Dragnet Home Sweet Home: Tigers at Sox

Now that the whole World Series hubbub has calmed down a bit and that unsightly losing streak is finally behind us, can Boston actually start a little streak here?

Tonight might be the trap to keep them from doing so. Jon Lester takes the hill for his third start of the season, and while his last outing was tremendous, it was also against the A's lineup. And his first outing, against that same lineup, was rather ignominious. Facing the Tigers hitters tonight might be a better barometer. The Sox hitters - here's tonight's Boston lineup - get Jeremy Bonderman. All they can hope for is more of what was dished up by Kenny Rogersr yesterday. Well, maybe less control. That'd be nice.


Then again, it might not. So far Detroit has yet to click on any front. The pitching has scuffled, the big bats all seem to be banged up - here's the Detroit lineup tonight, for what it's worth - and the team's bullpen seems absolutely woeful. Injured power arms or not, Detroit manager Jim Leyland is undoubtedly reaching Mt. Vesuvius levels, and might easily erupt given another loss. Or two. Personally, WMYM would be happy to watch the Sox push him toward that precipice.

Other things of note with tonight's matchup: 1)  Manny Ramirez LOVES to hit Jeremy Bonderman. Loves it. And he looked awful good last night. Just saying, it bears notice. 2) Mike Lowell HATES to hit Jeremy Bonderman. Hates it. BUT, he LOVES to hit off Todd Jones, so if the Tigers actually get a lead in the ninth, that's the guy the Sox want up.

There's plenty of other things to watch, but that would spoil the anticipation, wouldn't it? So, sit back, hope for Lester to keep the ball down (Editor's note: THAT's what WMYM meant when saying that Lester had strong control in his last outing. Walks aside, control for a sinkerball pitcher like Lester is all about the zones in which he puts the ball. If he can keep his offerings tucked low and, hopefully, over the plate more than away from it, he'll be in good shape. If he let's them slip up, we may end up watching a lot of trotting) and hope to keep Leyland's hair-raising going. 0-9 would be a great start for Detroit ... at least for Boston fans ... but the Sox have to get them to 0-8 first.

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