Game time: 7:05 pm

Scheduled starters: Joe Kennedy (3-3, 3.76) v. Tim Wakefield (15-11, 4.16)

The game will be on WSBK


Boston weather: 3 pm observation at BOS: 1,400 feet overcast, visibility 10 miles, temperature 68F, DP 63F, wind out of the east northeast at 13 mph.

Forecast: More of the same. Showers are likely through the evening hours. Most of the time it will not be raining, but there's a chance of rain at any time. The wind will be out of the east at less than 15 mph. That's blowing in.

Anni

Hold the rain. Just win.

I'll be in the bleachers - hell of a game to pick.

Good news is that the 18z NAM seems to have us out of the precip (unlike previous runs) - looks like kind of a dry slot

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod/an...am_slp_012l.gif

Hope it's real.

I've heard that having the wind at the back of a knuckleball pitcher makes it necessary for him to throw the ball harder to get good movement - is this true?

can we call this a must win game?????

I don't think so. Win or lose the Sox will remain in 1st place.

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I've heard that having the wind at the back of a knuckleball pitcher makes it necessary for him to throw the ball harder to get good movement - is this true?
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I seem to recall Belli saying in an interview that a HEAD wind (i.e., blowing out) gives Wake's knuckler more movement b/c it creates dead space (or a draft)behind the ball which makes the air around the ball unstable. Something like that. Anyone else remember that comment? On the other hand, Wake's had good stuff lately regardless, so let's hope wind direction doesn't matter.

[quote=Wade Blogs,Sep 16 2005, 02:58 PM]
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I've heard that having the wind at the back of a knuckleball pitcher makes it necessary for him to throw the ball harder to get good movement - is this true?
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I seem to recall Belli saying in an interview that a HEAD wind (i.e., blowing out) gives Wake's knuckler more movement b/c it creates dead space (or a draft)behind the ball which makes the air around the ball unstable. Something like that. Anyone else remember that comment? On the other hand, Wake's had good stuff lately regardless, so let's hope wind direction doesn't matter.
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I believe that is generally true.

I remember from reading "Ball Four" that someone told Bouton that if you threw a knuckler a bit harder if the wind was at your back, you could keep it out ahead of the wind, and that it would make up for the bad wind direction. I've never read anything else specific about the problem, though.

Here is the Weather.com satelite forcast. I think well get this game in, and I do think its a must win seeing how we have lost 3 games off the MFY in like a week. Btw you guys like my new Signature, I spent about 2 hours making it.

great Sig.

good work

Tonight’s Red Sox starting lineup:

1. Johnny Damon, CF
2. Edgar Renteria, SS
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Kevin Millar, RF
6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
7. Doug Mirabelli, C
8. Bill Mueller, 3B
9. Tony Graffanino, 2B

Anyone hear Foulke on WEEI today? He sounds like he really doesn't like baseball that much. Doesn't like to talk about it away from the park or IN it, for that matter.
Holley tried to drag out of him whatever the personal problem is that Foulke has been dealing with, but naturally, Foulke didn't elaborate.

*Piney again posting on behalf of NU, who is at work tonight*

**MOJO** - Boston Day 1

With the Red Sox back in Fenway for another homestand, it seemed that it was about time the team's host city chipped in with a little mojo. And with this post coming to you from within city limits (for the first time ever), it seemed appropriate.

Welcome to Boston (Mojo)



With the team taking the field, it is only natural to look to Boston's premier green spaces: the Boston Common and it's lesser known neighbor, the Public Gardens.



Few things are more enjoyable than spending time in the common on a sunny afternoon (except maybe relaxing in Fenway on that very same afternoon). The Common's mojo is for a nice relaxing game where the Red Sox victory is never in doubt. Score big and early, so our hearts can take a break for once. Lets have the game be less like boarding one of these:



And more like boarding one of these:



Tonight's game will be about teamwork, especially when at the plate. That means getting on base for those hitting behind you, and more importantly, getting timely hits when there are "ducks on the pond".



With Wakefield on the mound, the knuckler always likes a little extra mojo, and the Common isn't one to let him down. Let's have Wake's pitches today look like it's an afternoon game of pickup among friends. Except he's still Tim Wakefield, and he gets to throw one of these:



I hate to tell you this, Oakland but, psst:



(special thanks to Tony Lonardo for providing me with a couch to sleep on and a PC to post from)
-----------------------

Piney says: Okay my friend is there for her birthday which was last Monday. Win for her, even if she can be a total bitch. Maybe have Johnny Damon hit a few HRs for her or what not. Oh and if it's gonna rain...don't leave us hanging...rainouts not only suck but they're annoying to try to hang on and see what's going on.

Oh since I've been doing it regularly now, I'll install my RANDOM HR PREDICTION TONIGHT

My pick tonight is Johnny Damon

Foulke has always been that way about not really liking baseball. Pretty much does not pick up a baseball during the off season. I seem to remember he likes hockey.

are we eliminated if we lose?

LooiesWindup digs into the musty archives of nearly-forgotten 5th grade field trips for today's supplemental Mojo:

Winding through Boston, Freedom Trail reminds us of our heritage. One of the most famous, and certainly unique landmarks of the Freedom Trail is Fanueil Hall and its grasshopper weather vane.



Faneuil Hall gained prominence as a meeting place for Revolutionary leaders to gather and plot the overthrow of British rule. Just as in Revolutionary times, Faneuil Hall remains a thriving market and gathering place. Looies would like to invoke the spirit of Faneuil Hall to bring us together as RSN Rooters. May the grasshopper turn in the wind, pointing the way to a Sox victory even as Wakes’ flutterballs use the wind to tumble into Belli’s glove.

Jesus, Tito, you will never learn. I would seriously rather have Hyzdu's lack-of-bat than Millar's lack-of-glove in RF.

I heard it, he sounded so defeated that I wonder if it's worth it to have him pitch this year......


and , it's true he doesn't like Baseball..
of course the bid show just killed him, and the whiner line was mostly about his comments(it was funny as hell though), not Foulke's finest moment, wonder if the truck he got was worth it

Refreshed Piney Mojo is strong mojo indeed.

I am behind you all the way Piney. Hmm, refreshing scent.

( Gee, that sounds a little weird. Not intentional. )

I am sitting here with a Yankee fan. Is there anything that you, in Red Sox Nation, would like to say to him?

Fire away.

Not for the Red Sox.

But I think we can safely call it a must-win for Red Sox fans. We are a neurotic, nervous lot.

I, for one, am all out of beer, which is a barely tenable situation even in victory, but will leave me a quivering wreck in defeat.

Millar is in there because hes 7-14 against Kennedy, ill take the bad D for .500.

The start of the game has been delayed. No time given.

There's an area of light to moderate rain moving into Boston from the south right now. It looks like it will be out of the area in under an hour, and we should be able to start after that.

Anni

game delayed till 8:15

Deleted all of them? Aw, it was a decent distraction till the game started up.

I'm getting concerned about the pitching after a delay. It seems like they guys are never as good as they ought to be after they have to sit for a while. It's all anecdotal, though.

I think Wake is usally immuned from that.

Nick Cafardo, Globe - Kapler leaves team for surgery -- but he'll be back


News and notes heading into tonight’s Red Sox-A’s contest at Fenway Park.

Injured outfielder Gabe Kapler said his goodbyes to teammates this afternoon. He is heading to Los Angeles for surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles’ tendon on Tuesday. He met briefly with Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who invited him to be a part of the team when he returns from surgery, just to be around the clubhouse. Kapler, who is very popular among his teammates, agreed to return.

I think that might have been my fault...I think I crossed the line from "tasteless" to "really bad taste." Or the other way around. Whichever is worse.

I'm less concerned about the pitching after a rain delay with Wakefield than with the other starters.

Plus, in theory it hurts the other pitchers, too. And if our offense isn't better than Oakland's, well, then we may want to start panicking after all.

1-0 MFY Giambi HR

1-0 MFY Giambi Double

Allow me to use this delay to explain the scientific theory of the knuckleball. Having studied Fluid Mechanics at the graduate level, I think I have a pretty good understanding of its mysteries (though I still can't throw one).

Fluid flow around a sphere is characterized by the Reynolds Number, which is a dimensionless group equal to density * velocity * diameter / viscosity. To maximize its movement, the ball must be thrown so that the Reynolds number is in the vicinity if (IIRC) 130; this produces the greatest amount of "vortex shedding" from alternate sides of the ball, causing it to fly erratically. At higher values, the flow becomes turbulent all around the ball, resulting in a "flat" kunckler and your Aaron Boone moments. (If it is thrown with too much spin, the "Magnus Effect" overwhelms the vortex forces, also reulting in Aaron Boone moments.)

Since the velocity here is the airspeed past the ball (not the radar-gun speed), the presence of a wind changes the optimum speed at which the ball should be thrown. With a wind blowing out, the pitcher can throw more easily and get the same movement. And since the ball is moving more slowly relative to the ground, it takes longer to reach the plate and thus there is more time for it to break. With the wind at his back, the pitcher has to compensate by throwing harder.

Knuckleball pitchers have trouble in cold, dry air (see: 2004 WS Game 1), presumably because of the change in the density and viscosity of the air. But warm humid conditions seem to be ideal.

VERON WELLS!!!!!!!!! 3 run jack!!! off Big Unit

my bad, I got used to this cheater's HR that I just typed it...

Very interesting post, Clyde.

Of course since it's coming from you, I don't believe a word of it.

damn! MFY just wont give up right after 3 run jack given up, MFY came right back 3-2 by Flaherty Double/RBI

If you are looking to kill time, Portland AA Game 3 of ELCS in progress.
Series is tied 1-1.

web audio link

0-0 in the bottom of the second. Wade Miller pitching.

box link

RJ thown outta the game in the 2nd inning!!!

what happened ?!!?!?! I dont have YES channel here..

why? what happened????

He was barkin at the ump for not callin strikes and the ump just walked toward the mound and immediately threw him out

That's kind of a shame, actually, since:

1. Toronto was hitting him

2. It happened early enough in the game that the Yankees can just shuffle the rotation and throw RJ back out there on Sunday or Monday.

Would have been great if it came in the 5th, with Toronto up by 5 runs. Or 50 runs.

well, I am not sure whats going on, but gamesday says he has pitched 50 , so we may see him again in couple of days since he only did 1.2 IP . dont be surpise,

AND this may be a good thing because they need to start beating up the yankees bullpen!!! COME ON!!! LETS DO IT!!

Also, that's the end of the Johnson vs. Bush matchup.

Let the off-color jokes flow like the rain (and beer) at Fenway...

could the big ugly get a suspention for this?

I just came in late, What happend to RJ?

Jays blow lead, 3 run homer by Cano- 5-3 yanks.

haha obviously the Yankees don't lose what dimension you come from? Everyone is hitting for them. Something the Red Sox need desperately.

HR....JOHN FLERATY! 6-3 yanks.

Even without their Johnson on the mound, the Yankees are hitting Toronto's Bush with ease.

Ask him to take his ugly-ass CFY blinders off and then honestly answer the question: "Do you think Giambi is on something?"