October 1, 2008

ALDS 1: Red Sox 4, Angels 1

Red Sox - 000 002 002 - 4  8  1
Angels - 001 000 000 - 1 9 1
Jason Bay crushed a high fastball from John Lackey to deep left with two outs in the sixth, giving the Red Sox a 2-1 lead. RBI singles from Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz provided some ninth-inning insurance.

Lester started off on the wrong foot, allowing two hits and a walk in the first inning. He left the bases loaded and although he allowed an unearned run in the third, he also stranding two more baserunners. After Torii Hunter's single gave LA a 1-0 lead, Lester retired 13 of his next 15 batters, including striking out the side in the sixth. Only one of his 21 outs was hit beyond the infield.

Justin Masterson allowed a couple of singles in the eighth, but a bone-headed baserunning play from Vladimir Guerrero cut a potential rally short. Vlad, who can barely jog, tried to go from first to third on a pop single to short right and Kevin Youkilis gunned him down by -- seriously -- 35 feet.

Jonathan Papelbon took care of the Angels in the ninth -- as many of the "fans" had packed up their noisemakers du jour and gone home.

Ellsbury had three hits and a stolen base; he also reached on a three-base error by right fielder Gary Matthews. And he made a diving catch on a sinking liner for the first out in the LAA eighth. ... Pedroia walked twice, Yook singled and walked, Bay doubled and donged, and Lowrie singled and scored.

In the NL: the Phillies beat the Brewers 3-1 and the Dodgers beat the Cubs 7-2.

***

Jon Lester (3.21, 143 ERA+) / John Lackey (3.75, 116 ERA+)

Results of the ALDS Poll:

Corrected Lineups:
Red Sox                Angels
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF Chone Figgins, 3B
Dustin Pedroia, 2B Garret Anderson, LF
David Ortiz, DH Mark Teixeira, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 1B Vladimir Guerrero, DH
J.D. Drew, RF Torii Hunter, CF
Jason Bay, LF Howie Kendrick, 2B
Mike Lowell, 3B Mike Napoli, C
Jed Lowrie, SS Gary Matthews Jr., RF
Jason Varitek, C Erick Aybar, SS

IP H BB K WHIP AVG OBP SLG

Lester 210.1 202 66 152 1.274 .256 .320 .368
Lackey 163.1 161 40 130 1.231 .260 .315 .435
Lester finished 4th in the AL in ERA.
          W-L    RS   RA   DIF  EXPWL  OPS+ ERA+
Red Sox 95-67 845 694 +151 95-67 108 114
Angels 100-62 765 697 + 68 88-74 96 109

AVG OBP SLG RS/G RA/G ERA
Red Sox .280 .358 .447 5.22 4.28 4.01
Angels .268 .330 .413 4.72 4.30 4.00
So we hit better, get on base more often, have more power, score more runs, and allow fewer runs. ... Tell me again: Why the Angels are favoured in this series?

Is it their closer? Which of these three closers do you like?
    IP    H  BB   K   ERA  OBP  SLG  WHIP IR/S
A 68.2 54 34 77 2.24 .314 .316 1.288 18/7
B 69.1 58 8 77 2.34 .245 .315 0.952 30/4
C 67.1 39 19 66 1.60 .248 .255 0.861 6/2
Closer A has walked a ton of batters and his ability at preventing inherited runners from scoring is putrid. At least one writer gives huge weight to a worthless stat and thinks A is the AL MVP. ... I'm assuming you know who A & B are (think Angels and Boston). Any writers considering Frod for MVP should probably slot Joakim Soria (C) even further up on the ballot.

***

Lackey's last outing? 2.2 IP, 12 hits, 10 runs! In four September starts, batters pounded him to the tune of a 1.042 OPS (.356/.420/.622). Since July 5, he has a 5.42 ERA in 94.2 innings. ... He did well in his two starts against Boston, though: July 18 (7-5-3-2-6) and July 29 (9-2-2-2-4).

Before the issue of Josh Beckett's oblique forced a shuffling of the rotation, there was talk that Lester should pitch Game 3 at Fenway because of his poor road record this year. That will not happen, though Lester would be pitching Game 4 in Boston, if necessary.

Lester's splits from this season:
      GS   ERA   IP    H   BB   K  AVG  OBP  SLG
Home 17 2.49 115.2 103 35 86 .240 .303 .361
Road 16 4.09 94.2 99 31 66 .275 .341 .375
I think the home/road ERA split is exaggerated -- and, ultimately, should not cause anyone to worry. (For those who care, his home/road records were 11-1 and 5-5.)

First, let's note that in both 2006 and 2007, Lester did not have much of a split.
2007   IP     ERA    OPS
Home 23 4.30 .775
Road 40 4.72 .740

2006 IP ERA OPS
Home 49.1 4.74 .807
Road 32 4.78 .825
So why the bigger split in 2008? Well, two of Lester's worst starts of the year came on the road. He allowed six runs in five innings in Houston on June 28 and gave up seven runs in 2.1 innings in Toronto on August 23. If you toss out those bad days, his road ERA drops a full run -- from 4.09 to 3.09.

Of course, those starts did happen, but when you are working with a small sample size, a crappy outing or two -- for whatever reason -- can have a larger than deserved effect. Also, there is a touch of poor luck with his road BABIP (batting average on balls in play) -- a somewhat high .321.

Lester saw Los Angeles once this year -- April 23 at Fenway. 5-9-4-2-1, 80. The Angels won 6-4. Lester has pitched in Anaheim twice (once each in 2006 and 2007), allowing 14 hits, seven walks and eight runs in 8.1 innings.

According to the Globe, Beckett threw lightly on Tuesday: "30 throws from 60 feet, moved back to 90 feet and made 20 throws, then moved back to 60". Francona: "Everything was very encouraging. Everything was real positive." ... Plenty of additional links in Art Marrone's column.

BP's Joe Sheehan agrees with me: Red Sox in 4 (though he adds: "There is no result — a sweep, a five-game series, either team winning — that would come as a surprise.).

Finally: The Boston media is misrepresenting Manny Ramirez's latest comments about his time in Boston. The Herald's Gerry Callahan writes that Manny's "problem with Boston [was] us. You and me. Fans and media." Actually, what Manny said was this:
The fans in Boston got your back no matter what, but I'm talking about the people who write all this bull because it means so much to them.
So: the fans are great and the writers are dicks. And that's the reason for the media's negative spin.

Remember: SHOTS = VICTORY! We're 7-for-7!

***

Other games today:
NLDS 1: Brewers at Phillies at 3
NLDS 1: Dodgers at Cubs at 6

1,020 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   801 – 1000 of 1020   Newer›   Newest»
laura k said...

I'm losing it here.

Rob said...

That's one thing that makes baseball amazing. You can look like you're 60 years old and still play.

laura k said...

801 i am.

nixon33 said...

check swing looked PAINFUL.

Rob said...

Bat then Bot!

Jere said...

Master of the heavenly domain!

allan said...

tito trusting the master!

Jere said...

waste on 0-2 please

Jere said...

thanks

laura k said...

Hey Sarah, you made it. I'm half asleep, you're just getting home.

nixon33 said...

masterson! interesting

allan said...

what new stupid fucking toy do these "fans" have now?

laura k said...

THAT IS MY BOY!!!!!!!

allan said...

int he fucking bag

Sarah Haendler said...

Hell yeah Lyndon!

Pepe Lepew said...

ooooo!!!!
I'm so proud to be Cree right now!!!!!!

Rob said...

WOW!!!!!! Holy shit!

efd said...

HOLY CRAP!!!!!!

THAT'S LAURA'S BOY!!!!

nixon33 said...

HOLY FUCKING SHIT LBJ!!!!!!!

Jere said...

fuckin yeah!!!!!!! After Boras tried calling his shot. what a catch. "Ellz" rulz

Sarah Haendler said...

I'm half asleep, you're just getting home.

I am also half asleep. Nearly dozed off on the train.

laura k said...

Pepe, Navajo & Cree, you're all related? That's cool. :)

allan said...

masterson + slider + hunter = DP!

Rob said...

HAHA ANGELS BASEBALL!!!

allan said...

YEAH - THE CRIPPLE CAN'T GET THE EXTRA BASE

hahahhahHAHAHAHAHAHAH

laura k said...

We're waiting for ya at third, baby!

efd said...

nice recovery by Youk! Guererro out by a mile.

Pepe Lepew said...

Wow, what was Vlad thinking there?
He was running worse than Lowell.

nixon33 said...

YOOOOOOOOOOK HOILY SHIT!!!!!!

Sarah Haendler said...

snigger snigger

laura k said...

Yook is an awesome fielder. Fucking great.

Rob said...

I love how Youk just grabbed at the ball when he fell, got up and FIRED.

That's the advantage to have a third basemen's arm at first!

Rob said...

Still very tense right now.

allan said...

lowell had the ball and vlad was only 1/2 way to third!

Pepe Lepew said...

Pepe, Navajo & Cree, you're all related? That's cool. :)

Thu Oct 02, 12:42:00 AM

Well, Navajos and Crees are separated by about 2,000 miles, but I'm Cree, yes, which is why I like Ellsbury ... and Joba Chamberlain ... and Wayne Redden.

Rob said...

More debris in the Angels dugout.

Jere said...

Lowell trying to beat Vlad to the bag was like American Gladiators: Seniors Division

allan said...

vlad - swings at anything, will run on anything

laura k said...

I like Ellsbury for many reasons, and being Navajo is one of them.

Rob said...

LMAO Jere

Pepe Lepew said...

Ooops. Wade Redden. I was thinking of Wayne Gretzky there.

laura k said...

"American Gladiators: Seniors Division"

:)

allan said...

man, imagine if we were down 2-1 and slowell did that!!!

allan said...

buck keeps saying hunter will run -- and he doesn't!!!

Rob said...

HAHAHA the ball hit some guy in the face on top of the Angel dugout.

nixon33 said...

COME ON ONE MORE!!!!

laura k said...

I wish I had the old confidence in Bot. We need the old Bot right now.

Sarah Haendler said...

haha - just saw the Joe state farm commercial for the first time. Funny.

Rob said...

Is this the son of Darren Oliver, who the Red Sox got years ago, as he was a Yankee killer? Or the same guy??

I'm having a hard time comprehending that only because I've seen it on TV the entire season. But I can understand why you wouldn't have seen it yet this year.

It's a great commercial, though. I love how he sticks it to the Yankees in that commercial. I'm in paradise now.

Joe Grav said...

YEAHH WHAT A FUCKING ESCAPE KIDS!

Rob said...

Tek might bunt here.

laura k said...

We don't have that ad here. What is it?

Benjamin said...

First hit since the all-star break for Jed.

Rob said...

Nice bunt, Tek!

laura k said...

Ish, is it me, or did you quote the wrong comment?

Jere said...

ish cuttin and pastin like a madman.

Ovarian sac!

Pepe Lepew said...

Tek ain't done yet!

efd said...

Vari-bunt!

allan said...

caray has an orgasm on the tek bunt

Rob said...

Torre says "I'm at the intersection of my new life and my new lifestyle... driving." Basically goes through what it was like when he first went out to LA. Shows how much he loves it (even shows him surfing!)... at the end he says "You know that place where there are never any rain delays? I am sooooo there."

Rob said...

Where am I cuttin' and pastin' like a madman?

Jere said...

you pasted the wrong comment

laura k said...

Thanks Ish, that's cool. I really like Joe, always will.

Pepe Lepew said...

Oooo!
Buck just said Coco is a better center fielder than Ellsbury. I think Coco's a pretty good defensive player, but I respectfully disagree.

Jere said...

Coco's better than "pretty good" defensively. Way betta

Rob said...

Did I really paste the wrong comment?

It is almost 1 AM, after all...


Lyndon does it again!

Jere said...

haha!!!!! 2 run lead!!!

Joe Grav said...

YES!!!!!!!!!

THAT, Laura, is YOUR MOTHERFUCKING BOY!

laura k said...

YESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

That is my fucking boy!!!

Pepe Lepew said...

Hey, that Oregon State guy just did good!

Rob said...

LMAO. That is hilarious that I c/ped the wrong comment.

efd said...

L-girl, the commercial is on YouTube if you're curious.

AND THERE'S YOUR BOY AGAIN!!

allan said...

that was shields' 3.2 seamer.

Jere said...

unless you mistook my Darren Oliver comment as "I've never seen that Torre commericial..." :)

Sarah Haendler said...

Sweet!

laura k said...

Ha ha, I thought I was being crude but Joe Grav one upped me. :)

Angels "fans" leaving, in a 3-1 playoff game in the 9th. A-holes.

Rob said...

Am I hearing things, too? Like let's go Red Sox? I don't know why they'd chant let's go Angels right after they give up a huge run.

Rob said...

Another steal!

allan said...

and the loyal fans are heading for the exits.

Sarah Haendler said...

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

LBJ!!!

laura k said...

Efd, thanks, I'll check it out tomorrow.

[YOU CANNOT CATCH HIM!!]

Ish, that was so funny. I thought it was me at first.

Pepe Lepew said...

Ellsbury's kinda dominating this game right now.
I just realized an Oregon guy drove in an Oregon guy for a run.

Rob said...

Angels baseball... Meet, Red Sox baseball!

laura k said...

It was def'y a let's go RS chant.

Rob said...

Oh OW. He'll be feeling that one in the morning.

Jere said...

Mike "Owie Kendrick" Napoli.

Joe Grav said...

Just to let y'all know, I literally did a happy-dance in front of all the customers while working at the dining hall tonight upon receiving word of the Bay Dong.

Benjamin said...

Injury delay?

allan said...

foul laser show!

laura k said...

We used to have a commenter from Oregon, and at least once a day he asked us if we knew Ellsbury was from Oregon.

Pepe Lepew said...

Not to be cruel to the catcher, but I think I'd try to steal third base here.

Rob said...

This guy gets absolutely drilled on the knee... TBS says, "let's listen to the ball hit his knee."

efd said...

Pedroia walking around with the bat as if he's going to try to take a swing at Napoli's knee when no one's looking.

Jere said...

I heard Let's Go Red Sox chants much earlier, too. There was a borderline one in the first and a big one around the Bay HR.

Rob said...

Maybe you could try to induce a run-down between third and home. Make Napoli run.

laura k said...

Joe, I came home doing a happy dance tonight. I was so happy about October baseball and excited about the game.

Rob said...

There ya go, Scot. Catch that ball with your bare hand. That always works.

Joe Grav said...

I'll take the advancement.

efd said...

LBJ baserunning > Vlad baserunning

Jere said...

if shields had done the "fake throw" to first, Ells was screwed

allan said...

Let's Go FLO!

Rob said...

FUCK YOU, SHIFT!

Joe Grav said...

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Jere said...

thank effin you, 4 to 1. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes.

efd said...

tack, tack, tack

laura k said...

A Tizzingle! YEAH

Benjamin said...

!

Pepe Lepew said...

Classic old-fashioned tack-on.

allan said...

is it time for K-ROD???????????

Rob said...

Did you see the way Shields stopped suddenly and put his hands on his hips when the ball went into center field? That was hilarious. What are you, a ballerina?

Jere said...

Usually if he hits it through the shift, it's a hard shot.

laura k said...

Somebody wake up Amy!

nixon33 said...

THIS INNING HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY: AWESOMENESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pepe Lepew said...

We used to have a commenter from Oregon, and at least once a day he asked us if we knew Ellsbury was from Oregon.

Thu Oct 02, 01:02:00 AM

Oh, I HATE people like that!
BTW, did you know Jason Bay is Canadian?

Sarah Haendler said...

LBJ baserunning > Vlad baserunning

Snort! I believe this deserves the captain obvious award for the evening!

Pepe Lepew said...

Joe, I came home doing a happy dance tonight. I was so happy about October baseball and excited about the game.

Thu Oct 02, 01:03:00 AM

I'm so excited that I climbed Half Dome and El Capitan and got back home in time for October baseball.

andy said...

Is this really happening?

laura k said...

Ha ha, I didn't say I hated the guy! :)

pitcher = patti smith song

efd said...

Martinez drops about three syllables from the name "Arredondo."

laura k said...

Andy's back!

Rob said...

Martinez drops about three syllables from the name "Arredondo."

How do you do that?



SNUFFIN' TIME!

andy said...

I cannot wait to go to work tomorrow with all the Angels idiots. I am just hoping that someone hits a homer off of FRod this series.

Jere said...

7-8-9, Pap

laura k said...

so that was ORtiz with the INsurance

Pepe Lepew said...

Wow, that was a pretty nice play. Who was that, Troy Glaus?

andy said...

He just does it ish.

Sarah Haendler said...

"Do you know the snuffin man, the snuffin man, the snuffin man?

andy said...

I need a quick 123 to make my bedtime. I cant wait to go to sleep to wake up tomorrow.

Joe Grav said...

Every time Jacoby Ellsbury exhales, an angel [not the Los Angeles kind] has an orgasm.

(lovingly adapted from the Daily Show)

Rob said...

Andy... I hope not to see Frod, except for him to just "get some work in"

efd said...

Arredondo on the all-Patti-Smith-Song team, along with Ray "because the" Knight.

allan said...

i can't wait to try my cpap(i) machine tonight!

andy said...

I kept telling the guys at work that the Sox were built for the playoffs. They get there and that's all that matters. Now they turn on a whole different machine.

laura k said...

This must be the 1st west coast game I've stayed awake for in ... years. Thank you Tim Hortons.

Rob said...

HAHAHA. See that stat?

Current Angels postseason roster is 1 for 38 against him.

Serious Snuffin'!

andy said...

My bot statue goes on my friends desk tomorrow morning.

allan said...

current LAA roster is 1-for-38 v BOT!

andy said...

I will drive the 45 min north to sleep with the entire team tonight.

laura k said...

great team. i'll think on it.

Jere said...

Come on, Pap, be the “black president” of your own republic of rebellion.

andy said...

Sloppy party bottom.

Pepe Lepew said...

Interesting stat. 2-run lead, Pap is 30-for-30.

Benjamin said...

Papelbon is about to best FRod in the only stat that matters.

andy said...

Lester was throwing just as hard.

Rob said...

Oi. Watch your cornhole if you're in SoCal tonight.

Rob said...

And if you play for the Red Sox.

Jere said...

K

Joe Grav said...

SIT YOUR ASS DOWN.

allan said...

1-for-39.

Sarah Haendler said...

Nice Jere!

efd said...

that's one!

andy said...

I will not be giving Lugo or Timlin anything though. They suck. they can fluff the others.

Ron said...

We used to have a commenter from Oregon, and at least once a day he asked us if we knew Ellsbury was from Oregon.

Hey, I resemble that comment.

Rob said...

THE FACE. Close up!

Rob said...

About that whole fastball command thing...

andy said...

The Face was on fire tonight.
This is ok, setting up the quick double play.

allan said...

caray says sox on the verge of "stealing" this game.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK U.

andy said...

The rally monkey has ebola.

efd said...

per Andy:

Bot = Snuffer
Timlin = Fluffer

Joe Grav said...

time for monkeyburgers

andy said...

Yeah how did they steal the game?

Rob said...

The way the two teams played... It would have been the Angels stealing this game.

Pepe Lepew said...

Oh, I HATE monkeys!!!!
I hate them more than Bucky Katt hates them!!!

laura k said...

Hey Chief. Are you from Oregon, too? This guy's name was Charlie. Nice to see you here, tho.

Rob said...

Whatever happened to the slutter?

efd said...

Kudos to Pepe for the Get Fuzzy reference!

Rob said...

TWO!!!

Pepe Lepew said...

Blogger chief said...

We used to have a commenter from Oregon, and at least once a day he asked us if we knew Ellsbury was from Oregon.

Hey, I resemble that comment.

I lived in Corvallis for three years!

Joe Grav said...

TAKE A SEAT VERSION 2.0

laura k said...

monkeyburgers! ha ha

allan said...

needed a golf club for that one!

Rob said...

I hate TBS's graphics.

Rob said...

Fig is no Obi Wan.

andy said...

Yes idiot boll legged idiot asshole take all the pitches

laura k said...

The Oregonians are taking over!

Rob said...

This is the only way these days Scott Boras can get more TV time.

andy said...

Oh my god. Vlad is the best runner. i hope they keep rubbing in the mistake.

Sarah Haendler said...

Speaking of Black President, our Fela gets HUGE applause when he says that each night.

Rob said...

The Oregonians are taking over!

Sezs the Tornotonian

Joe Grav said...

"so much for 8-of-9" :D

andy said...

I say hit him in the head. but that's just me hating the home town team.

Rob said...

First round of dirty POSTSEASON water is on me!!!

Joe Grav said...

WATER

andy said...

thank you boys. goodnight

laura k said...

Dirty dirty dirty water! Beautiful dirty water!

Jere said...

ahhhhhhhh sweet relief

ANOTHER 8-game postseason winstreak for us

efd said...

DIRTY PLAYOFF WATER!!!!!

allan said...

3rd out

bot's jackoff move = dirty water

Joe Grav said...

PWNED

Benjamin said...

Water.

Southern boy Papelbon with the KKK.

Pepe Lepew said...

Pap 31-for-31.
Aggressive baserunning??
How about STUPID baserunning!

Ron said...

Yeah, I grew up in Oregon - Coos Bay. Haven't lived there in 20 years though.

Charlie was very young right? Like a high school kid?

allan said...

10 WINS TO GO

laura k said...

Good night all! See you Friday.

Jere said...

Did they just show an extended close-up of Van Every? Maybe they thought he was Masterson.

efd said...

and now, a word from the jacket.

allan said...

And we shall top 1000 comments right about .... NOW!

Rob said...

I was thinking the same thing, Jere. On Van Every.

efd said...

Goodnight L-girl, and all! See you Friday night!

Rob said...

NOW!

«Oldest ‹Older   801 – 1000 of 1020   Newer› Newest»