Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2011 5:14:59 GMT -5
[shadow=red,left,300]Boston Red Sox (32-27) @ Oakland A's (29-30)[/shadow]
BOS: Jonathan Niese (6-3, 6.20 ERA)
OAK: Dalton Denorfia (6-4, 3.19 ERA)
While the defending champion Red Sox are a solid 32-27, there's a feel around the league that they haven't quite met expectations. With the New York Yankees off to such a roaring start, a bad week could leave the Red Sox buried in the AL East race.
To keep that from happening, the Red Sox will turn to extremely lucky Jonathan Niese, who has twice as many wins as losses on the season, despite an ERA above six. Niese is coming off a strong, complete game win against Houston where he allowed only three runs, and has pitched a bit better as a starter than a reliever.
Still, he will be squaring off against an opportunistic Oakland offense, that doesn't generate many baserunners, but scores runs efficiently. Oakland is able to score effectively, because the team's best hitter goes bananas with runners in scoring position. Adrian Cardenas is a .400 hitter with runners in scoring position and has driven in a whopping 50 RBI's in those situations. The third baseman has grown into a steady contributor the past two seasons, but his breakout campaign this year has Oakland on the fringes of the playoff hunt.
The team will need Cardenas to keep mashing as Oakland doesn't have many other options for offense. Aside from Justin Smoak, Michael Brantley, and streaky power from Chris Carter, there isn't a lot of production generating out of Oakland. This bodes well for Niese to continue to find his game.
The A's counter with the ace of their staff, young right-hander Dalton Denorfia. Denorfia throws in the mid-90's with a sharp breaking curve ball, but his lack of a third pitch allows hitters to familiarize themselves with his stuff. He counters with impeccable command, and has only walked 46 hitters in 170 Major League innings.
If Denorfia can go deep into the game and get the A's a lead going into the ninth, Oakland will turn the ball over to one of baseball's better closers in Andrew Bailey. Bailey has converted his previous 14 save appearances and has allowed only three runs on the year---one of which came yesterday against Boston on a Henry Rodriguez home run.
Questions for the GM's. For Derek Bobola, Adrian Cardenas has an obsession with driving in runs with runners in scoring position. If you end up in a situation where Cardenas is up with a man on base, what is your gameplan?
Some of the players on your team expected to get on base haven't done so as well this year. I'm referring to B.J. Upton and Dustin Pedroia specifically. What can you do to get these guys going?
What's your stance on Niese? Is he a starter, is he a reliever, what is up with him?
For Mike McAvoy, you have Smoak, you have Cardenas. Who else has stepped up to provide you with offense this year?
You brought up David Renfroe recently. Will he be starting against Niese? Give us a little scouting report on him.
Chris Carter is only hitting .202. What has been the reason for his slow start this season.
BOS: Jonathan Niese (6-3, 6.20 ERA)
OAK: Dalton Denorfia (6-4, 3.19 ERA)
While the defending champion Red Sox are a solid 32-27, there's a feel around the league that they haven't quite met expectations. With the New York Yankees off to such a roaring start, a bad week could leave the Red Sox buried in the AL East race.
To keep that from happening, the Red Sox will turn to extremely lucky Jonathan Niese, who has twice as many wins as losses on the season, despite an ERA above six. Niese is coming off a strong, complete game win against Houston where he allowed only three runs, and has pitched a bit better as a starter than a reliever.
Still, he will be squaring off against an opportunistic Oakland offense, that doesn't generate many baserunners, but scores runs efficiently. Oakland is able to score effectively, because the team's best hitter goes bananas with runners in scoring position. Adrian Cardenas is a .400 hitter with runners in scoring position and has driven in a whopping 50 RBI's in those situations. The third baseman has grown into a steady contributor the past two seasons, but his breakout campaign this year has Oakland on the fringes of the playoff hunt.
The team will need Cardenas to keep mashing as Oakland doesn't have many other options for offense. Aside from Justin Smoak, Michael Brantley, and streaky power from Chris Carter, there isn't a lot of production generating out of Oakland. This bodes well for Niese to continue to find his game.
The A's counter with the ace of their staff, young right-hander Dalton Denorfia. Denorfia throws in the mid-90's with a sharp breaking curve ball, but his lack of a third pitch allows hitters to familiarize themselves with his stuff. He counters with impeccable command, and has only walked 46 hitters in 170 Major League innings.
If Denorfia can go deep into the game and get the A's a lead going into the ninth, Oakland will turn the ball over to one of baseball's better closers in Andrew Bailey. Bailey has converted his previous 14 save appearances and has allowed only three runs on the year---one of which came yesterday against Boston on a Henry Rodriguez home run.
Questions for the GM's. For Derek Bobola, Adrian Cardenas has an obsession with driving in runs with runners in scoring position. If you end up in a situation where Cardenas is up with a man on base, what is your gameplan?
Some of the players on your team expected to get on base haven't done so as well this year. I'm referring to B.J. Upton and Dustin Pedroia specifically. What can you do to get these guys going?
What's your stance on Niese? Is he a starter, is he a reliever, what is up with him?
For Mike McAvoy, you have Smoak, you have Cardenas. Who else has stepped up to provide you with offense this year?
You brought up David Renfroe recently. Will he be starting against Niese? Give us a little scouting report on him.
Chris Carter is only hitting .202. What has been the reason for his slow start this season.