on a leadoff solo shot by Ryan Howard. J.D. Drew lost the ball in the twilight in the next at bat, allowing Jayson Werth to reach 2nd. He would score on a Shane Victorino single, giving the Phillies a lead they would not give up.

Cole Hamels, meanwhile, mowed down the Red Sox with ease. Allowing only 3 hits in 7 innings, Hamels struck out 8, and was hitting his spots all night.

The Phils padded the lead in the 5th, scoring 2 more off Lackey as Werth took him very, very deep to left, and then another in the 6th after stringing a few baserunners together on Joe Nelson. The Red Sox managed to bring the tying run to the plate in David Ortiz in the 9th inning, but J.C. Romero managed to get him to fly out to the track in center, and the Phillies took game 1.

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Sigh. Go Pawsox

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by bestbostonsports on May 21, 2010 10:13 PM EDT reply actions

Lackey seems to me to be missing a couple mph off his fastball.

Does anyone have pitch data to confirm?

by mmmmm on May 21, 2010 10:13 PM EDT reply actions

Seriously, I expected 93-94 range. Not 89-90 which from the little I saw seemed to be were he was sitting.

Hey, V-Mart is hitting again, lets hope Dice-K lets us take one in this series!

I LOVE PEDROIA!!! ITS MAN LOVE!

by kraken613 on May 21, 2010 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Huh?

Lackey has always been 90-92

USG

by Ben Buchanan on May 21, 2010 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn't know that....

You don’t see him any only expect 90.

I LOVE PEDROIA!!! ITS MAN LOVE!

by kraken613 on May 21, 2010 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions

what site has pitch velocity data?

by mmmmm on May 21, 2010 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly. Average velocity's been 91

And for whatever reason, he can’t get swinging strkies this season.
Last start against Tigers, I heared he could get only 2(!) swinging strikes.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1507&position=P

by hmzd on May 21, 2010 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Yikrs

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by bestbostonsports on May 21, 2010 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Brooksbaseball Pitch F/X for Lackey tonight.

’
http://www.overthemonster.com/2010/5/21/1482752/hamels-rolls-red-sox-drop#comments

" Play Ball "

by went9 on May 21, 2010 10:19 PM EDT reply actions

can you fix that link?

by mmmmm on May 21, 2010 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry wrong link.

Try this one for tonights game, Lackey velocity.
’
http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/pfx.php?s_type=2&sp_type=1&batterX=0&month=05&day=23&game=gid_2009_05_23_anamlb_lanmlb_1%2F&year=2009&pitchSel=407793&prevGame=gid_2009_05_23_anamlb_lanmlb_1%2F

" Play Ball "

by went9 on May 21, 2010 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Damn. I'll get this link right yet.

Tonights link to Lackey May 21, 2010
.
http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/pfx.php?s_type=2&sp_type=1&batterX=0&month=05&day=21&game=gid_2010_05_21_bosmlb_phimlb_1%2F&year=2010&pitchSel=407793&prevGame=gid_2010_05_21_bosmlb_phimlb_1%2F

Finally. Again sorry. To many people over here tonight. To many cooks in the kitchen, as they say.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on May 21, 2010 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions

thanks

yeah, his velocity looks very similar.

The locations and displacements look similar too. Main difference is he didn’t get the strike calls on his FB & CB. He also used his slider less and added a cutter – both pitches were more effective than his FB & CB so maybe should have used his slider more.

by mmmmm on May 21, 2010 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Here's 2009.

Random game picked: May 23, 2009
Around the same time of year.
’
http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/pfx.php?s_type=2&sp_type=1&batterX=0&month=05&day=23&game=gid_2009_05_23_anamlb_lanmlb_1%2F&year=2009&pitchSel=407793&prevGame=gid_2009_05_23_anamlb_lanmlb_1%2F

Not much velocity difference.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on May 21, 2010 10:23 PM EDT reply actions

Minor Lines up yet?

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by bestbostonsports on May 21, 2010 10:24 PM EDT reply actions

I got home in time to see Howard's HR

and it just kept getting worse. Not sure why, but this was especially hard to watch. Only thing we can do now is get em tomorrow

I exercise strong self control. I never drink anything stronger than gin before breakfast

by DocOne on May 21, 2010 11:25 PM EDT reply actions

I'm trying to understand a line up tomorrow

if Ellsbury is back, if Ortiz is at first as reported, and a righty is on the mound?
Are they really going to rest Youk and his hot bat to get Ortiz into this game?
Will it be:

Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2nd
Drew RF
V-Mart C
Ortiz 1st
Beltre 3rd
Hermida LF
Scutaro SS
Matsuzaka P

I miss Youk already.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on May 22, 2010 2:54 AM EDT reply actions

I think they would rather rest Beltre than take Youk’s bat from the lineup. Youk can play a pretty mean 3B.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on May 22, 2010 3:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Tito doesn't want to move Youk to 3rd. He's already said it'll be Ortiz-Beltre.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on May 22, 2010 3:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Ug really?

That just makes no sense to me.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on May 22, 2010 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

?? Lowell-Beltre??

by NG on May 22, 2010 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Ortiz at first

Beltre at third.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on May 22, 2010 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm sure that Beltre doesn't want to rest at all this season

Cause if he reaches 650 PA, his next year player option becomes 10mil.
Even though many people are expecting he’ll definitely opt out next season, it’s not too
bad to improve Plan B.

by hmzd on May 22, 2010 4:20 AM EDT up reply actions

640 PA is Beltre's magic number.

Fangraphs has him at 41 games and 166 PA. That’s on pace for 655 PA for the season.
He must really likes those extra inning games with a chance for one more at bat.

by went9 on May 22, 2010 5:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Time to ...

Go get Oswalt.

by Old Fan on May 22, 2010 8:25 AM EDT reply actions

I wish.

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by bestbostonsports on May 22, 2010 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe we can trade Dice-k away

A few nice streaks could fool other GMs…
…
…
Nah… Just kidding… sigh

by hmzd on May 22, 2010 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

maybe ...

Dice-K and Lowell for Oswalt, two for one, clear an extra spot on the roster for ….

by Old Fan on May 22, 2010 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Can't we give the Lacky too?

There are no stupid questions, but there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots.

by return2greatness on May 22, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Was this a real barometer

game for the Sox?? Do you think that this game last night really pointed out where the Sox stand on the pecking order this year? I was quite disappointed with the game last night in that the Phillies seemed to be the dominate team all the way, but let’s see what happens today and tomorrow before final judgement is rendered.

by NG on May 22, 2010 9:42 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t because of interleague. It put the Sox in a tough spot not having Ortiz like they want to, plus other things.

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by bestbostonsports on May 22, 2010 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Honestly, NG, why is this game a barometer game

But beating up on Francisco Liriano and the Twins was inconsequential?

USG

by Ben Buchanan on May 22, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

by went9 on May 22, 2010 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

With Varitek continuing to only get occasional starts, he's not exactly been a black hole.

If he’s any good today, that makes Hermida the weak link, so I’m OK with it.

And Papi is batting like a cleanup hitter of late, so why not. Especially against a righty.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on May 22, 2010 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed, except for Hermina as the weak link.

He’s batting .308 against Kendrick in 13 PA with a HR and a walk.
.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/p-pvb.cgi?n1=kendrky01#choice=&bats=&minPA2=0&year_game=career&post=1&opp_id=BOS&orderby=PA&orderbyb=Name&minPA=0&orderbydir=DESC&orderbydirb=ASC&n1=kendrky01&as=pitcher
.
I hope the four hole doesn’t go to Big Papi’s head and have him swinging for the fences on every single swing. Just take what the pitch gives you works fine for me. Also, I forgot about the Matsuzaka/ V-Mart issues after the last game. Having Tek catch Daisuke makes sense.
It just feels like we are leaving a lot of bat and glove on the bench when you sit Youk.
Let’s hope for a PH appearance.

by went9 on May 22, 2010 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions