Get used to that sight pictured up above Red Sox Nation. Red Sox pitchers will be batting for the next two games definitely and in an if necessary game 5. Daisuke Matsuzaka was 0 for 4 at the plate this season and Jon Lester didn’t have any at-bats. Basically if you’re the 8th hitter in the Red Sox lineup you might see an intentional walk or two since the pitcher will be batting behind you in the game. This will more than likely happen if there is a runner on base when the 8th place hitter comes up.
Terry Francona hasn’t completely settled on his lineup just yet for tonight’s game, but he did state yesterday that David Ortiz will play first base and Mike Lowell will play third. This means that Kevin Youkilis will find himself on the bench, at least to start the game. It does hurt the Red Sox a little bit when you have to take your #2 hitter out of the lineup. But I am not sure it makes a difference with the way the Red Sox are rolling right now.
Speaking of Matsuzaka, he will become the first Japanese-born starting pitcher to start a World Series game. Hideki Okajima was the first Japanese player to pitch in a World Series with his appearance in Game 2. We will need Matsuzaka to give us at least 6 good innings tonight and have the bullpen do the rest of the work. I fully expect the crowd to be a rowdy one and it should be a great game. So before college football starts, let’s take a look at the headlines from the Boston area and Denver media along with Curt Schilling on this rainy morning in Red Sox Nation.
Up 2-0 and a mile high [38 Pitches]
Time for Rockies to pull plug on humidor [Yahoo Sports]
Matsuzaka tries to become a trophy pitcher [Boston Globe]
FBI opens investigation into ‘attack’ on Rockies ticket system [Denver Post]
Behind Dice-K, Red Sox seek Mile High clubbing [Boston Herald]
If gyroball exists, it is no match against Coors Field [Rocky Mountain News]
With Humidor, It’s Coors Light [Hartford Courant]
Coors Field: It’s bigger and smaller than Fenway [Pro Jo]
Drew has gone from fans’ target to a hit [Boston Globe]
Rox look to reclaim offense [Denver Post]
Chance presents itself [Boston Herald]
Faith in purple reduced to hope [Rocky Mountain News]
The Shift Is On For Shaken Rockies [Hartford Courant]
Red Sox Nation migrates west [Pro Jo]
For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News websites.
