In two days we've seen a total of 27 runs and 29 hits.. by just one team. What do we attribute this to? The Red Sox have finally found the perfect offensive line up? Yes, just about as perfect as Alicia Sacramone's beam and floor routine last night.  The Rangers' horrible pitching? I'm sure it deserves some credit. Hitter friendly Fenway Park? We all know what the Sox are capable of at their home field.

To be entirely honest, I'm not sure what to classify this as. I love that we're getting solid offensive effort from a majority of the line up. Obviously there are exceptions, but overall, the bats have been impressive. In a perfect world, the Red Sox continue to put up 8+ runs a game, the Rays start playing like the beloved Devil Rays of old, and the Yankees continue to lose two of every three games while losing at least one player to the DL in every win. 

Continue reading "Helloooo Offense!"

Bad news, Sox fans. Our beloved Mike Lowell has been put on the 15 day DL due to a strained oblique.

If I hear from one more person that he should man up and tough it out, I'm going to flip. Not sure if any of you have ever had a strained oblique, but it's as fun as accidentally lighting yourself on fire. PS - that's not fun. Think of how much you do with your core. Posture. Move. Breathe. Laugh. All of that hurts, and hurts bad, when you strain your oblique. It's one of those things that the only solution is alternating ice and heat while watching Seinfeld reruns on the couch. Most heal from it in two to four weeks, bringing Mr. Lowell's return to anywhere from the beginning to the middle of September.

Good news! We get to see more of Sean Casey!

I don't know about you, but I love this man. He's currently batting .353 on the season. He's naturally a good hitter. He's going to give us above average defense at first. While I do think we are set back by Youk having to move to third and Casey playing first while losing Lowell, I don't think it's too severe. Plus, let's talk about just how funny he looks when he trots down the first baseline after he walks. I laugh every time! Watch for it tonight. It's great.

Continue reading "Let's play "Good news. Bad news.""

I don't mean the video game. I mean the show the Red Sox have put on offensively the past three games. I want to jump for joy and believe that this is what we've been waiting for - all the bats to get hot at the same time as we approach the most important part of the regular season. I can't think that though. Not yet. I need the team to prove to me that they weren't just taking batting practice off the worst pitching in the American League. Halladay is pitching for the Blue Jays tonight. If the Sox can put up 5+ runs on the guy, I'm going to feel highly optimistic. Until then, I'm going to be an old school Sox fan and continue to worry and doubt until I'm proven wrong... or right. (Remember those days, pre 2004. Aw man, how I slightly miss them.)

Why do the Red Sox tend to forget that? I'm not taking anything away from their performance at Fenway this weekend. They outright and embarrassingly beat the Sox this weekend, but seriously? The Red Sox just seem to suck game in and game out against the Blue Jays all the time for some unknown reason. They're 2-6 against them on the season. Great! Does anyone know what was Josh Beckett's problem yesterday? Doesn't he realize after the outstanding numbers he put up last year that it's strictly against the rules to suck on any ocassion? Who didn't include him in on that memo? Also, Paul Byrd, your performance has caused me to not make any concrete judgments on you. I'll analyze you at a later date.

Now let's take a second to remember which little blogging lady was the one that said we, as Red Sox fans, shouldn't be jumping for joy after the massacre the team laid on the Rangers last series. Oh, that was me! The Sox faced an amazing pitcher in Roy Halladay, and didn't come close to putting up any sort of number that they did against Rangers pitching. Marcum isn't anything special. I would expect the Sox to put up better numbers against him, especially in Fenway. Is it possible to hire a newly retired pitcher to come pitch BP to the team when they're playing someone with a real pitcher instead of the highest ERA in the league stuff they saw against Texas? Roger Clemens, need a job? Come pitch BP. Make sure you take some 'roids before hand. The faster, the better. Thanks sweetheart.

Continue reading "THE BLUE JAYS AREN'T GOOD."

Let's take a trip down memory lane. We're going to travel all the way back to a month called March in the year of 2008. One of the biggest discussion topics of the time was young pitchers. The Yankees had their "Big three" who have turned into 2/3 of a big bust, and one overrated yet above average pitcher who hates Kevin Youkilis. Then there was the great debate of who is going to be the better pitcher, Joba or Buchholz. Joba's nasty outta the pen! But Clay threw a no hitter already! Joba's going to be an even better starter! But Clay threw a no hitter already! Joba's slider is rated an 80! Clay's curve drops 12 to 6 and is disgusting! Joba throws harder! CLAY THREW A NO HITTER ALREADY!

Ah yes. Now let's remember that hindsight is supposed to be 20/20. In this case, I think hindsight had a stigmatism in each eye. Clay Buchholz, the supposed upcoming rookie phenom hasn't won a game since May, and is currently sporting a jersey that says "Sea Dogs" across the front. So here's the biggest question. What the hell is wrong with him? Mechanics? Some say he's bending his back leg too much. Mental? Could be. Actually, that's probably a lot of the problem. Put him in the bullpen? Might not be a bad idea since he tends to give up most of his runs on the second time through the batting order.

Continue reading "Hype Leads to Disappointment...Usually."