"Yeah, I got it. Only thing is, we got one problem: we don't have any water. " ~ Jed Eckert, Red Dawn

Matsuzaka-san we need some more dirty water.....

Globe:

Way to go, Cafardo!

That 7-9 followed by the leadoff spot is frightening.

Cora

Yeah, pretty astonishing that Lowrie is sitting again. Why Tito?

He's 12/28 against Cabrera.

He always starts against him.

Just Tito playing the matchups again. Forget that Lowrie's on fire--Cora's gotta be in there because of his SSS success against Cabrera. [Sigh]

No Drew again either. That sucks.

goddamnit.

Yea to play Cora when Drew is out....just sucks.

This might be the most painful and long game of the year considering the two starters will combine to walk about 30 guys. Over/under on TOG is 3 hours and 30 minutes and I'm taking the over.

Perhaps I miscounted, but I think Lowrie has played in 17 straight games (starting 16).

Because Tito looks at Cora's astonishing 1.091 OPS against Cabrera and cannot restrain himself, that's why. (This is almost always the answer, unless it's Junior Varsity Day.)

Tito's Decision Maker

Is anybody else terrified that Dicek's "luck" is going to even out and cause him to have an awful rest of the season?

No you're right. Cora and Lowrie both started the August 17 game against Toronto.

We're going to pretend he's Sidney Ponson since his good luck apparently has no end.

I want this to be one of those nights where Cabrera gets all discombobulated and pissed off and starts throwing wild pitches to the backstop. I LOVE when he has his little meltdowns.

I hate to see Cora sit on the Sox bench, let alone start.

That being said, Tito is a guy who will always play lineups this way when a player seems to hold an edge against a certain pitcher, SSS or not. Anyone remember Belli Dhing against Lilly for example?

To his credit he has been lights out in August. His road numbers are also silly.

in 9 road starts:
ERA 2.04
WHIP 1.11
BAA .159

That can't be all luck.

I was just posting some stats in the series thread about how Pedroia and Cora kill Cabrera, and that I wouldn't be surprised to see him starting...Well, here we are.

That 7-1 is going to cause some sort of brain hemorrhage. That is awful. No Drew, No Lowell? This is one of those games where I wouldn't mind hitting Pedroia lead off (even though I'm against it on the whole). When you've got four, four and a half good bats in the line up...that's not a good thing.

...what kind of odds would somebody give me on Varitek being driven in tonight?

Hee, the husband is digging Amalie without the glasses.

You all realize that Genius is going 2-4 with at least one RBI - (I can't get his run production into focus yet, but give it a minute or three) - tonight, right?

I can't imagine how Crisp must feel. If I look at a lineup card and Cora is penciled in ahead of me, I think maybe i start fooling with the knuckleball and see if maybe I can become a decent hitting pitcher!

Nice Jacoby!

Good start.

That works!

Games threads are dead lately.

Let's do this Papi!

Just get it to Genius.

That's a strike?

Another blind home plate umpire?

Kinda got hosed on the 2-1 pitch.

Yes.

Nice non-squander.

Good work Papi!

Youks is going deep.

Is it o-v-a-h?

easy fly out

Damn, that was crushed.

This feels like an auspicious beginning

Damnit Youks...

Hey kids-

Just got back from Boston, was nice to meet many of you.

Back to the life of gamethreading!

Wide strike zone so far. Hope Dice-K gets it too.

Daisuke had better get those BS strike calls as well.

Wow, sliders 8 inches off the plate are strikes tonight. Daisuke should be in heaven.

Balls aren't carrying.

Bay, you're not in Fenway, damn it!

So close. Damnit.

Nice of them to have a lead waiting for me.

Bay just missed it.

Oh boy. It could be 4-0 with nobody out.

And now comes the parade of pitchers.