The Rotation Remains The Same

Terry Francona, the manager of the Boston Red Sox, will not tinker with his rotation and move up Josh Beckett's start to game 4 on Wednesday, which would be 3 days rest. That move would enable Josh to pitch game 7 on his normal 4 days rest. Even if the Sox are down 3 games to 1, he is sticking with the 4 man rotation. I agree with his decision. He said this....

"I think sometimes you can get short-sighted," Francona said. "If you lose a couple games everybody wants you to immediately change what you've set up. The reason we set it up like this is because we think it gives us the best chance to win a series. It's also not just one guy it affects. It affects three guys in the rotation."

Peter here. Remember, there is an off day on Wednesday in Ohio between games 4 and 5. They play Monday and Tuesday, games 3 and 4, with that day off Wednesday, and then play the third and final game in Cleveland, game 5, on Thursday. Friday is a travel day, and the final two contests, if needed, will be at Fenway Park on Saturday and Sunday. Having Beckett pitch on Thursday, on 5 days rest, will also allow Schill, who looks like he needs it, and Daisuke extra rest between starts. But we all have to hope that Wakes can be effective. We also must hope for the same exact thing from Daisuke Matsuzaka today. So if the series goes 7 games, Beckett, Schill and Daisuke will pitch twice and Wakes will go one, tomorrow. I agree with Tito's strategy. Now the players, our players, have to deliver. Because it looks like Colorado is "that team," for they're running away with the NLCS, using good hitting and superior pitching to take the first 3 from a good Arizona team. They will be tough to beat in the World Series, that's for sure.

Todays opposing pitcher will be Jake Westbrook, who is eminently beatable. We need Daisuke to pitch 7 good innings, giving up 3 or less runs. The tired bullpen can take care of the last 2 innings, and do it well. No more 5 plus hour games, though. PLEASE!

Click on the title of this post for the Herald's Tony Massarotti's article about the Cleveland-Boston series so far. It's called "PUT UP OR SHUT UP TIME." Truer words have never been spoken. Have a great Monday, and as always, GO SOX!!