* My favorite part from the Red Sox-Yankees game last night was when the foul ball game into the stands. The fan caught the ball, threw it up to the commentator’s booth, Terry Francona quickly signed the ball and threw it back to the fan. Loved seeing that!
* My second favorite part of the game was Ryan Sweeney’s run scoring in the 9th off a suicide squeeze bunt by Repko. That play caused me to get more excited about this team than anything else I’ve seen in Spring Training. Over the years, the Red Sox haven’t played too much “small ball.” Valentine is known to make these plays, but Sweeney scoring to tie the game was very exciting. Kind of makes me want to buy a Sweeney shirt…. Maybe I’ll hold off on that just in case he gets traded.
* Pedroia wants to play after getting hit in the arm during the game last night. X-Rays were negative, and the official diagnosis was a “right arm contusion.” He has a bruise, and he wants to play. I guess in Spring Training you have the ability to be extra cautious, but it’s always nice to see a player WANTING to play.
* I know during Spring Training there are special rules when it comes to extra innings, but Giardi saying he “didn’t have any pitchers left” doesn’t make sense. Valentine said he counted seven pitchers more pitchers on the roster, six of whom could pitch. Valentine had a pitcher warming up in the bullpen, and the Red Sox took the field before anything was said about not playing 10 innings. But, the game was called a tie. Shouldn’t there be more lines of communication here? I don’t know if Giardi said something to the umpires prior to the Red Sox taking the field, but essentially, they made the Sox waste a pitcher. Not cool.
* Bobby Jenks was arrested for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident this morning. Reportedly, he was intoxicated when he left a gentleman’s bar and hit two vehicles in the parking lot. Jenks has only played in a handful of games for the Sox and is questionable for this season, so it’s hard to form some sort of huge disappointment reaction for this. Yes, I am disappointed; drinking and driving is not excusable. However, how many Red Sox “Jenks” shirts or jerseys do you see people having? Probably as many Lackey ones
there are.
* I wonder if Shoppach is going to be traded sometime this year. Salty seems to be doing well behind the plate, and Lavarnway is an exciting, young player that looks like he’s Major League ready. Is it a matter of time? Will he be a trade chip for a started or relievers come the trade deadline?
* I had to pat myself on the back a little about my Bard as a closer article because the next day, there were reports that the Red Sox are seriously considering him being a reliever this year and going with Aceves and Doubront as the number 4 and 5 pitchers. At this point, it just seems to make a little more sense, since the bullpen is shaky.
* Is there a possibility that the Red Sox land a starting pitcher before the season starts? There’s still reports that the Red Sox are in contact with Roy Oswalt, they’ve been linked to Lannan from the Nationals, and there’s still a few less desirable free agents floating around. Valentine said the other night that he thinks the pitching is strong on the Sox, but isn’t it better to be stronger yet, especially in the AL East?
* So far this Spring Training, I’ve been pretty impressed with Aaron Cook. I think once he’s stretched out, gets some confidence in pitching in Triple-A, he’ll become a starting pitcher for the Sox. Or, he could become trade bait.
No comments:
Post a Comment