ALDS Game Two: Escobar at Matsuzaka
Happy Friday! It gets better. There’s a Red Sox playoff game tonight. Amazingly, the Sox got the primetime slot over the Yankees and face off against Kelvim Escobar and the Angels at 8:37 EDT. The Indians send Fausto Carmona (1.71 ERA last 21 IP) to the hill against Andy Pettitte (5.79 ERA last 18.2 IP) at 5pm. But you already knew this, let’s get on with it.
Traitor?
I’m rooting for the Yankees. I know, the Indians rotation is a different animal in a longer series. The same can be said for the Yankees, and while they clearly have a better lineup, I can’t predict who will be the tougher opponent. Every series is different and season numbers are thrown out the window with bullpen management. Facing the Yankees offers one guarantee: the opportunity to beat the Yankees. Clearly, objective numero uno is advancing from the ALDS and then the ALCS, so yes, I’m getting ahead of myself and should take it one game at a time and other manager-speak cliches, but going through the Yankees would be more exciting. I guess it’s the romantic in me.
Back to Earth
There’s a game to win tonight. Daisuke Matsuzaka comes in on five days of rest, no small detail. His last three starts have been laborious, throwing 119, 117, and 120 pitches. In his most recent bout of ineffectiveness, September 3 and 8, he averaged 110 pitches in the six previous starts. Going further back, his July 8th performance (5IP, 10 H, 6 ER) was preceded by a string of six where he threw an average of 120 pitches. The extra day of rest will prove invaluable. 7IP, 5H, 2BB, 10K.
Kelvim Escobar has been slowed in September by shoulder inflammation. Back-to-back 6ER performances got him skipped in the rotation, only to come back with a vengeance on the 29th. He’s had David Ortiz’s number (.551 OPS in 24 ABs), but Coco and Lugo are a combined 9-21 with 5 BB.
I see another low scoring game, decided by the middle of the bullpens. Each team is strong in the eighth and ninth, but the outs in the sixth and seventh should be treated with just as much care. Tito, there’s no game tomorrow, don’t be afraid to trot Okajima and Papelbon out before their traditional assignments.
Hmmmm…interesting take. On rooting for the Yankees.
but just the same. They shouldn’t even be in and I want them to do their usual “One & Done”. I will get much more joy seeing them stamped out early and then listen to their whiny fans b*tch and moan. The sooner the better for me. I get great joy out of Yankee misery. I think I enjoy it more than Red Sox victory?
I think I need to go get that checked out, but not now…I’m just too happy today.
【video】matsuzaka homerun…
An animation of a home run in Matsusaka’s Japanese age.A place is Koshien Stadium where Ruth Babe said …