Matsusaka struck out 10 in his first major league start as Boston defeated KC, 4-1.

Rob

A great debut from Matsuzaka, and he's damned cute too!

Yay, fantasy points for me!

"April 6, 2007 - Associated Press

RHP Tim Wakefield, who went six innings in his first start Friday, has pitched in 13 consecutive seasons for Boston, matching Bob Stanley (1977-89) and Roger Clemens (1984-96) for the most in team history by pitchers. The only position players with at least 13 years of continuous service in Boston are Carl Yastrzemski (23), Dwight Evans (19) and Jim Rice (16)..."

Congratulations Mr. Wakefield, you are in truley distinguished company.


Rob

wow, Matsuzaka vs King Felix on ESPN2 tonight!

Happy





Day in Boston!!!!!

Yeah, and he was kind of a wash tonight...or at least got upstaged by Hernadez.

I don't think that he pitched poorly. He only gave up 3 runs which would usually win you the game. But Hernandez was great, a fantastic performance. It would be hard to top what that kid did last night.

Anthony

Curt Schilling pitched eight innings on Saturday to extend his scoreless streak to 14, and David Ortiz hit a three-run homer to lead the Boston Red Sox to an 8-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday.

R

Did anyone read Ben McGrath's not very enlightening but still entertaining New Yorker article on Manny Ramírez? In it, David Ortíz tells McGrath, "Manny...is a crazy m*therf*cker," and then tells him to tell Manny that Big Papi said "'Manny...is a crazy m*therf*cker.'" Okay!

Red Sox Beat Yankees, 11-4

Julio Lugo finished 3-for-4 with a solo home run and three runs batted in as Boston continued its early season dominance over New York with an easy 11-4 win in the opener of a three-game set at Yankee Stadium.

Well, it's still Spring after all - and we are Red Sox fans - lets see where we are in August.

Matsuzaka (3-2) didn't pitch all that well.

David Ortiz scored in the fifth inning on a wild pitch thrown by Andy Pettitte.

Nice one Dave.

Note: Jon Lester (who is coming back from a battle with cancer) hurled five shutout innings for Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday. Lester is expected to have at least one more outing before returning to the Red Sox rotation.

Hurry Jon - We need and miss you!!!

R

Just in case you Red Sox fans don't read Jock Talk, here's the priceless video. Red Sox Love

Not ready for prime time.

Last Saturday night apparently the PawSox dropped a 15-14 decision to the Buffalo Bisons. In a game that was three outs away from going into the books as a breezy victory for the PawSox, who took a 14-6 lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning at Buffalo’s Dunn Tire Park. Hansen and Delcarmen combined to give up nine runs.

And both of these guys weere bitching about not making the teams opening day roster?

After your showing at spring training, and now against Buffalo, be happy you have jobs guys!

True, Pawtucket’s defense contributed to the debacle. Only three of Buffalo’s nine runs were earned, but that’s only bookkeeping. Errors or no errors, Hansen didn’t retire any of the seven batters he faced. Delcarmen, in one-third of an inning, allowed two hits and two walks.


R

It's gotta be the socks. According to the New York Times, the secret to the Red Sox's success might be their five-toed socks.

Something I never see discussed here for some reason...

Does anybody else out there use the MLB GAMECAST's on ESPN; I love them when I can't actually be watching the game itself...

When I am doing other things, or in a conference or on a call, I am addicted to the GAMECAST.

Case in Point - Today I am sitting here on my deck making a lot of phone calls and using the laptop pretty extensively, yet I can keep the gamecast up and just glance at it every few minutes to get the fix I need...

Hopefully, for example Cabrera's homer to right will be the last one they get this afternoon.

Come on Boston - get it out of low gear - I realise it's June 2nd, but still....

Rob

At least they pulled it out tonight 11-6.

Actually it looked like a good game; the RS had 5 runs in the 7th (Mike Lowell, Coco Crisp and Dustin Pedroia all drove in Runs), and the Yankmes just had way too many errors.

Boston had me worried, but then they pulled it together with those five runs as the Yankees bungled two straight potential inning-ending double-play balls. Jeter made both errors that extended the seventh inning and set up four of Boston's runs.

Doug Mientkiewicz, who banged his head on Lowell's hip while trying to one-hop a bad throw, was reportedly taken to the hospital.

I can't believe we are still up by 10 games, and up 14 over NY. I'm afraid that I'm going to wake up from a dream and the Yankees will be ahead.

But tonight at least it's worth a second glass of Blackbush to celebrate before bedtime.

Rob

Did anyone else see the RS - A's game?

I couldn't believe my eyes when Curt Schilling shook off Varitek in the 9th yesterday. Shannon Stewart lined a clean single to right field after Schilling shook off his catcher, blowing a chance at his first career no-hitter.

I admit that the guy was ON all day, but...

What an EGO, I mean the guy is CONSTANTLY shaking off his catchers - that was the 6th or 7th time he shook off Varitek last night alone. He had just retired Mark Kotsay and Jason Kendall on grounders to shortstop for the first two outs of the ninth; then he has the stupidity to shake off his pitcher AGAIN?

I mean he has always been that way, but wow - this time it cost him bigtime - maybe it will teach him a lesson this time, even if it is a little late in his career.

In his first complete game in at least 3 years Schilling finished with a one-hitter as the Red Sox took the A's 1-0.

Well, at least they won.

R

If Schilling did pitch a no-hitter he'd be even more insufferable than he is now. Shannon Stewart, you rock!

Just going through the draft spreadsheets from last week.

Starting with their first selection on Thursday, Nick Hagadone, a power lefty from the University of Washington (55th overall) and continuing with right-hander Chris Providence from SE Louisiana (144th overall), Theo Epstein definately had a preferance again for young impact pitchers.

The RS seem not to be afraid of drafting more and more high school players with potentially higher ceilings than more polished college players. Some of these guys already have 95 mph balls.

The Red Sox and McLeod executed that plan again Thursday and Friday, with four of their six selections on the first day coming from the high schools, including two pitchers.

Hagadone, Nicholas U Washington LHP
Dent, Ryan Woodrow Wilson HS SS
Morris, Jeffrey Virgil I Grissom HS 3B
Huntzinger, Brock Pendleton Heights HS RHP
Province, Christopher Southeastern Louisiana U RHP
Middlebrooks, William Liberty Eylau HS RHP

Interesting strategy - but also riskier because they are so undeveloped yet and just about anything can happen. There is a reason there are fewer college players with that level of play - there are a lot of injuries to kids that young who are trying to overcompensate.

The RS seem lucky, and have been doing well with this strategy over the last couple years, but relying so heavily on HS kids...

Theo could have a great harvest - or end up with ashes.

Rob

Wow - talking/writing to myself - isn't that pathetic...

Almost as bad as the R Sox against the Diamondbacks earlier. 5-1 against ARIZONA?

Johnson allowed just one run in six innings and three relievers did the rest as the Diamondbacks defeated the Red Sox to salvage the final game of the series.

Matsuzaka walked two leadoff hitters, and both scored.

Matsuzaka then allowed two runs on four hits in six innings, walking four and striking out nine.

"Our team lost, but overall I feel like I'm improving," said Matsuzaka, who lost his third straight decision. "The quality of my pitches is getting better."

Better? Lets just say that apparently they're still not quite ready for PRIME TIME yet.

R

Let's not be too hard on Dice-K. 2 ER in 6 innings against the D-backs isn't exactly the 2nd coming of Cy Young, but it's not horrible either. I'm wondering what the heck happened to our once vaunted offense on this West Coast swing. OK, Randy Johnson pitched pretty damn good today, plus the bullpen guys were treating this game like it was Game 7 of the WS, so scoring just one run is understandable. But what about the 3 runs in 27 innings against Oakland?? Dare I even mention Lenny "I can hit 83 on the radar gun with a stiff tailwind" DiNardo's 6 shutout innings???

Not like my sphincter's getting tight or anything, but did anybody else notice that the Minions of Satan have won their last 6, and 8 of their last 10? We're still 9.5 up, but it's not like the AL East is locked up by any stretch.

The Yankees extended their winning streak to 9, swept D'backs.

Meanwhile back home a 12-2 Red Sox loss to the Rockies last night.

Get it in gear people, or I hate to say it but: the Yankees will.

R

They (the Yankees) are making it interesting, aren't they? It just reminds you how much baseball there is yet to be played and that the Yanks could catch up to the Sox and take that division, especially if the Sox keep playing like this. And the Yanks play the struggling Mets this weekend. I'm hoping the Mets finally pull it together this weekend. And let's not forget that the Sox still have a commanding lead, however, lucky for them.

Anthony

Well the Sox did well this weekend, wrapping it up with the 9-5 win over the Giants tonight to stay 9 games ahead.

I just wish we would see a little more hitting - across the board - from them.

But, can't really ask for more... if they are still half that - 5 games up - in 73 days, I will be ecstatic.

R

Just like that Toby Keith song, "I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was." Wow, mad props to Curt Schilling for taking a no-hitter into the 9th inning three starts ago. But his two starts since then, yikes!! 5IP 5ER against Colorado and 4.1IP 6ER against the Braves. Is there actually any serious discussion in the Red Sox front office of signing this guy for 2008?!? Yeah, maybe by the same genius who inked Byung-Hung Kim's contract

When is Lester getting called up? Craptastic, I hate to have to choose between Tavares and Lester. Couldn't we just sh*t-can Schilling instead?? Hey, I will be grateful 'til the day I die for Schilling's monumental heroics in October 2004. The man has earned his place in Red Sox Valhalla. But that was then and this is now.

On the other side of the coin, we have Dice-K. The guy's had to adjust to a different country, culture, language, strike zone, baseball, EVERYTHING. It's no surprise that he's had his struggles. While we can't expect 7 shutout innings from him every start, I think the Dice-K we saw against the Giants is the pitcher we can expect to see for the most part going forward. On the other hand, Schilling's last two fetid starts are more or less what we're going to get from him for the rest of the season.

The Angels had a nice week as the No. 1 team in the power rankings - a 4-2 record against the Dodgers and Astros. But they weren't nearly as impressive as the Red Sox, who went 5-1 with three victories by shutout and a run differential for the week of plus-24. In addition, the Red Sox continue to have the best overall and road records in baseball, and they're No. 2 behind Detroit in run differential.

Big Papi (.449) is second only to Magglio Ordonez in on-base percentage in the American League.

The Red Sox scored seven runs in three games against the Padres' pitching, who came into Sunday's game with a 3.01 ERA(the best in the majors). With RHP Curt Schilling on the DL, LHP Kason Gabbard will be called up to start for the Red Sox on Tuesday at Seattle. He is 7-2 with a 3.24 ERA in 14 starts with Triple-A Pawtucket and he beat Atlanta 6-3 in Boston in May.

Puts them a full dozen games ahead of you know who going in to the 3 game series.

'Who knows what tomorrow brings
In a world, few hearts survive
All I know is the way I feel
When it's real, I keep it alive

The road is long, there are mountains in our way
But we climb a step every day

Love lift us up where we belong
Where the eagles cry on a mountain high
Love lift us up where we belong
Far from the world we know, up where the clear winds blow...

- some guy named Joe

Going to catch one of the home games SOON.

R

What???? I'm talking to myself again?

"SEATTLE (AP) -- The Boston Red Sox medical staff is evaluating Curt Schilling's sore shoulder, and the frustrated veteran isn't enjoying the wait.

The team expects the ace right-hander will likely remain out past the first week of July and perhaps through the All-Star break. Schilling said Monday he doesn't even know when he will begin throwing again.

When asked if he would be back in Boston's rotation before the break begins July 9, Schilling said, "You know what? I would like to be back by tomorrow. But they have protocol."

General manager Theo Esptein told reporters Friday that a midseason rest should lead to a stronger late-season Schilling...."

Damn it!!!


R

Mariners 8, Red Sox 7.

Shit. SIGH.... It's Summer...

Rob

Yeah, it was frustrating that Gabbard (who was great in his MLB debut earlier this season) couldn't throw a strike, but I would put last night's game in the category of a "good loss." The sometimes flagging offense came through with 7 runs last night, keeping the Sawx in what should have been a runaway for Seattle. And despite Gabbard's performance, it was the right move, calling up Gabbard and keeping Lester in Triple A. Hey, I'd love for Schilling to prove me wrong, but I'd rather have Lester (even Gabbard) in the rotation than Schilling. I think the man's done.

Will Josh Beckett get the nod for the All Star game? He has to be as close to a shoe in as there is...

Tied for the with 11 wins, a World Series Most Valuable Player, but never an All-Star...

Will he make it this year?

I gotta say YES!!!, but... so many good choices this year; and Beckett frequently gets overlooked and underestimated.

Lets hope optimisticly!

R

Is Beckett a shoo-in for the All Star Game? As surely as the sun rises in the east. The question is whether or not he starts the game. At 11 and 1, he is tied with Sabathia for most wins, plus he has the fewest losses of all the pitchers with 8 or more wins. He gets my vote, then again, I'm kinda biased. The two pitchers with the lowest ERAs in the AL, Haren (at a sick 1.91) and Verlander (2.78), have a couple of marquee matchups coming up: Verlander vs. Santana tonight, and Haren's supposed to pitch against Pettite on Sunday. Aren't the ASG lineups announced on Sunday? If so, Haren's final numbers are already in. But if Verlander outduels Santana tonight and lowers his 2nd-lowest-in-the-AL ERA (SPs only) in the process, he probably gets the ball. And let's not forget, he's got that nifty no-no under his belt.

OK, Beckett was bad last night (5IP, 5ER), but Verlander was even worse on Friday (5IP, 6ER, 6BB -- eek!). Sabathia leads the AL in most wins (12, one more than Beckett) and tied for fewest losses (2). On the other hand, Haren is flashing that sick 1.91 ERA, lowest not just in the AL, but in the majors. Since no pitcher is head and shoulders above his ASG peers, I say give the ball to Verlander. A no-no should count for something. Besides, his manager picks the pitchers, right?

This hair is just tooooo much.

Agreed.

R

Gotta pass on a post from SoSH (Sons of Sam Horn, the official unoffical Red Sox message board) about tonight's terrific win. For you pinko commies non-Red Sox fans, Jon Lester came back to pitch, and win, his first Major League game since being diagnosed with cancer only 11 months ago:

(In response to a post in which some idiot told everybody not to get too excited about tonight's win)
Joking, right....please?
If this is not a win a Red Sox fan can get jacked and pumped about, that win simply does not exist.
1) Beat a playoff-caliber team that is a f'ing monster at home.
2) Watch the bullpen flex its nuts.
3) Something about one of the pitchers being sick, can't remember exactly ...
The only way this could have been better is if, in his first game back, Lester pitched a complete game shutout against the MFY in Yankee Stadium while simultaneously spraying a steady stream of piss all over the plaques in Monument Park ... from the pitcher's mound.

CLASSIC! F*ckin' CLASSIC!!

Click Clack, Click Clack... look out BoSox, heeeerrrrrreeee come the Yankees!!!! Better start looking over your shoulder

Yeah - they're only SEVEN games out... and at the end of July.

I mean it's possible, but... pretty unlikely at this late date given their roster, I am suprised they were able to pick up 6.

On the other hand... As much as I love them to death, we are talking about the Red Sox in August.

R

Today will be Curt Schilling's first start in almost six weeks. Good Luck Curt.

Francona said yesterday in an interview that Boston will option LHP Javier Lopez to Triple-A Pawtucket to clear roster space for Schilling's return from the DL Monday _ not because he deserves it, but because ``at the moment, he's an optional player.''

So tell me again why the Red Sox paid so much to grab Gagne away from the Yankees last week?

And for this we sacraficed a great young talent in LHP Kason Gabbard?

What the hell is Theo thinking?

Rob

I was also a bit dismayed by trading Kabbard for Gagne until I read up on the guy a bit on SoSH. It seems Kason overachieved in his brief stint in the majors. Of course, time will tell, but judging by his minor league career, Kason is looking more like Casey Fossum than Hideki Okajima. Although MDC is looking very good, Papelbon VERY good, and Okajima near-invincible, none of the above has much MLB experience, especially in the postseason. While Gagne is no longer the preternatural closer he was in 2003, he seems to have bounced back pretty well from injury and is a very good reliever, plus, more important, he has the experience (not in the postseason, but in general) that MDC and Paps are lacking. And for a righty, he has success against lefties (hitting just .177 against), making him a good Plan B if Oki's unavailable.

Dice-K and Beckett are pitching great. The jury's still out with Schilling and Lester. And Wakefield's performance is about as predictable as his signature pitch. But at least we have the best bullpen in baseball, and second place ain't even close. I can't say I'm thrilled about this trade, but I'm definitely OK with it.

Would you prefer he be an underachiever instead? (And perhaps even be proud of it? )

What the hell is that about?

Los Angeles Angels beat the Boston Red Sox 10-4 on Tuesday night. Following Curt Schilling's returned from the disabled list Monday night when he gave up a tiebreaking home run to Izturis in the seventh as the R Sox lost 4-2, and the R Sox lead drops to 5 games.

I know it's August 7. Please somebody tell me this isn't going to happen this year.

R

I can't believe I have to explain this...wait, yes I can...

Dustin Pedroia hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh allowing the Red Sox beat the Angels on Wednesday night.

Not great, but better.

What's with Ortiz shoulder? Is he going to need some time and PT?

R

So what the eff is up with Gagne? Any insights?

His numbers with Texas notwithstanding, I don't think he's the same pitcher he was before getting hurt.

Not just Gagne, who is looking unhealthy (if that means anything); Rivera is having problems too (age maybe). Borowski is anything but confident on the mound. At least the BoSox have Papelbon. This year belongs to Valverde, F. Cordero, and Putz.

Not closers, but its good to see BWebb and Ervin Santana back in form.

Anyone know who Gabe Kapler is playing for these days? I've lost track....

I believe he's a minor league manager now.

Oh right on...thanks I'll look him up.....oye, he's wicked hot!

http://www.greenvilledrive.com/

Here's his team- he's on the home page.