The real series starts now

The typical thing will probably happen tonight. Matsuzaka will be cruising for an inning and a half to two innings. His slider will be sharp, his fastball will have good life and be well located, and he'll get swings and misses. Then some little thing like a slip on the mound or a comebacker that tags him on the shoe will knock him off his rhythm and he'll promptly walk the next 2 batters to load the bases. He'll struggle to get back into a groove and exit after 5+ innings with the game on the line and the Sox lineup struggling against Santana.

For me personally, the perrformance by Lester was not a considered a "certainty" prior to the series. I don't know how anyone can have expected that type of performance given Lester's short regular season and postseason resume. Did I think he could do it? Yes. Did I deem it a "certain commodity"? Not quite.

The fact is that Matsuzaka has pitched in more big / pressure games (obviously including Japan) than Lester. Let's not rewrite history and pretend Lester was already a certified, proven, playoff ace and Matsuzaka is an inexperienced pitcher who may wet his pants on the mound tonight..

One thing is certain. We'll need better run production and hitting then we got in game one. That line up is a much better hitting line up then they gave in game one. The Sox need to hit like they do at home. Santana is going to be really hard to beat. I think Dice has what it takes to do it if he get the run support. The Angels are on the brink of losing it all.. If we have greater than a 2 point lead in at the end of 6, we'll sweep this series for sure. It will definiatly let the Sox know that they're in the heads of the Angels. It almost more mental than physical at this point. Go SOX!

The one good thing about his season full of short outings is that he should plenty left in the tank for the post-season. If the Sox win tonight, it's an almost certain sweep, which is amazing considering I and many others predicted the Angels in 4. That said, it most likely will require the bullpen winning the game tonight, which is iffy at best.

IS MAZZ A RED SOX FAN?

The sox actually put game 5 into the hands of Dice K, they wanna use Lester twice and assume one win from Dice K or Beckett. All of the 3 combined are allowed to lose twice, no matter the two loses fall on any one and any one twice.

If they all lose once. That means Dice K has to pick up the last game at LA. The ultimate showdown looks quite unnecessary after Lester's win.

So hype fear here is for Mazz's job, and sox will advance over angles' dead cold body for real.

The Angels aren't as dangerous as everyone is making them out to be. In order for a closer to win 60+ games he has to be on a team that has trouble putting other teams away .
Dice K may have thrown fewer ininngs than most but he threw as many pitches during the season I bet.
The Sox look good to me and I love our chances tonight.

nice pic mazz you look like a goon and your opinions stink

Let's not mince words. Angels must win game 2 or its over. Generally, the Red Sox are a sseasoned playoff team, the Angels are not. Specifically the key issue for the Angels is whether the offense packs more punch. Frankly the Sox should have scored more against Lachey. They hit him hard and let him off the hook by not being patient in the middle of the count.

The Angels should be concerned about their offense. They did not acquire Texiera and Hunter to be singles hitters to surround Vlad. If they don't up the extra base hits the series is over. I don't care what they did in the regular season, that means nothing. (See Cubs, Brewers) The bottom line is the Red Sox have better playoff starting pitching (provided Becket is ok) and a better closer (K-Rod broke the save record but he also led the league in blown). The only player on the Angels that is scary is Vlad and he can be neutralized.

yeah I agree - Lester's performance the other night should not be underestimated. Lackey had the Sox number this year too. It's not like we need more drama for a 5 game series here. Matsuzaka's far from a sure thing I agree, his walks and wildness could definitely bite him with the Angels lineup. If he wins, it will be all but over. The pressure is clearly on the Angels even if they win tonight I think, it's still prove you can beat us as far as the Angels/Sox go.

The real series start now? Last time I checked Lester's win counted. He is pissing me off. He works for the Globe and he is talking trash.
I just hope that the Red Sox win to shut his mouth.

Dice K will cruise...Why is anyone doubting this? You don't win 18 games by accident and break into the top 5 in ERA, this is no coincidence.

Dice K = Flat-Out Uber Ninja!!!!

Hiyaaa!!!!!

And yes I also was in the commercial for the VineYard!

I'm predicting 0 runs through 4, 4 runs in the 5th, 1 more in the 6th and 8th off timlin and Okajeemer. Sox get one early and two late and fall 6-3. You can only implode in the middle innings so many times before it catches up with you.

I think Mazz is overplaying this just a tad. I mean think about it. We all knew that DiceK pitched a lot fewer innings in Japan with the shorter season there. The Sox are just protecting him, as they should, to get him through the longer season. And to have some gas left in the tank for October.

I read something in another article on another site that is important to note: the Sox Pen had yesterday off. Even if Dice-K pitches 5 or 6, the pen is fresh and will have travel time to recover afterwards.

I have a good feeling about how they are going to do against Santana. This lineups shows up in big games. Last year people wrote them off against CC and Carmona and they TAGGED those guys. If they win tonight, it's probably going to be a sweep.

Dice simply needs to trust his stuff. So many times he gets 2 outs and then gets ahead of hitter 1-2 but ends up walking him and then the next. All of a sudden its 18-22 pitches instead of 14-16. Trust your stuff and attack and this will be 2-0 Sox.

Honestly, don't think Beckett is quite himself. Love to see the big game pitcher re-emerge, but I don't think that will happen just yet. Sox really need this one, don't kid yourself about already having the split in Anaheim. Hate to have to play game 5 in California....win tonight and Sox will be fine....all the way to the Series. Winner of this series will win AL.

When you have a 2.90 era (which, y'know, is tops among Sox starters) you're not just lucky to have run support and a bullpen. The Sox Pen was a mess for much of the season, yet Dice-K still managed only 2 losses (until his final tuneup start).
When are folks going to finally get it in their heads that just because Dice-K is a little bit different from what we're used to doesn't mean he's not still Very, Very Good.
That 2.90 era isn't the bullpen or the offense. That's Daisuke and we should be just as comfortable, if not more so, with Daisuke on the mound as we were with Lester.

Massaroti needs to go back to where he orginated from!

I think people are too hard on Dice-K. Most tv and radio experts say that Japan is like AAA(A), so we somewhat have a sophomore pitching. And while he mostly goes 6 innings and issues walks, he gives up very few hits and he has one of the highest missed swing rates in the league. I agree that he taxes the bullpen, but he is on a great team f that is his biggest problem--the other pitchers tend to go deep into games. And besides, in the playoffs you have many more days off, so his one problem is less of an issue at this time.

Dice K can be frustrating but I think it is acceptable to expect 6 innings tonight with 2 runs or less. Are bullpen is fully rested with a day off tomorrow so even if he goes five, we can use byrd, MDC, Oki, Masterson, Lopez, and Paps. Some combination of those guys should be able to hold the Angels.

Yes, Santana had a good year. To my knowledge he doesn't have a long history of pitching big games. 13 of his 32 starts this year were against the lousy AL West.
All pressure is on the Angels. Go Sox

I think people are too hard on Dice-K. Most tv and radio experts say that Japan is like AAA(A), so we somewhat have a sophomore pitching. And while he mostly goes 6 innings and issues walks, he gives up very few hits and he has one of the highest missed swing rates in the league. I agree that he taxes the bullpen, but he is on a great team f that is his biggest problem--the other pitchers tend to go deep into games. And besides, in the playoffs you have many more days off, so his one problem is less of an issue at this time.

The constant criticism of Daisuke is goofy.

7th best ERA in the majors.

Once again,

7th best ERA in the majors.

Wins aren't relevant. Too much has to deal with run-support. But ERA is the best criteria for evaluating pitchers. Unless you can tell me he pitched against consistently worse batting teams, then ERA is important. And you are already counting NL pitchers (which you shouldn't). So dock him some points for the poor innings. I'm happy to have the 10th best pitcher in the league AS OUR NUMBER 3 STARTER!

The real series started on Wednesday, day one of the playoffs. You can't erase a game just because the Red Sox won.

i hope that the red sox end up with the most points tonight.

But how will Palin do against Dice-K?

BOSTON 10 - LA 0 - THAT IS THE LAST 10 GAMES IN THE POSTSEASON THAT THE SOX HAVE WON AGAINST THE ANGELS.
DO WE EXPECT SOMETHING DIFFERENT TONIGHT??? L.A. IS LIKE A HARD COOKIE - THEY CRUMBLE.
Jamies Score prediction for this evening. - Red Sox 7 - Angels 3 / I have been right with my game predictions this season 97.9% of the time. (all Red Sox Games regular and now post season) (wins and losses).
Sox in 4
Jamie

MAZZ, the real series started Wednesday night and the SOX won. You only need 3 to win and we're 1/3 of the way there. We're the defending World Champs; not the Angels. They have to take it away from us, not vice-versa. They've never defeated us in the playoffs. The only skeptics should be Angels fans. The best records don't mean much in the playoffs (aka CUBS), as the AL East was a much stronger division than the AL West. The SOX are now heavy favorites to make it to the ALCS until the Angels prove otherwise. All we have to do is scores runs, because our starting pitching is better than their's. GO SOX!!!

So, we're supposed to believe that the Sox are going to struggle against a pitcher they have a history of lighting up tonight?

Dice gets the win tonight, and I expect a signature performance from him.

...also, why would anybody have picked the Angels to win this series...seriously? They can't hit mediocre pitching, let alone good pitching. Sox get the win tonight, sweep behind Nuke on Sunday.

Faaaaaart!

It's curious, but my reading of the Globe commentators' opinions of Dice K would lead me to believe that he is unreliable and lucky whereas Beckett and Lester are dependable.

The figures indicate that he is one of the best pitchers in the Majors. The Angels must have less doubts about him tonight than do his supporters. But, I suppose that when you are blessed with three pitchers as good as the Red Sox possess, you must always find one that is inadequate.

From my distant point of view, we have a great chance of winning in four if not three BECAUSE of Dice K. When will he receive the vote of confidence from the Boston press he deserves? Or is it always half time at Gillette Stadium?

I have a good feeling about tonight's game. I think we will swing the bat well and score 6 or 7 runs and Dice K will be as sharp as he needs to be (maybe even make it through 6 innings!) Look for Pedroia to have a great game, 4/5 and going deep, and Ellsbury to continue to get on base and make things happen.

but how will Palin do against Dice-K?

Let's all hope the Angels are out for revenge tonight and maddened by their press because then Dice-K will be like magic because they will be swinging freely at him and suddenly it will be the seventh inning and so as not to push luck, Delcarmen does the seventh, Okajima the eighth and Paps the ninth.

UM Cinco Ocho typical? when did daisuke do that this year?
Daisuke has loaded the bases a lot, and yet has not allowed 1 run in those situations. Poeple complain he isnt working enough innings, but if you look back youll find that the sox were so far ahead after 6 that francona pulled him and used the time to work his relievers. The guy is 18 and 3 for crying out loud. I dont know where you get that he will leave with the game "on the line".
It amazes me to see fans who ignore the numbers, and the reality to impose thier own world on things, just because they dont like someone.
ANd santana isnt all that, he had the same amount of wins as lester, but never pitched against the sox. he pitched primarily in the second weakest division in all of baseball. is it any wonder that angels always fall, these teams have so little competition. its easier for them to get wins. and yet santana couldnt even match daisukes win total.

Just to add to the comment by SFSoxfan, "if we have greater than a two point lead at the end of six , we'll sweep"...but only if the Angels don't kick a game-tying field goal and then win in OT.

Just to add to the comment by SFSoxfan, "if we have greater than a two point lead at the end of six , we'll sweep"...but only if the Angels don't kick a game-tying field goal and then win in OT.

The emergence of Lester has profoundly changed the makeup of the Sox in a short series. Lester, Matsuzaka, and Beckett are the strongest front 3 the Sox have ever taken into the post season. (Despite Lowe's clutch performance in the 04 post season were we really confident with an injured Schilling, a Pedro in steep decline, and a hit and miss Lowe?) The Sox need a strong 5+ from Dice K tonight. Given the series schedule it's not unreasonable to get 10 or 11 outs from a combination of Masterson, Okajima and Papelbon. If needed, you could probably call on Papelbon for half of them. Bottom line, if you can handle the pain of watching Matsuzaka pitch (it should be about 1:00 AM by the 5th inning), it will be worth it. The Angels always tihten up in the post season and this year is no exception. Sox sweep.

Well, let's see, aren't Lester, Dice K, and Beckett the best 1, 2, 3 punch on any one team in baseball? If they are on, I think we are headed for another run to the WS. Of course if they falter and we have to rely on a 4, or 5 in teh rotation, you better hope that Dr. Gil can do a nifty surgical trick on Schilling and send him out with a blood on his shoulder and elbow. Of course ther eis always Wake's knuckler theat the whole league has finally figured out. Hmmm, shouldbe interesting and exciting at the same time. Go Sox!

Dice-K is a pitcher who does not like to give in to a batter. The man has unhittable stuff. If allowed to pitch into the seventh he might throw 135 pitches and have the bases loaded three times. However he relishes the challenge on not letting a base runner score (look at his performance when men are on base--it is superb).
If management would allow him to throw 135 pitches, which he is capable of doing without any adverse effects, Beckett could close out the series in Fenway. Enough said!!!

I think what we should expect is that Matsuzaka will give up a hit, a bunch of walks, and maybe a run, and exit early. Then we get to the bullpen, which is in good shape. Part of the reason that Dice-K has been so successful is that the rest of the Sox starters pitch long enough (win or lose) that he can rely on the bullpen being fresh when he's out of pitches. That seems to apply today, so I think the mostly likely outcome is another hard-to-watch Sox win.

Everyone criticizing DICE-K are either IDIOTS or Jealous of him. He gets Run support. but is ERA is 2.90 3 best for an AL Starter. Believe me if he had pitched in NL his ERA would be 2 or less than 2 and probably 25 wins...
DICE-K is the BEST REDSOX pitcher this year.

I think Mazz is fine I have no idea what its like in Boston in general ( im in Ireland ) but if your a red sox fan thats what you are and sure its fine to talk about their short-comings trouble is all you seem to want is bad news pushed aside
Win or lose im a fan and i know everyone on field tonite will give 100%
And to the person who said Timlin will blow it!!! is he even in the 25 !!!

keep up good work Mazz