Game time: 7:05 pm EDT

Scheduled starters: Roy Halladay (14-6, 3.87) v. Josh Beckett (16-6, 3.29)

The game will be on NESN.

Boston weather: 1 pm observation at KBOS: Wind out of the northwest at 15 mph, with gusts to 22 mph, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 22,000 feet, temperature 75F, DP 43F

Forecast: We've got some gusty NW winds behind a cold front that is south of Nantucket/Martha's Vineyard. The winds should diminish by the evening, but will remain NW, which is blowing out to right. With high pressure over NE, it will be cool and dry. It could get into the 60s during the game, so Rooters, be warned.

I dont get why Lugo is batting lead off tonight and Ellsbury 9th, why not keep Ellsbury batting first?

Where are you finding the line-up?

edit: Ok, I've found it now.

Ellsbury & Pedroia setting the table for Ortiz & Lowell worked way to well, Tito can't allow that to continue to happen. Besides, how would that make Lugo feel?

Drew 'protecting' Lowell if the 5 hole doesn't make sense either.

Bad lineup Tito!

Has anyone looked at Halladay's numbers? The month of August he has gone past the 7th inning four times. The overall depth of his starts for the entire season is just amazing. Let's be patient, ratchet up his pitch count and force the Jays to a pen that was worked pretty good last night. I'd like to avoid 7-9 innings from Halladay and letting that pen off the hook.



boston.com

Before I look, I'm going to guess that Lugo is something like 4 for 9 against Halladay and Tito believes this to be indicative of something significant, which is the reason for this useless swap. I'll get back to you in a second.

EDIT: Wow, a whole 5-8! Julio's leading us to the promised land tonight, boys!

If I'm not mistaken the Red Sox have played well against Halladay this year.

I met Vernon Wells yesterday, really nice guy.

Lowell is gonna go 0-5 tonight because of that stupid montage

I missed it what happened?

Guess who is hitting .002 better than Drew...

Varitek is really bad, man

You ****ing suck Lugo.Couldnt get the bunt down, now we are gonna waste Jacoby at 2B

It's time to get to Roy Halladay. Right now. Even with Drew leading off.

CANNNNN YOU SMEWLLALLALALA



ELLSBURY!

YES!!!! Jacoby Ellsbury! 3-0 SOX!

Coco who next year?

We absolutely need a healthy Manny for the post season. However, his injury has forced Ellsbury into playing every day and I love the energy he is bringing. This may work out great as they can get his some experience to be put on the post season roster.

Nice to see the kids having a good week.

David Ortiz is clutch.

Guess I was wrong about Ellsbury's power

And Stairs'

F*cking Matt Stairs. They ought to walk him the rest of the series.
Hate that guy.

Whos our closer tonight? Mike friggin Timlin.

Yikes

So what is this Matt Stairs bulls**t, exactly?

154 OPS+ this season (that's before today). If he had enough plate appearances to qualify, that would be tied for 5th in the AL.

I'm totally drafting him for my beer league softball team.

0-3 so far. Me sad

This kid Ellsbury is something else.
Good thing I discovered him in the Cape league 3 years ago.

Ellsbury reminds of Jessica Alba right now.

HOT.

Ellsbury just loves making me look like a jack-ass. Over-rated? No power? HR, 3B.....

Who doesn't?

EDIT: ZING!

Gentlemen (and ladies, if any are present), we need some more runs. It's time for some 7th inning scoring.

It's official, I have a man-crush on Ellsbury

Yah the end of tonights game is already worrying me, we need 4+ more runs

With Oki and Paps gone, this is the right move. He just needs a short leash.

YOOOOOOOUK

oooo snap

I disagree with bringing in Papelbon here. The risks outweigh the rewards. We have a 7 game lead. There is no need to bring him in for the 3rd consecutive game.

I hope Halladay gets Complete Game #7 tonight.

He threw only 7 pitches (IIRC) the first game, and this is the part of the season to put the Yankees away. With a 3 run lead, I wouldn't have brought him in, but a 2 run lead is worth it, IMHO.

2 away!

DIRTY WATER ALERT!

Papelbon eats batters for breakfast, then has sex with their wives for dessert.

17.

Paps was feeling it tonight. Close, but a nice solid win.

Damn, you beat me to it...

Hey, NY, keep scoring against Seattle's pen.

Your magic number is down to 17.

Another big win for the Sox and they take out Halladay. The lead stays at 7. Tomorrow we have Schilling and Shaun Marcum in the series finale. Have a good night everyone!

Hope Coco knows a good moving company...he's outta here this winter. Let the Jacoby Era begin.

Man, I wish I could have been at the park with the Rooters.

I won't get a chance to go to Fenway again until next July. It will seem like an eternity!

Instead of that, How much of Drew's contract do you think we'd have to eat to trade him?

Edit: Yeah I know, probably 100%, but I can dream right?

I heart Jacoby Ellsbury

Keep dreaming when he knocks in 100RBI for Antlanta or some other team

17... it's the magic number.

17....it's the number of blog spams left.