Brett M. RhyneBefore you all go apeshit over the outcome of today's Sox–Rays game, I'd like to remind you that they still have 161 left to play.
The good: Josh Beckett's 2-hit, 10-K outing and his apparent command of his fastball, curve and change from the get-go; just ignore the third inning. Also, the way the lineup appears balanced, at least from two through eight.
The bad: Manager Terry Francona's decision to pull Beckett after seven; he was cruising, and his departure was what allowed Tampa Bay back into the game. Also, the top and bottom of the Sox lineup: Jacoby Ellsbury (0-4, 1 K) continues to disappoint, and Jed Lowrie (1 cheap hit, 2 K's) has yet to show why he's preferable to Julio Lugo at short (theirs were the only three Sox strikeouts, by the way).
The ugly: The performances of middle relievers Hideki Okajima (1 BB to the #9 hitter, 1 HBP, 2 ER, 54.00 ERA) and Justin Masterson (both inherited runners scored); 38-year-old Okie's 2007 heroics are now two years removed, and Masterson may just be hyper-hype.
Photo: Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Hall of Famer Jim Rice preview their remake of Driving Miss Daisy; Jim Davis, Boston Globe
Becket Too Much For Rays
ReplyDeleteJason Gasbarro
With the spotlight on the reigning American League Championship Tampa Bay Devil Rays Josh Becket went to work as he usually does, striking out 10 and holding the high powered Rays to only two hits in seven innings. Becket did not do anything special, he just worked the strike zone and challenged hitters throughout his outing. It didn't take long for the sox offense to take off either as reigning AL MVP Dustin Pedroia drove a first inning Scott Shields pitch out of the park to put the sox on top 1-0 in the bottom of the first. Shields who also pitched opening game last year had a rough start to his season as he allowed five runs on nine hits in just 5 1/3 innings pitched. Although Becket was strong through 7 innings the Red Sox bullpen was not as smooth as it should have been. Hideki Okajima gave up two runs and couldnt really seem to find a groove as the Rays cut it close making it a 5-3 game in the 8th inning. Good thing they were saved by Jonathan Papelbon who retired all three batters in the ninth striking out two and picking up his first save of the season. With all the hype surrounding this game it is a good thing the sox didn't blow it and have a win under their belt.
Opening Day Eastside
ReplyDeleteOpening day was postponed for the Red Sox/ Rays, but there was no shoratge of action. Yesterday The Redsox (1-0) took on the AL champs of last year, Tampa Bay(0-1). TB, is mainly unchanged from last year. The red sox, have changed, but not to significantly. Although this is the first game of the season, the Red sox took the first step in regaining order in the AL east. James sheild, despite being very talented, was rocked by the Red Sox. He had toruble throughout every inning. On the other hand, Beckett, looked to be in great shape, and form. He pitched like an ace, and won the game. This is only the first game of 161, but we saw the Red Six make a statement to the Rays.
In othe news, the Yanknees lost its opening day game against the Orioles. CC Sabathia was taken out after a few innings with no strikeouts and plently of hits/runs, and Mark Texiera went 0-4 as well as being booed heavily. Is this foreshadowing what 340 Million dollars of buying the best avaible will get you?
Red Sox Opening Day 2009- Robin Lash
ReplyDeleteWith a huge disappointment on Monday with the Red Sox opening day being postponed they made up for it Tuesday. By the time I got into Boston at noon the subway and street were full of Sox fans. There were crazed fans yelling and people handing out "K" and "sting the Ray" signs. After standing in a long line to get into gate C I soon found out there have been some changes to Fenway Park. The first change was that those signs that people hand out are no longer allowed inside. The second change is an amazing change. The Red Sox have decided that the first hour after the gates open Fenway Franks, pizza slices, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, fruit cups, veggie cups, bags of burgers (3 sliders), and Hoodsie ice cream Cups will all be half price. Lets just say when you buy a Fenway Frank for $2.50 you do a little dance. Another change was that the bleachers way up high down the first base line were taken down and replaced with a Cumberland Farms sign. Other than those things Fenway was just the way we left it in October.
The opening ceremony started with the Boston Pops performing the National Anthem. At the conclusion of the anthem there was a flyover performed by four F-15 tactical fighter jets from the 104th fighter jets from the 104th fighter wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. The jets were so loud and they really got the crowd pumped up. After that Jim Rice and Sen. Edward Kennedy rode onto the field in a golf cart. The crowd gave them both a huge warm welcome. This opening pitch was a little different, Rice caught the pitch only a few feet from the mound. The senator threw the ball a second time to make sure he got it perfect. Shortly after that Johnny Pesky shouted "play ball" and the game was underway.
Josh Beckett started and finished phenomenal. I truly feel that we have our ace back. Beckett pitched seven innings giving up only two hits, one run and struck out 10 Rays. The first inning started with a bang from the MLB 2008 MVP Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia smashed a homer over the Green Monster to get the crowed going and putting the Red Sox up 1-0. The Rays tied it up in the top of the third when C. Crawford sac fly-ed to deep center and G. Gross scored. It didn't take long until the Sox pulled ahead again. Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and Jason Bay all scored in the bottom of the third. There wasn't much action until captain Jason Varitek hit a solo homer putting the Sox up 5-1. E. Longoria singled to center while J. Bartlett and A. Iwamura scored in the eighth inning. The game ended in the way we love the most, Papelbon striking out the last batter. The Sox are now 1-0.
Red Sox Opening Day 2009
ReplyDeleteRobin Lash
With a huge disappointment on Monday with the Red Sox opening day being postponed they made up for it Tuesday.
By the time I got into Boston at noon the subway and street were full of Sox fans. There were crazed fans yelling and people handing out "K" and "sting the Ray" signs. After standing in a long line to get into gate C I soon found out there have been some changes to Fenway Park. The first change was that those signs that people hand out are no longer allowed inside. The second change is an amazing change. The Red Sox have decided that the first hour after the gates open Fenway Franks, pizza slices, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, fruit cups, veggie cups, bags of burgers (3 sliders), and Hoodsie ice cream Cups will all be half price. Lets just say when you buy a Fenway Frank for $2.50 you do a little dance. Another change was that the bleachers way up high down the first base line were taken down and replaced with a Cumberland Farms sign. Other than those things Fenway was just the way we left it in October.
The opening ceremony started with the Boston Pops performing the National Anthem. At the conclusion of the anthem there was a flyover performed by four F-15 tactical fighter jets from the 104th fighter jets from the 104th fighter wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. The jets were so loud and they really got the crowd pumped up. After that Jim Rice and Sen. Edward Kennedy rode onto the field in a golf cart. The crowd gave them both a huge warm welcome. This opening pitch was a little different, Rice caught the pitch only a few feet from the mound. The senator threw the ball a second time to make sure he got it perfect. Shortly after that Johnny Pesky shouted "play ball" and the game was underway.
Josh Beckett started and finished phenomenal. I truly feel that we have our ace back. Beckett pitched seven innings giving up only two hits, one run and struck out 10 Rays. The first inning started with a bang from the MLB 2008 MVP Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia smashed a homer over the Green Monster to get the crowed going and putting the Red Sox up 1-0. The Rays tied it up in the top of the third when C. Crawford sac fly-ed to deep center and G. Gross scored. It didn't take long until the Sox pulled ahead again. Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and Jason Bay all scored in the bottom of the third. There wasn't much action until captain Jason Varitek hit a solo homer putting the Sox up 5-1. E. Longoria singled to center while J. Bartlett and A. Iwamura scored in the eighth inning. The game ended in the way we love the most, Papelbon striking out the last batter. The Sox are now 1-0.
Yankees Spending Spree Does Them No Good----Jason Rexinis
ReplyDeleteWell its the start of another MLB season and guess which team spent the most money in the offseason again? You guessed it the New York Yankees. Their 161 million dollar investment C.C. Sabathia, looks like he spent his off season eating too much of that delicious New York style pizza and maybe a few canolis from the old Italian bakeries in the Bronx. In his first outting he got absolutley shelled by the Baltimore Orioles. He gave up 8 hits, 6 earned runs, 5 walks, no K's and his era is 12.46. You don't have to be a genius to figure out how bad he was on Monday. Yankees are currently 0-2. Are they ever going to get the hint that spending money on these superstars does not work once they become Yankees.
The Red Sox on the other hand inked up two of the youngest stars in the game right now. Dustin Pedroia for 6 years about 40 million and Kevin Youkilis 4 years around 25 million. What does the reigning AL MVP do at his first at bat in Tuesday's home opener, 1-0 count drives a fast ball over the monster. Stats do not lie my friends, that is why the Sox will dominate the AL East this year leaving the Yankess without making the playoffs again. Oh and by the way Josh Beckett pitched 7 shut out innings with 10k's and only allowing 2 hits. Only the 4th player in MLB history alongside former Red Sox Pedro Martinez former Red Sox Curt Schilling to have 10 k's on opening day. Have fun watching your team lose in that new stadium Steinbrenner.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTuquan Watt
ReplyDeleteGood start to the MLB season.. The yankees are killing me right now.. The Red Sox just look like the Red sox
Brett M. Rhyne
ReplyDeleteInteresting perspective, Tuquan. The Yanks are killing you, even though they're a .500 team; the Red Sox just look like the Red Sox, even though they're off to their worst start in years. Can we say you're an old-school Red Sox fan, one that's not satisfied unless the Sox win 162 and the Yanks lose 162? I do agree this is a good start to the MLB season, since it's so unexpected. Unpredictability makes for an exciting summer.