[RedSoxAnni]

Game time: 12:37 pm

Scheduled starters: Jon Lester (0-0, 1.29) v. Ricky Romero (0-0, 7.20)

The game will be on NESN, MLBN, and WEEI

Toronto weather: 11 am observation at CYYZ: Wind out of the north at 15 mph with gusts to 22 mph, visibility 15 miles, broken layer at 2,100 feet, temperature 43F, DP 34F

Forecast: Cool, with a high near 50F. There is a slight chance of showers this afternoon.

Roof prediction: Open, at least at the beginning.

[RedSoxAnni]

Boston                                  Toronto                               
 ------                                  -------                               
 
 Pos  Player               HR  RBI  AVG. Pos  Player              HR  RBI  AVG.
 ---  ------               --  ---  ---- ---  ------              --  ---  ----
  CF  Ellsbury, Jacoby      0    1  .100  SS  Escobar, Yunel       0    0  .185 
  2B  Pedroia, Dustin       1    2  .364  2B  Johnson, Kelly       1    3  .333 
  1B  Gonzalez, Adrian      1    6  .316  RF  Bautista, Jose       1    2  .200 
  3B  Youkilis, Kevin       0    0  .125  1B  Encarnacion, Edwin   1    6  .304 
  DH  Ortiz, David          0    2  .368  DH  Francisco, Ben       0    0  .000 
  RF  McDonald, Darnell     0    0  .167  3B  Lawrie, Brett        0    4  .273 
  LF  Ross, Cody            0    0  .188  LF  Thames, Eric         0    0  .188 
  SS  Aviles, Mike          0    3  .200   C  Arencibia, J.P.      1    5  .105 
   C  Shoppach, Kelly       0    0  .250  CF  Davis, Rajai         0    2  .143 
   P  Lester, Jon (0-0, 1.29)              P  Romero, Ricky (0-0, 7.20)

[SoxAroundTheWorld]

Reverse lock warning. I can't watch, so Just Win.

[McCarty]

I think the lineup makes me feel better about this game than I should.

[Cambridge]

Having Shoppach bunt there was even dumber than hitting Punto leadoff. Some of the managerial decisions I've seen this year are straight out of 1970.

[BigSlick]

I knew they couldn't give up the first run in every game this season.

1-0 on an Ellsbury RBI single.

[Cambridge]

Twice this season Valentine has bunted with Kelly Shoppach in the equation. Each time the situation involved runners on first and second and none out.

A few games ago, in a late-and-close situation, he sacrifed with Shoppach on deck. That put runners on second and third with Shoppach up to face a right-handed pitcher. As everyone -- with the possible exception of Valentine -- knows, Shoppach hits poorly against righties with a low contact rate.

A few minutes ago, in an early-innings-play-for-the-big inning situation, he has Shoppach sacrifice with a lefthanded pitcher on the mound. As everyone -- with the possible exception of Valentine -- knows, Shoppach mashes lefties.

More and more I'm getting the idea that Valentine is a poor in-game manager.

[Hail Cesar]

Cambridge, on 11 April 2012 - 12:24 PM, said:

More and more I'm getting the idea that Valentine is a poor in-game manager.

You will not speak ill of the creator of the wrap sandwich!

All the baseball media people seem to think that Bobby V is a great in-game manager, so maybe he's just rusty, or, he just sucks.

[BigSlick]

Yesterday I was kidding about banning rom. Today I am serious.

[roidrage]

Hey, the Sox are one game better after 6 games this year than they were last year...

[BigSlick]

roidrage, on 11 April 2012 - 01:56 PM, said:

Hey, the Sox are one game better after 6 games this year than they were last year...

More importantly, last year they missed the playoffs by one game and this year they've added a playoff spot.

The playoffs are guaranteed.

[RedSoxAnni]

roidrage, on 11 April 2012 - 01:56 PM, said:

Hey, the Sox are one game better after 6 games this year than they were last year...

I love an optimist!

[RedSoxAnni]

Boston                             ab  r  h  2b  3b  hr  rbi  w  k  avg.
 Ellsbury, Jacoby cf                  3  0  1   0   0   0    1  1  1  .130
 Pedroia, Dustin 2b                   3  0  0   0   0   0    0  1  1  .320
 Gonzalez, Adrian 1b                  4  0  0   0   0   0    0  0  0  .261
 Youkilis, Kevin 3b                   4  0  0   0   0   0    0  0  1  .100
 Ortiz, David dh                      4  0  0   0   0   0    0  0  0  .304
 McDonald, Darnell rf                 3  0  0   0   0   0    0  0  1  .111
 Ross, Cody lf                        3  0  1   0   0   0    0  0  1  .211
 Aviles, Mike ss                      3  1  1   0   0   0    0  0  0  .222
 Shoppach, Kelly c                    3  0  0   0   0   0    0  0  1  .143
  Totals                             30  1  3   0   0   0    1  2  6 
 
  Toronto                            ab  r  h  2b  3b  hr  rbi  w  k  avg.
 Escobar, Yunel ss                    3  0  1   0   0   0    2  0  0  .200
 Johnson, Kelly 2b                    3  0  0   0   0   0    0  1  0  .292
 Bautista, Jose rf                    3  0  0   0   0   0    0  0  1  .174
 Encarnacion, Edwin 1b                3  0  0   0   0   0    0  0  1  .269
 Francisco, Ben dh                    3  0  0   0   0   0    0  0  0  .000
 Lawrie, Brett 3b                     3  0  0   0   0   0    0  0  0  .240
 Thames, Eric lf                      3  1  1   0   0   0    0  0  1  .211
  Rasmus, Colby cf                    0  0  0   0   0   0    0  0  0  .095
 Arencibia, J.P. c                    3  0  0   0   0   0    0  0  2  .091
 Davis, Rajai cf-lf                   2  2  1   0   1   0    1  1  1  .222
  Totals                             26  3  3   0   1   0    3  2  6 
 
  Boston            0 0 1  0 0 0  0 0 0  --  1
  Toronto           0 0 2  0 0 0  0 1 X  --  3
 
     LOB_Boston 4, Toronto 2. 3B_R.Davis. SF_Y.Escobar. SB_R.Davis (2).
 
  Boston                      IP      H  R ER BB SO  HR  PC-ST   ERA
 Lester, Jon (L 0-1)           8      3  3  3  2  6   0 116-74  2.40
 
  Toronto                     IP      H  R ER BB SO  HR  PC-ST   ERA
 Romero, Ricky (W 1-0)       8 1-3    3  1  1  2  5   0 104-63  3.38
 Santos, Sergio (S 1)         2-3     0  0  0  0  1   0    8-5 12.00
 
 PB_K.Shoppach.
 WP_J.Lester.
 T_2:13. A_25,285

[Mike LansWho]

Cambridge, on 11 April 2012 - 12:24 PM, said:

A few minutes ago, in an early-innings-play-for-the-big inning situation, he has Shoppach sacrifice with a lefthanded pitcher on the mound. As everyone -- with the possible exception of Valentine -- knows, Shoppach mashes lefties.

More and more I'm getting the idea that Valentine is a poor in-game manager.

It should be noted that Shoppach up until that point was 0-12 lifetime against Romero with 5 K's.

[The Ghost of Ned Martin]

No WAY the Blue Jays win more game than the Red Sox this year.

Cambridge, on 11 April 2012 - 12:24 PM, said:

More and more I'm getting the idea that Valentine is a poor in-game manager.

But he is entertaining.

And that is what it is all about on Yawkey Way these days.

This post has been edited by The Ghost of Ned Martin: 11 April 2012 - 08:01 PM