Orioles 2008

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Hi!

Some thoughts regarding last night's World Series game...

When Boston is hitting on all cylinders, the issue is no longer whether they'll win. It becomes how much they'll win by. They're the first team in history to score double digits in three straight postseason games. They also banged 9 XBH last night.

Rockies pitchers are used to NL lineups, but you're definitely not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy. It was clear last night watching Francis & Co. that they'll going to have a hard time finding a way to deal with Boston's hitters. The Red Sox have been grinding down better pitchers than this all year long. It goes to show you (hello, Crowley) what a patient team approach can really achieve. Last night they continually let those 88 mph pitches four or five inches off the plate go by, letting the pitch count build up, and waiting for better offerings that must come when the count went in their favor. Then, when they arrived, Boston jumped all over Francis and his successors. (Of course, your hitters have to have the talent to capitalize when the good strikes come.)

It's been a long time since I've seen Manny Ramirez so locked in at the plate. When he's like this, he remains perhaps the best hitter in the game, even at 35. Last night he was on base another four times. He has an amazing .612 OBP in the postseason, along with an .853 SLG. That's against the best pitching MLB has to offer. His teammates aren't doing too shabby, either.

Beckett now has 35 strikeouts and 2 walks in the postseason (should actually still be 1 walk--he was squeezed against Spilborghs by the HP ump last night). 35 and 2! Keep that in mind next spring when you hear the Orioles crowing about how Daniel Cabrera has proven he's mastered the zone by throwing some 15-minute side session.
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What are youse going to do when the Series goes to Coors and no DH? Who sits amongst Papi, Youk or Lowell? Does Francona manage politically i.e. sit Lowell who's a free agent after the Series? Do you trust Papi's glove at 1B?
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Beckett's post season performances may be downright HISTORIC. It's worth it just top watch him pitch. Incredible.
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Quote:

Who sits amongst Papi, Youk or Lowell? Does Francona manage politically i.e. sit Lowell who's a free agent after the Series? Do you trust Papi's glove at 1B?

I'm not sure what Francona will do.

What I might do is look at the opposing rotation for those three games. I believe it's Fogg (R), Cook (R), and Francis. Then check the individual numbers head to head (primarily Mike Lowell, as he's the only one with NL experience). Lowell has hammered Josh Fogg (.412 OBP, .625 SLG in 17 AB), so I'd say Youkilis comes off the bench in the Fogg game. Lowell also has a .571 OBP against Cook in 7 PA, but that's a lesser sample, so I might return Youkilis to the lineup in Game 4 while using Lowell off the bench. In both cases I pencil the LH Ortiz in as the starting 1B against the RHP, with no hesitancy to insert either Lowell or Youkilis for Big Papi for defense or should the score become lopsided. Ortiz is not a good fielder, but he's not terrible either. What's more important is that he is is one of the best post season hitters of our time, and I'd definitely want his bat in the lineup.

Then for Game 5, Papi starts the game on the bench against the lefty Francis--although he showed no real problem hitting Francis last night.

No matter how you look at it, Boston will have a top-notch hitter ready to come off the bench at the first opportunity, say in an important situation to perhaps hit for Lugo. I could think of worse problems to have.
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I'm pretty excited about the remaining games. I can't remember a World Series that I didn't enjoy, this one being no exception.
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Fogg is really a piece of crub. He's the kind of pitcher that ends up on the Orioles. I think you go for the kill in Game 3. Ortiz at 1B, Lowell at 3rd. Give Ortiz 3 AB's and if the Red Sox have the lead, put Youkilis at 1B for the last couple innings.

Aaron Cook hasn't pitched since August 10th. He's a ground ball pitcher who doesn't throw a lot of strikes. It's hard to see how he beats the Sox, no matter who plays 1B for them.
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