Mini-Advance Scout: Red Sox, September 3-5

Monday, September 03 2007 @ 05:55 PM EDT

Contributed by: Alex Obal

The Red Sox entered the month of September smarting from a sweep at the hands of the Yankees. Seven callups and one no-hitter later, they've restored their lead over the pinstripers to 6.5 games. They'll look to blow the race open again by throwing three righties at the Jays. That's not the worst idea I've ever heard...

Tonight, it's a battle of babyfaced assassins as Jesse Litsch takes on Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Sox have managed to lose his last four starts, as they've mustered just 14 runs of support over that span. Despite his tendency to run deep counts, he's made it out of the sixth inning in all but five of his starts. Doryoku!

Tomorrow, it's the undisputed innings pitched champion of the world against Boston's Cy Young candidate, as Roy Halladay takes on Josh Beckett. Beckett leads the AL in wins with 16, so if the season ended today I'd put serious money on him winning the Cy Young even though he doesn't go as far into games as C.C. Sabathia does and his ERA ranks seventh among qualifiers. That said, he might actually be the best pitcher in the league right now. His K/BB, at 4.65, is the best it's ever been. He's been Doc-like, if nowhere near Doc's absurd 2003 and 2005 levels...

There are several Jays who have given Beckett problems. Vernon Wells has taken Beckett deep four times in only 22 PA; Lyle Overbay is 7-20 with 6 walks and 5 strikeouts. Surprisingly, Frank Thomas is 2-14 with zero walks and 5 K.

Wednesday, the struggling Shaun Marcum faces Curt Schilling in a battle of homer-prone righties. This will be the first time the Jays see Schilling in 2007. He's still the same Wily Veteran Schilling he's been for the last few years: really good fastball command, splitter is his out pitch, throws a little of everything else, unlikely to walk anyone. Current Jays have combined for a .327 batting average against Schilling, but with only 3 walks in 101 PA.

Apparently he's interested in pitching for Tampa Bay - straight from the horse's mouth - but there's also never been a better time to be a Sox fan. And he still loves Boston: “Obviously Boston is my first choice, this is where I’d like to be, but if that doesn’t work out then yes I have given thought to the other scenarios and possibilities.” Naturally this didn't get printed by the dastardly/helpless mainstream media who are always out/powerless to defame/pacify Curt Schilling.

Manny Ramirez is battling a strained oblique. He didn't play all weekend; I'd expect him to return sometime this series. This isn't a huge deal, as the Sox currently have 19 outfielders on their roster.

They actually have a total of 32 players. Here are the recent callups:

Royce Clayton - minor-league free agent who's happy to be around a contending ballclub. Went on a nice little hot streak on his way out of Toronto to bring his awful strikeout rate a bit closer to his career norms. Is probably the third shortstop on Boston's roster, behind Julio Lugo and Alex Cora. Don't be surprised to see Boston pinch-hit for the SS spot six times this series.

Bobby Kielty - minor-league free agent who can still crush lefty pitching and will platoon with J.D. Drew. May start in left against one of the Jays' righties if Manny's not healthy yet.

Kevin Cash - is doing a great Kevin Cash impression. Has done a pretty good job of walking in his short stint in Boston.

Jacoby Ellsbury - really, really fast centerfielder with a line-drive stroke and pretty good strike zone control. Says Sox Prospects: "He is extremely fast and knows how to run the bases (but does get picked off a little too often). Great on base ability. Gap power with the ability to leg singles into doubles and doubles into triples. Not much home run power. Projects well as a major league lead-off hitter. Doesn't slump too often because you can't turn off his blazing speed. Team leader."

Brandon Moss - 23-year-old outfield prospect with 17 homers in AAA this year, a strong arm and an upward trend in his minor-league walk rates.

Clay Buchholz - I'm fairly confident he won't pitch this series, but his presence makes Julian Tavarez swing back to a relief role.

And Bryan Corey - 33-year-old righty. Take it away, Sox Prospects: "Journeyman reliever with very good splits vs. left handed hitters. Average low 90s fastball with an excellent changeup. "

The Credit Section: All offensive stats, pitches per PA for pitchers and league average stats are from the Hardball Times. Pitchers' stats and leverage indices are from Fangraphs. Minor-league stats are from Minor League Splits and First Inning. K% and BB% are strikeouts and walks as a percentage of plate appearances; GB% + LD% + FB% = 100.


48 comments



https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20070903170604558