Game time: 7:00 pm

Scheduled starters: Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-0, 5.79) v. Jake Westbrook (0-1, 10.80)


The game will be on FOX, WRKO, and ESPN Radio


Cleveland weather: 11 am observation at KCLE: Wind out of the south at 9 mph, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 8,000 feet, broken clouds at 15,000 feet, temperature 63F, DP 45F

Forecast: There's a ridge of high pressure moving east across Ohio today, and that will dominate the weather. There were some low clouds and light drizzle early this morning along the lakefront, but right now that appears to be clearing except at one reporting location. The day should warm up into the upper 60's to low 70's, and it will be in the 60's at game time with a light wind out of the south to southeast, which is blowing out toward left.

I know its early to start the bandwagon right now but I really hope that we can pull through on tonights game. I also hope that if there is another bug problem, that they will maybe at least delay the game to deal with it. Maybe they could spray the field or something.

Some Troy O'Leary mojo. The picture below is from right after his Grand Slam in game 5 of the 1999 ALDS against the Indians

Take em down in Game 3.

I don't know how long it's been since I posted in a game thread, but I felt the need to do it now. Matsuzaka has been shaky. There is no way around that. I really get the feeling we're going to see what this team paid for tonight. This lineup scares me, no doubt, but this is his defining game of his young major league career. I think he steps up big tonight.

As for Westbrook, and Byrd if they pitch him tomorrow, I think they are both getting rocked.

I think this is the key game in the series. If Matsuzaka gets it done tonight, the Red Sox can pitch Wakefield in Game 4, and get a rested Beckett, rested Schilling, and rested Matsuzaka in games 5-7 to finish things off. If Matsuzaka doesn't do the job tonight, there will be more pressure to pitch Beckett on short rest (always dangerous, and it's not 2003 anymore) in Game 4, which would likely lead towards a less-rested Schilling in Game 5 and a less-rested Matsuzaka in Game 6, thereby possibly making a normally-rested Beckett in game 7 a moot point. Due to the strategic decisions that will likely be made about the pitching staff as a result of this game, I think this is the biggest start of the series for any of our pitchers. If Matsuzaka gets bounced early, we're looking at a worn-out bullpen without a day off before a Wakefield start (scary), or before Beckett on short rest (I find this nearly as scary as Wakefield starting). He absolutely must go deep tonight, and we need this game.

Let's hit early and often. I'm still tired from Game 2. We need Dice-K to show something tonight.

Get 7 strong ones from Dice and bring in Oki and PAP.

GO SOX

I think at this point, Wakefield is a given for game 4 no matter what -- not so much because what short rest does to Beckett, but because of what "regular" rest does to Schilling and, to a lesser extent, Daisuke.

That said, this is absolutely the key game.

Nobody was prepared for how we lost on Saturday, but with Sabathia and Carmona going, we were all prepared for the series to be 1-1 (sure should have been, anyway). Easy to lose sight of that after blowing multiple leads, but this is where we thought we might be.

Westbrook and Byrd are both very winnable games - but if you're Cleveland, you probably think that Matsuzaka and Wakefield are winnable games, too. Another split over the next two days is a strong possibility, and wouldn't be the worst thing in the world -- but Cleveland has to feel like they have the momentum right now. The sooner we win, the sooner we negate that.

Also, I didn't sleep at all last night. Delayed reaction from Saturday. I slept ok Saturday night, because I was sick as hell on Saturday. Now I'm only sick as heck, and losing keeps me up at night. I'M TIRED. I WANT SLEEP. WIN.

JM.....

I agree with what you are saying all the way. I believe as well that this game will be the deciding factor of the series. However, even with Matsuzaka making it big tonight, we still need our bats to come through all the way. I think if we can get on the bored early we have a strong chance.

This is a game where we really need Dice-K to pitch like a player whom the Sox invested a ton of money in. It's far too soon to say that he has or has not pitched up to expectations, but a nice 7 inning, three run outing would be very nice.

With Wake pitching tomorrow (and Cora and Hinske likely getting starts -joke), tonight's game is huge.

Monday night in October in Cleveland - thanks, Slick for posting that picture. We may not have O'Leary or Pedro in there tonight, but at least we don't have to worry about facing Thome and Ramirez.

(do you realize that Pedro threw 6 innings of no-hit ball in a do or die situation against that lineup? Doesn't have anything to do with tonight's game, but when I think back to that, all I can say is -Wow.)

BIG GAME! BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG GAME!

The exterminators are in town, bitches!



Some Aerosmith mojo...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_hP8PPjedA...ated&search=

Sox win 8-3

Matsuzaka goes 6 2/3 of 7 hit, 3 run ball, Delcarmen, Okajima, and Papelbon close the door
JD Drew finishes 2-4 with a pair of doubles and 3 RBI, and Coco Crisp hits a solo homer in the 2nd to set the pace

10/15 18:11:03 ET

I'm arbitrarily predicting a big game from Pedroia.

I'm thinking the bottom of the lineup starts coming up big tonight.

Coco.

Most 'def.

Im am also hoping that the umpires are fair as well tonight.

looking foward to another tight game, hope we take to westbrook early and often, a pivotal game, im sure we all agree

dice k for the win

go sox

I'll settle for consistant

So much wasted time before the game begins... gotta love FOX.

..., David "The Large Father" Ortiz...
WTG, Papelbon.

The saterday game lasted till 8 in the morning here in Amsterdam. I would like a faster game with different result please.

Not the way to start it off DustinI hate FOX too, but it was only a 10 minute pregame.

one out walk, like it

WOW big 1 win in a row Momentum!

**** the shift. **** it up its ass.

wow great play

Nice pick.

You know, I try to be as positive as I can, but when you see stuff like that, you start to wonder if the opponent just has a horseshoe up their a**...

Having played that back in slo-mo on the Tivo, I'm not at all convinced that he kept his foot on the bag.

I'm also not convinced that he didn't.

I really couldn't tell.

Oh well. Next inning, the killing begins.

Well that was uncool. "Red Sox Killer" Trot Nixon????

Juuuuuuuuuuuuulio!

Nice play, Lugo

Although it's was a inning ending double play, let Westbrook serve up some more low and inside cookies to Papi. I beg him to throw that pitch again.

Nice play by Julio Lugo...

Helluva play by both teams! Both of us seem to be ready to play. Hmmmm...did he stay on the bag?? Oh well.

Well positioned defense on that play. Lugo's throw seemed a little weak, but he did get the out, which is good enough.

Ok, having seen a good replay angle from Fox for like the first time ever, I'm 100% convinced that Garko had his foot on the bag.

No.. he was off the bag...

Is the fan mic turned up to 11? when they cheer it sounds too loud and when it's quite you can hear the wind...

I'm surprised they even showed a replay

yeah..wtg dice k

Good inning for Matsuzaka.

Let's bat around.

wow, nice inning by Dice-K. Lets get the man some runs!!

Great 1st inning. Pounding the strike zone instead of nibbling. Keep it up!

Let the killing begin.

Great start by Daisuke...looks to be on. Maybe the 9 days rest gives us June Matsuzaka.

The legend of Pedro was really born in Cleveland. Maybe tonight Daisuke shows us what he is made of. He looks determined.

Runs. Now.

"Hitters umpire", huh? The first pitch to Lowell was not a strike.

P.S. Serves you right. Two on and no out!

love those lead off walks..........would have prefered a HR but ill settle for that

and that from mike

nows the time JD

I may have told you but Westbrook went to school where I now am the JV head coach and assistant varsity baseball coach (Madison County High School, Danielsville, GA)). Our head varsity coach coached him and is our assistant principal. I told him I was going to have to pull against Jake tonight. Our coach did not seem to happy that I was not on the Westbrook bandwagon. Did he really think I could pull against the Sox?? Tell you what, I'll pull for the other Georgia boy, JD Drew!!

You there, rominer?