DISQUS

Colin · 1 year ago

The Garden was rocking last night, but unfortunately a lot of the rocking was coming from Canadiens fans. That shouldn't be happening in Boston.

jim-red sox nation west · 1 year ago

Hey Bill,
You are right on with Manny! Especially after tonights game. The Sox HAVE to re-sign Manny or they will be pitching against him in the Bronx. There has never been anyone as consistent year after year.
I love watching Sox-Yanks wether its the first or last game.
The B's NEED speed!!! Ever since Big Joe was traded along with Samsanov they have struggled scoring goals. They always have to work so hard for "A" goal which is about all they get. Tim Thomas has to make all the big saves for them to beat the Habs.If they do beat the Habs i like my chances on the 40-1 for the b's to win it all. I dont even have to ask if you will be at tues. game. If not, can i have your seat!!!

Marcel · 1 year ago

1. I'm pretty sure that MLB has enough problems creating the schedule without trying to fit 19 Yankees/Sox games into the last 4 months of the season. And honestly, I don't mind the April series. It's nice to enjoy the games without a total circus atmosphere.

2. Manny will (unfortunately) never win the MVP. He is seen by far too many as someone that "doesn't hustle, doesn't respect the game, and doesn't play the game the right way." Invariably, Manny will have one huge (and hilarious) baserunning blunder every year that gives him the reputation of being a horrible baserunner (Bill James has him as being dead-average.) He's a poor defensive player, although the wall hurt his numbers in both Zone Rating and Dewan's +/- system so he actually looks worse than he is (as can be evidenced by all the people who expected him to crap the bed in Coors Field last year, where he actually played decently well in the field.) The one thing that he may have going for him this year though, is David Ortiz' current hitting struggles. At this point in his career he's not likely to lead the league in the triple crown categories (with the possible exception of RsBI,) so no matter how good his numbers are they won't be noticed by the BBWAA. Example, everyone saying that Ortiz had a down-year last year when his rate stats show that it was actually his best season so far.

3. I agree. The last two starts were pretty much still spring training for Beckett. Which is exactly why the Rays are insisting on 3 rehab starts for Kazmir.

4. I've got nothing on this one. I've read some people saying that they thought Matsuzaka got away from establishing the fastball as he had been in the previous two starts and instead threw too much off-speed stuff. A quick look through the pitch f/x data shows this to be false. He threw somwhere around 70% fastballs and cutters combined, he just wasn't locating them at all. He actually had the best command of his slider, which he didn't throw as often as he usually does (he mixed in more curves than usual.) I think it would be beneficial to take a look at his delivery in the starts where he's commanding his stuff well and the starts where he's wild to see if it's a mechanical issue or just something mental.

Marcel · 1 year ago

Ok, so I just ran the numbers from Daisuke's last start and his start against the Tigers. My first impressions about his last start were off. He didn't throw as many fastballs as I thought. Looking at the two lineups, I wonder if the extra off-speed stuff against the Yankees was due to them being a lefty heavy lineup as opposed to the right-handed heavy Tigers lineup.

Daisuke vs Tigers 4/8/08

Fastball 67% (56% strikes)
Cutter 9% (60% strikes)
Slider 10% (73% strikes)
Curve 9% (40% strikes)
Change 3% (67% strikes)
Unidentified 2% (100% strikes)

Daisuke vs Yankees 4/13/08

Fastball 53% (47% strikes)
Cutter 13% (67% strikes)
Slider 13% (63% strikes)
Curve 11% (54% strikes)
Change 8% (44% strikes)
Unidentified 2% (100% strikes)

No matter how many fastballs he's throwing, if he isn't even putting half of them in the strike zone, it's not going to go well.

jim-red sox nation west · 1 year ago

marcel,
you have WAY too much time on your hands.

Jason · 1 year ago

Gerbe is a HACK and a PUNK. He was suspended for butt-ending guys this year, and in fact he was suspended for butt-ending Merrimack players! Here's hoping Gerbe goes pro so that no one in HE get their ribs cracked by that gutless punk!