4.24.09 - NYY @ BOS: All Pregame Info & Discussion

[TheBamTino24]

The Yankees (9-6) and Red Sox (9-6) will square off for the first time this season at Fenway Park tonight, the first of a 3-game set. Joba Chamberlain (0-0, 5.06) gets the start against Boston LH Jon Lester (1-2, 5.50).

By the time Chamberlain takes the mound tonight, he will have not have pitched for a week since his last start came on April 17th against Cleveland. In that game he was lit up for 5 ER on 6 hits and 5 walks in just 4.2 IP, throwing 93 pitches (49% strikes). That came after an excellent outing to start his season in Kansas City where he limited the Royals to just 1 ER over 6 IP, allowing only 4 hits and 1 walk against 5 strikeouts on 88 pitches (64% strikes).

Chamberlain pitched to a 3.46 ERA against Boston last season, covering 13.1 innings in which he struck out 14, walking 6. At Fenway Park last year, Chamberlain thew a brilliant game, probably the best of his young career as he outdueled Josh Beckett: 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts.

Lester got off to a terrible start in his first two games this season, starting 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA, allowing at least 8 hits and 5 ER in each game. He rebounded nicely against Baltimore this past Sunday, shutting down the Orioles over 7 IP while yielding just 4 hits and 2 walks against 9 strikeouts.

Last season was a breakout for Lester. He compiled a 16-6 record for Boston and a 3.21 ERA over 33 starts and 210.10 IP. Furthermore, he had a 1.27 WHIP, 1.50 GO:AO, 2.3 K:BB (6.5 K/9 to 2.8 BB/9), and BABIP of .302.

Lester dominated the Yankees in 2008, pitching to a 1.19 ERA over 22.2 IP. He struck out 24 hitters over that span, walking just 3. He also threw a 5-hit shutout at Yankee Stadium on July 3rd.

Lester vs. New York:

HITTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Derek Jeter	13	5	0	0	0	1	1	4	.385	.429	.385	.813
Johnny Damon	12	5	0	0	1	3	1	3	.417	.500	.667	1.167
Alex Rodriguez	11	1	1	0	0	0	1	3	.091	.167	.182	.348
Robinson Cano	11	3	1	0	0	1	0	1	.273	.273	.364	.636
Xavier Nady	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	.000
Melky Cabrera	8	5	1	0	0	1	0	2	.625	.625	.750	1.375
Jose Molina	7	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	.429	.429	.429	.857
Nick Swisher	6	1	0	0	1	2	2	2	.167	.333	.667	1.000
Jorge Posada	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Mark Teixeira	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Hideki Matsui	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	.000
Cody Ransom	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	.500	.667	1.000	1.667
Totals	87	24	4	0	2	8	5	23	.276	.326	.391	.717

Chamberlain vs. Boston:

HITTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Dustin Pedroia	8	3	1	0	0	2	0	1	.375	.375	.500	.875
J.D. Drew	7	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	.000	.125	.000	.125
Mike Lowell	7	3	0	0	1	1	1	1	.429	.500	.857	1.357
David Ortiz	6	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.167	.167	.167	.333
Jacoby Ellsbury	6	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000	.143	.000	.143
Kevin Youkilis	5	2	0	0	0	0	3	2	.400	.625	.400	1.025
Julio Lugo	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	.000	.000	.000	.000
Jason Varitek	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	.000
Jason Bay	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.500	.667	.500	1.167
Jed Lowrie	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
Mark Kotsay	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1.000	1.000	2.000	3.000
Rocco Baldelli	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
Totals	50	11	2	0	1	3	7	15	.220	.316	.320	.636

[burtons]

cant wait for this game...

[YESSIR!]

Thanks TBT. Let's do the do White and Blue.

Awesome matchups today and tomorrow. Lester vs. Joba should be a dandy.

[hardrain]

Way to get in their heads, Joba!

[YESSIR!]

Boy, look at the numbers on the Melk Man vs. Lest. He'll no doubt get the nod and hit several bombs into the monster seats this evening.

Also, I could have sworn Joba allowed 0 ERs in that game vs. Beckett last year, no? Ah I see, you must have meant 2 hits

[YankeeStripes]

for some reason, I want this game more than most.

[NyQuil]

MLB.com's article takes a few pot shots at us (not that I am surprised) but here is one thing I noticed:

The Red Sox, historically the supporting players in this drama, the victims, the foils, have changed all that in this new millennium. They are the only Major League Baseball team to have won two World Series championships in this century. This puts them, in that period of time, two World Series championships ahead of the Yankees.

So was 2000 the last year of the previous millennium?

I love the bit about how we threw money at the problem but the Red Sox evolved.

[BRNXBMRS]

Finally we can begin the baseball season.

[BRNXBMRS]

Originally Posted by NyQuil

MLB.com's article takes a few pot shots at us (not that I am surprised) but here is one thing I noticed:



So was 2000 the last year of the previous millennium?

I love the bit about how we threw money at the problem but the Red Sox evolved.

Dont waste your time with the national media crap, what did you expect. the olde towne team is a small market just trying to get by on ends meat. boo hoooo effin hooooo!

[knickfan23]

The 9 hour pregame show can commence and the season can officially start tonight.

TBT!!

[effdamets]

For the first time in years, I feel as though the Yankees are prepared to play the Sox in their first series at Fenway....

I like all three pitching match ups - I think all three favor NY.
The Yankees are playing pretty good baseball....

Now - I still hate all the hype put on three games in April.... To me, this is a no win for the Yankees. If they lose, it's "disband the team" or something about payroll, by the media. If they win, it's something about paroll with the media!

Anyway - as I said, this is the first time in a really long time, probably since 2003, that I am looking forward to Yankees/Sox in April!

Let's Go Yankees!!!!!!!!

[TheBamTino24]

Originally Posted by YESSIR!

Boy, look at the numbers on the Melk Man vs. Lest. He'll no doubt get the nod and hit several bombs into the monster seats this evening.

Also, I could have sworn Joba allowed 0 ERs in that game vs. Beckett last year, no? Ah I see, you must have meant 2 hits

Melky vs. Lester = Enrique Wilson vs. Pedro

You're exactly right on Joba's game last year...I'll edit. I should've picked that up when I typed it.

[NYYDragoon]

I want to crush them.

[pleasepassthesoup]

I'm pumped. This is an opportunity to send a message, if we can beat them at Fenway without A-Rod.

[Waldo012]

A weekend full of great games and awesome weather, pass me a beer and i'm set.

[YESSIR!]

Originally Posted by TheBamTino24

Melky vs. Lester = Enrique Wilson vs. Pedro

You're exactly right on Joba's game last year...I'll edit. I should've picked that up when I typed it.

Lookin good

I really want this win tonight as well. I think it's important for Joba to out-duel Lester, as far his media coverage goes. Not that that matters a lick in a baseball sense. Everyone is so high on Lester and what he's done, if Joba can show that he's just as good, I think it will go a long way helping to put to bed all the "to the 'pen!" talk.

[Waldo012]

Originally Posted by YESSIR!

Lookin good

I really want this win tonight as well. I think it's important for Joba to out-duel Lester, as far his media coverage goes. Not that that matters a lick in a baseball sense. Everyone is so high on Lester and what he's done, if Joba can show that he's just as good, I think it will go a long way helping to put to bed all the "to the 'pen!" talk.

Even if he turns into a 20 game winner, there will always be ppl talking about sending him to the pen/to close after Mo leave. Cuz you know, even if he pitches lights out for 8 innings every game, someone needs to close them out!

[the_coach]

I guessing Melky gets a start today...maybe Molina too...Posada can then catch tomorrow's day game. Something like this...

1. Jeter SS
2. Damon LF
3. Tex 1B
4. Swisher RF
5. Posada DH
6. Cano 2B
7. Melky CF
8. Molina C
9. Ransom 3B

[BxBomber44]

Originally Posted by the_coach

I guessing Melky gets a start today...maybe Molina too...Posada can then catch tomorrow's day game. Something like this...

1. Jeter SS
2. Damon LF
3. Tex 1B
4. Swisher RF
5. Posada DH
6. Cano 2B
7. Melky CF
8. Molina C
9. Ransom 3B

7-9 gives me a headache

[Waldo012]

Originally Posted by the_coach

I guessing Melky gets a start today...maybe Molina too...Posada can then catch tomorrow's day game. Something like this...

1. Jeter SS
2. Damon LF
3. Tex 1B
4. Swisher RF
5. Posada DH
6. Cano 2B
7. Melky CF
8. Molina C
9. Ransom 3B

I dont think so on the Molina thing. They had the off day yesterday, and a day game after a night game with AJ on the mound tomorrow. IMO I'd guess Posada tonight and Sunday, and Molina tomorrow.