| 22 March 2010
Here's a look at today's game versus the Tampa Bay Rays. It's a nice look at the info what we plan to offer before every regular season game this year.
Lineups:
Red Sox
Ellsbury LF
Pedroia 2B
Martinez C
Youkilis 1B
Ortiz DH
Drew RF
Beltre 3B
Cameron CF
Scutaro SS
Pitching: RHP Boof Bonser followed by RHP Scott Atchison, RHP Junichi Tazawa.
Rays
Bartlett SS
Crawford LF
Longoria 3B
Pena 1B
Zobrist CF
Burrell RF
Blalock DH
Rodriguez 2B
Shoppach C
Pitching: RHP James Shields followed by RHP Winston Abreu, RHP Richard De Los Santos, RHP Mike Ekstrom.
Pitchers: This will be Boof's first start of the spring. He's only logged 5.0 innings of work so far this spring and was roughed up against the Rays in his last outing (2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 SO, 3 ER). Bonser is still fighting for a spot in the bullpen, so pitching well today is important. Francona has never been one to use a "long man," so Boof is fighting for a spot, just like every other RP, including the other "Ramon Ramirez," Scott Atchison, Brian Shouse and the newly acquire Alan Embree. That said, the fact that the Sox have him starting today, indicates that they would like to keep him stretched out for an emergency spot start or mop-up work, and that give Boof an edge.
Shields is in a much different situation. This will be his fourth start of the spring and all indications are he will be the Opening Day starter for the Rays this season. Shields has looked great so far this spring, posting a 1.04 ERA through 8.1 innings of work. He allowed 4 hits and 1 run through 5.0 innings in his last start. Shields has been the Rays ace for three years now, but the Sox have always given him a tough time: 3-7, 5.32 ERA, .270 BAA ... let's hope the Sopx can rattle him a bit today.
Notes: The Red Sox lineup looks like the same one we might see often this season. Tito is still debating using Ortiz and Drew back to back with Beltre, Cameron and Scutaro (all righties) to follow... Dustin Pedroia has been on fire lately, going 8 for 19 with three multi-hit games and a homer in his last game... Mike Cameron is also hot, riding a 4-game hitting streak that includes a homer on Sunday.
Carwford has struggled this spring with just 4 hits in 26 at-bats... but he also has 4 steals. Former Sox Kelly Shoppach will be catching today and has posted good numbers this spring: 7 for 21 (.333), 2 HR, 4 RBI... and Hank Blalock will be DH-ing, after signing with the Rays earlier this month. He'll be fighting to make the major league roster, but thje Rays already have Pat Burrell at DH and Pena and Longoria at the corners.
Key Match-up: David Ortiz is 9 for 23 (.391) with 5 doubles and 2 homers against Shields. J.D. Drew is 10 for 24 (.417) with 4 doubles and 2 homers... it would be nice to see good at-bats from both of these guys.
Normally, we'd make a seperate post for the Open Thread, but feel free to make comments below during the game. Go Sox!
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