I'm Back - Sort Of

Hey Dad --

First, I want to thank you for covering the blog over the past couple weeks since, as you know, I've been otherwise preoccupied with my new son and your new grandson. He may take up a lot of time, but don't worry, I've been sitting him down to watch our favorite team. (Actually I watch while he nurses.)

As you posted, he joined Red Sox nation just over a week ago and after seeing the past few games, I'm not sure he wants to be a member of this great nation. But Aidan, this west coast trip is not normal for the Red Sox. They're usually better than this. Especially when they're at home. But for some reason this season, they just don't have their stuff when they're away.

Yes Aidan, we did win Saturday and Beckett looks to be returning to his "ace"-like past going 7 innings, giving up 2 earned runs and striking out 5. Bay hit his 11th home run and Ellsbury continued his hitting streak. It was a nice game that ended in a 5-3 victory.

Unfortunately the joy would not last. Masterson made a much better showing Sunday in Washington than Los Angeles going 6 and a third innings and giving up only 2 runs. Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to 13 games and JD Drew got another home run, his 6th of the season. But the Sox still lost and it wasn't Masterson's fault. Nope yesterday's loss lands squarely on the shoulders of Nick Green - the short stop filling in for a recovering Julio Lugo.

Now Dad, you know my detest for Lugo and the amount of errors he's made over his Red Sox career. But this new kid is doing a pretty good impression of the qualities I hate most in Lugo. The error he made that cost the Sox the game yesterday was his 7th - in only 22 starts. That's not a good ratio. And Aidan, trust me when I tell you Green is not a good example of the Sox abilities.

If you want to see players worthy of the nation, look to Jason Varitek, our captain and catcher who's hitting quite well this season. Or Jason Bay, the left fielder who took over for Manny Ramirez and is making quite a splash with his 11 home runs. There's also Youkilis and Pedroia and Lowell. Three of the four infielders who all have rabid fans in their own right.

Aidan, I know these games since your birth have been disappointing and not worthy of membership to the Nation, but tomorrow they're back at home and hopefully you'll see why both your mommy and your pops are such big fans, they had to start a blog.

XO
Jenn (Mom to you)