July 2, 2006

Ortiz, Ramirez, Loretta, Papelbon Are All-Stars

Starters (rosters):
AL                                  NL
David Ortiz 1B Albert Pujols
Mark Loretta 2B Chase Utley
Alex Rodriguez 3B David Wright
Derek Jeter SS Jose Reyes
Ivan Rodriguez C Paul Lo Duca
Vladimir Guerrero OF Jason Bay
Manny Ramirez OF Carlos Beltran
Ichiro Suzuki OF Alfonso Soriano
Craig Hansen has looked much better in his last two outings: 6 batters, 19 pitches, 2 strikeouts, 0 baserunners. Francona: "[H]e's been down and that ball has been exploding through the strike zone with movement, that's exactly what we're looking for."

Mike Lowell on Manny Ramirez:
His setup and his approach are so simple. Not what he's thinking. I have no idea what he's thinking. I don't think anybody has an idea what he's thinking. But it seems like he's so slow, and then the explosion is so violent.

That combination, usually guys that swing so fast and crisp through the zone usually have something to trigger it. He looks like he can go at almost a standstill to this tremendous and polished swing on any pitcher. He'll hit a 1-0 slider a mile. I don't know if he waits until the last possible moment. I don't know what does. ...

There are balls in BP that looks like a routine fly ball in medium right center. It's 12 rows back. I don't know how he generates bat speed or backspin, whatever it is.
Case in point on the explosion: It looked like Manny just flicked at the ball with his bat on his first inning home run on Saturday.

Wily Mo Pena continues his rehab assignment today with Pawtucket. He went 1-for-6 in two games with Lowell. ... Matt Clement is expected make a rehab start on Tuesday in a Gulf Coast League game in Fort Myers. Opposing MLB batters hit .211 against Clement the first time through the order, .295 the second time, and .384 the third time. ... The Red Sox are 33-4 when Ramirez and Ortiz each homer in a game.

1 comment:

Peter N said...

50-29, and boy, we look good. Happy 4th!