Gamenight: Red Sox (37-24) At Phillies (35-24)
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sat, June 13, 2009 06:04 PM | Comments: 290
Gameday 2009, Posts
Boston Red Sox (37-24) at Philadelphia Phillies (35-24)
Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-4, 7.33 ERA) vs. Antonio Bastardo (2-0, 2.45 ERA)
Time: 7:05 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Weather: Cloudy, 71
TV: MyPhl 17
Twitter: Phillies Nation
The thrills continued last night in a heavyweight bout between possibly baseball’s best two teams. The Red Sox came away the victors thanks to a game of pinball off Kyle Kendrick. He was just demoted again.
Now the Phils counter with Antonio Bastardo, the cagey lefty with a plus fastball and supposedly plus-plus changeup. He might have to use that more often tonight with the big-hitting Sox lineup ready to take him down. Bastardo last kept the Dodgers at bay Sunday night, going five innings and giving up two runs on seven hits.
Boston has Daisuke Matsuzaka on the hill. He’s had many short outings thanks to his high-pitch tendencies and an injury earlier in the season. In fact, he hasn’t ever finished six. And he’s very hittable: Lefties are hitting .333 against him; righties are striking at .418.
Boston hitters are .266 against left-handed pitchers.
Your gamenight beer: Here’s a beer I just purchased: Three Philosophers, by Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown. Baseball’s first town has some pretty good beers, and this is no exception. It’ll be the first time I try this one tonight, so I’ll deliver some thoughts on Three Philosophers via Twitter. I’ll be eating some pasta with olives and peppers, maybe grilling some pork to keep the carbs low. Here’s to good beer.
Go Phillies!
Posts: 0 SDO
Pedroia is the whiniest little 2nd baseman in the league
Posted: 10:46 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Adam
So which is the more annoying stance, Youkilis or knoblochs(sp?) awkward straight back bat thing he had going on. That always looked like it just hurt his elbows
Posted: 10:47 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Welcome back Chase Utley, we missed you yesterday. LOL.
Posted: 10:47 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
Brian of CO
I always say it takes skill to hit a baseball but some luck for it to be a base hit. As long as someone is taking good swings at good pitches, makes contact and shows stituational awareness i.e plate discipline, the Law of Averages will eventually reward them…that’s why there’s 162 games…J-Roll’s fly ball that Ellsberry case in point, pretty text book but what he did in LA when Torre walked Stairs to get to him with men on 2nd and 3rd with two outs was anything but….I am not worried about him just impatient…as for Werth (that last AB was good) when he is slumping he looks lost as evident by the strike-outs on bad pitches. I think he loses the rotation on the ball which maybe from fatigue esp. IQ since he’s gone from platooning to everyday play…He has too much raw athletic ability, like his speed and agility which is god given, to give up on…however his baseball IQ is a little low…this is teachable. If lack of rest isn’t the culprit, then Milt Thompson needs to teach him how know pitches by their rotation because on some of those swings (ace pitching aside) he looks complete fooled. Now Ut, he’s the full package….
Posted: 10:47 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
Red Sox do have some nasty pitchers coming out of the Pen
Posted: 10:47 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Terri
Good Job Howard!
Posted: 10:48 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Annoying or not it seems to work for him sadly. I recall kruk had an odd stance as well.
Posted: 10:48 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
No prob Brian. I actually have been saying all season, actually since the day Jimy Williams left that Charlie was in serious trouble. Notice how often you would see Charlie talking to Jimy Williams last year. It seemed like before every pinch hitter, or pitching change Charlie was there with Jimy to his side…now…nothing. Charlie sits there by himself with his stop watch and pen and makes head scratching move after head scratching move.
As for Youk…why is he hated? I actually think he is an excellent ball player and a true gamer.
Posted: 10:48 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Wow 2 hits for howard. Come on Raul, pad those stats buddy.
Posted: 10:49 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Thats exactly why he is hated by opposing teams and fans. Because he is a gamer.
Posted: 10:50 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Oh darn. Cant say much about that from Raul seeing how he already hit one out, and his average is still above .320 honestly. Would have like to see a sac fly though.
Posted: 10:51 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Nick
Say the phils do make an amazing comeback and take the lead. Anybody have any idea who would close because madsons pitched 3 days in a row now.
Posted: 10:51 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 SDO
Werth, finally… pulling through this game.
Posted: 10:52 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
Brian, i beg to differ on that about Youkilis. His own teammates don’t even like him.
Posted: 10:52 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Adam
Nick, I say let stairs close. I’m sure that wiley vet has a few pitches up his sleeve
Posted: 10:53 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Wow, Werth with 2 hits today. First time in awhile. Nice work Werth! Homer ties it up.
Posted: 10:53 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
Madson will close. This is a big game, Beckett is pitching tomorrow.
Posted: 10:54 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 SDO
Youkilis is a gamer but his ass shaking is not the most flattering stance a baseball player can have.
Posted: 10:54 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Well that might be true, but Im not the one wondering why he is hated by the opposing teams. LOL. I just know that alot of teams dont like him because he can hit the ball.
Posted: 10:54 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
No, i don’t dislike anyplayer because their good, Youkilis is just annoying, stance, always complaining, stupid ass beard haha
Posted: 10:56 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Raul…Utley…are both gamers and I am pretty sure they are not hated by the other players and fans.
Posted: 10:56 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Cant say much about Feliz either, already hit a homer today and hitting over .300. Again though, would have rather seen a fly ball to the outfield at least to try to move Howard to 3rd at the very least.
Posted: 10:56 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Eli
Ill take Youkilis 8 times over Howard
Posted: 10:57 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Eli
Well def in the long run
Posted: 10:57 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Utley is hated by the entire city of New York. LOL. Im pretty sure New York also hate Ibanez right about now also. LOL.
Posted: 10:57 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
Eli, why is that?
Posted: 10:57 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Eli
New York hates Ibanez ,but New Yorkers respect Utley. He is just too good of a player at second.
Posted: 10:58 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
I don’t think so Brian. They hate Hamels and Rollins. I don’t think Utley or Ibanez very much..
Posted: 10:58 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 SDO
How didHoward not score on that play?
Posted: 10:58 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Adam
ok chooch, keep it rolling. Anyone else get REALLY excited to see Howard just blow up a catcher?
Posted: 10:58 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Was that a hard hit and fast, or was Howard really doggin in?
Posted: 10:59 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 CT
oh man, i’d rather see Stairs here, but it’s probably too early to use him
Posted: 10:59 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 SDO
Let’s go Dobbs, lets prove how much of an ass that ump is
Posted: 11:00 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
Hard hit right at Baldelli.
Posted: 11:00 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Don;t forget in New York last year for the All Star game the “Boo, F$%^ YOU!” LOL. Not to mention, They are probably hated because Both Utley and Ibanex beat the mets in extra innings last week. LOL.
Posted: 11:00 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
Why Dobbs? Why?
Posted: 11:01 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Hopefully Dobbs takes the same shot as yesterday just 40 feet to the left. LOL.
Posted: 11:02 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
Wonder who would win: Varitek or Howard if Howard kept coming and Varitek blocked the plate?
Posted: 11:02 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 SDO
How did Sarge get his job?
Posted: 11:03 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Terri
Dobbs, just not the same as last year.
Posted: 11:03 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Eli
Youkilis is so good on defense. He will have some gold-gloves. His average is so much higher. He is good for 30 home-runs. I also don’t think Ryan Howard is gonna last that long. He is a big dude and their careers are generally shorter. Youkilis could be a firstbasemen for the next 10 years.
Posted: 11:03 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Way to go Greg Dobbs…rally killer.
Posted: 11:03 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 The Little Guy
Howard is a man child
Posted: 11:03 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Adam
I don’t think there’s a single catcher who would win against RyHo on a play at the plate.
Posted: 11:04 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Eli
But Ill take Howard for this 3 year deal.
Posted: 11:04 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Basesloaded 2 outs, do you want to put a.) Dobbs in hitting .192, no power. or b.) Stairs in hitting over.300 with power. Tough call I guess. I think they need to go to Jimy Williams again. I know they begged once, but please, try one more time. Throw the damn back at him.
Posted: 11:04 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Youk won a gold glove in 2007.
Posted: 11:04 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 PGD
no stairs, WHY??
Posted: 11:06 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 SDO
What’s the point of “saving” Stairs for later when there might not be a later!!? These managerial decisions have been frustrating at the least.
Posted: 11:07 PM on June 13, 2009
Posts: 0 SDO
Who cares about how good Youkilis his. He still has an annoying stance.
Posted: 11:08 PM on June 13, 2009