Boston Red Sox v. Philadelphia Phillies: Discussion, Selection, In Game Thread (with line ups)

Boston Red Sox v. Philadelphia Phillies (-122)

Many are calling this the most anticipated series of the regular season.
Probable preview of the October 2011 World Series.

Josh Beckett v. Cliff Lee

Both are big game aces, Lee’s won a Cy Young, Beckett would have if it wasn’t for Randy Johnson.

Overall this season, Josh Beckett numbers season are outstanding
6-2 1.86 with a WH/IP ratio of 0.92, 79 K’s in 92 IP’s.
Extremely impressive when you consider he pitches in a hitters league.

The current Phillie roster lifetime is 42-168 (.250) with 6 HR’s off of Beckett.
Chase Utley hits Beckett hard (lifetime 8-25 2 HR’s .32)
Ryan Howard lifetime is 4-13 .308 1 HR
Rest of the Phillie starters have pretty much pedestrian numbers.

Cliff Lee needs no introduction, one of the five best aces in the game today, Cy Young Award winner, yadda, yadda, yadda.
Overall this season, Cliff Lee is having another solid season.
8-5 2.87 with a WH/IP ratio of 1.12, eye popping more than a strike out an inning 114 in 113 IP’s.

Cliff Lee lifetime against the current Red Sox roster is not very good.
Pretty bad actually.
Collectively the Red Sox are 41 for 132 (.311) with and OBA of .370 (I factored Carl Crawford out of the equation)
.370 OBA is more than a base runner an inning.

Lifetime, against Cliff Lee (get this) Adrian Gonzalez is 7-10 (.700) off of Lee with a homer.
Dustin Pedroia is 4-11 against Lee
Little Marco Scutaro is 8-25 (.320) with 4 RBI’s
If he starts, Darnell McDonald (who my wife calls pretty much useless) is .400

Lineups:
Red Sox

Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Youkilis 3B
McDonald LF
Varitek C
Cameron RF
Scutaro SS
Beckett P

Phillies
Rollins SS
Polanco 3B
Utley 2B
Howard 1B
Victorino CF
Ibanez LF
Brown RF
Ruiz C
Lee P

Phils have the edge in catching.
Sox have the edge at first base (Gonzalez is the superior defensive player, and is more consistent at the plate) but Howard is still a beast.
2B pretty much even.
SS Rollins over Scutaro, but Marco hits Lee well.
3B Polanco is the most underrated player in the game, gets edge over Youk.
Outfield, not even close with the Sox using McDonald and Cameron, clear edge to Phils.

Sox hit Lee better than than the Phils hit Beckett
Paps has edge over Madson in the closer role.
Middle relief small edge to Phils, pretty much even.
Francona is the better manager.

Home field is huge here, no DH, Ortiz only gets one PH at bat.

If I were a betting man, and I am, I'd either play Sox with Beckett small or no play at all.

Game here is on MLB Network, count me in.

Enjoy this monster match up.

Im liking Boston here early. Beckett been outstanding as of late. Cliff lee not so much overall and who knows if them phillies will bring them bats to the park with them tonight.

the thought of that vaunted Red sox lineup in a hitter park like the Phillies' park is pretty enticing to say the least, gettin them at + money with Beckett on the mound makes the deal even more sweat.
Tough game though, Lee has been really hot his last 3 games.

I kind of like the Sox myself, even though the line up is weak on the bottom tonight.

So sick of not seeing ortiz in the line-up

I am on them, too!! GL!

The Mrs. is correct, Darnell McDonald is a waste.
Yeesh, take the bat off your shoulders.

Lee is razor sharp so far.

Lee is to good to get my over. I'll just wish my team on now. He is sick good.