October 18, 2008
Playoffs Today
The Rays try to win their first American League pennant at home tonight against the Boston Red Sox. The game starts at 8:07 EDT on TBS. The Red Sox game two starter, Josh Beckett, takes on the Rays game one starters, James Shields. Beckett is in the middle of a rough post season. In two starts so far he allowed 18 hits and 12 earned runs in just 9 1/3 innings. Five of those 18 hits went for home runs; Beckett gave up just 18 homers during the regular season. The only positive to point to for Beckett are his 11 strikeouts.
Shields, on the other hand, pitched this post season much like his regular season. In his two starts he allowed a 3.29 ERA versus 3.56 during the regular season. He's struck out 10 and walked three in 13 2/3 innings. He allowed just one home run so far.
Big Game James is also out to get a win in this LCS. He pitched great in game one, allowing just two runs in seven innings. Matsuzaka pitched better however, and Shields took the loss. With Beckett's health in question, Shields has a golden opportunity to wrap the series up tonight. I suspect Joe Maddon won't pull Shields from the game if he's pitching well, unlike what he did with Kazmir.
Enjoy!
Big Game James??? C'mon.... the guy hasnt been in a big game in his entire career until today.
Did Maddon pull Kazmir early? He was at 111 pitches and doesn't bounce back from high pitch counts that well.
I echo Gabriel. Et tu, David? "Big Game" James? He lost his first "big game" against Dice-K. Even if he wins today, he needs to win several big games before he earns that moniker. You can't just give it to him because it freakin' rhymes.
I did not give him the name. It's what his teammates call him, per the TBS broadcasts.
I know you didn't give it to him. That doesn't mean you need to perpetuate it.
I still love you.
Becket, Lester and the rest of the Red Sox must be really intimidated by someone calling himself 'Big Game'.
