Game time: 7:15 pm

Scheduled starters: Tim Wakefield (15-11, 4.07) v. Scott Kazmir (9-9, 3.77)


The game will be on NESN.

Tropicana Weather - still indoors!

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Well we probably can't expect another 15 runs tonight against Kazmir.
Kazmir has a career 2.18 ERA in 6 starts vs Boston with a .195 BAA!

But the goods news is that there isn't a ballpark in the league that Wakefield does better in than Tropicana field. Not sure if this has anything to do with his knuckleball indoors or the fact that the D-Rays stink, but he has a career 1.79 ERA in 70+ innings there.

Daddadum, Da daddadum, daddadum da daddadum

"Oh let the bats swing down upon his face, hits to fill my dream
They are road travelers still in first place, to be where Yankees once have been
They sit calmly in the dugout of a pennant race, a type the world has seldom seen
They talk of the days for which we sit and wait, the playoffs will be revealed...

Sure as the ball that floats out high and true, when belted off Kazmir."



Wakefield has been on a roll lately, but the knuckle in a dome gives me pause for concern, as well as the prospect of Millar in right field.

I'm not a mod, nor do I play one on TV, but maybe you should pick one good poster rather than having them emulate someone as inane and obtuse as say.....that idiot Manny'sps2. That would be bad.

Sox will win tonight, Kazmir will be mortal, Ortizzle will not be mortal.

Tonight the Sox finally solve the rubik's cube that is Scott Kazmir.

Will they score 15 runs? Nah but they will slap that little southpaw around for once and give him a taste of mortality.

Which I believe comes in soothing Cherry and robust Grape flavor.

Kazmir's last outing against the Sox:

Kazmir, Scott 5 2-3 6 4 4 3 3 0 89-52 4.20

The puzzle has been solved. We just have to remember the solution and not revert to our bad old Kazmirish opponent.

With Wakes pitching Tek will get a much needed rest tonight (making it two daqys off with a travel day tomorrow). I'd love to see us get the offense rolling early again. That would allow Tito to rest some more regulars and to get Hansen, and possibly Foulke, another inning of work.

If there's any justice--and tbere often isn't--the Unitoid will get a big fat "L" to hang around his scrawny neck as payback for his crybaby act last week.

Let's wrap up the last road trip of the season in style and head back to Fenway on a winning note.

you're not confusing mortality with metamucil, are you?......

When Kevin Millar is 5-for-10 against you, you MIGHT be a Devil Ray!

Just leaving the office, where I have received repeated taunts from MFY fans. All Hail Lopez who is pitching against the Big Useless tonight. The bats have awoken. Opinions on Trot in the lineup tonight? I say no, Millar and Olerud in.

Actually, the Sox got to Kazmir some last time they faced him:

IP H R ER HR BB SO
5.2 6 4 4 0 3 3

However, he returned to form in his next 3 outings. Probably a pitchers' duel tonight. If ever a baseball player had a choirboy look, it's Kazmir. Need to treat him like the gunslinger that he is and fire some shots off him early and often.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=7292

Edit: BobHeise already pointed that we got to Kazmir last time. I was redundant.

Erudition and prolixity are highly esteemed. Some particularly trenchant posters are able to accumulate high post counts with little to no sacrifice in quality. Listen and learn, young Rooter recruits.

That said...

deivl rayz sux go weakfild!!!111!

Sorry.

A knuckleball should work ideally in a situation with room-temperature air and no wind at all. The problem is cold gusty conditions (like 2004 WS Game 1).

Our lineup is punishment for shop lifting in some countries. I am not to comfortable with it but why not, maybe they will have a good night. Win! Yanks Lose!

Maybe Renteria will get hot and carry this team to victory today?

Well he does have one of the better batting averages on the team against Kazmir, 4 for 13 = .308 .
Unfortunately, the MLB.TV feed is carrying the Devil Rays announcers tonight and the pre game show I am watching right now is about boating. They are talking about how to clean your bilges.

I love the fact we won't see Lopez this weekend.

**MOJO** - Sitcom Cliches Day 2

In tonight's episode of "The Red Sox": the gang try and cheer up teammate Edgar Renteria with a blind date... with hilarious results.

(scene: the Red Sox clubhouse in Tampa Bay)

[The team exchanges high fives after a big win over the Devil Rays.]

Manny: Hey, David, your two Home Runs were awesome.
David: No, YOUR two home runs were awesome.
Trot: Yeah, well my 4 hits almost made it for a cycle. Lets see you guys hit a triple!
David: Hey, I've hit... (counts on fingers) nine! (canned laughter)
Varitek: Hey, are you guys talking about getting four hits! Do you have any idea how many phone numbers this gotten me? I got 50 today, and those are just the ones addressed to my ass. (canned laughter)
Trot: I got enough to use as a towel to clean off my hat... not that I would.
Manny: I asked to see David's pile once. It was like the ending to Miracle on 34th street. Bags and bags of phone numbers, all addressed to Big Papi. (canned laughter)

(All resume high fiving and man-hugging each other. Meanwhile, Edgar Renteria forlornly enters the locker room and mopes his way to his locker.)

Damon: Awww guys, take it easy. Edgar's upset because he didn't get a hit tonight and no one is passing him any numbers.
Renteria: Sometimes I feel like I'll never get a hit and I'll be the biggest loser on Earth!
Shoppach: Hey! (canned laughter)
Wakefield: Hey guys come here (they huddle away from Renteria) we should set Edgar up on a date tonight, you know, to boost his confidence.
Mirabelli: That's a great idea. There's a nice place to eat up the road from here. Serves great fried chicken. Some Hall of Famer used to go there all the time.
Wakefield: Does anyone know where we can get him a date.
Millar: Don't worry. I know me a guy.
Mueller: But how will we know if it goes well.

[circle wipe - scene: The lobby of a nice restaurant. The Red Sox are walking to the maitre d' dressed in suits, hats, trench coats and sunglasses.]

Varitek: Table for 39, please. (canned laughter)

(The meal is going nicely, and Edgar's 6' 3" date is laughing heartily at his jokes. So loudly you can see the laugh shake her Adam's Apple. In the background we see the members of the Red Sox all piled onto one side of the table peering over their menus, as they have been for the entire evening.)

Edgar: Will you excuse me for a moment. I have to use the little shortstop's room.
Date: (Husky voice) No problem, cutie. (Edgar walks over to the Red Sox table.)
Edgar: Hey guys, you can stop spying on me now. (The team acts in disbelief.)
Timlin: Wow, what a coincidence that we'd be eating at the same restaurant!
Edgar: Nice try, but I spotted you guys as soon as you came in.
Mueller: But how did you know it was us?
Edgar: Well, next time, maybe you, Trot, Graffy, and Tek shouldn't wear your suit pants tucked into pulled up red socks. It is kind of easy to spot. And who's idea was it to set me up with a guy? (Every one stares at Millar.)
Millar: Hey, I said "I knew me a guy!"
All: Millar! (Millar puts a lamp shade on his head and pulls out a bottle of Jack Daniels)
Millar: Well, let's party! (Freeze frame on everyone laughing as "Louie, Louie" begins to play.)

And as we come to the conclusion of another thrilling episode of "The Red Sox", the team learns a valuable lesson: all slumps come to an end, sometimes in ways you might not expect. Lets have everyone contribute today as they did working as a team to cheer up Renteria today to help Wakefield get the win, and let's especially see Renteria return the favor by having a big night tonight.

Does anyone have the lineups yet? Please post if you do.

With Damon 1 for 12 against Kazmir, not really surprizing for Tito to give him a rest to begin with.

I think that Damon can use the two days off in a row. In the last few games he's had difficulty throwing from center, and he's even had some problems making catches over his head. He's really hurting, and two days off may help him right now.

Lets hope you are right Anni, as it was embarassing to see Crawford take two bases on him last night on a sacrifice fly. Let's hope that he can take the whole night off and we don't need him in a PH role.

Today's sitcom that has featured the Blind Date is an old favorite of mine from my younger years when I watched Nick at Nite. That show is Taxi. There was an episode in which the entire cast was set up with blind dates, most notably Reverand Jim w/ Marcia Wallace. Taxi has been known for its fantastic ensemble cast with different types of crazy cabbies. The Red Sox are just like that, except ballplayers instead of cabbies. I call upon them to use their teamwork to pull together another win, and possibly get this lead a little more comfortable, but that's all up to Baltimore.

In Damon's case, it is more than just getting a rest, since it was reported on the pre-game show that he received another cortisone injection in his shoulder.

It was also mentioned that Wells received an injection in his knee.

Is that Damon's second injection and how many of those will they allow you to have?

Some Yankee players might be getting some injections too...

it is, and you can't take too much of those , because eventually cortisone injections will weaken the joints and the ligaments , and makes them more suscibtable to tares

No longer is it the time for meek men to take the lead of this noble brigade...

ONWARD TIMOTHY! ONWARD TO VICTORY!

OK, yeah, it's lame, but the setiment's the same as usual...

LET'S DO IT!

mmmm...what miracle said...

It is at least his second recently, although I don't recall any others being mentioned. I don't know if there is a tolerance limitation on how many injections can be administered in a short period of time, but the report on the pre-game was that they were not planning on any others.

Nick at Nite? Nick at Nite? Nick at freaking Nite???
Piney ye whippersnapper, Looies remembers watching Taxi when it came out on a 13 channel black and white TV

Thanks bunches for making Looies feel old

Nice way to start.

Rent singles to start the breakout from the slump.

Book it.

Pro walks...C'mon Rent.......

And we're underway with a Mueller walk. Come on, Eg-dah make it happen tonite.

the key to Kazmir is get his pitch count up. so I want to see patiant hitters tonight!

I am starting to feel bad for Edgah. He has hit the ball hard almost every AB this series with nothing to show for it.

Damnit, he can't BUY a hit.

Come on Ortizzle, hit a mizzle out of the hizzle.

Papi wants to get some rest, so he'll break it open early.

Ortiz Vrs Kazmir 3-14

I seem to remember hearing once that they don't give more than two in a season, and some sources give similar limits (here, they list once in a month and four in one year as the max).

However, this link says this:

I dont think Ortiz is going 4-5 tonight lol, we need sombody to step up for a change.

Nice speed Manny.

Ugh. If we swing at the first pitch, he's going to give us crap all the time.

Loved the hustle there by Manny

Manny - my grandmother could have got to first base with the high throw there!!

Unreal - Manny dogs it again. Kazmir bobbles the ball at this feet then throws high to the bag.

17 pitches for Kazmir. O.K., but we can work the count better than that.
and heeeeeeere's Waaaaaaaakes

Ortiz among other on the team have had a hard time against Kazmir. Millar and Renteria have hit him pretty good and Cora is 2 for 3.
It is a positive sign that Renteria is hitting some line drives the last two night. They will start to fall in, hopefully sooner rather than later. Thanks everyone for the answer re: cortizone shots

Actually seems like it's been a MONTH of that, starting with that blasted grounder up the middle to Rivera that probably would have tied that 1-0 game.

I really think we're seeing a smaller version of A-Rod syndrome, harkening back to A-Rod's first year in New York, which was also sub-par.

2006.

In the meantime he'll probably have a great post-season, (assuming.)

Lugo fans the breeze. 1 down

Haha! Take that Crawford!