Rainout Forces A Last Day Fenway Park Doubleheader
The rains came to Fenway Park on Saturday and the Yankee/Red Sox game was postponed until Sunday night. Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-2) will face Mike Mussina (19-9) in Sunday’s first game at 1:35 p.m., and Tim Wakefield (10-11) will go against Sidney Ponson (8-5) at 7:35 p.m in the second. A ceremony to retire Johnny Pesky’s uniform No. 6, originally scheduled for Friday, will be before the first game. Tito Francona had this to say on who will play and for how long...
"We’ll probably go a little shorter than we would have," Francona said of keeping his players fresh and injury-free for the playoffs. "It’s a long day tomorrow, a long day today and yesterday. We’re going to try to play everybody."
Peter here, and the rescheduling should not have an effect on the starting pitchers for Wednesday and Friday in Anaheim. But with the two (and two only) off days, you hate to see your team having to play two on the last day of the regular season. But, as Tito said, he will carefully limit the pitchers' innings. I expect Josh Beckett to get the call on Wednesday and Jon Lester on Friday. They are Boston's two best, and you go with your best when it comes time for October play. Expect to see Daisuke Matsuzaka in game three at Fenway on five days rest.
Mike Lowell will travel west with the club but his playing time, if any at all, is very uncertain. The same goes for JD Drew...you have to consider him as a perennial day to day - you just never know when a back will act up at the last minute. It's fortunate that the Red Sox have a deep and talented lineup or they'd be in deep doo-doo. If I had one wish it would be this...no doubleheader on the last day of the regular season. But the games are scheduled and we'll play 'em. No ifs, ands or buts.
You can click on the title of this post for everything about everything BoSox. I hope your Sunday will be a great one. As always, be well. Your comments are always welcome.
5 Comments:
Go Sox, can't wait for Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope the first week of October brings Red Sox thrills..
I would really start Lester in game 3 at Fenway. No offense to Lester, but his numbers at home versus on the road are quite suprising. At home he is 11-1 with a 2.49 ERA at home, but he's only 5-5 on the road with a 4.09 ERA. Dice-K's numbers are not as spread, but he has better numbers on the road than at home.
So, I say, forget about putting them in order of who is the best. They are all very good, especially if they are hot. I say put them in position to most likely be hot. For Beckett, that would be the adrenaline rush of game 1. For Dice-K that would be a road game, for Lester, that would be a home game.
Then, after they sweep those games, we can worry about the ALCS, right?
Hello Rooster...I know his (Lester's) Fenway numbers are way better (that's what they're talking about right now on NESN!) than on the road.
I think they have to go with righty, lefty and righty. No matter what, we'll know in a day. May they win 'em all!
Thanks..Pete. And don't forget...Daisuke has had the best run production behind him than almost anyone. Have a great Sunday...and hope that no one gets hurt in these last two games...
P.S. I can't wait for the Johnny Pesky festivities, in about 15 minutes...enjoy!
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