Game 1

Josh Beckett pitched the most dominating game in Red Sox post season history tonight. Some might argue this is a ridiculous statement, as Red Sox post season history is over 100 years old and I definately didn't see all those games. To steal a line from Jon Stewart in his book "America", those people are communists. Josh Beckeet pitched the most dominating game in Red Sox post season history.

9 innings, 4 hits, 8 strikeouts, no runs, no walks. The numbers don't do the performance justice. Beckett was unhittable. The outcome of the game was never in question. I don't remember a single Angel reaching second base. After allowing a lead off hit to start the game, he retired 19 straight and made them all look like fools. People were swinging and missing by several feet. It was glorious. I was reminded of vintage Pedro, but on a bigger stage. In fact, the only Red Sox post season performance that rivals this is Pedro coming out in relief in game 5 of the 1999 ALDS and pitching 6 perfect innings to beat the Indians. Yet, Pedro only retired 18 straight in that effort.

But alas. It's only 1 game. Only 1 win. One October win is pretty much as meaningless as zero October wins. Diasuke Matsuzaka takes the hill Friday in game two against Kelvim Escobar. Keep it up gentlemen. 1 win, 10 to go.

Josh Beckett

Beckett left Sunday's game with a cut on his middle finger, and apparently it's bad enough that he's gonna miss his start this Friday.

If this were 2004 or before, we'd all be talking about how The Curse is rearing it's ugly head. This time in the form of the Yankees signing Clemens right around the time the Sox ace gets hurt and might have to go on the disablied list. But this isn't 2004 or before. So we won't mention that.

Rain postponed tonight's game, so the Red Sox and Tigers will play 2 tomorrow. If rain gets one of those games, then I guess Schilling will go tomorrow and Tavarez will take Beckett's start. If not, the Red Sox said someone from Pawtucket will come up and pitch Friday. Kason Gabbard seems to be the favorite. He'd be throwing on 3 days rest though. I know it's not gonna happen, but Lester's suppose to resume his rehab stint with the Paw Sox Saturday. How 'bout moving him up and night and giving him a shot with the big team? It'd be nice, but I bet Lester will only go like 3 innings. The team wants him to throw 50-55 pitches and come back up to Boston around the middle of June. Jon wants to throw 100 and come back tomorrow.


P.S.- For clarification, the Red Sox AAA affiliate is the Pawtucket Red Sox. The team is called the Paw Sox for short.

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.

Opening Day at America's Most Beloved Ball Park

That's what they call Fenway anyway... I personally think its overated, but maybe I'm just spoiled. I wouldn't mind a new ball park with roomy seats and without obstructed view. I'd also like a bigger capacity so they didn't rob you with ticket prices, but that's just me. The Red Sox could easily fill a 40,000-50,000 seat place every night. They're at 35,000 and in order to stay competitive they charge you $100 to sit in Left Field seats that anywhere else would be $7-$10. Yeah, I know its the Green Monster. But still, that means the seats are even further away than the $7 ones elsewhere. But, enough complaining for now...

As a result of the 2PM start and my 2:30 class, I missed the first five innings of the game. When I walked in, it was 13-1 and Beckett was on the mound in the sixth. He was blowing guys away too. All in all, he went 7 innings allowing one run and most importantly, I don't think he walked anyone. He also had a stretch where he retired 15 batters in a row or something. I'm pretty sure that streak ended only cause he came out. All in all an excellent start. It was pointed out that the Mariners are rusty cause they haven't played in about 6 days due to snow and stuff in Cleveland, but whatever. A win is a win, and the fact Beckett didn't walk anyone is extremely encouraging.

Oh yeah...Donnally got ejected. Basically, he and Jose Guillen had a verba confrontation after Donnelly struck Guillen out in the 8th. The benches and the bullpens cleared, but at first only Guillen was tossed...until the Donnelly drilled the next guy in the butt with a fastball. Red Sox Hall of Famer (which is different than MLB Hall of Famer-the Red Sox have their own Hall of Fame) Jerry Remy, a former second baseman and the current color commentater, said that the two must have a history of other incidents cause nothing happened to spark the incident. Announcer Don Orsillo then replied "According to records, that's the first time the two have faced each other in a major league baseball game, but they were teammates in Anaheim." It was pretty funny. One of my friends pointed out that was when Guillen got suspended for the postseason for saying and/or doing something stupid by the team...we couldn't remember what. Brilliant move, cause Guillen was awesome that year and the Red Sox ended up sweeping Anahiem on their way to a World Series Title. I wonder if Donnelly's still mad about that?

State of the Nation

I'd go with the red howard shirt.

The Red Sox got their first win of the season today against the lowely Kansas City Royals, 7-1. It wasn't all positive. Beckett struggled with control, walking 4 in five innings. He also twice fell behind Royals hitters 3-0 in the count and then both swung at the 3-0 pitch and popped out. It wasn't pretty, but it doesn't have to be.

Tomorrow Dice-K pitches. After tomorrow, I'll know exactly where the Red Sox stand, just based on him. Expect a full update tomorrow.