[Game #1] RAYS @ Red Sox: Commence title defense
By Scott Caruso | April 7th, 2009 | Posted in Game Thread
Can you believe that it’s time to start this thing all over again? The Rays open up defense of their 2009 American League Championship in the heart of enemy territory – Fenway Park, to be exact – with a stellar matchup of two of the league’s best right-handed pitchers. James Shields looks to live up to the billing that gets him the ball on opening day, while the Rays’ offense looks to get something done against the often dominant but sometimes erratic Josh Beckett.
What to watch for: The weather. They say it could be nasty on Monday up in Boston. Let’s hope the rain stays away. Who is laughing about our dome now?
Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
James Shields – Shields built a reputation as a pitcher who will do whatever is necessary to pitch his team into the seventh or eighth innings, which is evidenced by two consecutive seasons with 215 innings pitched. He has not pitched at Boston since he plunked Coco Crisp in the second inning of the June 5 game at Fenway Park, touching off a bench-clearing fracas. Five Rays players were suspended a total of 23 games for their part in the memorable incident that many feel helped push the Rays to their incredible pennant run. He went 2-2 with a 5.85 ERA in four starts against the Red Sox in 2008. Included in this body of work was a masterful complete game, two-hit, shutout of the Red Sox on April 27 that saw him strike out seven while walking just one. Shields has a 2-4 career mark against the Red Sox with a 5.23 ERA in eight starts; he is 0-3 with a 10.13 ERA in three career starts at Fenway.
Josh Beckett – Beckett is in a far different place than he was last Opening Day, when he was on the disabled list with back woes. Beckett turned in a strong Spring Training, looking a lot like the guy who dominated opponents throughout 2007. This will be the fourth Opening Day start of Beckett’s career, but first since 2005. However, he is no stranger to Fenway openers. Beckett pitched the home opener for the Red Sox in 2006 and 2007, winning on both occasions. Beckett has generally pitched well against the Rays in his career, going 5-3 with a 3.11 ERA in 10 starts. In his career at Fenway, Beckett is 21-16 with a 4.79 ERA. He has been a strong starter during his career, going 18-10 with a 3.35 ERA in April.
View the game preview from Baseball Reference.
| TAMPA BAY RAYS |
BOSTON RED SOX |
| 2B – Akinori Iwamura | |
| LF – Carl Crawford | |
| 3B – Evan Longoria | |
| 1B – Carlos Pena | |
| DH – Pat Burrell | |
| CF – Matt Joyce | |
| C – Dioner Navarro | |
| RF – Gabe Gross | |
| SS – Jason Bartlett |
Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!
Tags: Red Sox
April 6th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Rays postponed until 4 p.m. Tuesday
This is the first time a Rays opener has been postponed, and comes after the Rays had asked MLB to open the season at home. Bud Selig doesn’t care about the Rays and the small market they represent. MLB caters to the big money and that is why we will never see a salary cap unless they are forced into that. Bud Selig and MLB shame themselves the way they treat small market teams.
April 6th, 2009 at 11:31 am
This has nothing to do with a salary cap, Charlie. Not sure why you would even bring that up.
More importantly, baseball has more competitive balance than that other salary-capped league. I will fight long and hard to maintain a cap-free system. As long as there is no cap, teams like the Red Sox and Yankees will coninue to make bad personnel choices while teams like the Rays will continue to find ways to improve process.
April 6th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I sure hope Joyce plays well in the first several days…then gives management a challenge…keep Joyce up and send one of the Gabe’s packing…or the reverse.
April 7th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Is there a double header today or will yesterdays game be made up at a later date?
April 7th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Joel today was a day off just for this reason in case of rain for opening day. Game 2 tommorow