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Scioscia's Respect for Ortiz

Angels manager Mike Scioscia is well aware of David Ortiz's postseason success. But he doesn't think it's necessarily a case of Ortiz stepping up his game in the postseason spotlight.

"He's had a pretty terrific season to say he just rises to the occasion," said Scioscia of Ortiz, who batted .332 with 52 doubles, 35 homers and 117 RBI this season.

"I think he's able to, as we talk about some pitchers, slow down the game. He's able in the batter's box to slow some things down and stay within himself. I think he performs well in any situation. I think it's a matter of maintaining your game and not trying to do too much and he does that as well as anybody which is why he has had success late in games, early in games, whatever the situation," he said.

"He's very focused. He's got a lot of confidence in the batter's box and he's a tough out. He's about as good a mistake hitter as you're going to see in the game today. As far as a clutch hitter late in a game, you're not going to see many guys better than David," said Scioscia.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 2:20 PM | Permalink

Kelvim Escobar to start for Angels

The Angels, down 1-0 in the best-of-five ALDS, are turning to right-hander Kelvim Escobar to start Game Two against the Red Sox' Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Escobar, who turned 31 this season, finally has blossomed into a big winner. He went 18-7 with a 3.40 earned-run average in 30 starts, including three complete games this year. This, he realizes, has been a breakout year for him.

"I think I've just been building experience throughout my career," said Escobar, who made it to the big leagues with Toronto in 1997 and bounced from the rotation to the bullpen before being obtained by the Angels in 2004 and installed as a starter.

"I've been around for a long time, (having) the desire to get better every day, learn the game and what it takes to go out there and be successful. I'm very comfortable. I'm ready. I think I've been pitching very well the last few years, but to be a winner at this level it takes more than going out there and pitching well. You have to play defense and you have to get support from the hitters," said Escobar, who was only 11-14 but with a solid 3.61 E.R.A. in 2006.

His manager, Mike Scioscia, has seen Escobar's emergence building over the last few years.

"He's a guy who obviously has the makeup, the stuff to be one of the premier pitchers in baseball," said Scioscia. "And he's shown that. I don't think there is a game where I haven't seen Kelvim prepare himself, go out there with a game plan and makes the other team beat him since he's been with us.

"This is a breakout year for Kelvim because he got more (run) support. He threw the ball just as well as he has this year a couple of years ago. He's one of the top pitchers in our league and with the support he has gotten, you can see the wins he has put up this year. He's always had the potential. He's very comfortable in his role with his stuff. He's very confident. He has pitched very well for us this season," said Scioscia.

Escobar's game plan appears to be simple.

"I don't think I can change the way I pitch," said Escobar. "I'm just going to go out there and be aggressive, pound the strike zone and use all of my pitches, do what I do best and let my ability take care of the game."

And Scioscia will be reminding him not to attach too much importance to the game, even if a loss would put the Angels in dire straits in the series.

"I think the advice to give him is not look at it as the biggest start of your career. It's a baseball game. Hopefully Kelvim will be able to establish the strike zone early tomorrow. I don't think there's any magic spell or formula he needs to take into the game. He needs to get in the zone early and put guys away and his stuff will speak for itself," said Scioscia.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 2:00 PM | Permalink

First-Time Look at Dice-K

The Angels will be getting their first look at Daisuke Matsuzaka tomorrow night in Game Two of the ALDS.

And the consensus is that the pitcher tends to have the advantage over the hitters the first time they meet.

Even Angels manager Mike Scioscia admits there's only so much a team can do to prepare to face a pitcher for the first time.

"You can watch all the videotape you want and look at tendencies and look at some charts. That will give you a little piece of the puzzle. I think that gets you on the right path of maybe what you might expect in the batter's box. But you have to get in the batter's box and experience it," said Scioscia.

"You know, there probably will be a slight edge until we see some pitches with a new pitcher. We have to make a quick study. I don't think it's a general rule you're not going to have success against a guy you've never seen, but there certainly is a little edge that will go towards a pitcher until you see some pitches. You're not going to be totally prepared until you experience it and then make your adjustments," he said.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 1:52 PM | Permalink

Vladdy In? Can Garret Anderson See?

Angels manager Mike Scioscia just said during his press briefing that slugger Vladimir Guerrero, who has been hampered by a triceps strain, will "probably" be healthy enough to start in right field Friday night for Game Two of the ALDS at Fenway Park.

Scioscia said Guerrero would work out this afternoon to see if he'll be able to play in the field. Whether he starts in the outfield may depend on how he feels tomorrow after having been through a workout.

If he can play in right, Scioscia said that will give the Angels more batting-order options in an attempt to create what the manager calls "batter's box" offense. He said the team can try and utilize its speed and create runs all it wants to, but none of it means anything unless they can get "batter's box" offense to put runners on base.

The Angels' outfield corps has been depleted. Not only was Guerrero out of the starting lineup Wednesday night in Game One -- though he went 2 for 4 as the designated hitter -- but the Angels also are missing center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., who is hobbled by a sprained ankle.

And then there's left fielder Garret Anderson. After Wednesday night's game, his right eye was virtually swollen shut because of conjunctivitis. Obviously, trying to hit big-league pitching with one eye, especially with your lead eye closed, is very difficult, but Scioscia said that unless something happens to Anderson's left eye, he expects Anderson to start tomorrow night.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 1:43 PM | Permalink

Aura of Confidence

The Red Sox players were quite relaxed in the clubhouse again today. After a solid 4-0 victory over the Angels in Game One of the ALDS Wednesday night at Fenway Park, confidence was oozing throughout Boston.

Julio Lugo was sporting a lime-green outfit as he left the park Wednesday night. Coco Crisp spent 20 minutes chatting with the local and national media. It felt more like a spring training atmosphere than the postseason.

It was much of the same today.

After a brief optional workout, where most of the players participated, Kevin Youkilis spoke about having an off-day today, and whether it's a good thing or a bad thing.

“It’s depends if we win Game Two,” he said. “A whole day off isn’t bad for the whole team. The biggest thing about having these days off is the opportunity where Josh Beckett can come back and pitch. And if he can pitch like he did last night, it’ll be good to have him in Game Four. . . There's always a positive and negative to all this. For me, it’s not a big deal. It’s just another day hanging out in Boston and relaxing.”

Don't think for a moment, however, that the Red Sox are too confident.

“Hopefully it set the tone,” said J.D Drew of the team's Game One victory. “I think it was definitely a great statement.”

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 1:40 PM | Permalink

Projo SoxTalk with McAdam: Brilliant Beckett

Click here to listen to today's edition of projo SoxTalk. Today's topics: Josh Beckett's shutout; what he has in common with Schilling and the other great big-game pitchers; a solid night for the offense; Garret Anderson's vision problem; the small things making a difference; troubling news about Tim Wakefield; and what happens on the off day.

Here are some excerpts from Sean's comments:

How does Beckett elevate his game in the postseason? "If we knew that, we could bottle it and make a lot of money, because teams are always on the lookout for pitchers who lift their game in October, and although he's only 27 and this is remarkably only his second postseason, Beckett is showing all the earmarks of a guy who knows whatever that mysterious component or final element is to his game. He finds it for the biggest starts of the year. He did it in 2003, with two shutouts, including the World Series-clinching win on three days of rest in Yankee Stadium; and he did it last night to get the Red Sox off on the right foot in the postseason. And I guess you could resort to baseball cliche, and say he's just one of those guys who rises to the occasion when the occasion presents itself."

What does Beckett have in common with other big-game pitchers, like Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez? "I guess the thing that I would say is that you see sort of a quiet determination. They don't get rattled. You can see from their body language on the field that they have things under control; they are ready to attack the strike zone. ... We're talking about guys with different aproaches -- Pedro had a different arsenal then Schilling, Schilling is different than Beckett, they're all three different kind of body types -- but I think they have that same inner whatever-you-want-to-call-it -- makeup, constitution -- that allows them to focus and be even more determined when the really big games are on the line."

How does Wakefield's diagnosis affect his likely ALCS availability? "The fact that they have pinpointed this as sort of back of the shoulder and not lower back, as intimated earlier, to me makes it a little more problematic. If you've got some back spasms in the lower back, usually some muscle relaxants, some massage therapy, heat and ice, all kinds of things they can work on there, can bring that along. But if it's the shoulder, that's a little more dicey when it comes to a pitcher. ... This is the second cortisone shot he's received. The first one, a month or so ago, was good enough to get him back out there, but you'll remember that he wasn't as sharp in September as he was earlier in the season. So I think this is anyone's guess which way this goes. He's got about a week to get himself ready, because they would have to declare their ALCS playoff roster a week from tomorrow morning, the morning of Game One."

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 1:30 PM | Permalink

Earning His Keep

Rookie outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury played his way onto the Red Sox' playoff roster for the ALDS because of a strong September performance, and in Game One, he offered an impressive demonstration as to why he deserved to be included.

Ellsbury took over for Manny Ramirez in left field to start the ninth. The Angels' first batter, Chone Figgins, lifted a fly to shallow left and Ellsbury was able to charge in and make a diving catch.

"The tools are there (with Ellsbury) that everybody can see, but for a young kid, he has the willingness to be ready. He's done his homework on all of their pitchers so when he does pinch run, he will be as game ready as possible. We may get one opportunity where he can impact the game, but we don't want to let (that chance) go by. That (diving catch) shows what he is able to do. And maybe he makes that play later on in this series with men on base," said Francona.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 1:05 PM | Permalink

Rest versus Rust

The good thing about Josh Beckett's performance Wednesday night is that the right-hander was so dominant, Boston manager Terry Francona didn't have to summon anyone from his bullpen.

The only troublesome aspect of that complete-game four-hit, 4-0 shutout was that the relievers didn't get any work in Game One of the ALDS. And that means that, come tomorrow night when Game Two is played at Fenway Park, the relievers will have gone at least four days without having pitched in a game, since the regular-season finale last Sunday.

It's a problem, but not a major one, especially with the Red Sox up, 1-0, in the best-of-five series.

"I think we all hope that we don't get in a situation where you're overusing (the relievers)," said Francona. "And I think we also hope that when you get into a situation where you need a pivotal out from your bullpen that they'll be rested but not rusty. That's why we have the optional workouts today."

Relievers Mike Timlin and Javier Lopez were on hand this morning, keeping their arms loose.

Francona did have relievers up in the bullpen behind Beckett Wednesday night. Jonathan Papelbon and Hideki Okajima were throwing when the Angels batted in the eighth, and Papelbon and Eric Gagne were throwing when the Red Sox batted in the eighth.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 12:56 PM | Permalink

Home-Field Advantage

It isn't so much the familiarity of playing at Fenway Park that makes the difference. Of course, that does help, acknowledges Boston manager Terry Francona.

But playing at Fenway, in front of a boisterous sellout crowd every game, has even more advantages than a comfort level of playing on the field itself.

"I think we've tried to somewhat play each inning of every game all year (with a sense or urgency)," said Francona a short time ago in a media conference.

"I think sometimes that's the advantage of playing at Fenway. Every game is treated like a playoff game. Shoot, even in Fort Myers (in spring training). I remember the first time we played the Yankees and we didn't play all the regulars, everybody went bananas. I think that's the culture we want to have here. Every game means so much. So then when you get to games that do mean so much it doesn't make you do something you don't want to do or react in a negative way," said Francona.

That atmosphere in Fenway, said Francona, helps keep the Sox players on an even keel as the intensity increases in the postseason.

"In baseball, you can't do things differently when a bell rings and it's playoff time," he said. "You can't try to hit the ball 20 feet farther. It just doesn't work. I think the whole idea is to treat every time you play the game, whether it's March, April, May, June the same and give it a lot of importance. So then when you get to this time of year, the significance of the game doesn't become too much."

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 12:39 PM | Permalink

Sox Pick Up "Option"

The Red Sox' workout this morning was optional, and last night it was assumed that maybe only the non-playoff-roster position players would be on hand.

But a majority of the team's players were here at Fenway Park, either hitting and taking ground balls and fly balls on the field or hitting in the cage behind the Boston dugout roughly 13 or so hours after the Red Sox, behind Josh Beckett's brilliant performance, had blanked the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 4-0, in Game One of the ALDS.

Kevin Youkilis, who homered Wednesday night, was on the field on the gorgeous, sun-splashed morning, along with fellow regulars Julio Lugo, Jason Varitek and Dustin Pedroia, who joined Eric Hinske, Alex Cora, Doug Mirabelli and Kevin Cash and non-roster players Brandon Moss and Royce Clayton. David Ortiz, who also homered Wednesday night, came onto the field in search of batting practice pitcher Ino Guerrero to bring him to the cage for a BP session.

Some pitchers, meanwhile, got in some work to stay fresh, Jon Lester threw a full-fledged bullpen session, while Javier Lopez and non-roster Kyle Snyder also worked out in the bullpen. Varitek, showing once again the true captain that he is, did his share of catching in the bullpen even though he could have had a day off from donning the tools of ignorance.

Mike Timlin and non-roster Bryan Corey were on hand, playing catch, while Tim Wakefield, who was taken off the roster for this round of the playoffs because of a sore shoulder, threw on flat ground.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, tomorrow's starting pitcher, went through an extensive throwing workout that included some long tossing.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 12:26 PM | Permalink

AP: Philly broadcaster has an eye on Boston

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - No one in Philadelphia calls broadcaster Gary Matthews anything but "Sarge." In California, he goes by a different name: Dad.

Matthews has a couple of rooting interests in the postseason. He will be on the air for pregame and postgame radio shows in Philadelphia while his son's team, the Los Angeles Angels, is in the AL playoffs.

Gary Matthews Jr. will miss Los Angeles' first-round series against Boston because of an injured left knee, but he could return to the lineup if the Angels advance.

A World Series matchup between the Phillies and Angels would be especially exciting for the elder Matthews.

"Oh man, that would be awesome," he said. "You almost have to pull for the team you work for and hope that he has an MVP-type of World Series."

Matthews said he has fond memories of his son tagging along with him to the ballpark. The family got a fun taste of the postseason together in 1984 when Matthews played for the NL East champion Cubs.

"He was there in '84. He knows all about it," Matthews said. "He knows that look when you're winning."

Matthews also was the 1983 NL championship series MVP for Philadelphia against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the 1973 NL Rookie of the Year with San Francisco.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:46 AM | Permalink

Baseball Today: Thursday, October 4

FEVER PITCH: If it's true that nothing can carry a team through the minefield of October baseball like a dominant ace, the Red Sox have every reason to be encouraged on this cloudy, muggy morning. Josh Beckett (above, Journal photo by Bob Breidenbach), writes Sean McAdam, turned in ''the kind of October performance that gets you mentioned with the game’s pitching greats'' as he authored a complete-game, four-hit shutout (no walks, eight strikeouts) in subduing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Game One of the ALDS. Yours truly, while noting that it's not truly comparable since it occurred in the first game of the first series rather than in an absolutely crucial situation, found that Beckett's night matched up pretty well against some of the other great postseason pitching performances in Red Sox history. The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan concurs but goes back farther than me; whereas I stopped at Jim Lonborg 1967, he goes on to Boo Ferriss 1946, Babe Ruth 1918 (or 1916), Smoky Joe Wood 1912 and Big Bill Dineen 1903. The Angels, wrote Steven Krasner, tipped their hats to Beckett . . . which was about the extent of what they could do against him all night. All of which, says the Boston Herald's Steve Buckley, makes him the new Mr. October. SI.com's Tom Verducci agrees and thinks Beckett ''might have set the tone for this series, if not for all of October.''

AND THAT'S NOT ALL: Joe McDonald writes it was a strong all-around performance for the Sox that had them ''feeling very good about themselves.'' Kevin Youkilis was feeling especially good, both physically and psychically, after getting Boston off and running with his first postseason hit, a first-inning homer. McDonald and Krasner have the details in their late notes. Now that they're mostly healthy and have their house in order, says the Herald's Tony Massarotti, the Sox can play as well as anyone.

FEELING GOOD, FEELING POWERFUL: Jim Donaldson reports that David Ortiz is healthy again, as evidenced by his home run last night, and the best may be yet to come.

CAN'T GET HIM OUT: In the uncut version of Inside The Game, Krasner examines the battle between David Ortiz, who also homered last night, and Angels starter John Lackey and concluded that Lackey ''does not have anything in his repertoire to get Ortiz out.'' He also includes pieces on the Angels' running game, some hustle by Manny Ramirez, how Orlando Cabrera ''sold'' a call to the umpires, and the Sox using a rare hit-and-run. In a separate piece, Krasner also notes that Lackey -- a loser yet again at his personal house of horrors, Fenway Park -- didn't think he pitched that badly.

THE BAD NEWS: Tim Wakefield is suffering from a bad shoulder, not a bad back, which is why he was left off the ALDS roster. McAdam, McDonald and Krasner have the details in their pregame notes.

ONLINE ONLY: Projo.com's Sox Blog includes elements that weren't in the newspaper or elsewhere on the Web site, including:

-- Postgame clubhouse reaction from McDonald.

-- McAdam putting Beckett in perspective.

-- Angels manager Mike Scioscia talking about the game, written by Donaldson.

-- Jerry Remy winning the election as president of Red Sox Nation, noted by this writer

-- McDonald on Curt Schilling's wild game of pregame long toss.

-- A question from projo.com producer Sheila Lennon asking where you plan to watch Friday night's game.

Along with many, many other postings that did get into both the paper and the Web site.

The at-Fenway postings began at 2:06 p.m. yesterday and went on until after 11 p.m. That'll be the norm throughout the playoffs, so check here early and often.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE: The Riverside Press-Enterprise's Matt Hurst examines the Angels' decision to pitch to Ortiz with first base open in the third inning, which didn't exactly work out well. Colleague Gregg Patton says what was missing from the Angels' aggressive base-running style last night was baserunners, thanks to Beckett.

IT'S BACK: Bill Reynolds revels in the return of October baseball to Boston.

FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTHS: Youkilis promises to update his blog after every postseason game and he had plenty to write about after last night. Former teammate Gabe Kapler is blogging for the Boston Globe and thinks Youkilis must have felt intense relief -- ''kind of like throwing up after feeling nauseous for a while'' -- after his first-inning home run. Curt Schilling, however, hasn't posted since Sept. 24, when he was gloating about winning in fantasy football.

WE HAVE NO TICKETS, DRAT THE LUCK, BUT HAVE YOU TRIED OUR PARTNER? The Globe reports Major League Baseball is directing fans who had no luck purchasing Red Sox playoff tickets directly from the team to try StubHub Inc., an online marketplace where tickets are being resold for as much as $20,000 apiece. MLB and StubHub signed a five-year contract in August.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT, PART ONE: The Herald's Michael Silverman that J.D. Drew's hot September is drawing some attention from the Angels.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT, PART TWO: And now the light shines on tomorrow's starting pitcher, Daisuke Matsuzaka.

GET READY FOR ARMAGEDDON . . . AGAIN: The Diamond Mind simulation software predicts a Red Sox-Yankees ALCS. (sports.espn.go.com)

IF SO, IT MAKES SENSE: SI.com's Jon Heyman lists the Yankees first and the Red Sox second in his postseason rankings.

RELAXING YEAR: Peter Abraham writes that Alex Rodriguez' career year began when he adopted a carefree attitude.

DEAR ERIC: The blog Vegas Watch writes an open letter to Eric Wedge in which it pleads with the Indians manager not to use Joe Borowski as his closer against the Yankees.

DIFFERENT MAN: The Yankees haven't faced C.C. Sabathia since September 2004 and the Akron Beacon Journal writes he's now a far different pitcher than the one who went 1-7 with a 7.13 ERA against New York early in his career.

YOU'VE CHANGED: Former Cubs first baseman Mark Grace tells the Daily Southtown that Wrigley Field is a different place, ''much meaner,'' since the Steve Bartman incident and the disappointment of 2003.

NLDS: The Rockies opened with a win at Philadelphia (Denver Post) . . . The Diamonbacks beat the Cubs in Arizona (Arizona Republic).

THINGS GO BETTER WITH COKE: The Philadelphia Daily News reports that Colorado closer Manny Corpas poured ''a cup of water or soda on the front of his shirt before leaving the bullpen and then rubbing dirt on the area'' as he came in to pitch the ninth inning yesterday.

SLAVE TO FASHION: In an attempt to keep his injured elbow warm, Cole Hamels wore a long-sleeve shirt yesterday. But it may have sapped his strength in the hot Philadelphia weather and contributed to his defeat. (mlb.com)

I'D DO IT AGAIN: Umpire Tim McClelland admits to having doubts about calling Matt Holliday safe on the final play of Monday's wild-card play-in game between the Rockies and Padres, but says based on what he saw, he'd call it the same way again. (Des Moines Register)

WHISPERS: The Mariners may dangle Adam Jones for Johan Santana (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) . . . Scott Boras will be surprised if the Tigers don't pick up their option on Ivan Rodriguez (Detroit Free Press) . . . A.J. Burnett is selling his Canadian condo. Does that mean he'll be exercising the post-2008 opt-out clause in his Blue Jays contract? (Toronto Star)

QUICKLY: Attention local fans: Cox Cable has added WTBS in High Def just in time for the baseball playoffs . . . The Cardinals fired GM Walt Jocketty. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Quote of the day from Cards chairman Bill DeWitt Jr.: ''To say (Jocketty) was not 100 percent happy would certainly be accurate.'' . . . FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal thinks the move was a good one for the Cards' N.L. Central opponents . . . Barry Bonds' ex-mistress details his temper and his steroids use in an interview with the New York Daily News . . . Paul LoDuca wants to stay with the Mets (New York Daily News) . . . Gary Sheffield will decide soon whether or not to have shoulder surgery (Detroit News) . . . Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez underwent shoulder surgery (Miami Herald) . . . The Pirates are remaining mum on whether or not they'll retain manager Jim Tracy. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

AND FINALLY . . . I don't know where he found it, but Chad Finn uncovered a You Tube clip of the famous Mark Fidrych-Dave Righetti pitching matchup in Pawtucket, the one PawSox owner Ben Mondor and president Mike Tamburro say was one of the events that help put that jewel of a franchise on the map:

Thanks, Chad, for the memories.

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 7:15 AM | Permalink