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INSIDE THE GAME -- Angels 7, Sox 5

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON – Justin Masterson made his big-league debut yesterday.

Great things are predicted for the 6-foot-6, 250-pound right-hander. The 23-year-old certainly seems to have all the tools for stardom – size, live arm and intelligence, to name three.

Here are some first-game impressions:

-- His motion is three-quarters. The beginning of his motion is deliberate, but then he explodes off the rubber, slinging the ball to the plate, reminiscent of the finish to Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley’s delivery. His delivery, though, does seem to put a lot of stress on his elbow.

-- He works very quickly, a sign of an extremely confident pitcher, not the typical first-game-in-the-bigs body language. Masterson was by no means wide-eyed, in awe of his surroundings. He looked like he belonged.

-- He can field his position. Masterson quickly came off the mound when speedy Chone Figgins attempted to bunt for a hit in the third. Under control, Masterson raced in, picked up the ball, planted his feet, squared up to first and threw a strike for the out.

-- He looks like he can control the opposition’s running game. He used his normal high leg-kick delivery in the second and the Angels’ Maicer Izturis swiped second without a throw. The next time the Angels had a runner at first, Masterson used the slide-step. And he showed quick feet and a good move to first, almost picking off Gary Matthews Jr. in the third.

-- He has the stuff to compete at the big-league level. Masterson was able to keep the Angels off-balance with his fastball (up to 92 m.p.h.), changeup (80-84) and slider (78-80), but his bread and butter was the sinker, generally 87-90. Of the 18 outs he recorded, 11 came on ground balls and he also whiffed four, so there were only three balls hit into the outfield for outs.

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His batting average still is a mere .189.

Late in the game, though, David Ortiz is a tough out. At least he was on this homestand, which wound up yesterday.

In his last at-bat over the last seven games, Ortiz went 4 for 4 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI. He walked in his other three final at-bats.

Yesterday, Ortiz was 0 for 4 when he faced Scot Shields with a runner at second and two outs in the ninth and the Sox down, 7-3. Shields surprised Ortiz by dropping in an 81 m.p.h. curveball for a called strike, making the count 1 and 2. He tried another 81-m.p.h. curve but missed, so it was 2 and 2.

It’s rare to double up with breaking balls. But throw three in a row? Not likely. So Ortiz had to know a fastball was coming. It did, a fat one over the heart of the plate, and Ortiz crushed it to right for a two-run homer, Boston’s final runs in a 7-5 loss.

Earlier, Ortiz had given indications that he’s still battling a slump, and that he wasn’t terribly confident facing Angels left-hander Joe Saunders. Ortiz attempted to beat the shift by dropping down a bunt on an 0-and-1 pitch in the first inning, but missed the pitch.

Another indication came in the fifth. The count on Ortiz reached 3 and 0.

Ortiz rarely swings at a 3-and-0 pitch. He did it only seven times last year (3 for 5). Yesterday, though, figuring he would get a fastball, he hacked at the 3-and-0 offering from Joe Saunders, the first time this season he as swung at 3 and 0.

He got the fastball, and he hit it well, but the high drive died in the triangle and was hauled in by Torii Hunter.
********************************************

The last time Manny Ramirez faced Frankie Rodriguez, the Angels’ ace closer, it was last Oct. 5. And the Red Sox left fielder clubbed a dramatic, titanic, tie-breaking three-run homer well over the Green Monster with two outs in the bottom of the ninth of Game 2 of the American League Division Series, spurring Boston to a sweep of the series.

They met again yesterday. The circumstances weren’t nearly as pressure-packed. The Angels had a 7-5 lead and there were two outs with none on in the bottom of the ninth.

Rodriguez slipped two fastballs, each at 93 m.p.h., over the outside corner for called strikes. He missed with a fastball and a slider. His 2-and-2 pitch was a 93 m.p.h. fastball that Ramirez hit very well – but flied out to the triangle in center.

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It is said that stealing third base is easier than stealing second.

Pitchers don’t tend to pay as much attention to the runner at second as they do at first, so the runner can get a bigger lead and jump, as a result.

Yesterday, Coco Crisp made it look real easy to swipe third.

In the fourth, after hitting a double, Crisp wasn’t held close by the Angels shortstop or second baseman and Saunders only gave him a cursory look. So Crisp got a nice walking lead and took off for third, sliding in safely without drawing a throw because he had such a good jump.
In the sixth, Crisp made it 2 for 2, again getting a great jump and sliding into third without a throw.

******************************

Those who complain about any negative Ramirez comments should pass on this item. This may be construed as Manny Bashing.

Leading off the second, Ramirez hit a high popup behind first base that twisted in the wind. Angels first baseman Casey Kotchman was in obvious trouble trying to track this ball in the bright sunshine and the swirling wind.

Ramirez could see all of that. The play was right in his path.

Nevertheless, Ramirez lolly-gagged his way down the first-base line. So when the ball fell safely onto the grass, totally missing Kotchman’s glove about 15 feet behind the dirt part of the infield, Ramirez had barely made it to first base.

It should have been a double, had he been running out of the box.

As things turned out, it didn’t matter. Kevin Youkilis walked, pushing Ramirez to second. Ramirez was held up at third on Jed Lowrie’s single to center and scored on Coco Crisp’s one-out chopper to the right side.

skrasner@projo.com / 401-277-7340

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 6:03 PM | Permalink

Photo: Justin Masterson takes the mound

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Justin Masterson, Red Sox pitcher called up from Portland, throws in the first inning against the Los Angleles Angels at Fenway Park.

Posted by Pam Cotter  at 3:25 PM | Permalink

Red Sox 'curse' jersey fetches $175,000

BOSTON (AP) - The Boston Red Sox jersey secretly buried under the new Yankee Stadium in a failed curse attempt sold Thursday for $175,100 in a charity auction.

The bid was the highest of 282 for the battered No. 34 David Ortiz jersey, which the Yankees jackhammered out from under two feet of concrete earlier this month.

The Jimmy Fund, the cancer charity that sold the shirt, did not immediately reveal the name of the winning bidder after the weeklong eBay auction ended at 12:30 p.m.

That person, whose screen name is 2004carman, did not immediately respond to an e-mail requesting comment. The winner also will receive a new Ortiz jersey and two tickets to a Red Sox game.

Mike Andrews, The Jimmy Fund chairman and former Red Sox second baseman, said the charity was "absolutely thrilled."

"We are grateful for the generous bid, and extend our deep gratitude to the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox for coming together again in the fight against cancer," he said in a statement.

Construction worker Gino Castignoli, a Red Sox fan from the Bronx, dropped the jersey in wet concrete, hoping to hex the Yankees.

New York found the jersey after receiving information from anonymous tipsters. The Yankees then decided to donate it to the Jimmy Fund, the Red Sox's official charity that is affiliated with Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 1:18 PM | Permalink

Lowell to join PawSox on rehab assigment; will play at McCoy Friday night

The Pawtucket Red Sox will have 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell as their designated hitter tomorrow night (Friday) on injury rehab (sprained left thumb) from Boston when the PawSox and the Syracuse Chiefs play the finale of their 3-game series at 7:05 pm at McCoy Stadium.

The plan is for Lowell to DH tomorrow night, play third base Saturday night in Buffalo, and DH again on Sunday afternoon in Buffalo. This rehab appearance will mark the 34-year-old Lowell’s first return to the minor leagues since the 1999 season when he played 24 games for Calgary (AAA-Florida) hitting .313. He has played in the International League back in 1997 and ’98 with the Columbus Clippers (AAA-Yankees at the time) and was the MVP of the Triple-A All-Star Game in 1998.

Posted by Art Martone  at 12:01 PM | Permalink

Projo SoxTalk with McAdam: Bugged by the flu

Click the play button below to hear Sean's comments, recorded this morning. Today's topics: the illness that is messing up the Red Sox' plans, what to expect from Justin Masterson, and Craig Hansen's 2008 debut.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:46 AM to Projo SoxTalk with Sean McAdam | Permalink

Expectations for Masterson's debut

Justin Masterson, called up from Double A Portland for the emergency start, will be under a few restrictions this afternoon against the Angels, consistent with the Red Sox' careful treatment of their young pitchers.

Masterson has thrown between 70-90 pitches in his four outings for Portland, lasting around five innings per start.

"We're not going to overwhelm him," said manager Terry Francona. "We're not going to put him in a situation where he has to get out major league hitters when he's not staying in his delivery, so we'll watch him closely."

Francona, though, isn't concerned that the atmosphere of pitching in the big leagues will get to the 23-year-old right-hander.

"He seems to have his act together pretty well," said Francona of the personable 6-foot-6, 250-pounder. "He's excited. He's about as solid a kid as you'll ever find."

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 11:06 AM | Permalink

Francona: Players should appreciate the fans

Wednesday night marked the Red Sox' 400th consecutive sellout, the second-longest such streak in major league history, trailing only the 455 straight sellouts notched by the Indians in the 1990s.

Boston manager Terry Francona said this morning that he hopes his players don't take the packed houses for granted.

"I hope they appreciate it," said Francona. "You see the crowds we get now and you figure it has always been that way. We've been very fortunate to play in a place where everything you do there's interest, where every game is important."

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 11:02 AM | Permalink

Making of a lineup

The Red Sox lineup is a bit of a mix-and-match affair today for the series finale against the Angels for a few reasons.

Kevin Youkilis, who missed Tuesday's game because of tightness in his back, returns to the lineup at first base. Jed Lowire is at third base. Coco Crisp, meanwhile, is back on the field for the first time since April 15 when a hamstring issue cropped up. He'll be in center field, which pushes hot-hitting top-of-the-order catalyst Jacoby Ellsbury from center to right in place of J.D. Drew.

Part of the reason for those lineup decisions are based on the Angels starting pitcher, Joe Saunders. He's left-handed and tough on lefties, so left-handed hitters Sean Casey (first base) and Drew will begin today's game on the bench.

Drew also is in a slump, only 2-for-20 on this homestand, which ends today. Ellsbury, also a left-handed hitter, remains in the lineup because he has been hitting well, notching three multiple-hit games in his last four starts. Manager Terry Francona, though, said he told Drew four days ago he'd be sitting this one out because of Saunders.

Behind the plate, meanwhile, will be Kevin Cash, making his fifth straight start because Jason Varitek has been ill.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 10:55 AM | Permalink

Beckett, Matsuzaka updates

Josh Beckett, who missed his scheduled start on Tuesday night because of a stiff neck, was able to throw a bullpen session this morning. That puts him in line to be able to make his next scheduled start, which will be on the road Sunday against Tampa Bay

Daisuke Matsuzaka, who missed his scheduled start on Wednesday night, is being examined this morning by Red Sox doctors to determine how contagious he is.

The likely plan is for Matsuzaka to remain in Boston while the Red Sox spend the weekend on the road, playing the Rays. Manager Terry Francona said he didn't see any sense in taking Dice-K along on the trip given the severity of his illness.

If the right-hander feels strong enough while Boston is on the road, the Red Sox will make whatever arrangements are necessary to make sure Matsuzaka can throw in Fenway Park. His next scheduled start would be Tuesday at home against Toronto, but there's no guarantee he'll be healthy enough to pitch that night.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 10:48 AM | Permalink

Starting Lineups -- April 24

RED SOX

Ellsbury rf
Pedroia 2b
Ortiz dh
Ramirez lf
Youkilis 1b
Lowrie 3b
Lugo ss
Crisp cf
Cash c

Masterson p

ANGELS

Figgins 3b
Matthews Jr. rf
Guerrero dh
Anderson lf
Hunter cf
Kotchman 1b
Izturis 2b
Napoli c
Aybar ss

Saunders p

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 10:45 AM | Permalink

Baseball Today: Thursday, April 24

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach

NOT SO CLOSE! In the infectious ward that is the Red Sox clubhouse, the kind of intimacy being enjoyed by Kevin Youkilis and Manny Ramirez prior to last night's game is a dangerous thing. The flu that's making the rounds is flattening the team, and it may have contributed to the Sox' 6-4 loss to the Angels. Daisuke Matsuzaka, the scheduled starter, came down with it yesterday afternoon and had to be scratched about 2 1/2 hours before gametime (Projo Sox Blog), leaving the team with almost no options as to who would pitch. Terry Francona said in his postgame press conference that they'd just about decided to go with Julian Tavarez -- with the understanding that Tavarez would max out at about three innings and they'd have to completely run through the bullpen -- when Jon Lester, originally scheduled to go today, volunteered to work on three days' rest. They took him up on it, and Paul Kenyon reports he did about as well as you'd expect after throwing 107 pitches four days ago -- five innings, nine hits, four runs. “It was different," Lester said afterwards. "No pain or soreness or anything like that. It didn’t feel like the normal five days. That’s not an excuse. . . It was just different.” The score was 4-4 when he left, and yesterday's callup, Craig Hansen, surrendered the game-winning home run three batters into his appearance. Kenyon and Steven Krasner report that Hansen was shipped back to Pawtucket immediately after the game to make room on the roster for today's starter, Justin Masterson, who's being called up from Double-A Portland for a one-shot deal. The Portland Press Herald got some quick comments from the excited Masterson last night as he packed for his in-and-out trip to Boston.

He's healthy, anyway. The last, ominous note in Kenyon's game story: Tomorrow night's starter, Tim Wakefield, was seen coughing and hacking as he left the clubhouse last night,

A LITTLE PUSH: In his Inside The Game feature, Krasner chronicles the resurgence of Julio Lugo and wonders if the splashy arrival of Jed Lowrie has lit a fire under the veteran shortstop. That link is to the newspaper copy of ITG; you can read an expanded version here on the Sox Blog (and it's available almost immediately after the end of each game).

SOMETHING TO BUILD ON: Tuesday night's emergency starter, David Pauley, is back in Pawtucket -- he was replaced by Hansen, who's now being replaced by Masterson, and someone will go up tomorrow to replace Masterson -- and Carolyn Thornton has Pauley's reaction to the whirlwind events that led to him being at Fenway.

ON A RUN: The blog Wicked Good Sports reports that Jacoby Ellsbury -- "running around like a virgin on prom night," whatever that means -- is threatening to break a major-league record: Most consecutive stolen bases at the start of a career. The record is 27, set by Tim Raines between 1979 and '81, and Ellsbury is currently at 17. (Thanks to Baseball Musing's David Pinto for finding this.)

MR. HATFIELD, MEET MR. McCOY: Orlando Cabrera is beloved in Boston for his role as the free-spirited, high-energy shortstop on the 2004 World Series champions. Edgar Renteria is reviled for his lumpy, 30-error performance in the one year he spent here as Cabrera's replacement, a year that ended in a first-round playoff ouster. Now we find out the two men, both natives of Colombia, can't stand each other . . . though it has nothing (or almost nothing) to do with their shared Boston experience. (ESPN The Magazine)

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON: The David Ortiz jersey buried under the new Yankee Stadium by a Red Sox fan working on the construction crew is proving to be a windfall for the Jimmy Fund. (New York Post) The Yankees donated the shirt to the charity organization, which put it up for auction on eBay, and the bidding has reached nearly $90,000.

SEE? I WAS RIGHT! Mike Mussina turned in his strongest performance of the year in a 6-4 win over the White Sox (New York Daily News), one day after Hank Steinbrenner said he needed to start pitching more like Jamie Moyer. The Daily News' John Harper thinks the Baby Boss deserves some of the credit for Mussina's outing.

TRY PITCHING LIKE JOSH BECKETT: Let's see what advice Hank has for the struggling Phil Hughes, who will try to complete the three-game sweep in Chicago tonight. (New York Daily News) Joe Girardi believes Hughes may have Alex Rodriguez behind him at third base, though its more likely A-Rod won't play until the weekend. (New York Post)

THE NUMBERS GAME: Having opened the topic yesterday with his rant about Yankee fans booing LaTroy Hawkins for wearing Paul O'Neill's number, Joe Posnanski digs deeply -- as only he can -- on the retired-number practice of every team. (joeposnanski.com) He breaks the decisions into the following categories -- Greatness, Emotional, Importance, Bizarre and Utterly Inexplicable. (There are only two entries in the latter two categories: The Reds' retiring Willard Hershberger's No. 5 in 1941 after he committed suicide is Bizarre, though they did recant and begin reissuing the number a few years later, and it eventually landed on Johnny Bench's back. And the Pirates' retiring Billy Meyer's No. 1 -- after he managed the team for five seasons, four of them with losing records and one with 112 losses -- is Utterly Inexplicable.)

FRANK-LY SPEAKING: The A's are mum on rumors they're about to sign Frank Thomas (Costa Contra Times), and yahoosports.com reports another, unnamed team has gotten into the bidding. (If he doesn't like these options, the Toronto Sun says the Joliet Jackhammers are preparing an offer.) The Twins aren't one of those unnamed teams. (mlb.com) As for his old club, Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi says Thomas' snit over being benched -- culminating in his refusal to join the postgame celebratory handshake on Saturday -- clinched the Jays' decision to release him. (National Post) "You’re either part of the team or you’re not," Ricciardi said. "It’s not real hard to go out there and shake hands. I don’t think that’s a tough thing to do."

YOU'LL BE SORRY, J.P.: Thomas' hometown newspaper, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, says the Big Hurt has something left in the tank.

SECOND CHANCE: Writing for SportingNews.com, David Pinto notes it's been 82 years since a second baseman won a home-run title . . . a drought the Phillies' Chase Utley has a chance to break this season.

THIS PROBABLY SAYS SOMETHING, THOUGH DARNED IF I KNOW WHAT: On the same day the Web site True Blue L.A. is declaring sabermetrics to be dead -- because its truths are now so ingrained in the mainstream that "there’s very little competitive advantage to be gained from stats based analysis" -- the Kansas City Star reports Royals manager Trey Hillman is displeased with his team's on-base percentage.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD: Wayne Krivsky is out as Reds' general manager (Cincinnati Enquirer). One view: Richard Justice, writing for SportingNews.com, says Krivsky's replacement, Walt Jocketty, should bring October baseball back to Cincinnati. Another view: Scott Miller of CBSSports.com says firing Krivsky shows how clueless the Reds really are.

DEEPER PROBLEMS: Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com says the Tigers' decision to move Miguel Cabrera to first base makes sense on the surface, but it also reveals some fundamental problems in Detroit's organizational strategies.

'ROAR FROM 34': Orioles fans with a knowledge of the team's past recaptured the spirit of the late Wild Bill Hagy for one night and the result was magical. (Baltimore Sun, video included)

L.A.'S FINE, BUT IT AIN'T HOME. NEW YORK'S HOME, BUT IT AIN'T MINE NO MORE: Joe Torre is finding that scoring runs is much more difficult with the Dodgers than it was with the Yankees, and being saddled with the rotting carcass that is Andruw Jones isn't helping. (yahoo.com)

THE 'C' WORD: Barry Bonds' agent is again talking collusion as he finds zero interest for his client. (si.com)

IN MEDICAL NEWS . . . Scott Kazmir, sidelined since suffering a left elbow strain on Feb. 25, will make his first start of the season May 3 at Fenway Park against the Red Sox (mlb.com) . . . Nationals closer Chad Cordero won't need shoulder surgery (Washington Post) . . . The Rangers' Luis Mendoza says his shoulder hurts (Dallas Morning News) . . . A strained left intercostal is sending the Indians' Jake Westbrook to the disabled list (cleveland.com) . . . Orlando Hernandez will remain in a boot for two more weeks and his return isn't anywhere in sight (New York Daily News) . . . The Cubs say Alfonso Soriano won't need a rehab stint and will be ready to play when he comes off the DL next week. (Chocago Sun-Times)

OLD FRIENDS: Pedro Martinez, recovering from his hamstring strain, can return to the mound in 10 to 14 days (Newsweek) . . . Eric Hinske continues his resurgence in Tampa; last night he helped the Rays to a come-from-behind victory over Roy Halladay (Tampa Tribune) . . . The one thing that could always be said for Derek Lowe was that he was never injured. But last night he had to leave his start after five innings because of tightness in his elbow (mlb.com) . . . For the fifth straight time this season, Bronson Arroyo struggled, this time lasting only 3 2/3 innings with his velocity topping out at 88 (Springfield News and Sun) . . . Kason Gabbard, who hurt his back when he slipped on the mound at Fenway Monday, is being placed on the disabled list by the Rangers. (Dallas Morning News)

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 6:42 AM | Permalink