Chicago Cubs vs. Boston Red Sox Preview, Friday 5/20, 6:10 CT: 93 Years In The Making

It’s supposed to be NL Central-vs-AL East year. But the only AL East teams the Cubs play are the Red Sox and Yankees. And the Cardinals play every AL East team EXCEPT the Red Sox and Yankees.

Nice scheduling Bud. At least it didn’t come in a season when we were going to be in a dogfight with the Cards for first place.

I have no other idea why he is playing in the field. Experience? He never played left field with the Yankees and possibly a few interleague games while playing with the Nats? Not really sure. I hope he remembers to turn around.

Are you doubting Quade yet?

Sorinao in LF…..SHOCKING!!!!!!

Only 120 games left in the Quade era and counting.

After spending the flight from Miami contemplating his lineup, Mike Quade decided to go with Alfonso Soriano in left field tonight against Boston.
Quade said Thursday he was deciding between Soriano and Jeff Baker in left. He opted to go with Baker at third, using Aramis Ramirez as his DH

Maybe this can be one of the 60 BoSox lose????

I can’t believe Doug Davis is on our team, I still despise him so much. He’s going to get lit up against this BoSox lineup.

I’ll be absolutely shocked, just based on pitching matchup alone. The other matchups favor us though. I think the can possibly win 2 of 3. Or get swept :)

Mr. 200+Ks should be fine. It’s the one outfield he can cover.

Playing left field has always been a daunting task for visiting left fielders having to play the position so shallow and worrying about which way a ball will bounce after it hits the wall. Red Sox veterans like Ted Williams, Carl Yaztremski, and Jim Rice often used the wall to their advantage after having learned all of its ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ spots. It also allows fielders with weaker throwing arms to receive more assists than fielders playing in most other ball parks with deeper left fields. Also adding to the difficulty of playing left field at Fenway Park is a ladder that is affixed to the ‘Green Monster’ which will sometimes effect which direction the ball will go. The ladder was originally used to climb to the top of the wall and retrieve baseballs hit during games or in batting practice from netting installed to protect pedestrians and vehicles on the street behind the wall. But in 2002 the Boston Red Sox removed the netting and installed a special section of seating on top of the wall now affectionately called the ‘Monster Seats’. The ladder, while no longer needed, still remains on the wall as relic of the past.

I’ll be heading down to Boston tomorrow morning to rest at my brother’s before the BCB gathering at the Beer Works (they do not take reservations, as I just found out).

Anyone going, try to show up as close to 4 PM as possible.

And then, of course, I will be there on Saturday to show these AL fans how real teams play baseball.

Bout time!

just assuming that Baker or Campano – two guys who have NEVER played a game in Fenway – are better equipped to play LF than Soriano… a guy who actually has experience playing there? Everyone knows that Soriano has his issues in the field, but we’re talking about playing a ball off of a wall here, not covering a ton of ground. In fact, the amount of ground he’ll have to cover is pretty reduced. The reactions to him playing seem over the top and just reek of “SORIANO SUCKS!!!!!!!” type of thoughts.

…Quade doesn’t sit Pena and play Baker at first. Then he could put Aramis at third base, DH Soriano and still have RJ play one of the outfield positions. If Quade really doesn’t want Campana in the lineup, he could put Kosuke in right field for his defense and hope he draws a walk or two against Lester.

behind Soto. Wouldn’t he EXPECT to be playing the bulk of the games if the starter is absent? Isn’t that the usual baseball protocol? (no matter what WE might want) If Beef was inserted into the line up, (except to spell Hill) what would be the use of even retaining Hill?

I know what everybody wants, but have to consider the politics of baseball. Perhaps the pitchers are comfortable with Hill.

I have set aside at least 4.5 hours for tonights game.

That was the home of the USFL’s Boston Breakers in 1983. They moved to New Orleans in 1984 and then to Portland in 1985. Former Eagles assistan Dick Coury was their coach.

…and give them some traffic. Awfully quiet there.

Really?

The idea of it seems really weird given how our season has gone.

Oooooooooooooooooh yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

And RIP Randy Savage.