January 18, 2008
Two for the Road
Yanksfan vs. Soxfan notes the Red Sox open the season with a two-man rotation. Given the days off between the two games in Japan and two game in Oakland, the A's will see Beckett and Matsuzaka twice in that first series.
Considering Billy Beane has decided against fielding a real team in 2008, this bodes well for the Sox' opening series.
This also gives Beckett and Dice-K an extra start during the season. It's always nice to be able to skip your fifth starter.
Of course, if Rich Harden is sound, the A's might be able to score the two runs needed to beat the Red Sox. :-)
Posted by David Pinto at
11:58 AM
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In the Boston media, this is being portrayed as a way to give a little extra spring training to the 3-5 starters. There's apparently an exhibition series in L.A. after the Japan games; the back of the rotation will start those games, and will be under no pressure to win, obviously.
One of Sox management's concerns about playing in Japan was a foreshortened spring training for the pitching staff. To some degree, this maneuver will alleviate that concern.