Tonight’s Game 4 of the ALDS features the same starting pitchers as Game 1: Boston’s Jon Lester battling LA’s John Lackey. The Sox are hoping for an encore performance from Lester who was dominant in his first playoff start of ’08. The Sox are clearly hoping to rebound from last night’s (this morning’s) tough defeat and end this series without having to head back to California. Aside from the pitching, some key questions for tonight’s game: Can Dustin Pedroia finally get a hit? Will Big Papi have a magical moment like so many before? Will Mike Lowell play? And if he is only a fraction of himself (i.e. Game 3) should he play? Bay and Drew have each stepped up big to help the Sox win a game this series, who will do so in Game 4? Can the Sox shutdown the heart of the Angels lineup? Will Figgins stay hot for LA? Will Mike Napoli continue to give Boston (and me) nightmares? What is the availability of each bullpen after last night’s marathon? Can these teams finish a game in under 4 hours? As always, chime in with all of your thoughts before, during and after tonight’s very important Game 4….
Monday, October 6, 2008
Sox Report: ALDS Game 4 vs Angels
Tonight’s Game 4 of the ALDS features the same starting pitchers as Game 1: Boston’s Jon Lester battling LA’s John Lackey. The Sox are hoping for an encore performance from Lester who was dominant in his first playoff start of ’08. The Sox are clearly hoping to rebound from last night’s (this morning’s) tough defeat and end this series without having to head back to California. Aside from the pitching, some key questions for tonight’s game: Can Dustin Pedroia finally get a hit? Will Big Papi have a magical moment like so many before? Will Mike Lowell play? And if he is only a fraction of himself (i.e. Game 3) should he play? Bay and Drew have each stepped up big to help the Sox win a game this series, who will do so in Game 4? Can the Sox shutdown the heart of the Angels lineup? Will Figgins stay hot for LA? Will Mike Napoli continue to give Boston (and me) nightmares? What is the availability of each bullpen after last night’s marathon? Can these teams finish a game in under 4 hours? As always, chime in with all of your thoughts before, during and after tonight’s very important Game 4….
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1 – 200 of 401 Newer› Newest»ANGELS LINEUP
1. Chone Figgins, 3B
2. Garret Anderson, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Vladimir Guerrero, DH
5. Torii Hunter, CF
6. Mike Napoli, C
7. Juan Rivera, RF
8. Howie Kendrick, 2B
9. Erick Aybar, SS
P. John Lackey
RED SOX LINEUP
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Jason Bay, LF
7. Mark Kotsay, 1B
8. Jed Lowrie, SS
9. Jason Varitek, C
P. Jon Lester
As you can see Mike Lowell is out of the lineup and he is actually off the ALDS roster altogether. He was replaced by Gil Velazquez.
Lowell being replaced means he cannot play in the ALCS either. (I'm not sure if he would be eligible for the Series or not, but seems he would likely be unable to go regardless).
Obviously I feel bad for Lowell and it's a bad break for the Sox, but it does put an end to forcing an issue that clearly wasn't working out.
Seems like the Sox should have been able to do better than Gil Velazquez though...
GIL VELAZQUEZ! Who else was an option here? Timlin?
In Lester I trust
This game will definitely end after 1 am EST. A Papi HR in the first would be just perfect.
curve looks good 2nite
could not ask for a better top 1
1-2-3...that's what I'm talking about
Thats the way i like to see a game start.
I want this to be like Game 7 of the ALCS where we just murder them from the start. Put up 5 in the first.
Getting to the Angels bullpen early would be nice.
Not a great start for us either...time for DP to get us going
he just said Aybar has been playing good shortstop this series? huh?
0-14. Yikes.
Aybar has been playing good SS compared to me.
1-2-3 back. Not good.
Let's get Napoli here...
Slightly off topic, but anyone know how this pick the umps? Is it seniority or the best rated?
Wow, didn't see that bat flip on his first homer last night. Dick.
Much like the NFL is based on their overall rating in the regular season.
i hate walks
Napoli always this good? Very annoying player in many ways.
why cant we get that pudging bastard out?
Sox fans are ALWAYS like this when anything doesn't go our way.
I knew the NFL used to do that but for some reason I thought MLB did seniority. Glad that's not the case.
C'mon Jed!
ball took a bad hop
Looked like he moved slow to try and time the dive instead of just going after it. He is not playing well
Buck Martinez is to Aybar what JBS is to Jed Lowrie
Sick pitch, well done Lester!
Good pitch.
excellent.
A few comments:
1)Why not jeff bailey?
2)Is it just me or does Lester have the most effortless pitching motion. Every time I watch him pitch I am shocked when I look at the radar gun.
ha! it took a bad hop, damnit!
i got your back JBS... it did take a bad hop right off the bat passed Lowrie
lets see a good 10-15 pitch at bat here Youk. ended with a hit.
wow. sick pitch by lackey
great hit, JD. He would NEVER do that all last year - go the other way
steady diet of breaking stuff to Jason Cerrano Bay
good hit right there..
Lets go Bay.
no curves from Lackey please.
The thinking is that Valazquez can play any position so he gives them more flexibility with pinch hitting and pinch running. He will likely not get up to bat once, and with that being the case his versatility as a fielder makes him more valuable than Bailey (in theory). Not saying I agree, but I see the logic. Just seems to me that even if they went the utility guy route they could have done better than him.
..and that easy motion of Lester's is the reason he could have an 18 year career.
I cant believe Bay didnt crush that 3-1 pitch
Nice to not go 1-2-3...now let's score first!
Wow, how did they turn two there?
he just walks a guy and we swing at the first pitch? Huh?
Pitching duel. Period.
good take out by Bay
Lowell at least would have hit a nicer looking DP ball
I just saw a commercial on TBS for this: http://www.alpacainfo.com/ - was this played out east?
No
no Alpaca commercial here in TX
So Lowell is allowed to play in the Series (in theory)
so weird
Does Lester have a good pickoff move? I can't think of him getting anyone.
Smart move to get the out.
Big out here..
Scary situation here
I'm actually less scared of Vlad than I am of Teixeira. Not sure I ever realized he was THIS good.
No way, Lester owns him
Vlad Guerrero 0-2 = No chance
curve bouncing off the ground
Guerrero is baatting .188 with .200 OBP for his career with an 0-2 count.
K time
should have taken that ump out
i cant believe Vlad didnt swing at that
Pedroia is awesome
Nice F'n play by DP
Gotta love pedroia!
At least he's still good with his glove. That may get him going for a bit hit.
Once of the few guys that could go 0-14 and people say "gotta love him".
On sports radio today they talked about who to blame for Game 3...Pedroia not mentioned once.
looks like im just in time to see us go ahead
was Bay mentioned?
I think I officially can't stay Lackey.
Take a pitch Tek
or not
i agree. lowries fly ball was on 2-0 too
through 3
Lackey = 36 pitches
Lester = 54 pitches
Not good...1, 2 ,3 here, Lester
Last night longest game in ALDS history, tonight shortest.
trick play by Vikings to score a td...Chester Taylor passes to Shincoe
MNF is a good commercial distraction
sox help him out swinging 0-2 all the time. i know its a hitters count but still
Farrell is the balls
Would have been great if his bat had been corked.
did he just smell his bat?
Sick curve
that broken bat led to a seriously annoying and irrelevant conversation about bat weight
Did he not run on that? Is that Manny Rivera?
guess who is up? DESTROIA
Lets make Lackey throw alot ptches this inning.
Pedroia needs to get a hit!
...and my poor wife had to then listen to my expand on their useless babble.
By the way Dave, sign up for the site in the bottom right corner of the main page. Need more followers! (it's free!!!)
The Destroia might be the nickname
Lets go Dusty big rip here...not right at someone.
It rhymes and has a Boston accent
no dice for dustin
getting frustrating
Yoooooooooooooooouk!!!!!!!!!
Let's go!
Love you, Papi...even if you are turnining into Marty Barret and Wade Boggs
Ump hate Youk right now, he needs to protect
wow a Marty Barett reference. you know this is a fan site.
Weird move by the ump to not call him safe ever.
Papi trying to take him out nowhere near the base and is still safe. gotta love the hustle
he looks confident
if Kendrick just followed this announcer's advice, the ball would have gone into right field and be even worse. These guys are morons
Good eye
Just get ONE RUN here
Agreed, I hate the announcers. Is this Darling's first game of the series? I feel like I didn't notice him until tonight.
Check swing was easily a non-swing
lacky is getting scared.
Darling and Keith Hernandez to Mets games and he is actually great because he only is used to discuss pitching and Hernandez hitting (Keith is a big time drunk)
ok, Bay.....DROP A CURVE INTO RIGHT...go the other way
Let his Gold Glove CF get it? He meant for him to hit it that hard to dead center? Doubt it
up to 54 pitches at least. finlly making him work
GO THE OTHER WAY!!! Stop trying to pull curves
Good work not to chase. He must realize that's how they are going to pitch him now.
Very high...just not very far
damnit damnit damnit damnit
that was a serious hanger...should have taken it out
I believe that's known as Kevin Millar syndrome
at least we made him work.
1, 2, 3 and get back in the dugout
Not to state the obvious, but we are not getting the timely hitting you expect from the Sox when they are playing in Fenway.
pitches
68 lester
58 lackey
much closer
Not getting the type of hitting you'd expect from anyone hitting anywhere
Sager with another great suit tonight.
fuck scioscia
Did Chip Carey just say an Anaheim victory would be great? What a dick. Aren't these guys supposed to be impartial?
sad when you miss joe buck
these guys are impartial like fox news.
hilarious play by Lester!
Hilarious move by Lester. Love it.
i realize I missed the out of this inning - what happened?
I like the idea of throwing at the batter when they call a time out.
I know Buck isn't popular but I really don't mind him. I do wish Sean McDonough did every sporting event though.
Garret Anderson wants to cry
Pedroia dives at everything regarless how far away it is. I think he just likes having a dirty uniform.
solid play. Get Figgins of the bases and out of scoring position
HUGE at bat here
what a pitch. HERE WE GO
sweet pitch. strike him out please
huge curve right here. big swing and miss.
Give him that blue!!
actually thought it was a ball...I am usually a homer with that call
Can't give Tex 5 strikes
yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How did he take that again?
that is what Aces do!
surprised he got the call after starting to walk off the pitch before.
In Teixeira's defense those last two pitches were pretty much identical. Tough to call one a ball and then give him the next pitch.
Not that I'm complaining
now vlad will get up with nobody on for them which is good too
Texeira finally makes a big time blunder.
he had 2 strikes - have to protect.
Lets go Sox go out there and get some runs for the kid.
KOTSAY! That was beautiful
Is that our first leadoff man to get on?
send Kotsay have Lowrie bunt
BUNT
please bunt please
bunt or walk
Time to think about going with Cora
DAMNIT Lowrie. You cannot do that
Should've bunted. lets play some small ball Tito.
anyone confident with Tek with 2 strikes?
Carl Crawford best LF in baseball? Weird.
please do something good tek
Nice work Tek!!
Hell yeah the captain comes thru.
wow i guess i just need to ask politely
awesome, Tek. Means little if we cant knock him in here.
squeeze
JUST DRIVE THE BALL!
yes. drive it
Is Ryan Braun a LF? I'd take him or Manny over Crawford
awesome. Good stuff. AWFUL fielding again.
PEDROIA TIME
Wow...the A's fielding has been terrible this series...
Terrible contact, but we score!!!
With Jake's speed he really just needed to put it in play. Good stuff.
Angels D is terrible
The Destoya...looks ready to kill it still. I still love ya DP!
THERE IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YES!!!!!!!!!! I knew he's come through!!!!!
Bay needs to watch Pedroia vs. curveball highlights
My confidence just went from a 6 to an 8.5
Slump is over!!!
Pedroia the Destroia
nothing like the first time for dp!
2 is still huge in this game
Has Ortiz done anything of value recently.
Lester's pitch count might be about 140 tonight
pitches
84 lester
80 lackey
closed the gap
Will they advertise for Frank TV during Frank TV?
Kotsay! Great work
sweet play
Great F'n play Kotsay!!!
made that play like an outfielder
A little dramatic, but sick play.
They looked defeated in their dugout. Totally the opposite of how they looked in Game 3
One of the most dominant left handers in baseball just sounds good.
oh my god
yoooooooooooooooooooouk!
Are you kidding Youk?
Sox are making a statement about the importance of defense right now
Good call by Buck on Lowell not being able to make that play.
Peter Gammons was saying Youk is deserving of Gold Glove consideration at 1B and 3B this year
Troy Percival now up
The word "dominant" always sounds good
be nice to get napoli to end the inning
Napoli looks like one of those roids guys who try to mask it by eating a ton and getting a little fat. Like Walpole kids.
Speaking of which - where is walpole Joe?
i just spaced and thought jd was trot nixon
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