Lets Play Catch Up

(BDD Photo Illustration / Meir Weinberg)

The Red Sox are on fire and arguably the best team in baseball. Calm down Brewer fans I am sipping some of your Kool-Aid. I think your story is great for baseball right now in light of all the controversies going on. Lets be honest here kids the Red Sox out right owned the Blue Jays this past week. It was almost to the point of being unfair and oh yeah I’ll mention it again we are doing it with our two biggest bats just starting to warm up. Yankee fans can say what they want but lets be real here they have a very outside chance of sniffing the playoffs and if they do it’s gonna be through the wild card and to be honest that may even pass them by because you almost have to expect the wild card team is gonna come out of that central division right ? I know the White Sox and the Twins are under achieving right now but the way they came on late last season leads me to believe it’s going to be the same this season. I just don’t think the Yankees have the pitching power to get them through the tough late season games when they are tight.

Dice-K seems to have found his control in Toronto. He still walked 3 but he didn’t have his normal 1 inning meltdown in the game so thats a positive. Look it’s going to take Dice-K an entire season to acclimate to this league not to mention pitching in Fenway Park. The same way it took Josh Beckett a year to get used to the American League and Fenway Park it has to be evident Dice-K will need the same acclimation timetable. All you baseball fans out there can say he’s a bust
he’s another Hideki Irabu ect , ect , but lets just put this in perspective. There were 2 big name Japanese pitcher signings in the off season Dice-K and Igawa ( Yankees ) Igawa is currently on the Yankees single A team so what does that tell you about who is the bust.

Red Sox played the first in a three game series against the O’s last night losing 6-3 . If Willy Mo Pena expects more playing time then he is gonna have to improve his fielding 100% because it’s awful. I know I was a big supporter of the sit Coco Let Willy play movement because of the Coco’s struggles at the plate but who knew that would me the circus would be in the outfield ? This guy needs to be in the outfield shagging fly balls during batting practice or something if he wants to see some more playing time.

Thats all I got for right now Sox are beating down the O’s right now 10-4

Vernon Wells is The Man

If you haven’t seen this story then I advise you to go check it out most hastily. Vernon Wells is not only an outstanding center fielder but he just may have a career in stand up.

Here are a few links to see the story

1) Toronto Sun Times

2) Aol FanHouse

Bare Witness To The Maturation Of Josh Beckett ………Sox Win 9-2

If I told you at the end of last season to shake off Josh Beckett’s league leading 36 homers allowed because he’ll be 7-0 before the end of May next season you would tell me to lay off the Meth. We are witnessing the future of pitching in baseball evolve. Josh Beckett the young Texan fire baller won his 7th game of the season last night North of the Border in Toronto. Beckett went 7innings 1ER/R 5hits 1BB and 5K’s the earned run being a homer by Alex Rios on the very first pitch of the game. I’ve said it in earlier posts about Beckett he is finally using his other pitches effectively and not trying to blow everyone away with a 97MPH heater.

Beckett wasn’t the only story of the night for the Sox. The Red Sox bats came alive again with home runs from Youkilis , Lowell , Varitek , and Pedroia YEAH PEDROIA ! I’ll say it again to the non believers out there because it needs repeating…..THE RED SOX ARE DOING THIS WITH A COLD MANNY AND PAPI ! Can you just imagine the run support once those two get going ? Hats off to Francona for the job he is doing this season. Roger WHO !

Schilling Making It Hard For Sox Not To Offer New Deal………Sox Win 4-3

 

So on the same day Roger Clemens signs with the Yankees for reasons unknown money , Curt Schilling quietly went about his business earning his fourth win of the season. The Sox belted out 9 hits in the win against the Twins. I’ll tell ya what early in the season I was kinda hard on Coco and Pedroia ( the jury is still out ) but these guys are starting to step up their game. Pedroia had two doubles on the day and scored a run as well.

Schilling is making it hard for the Sox not to offer him a contract at the end of the season. His performance thus far has been very effective. I am sure there were some doubters out there and right rightfully so in his case. I know the season is still young but you have to be optimistic that if this keeps up Schilling will be in a Sox uniform for a couple more seasons.

The Sox will be in Toronto today playing those pesky Blue Jays in the first of a three game set. Beckett gets the ball today in search of his 7th win of the season. I’m telling ya Beckett has figured it out. It took him a season to get used to Fenway (not a pitchers ballpark) and the American League. Not to mention he is mixing his pitches up very well this season. Roger WHO !!!

We Don’t Need Him

 

So Roger Clemens is going to the Yankees all over again. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t upset initially but then it dawned on me we really don’t need Roger Clemens. I am completely happy with the team we have on the field. Look having Clemens in Boston would have been great for the fans and the city no doubt but honestly how much would it have helped out the Sox ? John Lester is making awesome progress in Pawtucket and should be back by the end of the month. I’d take a younger John Lester who can go more than 5 or 6 innings than a Roger Clemens that would struggle to get through 6.

Personally I believe 100% that Roger’s decision was 100% money based. It’s obvious if he wanted a chance at another ring the logical choice was the Red Sox. The Sox put up the runs and have quality relief pitchers to get to the closer Papelbon. If Roger honestly thinks he can trust that bullpen in New York then he is sorely mistaken. Mike Myers , Scott Proctor, Luis Vizciano come on are you serious ? Roger Clemens had the chance to go to Boston and right something that went so wrong so many years ago. He had the chance to come full circle and win a ring where it all started in Boston. Terry Francona said it best I like our team and I like our chances without Clemens.  This move means nothing it’s a small band aide to fill a gaping wound in that Yankee team and George is trying to throw money at it again.

Beckett Gets 6th Call Coco the Glove Sox Win 6-4

He’s on fire baby ! Josh Beckett became the first pitcher in the league to get 6 wins on the season beating Oakland 6-4. This is a new Josh Beckett we are seeing. He’s still the gladiator but he is controlling his emotions more this season. Last season Beckett would seem to melt down the minute a call didn’t go his way or if he gave up a long ball. This season he is Mr. Cool under pressure. Beckett went 7 innings giving up 6hits 3R/ER 2BB and 7K’s. What is helping Beckett this season is the fact he’s realized he doesn’t have to throw flames every single pitch. Beckett has been throwing the curve with authority this season just freezing batters at the plate.

The Death Star Is Complete And Fully Operational

If there was any doubt before there shouldn’t be any now. Book it and Lock it the New England Patriots will win the Super Bowl this season. They are the blue print on how to build a team to win championships. The Patriots getting Randy Moss for a 4th round pick is like stealing candy oh yeah lets not forget he is reworking his contract . Hey nice work Green Bay offering a 6th round pick way to get help for Farve in his final season ( we think ) . Just a little more food for thought on this , the Patriots don’t need Moss. So should this go wrong it’s all on him he finally has the QB that will get him the ball and if he messes that up it’s his own fault.