The Red Sox captain may not be at the helm of the ship as often this year, but he made the most of his opportunity last night against the Royals. Tek smashed two dingers and provided The Commander with a steady, familiar presence behind the plate. Perhaps this part-time gig will help The Cap'n retain his edge throughout the season, avoiding the wear and tear that catching 4 of 5 games can do to him.
Tek wasn't alone in making an impact last night from a bench role. Jeremy Hermida preceded Tek's first round-tripper with one of his own and Mikey Lowell reminded us of his pre-hip trouble days in the field and chipped in a single at the plate. No rust gathered on these guys!
On the mound, Josh Beckett came with an improved arsenal over what he had on Opening Night at Fenway. He wasn't quite at Vintage Commander Kick-Ass mode, but seven innings of three-run ball was a significant improvement over 4 2/3 innings and five runs. He escaped catastrophe in the seventh, when David DeJesus lined a single up the middle that just grazed The Commander's head. Unfazed by the near-miss, The Commander kept on going as if nothing had happened, his only regret being that a run scored on that single.
After seven innings of Beckett, it was time for the 'pen to take over. Given what happened the three games previous, Red Sox nation held its breath as Oki redeemed himself with a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Then in the top of the ninth, a Red Sox home run derby ensued, with Youk going yard, followed by Tek's second blast and a 2-run shot by Pedey, who is now tied with Tek for the team home run lead. Whodathunkit?
With an 8-3 margin in the bottom of the ninth, Pap was passed over in favor of RamRam, who, in tandem with defensive replacement Mike Cameron, retired the side in order, giving the Sox the win and Beckett his first W of the season (and the first for any starter on the team). The 'pen did their job tonight and that had as much of a part in the victory as the five dingers and the seven solid innings by Beckett.
Later today, Buchholz makes his season debut. He's had success against Kansas City in the past, so let's hope he builds on that today.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
A Hot [Opening Week] Mess
It happened last year and it's happening again this year: After a successful, feel-good Opening Day, the Red Sox FAIL comes out in force. Big Papi's batting below .200, timely hits are few and far between and the bullpen ought to be condemned by the Board of Health. Beckett and Lester were far from stellar and, while they got some fine work by Lackey and Wake, neither has a W to show for it, thanks to both the bumbling bullpen and the LOST/Gilligan's Island approach to offense. I'll concede that the Yankees are a tough opponent, but the Royals? Puh-lease! Last night's game was one they should have WON. Instead, the bats were a one-inning wonder and the 'pen had me wishing all the starters would just throw complete games all the time.
It's early in the season--they haven't been playing games that count for a week yet--but the disturbing patterns of last season are undeterred by the changes made in the offseason. Not a single starter has a win yet. With Beckett going up against Greinke tonight, that drought looks to continue. I'd love to be proven wrong on that.
Papi's been getting a lot of heat from the fans and the media about his struggles at the plate. While I understand the frustration and the fear that his April 2010 will be a replication of his April and early May 2009, Papi's not the only one at fault for the team's lack of clutch hitting. Sure, as a full-time DH, hitting is his only contribution to the team's play, but his teammates need to step it up too. Without Jason Bay, the team needs to distribute their offensive production more evenly among its lineup. Either that, or aggressively pursue, and perhaps give up some prized talent, for a big bat like Adrian Gonzalez.
The bullpen was the strength of the team at this time last season, while Papi was in his horrendous slump, Beckett and Lester were getting hammered routinely, and Dice-K was suffering Post-WBC-itis. The 'pen and Jason Bay carried them through April and May. Toward the end of the season, the 'pen started to unravel and Billy Wagner was added to give them a boost. Wagner, of course, was a rental and when he and Saito both left via free agency for Atlanta, the Sox had to find two arms to replace them, while holding on to the struggling Ramirez, Delcarmen, and even Okajima. Of the arms they chose, Atchison spend two years pitching in Japan, where the competition is considerably lighter than in MLB, and Schoenweiss, who was canned by an NL team in Spring Training. Yes, good bullpen arms are hard to find, but this bullpen could find the Sox looking up at both the Yanks and the Rays.
While I never count the Sox out, I'm not ready to count them in yet either. Not until they start playing better baseball. That means Drew and Ells need to protect the plate with two strikes (and not run into outs like last night), the whole lineup needs to hit better with RISP, and the bullpen needs to locate and execute their pitches so that the starters can start getting Ws, especially when they pitched like Lackey and Wake did this week.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
It's early in the season--they haven't been playing games that count for a week yet--but the disturbing patterns of last season are undeterred by the changes made in the offseason. Not a single starter has a win yet. With Beckett going up against Greinke tonight, that drought looks to continue. I'd love to be proven wrong on that.
Papi's been getting a lot of heat from the fans and the media about his struggles at the plate. While I understand the frustration and the fear that his April 2010 will be a replication of his April and early May 2009, Papi's not the only one at fault for the team's lack of clutch hitting. Sure, as a full-time DH, hitting is his only contribution to the team's play, but his teammates need to step it up too. Without Jason Bay, the team needs to distribute their offensive production more evenly among its lineup. Either that, or aggressively pursue, and perhaps give up some prized talent, for a big bat like Adrian Gonzalez.
The bullpen was the strength of the team at this time last season, while Papi was in his horrendous slump, Beckett and Lester were getting hammered routinely, and Dice-K was suffering Post-WBC-itis. The 'pen and Jason Bay carried them through April and May. Toward the end of the season, the 'pen started to unravel and Billy Wagner was added to give them a boost. Wagner, of course, was a rental and when he and Saito both left via free agency for Atlanta, the Sox had to find two arms to replace them, while holding on to the struggling Ramirez, Delcarmen, and even Okajima. Of the arms they chose, Atchison spend two years pitching in Japan, where the competition is considerably lighter than in MLB, and Schoenweiss, who was canned by an NL team in Spring Training. Yes, good bullpen arms are hard to find, but this bullpen could find the Sox looking up at both the Yanks and the Rays.
While I never count the Sox out, I'm not ready to count them in yet either. Not until they start playing better baseball. That means Drew and Ells need to protect the plate with two strikes (and not run into outs like last night), the whole lineup needs to hit better with RISP, and the bullpen needs to locate and execute their pitches so that the starters can start getting Ws, especially when they pitched like Lackey and Wake did this week.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Opening Day ditty
Here's a more musical take on last night's game, with apologies to Neil Diamond:
Season began, it was on Easter Sunday
on national TV it was shown
Fenway was full, it was another sellout
Anticipation, it had grown…
Runs…Let’s score runs…Let’s pitch well…Let us win!
Chorus
Red Sox scored nine! (Whoa-oh-oh)
New York Yankees, they went down (Went down! Went down! Went down!)
The local nine (Whoa-oh-oh)
They were the toast of old Beantown
Beckett got rocked
Didn’t get his five innings
It was a rough beginning, but
CC got chased,
Gave up five runs too
Bullpens were driving both sides nuts
Back…Back and forth…Went the score…Of the game!
Chorus
Pedey went deep
Youk hit three extra-base hits
The Red Sox newbies chipped in too
Papelbon got
His first save of the season
He was the Paps we always knew
Win…Red Sox win…Yankees lose…at Fenway!
Chorus
Hope you enjoyed! LET’S GO RED SOX!!!!!
The Bearded One and The Short One
Sox: 9 Yanks: 7
It was basically everything one has come to expect from a Red Sox-Yankees game. You had your controversial umpiring, your dramatic plays, your back-and-forth momentum, your battle-of-the-bullpens, and your contest of who can chase the other team's starter first. The first part of the game was shaping up to be Opening Nightmare for the Fenway nine. Beckett was getting rocked and the Yanks pulled off a double-steal, including a steal of home by Brett Gardner. The song that was running through my head by the time the fifth inning rolled around: Don't Go Breaking My Heart.
But, one must never count the Red Sox out. Does 2004 ring any bells here? The Sox offense, poo-pooed as nothing to write home about, saw the 5-1 deficit and fought back to tie the game at 5 a side. The bullpen, courtesy of Ramon Ramirez and Hideki Okajima, gave two runs right back to the Yankees. However, The Short One crushed one over the Monster to tie the game up again. Feisty Pedey wasn't done yet. The Bearded One collects his third extra-base hit, a double, in the eighth and scores on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Pedey then knocks in Cameron, who singled, giving the Sox a 2-run pad going into the ninth.
Papelbon shipped up to the mound in the ninth, with redemption on his mind. After two quick outs, he allowed a single to Posada. It turned out to be harmless, since Granderson fed Beltre (that's BEL-tre, Miller and Morgan, not Bel-TRAY) a grounder to end the game in a Red Sox victory. New Sox Cameron (2 for 3), Scutaro (2 for 3 with an RBI) and Beltre (1 for 3 with 2 RBI) made their mark while Youk (3 for 4, 2 RBI, 7 total bases) and Pedey (2 for 4, HR, 3 RBI) showed the Fenway Faithful and the national TV audience what homegrown talent can do.
Among those who did not have their A game last night: The August 2009 version of Josh Beckett, Jacoby "Called third strike" Ellsbury, RamRam-made-hitters-go-BamBam, and Hideki "I inherited a big mess" Okajima. Fortunately for those four, it was but one game, with 162 to go.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
It was basically everything one has come to expect from a Red Sox-Yankees game. You had your controversial umpiring, your dramatic plays, your back-and-forth momentum, your battle-of-the-bullpens, and your contest of who can chase the other team's starter first. The first part of the game was shaping up to be Opening Nightmare for the Fenway nine. Beckett was getting rocked and the Yanks pulled off a double-steal, including a steal of home by Brett Gardner. The song that was running through my head by the time the fifth inning rolled around: Don't Go Breaking My Heart.
But, one must never count the Red Sox out. Does 2004 ring any bells here? The Sox offense, poo-pooed as nothing to write home about, saw the 5-1 deficit and fought back to tie the game at 5 a side. The bullpen, courtesy of Ramon Ramirez and Hideki Okajima, gave two runs right back to the Yankees. However, The Short One crushed one over the Monster to tie the game up again. Feisty Pedey wasn't done yet. The Bearded One collects his third extra-base hit, a double, in the eighth and scores on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Pedey then knocks in Cameron, who singled, giving the Sox a 2-run pad going into the ninth.
Papelbon shipped up to the mound in the ninth, with redemption on his mind. After two quick outs, he allowed a single to Posada. It turned out to be harmless, since Granderson fed Beltre (that's BEL-tre, Miller and Morgan, not Bel-TRAY) a grounder to end the game in a Red Sox victory. New Sox Cameron (2 for 3), Scutaro (2 for 3 with an RBI) and Beltre (1 for 3 with 2 RBI) made their mark while Youk (3 for 4, 2 RBI, 7 total bases) and Pedey (2 for 4, HR, 3 RBI) showed the Fenway Faithful and the national TV audience what homegrown talent can do.
Among those who did not have their A game last night: The August 2009 version of Josh Beckett, Jacoby "Called third strike" Ellsbury, RamRam-made-hitters-go-BamBam, and Hideki "I inherited a big mess" Okajima. Fortunately for those four, it was but one game, with 162 to go.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
It's Sox Time Now
Opening Day. Spring training is behind us and now it's time to see just what kind of team the 2010 Red Sox are. There's no better test of their mettle than season-opening series against their archrivals, the--forgive me if I cringe while saying this--reigning World Champion Yankees. The offseason hype is that the Red Sox have lost offensive thump in favor of high-quality defensive leather and a third ace in the rotation. Surely, when Jason Bay was allowed to walk south to Queens to join that other New York team, the Nation fretted that the Red Sox offensive power would go with him. The gloves they gained in Cameron, Beltre, and Scutaro will no doubt tighten up the loosey-goosey defense that dragged the team down last year. Remember the shortstop antics of Julio Lugo and Nick Green? Or all the balls hit to left field that Jason Bay didn't get to? Or, the post-hip surgery Mike Lowell trying valiantly to play third base while hampered by significantly reduced mobility?
Overall, the 2010 Red Sox are an improved team from the one who went three and out last October. The top of the rotation could very well be the envy of the league. Adrian Beltre will make some killer plays at third and get the ball to Youk fast enough to retire even the speediest runners. Marco Scutaro batting ninth can be a valuable second leadoff hitter. Mike Cameron is a very athletic and spry 37 and, with the help of Jacoby Ellsbury and J.D. Drew will plug a good many of the holes in the outfield. Having a bat of Mike Lowell's caliber off the bench could be a real plus in pinch-hitting situations, as well as giving guys a breather at first, third and DH. The only area of concern I have is the bullpen. Aside from Papelbon, Bard, and Okajima, the remainder of the bullpen is peppered with question marks. Atchison looks promising, but we still haven't seen enough of him in late and close situations to make an accurate judgement. Schoenweiss's sample size is even smaller. Then, there are Ramon Ramirez and Manny Delcarmen, who started out so strong last season, but unraveled as the season went on.
It will be an exciting season for the Red Sox and for all of baseball. Will the Blue Jays replace the Orioles as the Red Sox' AL East punching bag? What about those Rays? Will they resemble the 2008 version or 2009? Will the Yankees have another year like last year where everything falls into place and they win over 100 games? Will the Red Sox find the need to make a major deadline trade like they did last year for V-Mart? Fasten your seatbelts, Red Sox Nation--the ride is about to begin!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Overall, the 2010 Red Sox are an improved team from the one who went three and out last October. The top of the rotation could very well be the envy of the league. Adrian Beltre will make some killer plays at third and get the ball to Youk fast enough to retire even the speediest runners. Marco Scutaro batting ninth can be a valuable second leadoff hitter. Mike Cameron is a very athletic and spry 37 and, with the help of Jacoby Ellsbury and J.D. Drew will plug a good many of the holes in the outfield. Having a bat of Mike Lowell's caliber off the bench could be a real plus in pinch-hitting situations, as well as giving guys a breather at first, third and DH. The only area of concern I have is the bullpen. Aside from Papelbon, Bard, and Okajima, the remainder of the bullpen is peppered with question marks. Atchison looks promising, but we still haven't seen enough of him in late and close situations to make an accurate judgement. Schoenweiss's sample size is even smaller. Then, there are Ramon Ramirez and Manny Delcarmen, who started out so strong last season, but unraveled as the season went on.
It will be an exciting season for the Red Sox and for all of baseball. Will the Blue Jays replace the Orioles as the Red Sox' AL East punching bag? What about those Rays? Will they resemble the 2008 version or 2009? Will the Yankees have another year like last year where everything falls into place and they win over 100 games? Will the Red Sox find the need to make a major deadline trade like they did last year for V-Mart? Fasten your seatbelts, Red Sox Nation--the ride is about to begin!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Tough week ahead for Ryan Westmoreland
My thoughts and prayers go out to Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland, who will undergo brain surgery on Tuesday, March 16, to remove a cavernous malformation. According to Wikipedia, a cavernous malformation is a lesion with dilated blood vessels. Westmoreland is 19, a New England native, and was a 2008 draft pick for the Red Sox. Best wishes to Ryan and his family for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Casey and Mark and Boof, Oh My!
I usually don't blog as much on Spring Training games, but this was a particularly good game for the Sox, not only because they won (YAY!) but because of HOW they won.
Buchholz had a rocky outing, giving up three runs, including a dinger, in his second inning of work. The Sox had put up a run in the top of the inning, but it was quickly erased when Buch got the yips. But, hey, it's Spring Training! Stuff like that happens.
Scott Atchison pitched an inning but held the score at 3-1, giving up one hit and whiffing two. Then came The Boof. He kept the O's off the board as well (yeah, I waited 'til the third paragraph to mention who the Sox were playing. Let's just say I'm in Spring Training too...). Boof pitched 2 innings and K'ed 3, giving up one hit.
Bardo came on after Boof and he ran into some trouble, surrendering a run on two hits. All the while, the offense was taking its afternoon nap. That is, until the 8th inning, when they woke up and tied the game off of O's reliever Armando Gabino. Mark Wagner roped a double. Lars Anderson grounded into a fielder's choice, catching M-Wag in a rundown between second and third. Angel Sanchez knocked in two runs with a triple, bringing the Sox to within a run. Gil Velazquez knotted it up by singling in Sanchez.
While the offense was kicking it up a notch, Sarasota native and 2008 first-round draft pick Casey Kelly was impressing his buddies at home with two shutout innings, the only blemish being a two-out walk in the bottom of the 8th. He held the score even at 4 after the Sox tied it in the 8th, allowing for M-Wag's game-winning jack in the top of the ninth. Robert Manuel got the save and Kelly earned the win.
Jed Lowrie, who had his 2009 season derailed by a wrist injury, collected two hits, including a double in the sixth. Jacoby, Papi, and JD 0-fered, but Papi gave the ball a ride, being robbed of an extra-base hit by some Oriole I've never heard of in center field.
When all is said and done, it was a nice come-from-behind win in an away game, something we hope we see more of this year than we did last. Nice work, boys!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
P.S. Blogging while InSOXicated has a new baby sister: Knitting while InSOXicated. I've just taken up knitting and, yes, I'm twirling yarn around needles while I watch the Sox, hence the new blog's name. Once I learn how to knit socks, I'll make two red ones in the spirit of my favorite team.
Buchholz had a rocky outing, giving up three runs, including a dinger, in his second inning of work. The Sox had put up a run in the top of the inning, but it was quickly erased when Buch got the yips. But, hey, it's Spring Training! Stuff like that happens.
Scott Atchison pitched an inning but held the score at 3-1, giving up one hit and whiffing two. Then came The Boof. He kept the O's off the board as well (yeah, I waited 'til the third paragraph to mention who the Sox were playing. Let's just say I'm in Spring Training too...). Boof pitched 2 innings and K'ed 3, giving up one hit.
Bardo came on after Boof and he ran into some trouble, surrendering a run on two hits. All the while, the offense was taking its afternoon nap. That is, until the 8th inning, when they woke up and tied the game off of O's reliever Armando Gabino. Mark Wagner roped a double. Lars Anderson grounded into a fielder's choice, catching M-Wag in a rundown between second and third. Angel Sanchez knocked in two runs with a triple, bringing the Sox to within a run. Gil Velazquez knotted it up by singling in Sanchez.
While the offense was kicking it up a notch, Sarasota native and 2008 first-round draft pick Casey Kelly was impressing his buddies at home with two shutout innings, the only blemish being a two-out walk in the bottom of the 8th. He held the score even at 4 after the Sox tied it in the 8th, allowing for M-Wag's game-winning jack in the top of the ninth. Robert Manuel got the save and Kelly earned the win.
Jed Lowrie, who had his 2009 season derailed by a wrist injury, collected two hits, including a double in the sixth. Jacoby, Papi, and JD 0-fered, but Papi gave the ball a ride, being robbed of an extra-base hit by some Oriole I've never heard of in center field.
When all is said and done, it was a nice come-from-behind win in an away game, something we hope we see more of this year than we did last. Nice work, boys!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
P.S. Blogging while InSOXicated has a new baby sister: Knitting while InSOXicated. I've just taken up knitting and, yes, I'm twirling yarn around needles while I watch the Sox, hence the new blog's name. Once I learn how to knit socks, I'll make two red ones in the spirit of my favorite team.
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