Sleepy observations about this 6-5 Red Sox victory in 10 innings on Opening Morning:
-- Thank goodness for Emil Brown’s 10th-inning base-running blunder or the Red Sox and A’s might still be playing.
-- Daisuke Matsuzaka's early wildness could be easily dismissed if not so reminiscent of how Dice-K pitched too often last season. Thirty pitches in each of the first two innings! Still, it is March 25. The excitement of pitching back in his homeland perhaps contributed to Matsuzaka’s wildness. When Dice-K (5 walks) threw strikes, he was outstanding (6 Ks, and only two hits allowed over five innings). But a legitimate major league lineup – which the A’s are not – would have put Matsuzaka down 5-0, instead of 2-0, after two.
-- As NESN’s Jerry Remy keenly noted, had Dice-K not thrown all those pitches early, Kyle Snyder would not have been pitching the sixth inning. Jack Hannahan clubbed a two-run homer off Snyder to put Oakland back in front, 4-3.
-- A line-drive single. A tantalizing bid for a go-ahead homer in the ninth (foul ball). A fearless leaping grab in center field. Jacoby Ellsbury oozes excitement.
So what was that Coco guy’s name again?
-- Everybody has been so focused on Ellsbury supplanting Coco Crisp in center, what about Brandon Moss replacing brittle J.D. Drew in right? You can hear that talk-show brouhaha brewing already. Moss’ first major league homer tied the game 4-4 in the ninth. He has been a very good minor-league hitter. He is still only 24. Three years ago, Baseball America rated Moss as Boston’s second-best prospect behind Hanley Ramirez – and ahead of Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia and Manny Delcarmen.
-- Manny Ramirez (2 doubles, 4 RBI) has just started running to first base. Papelbon’s ERA is 9.00. Time of game: 3 hours, 39 minutes. Are we really ready for 161 more of these?
Comments (7)
Dave, you don't think Manny's contract year push has begun, has it?
Posted by Teddy P. | March 25, 2008 3:31 PM
Posted on March 25, 2008 15:31
Teddy, who knows? Knowing Manny, this might be his swan song, not his salary drive. He is 36. He needs 10 homers to reach 500. Manny might just figure it's time Manny does something else with his life. Motivational speaking, perhaps?
Posted by David Pevear | March 25, 2008 5:59 PM
Posted on March 25, 2008 17:59
Manny's more about the career numbers than most beleive. In addition, he's playing for a contract and hitting behind a healthy David Ortiz. He's in for 30+HR's and 120+RBI's year. Should be a fun summer unless Manny decides to open his mouth with a Manny-ism during the season.
Posted by T2 | March 25, 2008 9:27 PM
Posted on March 25, 2008 21:27
And yes Mr Pevear, Yankees are in 2nd place. Get used to it!
Posted by T2 | March 26, 2008 9:25 AM
Posted on March 26, 2008 09:25
Manny is going to have a HUGE offensive year. Yes thats right not just better than last year but HUGE! Last year he hit just 20 Homeruns and 88 RBI's and his batting avearage was just under 300 at .296 Well this year he will hit 40 Home Runs and knock in 120 RBI's and hit just over 300 at .302 for a batting average. He will finish his career in a Boston RedSox uniform and we as fans will get to enjoy many more years of one of the BEST one-two punch hitters ever with Ramirez and Ortiz. Go Manny and Go Sox!
Posted by Shappy | March 26, 2008 10:28 AM
Posted on March 26, 2008 10:28
The Yanks are in 2nd place only because they have not played a game.
Posted by matty | March 26, 2008 4:43 PM
Posted on March 26, 2008 16:43
Once games are played the Yanks will be in 3rd behind the Sox and Jays...
Posted by dboisver | March 27, 2008 11:51 AM
Posted on March 27, 2008 11:51