Baltimore Orioles +187
With Garciapara and Nixon both out. The Sox lineup has a couple of big holes and it doesn’t seem as foreboding as last year’s. Losing Todd Walker’s bat to strengthen a porous infield defense with Pokey Reese only further weakens what once was the best offense in baseball.
Francona has tentatively set up tonight’s lineup with Damon leading of, Mueller at 3b, Ramirez, Ortiz dh, Gabe Kapler, Varitek, Mark Bellhorn, and Reese. Not exactly murder’s row.
The Orioles have strengthened their offense with Tejada, Palmeiro, and Lopez complimenting Melvin Mora, Jay Gibbons, and a rising star in Larry Bigbie. All in all these two lineups are fairly equal.
The big question mark for the Sox is the lack of power. Not in the lineup as much as Foulke’s fastball. He has not looked good in spring training, 9 IP, 17 hits, 15 ER. 3 bb, 2 K’s. And while bad stats from the grapefruit league usually aren’t much of a concern his is, only because his fastball has little zip and control an issue.
So can you see the writing on the wall this year after all the blown saves that Pedro suffered from last year’s closer by committee? It may be a new year but many of the same concerns remain.
Although Sidney Ponson doesn’t strike fear in anyone’s heart he is still very capable of shutting down the Red Sox lineup and giving his own offense a solid chance at victory. To me getting this team, under these circumstances, as home dog at +187 is too good to pass up.
It’ll be windy, possibly snowing, temps in the thirties.
Let’s play two.
With Garciapara and Nixon both out. The Sox lineup has a couple of big holes and it doesn’t seem as foreboding as last year’s. Losing Todd Walker’s bat to strengthen a porous infield defense with Pokey Reese only further weakens what once was the best offense in baseball.
Francona has tentatively set up tonight’s lineup with Damon leading of, Mueller at 3b, Ramirez, Ortiz dh, Gabe Kapler, Varitek, Mark Bellhorn, and Reese. Not exactly murder’s row.
The Orioles have strengthened their offense with Tejada, Palmeiro, and Lopez complimenting Melvin Mora, Jay Gibbons, and a rising star in Larry Bigbie. All in all these two lineups are fairly equal.
The big question mark for the Sox is the lack of power. Not in the lineup as much as Foulke’s fastball. He has not looked good in spring training, 9 IP, 17 hits, 15 ER. 3 bb, 2 K’s. And while bad stats from the grapefruit league usually aren’t much of a concern his is, only because his fastball has little zip and control an issue.
So can you see the writing on the wall this year after all the blown saves that Pedro suffered from last year’s closer by committee? It may be a new year but many of the same concerns remain.
Although Sidney Ponson doesn’t strike fear in anyone’s heart he is still very capable of shutting down the Red Sox lineup and giving his own offense a solid chance at victory. To me getting this team, under these circumstances, as home dog at +187 is too good to pass up.
It’ll be windy, possibly snowing, temps in the thirties.
Let’s play two.
