Game time: 8:21 pm EDT

Scheduled starters: Josh Beckett (2-0, 1.20) v. C.C. Sabathia (1-1, 10.61)

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


Cleveland weather: Noon observation at KCLE: Wind out of the south at 21 mph, with gusts to 28 mph; visibility 5 miles in light rain; broken clouds at 2,500 feet, overcast layer at 4,600 feet; temperature 66F, DP 59F

Forecast: Complex... There's a warm front north of the area, over Lake Erie. That is responsible for the showers the area is seeing right now. The more significant factor is a cold front that's in the vicinity of the Mississippi River, moving east. Accompanying the front is an upper level jet that's been measured with windspeeds over 120 mph (which will add a good hour to those flights to the left coast). The jet is providing the energy for lifting of the air mass, and that instability is setting the stage for some severe weather. A lot of the midwest, west of the Mississippi, has been under tornado warnings since last night. All of that moves east, toward Cleveland. And it'll catch up with the East Coast late Friday, although it will lose a lot of its energy by then.

So it looks like showers and a chance of thundershowers this afternoon, associated with the warm front. Then, there's a chance of severe weather ahead of teh cold front. Depending on movement, the worst of it might not get to Cleveland until later in the evening, but with the game starting at 8:21 pm, later in the evening is probably the seventh inning.

Right now, the local stations are reporting gusty winds out of the south. At KCLE, gusts are to 28 mph. A south wind blows OUT. The winds might diminish a bit this evening, but we should expect a stiff wind blowing out.

Updates to follow.

Anni

I have this feeling that our run ends tonight in Cleveland.

I hope you are wrong!

I see a Game 6 coming up..............

As everyone may know, I am the biggest defeatist there is on these game boards, however, I'm saying with full confidence the Sox win. I think Beckett will look human and give up 3-4 runs and Papi or Manny will put the Sox back on top in the 9th. Bank it.

I agree I believe there will be at least a game 6. I really think they will pull through tonight. We really need to get on the board as soon as possible to really get something going here.

WTF? This only comes to show that the injuns are so f*cking insecure despite their lead and HFA.


"Teams have been known to go to extraordinary lengths to get an edge. But the Cleveland Indians swear Thursday night's choice of pre-game singer is not a piece of gamesmanship.

Danielle Peck, a country music singer who also happened to date Red Sox ace pitcher Josh Beckett, will sing the national anthem and "God Bless America" at tonight's Game 5 in Cleveland. Beckett is scheduled to start the game for Boston.

"It's an incredible coincidence. Honestly," said Indians spokesman Bob DiBiasio.

Taylor Swift was supposed to be the Game 5 vocalist, but when she couldn't attend, DiBiasio said a country music booker recommended the up-and-coming Peck. She is from Coshocton and her single "I Don't" is a hit.

"She's from Ohio. Her entire family are Indians fans. We did not know anything about her connections to Beckett. The next day, we find out the rest of the story," said DiBiasio of Peck. "How are we supposed to know who Josh Beckett dates?"

No biggie really. I assume she asked Beckett if he was cool with it, and we won't see tears flowing from him between warm up pitches.

In moments like this I tend to suspect everybody and everything.

This is just gonna make Beckett even more pissed, watch out Cleveland.

I have a feeling tonight is going to be a 3-0 Sox victory, behind some very strong pitching by Beckett, and a bomb from Manny

I don't think these guys are ready to go home just yet

Sounds like BS to me !
just a coincidence my ars !
we had NO idea
Hopefully Josh dumped her

Im sure that Peck singing tonight is a sign of something..........just not too sure what that sign is yet.

LETS GO SOX!!!!!

Have we had a montage this series yet?

Considering that the run we're on right now is a 3 game losing streak...you are 100% correct. If we win, that run is over. If we lose, that run is still over.

Daring prediction.

... and tonight, the killing begins.

Eh?

One way or another. Yes.

You know how hard it would be to find a female singer Beckett hasn't slept with?

Beckett: 'Since his time with the Marlins, Beckett has dated actress Alyssa Milano, model Leeann Tweeden and country singer Danielle Peck. But these days he's with Whitney Hayes, the younger sister of his personal trainer and Spring High School classmate Randon Hayes.' Source

Good for him & now that he's seen her naked, he can picture Daniella Peck completely nude any time he wants simply by closing his eyes, even during the National Anthem. That should put a smile on this face before the start of the game. I'm also certain that he takes some comfort in knowing that he's ruined her for other men.

Now here's some good reading to help take up some time before first pitch: MLB - Red Sox Game Notes

Fun Fact: The Red Sox are 21-11 all time in post season elimination games.

Let's make it 22!!

If we can pull this one out, we take it back to Boston, where anything can happen.

I'm passing on seeing Springsteen tonight so I can cheer the boys on so let's go team!

well, destiny for 07 is at hand, just a couple of points from where the sun is just rising:

please huey, keep this weather away!

does anyone know when the last time we lost 4 straight in the post season...if at all?

this business with this sheila singing the national anthem being becketts ex indoors is absolutely astounding. Fair dinkum has to be the lowest off field act by an opposing team ive heard off, reaks of desperation, sends me images of arod swatting the ball out of the opposing defense,s hand while running to first base

this will backfire, beckett will be even more determined and fired up

we will definitely get this done tonight and take it back to fenway.....it is written

go sox

I have a mid term during the game, God knows it is going to be the shortest mid-term I have ever taken

I have a good feeling about this game, but it's definitely not going to be a blowout. C.C. is due for a good game, it's just not going to be enough because I think we finally get to Betancourt tonight. C.C. will hand the game over to Betancourt in the 7th and a 2-2 tie. We score 2 runs off of him and win 4-2 to force a game 6.

I'll be shitting bricks all night... should be FUN!

When Josh Beckett goes hunting his prey drops dead out of respect for him before he can fire a single shot*.

*true story

Josh Beckett has slept with every women in this photo

*minus my mom

Josh Beckett eats nails for breakfast


Josh Beckett once passed a kidney stone


Egyptians built a temple in honor of Josh Beckett......2,537 years before he was born


Josh Beckett Believes in the Red Sox...

I could easily see something like that happening.

If and when they pull Beckett out of the game, who will they go to? (just wondering)

4 pm weather update:

Wind out of the south at 20 mph with gusts to 38 mph, visibility 10 miles, 3,300 feet overcast, temperature 73F, DP 60F

The wind is going to be a factor tonight. We are likely to see wind gusts in the 30-40 mph range, and maybe even stronger.

The barometric pressure at KCLE was 29.66 in Hg this hour. It's dropped .3 in Hg in 12 hours. Pressure changes are even more drastic to the west. KORD is reporting 29.28 this hour, and I picked up pressures below 29 inches in Minnesota. That's a really deep low, and a steep one, too. The atmospheric situation is dynamic.

It looks like the worst weather, and that means possible tornadoes, will move into western Ohio after midnight, so the Cleveland won't be affected tonight. However, because no storms have formed yet, it's not possible to say whether there will be rain in Cleveland.

I'd be on guard for a thunderstorm or two in the area, given the warm, saturated air and the dynamics. The real problem is the wind. And the upper level jet that is providing the energy and lift to drive this system.

Josh, keep the ball DOWN! That wind will be blowing OUT - straight across Lake Erie into Ontario!

Anni

You're kidding, right?

Between game 5 of the '86 World Series and Game 1 of the 1998 ALDS, the Sox lost 13 straight post-season games

Games 6 & 7 - '86 WS
Games 1-4 '88 ALCS
Games 1-4 '90 ALCS
Games 1-3 '95 ALDS


Edit: had ALCS instead of ALDS for '95

i meant in the same season, but twice, in 88 and 90, thanks for that was having trouble finding this out

october 1988 - abu dhabi

october 1990 - saudi arabia

october 2007 - sydney

very interesting

You've gotta get out more.

The singer thing reminds me of the Yankees having Dent throw out the first ball in game 7 2004. How did that work out for them?

Also, I don't remember what stadium it was, maybe the White Sox...they were playing Cheryl Crow songs whenever Jeter came up, and he had just broken up with her. That one cracked me up.

Down but definately not out here. My frame of mind has been...I am sure Beckett KNOWS he will win game 5, and I bet Schilling KNOWS he will win game6, and if it goes 7 you gotta like that.

If we win tonight I really do feel confident in Schill with an extra days rest.

Keep the faith...GO SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No lineups yet?

Too early... The official lineups are on the wire about an hour before the game. They're not up yet. Unofficially, Kielty will be in right...

And bringing it old (2004) style.

Here you go:



Or perhaps this is more to your liking:

Good Gawd, I haven't been this nervous before a game or quite some time. I just don't want it to end, you know? I mean, I want to wake up tomorrow thinking about Saturday's game. I'm not even remotely ready to end this. I love the post season. The older I get <insert older than dirt joke here> the more I appreciate every single series the Sox participate in.

Let's win this one tonight boys eh? It's time for those of you who have contributed next to nothing offensively to start doing your part. I really feel that one of the guys who has been scuffling will step up and have a big game tonight. We can't have watched our last game at Fenway until next April. No way. Can't be happening.

Hopefully we see more than a few of these shots from the Sox dugout over the next few hours:

God. You and me both. I'd love to see the bullpen doors open again during a game 5 at the Jake, and see Petey trotting out in a Boston uniform.

MLB.com's shop link already says "Congratulations Cleveland, 2007 American League Champions."

Let's prove them wrong. WIN.

HMMM...



Let's make these shirts as relevant as the Yankee 2004 AL Champions SHIRTS....

Yeah, that second one works.

For what it's worth, I just did a Google image search for Danielle Peck and came upon some real gems.

P.S. I hate Josh Beckett now. Need an explanation? Look below.

She looks about 10 years older than him.

I'm not worried about the Peck Effect tonight at all.

Me either.

Though, I must say that Cleveland trotting her out is a testament to Boston's coolness. The Yankees were stricken with bugs. The Sox? A 36-24-36.

10/18 19:26:19 ET

It begins tonight. And Crisp or Lugo or Dustin will play a large role. The "Small Sox" will do more damage to the Indians than small pox ever did.

GO SOX!! Silence the Jake.

If there was ever a chance for JD Drew to redeem himself, it is now.

Errr... he's not in the lineup.

Other than the fact that he's not playing...

Pinch Hitter!