Getting Serious!--Peter

Well, three and counting! This is getting to look grim, even if the Stripes also lost tonight. I mean this is following a very disturbing pattern. We get an early lead and then die. Up three zip on JD's first circuit of the year and then nothing! Runners on base, but no-one gets them in! The vaunted bullpen looks like bullshit! Oki, while getting a Hold, allows a baserunner that he's later charged for when Bard, he of the triple digit heat, gives up the hit to plate the run. Then, just to make matters worse, he allows the winning run to score as well, because our bats have been lulled to sleep. This better turn around or we'll really be in deep doo-doo.
On the good side (yes there may have been one), Wake looked pretty good: 6 K's in 7 innings, a WHIP of 1.0. Papi got a hit,his first two-bagger of the year. The Sox also outhit the Royals; they just left the base runners on the bases--not what you're supposed to do.

Let's Think About This for a Moment--Peter

Well, Jenn, you're pretty much on point on the last two games the Sox played and lost. However, they weren't blowouts and we were very close all the way through. Yes, it's frustrating to have your setup & closer get hit, but it happens, sooner or later. Scutaro, who is part of the better defense point of view threw away a ball late in game two that would have ended the inning. Instead, we get bases jammed and Oki walks in the winning run. A good throw and Oki never sees the batter and, presumably, we win. Going to be an interesting season. Hopefully, Papi gets his act together of it's got to be sayonara, in spite of all the good history. Ball, unfortunately, is, as much as anything, a what have you done for me lately operation, and, other than driving in a a run off Pettite, the answer so far is not much. Tacked on to last year's lousy B.A. (OK, he did get all but one HR after June & drove in 99 for the season), it doesn't look good.

And the Hits Just Keep on Coming

Dad --

Well, Lackey made quite a showing in his debut in the Red Sox uniform, throwing 6 shut out innings. It's so nice to have him on our bench this year as opposed to being forced to face him as the Sox have in the past.

The pitcher only gave up 3 hits and two walks over six and he struck out three. It was nice to watch, especially considering what the two previous starters had done. But then the bullpen came in.

Schoeneweis gave up the tying run in the 7th. Then Papelbon was able to get through the 9th inning unscathed, but he fell apart in the 10th giving up 2 more runs and giving the Evil Empire the lead.

But last night wasn't just about the relief pitching. It's what it's always been about - the Sox can't get the hits when they count. They left eight men on base, Dad. Eight! If even half of those men had scored, the Sox would have won. Oh, well.

Tomorrow Wakefield faces Davies in Kansas City. Here's hoping he's outstanding this season as he was for the first half of last season. We need a win - from both our starters and our relief.

Jenn

Where's This Great Pitching I've Been Hearing About?

Dad --

The Sox may have picked up "run prevention" as you say during the off season, and tried to strengthen the pitching staff for just that purpose, but I've yet to see it these past two games.

Beckett, our ace, only made it through 4.2 innings on opening night and Lester barely got through five innings Tuesday. I know it's only the first two games in a very long season, but we should be seeing these guys at their best right now, not at their so-so.

What's worse, the relief team doesn't seem to be doing that well either. Ramon Ramirez picked up where he left off, pitching just a third of an inning and giving up 2 runs. And while Oki may have done okay on Sunday, last night he was back to his questionable tactics by giving up two hits and a walk which turned into a run during the 2/3rds of an inning he pitched.

Thank God Papelbon and Bard are back to their showmanship selves, otherwise we'd really be in trouble. Yes, Scutaro and Cameron are holding their own in both the outfield and batting, but it doesn't matter what your defense is like if your pitching gives up hits and walks.

As I said earlier, I know it's just the first two games of the season, but isn't this when we should be at our best? If this is what our pitching staff is like now, I don't want to see them in August when injury and tired muscles start to factor in.

Jenn

Great Way to Open the Season!: Peter

Yes, I'm a day or two late, but I've been busy savoring things as well as watching the NCAA Finals last nite. Anyway, the season opened Sunday night at Fenway, with the Sox hosting the Evil Empire. Although many of the faces and names on both sides were the same, there were some notable new faces to get accustomed to in both dugouts as well. The Sox, having gone to "run prevention" during the off season, picked up Marco Scutaro,SS; Cameron, CF; and Lackey, P, to cover the most notable new Hose members. The two who played Sunday, Scutaro and Cameron, both made major contributions right out of the gate, to go along with strong showings by existing Sox stalwarts, Youuuukkk and Dusty. What was great, beside the obvious first game success of all the aforementioned, was the way the team never said die. Down 5-1 to CC, with JB already out of the game, they came back and tied at a nickel apiece. Quickly down 7-5 an inning later,they again bounced right back to take the lead at 8-7, followed up with an insurance run an inning later, and gave the ball to Laser to close the door. He did so nicely, following Bard's equally impressive setup work the prior inning. Speaking of Bard, I don't think he threw anything under 95 mph at all, reaching 99 on a couple of tosses.
Let's hope this continues today in game two and tomorrow in #3.

Separate from the on-field stuff, JB inked an extension for four more years at $68 mill. Not too shabby. This puts the Sox rotation all under contract for a minimum of two more years (the Diceman), with some out through 2014.

A Little Nervous--Peter

Well, hopefully, it's just a little nothing, but suddenly, the Sox, after a relatively injury free spring, are starting to get dinged up a bit. First Dice-K, who reported in the best shape of his career, is having back & neck problems and may start the season on the DL. Then, new Sox hurler, Boof Bonzer (is that a name or what?--love it) is feeling a bit of discomfort in his groin. Now, Dusty sprains his wrist going for a hard hit ball in the game today against the Twinkies.(that's not meant to be disparaging--I picked up the name from a friend who's been a lifelong Minnesota fan). Things better not get too much worse.

On the plus side, old time Sox reliever Alan Embree is back with the team, having signed a minor league contract while he tries to make the roster as one of the two lefties in the pen. Those of you with short memories shouldn't forget his valuable role in the seventh game of the '04 Series.

Thanks for the Memories!--Peter

Nomar: Thanks & All The Best--Peter:
Well, it's official--Nomar Garciaparra has retired--as a member of the Red Sox! Coming home to the team that brought him and his exciting play to the majors, Nomar today signed a one day contract, donned the uniform one final time and announced his retirement. Whether or not he makes the Hall after his five year wait remains to be seen. Once considered a lock, late career injuries took away some of the luster. However, he was AL Rookie of the Year, won consecutive batting titles, including one at .370, and retires with a very good career BA of .313--not too shabby at all!
Nomar: Thanks for all the fun! We'll definitely miss you!