"MADJACKERS" bost - bal game
- Thread starter RAYMOND
- Start date
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST
(1) BOSTON RED SOX
2003 Record: 95-67. 53-28 home. 42-39 away. Second Place, Wildcard
Last year on these pages we called for the Yankees to win a close race for the top slot in the AL East, and that's exactly what we got. The gap between Boston and New York was far less than the six-game difference in the regular season standings, with that infamous Aaron Boone game 7 home run ultimately proving to be the difference. In 2004, after six straight second place finishes, look for the Bosox to get to the promised land. The Red Sox team that won 95 games in '03 is still intact, and the moves they made in the off season should push that win total well over 100. Curt Schilling (2.95 ERA in 240 starts) joins Pedro Martinez (14-4, 2.22) atop a rotation that also includes Derek Lowe (17-7, 4.41) and Tim Wakefield (11-7, 4.09). If those two aces measure up to their career history, Boston will be tough to beat. The arrival of Keith Foulke (9-1, 2.08 with 43 saves) gives them the closer that was missing last year from an otherwise respectable relief corps. Offensively, this team was the best in baseball last year (.286 BA), breaking the all time record for team slugging percentage (.491) along the way. SS Nomar Garciaparra (.301 28 105) may have been offended by the push to acquire Alex Rodriguez, but as long as he's in a Boston uniform he'll be pulling his weight. The rest of the infield is loaded with fearsome hitters. Batting champ 3B Bill Mueller (.326 19 85), 1B Kevin Millar (.276 25 96) and DH David Ortiz (.288 31 101) and C Jason Varitek (.273 25 85) will provide plenty of power, and Pokey Reese at 2B is a nice defensive upgrade. LF Manny Ramirez is an RBI machine (.325 37 104) and CF Johnny Damon (.273 12 67) is an ideal leadoff man. RF Trot Nixon (.306 28 87) will miss the start of the season (along with Garciaparra) but should be back in plenty of time to contribute. It's inevitable that this team will find a gut wrenching way to lose in the post season, but they'll be tough to stop over the course of 162 games.
EAST
(1) BOSTON RED SOX
2003 Record: 95-67. 53-28 home. 42-39 away. Second Place, Wildcard
Last year on these pages we called for the Yankees to win a close race for the top slot in the AL East, and that's exactly what we got. The gap between Boston and New York was far less than the six-game difference in the regular season standings, with that infamous Aaron Boone game 7 home run ultimately proving to be the difference. In 2004, after six straight second place finishes, look for the Bosox to get to the promised land. The Red Sox team that won 95 games in '03 is still intact, and the moves they made in the off season should push that win total well over 100. Curt Schilling (2.95 ERA in 240 starts) joins Pedro Martinez (14-4, 2.22) atop a rotation that also includes Derek Lowe (17-7, 4.41) and Tim Wakefield (11-7, 4.09). If those two aces measure up to their career history, Boston will be tough to beat. The arrival of Keith Foulke (9-1, 2.08 with 43 saves) gives them the closer that was missing last year from an otherwise respectable relief corps. Offensively, this team was the best in baseball last year (.286 BA), breaking the all time record for team slugging percentage (.491) along the way. SS Nomar Garciaparra (.301 28 105) may have been offended by the push to acquire Alex Rodriguez, but as long as he's in a Boston uniform he'll be pulling his weight. The rest of the infield is loaded with fearsome hitters. Batting champ 3B Bill Mueller (.326 19 85), 1B Kevin Millar (.276 25 96) and DH David Ortiz (.288 31 101) and C Jason Varitek (.273 25 85) will provide plenty of power, and Pokey Reese at 2B is a nice defensive upgrade. LF Manny Ramirez is an RBI machine (.325 37 104) and CF Johnny Damon (.273 12 67) is an ideal leadoff man. RF Trot Nixon (.306 28 87) will miss the start of the season (along with Garciaparra) but should be back in plenty of time to contribute. It's inevitable that this team will find a gut wrenching way to lose in the post season, but they'll be tough to stop over the course of 162 games.
(4) BALTIMORE ORIOLES
2003 Record: 71-91. 40-40 home. 31-51 away. Fourth Place
Off season improvements by the Orioles will help renew interest in this flagging franchise and draw the fans back to Camden Yards. They will also add to the growing dominance of the Eastern Division within the American League, but a corresponding rise in the standings is still not in the cards. The good news is the dramatic offensive upgrade. 2002 MVP Miguel Tejada takes over at SS (.278 27 106), joined by former Atlanta C Javy Lopez (.328 43 109) and 1B/DH Rafael Palmiero (.260 38 112) returning for a second tour of duty. Jay Gibbons (.277 23 100), Larry Bigbie (.303 9 31) and Luis Matos (.303 13 45) give this team a promising, youthful outfield that should continue to develop. Pitching is of somewhat greater concern, though the return of Sidney Ponson (14-6, 3.77 with the O's in '03) after being loaned out to SF last August is a significant plus. If Rodrigio Lopez can bounce back following a disastrous sophomore season (7-10, 5.82) and if Kurt Ainsworth (5-5, 3.95) can live up to the promise he showed with the Giants, this team can make a run at .500. Good, but still a couple of years away from contention.
2003 Record: 71-91. 40-40 home. 31-51 away. Fourth Place
Off season improvements by the Orioles will help renew interest in this flagging franchise and draw the fans back to Camden Yards. They will also add to the growing dominance of the Eastern Division within the American League, but a corresponding rise in the standings is still not in the cards. The good news is the dramatic offensive upgrade. 2002 MVP Miguel Tejada takes over at SS (.278 27 106), joined by former Atlanta C Javy Lopez (.328 43 109) and 1B/DH Rafael Palmiero (.260 38 112) returning for a second tour of duty. Jay Gibbons (.277 23 100), Larry Bigbie (.303 9 31) and Luis Matos (.303 13 45) give this team a promising, youthful outfield that should continue to develop. Pitching is of somewhat greater concern, though the return of Sidney Ponson (14-6, 3.77 with the O's in '03) after being loaned out to SF last August is a significant plus. If Rodrigio Lopez can bounce back following a disastrous sophomore season (7-10, 5.82) and if Kurt Ainsworth (5-5, 3.95) can live up to the promise he showed with the Giants, this team can make a run at .500. Good, but still a couple of years away from contention.
Guys, I'm probably not going to have any official plays myself on this game as I like to wait a few days into the season to post any official plays, but I have some good trends here for this game tonight.
Since 1997:
Martinez is 8-2 against Balt/ ERA 2.83/Team record 8-4
Ponson is 1-9 against the Sox/ERA 6.56/Team record 3-9
Balitmore is 45-60 against the Red Sox
Red Sox are 35-17 AT Baltimore
Spring Stats:
Martinez: 1-1/6.75 ERA/16 IP 20 H 12 ER
Ponson: 2-1/4.85 ERA/26 IP/31 H 14 ER
Since 1997:
Martinez is 8-2 against Balt/ ERA 2.83/Team record 8-4
Ponson is 1-9 against the Sox/ERA 6.56/Team record 3-9
Balitmore is 45-60 against the Red Sox
Red Sox are 35-17 AT Baltimore
Spring Stats:
Martinez: 1-1/6.75 ERA/16 IP 20 H 12 ER
Ponson: 2-1/4.85 ERA/26 IP/31 H 14 ER
May not play tomorrow
May not play tomorrow
But with Nomore, Hong Kim and Foulke not looking great, Boston may have some nice go against value the first month or so. Even though Schilling and Lowe are very good.
Ponson looked ok this spring and Pedro may have been playing possum, however the O lineup is on par with any in the AL right now.
Pokey Reese and Mark Bellhorn will be a big part of the Boston lineup, as will David Mc Carty as well. May watch some lineup.
GL to all
May not play tomorrow
But with Nomore, Hong Kim and Foulke not looking great, Boston may have some nice go against value the first month or so. Even though Schilling and Lowe are very good.
Ponson looked ok this spring and Pedro may have been playing possum, however the O lineup is on par with any in the AL right now.
Pokey Reese and Mark Bellhorn will be a big part of the Boston lineup, as will David Mc Carty as well. May watch some lineup.
GL to all
All eyes on Pedro: Martinez takes ball, concerns into opener
By Jeff Horrigan
Sunday, April 4, 2004
BALTIMORE - Pedro Martinez [stats, news] has the opportunity to prove his skeptics wrong tonight.
If Martinez gets the Red Sox [stats, schedule] off to a quick start with a win and a lively fastball against the Baltimore Orioles [stats, schedule] in the season-opener at Camden Yards, the three-time Cy Young Award winner can silence the growing number of voices openly speculating about his future.
But if his once-untouchable fastball continues to be in the 87-91 mph range, as it was in his final three spring training starts, Martinez will only intensify their doubts.
Other than the injuries to Nomar Garciaparra [stats, news] (Achilles tendinitis) and Trot Nixon [stats, news] (bulging disc in back), which are expected to sideline them until May, the Sox' biggest concern heading into the season is the state of their ace. His fastball has struggled to break 90.
Martinez went 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in five Grapefruit League starts and allowed 20 hits and 14 runs in only 16 innings. He repeatedly insisted that his arm hasn't felt better since the 1996 or '97 seasons but the results didn't back it up.
On March 14, Orioles first baseman and longtime friend David Segui stopped Martinez as he left the field and told him he was dropping his right shoulder too much on his delivery.
The observation, which came in Martinez' second spring start, was made by others in his next three. Several scouts said he typically drops his shoulder when he's fatigued, which doesn't add up if Martinez is being truthful about his arm strength.
Martinez was diagnosed with microscopic fraying in his rotator cuff in 2001 but the shoulder was never a major issue in 2002 and '03, when the team closely monitored every pitch after adhering to a rehab program. He responded by going a combined 34-8.
Pitching coach Dave Wallace said he's not concerned.
``He's comfortable and that's the only thing I can go by,'' said Wallace, who indicated Martinez has expressed no concerns to him.
Even with good health, Martinez will be shouldering other burdens this season. He is entering the final season of his contract and spring negotiations failed to yield an extension. On top of that, the Sox acquired Curt Schilling [stats, news] in November and signed him to a contract extension that will keep him in Boston through 2006.
Only time will tell how Martinez reacts to having a legitimate ``co-ace'' in the rotation behind him for the first time in seven seasons with the Red Sox.
Martinez isn't the only issue for the Sox as they prepare to face Sidney Ponson tonight. After having to place only one position player on the disabled list all of last season (Jeremy Giambi), they'll open this year with both Garciaparra and Nixon on the DL.
On top of that, new closer Keith Foulke [stats, news] had a terrible spring (15.00 ERA) and looked nothing like the defending American League saves leader after being signed to a four-year, $24 million contract.
Not everything in Florida, however, is negative.
Schilling was overpowering (.165 opponents batting average), as were fellow starters Tim Wakefield [stats, news], Derek Lowe [stats, news] and Bronson Arroyo [stats, news]. Pokey Reese [stats, news] showed that the Sox wouldn't have a defensive dropoff when he shifted to shortstop to fill in for Garciaparra, while David Ortiz [stats, news] indicated he wasn't about to become a one-hit wonder after his breakout season in 2003.
``I feel every bit as good about this team's chances of going all the way as the day I came here, if not better,'' Schilling said.
Play ball.
By Jeff Horrigan
Sunday, April 4, 2004
BALTIMORE - Pedro Martinez [stats, news] has the opportunity to prove his skeptics wrong tonight.
If Martinez gets the Red Sox [stats, schedule] off to a quick start with a win and a lively fastball against the Baltimore Orioles [stats, schedule] in the season-opener at Camden Yards, the three-time Cy Young Award winner can silence the growing number of voices openly speculating about his future.
But if his once-untouchable fastball continues to be in the 87-91 mph range, as it was in his final three spring training starts, Martinez will only intensify their doubts.
Other than the injuries to Nomar Garciaparra [stats, news] (Achilles tendinitis) and Trot Nixon [stats, news] (bulging disc in back), which are expected to sideline them until May, the Sox' biggest concern heading into the season is the state of their ace. His fastball has struggled to break 90.
Martinez went 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in five Grapefruit League starts and allowed 20 hits and 14 runs in only 16 innings. He repeatedly insisted that his arm hasn't felt better since the 1996 or '97 seasons but the results didn't back it up.
On March 14, Orioles first baseman and longtime friend David Segui stopped Martinez as he left the field and told him he was dropping his right shoulder too much on his delivery.
The observation, which came in Martinez' second spring start, was made by others in his next three. Several scouts said he typically drops his shoulder when he's fatigued, which doesn't add up if Martinez is being truthful about his arm strength.
Martinez was diagnosed with microscopic fraying in his rotator cuff in 2001 but the shoulder was never a major issue in 2002 and '03, when the team closely monitored every pitch after adhering to a rehab program. He responded by going a combined 34-8.
Pitching coach Dave Wallace said he's not concerned.
``He's comfortable and that's the only thing I can go by,'' said Wallace, who indicated Martinez has expressed no concerns to him.
Even with good health, Martinez will be shouldering other burdens this season. He is entering the final season of his contract and spring negotiations failed to yield an extension. On top of that, the Sox acquired Curt Schilling [stats, news] in November and signed him to a contract extension that will keep him in Boston through 2006.
Only time will tell how Martinez reacts to having a legitimate ``co-ace'' in the rotation behind him for the first time in seven seasons with the Red Sox.
Martinez isn't the only issue for the Sox as they prepare to face Sidney Ponson tonight. After having to place only one position player on the disabled list all of last season (Jeremy Giambi), they'll open this year with both Garciaparra and Nixon on the DL.
On top of that, new closer Keith Foulke [stats, news] had a terrible spring (15.00 ERA) and looked nothing like the defending American League saves leader after being signed to a four-year, $24 million contract.
Not everything in Florida, however, is negative.
Schilling was overpowering (.165 opponents batting average), as were fellow starters Tim Wakefield [stats, news], Derek Lowe [stats, news] and Bronson Arroyo [stats, news]. Pokey Reese [stats, news] showed that the Sox wouldn't have a defensive dropoff when he shifted to shortstop to fill in for Garciaparra, while David Ortiz [stats, news] indicated he wasn't about to become a one-hit wonder after his breakout season in 2003.
``I feel every bit as good about this team's chances of going all the way as the day I came here, if not better,'' Schilling said.
Play ball.
Pedro looking a bit shaky, Nixon and Nomar out, game on the road. I'm taking Balt +180. Good luck all.
Arliss99 said:
Sunday, April 4
American League
Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles, 8:05 p.m.
Mostly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing from left to right field at 20-30 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Near 50.
Anyone seen a total yet?
Foulke has struggle this spring..........wind should be a factor for extra base hits.......hitter usually alittle ahead of pithers this time of year......
Looks like some runs might be put up....
Sun 4/4 901 Boston Red Sox
P. Martinez -1.5 -118 -186 OVER 7.5 -104
05:05 PM 902 Baltimore Orioles
S. Ponson +1.5 +108 +178 UNDER 7.5 -106
P. Martinez -1.5 -118 -186 OVER 7.5 -104
05:05 PM 902 Baltimore Orioles
S. Ponson +1.5 +108 +178 UNDER 7.5 -106
I've heard the weather is going to be really bad there tonight. Suppose to be REALLY cold along with rain.....we'll see. I'd side with the home team tonight if that's the case. Red Sox seem a little banged up right now and Pedro didn't have good spring...doggy might be barking tonight.
If the Bal weather is going to be like the cleveland weather that rolled in last night they may not even play...probably be a no play for me as i have to look at pedro a few times before dropping chalk on him...
GL
How
GL
How
red sox has lost last 3 season openers while the orioles are 6-2 their last 8 season openers. just a little info
btp
btp
This is a no-brainer guys! How can anyone lay that much chalk on Boston this early in the season? Ponson is a solid pitcher, and the Orioles should be a better team this season. I'll tell you one thing, they will score a lot of runs!
Good luck!
Good luck!
