Sunday, August 23, 2009

Boston Fights Back

With a 20-11 loss the night before and Junichi Tazawa facing A.J. Burnett Saturday afternoon, I was certainly pessimistic about the immediate future of the Red Sox. However, they broke out the sledge hammer and scored 14 runs in defeat of the Yankees yesterday. Tazawa, being a young pitcher with which the Yankees have no familiarity, baffled the bombers who ultimately scored only one run. The Yankees have such problems with these young pitchers, it makes you want to wheel out a new pitcher every time you play them.

Tonight we get to watch what we've all been waiting for; the match up between C.C. Sabathia and Josh Beckett. They have remarkably similar stats this season. In 24 starts and 162 1/3 innings, Beckett is 14-4, 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 149 K. Sabathia is 14-7, 3.58 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 140 K in 26 starts and 178 2/3 IP. Both pitchers have pitched well lately save Beckett's last start at Toronto; although, Beckett seems to play better in big games. In any event, these teams have combined for 46 runs in the past two games and today should be much, much different.

Although I am biased, I give the advantage today to Beckett. He loves the big stage, the Sox are at home, and the game means much more to Boston than it does to New York. I don't suspect the Sox will be a real threat in the division from here out, but a cushion in their wild card lead is of the utmost importance.

I will probably watch the game with the sound off though. I cannot bear Joe Morgan and Jon Miller. The last time they did a Boston vs. NY game they talked for 30 minutes without acknowledging the action on the field at all. In fact, ESPN wouldn't even show the field while they were talking. Baseball catered for the casual fan is absolute torture for those of us who actually follow the game.

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