After a rainout the season gets started tomorrow for last year's AL finalists. Game 1: Shields vs Beckett Game 2: Kazmir vs Lester Game 3: Garza vs Matsuzaka
Shields Kazmir Garza Balfour Wheeler Crawford Longoria Pena Navarro Price Upton But, on the other hand Youkilis Pedroia Lester Beckett Matsuzaka Bucholz Lowrie Ortiz Papelbon
2009 Opening Series: Tampa Bay Rays @ Boston Red Sox Pitching matchup TB: RHP James Shields (14-8, 3.56 ERA in 2008) Shields built a reputation as a pitcher who will do whatever is necessary to pitch his team into the seventh or eighth innings, which is evidenced by back-to-back seasons with 215 innings pitched. He has not pitched at Boston since he plunked Coco Crisp in the second inning of the June 5 game at Fenway Park, touching off a bench-clearing fracas between the two teams. Five Rays players were suspended a total of 23 games for their part in the memorable incident that many feel helped jell Tampa Bay for its incredible pennant run. Shields went 2-2 with a 5.85 ERA in four starts against the Red Sox in 2008. Included in this body of work was a masterful two-hit shutout of the Red Sox on April 27, when he struck out seven while walking just one. Shields won on Opening Day in 2008, besting the Orioles in Baltimore by allowing just two runs on five hits in seven innings to pick up his first win of the season. Shields has a 2-4 career mark against the Red Sox, with a 5.23 ERA in eight starts; he is 0-3 with a 10.13 ERA in three career starts at Fenway, though those results are skewed from the one-inning outing last year, when he was thrown out after the incident. Over his career, Shields has been better during day games, posting a 9-7 mark with a 3.44 ERA in 25 daytime starts. BOS: RHP Josh Beckett (12-10, 4.03 ERA in 2008) Beckett is embarking on his ninth Major League season, bringing in an 89-62 career mark compiled during stints with the Marlins and Red Sox. His last game against the Rays came on Oct. 18, when he picked up the win in Game 6 of the ALCS by holding Tampa Bay to two runs in five innings. He went 2-1 with a 2.06 ERA in five starts against the Rays in 2008, a season in which he performed better on the road, where he posted a 2.85 ERA, as opposed to home (5.65). The veteran right-hander did not finish strong in 2008, and was unable to surpass the 200-innings mark for the first time since the 2005 season. But he is the undisputed ace of the Red Sox and knows how to rise to the occasion. Beckett has a 5-3 record with a 3.11 ERA in 10 career starts against the Rays. Historically, Beckett has found the month of April to his liking, as he's 18-9 with a 3.31 ERA in 34 career starts in the month. Tidbits Pat Burrell, who signed with the Rays as a free agent during the offseason, has the distinction of being just the third player since 1970 to go from a World Series champion to the team that lost in the World Series, joining Gary Thomasson, who went from the 1978 Yankees to the Dodgers in '79, and Don Gullet, who went from the 1976 Reds to the Yankees in '77. Burrell played for the Phillies, who beat the Rays in the 2008 World Series. ... Tampa Bay will be on the road for Opening Day for the fourth consecutive season. The last time the Rays opened at home was April 4, 2005, when they lost to the Blue Jays, 5-2, at Tropicana Field. ... Since the Rays' inaugural season, they have posted a 68-119 mark against the Red Sox; they are 25-68 against Boston at Fenway Park. _________________________________________ This is a much improved Rays team with the additions of Pat "The Bat" Burrell as our Power hitting DH along with the addition of Joyce as our everyday right fielder. Upton should be back really soon and I wont lie, as a Rays fan...Missing Upton could hurt this lineup and he's also one of the best defensive CF's in the game. Our pitching should be one of the best in the league here in 09 with Kazmir, Shields, Garza, Sonnantine and something tells me that David Price will be with the team before May, if our bullpen can have a solid year once again, this Rays team can compete for the AL East crown and who knows? We may even repeat as AL East Champions in a tough divison. Without Upton, I would like for our lineup to look something like this (Upton is usually our #3 hitter) 2B-Aki LF-Crawford 3B-Longoria 1B-Pena DH-Burrell C-Navarro CF-Joyce RF-Gross SS-Bartlett Missing Upton really hurts this lineup but its still a really solid lineup Predictions: Shields goes 6 innings, only allowing one run. Rays Win-5-2[/COLOR][/COLOR]
Wow, it's about that time! It's just a good feeling knowing that you have a team that can actually compete with the best of em. All those losing seasons really made last year a special year and I cant even put it into words how I felt when the Rays actually made the playoffs, I was shocked but @ the same time..We led the AL East for most of the year so I was EXPECTING a trip to the playoffs but I was shocked once I seen them take the field for the 1st time vs the White Sox. Great feeling. This year I expect the Rays and the Red Sox to compete for the AL East once again, should be a close race and who knows? Boston may take the East but @ the same time...They Rays could do it once again. Am I counting the Yankees out? No way but I feel they lack the team chemesty that the Red Sox and Rays have and their starting pitching is overrated in my eyes.
I thought that color was making your post less readable. Then I took that color off, saw what you actually wrote, and realized I was wrong.
Longo up with the bases loaded...He killed Boston in the ALCS, lets see if he can continue producing runs for this Offense
Great job from Beckett getting outta the inning with only 1 run scored. On a side note: Shields also pitched solid to get outta the 1st inning with the bases loaded Exciting game so far. Last year the Rays led the League in Stolen Bases and it looks like we are running again here in 09
wow, what a fucking great job by Beckett getting outta that jam with runners on 2nd and 3rd with zero outs and pitched his way outta a jam without allowing one run. Hats off to Beckett, he's showing why he's the class of the AL East as far as the best #1 starter. That strike three call on Pena was insane...96 MPH while tailing
lol, I wish we woulda went with Kazmir...I love Shields, he's a warrior out their on the mound but Kazmir should have been the #1 Starter heading into this series
