Entries Tagged 'Dice-K' ↓

ok, going out on a limb here…

My best guess is that Dice-K will win 18 games this year. I believe he will. This kid came into the country not speaking more than 6 words of English and cranked out a rocky 15 win season in which he was on a team that won the World Series.

However, and here’s the kicker, Dice-K is USED to winning big and winning often. This can go one of two ways:

1. Dice-K rocks the house and leads the team in pitching stats

2. Dice-K gets frustrated as hell because he’s carrying the team

I’m putting enough stock in his sophomore year to state that he’ll win 18 games and have a tremendous impact on the direction of this year’s outcome.

The entire staff should have confidence, even without Schilling. Can you imagine a situation where Beckett, Wake, Dice-K and Lester each win at least 17 games? That’s a ridiculous year. It won’t happen, but holy crap.

I think it’s time for Boston to introduce a six man rotation.

Dice-K was used to pitching on five days rest in Japan. Curt isn’t getting any younger and last year’s numbers weren’t very Schilling-like. Wake is still a workhorse, but could certainly benefit from an extra day off.

How about this: Francona introduces a six man rotation through the All-Star break and then takes a look at the numbers?

PEDROIA AND BECKETT AND EVEN J.D. AND OMG.

The Sox aren’t headed anywhere. They have home field advantage to play the opening game Wednesday night at Fenway Park in the 2007 World Series.

The ALCS was all about the home crowd. If you succumb to the notion of visiting teams during any regular season game that the home crowd is nice, but “we don’t need it”, then you’re fooling yourself. The crowd may not be as electric as they are in the post season, but they’re behind the team; especially in good times.

Beckett is the MVP, deservedly so, but the rest of the team including J.D. Drew, Lugo and the defensive skills of  Coco Crisp were enough to go against the other team with the best record in baseball. The difference? Boston won one more game. That’s it. What separated the entire season is one game. How amazing is it, then, that the Red Sox found themselves in the World Series based on the fact that they won the season series against Cleveland. If it had been the other way around and Cleveland was working with home field advantage, would they be headed to the Fall Classic?

Dice-K had a gutsy first three innings. Unfortunately, that’s all I can say about that specific performance. What irks me and others is the perceived lack of intensity. I believe inside he’s intense and he’s serious about winning. How else do you accomplish the level of success he’s had? You don’t. Interestingly enough, J. D. Drew shows the same perceived lack of intensity. Yes. He wants to win. Yes. He plays hard when he’s trying. But, unlike Dice-K, Drew’s intensity is measured by his bat. A pitcher has the chance for 10 strikeouts or be shown on camera pumping their fist about 100 times during a game. A fielder gets to show off if  a) the ball is hit to them or b) they get into a position where they can perform at the plate in a meaningful situation. Go back and watch J. D. Drew on any tape of any game he’s been in and you’ll see that other than when he’s at the plate, the man is playing hard. It doesn’t make me any more of a fan, but it does make me take a breath and think about his season.

Ellsbury will be a star (if he isn’t already).

Pedroia made himself heard last night and shoved a big, fat “FACE” smackdown to anyone who doubted his ability. Good for him. I’m not the tallest guy either and I can certainly appreciate where he is and what he’s been able to do.

Papelbon got his first-ever six out save AND his first-ever post season save. That dude is really good. Wow. He can dance anytime, anyplace so long as he pitches like that for us until he’s lost the gas in his tank. He will be a Hall of Famer.

And now… we wait. They need the rest. They’re tired and they’re happy. They’ll actually relax a little before the media day and the onslaught of public scrutiny hits them one more time before they get a short off-season. Let’s just hope the World Series sends them off to that short rest with a big smile.

GAME 3 PREVIEW

Jacobs Field, Monday, October 15, 2007 — 7:07 PM, EST (FOX Television)

Matsuzaka (0-0)- vs. Jake Westbrook (0-0)

Two .500 pitchers. One with an immense amount of hype and a huge multi million dollar paycheck and one with a losing record and a good changeup. This match up would be incredibly lopsided on paper if the year was just starting, with Matsuzaka easily taking the odds. Unfortunately, he’s had a very marginal second half and he’s lucky to have escaped a couple of games without completely impacting the Sox (they won his mediocre ALDS start).

It’s funny how things work. The Sox had the chance to blow out the Indians in the second game and couldn’t get that crucial hit in the ninth. And then the country saw how horrible our ‘pen is once you get past Pap.

Let’s hope this is a quick, clean game and a Sox win. They need the momentum to go back into their favor or this is going to be a LONG week.

GAME 2 PREVIEW

Fenway Park, Friday, October 5, 2007 — 8:37 PM, EST (TBS Television)

Matsuzaka (15-12) vs. Kelvim Escobar (18-7)

How do you follow a four-hit shutout with no walks? You don’t. You just go out and pitch.

Dice-K will need to fire on all cylinders tonight against the Angels if he wants to set the tone for the rest of the post season. It’ll be up to him to give the Red Sox the complete advantage heading into Game 3 in Anaheim.

And Escobar? He’s been a great pitcher this year due to run support. He’s also, however, given up a ton of hits. He is not the 18-7 it looks like which is why he isn’t a true Cy contender this year. He’ll have his work cut out for him if J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell are hot against him.

Good news for Ortiz and Drew: Escobar has given up more hits/runs against lefties this year.