October 18, 2007
Adjustments
A good article in the Boston Herald talks about how the Red Sox pitching staff adjusted in 2004 to throw off the Yankees hitters, and how the Red Sox hitters in 2007 failed to adjust to Westbrook and Byrd.
Red Sox hitters thought Sabathia seemed to be pitching a bit backward, going away from his usual ploy of trying to get an outside fastball strike on the first pitch. Instead, he was relying more on breaking stuff, which was one of the potential reasons for just 13 strikes in 24 first pitches.
Carmona was even worse when it came to getting ahead, landing just seven of his first pitches for strikes. And don't think the Red Sox didn't take notice, swinging at just one of the starter's initial offerings.
Unfortunately for them, the next two Cleveland starters didn't follow suit.
Of course, it doesn't say HOW they adjusted in 2004...
It was weird, watching the Sox feast on Sabathia and Carmona, and then get utterly stumped by two junkballers. They were especially impressive in laying off of Carmona's low sinkers. It was almost like they spent so long preparing for the Big Two, that they either didn't have much time to think about Byrd and Westbrook, or they went in overconfident.
Then again, maybe Byrd and Westbrook simply pitched over their heads. It happens. Kinda like Kaz Matsui suddenly being a postseason superstar.