Tony Rossi's Boston Red Sox fan blog

I already knew that the Red Sox were in first, and that the Yanks were in second.  I also knew that whenever I looked at the standings, Toronto was not far behind New York.  What I didn’t know was that Tampa Bay is currently only a game behind Toronto. 

Everyone once in a while I hear a player say on TV that their division is the toughest in baseball.  I never really know who to believe because it seems to change every year.  Right now in 2009, I’m picking AL East as the toughest division in baseball.  Take a look:

AL East                  W           L              Games behind

Continue reading "Take a Look at the Standings"

Last night I saw a funny production of Neil Simon’s play “Rumors” at Salem State College.  When I got out, I was hoping to catch the end of the game.  As it turned out, the game was over, and it was no laughing matter.  Smoltz had given up four runs alone in the first inning.  The Red Sox bullpen was very shaky.  And Jordan Zimmermann from the Nationals absolutely dominated the Red Sox through seven innings of work. 

In those seven innings, Zimmermann gave up only 5 hits, a run, a walk, and 6 strikeouts.  This guy is only 23 years old.  I’m impressed and plan on following up on this guy, I hope he keeps doing this well (just not against the Sox). 

Meanwhile, Red Sox pitching was just the opposite.  After Smoltz was taken out of the game, Bard came in for an inning and gave up 2 hits, 2 runs, and a walk.  I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: Bard should go back down to AAA for a month or two.  I want to see him back in Boston in September, but right now I don’t think he’s ready.  Following Bard was Saito, who also gave up 2 runs and 2 hits, one of which was a homer.  But before any of this happened, Smoltz had gone 5 innings while allowing 7 hits, 5 runs, a walk, and striking out 5.   

Continue reading "Don’t Worry About Smoltz….Yet"

The Red Sox played a great game of baseball Wednesday night, as those of us in the Boston area were able to watch on NESN.  However, there was another fun game of baseball on ESPN 2 for their usual Wednesday Night Baseball game against the Braves and Yankees who were playing at the same time.  I found myself flipping between channels during commercial breaks for the Sox and caught some cool moments.  Meanwhile, the College World Series’ final game was on ESPN between Texas and LSU.  There was an awful lot of baseball on last night. 

I’ve never paid much attention to the College World Series in the past, but I found myself flipping to it a couple of times during Sox commercials this past week.  It’s a lot of fun being a student myself, seeing other students compete for a championship.  That being said, it also makes me jealous that Salem State doesn’t have much of a sports program, not to mention the fact that I don’t play baseball anymore.  But it’s still a lot of fun to watch student athletes compete.   So after the Sox game ended, I switched to ESPN and saw the last two innings of the College World Series.  Congrats to LSU for winning their 6th World Series title.  I’m sure the players and students are proud. 

Continue reading "Wednesday Night Baseball – Not Just About the Sox"

Brad Penny took the No Decision on Tuesday night after going 5.2 innings, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts.  Had he been able to retire Willie Harris in the 6th, he would have been eligible for the win. 

Tony Massarotti from the Boston Globe mentioned on the NESN postgame show how it’s possible that Penny was more relaxed than he had been his previous two starts, where his spot in the rotation was on the line.  This maybe so, but I’m also sure he’s aware that Clay Buchholz is still waiting eagerly in Pawtucket to return to the big leagues.  That being said, last night’s start was not a bad one.  He might not have dominated like he’s done in his last couple starts, but it was a very good outing.  Massarotti also mentioned in the pregame show on NESN that considering Penny is our number five starter, it’s not a bad thing that he usually doesn’t pitch past the 6th inning.  I agree. 

Continue reading "Penny Not Perfect, But Not Bad Either"

I honestly feel bad for Matsuzaka.  He was placed on the DL, had a terrible start to the season, got booed in his last outing, and now back on the DL.  Personally I don’t think he deserved getting booed.  There was clearly something wrong, booing him isn’t going to help. 

That being said, Dice-K was a real trooper about the crowd's reaction.  Dice-K is quoted on redsox.com saying “Everybody knows that I haven't been performing well, and as a professional, I have to accept when I get a reaction like that.”  I just read that for the first time today, so that makes me like the guy even more.  What he said that really made me respect him (also on redsox.com) was what he said after his last outing: "If I keep going like this, I have no right to be part of this rotation.” 

Continue reading "Dice-K is OK in My Book"

Yesterday on the MLB Channel, they were replaying Game 4 of the 2007 World Series.  I tuned in during the 8th inning and was very content in watching the final innings.  What made it so much fun was  remembering who I was watching with and things that they were saying as the score changed.   It was a bit emotional to bring back those memories that were still fairly fresh.  And it was even more fun to remember how excited we all were after Papelbon recorded the final strikeout to win the game, and the series. 

Then they showed Manny Ramirez running across the field.  That almost put a damper on my mood – almost.  Not because of how he treated the Red Sox and us fans the following year (although that certainly didn’t help), but because of the news about Ramirez using steroids.  No, you can’t take away our World Series titles.  But it sure would be great to win another one without Manny. 

Continue reading "Why 2009 is a Special Year"

One of the most exciting games I’ve seen all year.  If I could compare it to any other game this season, it would have to be one of the two Red Sox-Yankee games back in April.  You can’t beat a walk off homer, but you gotta love pitchers duels that erupt in the late innings, only to have the Sox come back and win it in the 8th. 

By the end of the game, perhaps you forgot all about the starting pitching.  It took place between Brad Penny and CC Sabathia.  Neither pitcher would get the win, which almost seems a little unfair.  Penny absolutely dominated the Yankee lineup (6.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K) while hitting 98 pmh on the radar gun. Meanwhile, perhaps Sabathia would have gotten at least a no decision had he been pulled before the 8th (7+ IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 K).  In the 8th inning alone, Sabathia allowed 2 hits and a walk – may not seem like much, but had he been pulled, his line score would have looked something like this: (7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K) Now can you blame for Girardi for leaving in Sabathia? I don’t think so.  Maybe he should have taken him out before he faced Drew, but it made sense considering it was a lefty-lefty match up.  Without being biased, I feel like it’s unfair that the line score reflects how Sabathia did last night, just as it is unfair that Brad Penny didn’t get the win.  But that’s baseball for you. 

Continue reading "“Go Crazy Folks, The Red Sox Win This One!”"

What a great time to be a Sox fan! When was the last time the Yankees had taken their starter out of the game before the 3rd inning on back-to-back days?  This almost seems too easy…

Unfortunately, seeing as CC Sabathia is taking the mound tonight, I’m not expecting their streak to continue.  Sure, he’s had his share of troubles this season, but he is 5-3 with a 3.56 era.  Honestly, I’m very excited to see how he does tonight against the Sox.  I’d almost be disappointed to see an ace like Sabathia get taken out before the third inning – but since it’s the Yanks I’ll make an exception. 

Speaking of which, anyone want a Yankees T shirt?  They’re only $5 for a youth on the discount rack at Olympia Sports.  If that doesn’t send you running to your car then I don’t know what will…Unless it’s because you have tickets for tonight’s game and you have yet to leave your house.  That’d be a better reason.  But if so, shame on you.  You’re missing batting practice.  And you’re going to be late. 

Continue reading "Boston You’re My Home – New York, You Are Not"

Although the Red Sox have dominated the Yanks thus far, many have pointed out that the first two series against the Bombers were “a different Yankees team.”  They did not have A-rod and we have yet to see Sabathia pitch against us.  While we still have yet to see Sabathia, we sure proved that we can beat the Yanks with or without A-rod last night – although it sure helps when AJ Burnett is on the mound and can’t get out of the third inning. 

But it was none other than Big Papi who started it off for the Sox last night, crushing his third homer of the year to dead away center.  This was his most promising homer of the year:  It didn’t just clear the wall and it wasn’t to a shallow part of the ballpark.  It was a bomb to center field.  His other at bats didn’t look as good last evening, but I think if Ortiz calms down and doesn’t try to hit homers every at bat then we’ve got our Papi back.  Oh, and for all of you who still think Papi isn’t going to come back, go ahead and politely ignore his 7 game hitting streak he has right now. 

Continue reading "Sox Are 6-0 Against Yanks for the First Time Since 1912"

I absolutely love the intensity of Kevin Youkilis.  The fact that he cares so much about the every swing of the bat shows great commitment to the game of baseball.  What a great guy to have on the team.  That being said, I’ve been a little disappointed in Youk lately. 

On Wednesday Night against the Tigers, Josh Anderson accidently stepped on Kevin Youkilis’s ankle, causing Youk to leave the game.  Youk, very agitated, whipped off his glove in disgust and threw it to the ground.  I just watched the replay on redsox.com and heard the announcers for the Tigers saying that Anderson stretched out at the end trying to get to the base faster, which they teach you not to do.  Although Anderson didn’t meant to cleat Youk, I can understand that Youk was upset, especially after having to leave the game.  What I can’t agree with is the way he tossed his glove down on the field the way he did.  I’m not saying that I wouldn’t be upset if I were Youk.  However I didn’t like the way he reacted to his injury at all.  You need to at least attempt to control your emotions in a situation like that.  Even if you can’t, you can at least wait until you get off the field to throw something or knock something over.  To me, what he did was very unprofessional.

Continue reading "Disappointed in Youuuuk"