Entries Tagged 'the game' ↓

We’re six games into the regular season and we’ve already witnessed a horrendous offensive struggle from the Sox as they look to regroup without the power (and idiocy) of Manny.

Currently, the Sox are bottom-dwellers. Two and one-half games behind the pack in the AL East. Will it last? Certainly not. But it does make you sit and wonder why they can’t get it firing on all cylinders. So far, everyone gets some of the blame pie, with more of it being given to the offense (despite Bay’s dual home run effort the other day).

 Pitching (from 5 to 1)

5.  Penny (1-0, 4.50 ERA) Alyssa Milano’s former beau is showing signs of recovery and life on his fastball. It’s not yet up to the 97/98 MPH range, but I think now that he’s had a start under his belt this is one that will pay off for Theo.

4.  Wakfield (0-1, 4.50 ERA) He wasn’t hideous the other night and he’s still getting used to life without Mirabelli, but he’s showing his age (and a double-sized stomach) this year; no doubt because he spent the better part of the last four months trying to get his back ready for the season.

3.  Dice-K (0-1, 6.75 ERA)  Dice-K. Wow, man. Win an MVP and can’t Man-up for the season? Way to get clocked. I am expecting him to barely reach the 13 win mark this year.

2.  Lester (0-1, 9.0 ERA) Holy, Lefties, Batman! This kid got clocked and then got stuffed in the same game. He had such a bad start that you wonder if he was actually awake for most of it. Let’s go, man. You’re going to need to step it up and prove you’re okay.

1.  Beckett (1-1, 3.46 ERA) He’s doing his job. He’s the Ace. No question. In some ways, Beckett is ready for another 20-win season. I still can’t figure out his mental makeup. Will be handle the stress well if everyone behind him tanks (they won’t)? I do expect him to lead the team for most of the year.

On the topic of offense, we’re not ready to start killing people for lack of production, but Papi has got to get it together and show that he’s in the right place or the farm system is going to get a phone call for someone names Lars.

I look at the standings and I keep my cool. The Rays are a legitimate contender until someone kicks them in the private parts. The best part about this? I AM SO HAPPY IT’S NOT THE TYPICAL YANKEE RIVALRY. I yell because I care.

Clay Feet

The Clay Buchholz experiment is simply not working out so far this year. The kid is having a hell of a time adjusting to his first year in the Bigs and it looks like his confidence takes a hit each time out of the gate. I can’t help wonder if maybe a flip-flop between Masterson and Buchholz (starter vs. ‘pen) would have been a better decision; recognizing the no-hitter and the length of service.

It might be time to speed up the progress for Colon and see if he can jump in there for a couple starts.

Manny Being a #$(%$* ?

Listen, Manny can do whatever he wants and the club won’t do much about it. Whatever happens to his contract from here on out is anyone’s guess. Is he worth $20 million per year? Is he only worth that if he’s protected by Ortiz? His mischief does not bug me, but having an all-out fight with a 60-something year-old man wasn’t obviously very bright. He’ll still be here next year, I’m sure. It seems that he’s a necessary evil when things aren’t going his way and it’s a guaranteed hall of fame player when things are. Where’s Schilling in all of this? I’m surprised he hasn’t spoken up about the situation.

I had a tome of a post planned for today and then got completely torn in fifty directions. I’ll now condense my thoughts to bullet form as not to kill you like a Curt Schilling diatribe.

The Good

• The Sox are back in first place (by 1.5 games).
• The Rivalry continues, with or without Daubach or Nixon.
• Ellsbury’s hand did not get separated from his body when he made the play against Longoria.
• Sean Casey is a “company man” and is willing to kinda’, sorta’ play the role of Trot Nixon.
• That whole “what do we do with the Ellsbury / Coco platoon thing” is over for a while…
• The Rays have left the city after going 0-6 at Fenway this year.

The Bad

• The Rays have left the city.
• Jonny Gomes is now one notch above Posada on the disgust-o-meter (and that’s saying something).
• Carl Crawford is now a mortal enemy and a TOTAL punk… (insert other choice expletives).
• Jon Lester hit two people and will be suspended.
• J. D. Drew had NOTHING to do with the fight. NOTHING.

The Stupid

Coco Crisp has become an insane human being over a small, silly chain of events. When he woke up yesterday morning, there was no question that if he got hit he would charge the mound and take a swing. It was premeditated and it wasn’t even warranted in my opinion.

He went after the wrong player and then instead of taking it like a man and walking to first base, he charges the mound like a little super freak.

All kinds of baseball etiquette was blown away this week with the Rays and the Sox. Let’s hope they put this away and forget about it.

The Sox are just having the worst time on the road this year. In the current trip, they’re 1 and 5 with no signs of life. Hopefully Baltimore will be the right place at the right time?

Having had to travel all night probably wasn’t too pretty, but the Sox do get an off-day today as they prepare for a four-game series against the Birds in Fenway South.

Manny is still stuck on 499, joking  with reporters last night that he didn’t want to hit #500 in Seattle because the press conference would be too late and it would delay them getting to Baltimore. Okay, sure. Although, Wake would have probably not minded since he took the shutout loss (1 to nothing on the wing of Bedard).

Speaking of Bedard: This is the FIRST time I’ve seen Bedard act anything close to “Ace” status since the deal the Mariners did in the Spring for five players. Baltimore has had more accumulative success with their received players than that of the young lefty. I’m sure Seattle is hoping that last night is the beginning of something great and not a one-time event.

So! The Sox fall to 1.5 games behind… ugh… the Rays… and may lose Dice-K depending on how the MRI comes out today. We’ll see…

The thought of Bartolo coming in as a 5th starter and taking Clay’s place while he deals with his fingernail issue is just as predicted: Bartolo is like picking up an in-season free agent. The start last night by Colon was so economical that he looked like he could have taken another 4 innings.

Papi, you sir, are a rock star. By the way, Papi is making his presence known off the field as well. He’s been speaking out about the pace of games and has made some comments in the direction of Bud Selig about how MLB should stop pressuring people to quicken the pace.

Pedroia is the kind of player everyone should have on their team, but one or MAYBE two would be enough.