MFY's @ SOX Lester vs. Burnett April 6, 2010

[SamBam39]

OK take 2. Have I told you all how much I hate the Yankees??
Here's to Lester getting off to a good start this year. And maybe Papi will actually get a hit tonight.


I know...maybe I ask too much. Everyone pray to Jobu for Papi's bat.

Game 2 on the 2010 season is so ON!!!!!



WIN!!

[Mikiemo83]

http://missouricolumns.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/david-ortiz-3.jpg

http://daboogiedownbronx.mlblogs.com/da_bronx_bombers/images/big_papi_shrek.jpg

[JD10367]

I have some enthusiasm for this year's squad. But when it comes to Big Papi, I fear...

http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles36224.jpg

[dunaja]

OK take 2. Have I told you all how much I hate the Yankees??

Whoa, whoa, whoa. You hate the Yankees? Seriously?

*scrambles to find receipt for the Jeter jersey he bought SamBam*

[SamBam39]

LOL yeah there is a rumor on the street that I am not fond of them! :)

[PumpDee]

LOL yeah there is a rumor on the street that I am not fond of them! :)



No kidding!?!?!

Me too. Imagine that.


What are the odds? :shrug_n:

[southcarolina]

I have to work. Wont be here.

My mojo is in my sock drawer, if anyone needs it.


Win.

[Joolz]

1451
Ellsbury LF
Pedroia 2B
Martinez C
Youkilis 1B
Ortiz DH
Beltre 3B
Drew RF
Cameron CF
Scutaro 2B

1453
Jeter SS
Johnson DH
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Swisher RF
Thames LF
Granderson CF

[oldskool138]

w00t Jeter K's! GO SOX!

[groganfan]

go sox! lester looks good today! game on mlb network for those of us out of the viewing area.

[oldskool138]

Tex K's! Lester looks good!

[groganfan]

i thought that was going to be a fly out. lol glad to see jacoby get his first hit.

[groganfan]

nice base running by ellis

[oldskool138]

Els with the first steal of the season and takes 3rd on the E! w00t!

[thebostonjay]

Lester. 97. Paint.

Freaking beautiful.

I appreciate errors. Thanks whore-hay.

[oldskool138]

1-0 Sox! Yay!

[groganfan]

productive out.

[oldskool138]

They're making AJ work...good stuff

[groganfan]

yeah i want to punch the fan who said teez is going to have 40 hr this season.

[oldskool138]

Lester not looking so good... :P

[thebostonjay]

up the scoot-chute. phew.

That situation was just calling for an irritating Jeter bloop over 1B.

[oldskool138]

Beltre can run a little...that's cool.

[groganfan]

ellis found his groove!

[oldskool138]

GONE! VMart! 3-1 Sox!

[groganfan]

V-Mart!!

[sprocketboy]

Three cheers for MLB Extra Innings having a free preview week.

[3 Point Stan]

Hi.

[Mikiemo83]

dammit

[sprocketboy]

Tie goes to the runner if the runner is wearing pinstripes.

Gift go-ahead run for the MFYs.

[Mikiemo83]

tommy heinson voice

I love Victor!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[groganfan]

Vmart!

[sprocketboy]

tommy heinson voice

I love Victor!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is physically possible for Victor Martinez to hit a triple?

[groganfan]

C'mon Youk! Earn that MVP award and hit a homer!

[Mikiemo83]

It is physically possible for Victor Martinez to hit a triple?if papi or lowell can victor can

[sprocketboy]

C'mon Youk! Earn that MVP award and hit a homer!

Pwned by that 3-2 curveball. :suicide:

[JD10367]

I have a new nickname for him: Big Puppy. 'Cause he's roly-poly and funny, and harmless. :shake:

[Mikiemo83]

MDC gains a little confidence tonight getting out of that jam

[sprocketboy]

Speed in left field. What a concept.

[TITAN126]

Come on Scutaro!

[dunaja]

I started the game an hour late and just caught up to live now. Didn't want to come in here for a spoiler.

Teixeira was OUT at first... I've got a freeze-framed DVR image proving it. All the calls are going the MFYs way tonight.

[jaychamp]

Well that sucked

[oldskool138]

So much for pitching and defense...

[Joolz]

I have to work. Wont be here.

My mojo is in my sock drawer, if anyone needs it.


Win.

This loss is on me. I neglected (um, refused) to go into SC's drawers. Sorry. ;)

[SamBam39]

So much for pitching and defense...ditto...that was a downer.:sulk:

Honestly, I now it is only two games...but for crissakes when is Theo going to sign a god damn short stop that actually does what he is advertised to do? It is becoming a joke.

And note to Jon Lester...the season has started buddy. Take your thumb out of your butt and start pitching like the so-called "Ace" that everyone has annointed you. My heart ain't going last through another one of your slow starts.

OK rant over...now let's see if Theo's newest binky can go out and pitch the Sox to a series victory. Let's kick some MFY ass!!!!

[PumpDee]

Walking in a run Oki?!?! Seriously?!?!?! :WTF:

[nomars_girl]

Walking in a run Oki?!?! Seriously?!?!?! :WTF:

I was screaming at the TV. Not so good considering I was at a bar in a nice restaurant.

[3 Point Stan]

Walking in a run Oki?!?! Seriously?!?!?! :WTF:
Not for anything but Oki should have been sitting on the bench before he ever even had a chance to walk in that run.

You can't give extra outs to that lineup.

[dunaja]

Two problems I had with Francona:

1. Be part of the chess match. The Yankees stall then put in a lefty to face Ortiz. THIS IS WHEN YOU PINCH-HIT LOWELL. You know what? Ortiz is paid well enough that you're allowed to hurt his feelings. Lowell would be a starter on about 15 MLB teams yet you'll leave Papi in there for the automatic out.

2. Why can't Bard go more than one inning? He comes in in the 7th and I'm thinking We grab the lead somewhere in these last 3 innings and he and Papelbon can share the last nine outs, or maybe have a lefty face a lefty somewhere in the middle so they're sharing 8 outs. Instead Bard (who is amazing) only gets an inning because that's just the way things are done. Lame.

[SamBam39]

Francona always manages for the long haul. It does become frustrating at the time. But at the end of the day if his so-called "ace" had pitched effectively, it wouldn't have been an issue. Lester needs another early season wake call.

[3 Point Stan]

Two problems I had with Francona:

Let me start off by saying, my gut reaction was pretty close to what you say below.


1. Be part of the chess match. The Yankees stall then put in a lefty to face Ortiz. THIS IS WHEN YOU PINCH-HIT LOWELL. You know what? Ortiz is paid well enough that you're allowed to hurt his feelings. Lowell would be a starter on about 15 MLB teams yet you'll leave Papi in there for the automatic out.

While I believe the may occur in the future should Papi not hit, there is no way this would happen in the 2nd game of the season. Francona and the Red Sox brass have not laid the foundation that the DH role is a "platoon." Whether you or I or anyone else feels it's right or wrong (or even stupid), there is a way these guys have to deal with the egos. And PH Lowell for Ortiz in that situation was just not going to happen in the 2nd game of the season.


2. Why can't Bard go more than one inning? He comes in in the 7th and I'm thinking We grab the lead somewhere in these last 3 innings and he and Papelbon can share the last nine outs, or maybe have a lefty face a lefty somewhere in the middle so they're sharing 8 outs. Instead Bard (who is amazing) only gets an inning because that's just the way things are done. Lame.
Bard is a young arm and I can almost guarantee there is an agreed-upon number of innings that the Red Sox want him to be throwing right now. There are probably not many set-up men in MLB that will throw 2 full innings the first week of the season.

[dunaja]

3PS, we're going to have to agree to disagree here.

Situational pinch-hitting does not turn a position into a "platoon". A cardinal rule of baseball is that left handed pitchers are more successful against left handed batters. (I was a left handed batter and I can remember years where the best pitcher in our league was left handed... regardless of where the ball is pitched, it appears as if it's coming at your head.) Furthermore, what is the weight of a loss in the second game vs. the twentieth game? Mathematically, they are the same. That's like saying it's not time to try your hardest yet... I would agree with that if it were still spring training. Taking the names "Ortiz" and "Lowell" out of the situation, if I knew my opponent just brought in a lefty specialist to get my lefty batter out, and I knew I had a competent all-star righty batter riding the pine, I utilize the rule that says I can take out batter A and insert batter B in my lineup. Second game, hundredth game, I will take to my grave that Tito was wrong here. Sidenote: we're playing the Yankees.

As for Bard, he practically mowed them down in the 7th. Didn't throw that many pitches. This is not a hindsight 20/20 situation (I do like Okajima) but I was yelling at the TV to keep Bard out there. It's like "this is working well, so I'm going to immediately change it as radically as I can. Bard, you're out; Okajima, you're in." Just doesn't make sense to me. I'm worried about saving his arm too, but he could have taken one or two more outs. We're playing the Yankees! It's a tie game, expect that your team is going to score, and work to bridge the gap to Papelbon for the save. Play to win, not to be apathetic because it's only the second game! I don't think people who paid money for tickets to the second game of the year appreciate that attitude.

[Mikiemo83]

my take

I think they are working the confidence angle with Papi still, so hitting for him, this early in the season, is not something Tito will do nor something the sox want to do especially if Lowell is moved in a week or so - it would be counter productive to Papi's head the next time the situation arises

as for Bard, 1 inning and get rest for the next night in case you are needed. no sitting on the bench and starting a second inning this early in the season

[jaychamp]

3PS, we're going to have to agree to disagree here.

Situational pinch-hitting does not turn a position into a "platoon". A cardinal rule of baseball is that left handed pitchers are more successful against left handed batters. (I was a left handed batter and I can remember years where the best pitcher in our league was left handed... regardless of where the ball is pitched, it appears as if it's coming at your head.) Furthermore, what is the weight of a loss in the second game vs. the twentieth game? Mathematically, they are the same. That's like saying it's not time to try your hardest yet... I would agree with that if it were still spring training. Taking the names "Ortiz" and "Lowell" out of the situation, if I knew my opponent just brought in a lefty specialist to get my lefty batter out, and I knew I had a competent all-star righty batter riding the pine, I utilize the rule that says I can take out batter A and insert batter B in my lineup. Second game, hundredth game, I will take to my grave that Tito was wrong here. Sidenote: we're playing the Yankees.

As for Bard, he practically mowed them down in the 7th. Didn't throw that many pitches. This is not a hindsight 20/20 situation (I do like Okajima) but I was yelling at the TV to keep Bard out there. It's like "this is working well, so I'm going to immediately change it as radically as I can. Bard, you're out; Okajima, you're in." Just doesn't make sense to me. I'm worried about saving his arm too, but he could have taken one or two more outs. We're playing the Yankees! It's a tie game, expect that your team is going to score, and work to bridge the gap to Papelbon for the save. Play to win, not to be apathetic because it's only the second game! I don't think people who paid money for tickets to the second game of the year appreciate that attitude.
Francona must have felt Marte vs Ortiz was a better match up than Chamberlain vs Lowell. You weren't going to get a Lowell vs Marte situation if that's what you are saying.

Not leaving Bard in, I don't know. Only thing I can think of is the season just started and he wants to work up his stamina first. It's a reach but that's the only I could come up with. I thought he should have been left in with a short leash.

Edit: I just looked up the numbers and Lowell is hitting .467 against Chamberlain. Hmmmmmmmm

[southcarolina]

Francona must have felt Marte vs Ortiz was a better match up than Chamberlain vs Lowell. You weren't going to get a Lowell vs Marte situation if that's what you are saying.

Not leaving Bard in, I don't know. Only thing I can think of is the season just started and he wants to work up his stamina first. It's a reach but that's the only I could come up with. I thought he should have been left in with a short leash.

Edit: I just looked up the numbers and Lowell is hitting .467 against Chamberlain. Hmmmmmmmm

I did not watch the game, but i think i have at least a partial explanation from the guys over at that Giant National RedSox Message Board: Once Marte was put into the game, he had to pitch to at least one batter. Had Francona subbed in Lowell for Ortiz, he would have still faced Marte. Lowell has one career at bat vs Marte (in which he struck out). Ortiz' numbers vs Marte may not be great, but at least he has faced him 16-18 times.

[3 Point Stan]

3PS, we're going to have to agree to disagree here.

Situational pinch-hitting does not turn a position into a "platoon". A cardinal rule of baseball is that left handed pitchers are more successful against left handed batters. (I was a left handed batter and I can remember years where the best pitcher in our league was left handed... regardless of where the ball is pitched, it appears as if it's coming at your head.) Furthermore, what is the weight of a loss in the second game vs. the twentieth game? Mathematically, they are the same. That's like saying it's not time to try your hardest yet... I would agree with that if it were still spring training. Taking the names "Ortiz" and "Lowell" out of the situation, if I knew my opponent just brought in a lefty specialist to get my lefty batter out, and I knew I had a competent all-star righty batter riding the pine, I utilize the rule that says I can take out batter A and insert batter B in my lineup. Second game, hundredth game, I will take to my grave that Tito was wrong here. Sidenote: we're playing the Yankees.

As for Bard, he practically mowed them down in the 7th. Didn't throw that many pitches. This is not a hindsight 20/20 situation (I do like Okajima) but I was yelling at the TV to keep Bard out there. It's like "this is working well, so I'm going to immediately change it as radically as I can. Bard, you're out; Okajima, you're in." Just doesn't make sense to me. I'm worried about saving his arm too, but he could have taken one or two more outs. We're playing the Yankees! It's a tie game, expect that your team is going to score, and work to bridge the gap to Papelbon for the save. Play to win, not to be apathetic because it's only the second game! I don't think people who paid money for tickets to the second game of the year appreciate that attitude.
The bolded part is basically my entire point. You or I can do this - we're watching from the couch. Terry Francona? Not as easily.

Also, I am a left as well.

[jaychamp]

I did not watch the game, but i think i have at least a partial explanation from the guys over at that Giant National RedSox Message Board: Once Marte was put into the game, he had to pitch to at least one batter. Had Francona subbed in Lowell for Ortiz, he would have still faced Marte. Lowell has one career at bat vs Marte (in which he struck out). Ortiz' numbers vs Marte may not be great, but at least he has faced him 16-18 times.
You're right, forgot about that rule.

[southcarolina]

You're right, forgot about that rule.

I did too. Like i said, i was lurking over at that *other* site, and saw it there :)

[dunaja]

I did too. Like i said, i was lurking over at that *other* site, and saw it there :)

This was part of my chess match argument. Marte was locked in to the next batter.

I think my baseball philosophy is screw pitch count until the pitcher shows the faintest, faintest, faintest sign of beginning to possibly be ineffective. This is why Francona pissed me off again last night. Lackey was mowing them down. Do the thing where he gives up a base hit and then pull him, blaming pitch count so as not to hurt his precious ego. Instead, we start a fresh inning with whatshisface, Atkins Diet or whatever his name is. Come on! Lackey had them lulled to sleep and seeing a new arm out there woke them up.