MVN: Most Valuable Network

#1

Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 8, 2008 1:56 PM

I hope the Sox win in less than seven games, but if it does go to seven, Lester's the man I'd want to see on the mound. If it doesn't go seven, then he's rested for WS Game 1.

As usual, my anxieties lie with Wakefield. I'd much rather see him in the bullpen for middle relief and available for any game, which is presumably the role Byrd will fill.

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#2

Posted by Shane, October 8, 2008 2:59 PM

It is interesting that Wake has done so poorly this year at the Trop, when for his career he's dominated there.

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#3

Posted by Bottom Line Rob, October 8, 2008 3:04 PM

Shane - I wrote about Wake recent Trop Troubles a little while back - I came to one conclusion: The Rays just got better. Couple that with a few years of seeing the knuckleball and it's not likely that Wake keeps mowing that team down... Just a theory.

As for the rotation - I like it. Everybody gets the right amount of rest... Lester gets to start at home, Dice-K on the road and as Tessie said, we get Lester in Game 7, if need be... sounds like a winner to me.

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#4

Posted by Ric, October 8, 2008 3:26 PM

"It is interesting that Wake has done so poorly this year at the Trop, when for his career he’s dominated there."

i think he pitches the same- the rays have just played better

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#5

Posted by Colin, October 8, 2008 3:38 PM

What happened with Wake and the Rays is like what happened to Wake and the Yanks back in 2004. At first he was their worst nightmare, then they figured him out. Tampa I think did the same thing.

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#6

Posted by Sam K, October 8, 2008 8:04 PM

I'm not the biggest fan of splits, but here's how our rotation fared versus the Rays this season:

Matsuzaka: 3 games, 15.0 innings, 3.00 ERA, 11 BB, 17 K, .228 BAA

Beckett: 5 games, 35.0 innings, 2.06 ERA, 5 BB, 37 K, .209 BAA

Lester: 3 games, 20.0 innings, 0.90 ERA, 6 BB, 19 K, .240 BAA

Wakefield: 3 games, 15.1 innings, 5.87 ERA, 8 BB, 7 K, .279 BAA

Kind of strange that Wakefield, who has been a lock against Tampa his whole career, should be the one who makes me nervous going against them in this series. At the same time, Paul Byrd didn't face the Rays this year. The Rays haven't seen Byrd and won't be able to run on him the way they will on Wakefield: maybe he would have been a better pick than Wakes to start the middle game of this series. But I guess we'll never know now.

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#7

Posted by Sean O, October 8, 2008 10:06 PM

OT: Anyone else hate Red Sox Century? it is so ridiculously pro-Frazee and pro-New York, I can't stand it. According to them, Frazee never did anything wrong, even though he sold off every valuable asset on the team (and Fenway Park) for no value, and managed to piss off every other team in baseball.

Stupid.

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#8

Posted by Gerry, October 8, 2008 10:06 PM

If Wake gets hit early, Byrd will replace him for long innings, after Lopez is brought in to shut them down. Boy, that should confuse them: Wake's knucklers, Lopez sidearm, Byrds cleverness, then close with Paps fireballs, all in one game. I like our chances.

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#9

Posted by Evan Brunell, October 8, 2008 10:14 PM

@ Sean O, I liked it...

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#10

Posted by Sean O, October 8, 2008 10:54 PM

But Evan, you gotta admit the chapter on Frazee is absolutely absurd. Apparently anyone complaining about Frazee trading Schang (a well above average catcher who played for another 2 season) and Hoyte (a 20 year old future HOF) for 4 journeymen was anti-semitic. It's idiocy.

When the book is written by NY fans, there's gonna be a problem.

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#11

Posted by Sean O, October 9, 2008 12:55 AM

I, obviously, meant to type "12" more years there.

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#12

Posted by Sam K, October 9, 2008 8:48 PM

Gerry, if Wakes get hits early and we have to start digging into our bullpen, we've probably already lost Game 3 and given the Rays a great headstart on Game 4.

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