The Red Sox opening week has been a rollercoaster of emotions for fans. They are currently 2-3 going into Sunday night’s game, but overall, things look good. There is no bloody sock on Schilling’s ankle and Dice-K looked phenomenal.
Matsuzaka looked like the 103 million dollar man that the Red Sox made him this off-season in his first major league start. He struck out 10 in seven innings and only allowed one run. The Kansas City Royals were baffled by his pitches, which resembled a whiffle ball on a windy day. Some Red Sox pitchers did not have this same success in their first starts.
Curt Schilling’s first start left much to be desired when he pitched only four innings and surrendered five runs. This disappointing opening day start marks the sixth consecutive time that the Red Sox have lost on opening day. Schilling will start Sunday night against the Texas Rangers.
Josh Beckett and Tim Wakefield both added excellent starts this week. After week one the Red Sox starting rotation has two wins and three losses with a 4.61 ERA.
The Red Sox line up had difficulty producing this week, averaging fewer than four runs a game. Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz had slow weeks, and you can expect that when they start hitting the runs will follow.
Overall the first week was disappointing, but there were glimpses of brilliance.
First week grade- C
Showing posts with label Boston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boston. Show all posts
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Opening Day Glory
Tom Glavine toes the rubber and glares in at the catcher. He nods, and sets for his windup. The batter is digging in, kicking the dirt like he is trying to get gum off his shoe. The whole stadium is silent. Waiting. Anticipating. Glavine winds up and whips the ball over the outside corner of the plate…STREEEIKE 1! A new Season has begun.
It is opening day, the greatest day of the sports year. The grass is cut in elegant designs and is waving joyously in the soft breeze. The stadiums are packed and throbbing with intensity. It is a new beginning. Hope is a not a lingering scent in the air, but a reality that everyone can grasp. The excitement in palpable.
Baseball is not a sport; it is a way of life. A religion; a creed to live by. This is baseball. The great American past time.
There is truly nothing better than going to the ballpark, whether it is the Damn Yankees or the beloved Red Sox. There are few things in this world that compare to walking down Yawkey Way and entering Fenway Park for the first time. The Green Monster looms over the field ominously and the green walls make it appear as though the stadium arose out of the ground centuries ago. The famous Coke Bottle atop the green monster stands porter between the stadium and the real world. It is a magical place, where history is thickly intertwined with the present.
This is why Baseball is great; the rich history, which follows us into every season; the records, which ache to be broken. The myths, and the truths, the legacies. For baseball is all about remembering the past, remembering Kirk Gibson’s epic homerun, or the hit heard world round. And it makes sense, for what is the present and future without the past? Nothing.
It is opening day, the greatest day of the sports year. The grass is cut in elegant designs and is waving joyously in the soft breeze. The stadiums are packed and throbbing with intensity. It is a new beginning. Hope is a not a lingering scent in the air, but a reality that everyone can grasp. The excitement in palpable.
Baseball is not a sport; it is a way of life. A religion; a creed to live by. This is baseball. The great American past time.
There is truly nothing better than going to the ballpark, whether it is the Damn Yankees or the beloved Red Sox. There are few things in this world that compare to walking down Yawkey Way and entering Fenway Park for the first time. The Green Monster looms over the field ominously and the green walls make it appear as though the stadium arose out of the ground centuries ago. The famous Coke Bottle atop the green monster stands porter between the stadium and the real world. It is a magical place, where history is thickly intertwined with the present.
This is why Baseball is great; the rich history, which follows us into every season; the records, which ache to be broken. The myths, and the truths, the legacies. For baseball is all about remembering the past, remembering Kirk Gibson’s epic homerun, or the hit heard world round. And it makes sense, for what is the present and future without the past? Nothing.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Jonathon Papelbon: Closer of the Future?
With a devastating split-fingered fastball that sinks into oblivion Jonathon Papelbon dazzled the American League and solidified his spot as the Red Sox closer of the future.
A starting pitcher throughout his minor league career, Papelbon, filled in for an injured Keith Foulke last year and pitched phenomenally. For much of the season, up to his injury, he was leading the league in saves. Even though his arm did wear down at the end of the season, the dominance displayed has all of Boston talking.
Papelbon has been working on elevating his arm slot when he pitches. This, he hopes, will help him avoid another injury at the end of the season. He is not concerned about the adjustment, “Mechanically, I’m getting there. It’s a little bit different, not much- enough to get it done.”
Papelbon was originally going to be the fifth starter in an already impressive rotation, which includes Daisuke and Schilling, but a weak bullpen prompted him to ask Coach Terry Francona to be the closer. Francona was happy to facilitate Papelbon’s request, and moved Julian Tavarez to the Fifth Starting spot.
The decision was easy for Francona, as Papelbon’s ERA last year as a closer was 0.92. He also won four games and saved 35 more. He blew six games but a majority came at the end of the season when he began having arm issues.
Boston has full confidence in Papelbon, and will be giving him the ball in the ninth. He is the first reliable closer that the Red Sox have had in many years and the whole league is excited to see what this kid can do; they got a glimpse of it last year, was it the real deal? My bet is yes, and watch them ride his arm to the playoffs.
A starting pitcher throughout his minor league career, Papelbon, filled in for an injured Keith Foulke last year and pitched phenomenally. For much of the season, up to his injury, he was leading the league in saves. Even though his arm did wear down at the end of the season, the dominance displayed has all of Boston talking.
Papelbon has been working on elevating his arm slot when he pitches. This, he hopes, will help him avoid another injury at the end of the season. He is not concerned about the adjustment, “Mechanically, I’m getting there. It’s a little bit different, not much- enough to get it done.”
Papelbon was originally going to be the fifth starter in an already impressive rotation, which includes Daisuke and Schilling, but a weak bullpen prompted him to ask Coach Terry Francona to be the closer. Francona was happy to facilitate Papelbon’s request, and moved Julian Tavarez to the Fifth Starting spot.
The decision was easy for Francona, as Papelbon’s ERA last year as a closer was 0.92. He also won four games and saved 35 more. He blew six games but a majority came at the end of the season when he began having arm issues.
Boston has full confidence in Papelbon, and will be giving him the ball in the ninth. He is the first reliable closer that the Red Sox have had in many years and the whole league is excited to see what this kid can do; they got a glimpse of it last year, was it the real deal? My bet is yes, and watch them ride his arm to the playoffs.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Manny Ramirez: Will Manny be Manny?
Boston Red Sox fans are hard pressed to remember a season that Manny Ramirez hasn’t had one of his notorious “episodes”. These episodes vary from him demanding a trade or refusing to play for games on end. It seems every year the Red Sox front office frantically searches for a team to trade him to, but their attempts always end up unsuccessful.
So the question is, will Manny be Manny again, and more appropriately, how long will it last for this time? Opinions differ on the steps Boston should be taking. Some feel that since Ramirez will be receiving $18 million in 2007 that he should just shut up and play. Others argue that as long as Manny puts up eye popping numbers, an average of 35 homeruns and 100 RBIs a year, let him be Manny.
Regardless of how you feel about Ramirez’s bipolar nature, you can’t ignore his consistency at the plate during the course of his career. He is only 30 homeruns short of 500, and barring an injury, he will pass that number this season. At 34, Ramirez’s age is beginning to show, as last year’s RBI, Run, and Homerun totals were all the lowest since he has come to Boston.
Even though he is slowly declining, Ramirez still holds a key spot in the batting order and will be batting third or fourth this year. The combination of him and David Ortiz batting back to back has proven dangerous for many of the opposing pitchers, as the duo united for 89 homeruns last season.
The simple truth of the matter is that Boston loves Manny. They can live with his “freak outs” as long as they get to see the opposing pitcher’s knees shake every time he steps to the plate. You can bet that when October comes around you will hear the chants of Manny! Manny! Manny! Coming from Fenway.
So the question is, will Manny be Manny again, and more appropriately, how long will it last for this time? Opinions differ on the steps Boston should be taking. Some feel that since Ramirez will be receiving $18 million in 2007 that he should just shut up and play. Others argue that as long as Manny puts up eye popping numbers, an average of 35 homeruns and 100 RBIs a year, let him be Manny.
Regardless of how you feel about Ramirez’s bipolar nature, you can’t ignore his consistency at the plate during the course of his career. He is only 30 homeruns short of 500, and barring an injury, he will pass that number this season. At 34, Ramirez’s age is beginning to show, as last year’s RBI, Run, and Homerun totals were all the lowest since he has come to Boston.
Even though he is slowly declining, Ramirez still holds a key spot in the batting order and will be batting third or fourth this year. The combination of him and David Ortiz batting back to back has proven dangerous for many of the opposing pitchers, as the duo united for 89 homeruns last season.
The simple truth of the matter is that Boston loves Manny. They can live with his “freak outs” as long as they get to see the opposing pitcher’s knees shake every time he steps to the plate. You can bet that when October comes around you will hear the chants of Manny! Manny! Manny! Coming from Fenway.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Worth $103 Million?
Speculation has always struck me as futile, but with the arrival of Daisuke Matsuzaka, and all the hype that has followed, you can’t help but be curious about how he will perform. Japanese pitchers in Major League Baseball are relatively new, and their success has been limited, so the question is: have the Red Sox discovered a gem from overseas?
Daisuke, pronounced Dice-K, Matsuzaka has dominated Japanese hitters in the past years with a devastating eight-pitch repertoire. His stats draw comparisons to Pedro during his Boston years and so does his price. The Red Sox coughed up an astounding $51.1 million just for the right to talk to him, outbidding the Yankees and Mets. Boston then signed him to a six-year $52 million contract.
Unlike previous Japanese players to come to America, Daisuke has proven his worth against competition outside Japan, for he was the MVP of the World Baseball Classic. During the WBC he faced powerful teams and was still able to find success, this is a promising sign for the Red Sox.
Matsuzaka is known for his superhuman arm, which seems to never tire. His thirteen complete games in 2006 are unheard of in American baseball since the dead ball era. He regularly throws 170 pitches in a game, roughly 50 more than the average Major League pitcher; and after he will throw another 100 or so pitches in a bullpen toss. It is normal for him to play 300-foot long toss and then complete a 300-pitch bullpen session. The most impressive thing about him is that his shoulder was perfect in all the cat-scan pictures.
The big concern is when will he throw his last pitch, when he is 31 or 40? Japanese pitchers who transfer to the U.S. are infamous for only pitching into their early thirties. Matsuzaka, who is 26, is in his prime now, but how many good years does he have left?
Daisuke has pitched well during spring training and appears to be ready for the season. He is currently 1-1 this spring with a 2.84 ERA and has 13 strikeouts in 12.2 innings pitched.
Boston hopes that Matsuzaka will live up to his reputation and be a key component of what looks to be possibly best starting rotation in baseball. He is prepared for a huge season and all signs are pointing upwards. Speculation is useless, however, as all our questions will be answered opening day.
Daisuke, pronounced Dice-K, Matsuzaka has dominated Japanese hitters in the past years with a devastating eight-pitch repertoire. His stats draw comparisons to Pedro during his Boston years and so does his price. The Red Sox coughed up an astounding $51.1 million just for the right to talk to him, outbidding the Yankees and Mets. Boston then signed him to a six-year $52 million contract.
Unlike previous Japanese players to come to America, Daisuke has proven his worth against competition outside Japan, for he was the MVP of the World Baseball Classic. During the WBC he faced powerful teams and was still able to find success, this is a promising sign for the Red Sox.
Matsuzaka is known for his superhuman arm, which seems to never tire. His thirteen complete games in 2006 are unheard of in American baseball since the dead ball era. He regularly throws 170 pitches in a game, roughly 50 more than the average Major League pitcher; and after he will throw another 100 or so pitches in a bullpen toss. It is normal for him to play 300-foot long toss and then complete a 300-pitch bullpen session. The most impressive thing about him is that his shoulder was perfect in all the cat-scan pictures.
The big concern is when will he throw his last pitch, when he is 31 or 40? Japanese pitchers who transfer to the U.S. are infamous for only pitching into their early thirties. Matsuzaka, who is 26, is in his prime now, but how many good years does he have left?
Daisuke has pitched well during spring training and appears to be ready for the season. He is currently 1-1 this spring with a 2.84 ERA and has 13 strikeouts in 12.2 innings pitched.
Boston hopes that Matsuzaka will live up to his reputation and be a key component of what looks to be possibly best starting rotation in baseball. He is prepared for a huge season and all signs are pointing upwards. Speculation is useless, however, as all our questions will be answered opening day.
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