Tavarez would have shut'em out.

Automatic Win Day strikes again! Julian Tavarez shut'em out, beating the Braves 11-0.

In other rotation news, Schilling was sent back to Boston and had an MRI, and it looks like he's gonna miss his next start. The Sox are off tomorrow, so Beckett's gonna take Schilling's start on his usual five days rest, and Tavarez will take Beckett's place on five days. This means Tuesday's starter is unknown.

I'm thinking Jon Lester. Either that or have Tavarez pitch twice in a row.

Automatic Win Day Strikes Again

Chalk up another victory for Julian Tavarez.

To quote one of my better friends Luke Miller "I still don't understand why Tavarez doesn't pitch everyday."

How'd the Yankees do? Clemens pitched against the Mets, and took the loss, ending the nine game winning streak.

Tavarez would have shut them out.

Happy Patriots Day!

Patriots Day is to the Boston Red Sox as Thanksgiving Day is to the Detroit Lions. Every year without fail, the Boston Red Sox host the annual Patriots Day game, which I believe is the only game in the Major Leagues that starts in the AM. They mentioned the all time record at the start of the Broadcast, and I believe the Sox are 60ish and 40ish all time, and apparently for a while they played doubleheaders. It's a pretty big deal. Even when the Red Sox stunk, the Patriots Day game sold out without fail.

This year, since the Boston Marathon was moved up an hour, they moved the start time up from 11 AM to 10 AM. I was up really late for various reasons last night, and rolled out of bed very tired and turned on the TV at 9:59 and heard the sweetest words ever: "This game was suppose to start at 10 this year, but the weather isn't cooperating, so the start time has been moved back to 12:05." Within seconds, the TV was off, the alarm was set to noon and I was sound asleep.

Things didn't start off so well. With one out in the first, old friend Orlando Cabrera came to the plate and deposited a Josh Beckett pitch over the Green Monster to put the Los Angelous Angels of Anaheim (Formerly the Anaheim Angels, California Angels, and Los Angelous Angels...) up 1-0. Vladamir Guerrero came up next, and Beckett hit him with a 96 mph fastball on the hands. Home plate umpire Rick Reed warned both sides, which is the first time I've ever heard of a starting pitcher (LAAA's Ervin Santana) being warned before he left the bullpen.

Beckett got out of the inning and the Sox batted around the order in the bottom half of the first and scored six runs. Ortiz went deep later on to make it 7-1. The Angels latter on scored a meaningless run in the 9th to make it 7-2.

Beckett was extremely impressive after hitting Guerrero. He scattered six hits over six innings, walked one and struck out five while only allowing the one run. He's been really good this year so far, 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA. Hopefully he doesn't have another second half melt down.

Coco Crisp didn't play, so he didn't wear 42. The Red Sox announced that this coming Sunday the team will have the planned festivities for Jackie Robinson Day, which will include Crisp, Ortiz and third base coach DeMarlo Hale wearing 42. P.S.- That game's against the Evil Empire.

By the way, Julian Tavarez hasn't pitched in forever because of the weather. Every time it rains, they push back his start. Fear not, after 12 days of waiting, automatic win day returns as Tavarez takes the mound Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

First Post From Boston

So I'm back in Boston right now. It's pretty much the greatest city in history.

Anyway, first, about Diasuke. I saw the top of the first and two Royal batters in the bottom of the first. I was not impressed. He looked extremely shaky. He allowed a lead off base hit and got a fielders choice before really slowing down the pace and taking forever between pitches. He looked a bit out of place. However, after my class I raced back to my room, turned on the TV and it was 2-1 Sox with Diasuke pitching in the 6th. And he was going strong too. He was making Kansas City hitters look foolish. I believe the line was 7 innings, 10 K's, 1 earned run, a win, and the right to have John stop writing Dice-K and start writing Diasuke (which pronounced Dice-K in case you were wondering...). Plus, in the post game show, former two time Red Sox pitcher and current Hall Of Famer Dennis Eckersly was gushing over him. I'm pretty sure the Eck is in love. He went on and on about Diasuke's command, his breaking ball, his setting up the fast ball with the breaking ball, his average fastball looking stupendous as a result of the breaking ball, the seven or so different types pitches he threw during the game, the 15 or so different types of pitches he hasn't thrown yet. So, the fact he impressed the Eck says something.

So anyway, Diasuke passes the first test. I'm still not 100% sold. Let's see him do it against the Yankees before we get carried away.

I didn't catch today's game at all, which again started at 2Pm. This is ridiculous. Friday games should start at 7 PM East Coast Time. However, I hear the Sox blew a pretty good Wakefield outing. Tim, the only person on the current team left from the '95 squad that finished ahead of the Yankees in the regular season, pitched 6 innings, let up 3 hits and only surrendered 1 run, and lost. With a line up that consists of Manny Rameriz, David Ortiz, and J.D. Drew (a combined 2-11 on the day...). Robinson Tejada went seven shut out innings for the Rangers. It's kind of dispicable.

However, there is hope!

JULIAN TAVAREZ STARTS SATURDAY against Kevin Millwood. I'm predicting Tavarez goes six, lets up three runs and gets the victory.

I'm also gonna start referring to days Tavarez starts as "automatic win day." This is probably the most serious line I've ever put in this blog as well as the most serious line I ever plan to put.

Also, I'd like to point out that if the Red Sox continue with the season as they have, they'll win the next two games and take the series. Then if they keep it up, they'll go 104-58. That's 10 games better than I predicted.