June 4 2007, Red Sox @ Athletics, Tavarez vs Haren

[sportman3333333]

http://pubpages.unh.edu/%7Etgoday/images/BostonRedSoxLogo.jpg
vs
http://www.amnesia-music.com/OakAslogo.GIF

The Red Sox knew well in advance that their first West Coast trip of the season would begin with a big challenge. Following a nationally televised game against the Yankees, the team had to hop on an early morning red-eye flight to California to open a four-game series with the A's starting Monday in Oakland.
For that reason, the team decided to send out starter Julian Tavarez (4-5, 5.40 ERA) and Tuesday's starter Daisuke Matsuzaka a day early so they wouldn't have to battle jet lag.
"We got Tavarez out and Dice-K," Red Sox skipper Terry Francona said. "Best case scenario, we're going to pull in around 6 a.m. PT. Worst case, who knows?"
Adding to the challenge, the bleary-eyed Sox will be facing baseball's ERA leader for starters in Dan Haren, who is 6-2, with a 1.64 ERA. Haren's teammate Chad Gaudin is second with a 2.32 ERA.
Francona said the team is grateful to ownership for making the extra effort to accommodate the pitchers.
"The Red Sox have always been terrific about doing that when we ask, and we really appreciate it," he added. "If everybody's going to feel bad, maybe our starting pitcher won't and that hopefully will help."
The Red Sox split their two games against Oakland on May 1 and 2 at Fenway, losing the first game 5-4 in 10 innings, their lone extra-inning game of the season. Boston bounced back to win the second behind Josh Beckett's sixth consecutive win to start the season.
This is Boston's only trip to Oakland but the first of three different West Coast swings this season. The Red Sox will travel to San Diego and Seattle beginning June 22 and will head to Seattle and Anaheim as part of a three-city, nine-game trip beginning Aug. 3.
Pitching matchup (http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers.jsp?c_id=bos)
BOS: RHP Julian Tavarez (3-4, 4.50 ERA)
Tavarez will make this start on seven days of rest, as the Red Sox used their off-day to make some adjustments to the rotation. Tavarez has been solid in May, going 2-2 with a 3.99 ERA in five outings. In his last start, he surrendered a 3-0 lead by giving up four runs in the bottom of the sixth. He took a no-decision in a game the Red Sox went on to win. Tavarez is 1-1 lifetime against the A' with a 4.85 ERA.
OAK: RHP Dan Haren (6-2, 1.64 ERA)
Haren was brilliant yet again his last time out, holding the visiting Rangers to a run on four hits and three walks in eight innings. Haren, who has won his past six decisions after starting the year 0-2 despite a 0.69 ERA, hasn't lost in 10 starts and has worked at least seven innings in eight of his past nine assignments. He's won all six of the starts in which he's received at least two runs of support.
Player to watch
Right fielder J.D. Drew will make the trip and could return to the lineup Monday night, after missing the last two games of the Yankees series with a strained right hamstring. Drew is hoping the rest will help break him out of a .155 slump over his last 32 games, dropping his average to a season-low .222.

[SamBam39]

<CENTER>Starting Lineup: Boston at Oakland</CENTER>

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TH class=TSN6 align=middle colSpan=5>Boston</TH><TH class=TSN6 width="5%"> </TH><TH class=TSN6 align=middle colSpan=5>Oakland</TH></TR><TR><TH class=TSN2 align=left>Pos</TH><TH class=TSN2 align=left>Player</TH><TH class=TSN2 align=middle>HR</TH><TH class=TSN2 align=middle>RBI</TH><TH class=TSN2 align=middle>AVG</TH><TH class=TSN2 width="5%"> </TH><TH class=TSN2 align=left>Pos</TH><TH class=TSN2 align=left>Player</TH><TH class=TSN2 align=middle>HR</TH><TH class=TSN2 align=middle>RBI</TH><TH class=TSN2 align=middle>AVG</TH></TR><TR><TD class=TSN5>2B</TD><TD class=TSN5>Pedroia, Dustin </TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>2</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>16</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>.336</TD><TD class=TSN5 width="5%"> </TD><TD class=TSN5>LF</TD><TD class=TSN5>Stewart, Shannon </TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>2</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>16</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>.275</TD></TR><TR><TD class=TSN1>SS</TD><TD class=TSN1>Cora, Alex </TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>2</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>13</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>.316</TD><TD class=TSN1 width="5%"> </TD><TD class=TSN1>RF</TD><TD class=TSN1>Buck, Travis </TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>6</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>17</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>.254</TD></TR><TR><TD class=TSN5>DH</TD><TD class=TSN5>Ortiz, David </TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>9</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>40</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>.325</TD><TD class=TSN5 width="5%"> </TD><TD class=TSN5>DH</TD><TD class=TSN5>Swisher, Nick </TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>9</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>33</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>.302</TD></TR><TR><TD class=TSN1>LF</TD><TD class=TSN1>Ramirez, Manny </TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>8</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>32</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>.288</TD><TD class=TSN1 width="5%"> </TD><TD class=TSN1>1B</TD><TD class=TSN1>Johnson, Dan </TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>5</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>22</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>.295</TD></TR><TR><TD class=TSN5>3B</TD><TD class=TSN5>Youkilis, Kevin </TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>8</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>31</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>.350</TD><TD class=TSN5 width="5%"> </TD><TD class=TSN5>3B</TD><TD class=TSN5>Chavez, Eric </TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>7</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>26</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>.233</TD></TR><TR><TD class=TSN1>RF</TD><TD class=TSN1>Drew, JD </TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>2</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>17</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>.222</TD><TD class=TSN1 width="5%"> </TD><TD class=TSN1>SS</TD><TD class=TSN1>Crosby, Bobby </TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>5</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>21</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>.247</TD></TR><TR><TD class=TSN5>CF</TD><TD class=TSN5>Crisp, Coco </TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>1</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>16</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>.238</TD><TD class=TSN5 width="5%"> </TD><TD class=TSN5>CF</TD><TD class=TSN5>Kotsay, Mark </TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>0</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>0</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>.091</TD></TR><TR><TD class=TSN1>C</TD><TD class=TSN1>Mirabelli, Doug </TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>2</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>4</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>.196</TD><TD class=TSN1 width="5%"> </TD><TD class=TSN1>2B</TD><TD class=TSN1>Ellis, Mark </TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>3</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>23</TD><TD class=TSN1 align=middle>.249</TD></TR><TR><TD class=TSN5>1B</TD><TD class=TSN5>Hinske, Eric </TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>1</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>5</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>.164</TD><TD class=TSN5 width="5%"> </TD><TD class=TSN5>C</TD><TD class=TSN5>Kendall, Jason </TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>0</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>13</TD><TD class=TSN5 align=middle>.197</TD></TR><TR><TD class=TSN2 align=left>P</TD><TD class=TSN2 align=left colSpan=4>Tavarez, Julian (3-4, 5.40)</TD><TD class=TSN2 width="5%"> </TD><TD class=TSN2 align=left>P</TD><TD class=TSN2 align=left colSpan=4>Haren, Danny (6-2, 1.64) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SamBam39]

Hope the Sox can rebound off of their less than inspiring weekend series with the MFY's!!

[SlumpBustR]

Jackie Guerrido mojo for Julian

[SamBam39]

Arriba!!!

[SamBam39]

Hope the Sox can sack up and get a win here!!!

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

So, they sent Tavarez out to talk to Dice-K on the plane, or what?

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

Hiromi says: "Go-a Dice-e-kay-e!"

http://clean.scanlover.com/gallery/57419/567bc0ce/Hiromi_Oshima_057419.jpg

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

Wow, little Pedey's leading off now!

[jonathan]

Wow, little Pedey's leading off now!

Dust Mite deserves it. And Cora in the lineup.

Let's hope the Big Guns get it going! Paaaaaaaapi!!!!!!!

[#1Patsfan_chica]

Go Sox!!!

Big Papi with the HR.

[sportman3333333]

Papi Is Alive

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

OOOM! Big Papi is IN THA HOUSE!

[jonathan]

LOL, Manny with the hit and YOUK!!!!!!! showering down over Oakland.
Red Sox Nation!:icon_supe

[sportman3333333]

Why does this game have to be at 10, damn it

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

Pedroia would've made that play :D

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

HA! What a funny play! 4-6-3 for one out!

[jonathan]

Was that the best single, double play ever or am I crazy?:icon_hang :blink:

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

La-D Drew gets a hit! Nice1, m8!

[patfan64]

Sorry ofr the redundancy here but DirecTV just blacked me out. I can't watch the Sox on NESN any more.

I started a thread about this (sorry, Mods.)

Going to call and cancel tomorrow.

GO SOX!!!!

[theyellowdart]

Can we just release WMP already? It isn't like he does much at the plate. Throw him a breaking ball down on the outside part of the plate and he will swing as hard as he can and miss the ball by a foot...

Are we keeping him for defensive reasons? To show the youngings coming up how not to play the field.

The guy is a joke....

[theyellowdart]

Hard hit balls right at people........ They are hitting Haren just to the wrong places.

[pookie]

Can we just release WMP already? It isn't like he does much at the plate. Throw him a breaking ball down on the outside part of the plate and he will swing as hard as he can and miss the ball by a foot...

Are we keeping him for defensive reasons? To show the youngings coming up how not to play the field.

The guy is a joke....

Ugh... he is just awful. Just struck out again.

I'm not able to watch this game (just listen on line)... but this seems like a very tired Red Sox team right now. They seem to have thrown in the towel after 4-1/2 innings. And Tavarez has thrown 93 pitches through only 4 innings. Not a good thing for the bullpen that could have used the rest. This could be a pretty long left coast 7 game trip for the home towne team.

[jonathan]

Funny thing.

I was watching the game on sunday night with no volume on and closed captioning. The typist referred to WMP as Wily Missouri Pena. HA!

The Show-Me-State. I thought it was hysterical.

But that's just me.

[pookie]

Funny thing.

I was watching the game on sunday night with no volume on and closed captioning. The typist referred to WMP as Wily Missouri Pena. HA!


Willy Missouri Pena would look good in a Royals uniform.

[pookie]

Bwaaahahahaha.... Now WMP makes me semi eat my words with a HR. His at bats seem to go like this.... K K K K K HR K K K K K HR.... Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.

[jonathan]

Willy Missouri Pena would look good in a Royals uniform.

Mo just showed us, pook!

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

Woooohoohoo! Whoever stayed up for this one is getting a treat!

[pookie]

Mo just showed us, pook!

I am officially (and gladly) eating my words for today's game, as Wily Mo Pookie just drove in the game tying run in the 9th inning with a bullet base hit to plate Crisp from 1st whom was pinch running for Varitek, whom was pinch hitting for JD Drew. Whether the Sox pull this out and win it or not, there is no question the Francona just made some outstanding managerial choices!

[pookie]

Woooohoohoo! Whoever stayed up for this one is getting a treat!

Indeed... Except now in the bottom of the 9th, we seem be getting treated to Joel Pinero AGAIN, who just walked 2 in the 8th and walked the game winning run to lead off the 9th.

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

Kill me now.

[jonathan]

Don't look good.......

[pookie]

Happy B-Day JC Romero. Here's runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs in the bottom of the 9th for your gift. WTF!

[jonathan]

big k

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

...and a glimmer of hopes shines feebly from the strikeout...

[jonathan]

DP, Extras!!!!!!!!!

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

HOOOOOOOOOOLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY SHNIKIES!!!!!!!!!! Double play ends the jam! Holy AR****LIN SHITE!BALLS!

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

WTF was that? Did somebody re-hire Dale Sveum?

[pookie]

WTF was that? Did somebody re-hire Dale Sveum?

Guess so. Can't see it, but it didn't sound close at home. How close was that ball to being out???

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

Guess so. Can't see it, but it didn't sound close at home. How close was that ball to being out???

Hit off the padding halfway up the CF wall.

Pedey was out by a mile - he was 2/3 down the basepath when the ball reached home - didnt even attempt to slide.

[pookie]

Hit off the padding halfway up the CF wall.

Pedey was out by a mile - he was 2/3 down the basepath when the ball reached home - didnt even attempt to slide.

Bummer. Well, nobody ever said that Pedroia was fast.... :)

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

OMG, my heart skipped a beat on that play. This game is absolutely nuts.

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

Bummer. Well, nobody ever said that Pedroia was fast.... :)

Yeah, he's no Yooks ;)

[jonathan]

Good play by Snydes!

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

Let's go Wily Mo! Swingin' a hot bat tonight!

[The Gooch]

Got 'em right where we want 'em.

[pookie]

Let's go Wily Mo! Swingin' a hot bat tonight!

I wonder if the ghost of Sveum gave Wily the green light to swing at ball 4 on a 3-0 count? Pretty bad decision to swing at that pitch in the top of the 11th inning.

[The Gooch]

I love them celebrating beating a team in 11 innings that had appoximately 3 hours of sleep.

We're taking 3 out of 4.

[SamBam39]

And so it begins........

REALITY!!!!!!:icon_hang

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

This type of loss is really heartbreaking. We can only hope this is the type of team that gets up after something like that.

[ghostofdouggriffin]

This type of loss is really heartbreaking. We can only hope this is the type of team that gets up after something like that.

Don't sweat it...we'll get 'em tonight.

C'mon everybody, heart of a warrior, attitude of a champion!