Game time: 8:00 pm EDT
Scheduled starters: Tim Wakefield (NR) v. Paul Byrd (1-0, 3.60)
The game will be on FOX, WRKO, and ESPN Radio
Cleveland weather: 2 pm observation at KCLE: Wind out of the south at 10 mph, visibility 10 miles in light rain, few clouds at 4,600 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, 11,000 feet overcast, temperature 67F, DP 54F
Forecast: A weak cold front is moving from west to east across the area. The leading edge of a band of showers ahead of the front is just entering the Cleveland area, and the stations west of Cleveland are reporting light rain at 2 pm. It looks like most of the instability is staying to the south, but there is a chance of thunder along with light rain showers through the evening. This may not be enough to postpone the game, but it's likely to be wet. Or at least damp.
The wind is out of the south now, which is blowing out. It looks like we can expect a south to east wind tonight.
Full Version: GAME 4: BOSTON at Cleveland, Tuesday, October 16, 2007
In Wake I trust.
LET'S GO!!!!!!!!
LET'S GO!!!!!!!!
How does rain/damp weather affect Wake's knuckler?
Lineups per 'EEI:
Pedroia
Youks
Ortiz
Manny
Lowell
Drew
Crisp
Belli
Lugo
Guttierez in Right, and Shoppach behind the dish for Cleveland, hitting 8th and 9th.
Pedroia
Youks
Ortiz
Manny
Lowell
Drew
Crisp
Belli
Lugo
Guttierez in Right, and Shoppach behind the dish for Cleveland, hitting 8th and 9th.
They are still reporting light rain at Cleveland, with the wind southeast, blowing out toward left, at less than 10 mph.
The band of rain looks like it isn't going to hold together, and most of the rain could be over by game time.
As far as the effect on the knuckleball, humid air is denser than dry air, so it should theorectically allow more movement, but I don't think the effect is all that noticeable over a short distance.
The band of rain looks like it isn't going to hold together, and most of the rain could be over by game time.
As far as the effect on the knuckleball, humid air is denser than dry air, so it should theorectically allow more movement, but I don't think the effect is all that noticeable over a short distance.
The BIG question:
Which member of the Barstaff drew the short straw and gets to monitor the Game Thread tonight?
IIRC, Mascho got the honors during Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS. Tonight could rival that night in terms of anger and frustration if Wake doesn't get off to a hot start.
Which member of the Barstaff drew the short straw and gets to monitor the Game Thread tonight?
IIRC, Mascho got the honors during Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS. Tonight could rival that night in terms of anger and frustration if Wake doesn't get off to a hot start.
QUOTE(BillyJo @ Oct 16 2007, 05:10 PM) 
The BIG question:
Which member of the Barstaff drew the short straw and gets to monitor the Game Thread tonight?
IIRC, Mascho got the honors during Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS. Tonight could rival that night in terms of anger and frustration if Wake doesn't get off to a hot start.
Which member of the Barstaff drew the short straw and gets to monitor the Game Thread tonight?
IIRC, Mascho got the honors during Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS. Tonight could rival that night in terms of anger and frustration if Wake doesn't get off to a hot start.
Even better, that was my first night as a bartender here. Talk about baptism under fire!
QUOTE(mascho @ Oct 16 2007, 05:13 PM)
Even better, that was my first night as a bartender here. Talk about baptism under fire!
It was that very night when many of us discovered for the first time, the quiet strength and simmering sexuality that you bring. I won't speak for everyone but I, for one, was changed that evening.
I cannot get shitfaced tonight..... I CAN'T!
QUOTE(The Ghost of Ned Martin @ Oct 16 2007, 02:18 PM)
I won't speak for everyone but I, for one, had to change my underwear three times that evening.
Can't handle the excitement?
I'm still praying for rain so we get Beck and Tek, rather than Wake and Belli. Either way, I'll keep the faith though.
QUOTE(ability @ Oct 16 2007, 02:25 PM)
I cannot get shitfaced tonight..... I CAN'T!
That's loser-speak. We will have none of that around here.
Come on, man. Get your head in the game.
I'm going to limit my self to one giant gulp of vodka per inning with water and cranberry juice in between. That should allow me to remain calm and not be as hung over as I was today.
QUOTE(rominer @ Oct 16 2007, 05:30 PM)
That's loser-speak. We will have none of that around here.
Come on, man. Get your head in the game.
Come on, man. Get your head in the game.
Can't get shit-faced? I've got a very important meeting tomorrow morning and I am STILL going out with a friend to watch the game at a local watering hole. Then again, I'm a veteran of drinking big games. I know how to drink a big game.
QUOTE(Tony Soporno @ Oct 16 2007, 05:30 PM)
I'm still praying for rain so we get Beck and Tek, rather than Wake and Belli. Either way, I'll keep the faith though.
The rain is moving out of the area. I don't think it's going to be a factor tonight unless something develops upstream, but it does not look like that's going to happen. The line of showers is falling apart, and there's dry air behind it.
Some times having a person that knows so much about weather is a good thing. Some times it isn't. We all still love you though Anni.
QUOTE(The Ghost of Ned Martin @ Oct 16 2007, 05:40 PM)
Can't get shit-faced? I've got a very important meeting tomorrow morning and I am STILL going out with a friend to watch the game at a local watering hole. Then again, I'm a veteran of drinking big games. I know how to drink a big game.
David Wells? Is that you?
QUOTE(czar @ Oct 16 2007, 03:13 PM)
David Wells? Is that you?
You're kidding, right? Boomer is old, but he's not that old.
The old man gets it done tonight.
QUOTE(Locklandworth @ Oct 17 2007, 07:50 AM)
Some times having a person that knows so much about weather is a good thing. Some times it isn't. We all still love you though Anni.
for me she's irreplacible, dont really even know where clevland is, thanks for the updates annie.
game on, wake gets it done with strong offense to back him up
go sox
WIN.
I am feeling confident in the knuckler tonight, though I don't know if I should.
I am feeling confident in the knuckler tonight, though I don't know if I should.
Uh, go Timmy. Woohoo!
Dance, knuckleball, dance.
I know I'm not a familiar face, but what are the keys to taking tonight's game. If we win, we have a GREAT shot IMO w/ Beck to take it back to Boston 3-2
QUOTE(NorfolkTide @ Oct 16 2007, 04:49 PM)
I know I'm not a familiar face, but what are the keys to taking tonight's game. If we win, we have a GREAT shot IMO w/ Beck to take it back to Boston 3-2
SI.com (take it for what its worth) says:
QUOTE(SI.com)
1) The little guys have to come through.
It can't just be the Manny and Papi Show, or even the Manny, Papi and Mike Lowell Show. Those three have combined to go 12 for 30 (.400) with two homers, 12 RBIs, eight runs scored and 10 walks.
The rest of the lineup: 17 for 73 (.233), one HR, six RBIs, 10 runs, six walks.
As much as the Red Sox can mash at home, they aren't nearly as lethal on the road: During the regular season they tied for sixth in the AL in runs per game on the road with 4.88; at home they were second with 5.83.
What they could really use is a spark from the speed at the bottom of the order in the form of Julio Lugo and Coco Crisp. Between them they were 61 for 73 on stolen-base attempts this season but have only attempted one steal this ALCS.
2) A quick hook for Tim Wakefield.
Knuckleballers are fickle as it is, but Wakefield is even more of a mystery tonight because he hasn't pitched since Sept. 29 due to wear and tear on his shoulder. Manager Terry Francona can't wait around too long for Wakefield to find his knuckler. The Red Sox have already seen what the Indians bullpen can do when handed a lead, and they know it's no fun. Francona needs to have Jon Lester ready for long relief and not hesitate to use him.
Here's what the list of available relievers and how long they can go looks like for Boston once you eliminate the starters (Beckett, Schilling, Matsuzaka) and Eric Gagne:
Lester (3+ innings)
Javier Lopez (1 inning)
Mike Timlin (1 inning)
Manny Delcarmen (1+ innings)
Hideki Okajima (1+ innings)
Jonathan Papelbon (1+ innings)
There's plenty of arms there to get Boston through the game if Wakefield can't go more than a couple of innings. The key is to know when to bail on the knuckleballer.
3) Swing early in the count against Paul Byrd.
Byrd had 835 plate appearances against him this season. In 123 of those the first pitch was put into play, for a .297 batting average. (That sounds high but it's not out of the ordinary for any pitcher.) In 253 PAs, Byrd threw a ball on the first pitch. In the remaining 459 PAs, he threw strike one.
In other words, Byrd fell behind 1-0 in the count only 30 percent of the time. The other 70 percent of his pitches resulted either in strike one or a ball in play (which you can chalk up as a strike most of the time.) So Byrd will be around the plate all night, for better or worse. Waiting for a walk -- he gave out 25 unintentional free passes all year -- isn't as effective a strategy against Byrd as it would be against Fausto Carmona or even Sabathia, who has been wild in two playoff starts. Taking strike one certainly didn't help the Red Sox much against Jake Westbrook in Game 3.
It can't just be the Manny and Papi Show, or even the Manny, Papi and Mike Lowell Show. Those three have combined to go 12 for 30 (.400) with two homers, 12 RBIs, eight runs scored and 10 walks.
The rest of the lineup: 17 for 73 (.233), one HR, six RBIs, 10 runs, six walks.
As much as the Red Sox can mash at home, they aren't nearly as lethal on the road: During the regular season they tied for sixth in the AL in runs per game on the road with 4.88; at home they were second with 5.83.
What they could really use is a spark from the speed at the bottom of the order in the form of Julio Lugo and Coco Crisp. Between them they were 61 for 73 on stolen-base attempts this season but have only attempted one steal this ALCS.
2) A quick hook for Tim Wakefield.
Knuckleballers are fickle as it is, but Wakefield is even more of a mystery tonight because he hasn't pitched since Sept. 29 due to wear and tear on his shoulder. Manager Terry Francona can't wait around too long for Wakefield to find his knuckler. The Red Sox have already seen what the Indians bullpen can do when handed a lead, and they know it's no fun. Francona needs to have Jon Lester ready for long relief and not hesitate to use him.
Here's what the list of available relievers and how long they can go looks like for Boston once you eliminate the starters (Beckett, Schilling, Matsuzaka) and Eric Gagne:
Lester (3+ innings)
Javier Lopez (1 inning)
Mike Timlin (1 inning)
Manny Delcarmen (1+ innings)
Hideki Okajima (1+ innings)
Jonathan Papelbon (1+ innings)
There's plenty of arms there to get Boston through the game if Wakefield can't go more than a couple of innings. The key is to know when to bail on the knuckleballer.
3) Swing early in the count against Paul Byrd.
Byrd had 835 plate appearances against him this season. In 123 of those the first pitch was put into play, for a .297 batting average. (That sounds high but it's not out of the ordinary for any pitcher.) In 253 PAs, Byrd threw a ball on the first pitch. In the remaining 459 PAs, he threw strike one.
In other words, Byrd fell behind 1-0 in the count only 30 percent of the time. The other 70 percent of his pitches resulted either in strike one or a ball in play (which you can chalk up as a strike most of the time.) So Byrd will be around the plate all night, for better or worse. Waiting for a walk -- he gave out 25 unintentional free passes all year -- isn't as effective a strategy against Byrd as it would be against Fausto Carmona or even Sabathia, who has been wild in two playoff starts. Taking strike one certainly didn't help the Red Sox much against Jake Westbrook in Game 3.
QUOTE(Yaz1967 @ Oct 16 2007, 06:55 PM)
SI.com (take it for what its worth) says:
thanks man!!!
QUOTE(Yaz1967 @ Oct 16 2007, 03:55 PM)
SI.com (take it for what its worth) says:
2) A quick hook for Tim Wakefield.
2) A quick hook for Tim Wakefield.
This is the tough one.
The real key in this regard is to score early against Byrd. With a lead, sure, you have a quick hook.
If our offense is dead, and meanwhile the Indians chip away for a couple of runs early, and then jump all over Wake in the 5th inning -- do you spend the pen and try to come back from a 5-0 deficit? Or do you concede this one and have Wake take one for the team, like he did in relief in '04, so you can go all out the rest of the way? Not an easy decision.
And, fortunately, irrelevant. Wakefield will be the stopper. I know it, you know it, everyone knows it. Even JVBF knows it. He just enjoys healthy debate.
QUOTE(rominer @ Oct 16 2007, 07:06 PM)
This is the tough one.
The real key in this regard is to score early against Byrd. With a lead, sure, you have a quick hook.
If our offense is dead, and meanwhile the Indians chip away for a couple of runs early, and then jump all over Wake in the 5th inning -- do you spend the pen and try to come back from a 5-0 deficit? Or do you concede this one and have Wake take one for the team, like he did in relief in '04, so you can go all out the rest of the way? Not an easy decision.
And, fortunately, irrelevant. Wakefield will be the stopper. I know it, you know it, everyone knows it. Even JVBF knows it. He just enjoys healthy debate.
The real key in this regard is to score early against Byrd. With a lead, sure, you have a quick hook.
If our offense is dead, and meanwhile the Indians chip away for a couple of runs early, and then jump all over Wake in the 5th inning -- do you spend the pen and try to come back from a 5-0 deficit? Or do you concede this one and have Wake take one for the team, like he did in relief in '04, so you can go all out the rest of the way? Not an easy decision.
And, fortunately, irrelevant. Wakefield will be the stopper. I know it, you know it, everyone knows it. Even JVBF knows it. He just enjoys healthy debate.
Likelihood of Schilling or Beckett relieving him early if he messes up early on?
QUOTE(rominer @ Oct 16 2007, 07:06 PM)
This is the tough one.
The real key in this regard is to score early against Byrd. With a lead, sure, you have a quick hook.
If our offense is dead, and meanwhile the Indians chip away for a couple of runs early, and then jump all over Wake in the 5th inning -- do you spend the pen and try to come back from a 5-0 deficit? Or do you concede this one and have Wake take one for the team, like he did in relief in '04, so you can go all out the rest of the way? Not an easy decision.
And, fortunately, irrelevant. Wakefield will be the stopper. I know it, you know it, everyone knows it. Even JVBF knows it. He just enjoys healthy debate.
The real key in this regard is to score early against Byrd. With a lead, sure, you have a quick hook.
If our offense is dead, and meanwhile the Indians chip away for a couple of runs early, and then jump all over Wake in the 5th inning -- do you spend the pen and try to come back from a 5-0 deficit? Or do you concede this one and have Wake take one for the team, like he did in relief in '04, so you can go all out the rest of the way? Not an easy decision.
And, fortunately, irrelevant. Wakefield will be the stopper. I know it, you know it, everyone knows it. Even JVBF knows it. He just enjoys healthy debate.
I have trepidations, expressed elsewhere.
But this is the Game Thread.
I therefore put all my weight in mojo behind Agent Wakefield, and hope the old dude can pull one more out of his post-season ass.
QUOTE(NorfolkTide @ Oct 16 2007, 07:09 PM)
Likelihood of Schilling or Beckett relieving him early if he messes up early on?
Zero.
QUOTE(jbelushi @ Oct 16 2007, 06:23 PM)
dont really even know where clevland is,
Cleveland - the Mistake on the Lake!
QUOTE(NorfolkTide @ Oct 16 2007, 04:09 PM)
Likelihood of Schilling or Beckett relieving him early if he messes up early on?
Yeah, zero. That's just digging yourself an even bigger hole in the big picture. It's about getting 3 wins, not one. Depending on the inning/score, it's either Lester in a "stop the bleeding...but if you can't do that, get ready to grin and bear it" role, or an all-out deployment of the rest of the pen. I can't see either of the top 2 starters going to the pen in anything short of an elimination game.
QUOTE(Sox Sweep Again @ Oct 16 2007, 04:13 PM)
I have trepidations, expressed elsewhere.
But this is the Game Thread.
I therefore put all my weight in mojo behind Agent Wakefield, and hope the old dude can pull one more out of his post-season ass.
But this is the Game Thread.
I therefore put all my weight in mojo behind Agent Wakefield, and hope the old dude can pull one more out of his post-season ass.
That's right.
It's all about the postseason ass.
Let's all get ourselves some of that this fine October evening.
Most memorable Wakefield Postseason performance?
CODE
Boston Cleveland
------ ---------
Pos Player HR RBI AVG. Pos Player HR RBI AVG.
--- ------ -- --- ---- --- ------ -- --- ----
2B Pedroia, Dustin 0 1 .160 CF Sizemore, Grady 2 2 .310
1B Youkilis, Kevin 1 2 .304 2B Cabrera, Asdrubal 1 5 .241
DH Ortiz, David 2 3 .563 DH Hafner, Travis 2 4 .259
LF Ramirez, Manny 3 10 .412 1B Martinez, Victor 1 5 .357
3B Lowell, Mike 1 9 .333 SS Peralta, Jhonny 1 6 .393
RF Drew, JD 0 3 .227 LF Lofton, Kenny 1 6 .345
CF Crisp, Coco 0 2 .227 3B Blake, Casey 0 2 .172
C Mirabelli, Doug 0 0 .000 RF Gutierrez, Franklin 1 4 .150
SS Lugo, Julio 0 0 .238 C Shoppach, Kelly 0 0 .667
P Wakefield, Tim (0-0, 0.00) P Byrd, Paul (1-0, 3.60)
------ ---------
Pos Player HR RBI AVG. Pos Player HR RBI AVG.
--- ------ -- --- ---- --- ------ -- --- ----
2B Pedroia, Dustin 0 1 .160 CF Sizemore, Grady 2 2 .310
1B Youkilis, Kevin 1 2 .304 2B Cabrera, Asdrubal 1 5 .241
DH Ortiz, David 2 3 .563 DH Hafner, Travis 2 4 .259
LF Ramirez, Manny 3 10 .412 1B Martinez, Victor 1 5 .357
3B Lowell, Mike 1 9 .333 SS Peralta, Jhonny 1 6 .393
RF Drew, JD 0 3 .227 LF Lofton, Kenny 1 6 .345
CF Crisp, Coco 0 2 .227 3B Blake, Casey 0 2 .172
C Mirabelli, Doug 0 0 .000 RF Gutierrez, Franklin 1 4 .150
SS Lugo, Julio 0 0 .238 C Shoppach, Kelly 0 0 .667
P Wakefield, Tim (0-0, 0.00) P Byrd, Paul (1-0, 3.60)
Goin' huntin' for ALCS glory...
Uhh, I hope not...we've already had the MOST memorable Wakefield postseason performance, and nothing, better or worse, is going to top it.
Just wanted everybody to know that I'm home from Cleveland, and ready for tonight's game thread. I know everybody is relieved and happy inside now.
Just wanted everybody to know that I'm home from Cleveland, and ready for tonight's game thread. I know everybody is relieved and happy inside now.
QUOTE(MFLetou @ Oct 16 2007, 07:31 PM)
Just wanted everybody to know that I'm home from Cleveland, and ready for tonight's game thread. I know everybody is relieved and happy inside now.
Thank God.
We're fine now.
t minus 14 minutes
QUOTE(NorfolkTide @ Oct 16 2007, 07:48 PM)
t minus 14 minutes
44 if you factor in the FOX pregame show of Kevin Kennedy talking about nothing and closeups of some horse named Jeannie.
QUOTE(NorfolkTide @ Oct 16 2007, 07:48 PM)
t minus 14 minutes
First pitch is at 8:21. Another late night coming up...
QUOTE(RedSoxAnni @ Oct 16 2007, 07:57 PM)
First pitch is at 8:21. Another late night coming up...
freaken dangit.. i have class tomorrow
For the first time all ALCS I am not working tonight, home - we're winning this game - take them down boys!
QUOTE(NorfolkTide @ Oct 16 2007, 07:59 PM)
freaken dangit.. i have class tomorrow
From your username, I'm guessing you go to either ODU or Christopher Newport. Neither of these institutions merit attendance over a Red Sox game.
QUOTE(RSN Diaspora @ Oct 16 2007, 08:01 PM)
From your username, I'm guessing you go to either ODU or Christopher Newport. Neither of these institutions merit attendance over a Red Sox game.
Nah, I'm a Senior in High School. I am headed to the University of Alabama next year to study Broadcast Journalism ... I never even CONSIDERED ODU... bleghhhh
QUOTE(RedSoxAnni @ Oct 17 2007, 09:19 AM)
Cleveland - the Mistake on the Lake!
jeez annie, thanks
Alright, let's roll. Time for Pedroia to start doing something at the top of the lineup.
QUOTE(acr @ Oct 16 2007, 04:56 PM)
and closeups of some horse named Jeannie.
Dude, that's just mean.
To horses.
Is this the Cleveland FOX feed? They are up 2-1, you'd think they were talking about the WS Champs!
QUOTE(NorfolkTide @ Oct 16 2007, 04:59 PM)
freaken dangit.. i have class tomorrow
Freaken dangit?
You have no class, period, using language like that. I think you just offended half the board.
EDIT: Good Lord am I wired today. I've even been smiling. Smiling! That seriously never happens. My apologies to everyone.
QUOTE(rominer @ Oct 16 2007, 08:06 PM)
Freaken dangit?
You have no class, period, using language like that. I think you just offended half the board.
You have no class, period, using language like that. I think you just offended half the board.
...... I sincerely apologize to you, the Academy, and the people of this great nation.
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