A Year in the Making
As Theo Epstein has crafted a team geared for a post-season run, he has geared his fanbase for the unthinkable: A shot at taking back Game 7. I cannot believe the time i'm in with this Team. Instead of being exasperated lets mark down some reports for what the Red Sox need tommorow. Consider this my pregame analysis.
-Derek Lowe: He'll be starting and lets hope his stuff is on. I think this is a good pick for a pitcher for a few reasons. He's the most rested of all the pitchers and he can keep the ball down in Yankee Stadium, a park geared for longballs. If he can pitch 5-7 innings of 5-6 hit 3 run baseball, the Red Sox can win. Because after that, we leave the game with Wakefield, Arroyo and our rested bullpen. Key to Lowe's success is using his sinker on both lefties and righties; On righties to jam and induce ground balls and lefties to place strikes and draw double plays. If he can utilize his curveball and set pitches up with his fastball and changeup, he can use his sinker as a backbone. As for any relief pitchers, depending on the state of the game, go after Yankees hitters early then use break in stuff away. If anyone watched the last few at bats, with switch hitters like Posada and Williams, Foulke worked away then up and in. Jammed him. Wakefield can have his knuckler on which will be key.
-Offense: Get to Brown early and often. Chase him out before the 8th with a lead, and theres no reason for a Yankee rally. Derive a lead with Brown, steady it with Duque or Vazquez, then let the pitching carry it. Our bullpens in better shape, so if we can force the Yankees into a long relief situation, we can Tee off and hold the advantage.
The Yankees, much like the Red Sox, respond to pressure really well, but theres momentum. Use the momentum to quell the Yankee bats. Pitch aggressive and angry but not into them. They will be swinging to win.
Thats my analysis. I've been saying it all season, that this was it. Let's hope the puzzles together. Heres some pictures from Game 4:
-Derek Lowe: He'll be starting and lets hope his stuff is on. I think this is a good pick for a pitcher for a few reasons. He's the most rested of all the pitchers and he can keep the ball down in Yankee Stadium, a park geared for longballs. If he can pitch 5-7 innings of 5-6 hit 3 run baseball, the Red Sox can win. Because after that, we leave the game with Wakefield, Arroyo and our rested bullpen. Key to Lowe's success is using his sinker on both lefties and righties; On righties to jam and induce ground balls and lefties to place strikes and draw double plays. If he can utilize his curveball and set pitches up with his fastball and changeup, he can use his sinker as a backbone. As for any relief pitchers, depending on the state of the game, go after Yankees hitters early then use break in stuff away. If anyone watched the last few at bats, with switch hitters like Posada and Williams, Foulke worked away then up and in. Jammed him. Wakefield can have his knuckler on which will be key.
-Offense: Get to Brown early and often. Chase him out before the 8th with a lead, and theres no reason for a Yankee rally. Derive a lead with Brown, steady it with Duque or Vazquez, then let the pitching carry it. Our bullpens in better shape, so if we can force the Yankees into a long relief situation, we can Tee off and hold the advantage.
The Yankees, much like the Red Sox, respond to pressure really well, but theres momentum. Use the momentum to quell the Yankee bats. Pitch aggressive and angry but not into them. They will be swinging to win.
Thats my analysis. I've been saying it all season, that this was it. Let's hope the puzzles together. Heres some pictures from Game 4: