So close!

Herald Photo by Matt Stone
Okay, so maybe Daisuke Matsuzaka looks a little dorky with the mullet and the dye job. But you have to admit, he looks pretty relaxed and trim. Unlike last year, when everyone was saying he looked a bit "heavy."

I've got high hopes for him this year. No, I don't think he'll ever challenge Josh Beckett to be the number one starter. But I predict a good, solid year for him. I'd like to see him settle in and be our good old #2!

NESN's first ST show airs tomorrow night at 6:30. And then a daily broadcast of their workouts, every day at 10 am. Got the video tapes stacked up and ready to go!

World Series Game 3: Rookies Rock!

Aren't our Rookies awesome? Last night, behind the tag team of Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedrioa, the Sox beat the Rockies in Game 3 of the World Series, giving the team a "breath-taking" three game lead in the best of seven series. It was the longest 9-inning World Series game in history - 4 hours, 19 minutes! It was an exciting game - for the most part. The Sox scored 6 runs in the 3rd (including a 2-rbi single for pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was 0-4 this year) , and looked to be cruising. But the Rockies countered with 2 in the 6th, and 3 in the 7th. Oki came in with two on to face Holliday, and gave up a first pitch 3 run homer. Ugh. But he settled right back down, struck out two and got the third out on a ground ball back to the mound. Papelbon came in for the last four outs - and cue "Dirty Water."

The stars of the game were our four rookies. Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury - 4 for 5, with 3 doubles and 2 rbis.

AP Photo

Second baseman Dustin Pedrioa - 3 for 5, with 2 rbis

Photo from Boston Herald

Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka - 5.1 innings pitched, 101 pitches, 2 runs, 3 hits, 5 strikeouts - and 2 rbis -
Boston Globe photo

Hideki Okajima - 1 IP, 1 run, 2 hits, 2 ks

AP Photo

Our Rookies > Their Rockies

I'm afraid to say too much about tonight's game four, lest I jinx them. But the Sox looked very overpowering last night, and the Rockies looked pretty shellshocked. Everything they threw up at the Sox, the Sox handled. Even in the Rockies manage to win tonight, I don't see them coming back with four straight wins. But, stranger things have happened (see also: Red Sox- Cleveland ALCS)

Tonight we've got our feel-good story of the year starting. Jon Lester - as has been much documented elsewhere - survived lymphoma last year, and bounced back in fantastic fashion. There's a voice inside me that things this is how it was meant to me - an incredible season of Red Sox baseball; a near knock-out in the ALCS, only to come back and plow through the Indians; and now, a potential sweep of the Rockies in the World Series, behind the pitching of our miracle man.

Let's go Red Sox!!!

ALCS Games 3 & 4

SHAUN BEST/REUTERS photo

This scene of the RS dugout during last night's Game 4 of the ALCS just about sums up how things have gone in Cleveland. It hasn't been pretty, to the point that I'd already repressed all memories of Monday night's game, and had to go back and re-read the recap on redsox.com Not fun.

Monday, Daisuke Matsuzaka could only go 4.2 innings, and the Sox bats were basically dead. The highlight offensively for the Sox was Jason Varitek's two run homer in the 7th, but it was not enough. The Sox lost 4-2 The dead bats have lead to too many double plays, and on Monday one of those DPs came with the bases loaded. Crushing.

So, with the Indians leading the series 2-1, last night's game was big. Okay, not a do-or-die game (that will happen tomorrow night :( ) , but it would have tied the series and ensured a return trip to Fenway. Instead, the pitching and offense again proved mediocre. Actually, after a 16 day rest, Tim Wakefield gave us some pretty good innings. He had a no-hitter going until the 4th, and the knuckleball really seemed to be fluttering and confusing the young Indians batters. But then came the bottom of the 5th - and inning that seems to sum up the series. A lead-off homer to Casey Blake (who has the best beard in baseball, IMHO). Some defensive boo-boos, including a wild stab by Wake that bounced off his glove and killed what looked to be a sure double play. Suddenly, the knuckleballer had crossed over into ineffectiveness. I give Francona credit for the quick hook - and in came the usually reliable Manny Del Carmen. Unfortunately, not so reliable. He gave up a 3 run homer to the man with the horribly spelled name, Jhonny Peralta - and suddenly it was 7-0. Ugly.

The bright spot was the first signs of life for our bats in the top of the 6th. Back-to-back-to-back homeruns by Youkilis, Ortiz and Ramirez seemed to signal a momentum shift in our favor - but it was not to be. That was it, and the Sox went down 7-3.

There was lots of talk yesterday about whether Francona should have skipped Wake and gone straight to the ace, Beckett - have him pitch on short rest. But Tito opted for Wake - and that decision seemed the right one for the first four innings. But...there will a lot of second-guessing and armchair managing going on today in RS Nation.

But now we do have a fully rested Beckett on the mound tomorrow night for the pivotal game. We lose, we go home...We win, WE GO HOME! Fenway hasn't been kind to our opponents in the post-season. I said a week ago that Joshua Patrick would get us to the promised land of the World Series, so let's hope he gets something started for us Thursday night.

Keep the faith! Go Sox!

My heart can't stand much more of this!

Globe photo
Another day, another great game for the Sox! After the incredible comeback on Sunday, I figured last night's game to be a let-down. Not only from the emotions of Sunday, but also because the Tigers played a late game Sunday night and flew into Boston in the wee hours of Monday morning. I thought they'd be tired out and we'd have a rout.

But they put up a good fight for most of the game. Their pitcher, Grizzly Adams, oops, I mean Nate Robertson, was sharp for several innings. But the Sox chipped away, and dealt the death blow in the 8th inning when they scored 4 runs. Three RBIs went to Julio Lugo - who hit a triple with the bases loaded. Yeah!

The story of the game, though, was the complete game pitched by Daisuke. 124 pitches, 5 strikeouts, 6 hits (one of which was a home run by Granderson). He didn't look as dominating as previous outings, but he looked like a more complete pitcher. He didn't fall apart as he has in some other games; recovered from the homerun quickly. It was our first CG of the year - we only had 3 last year, but I suspect we'll see more than that this year.

The high five line at the end was the best - a great mixture of bows (see photo) and hugs. Daisuke is so funny when someone grabs him for one of those man-hugs - especially if it's Ortiz doing the hugging. He just kind of hangs there like a rag doll, completely unsure of what to do! But he does seem to be getting into the spirit of things. His teammates seem to have embraced him,and he's hugging back!

Random Wednesday Thoughts

For May 9th:

1) I haven't commented on the discussion about banning beer in Major League clubhouses. I had not idea that, typically, there are tubs of ice cold beer waiting for the players at the end of each game. It seems like they can chug a few before they leave. I know that these guys are (mostly) adults - but I find it hard to believe in this day and age, that a club would put themselves at such a risk for a liability suit. Plus - in how many lines of work do you see that happen? I mean, I'd love it if, at the end of the day, the administration put out a tub of beers in the teacher's lounge...

2)Josh Beckett looked awesome last night! He's now 7-0 - and clearly, the ace of the staff.

3) Remy and Orsillo have been so ON on NESN this year. There was the now-classic "pizzer" throwing episode. Last night, in Toronto, someone tossed a paper airplane from the upper deck - that made it all the way to the playing field. You start hearing paper rattle in the booth - and Orsillo tosses the most pitiful paper airplane ever constructed out of the broadcast booth. The result sends both men into a fit of giggles! And me too!

4) Bobby Cox is on his way to passing the record for being ejected from baseball games. I think he needs 3 more. Will they give him a trophy?

5) Interesting fact heard on the Braves pre-game show tonight. Of all the managers currently employed in the Major Leagues, one 1 is a former pitcher - Bud Black of San Diego. There are 13 former catchers - we've always said we thought Tek would be a good manager when the time came, and the preponderance of catchers seems to indicate they are good at it.

6) As I post this, Matsuzaka is in the 6th inning - 7 ks, 0 runs, 80 pitches. Fantastic...

A glorious spring weekend

Globe photo by Jim Davis
What an exciting weekend of baseball, Red Sox v. Yankees-style. Friday night's come from behind, Saturday's game which featured Big Papi homering - they were both overshadowed by Sunday night's game. Wow! Some of the more exciting parts:

*Well, of course, number one was the four-in-a-row homers by the Red Sox in the 3rd. Down 3-0, Manny Ramirez hit one over the Monster with two outs. I'd felt he was due to start breaking out of his "slump," so I took that as a welcome sign. Next up was JD Drew, who powered one into the bleachers behind the Bull Pen. Yeah, score now 3-2. Then it's Mike Lowell - another one into the Monster seats, and suddenly we're tied!. I couldn't believe it! I looked away from the tv for a second, and I hear Jon Miller making the homer call - and I figured they were replaying Lowell's homer. No, it was Jason Varitek following up with ANOTHER one over the Monster, and now we're ahead 4-3. I was screaming "Unbelievable" at the tv - scared the cat and, I'm sure, my neighbor! Then Wily Mo stepped up - and if anyone has the power to make it five in a row, it's him. Unfortunately, he struck out - Lowell said that when Wily Mo came into the dugout, everyone was saying "Yeah, you suck" to him!

This is only the 5th time a team has hit four consecutive homers - and the first time since 1963 they've hit four off one pitcher. The last time for the four homers was last year, in a Dodgers-Padres game. The Dodgers hit four homers off two pitchers to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th - a game won in extra innings with a homer by Nomar. And who hit one of those four homers? J D Drew - who hit the second home run in BOTH instances. Strange.

Even stranger coincidence is that in the previous time this feat was accomplished in 1963, one of the home runs hit by the Cleveland Indians was by our manager's father, Tito Francona. Karma, baby, karma.

PS - I love that photo. It's actually from later in the game -when Lowell hit ANOTHER homer, this time for 3 runs - but it shows all four of our "homers" together.

*ESPN had some great reaction shots to the homers. The best were the shot of Manny in the dugout and Theo in the luxury box. When Lowell's shot went out, they showed Manny leaping around the dugout, hugging everyone in sight. Say what you will about our Manny, it appears that his teammates aren't nearly as disenchanted with him as the press would have you believe. He was like a big puppy, bounding around to everyone's clear delight. And as for Theo - here's a screen capture I grabbed from "Surviving Grady" this a.m.:
Doesn't look too detached, does he?

*This was first three-game sweep of the Yankees at Fenway since 1990.

*Daisuke had a few control problems all night, most noticeably when he hit two batters. Of course, I couldn't think of two better batters to hit than A-Rod and Jeter! If Matsuzaka wanted to win the heart of RS Nation, that's one way to do it!

*I know - it's only April. We've got a long way to go. But an exciting series like this really makes you glad we have baseball back. And just whets the appetite for the rest of the season. We've got quite a week ahead of us - two games v. the Toronto Blue Jays; two games at Baltimore; and then three games over the weekend at Yankee Stadium. I hope the boys aren't too emotionally let-down tonight...

Random Wednesday Thoughts

AP Photo by Adrian Wyld
Mid-week greetings!
1) The second tough game for Daisuke in a row. The Blue Jays - and Gustavo Chacin - beat the Red Sox last night in Toronto, 2-1. It was a strange game, in that it felt like a much bigger lead. I was taken aback when I considered wearily turning off the tv in the 8th, and realizing that we were still only one run down. But we just couldn't seem to muster the offense to bail out Matsuzaka. (all except Wily Mo Pena, who sent one 500 yards!) Which leads me to...

2) Matsuzaka. Yeah, I know he's 1-2 now on the year. But I am still really encouraged by what I'm seeing. Granted, he seemed to have a total meltdown during the fourth inning last night - walking in Greg Zaun to put the Jays ahead. But he somehow regrouped and struck out the side in the 5th. He ended with a total of 10 strikeouts (the last rookie pitcher to have two 10-strikeout games this early in the season was Fernando Valanzuela!). I think he's still adjusting to America, to the Majors, and to his new team. Heck, it took Beckett nearly a year to find himself after just switching to the American League! So, I'm not out on any ledges yet. And his next two starts will be intense - Sunday night vs. the Yankees, and then Friday night at Yankee Stadium. If he thinks he heard some taunts from the crowd last night...

3) Great stuff from Edes today:

Red Sox manager Terry Francona was astounded yesterday to learn of a common practice in Japanese baseball known as "kantoku show," in which a manager doles out cash to players he considers deserving of a little bonus after a victory. Something extra in the envelope, for example, for Daisuke Matsuzaka.

"You're kidding me," Francona said when told of the "manager prize," as it is translated, according to an article in yesterday's New York Times. "That's not happening here, with what he gets."

"It should be the other way around," he said with a laugh. "If I manage a good game, he should give me something."

Plus think about the salary disparity between Matsu and Tito!

4) Also some interesting things on the NESN broadcast last night, talking about how different the relationship is between player and manager in Japan vs. the US. I guess Matsu is having to learn different interpersonal skills - is even having a hard time calling the manager "Tito."

5) Tonight it's Wakefield on the mound for the Sox. I love this shot of him from the "Fever Pitch" premiere...
I hope those bats have been drinking coffee today and are alert!

RS v.s Angels 4/13/07

AP Photo by Winslow Townson
Last night's game was so satisfying on so many levels. I'm so glad that Wake finally got some run support - the Red Sox exploded for 6 runs in the 8th, sealing the victory. I always feel so frustrated for Tim - he's such a good reliable pitcher, always willing to do whatever has to be done for his team. Who can forget his long walk off the mound after Aaron F*(&(*&ing Boone hit that home run in 2003 - or even better, him standing on the mound in 2004, enjoying the World Series victory?

Also of note last night was the re-awakening of Doug Mirabelli's bat. We all know the story of the BFFs - Doug and Wake. After Doug got traded to the Padres last year, his heart clearly still was in Boston. And Wake couldn't find another catcher who could corral that knuckleball. I'm still convinced Doug's return was orchestrated by Wake. Just put it to the Front Office that he wanted Doug back... And he's made some comments recently that leads you to believe that if Doug goes, Wake will retire.

So it was really great to see Doug have an outstanding game at the plate. A home run, three RBIs. It was like he said, hey, if no one is going to give my BFF any run support, I will. And they were both so cute in their post-game interviews - praising their bud's performance.

And speaking of BFFs, somehow the sight of Julian Tavarez and his new best friend, Daisuke Matsuzaka, fills me with both glee and fear. There were lots of shots of them in the dugout last night - Julian animatedly telling him some story and laughing crazily. As Don Orsillo said, do you think Matsuzaka actually understands anything Tavarez is saying? Remy: Not a word! In a game last week, there was a great shot of Tavarez standing with Matsu, with a Japanese phrase book clutched in his hand. Who could have predicted that crazy Julian would be taking Millar's place as class clown?

Also satisfying last night was Papelbon's appearance in the 8th. Once again bailing out the team, pitching out of a jam in the RS 8th. 6 pitches, two outs. He is awesome!

And it was great to see the offense come to life in the 8th. Just yesterday I had been telling someone that I didn't see our offense doing what they did in 2004 so often - come on strong at the end of the game. How many times in the past years have we seen the bats come to life in the 8th or 9th, saving or winning a game? I hadn't seen signs of this yet this year - until last night.

How to celebrate the victory? How about with a glass of....
I simply MUST have a few bottles of this!

And - warning - gratuitous shot of Mike Lowell in action....

AP Photo by Winslow Townson

Random Wednesday Thoughts

Okay, I know it's Thursday. But I was so amped for last night's game, I couldn't settle my thoughts or my mind or myself! So, here's Wednesday's thoughts a day late...
Globe photo by Barry Chin
1) First, last night's game was great. Yes, I was disappointed that Matsuzaka couldn't get his second win and his first at home. It would have been a great victory for him - and I think he was equally disappointed that he disappointed the home crowd. But he unfortunately went up against a pitcher that was on his "a" game. Felix Hernandez was simply unhittable, and I have to admit, like most other true baseball fans, I got to a point around the 6th when I actually started rooting for him to get the no hitter. Hernandez figures to be a real force on the mound this year for the Mariners - I'm hoping we'll get to see him pitch this summer. Wouldn't it be cool if it was a rematch of this pitching duel?

And what I love about that picture? Schill greeting him at the top of the dugout steps.

2) Another thing about the game - the shot on NESN of all the flashbulbs going off as Matsuzaka threw the first pitch to Ichiro. It was blinding! Great quote from Mikey Lowell:

"I didn't want Ichiro to hit me the ball because you couldn't even see the ball there were so many flashbulbs going off," third baseman Mike Lowell said. "I was thinking, I hope he hits me a ground ball because if he hits a line drive right at me, I'm seeing stars."

3) According to the Glob, Josh Beckett is the first Sox pitcher to win back-to-back home openers since Dennis Eckersley did it in 1979-1980.

4) Jon Lester is doing some great pitching with the Greenville Drive. Tuesday night he pitched 4 scoreless innings, and hit 93 miles per hour. According to the Glob:

"He's the best text messager in the game," Francona said. "He text messaged me this morning, said he felt good. He's begging for more innings. He'll go five in his next start."

No matter what else happens this year, the Lester story has to be the feel-good story of the year.

5) Speaking of life on the farm, Mark Bellhorn continues to play well for the Louisville Bats, the Reds' triple-A farm team. I'm starting to think "the Bell" is one of the type players they discussed on last night's telecast (not sure if it was on ESPN or NESN - I was bouncing back and forth for a while). Anyway, they talked about the typical Japanese player being a "4-A" type player - one not quite good enough for the majors, but too good for triple A. I'm not sure there's room on the Reds for Bellhorn, but he clearly can't stay at the triple A level. So what should he do? Should he de-camp for the Japanese leagues? Selfishly, I hope not. Selfishly, I hope he starts playing badly and comes to Chattanooga and plays for the double-A Lookouts, but let's not delve into my fantasy life...

6) As for tonight's game - the scheduled start of 4:05 seems in question. It's raining in Boston right now, temperature is dropping, and there's a possibility of snow. However, as this is the only time the Mariner's are visiting Fenway this year, MLB is pretty anxious to get the game in. So I suspect they will wait as long as possible, and make every effort to get it in. Part of me feels sorry for those stuck in the inclement weather, waiting - and part of my feels very jealous. I'd love to be milling around Yawkey Way, sucking down the brews and dogs. Oh, well, the time for that will come....what, 3 1/2 months or so?