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Fire Brand of the American League
7/8: Lester Looks To Replicate
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Minnesota Twins (50-39) @ Boston Red Sox (53-39) |
GAME NOTES: Nick Blackburn is an excellent pitcher….at home. On the road? 2-2, 5.06 ERA, .318 BAA. He’s also slumped lately, with a lackluster 5.86 ERA in June. The Red Sox were baffled last night by the finesse of Scott Baker, so look for them to make adjustments and take their fury out on Blackburn. Jon Lester has been tremendous this season and should be able to handle the Twins bats/running game. He’s looking to replicate (or come close) to his effort last week at Yankee Stadium.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 at 3:34 pm and is filed under Nick Blackburn, Minnesota Twins, Jon Lester, Game Threads.
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33 Responses to “7/8: Lester Looks To Replicate”
July 8th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I like Moss and Cash getting some time at the bottom. I know Crisp just got a breather, but at least Tek sure does look like he needs an extra day off. He’ll probably just hit the books, study tape and work on his swing instead of crouching behind a plate for a measly 9 innings while still doing the other stuff.
Red Sox:
CF-Ellsbury
2B-Pedroia
RF-Drew
DH-Ramirez
3B-Lowell
1B-Youkilis
LF-Moss
SS-Lugo
C-Cash
SP-Lester
Twins:
CF-Gomez
2B-Casilla
C-Mauer
1B-Morneau
DH-Monroe
LF-Young
3B-Harris
SS-Punto
RF-Span
SP-Blackburn
July 8th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Gerry leaves the country and Harden moves to the Cubs for pocket change and a bus ticket.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Harden to Cubs
July 8th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I am intrigued by that trade, I think the cubs got him for a cheap price and here’s the million dollar question: Does that mean that we can do the same thing for Streets? you tell me ’cause I can’t figure out that billy beane guy!
July 8th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Harden AND Gaudin. It’s a great deal for the Cubs, if Harden stays healthy, but I think Beane made out pretty well with Gallagher, Murton, Patterson, and a talented catching prospect in Josh Donaldson.
The Cardinals can flush it now, that’s for sure.
Gerry’s going to be thrilled.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Nice pickoff, Jon.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Radiohix:
I could see Oakland going into full fire sale mode at this point. My guess is the recent injuries made Beane decide to pack it in, even though the AL West gap is still only 6 games.
That said, I can’t see the Sox getting Street without giving up Bowden. And I would not make that deal.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
DR
me nether.
Theo: don’t touch Bowden!
July 8th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
So who’s cheering for who in the Rays/Yankees game? I’m torn between wanting the Sox to catch the Rays and my lifelong Yankee-hate.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
TD:
I’m cheering for a bases clearing brawl in which Kazmir and A-Rod decide to go after each other despite mutually assured destruction, and both end up badly broken.
Aside from that, I’m *gasp* pulling for the Yankees. Gotta go based on the standings, and we’re not chasing New York.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I really hope Murton gets a shot to play everyday and lives up to his potential. I like that guy a lot. Beane must have little faith in Harden’s health if he made that deal. Crazy.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Drew going opposite field. I like it!
July 8th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
MR:
Keep in mind that Harden had decreased velocity in his last start. It might just be a dead arm or something minor, but it’s worth noting.
The Cubs got the best of this deal short-term, but the 2010-ish A’s are looking very, very good.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
TD:
If it were, say, the Jays in first squaring off against the Yanks I’d be rooting for the stadium to blow up. I have too much respect for the rays though. I can’t root against them but fightnight would be kinda cool.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Loved the RBI double, but…where the heck was JD going?
July 8th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I’m hoping for a meteor to hit the Bronx. By the looks of it, several already have.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
This looks to be a quick game.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Daniel-
The loss of velocity is something I’m aware of. I’m always dubious when Beane seems to be giving up a lot for very little (no insult intended to Gallagher, Murton and Donaldson). Just seems like a high risk, possibly very high reward situation for the Cubs.
And you’re right, the A’s are in very good shape going forward. I’m glad they’re my local with the Mariners. It’s actually easier for me to fly into Oakland for a game than to fly or drive to Seattle to get my fix.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I’m done saying Beane is a genius; this is one of the most pathetic moves I’ve ever seen. What a joke. Rich Harden for four terrible players.
Not even Pie. unbelievable.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
1) That was a horrible trade by Beane. I’m with Sean O.
2) TD: Rooting for the Rays. I know they’re in first and I want to be in first, but I’m a closet Rays fan.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Sean O-
If Harden pitches two innings in his next start and goes on the dl for the rest of the year would Beane still have been hosed?
-The Eckstein of mvn.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
looks like we have a quick game tonight: evrey body is swinging at the 2nd or 3rd pitch! good for me (i could have an hour or 2 of sleep before work)lol
July 8th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
MR - they got nothing for Harden, nothing. Even Gaudin is too much for that crap.
Remember, i lived on the north side of Chicago, so I hate the Cubs. Really hate the Cubs. And Chicago, now that we’re on the subject.
What a total ripoff, wow.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
SO-
I’m in total agreement, but I’m not ready for this blip to make me hate on the Beane yet. I’m dubious, but he’s not _that_ dumb.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
The only good I can consider is that Beane has lost his mind and will probably trade Street for schilling’s bloody sock and Javy Lopez. get on the phone before he regains sanity.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Great. Screwed by the umps. Again. This is getting tiresome.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Good Lord, Manny, why do you suck so much?
July 8th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
My record when I ‘m following sox games stands now with a gaudy 39-11!
July 8th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
DAMMIT!
Went out to dinner and missed the comeback. Good to see Manny back on track.
And the AL East gap is quietly down to 3.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Wicked awesome comeback … always feels good … and I dunno about you guys … but it feels kinda nice to be chasing someone in the standings for a while … maybe that in itself is enought to wake up and give this team the little motivation it needs to play up to its potential? Hopefully…
Regarding the Harden trade I have one overwhelming sentiment that I must share with you before analyzing…
Blah…
I’m with Sean O … What kind of trade is that? It’s like Beane decided he would take whatever anyone had to offer for Harden as long as he got rid of him … plus it all happened too fast … you’d think if Beane was trying to sell he’d make a bit of a show about it … Harden’s got enough name appeal to bring in at least a few suitors … instead he shipped him off to Chicago for the same trading chips the Cubbies have been waving around for like a year now … just seemed strange to me the way the whole thing went down … not to mention how frustrated I am to think we could’ve possibly been in on it … IMO Harden is still definently worth a little risk … at least explore it … whatever
Hopefully we push for Street a bit … explore it anyways … but whatever you do Theo … do NOT sit back … I wouldn’t mind as much if you don’t make a deal … just don’t miss a chance because you were sitting back on what we have … we can get better
July 8th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Nuts! I Missed the comeback too, having abandoned the game to go home just as the bottom of the eighth got started.
As far as my comment about Manny (above) goes, well, maybe he just needed some tough love. Thank you, Mr. Ramirez.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
BTW, on the Harden deal, a friend told me there’s rumors floating around in the Bay Area that Beane was aggressively trying to deal Harden before his next scheduled start. Hendry had supposedly been aggressively attempting to get him for a couple of weeks, but was balking at Beane’s pricetag, until this morning, when Beane apparently decided to compromise in an effort to get a deal done quickly.
I can’t help but wonder if Harden’s value plunged like a rock, or if the A’s had significant reason to be concerned about his decreased velocity in the last two starts. The Cubs seemed desperate to answer the Brewers’ Sabathia acquisition, and Beane may have decided to just take advantage of that, even though he didn’t get a particularly impressive haul.
This may yet get interesting if Harden is damaged goods.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:13 am
Yes if Harden gets injured right away like he has been so prone to do then of course this deal looks alot worse for the Cubs … but still … unless Beane knows something about Harden’s health (beyond his track record) that makes him believe he will soon be unable to pitch for a while … then the Cubs won this trade easily
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