Scott Kazmir, Fenway Park and the ALDS

Game 3 at Fenway Park

The Red Sox will try to start their improbable comeback in the 2009 ALDS by teeing off on old AL East rival, Scott Kazmir.

“Early in his career, he actually dominated us,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “He threw some games where he overpowered us; fastball, slider. We’ve had some games where we’ve really made him work hard also. Some of the numbers you see are from early in his career when he just overwhelmed us.”

Since 1954, Kazmir has the second-lowest ERA among left-handed pitchers who have made 10 or more starts at Fenway Park. He used to cause the Red Sox fits and loves to pitch in Boston.

Kazmir has had his way with David Ortiz striking him out 11 times in 44 ABs. Ortiz has managed just nine hits against Kazmir for a think .205 average. Dustin Pedroia on the other hand has lit Kazmir up to the tune of a .517 BA with a slugging percentage of 1.393.

Through the first two games of the 2009 ALDS, the Angels have posted a team ERA of a half-run. Yes that is a 0.50 team ERA. The Angels have outscored the Red Sox 9-1 in the series.

On ESPN.com, Angels fans are out in full-force letting it be known that they are ready to see the Red Sox out of the playoffs for once instead of watching their Angels bounced in early October again.

- jamesolivarez (10/10/2009 at 6:42 PM)

Boston is done.

When Francona was asked in the game two post game if going back to Fenway would help spark his club’s offense, he simply said “i don’t know how to answer that”. Add that statement and the fact that they have started Martinez twice over their “captain” Varitek and you can tell that he is VERY worried about his team’s ability to score runs and now they will have to counter Kazmir with a rookie pitcher? come on.

It’s gonna be a freeway series. LA vs LA

(and yankee fans, yes we own you. remember ‘02 and ‘05? And I am pretty sure we have the best record against you of any AL team over the past ten years.)

Hopefully the looking ahead backfires.

Darryl Johnston is the Red Sox correspondent for Fanball.com. He has many years of sports writing under his championship belts. Email him – redsoxdj@gmail.com

Tags: 2009 ALDS, Boston Red Sox, Darryl Johnston, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Fanball, Fenway Park, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Scott Kazmir, Sox Tea Party, Terry Francona