Guest Article #2: Baseball in Arizona

My 2nd game of the week was the Giants versus the Angels in Tempe, AZ. Let me say that the Angels have the worst scoreboard in the Cactus League & the worst souvenir staff also. I went into the Angels store & asked a young man for some help getting a shirt that was out of reach. He went over to get the hook needed for clothing high above. He never came back. As I was standing near the shirt, I could see this same kid buying a few shirts. Once he was done he walked out of the store. At that point I had waited 20 minutes. I did not know what to do, either chase the clerk down or just walk away. So I left. When we got to our seats the second coming of Keith Oberman was sitting behind us. He was as obnoxious as a baseball fan could be. On or about the 6th inning he left. Thank God! The highlight of the game was watching a woman below us that looked about 75 & wore a silver colored disco hat. Although I have complained about the fans & scoreboard the Angels by far had the best babes!! (Author Coach Gaff)

Lackey Pitches Sox to 7-4 Win

John Lackey was very good for 8 innings. The Sox bats exploded in the 6th inning for 5 runs. And the Rays looked cold & tired in a 7-4 loss to start their 3-game series with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway. One down & 18 more head-to-head meetings to go. The weather was brutal, but the Sox strung together several hits & walks to wear down the Rays bullpen. Edward Mujica made it interesting in the 9th, even requiring Koji to come in & get the last out (a strikeout on 3 pitches) of the game. Let's not haggle - a win is a win. Victorino had 4 hits to pace the top of the order. Pierzynski, Middlebrooks & Bradley went 5-11 with 5 RBI. Not bad for the 7, 8 & 9 batters! The bottom 3rd of the order has really come to life since Middlebrooks returned. Coincidence or not, I'll take it. Rain will figure into the final 2 games tonight & tomorrow before the Red Sox get ready to host the hot Oakland A's this weekend.

Guest Article #1 on Arizona Baseball

Recently I got the gift of a lifetime from 2 very kind & generous friends. I spent a week in Arizona watching baseball & softball games. The 1st game we went to was at the Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, AZ. It was a very nice park with very nice people. Milwaukee was playing Cincinnati. I got to meet George Foster. I'm glad that he could hit because he was not much of a conversationalist. I asked him about the 1975 World Series & if Ed Armbrister interfered with Carlton Fisk on the ball in front of home plate. It took him a little bit of time to understand what I was asking. When he understood George smiled & said "sure that was the right call." After all these years I thought he would at least be honest. (Author Coach Gaff)

April Produces Many Teams Around .500

I think it's the cold weather. I think it's injuries. I think it's parity. All of these reasons have produced April records by over 60% of MLB teams that are plus or minus 3 games within .500. Other than Atlanta & Milwaukee, no teams have gotten off to big starts in early going of 2014. Coincidence that the Braves a warm-weather team & the Brewers have a dome? Teams that make-up the 60% category - Orioles, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Rays, Twins, White Sox, Royals, Indians, Angels, Cardinals, Reds, Rockies, Dodgers, Padres, Mets, Nationals, Phillies & Marlins. As much as Red Sox fans may be disappointed with the results thus far, just look at the other teams in the same situation. And there are many playoffs contenders within this group. As in a marathon, which is the definition of a 162-game season, the group of runners stay bunch for the first few miles. Let's see where we are in the race at the end of May.

No Sweep

Jon Lester said it best. Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the other guy. R.A. Dickey outpitched Lester yesterday, plain & simple. The Sox still end up with a series win. I guess I don't understand why regulars like Victorino & Ortiz got the day off when Monday is an off day. But whatever. If I'm Jon Lester & I have had an average of only 2 runs scored in my 6 starts, I'd want my best hitters in there. But it may not have mattered the way Dickey was pitching. His knuckleball was dancing & he wasn't walking people. When the Sox stranded runners on 2nd & 3rd in the 6th you knew it was not going to end well. And it didn't as the floodgates opened from the 7th on to give the Jays a 7-1 win. Every time the Sox pull close to .500 they lose. Maybe the upcoming series against Tampa Bay will get them to plus .500 since the Rays are having a tough time of it right now. Not a great April for the reigning world champs - understatement.

Middlebrooks Making A Difference

It's a short sample size, just 2 games. But Will Middlebrooks is making a difference. He brings stability to 3B, a position that has seen 3 different replacements in the 3 weeks he was out on the DL. The Sox have not committed an error in the field since his comeback. And he has energized the bottom 3rd of the lineup with 2 hits on Friday & a homer yesterday. Stats can't tell you the comfort level that Bogaerts has playing next to Middlebrooks versus other guys. Same with Victorino in the outfield. And Farrell has been able to use a set lineup offensively with Pedroia, Victorino, Ortiz & Napoli at the top. With Middlebrooks & Victorino back we are starting to see more consistency on a daily basis on offense & defense. And consistency is the mark of a good team.

Sox Hold On For 7-6 Win

A patient Red Sox offense took 8 walks in 2+ innings from Jays pitcher Brandon Morrow to get back into the game after Clay Buchholz had given up 3 runs in the 1st. A.J. Pierzynski hit the grand slam that blew the game wide open. Will Middlebrooks followed A.J.'s granny with a solo shot of his own to build a 7-3 lead. Buck settled down & pitched 6 scoreless innings. Uncharacteristically, Tazawa gave up 2 runs in the 8th & Koji gave up 1 run in the 9th as the Sox avoided a big comeback win by the Jays with the 7-6 win. Edwin Encarnacion hit a bullet to center with 2 men on that was snagged by JBJ for the final out. We'll take the win & another series road win. Jon Lester faces R.A. Dickey in this afternoon's finale for the series sweep.

Napoli Closing Out Another Good April

If you remember back to April of 2013, David Ortiz was out of the lineup with an Achilles problem for the first 2 weeks. It was Mike Napoli who led the offense in those first few weeks. And Mike Napoli has put together another impressive April in 2014. To date he has 27 hits in 23 games, 5 homers, 15 RBI & an OPS of .947. If we multiply his numbers by 6 months, Napoli would finish with 30 homers & 90 RBI, just what you need from a #4 hitter. If this year is true to form, Nap's production will tail off in the middle of the season & he will catch fire again in September & hopefully October. Who will ever forget his game-winning HR off of Verlander in the ALCS? Napoli was a great signing in 2013 & he continues to be a great signing for 2014 & 2015. So what if he likes to run around Boston shirtless & serve drinks at bars. He loves the city. Where would the Sox be without his production this month?

Red Sox 8, Jays 1

A nice bounce-back win after a terrible defeat the night before. Sox beat the Jays 8-1 in Toronto to start their 3-game set north of the border. Jake Peavy was on his game, making it through the first 7 innings & giving up only 1 run. The return of Will Middlebrooks helped solidify the left side of the infield. Middlebrooks added a couple of hits at the plate. No errors on defense. Big Papi hit his 50th homer of his career against the Jays. In another turnaround the Yankees got beat at home 13-1 by the visiting Angels. What a difference a day makes! John Farrell is correct - it all starts & ends with the starting pitching. A good start by Jake Peavy gave the Sox a chance to build a big lead early off of Mark Buehrle. And the dunce hat goes to Jose Bautista who tried to steal 3rd & was thrown out, negating a big inning. Oh & did I mention the score was 5-0 when he tried to steal 3rd & made the 2nd out? Dumb, dumb, dumb play for a veteran guy. Let's see if Clay Buchholz can redeem himself like John Lackey did & make it 2 good starts in a row today.

Middlebrooks Activated

Will Middlebrooks is activated for the Toronto series while Brock Holt was optioned to Pawtucket. With Middlebrooks & Victorino back in the starting lineup the Red Sox should be a better team & they should play like a better team in the field. No predictions from me on this series, but it would be nice to stop the bleeding that has occurred in April thus far.

Total Embarassment

Sox lose 14-5. It looked like men in pinstripes playing boys. Sox lose another series to the Yankees. Defense commits 5 more errors. Doubront can't make it out of the 3rd inning. This is a new low point for the Red Sox in the early season. Think a few viewers changed channels to watch the Bruins game? I almost think that things can't get any worse for this team & it's good that the Sox get out of town & go to Toronto where the weather will be 70 degrees inside the Rogers Centre. The Red Sox are not good at any phase of the game -- offense, defense, pitching. They are also not consistent in any phase of the game. Thus, their record is what it is, under .500 & in last place. April has looked more like extended spring training. Bummer start to the weekend!

Slow Start Bothersome

My brother says to me yesterday that he is bothered by the Red Sox slow start. He thinks that the off-season & light spring training by starters, including injuries to Middlebrooks & Victorino, is a sign that the Sox were not in shape & serious about this season. He also thinks that the Sox got more than their fair share of breaks last year as things miraculously unfolded into a championship season. I say right, right & right. But I also told him "what's your point?" We have lived through the most productive 10 years in Red Sox history since the early 1900's. I am OK with giving the Sox a mulligan for the next 10 years if need be. I had to remind him that we Red Sox fans have only 1 goal each & every year - any team but the Yankees. As long as the Yankees don't win a championship, everything is liveable. I also mentioned that it's still early & every team in the AL East is still in the race as no one team is making an early run like Milwaukee. Hang in there Sox fans! We can still turn things around.

Pineda Ejected for 2nd Pine Tar Violation

It's not a PED issue, but Michael Pineda is using more than dirt to get a grip on the ball. First inning - he gives up 2 runs & no pine tar. 2nd inning - no runs, but a big streak of pine tar very visible on his neck this time. Farrell asked the umpires to check & Pineda was ejected. What a goofball! Hello, can you be anymore obvious? Did he not think that field cameras were going to zoom in on him after the last round of pine tar on his hand against the Sox? Afterwards, the Yankees comments from Joe Girardi & Brian Cashman were like those from the 3 stooges - deaf, dumb & blind. Giradi didn't see anything - again. Cashman said the organization failed & would correct the matter. What a crock! At the least the guys from MLB said that Pineda should be a little less obvious if you are going to use some substance. They showed Lackey rubbing his left hand where the sunscreen lotion may have been placed inconspicuously. Just too obvious by Pineda. And his ejection may set the Yankees bullpen back for today's game. It will definitely generate more controversy before the Yankee pitcher's next start. Controversy & Yankees - what could be better!

John Lackey Delivers

After 2 subpar performances in his last 2 mound appearances John Lackey stood & delivered a great outing last night. 8 innings, 11 strikeouts. Sox win 5-1 over the Yankees. A lot of attention will be centered on the ejection of Michael "Mr. Pine Tar" Pineda. But let's not loose sight of a great effort by Lackey, reminiscent of his 2013 comeback season. A few people, including myself, were wondering if John Lackey's best days were behind him. I guess he answered that question in as big a win as you can have in April. Sox were coming off 2 defeats & the Yankees had won 4 of 5 meetings thus far. Lackey's win gives the Sox a chance to win this short series today. Nice effort big John!

Crappy Game

It was pre-2004 last night as the Yankees demolished the Sox at Fenway 9-3. Jon Lester wasn't at his best, but shoddy defense by the Sox in the field was even worse. Only bright spots were homers by Ortiz & Napoli, along with relief by Capuano. So far the Sox are like the weather in April - cold & unpredictable. Today is another day.

Marathon Over

The Boston Marathon went off this year without a hitch. No bombings. No problems. Even an American male won the men's division. Record runners. Record spectators. A day of healing for many. A day of relief for the Boston Police Dept. It seems that every TV station had a special that showed the horror of last year's bombings. Many amputees were shown going through their rehab process. And there is still much more healing, physically & mentally, that needs to go on for a great many people. But yesterday was a big first step. God bless to all those effected for a continued recovery on their road back to normalcy. Stay strong. Stay Boston Strong.

Yanks Are Coming With Ells

Here come the New York Yankees to Fenway Park for the first time this year. Their new ace Tanaka takes on our ace Lester in game 1 tomorrow. It will also be the first trip to Fenway in a Yankees uniform for Jacoby Ellsbury. Expect Ells to be booed mercilessly just as "Judas" Damon was after he signed a contract with the Yankees. So far, Ells has performed well as a Yankee, but 7 years with big money is a long, long contract with his injury history. The Steinbrenner boys are gambling on a run of good health. We'll see how that works out. Earlier this year, the Yankees had their way with the Sox in the Bronx, winning 3 out of 4. Now it times for the Sox to strike back & win this home series, either 2 out of 3 or by a sweep. Anything less will be a bad setback.

More On Sox Loss

Mike Napoli got hit by Darren O'Day on Sunday night on his left knee cap. Nap stayed overnight at Fenway to get treatment on his knee & was able to play today. Not only did Nap play, he took O'Day over the wall for a homer today. Payback! Clay Buchholz was bad, not even making it through 3 innings. Concern? We'll see how his next 2 starts go. Don't forget that Brandon Workman is in Pawtucket & he can be called upon to join the starting rotation if needed. At least the Sox are scoring runs again, 6 in each of the last 2 games. If the offense can stay hot, it will give the pitchers & fielders a chance to relax & not think that they have to play a perfect game every night in order to win. Xander Bogaerts rundown in the 8th was a back-breaking out that ended a potential big inning. He looked foolish as young players will do from time to time. Certainly a learning moment for him. I'll take X-man's good over his bad anyday.

O's Take Finale 7-6

Memo to Red Sox - don't fall behind early in games by 5 & 6 runs. While the Sox were able to pull out a win yesterday, they gave a great effort again today but fell short in a 7-6 loss after being behind 6-0. I like the fight in this team which is still hovering just below the .500 mark in April. The additions of Victorino on Wednesday & Middlebrooks by Friday or Saturday will certainly help the offense. If the Sox weather this early storm & they can stay in the mix by playing around .500, I like their chances the rest of the way. They need to win this home series with the Yankees starting tomorrow.

Sox Win Again 6-5 Over O's

For a team that has owned the Red Sox over the past few seasons this year's edition of the Orioles are not having much success thus far. The Sox are 4-2 in the early going of 2014 against their division rival from Baltimore. Last night the Sox were very opportunistic & took advantage of several defensive miscues by the O's that lead to a 6-5 win. Nice hitting by Jonny Gomes who lifted a 3-run homer into the monster to get the Sox back into the game at 5-3 after they fell behind early 5-0. Then in the 9th Mike Carp hit a line drive to left with the bases loaded which was caught, but then thrown very errantly home which allowed Dustin Pedroia to score the winning run. When you start getting more timely hitting & breaks start going your way (like the transfer play) it results in more wins. The Sox have 4 wins in their last 5 tries. A long homestand may be just what is needed to finally give this team some traction. Also, Victorino & Middlebrooks should return later this week. Things are looking up!

A Very Nice Victory

When I see Brock Holt at 3B & Jonathan Herrera at SS I am not fearful of the Boston lineup if I am Bud Norris pitching for the O's. But the men at the bottom of the order came through in a big way yesterday to score 2 go-ahead runs in the 7th & help the Sox win 4-2, their 3rd win in their last 4 tries. At 8-10 the Sox are just 2 behind the Yankees & Jays at 10-8. No one is running away with the East & it may be a year where 89 or 90 wins takes the division crown. Felix Doubront, Junichi Tazawa & Koji Uehara silenced the O's big bats all afternoon by limiting the potent Baltimore offense to just 2 runs. Good pitching. Timely hitting - including a homer by Big Papi. Always a nice recipe for a win. I know my buddy Gaff is liking the Sox 4th run which scored on a bunt by Herrera after Holt's RBI triple. Bunting is a lost art & a run-producing bunt is demoralizing to the opposition. Happy Easter & let's see if Peavy keeps the winning going today!

Boston Marathon

If you haven't had a chance, watch the E:60 program on ESPN about the Boston Marathon bombings of a year ago. It is narrated by Ben Affleck & Tom Brady. It shows the recoveries of several individuals & the long, long way they still have to go. Have a hanky nearby as it is a real tear-jerker. The one-year anniversary of the bombings was last week & the race will be run again on Monday, Patriots Day. A Boston native may become the first female runner from the US to win this race. That would be great! However, this is more than a race. It's Boston's way of giving the finger to terrorists & terrorism. I give all the runners & all the fans attending the race a lot of credit for continuing to lead their lives without fear. We can never let fear win. And Boston will show the world just that on Monday.

Sox Win One, Lose One

The Boston Red Sox, thanks to a well-pitched game by Jon Lester & a well-placed double in the 9th by David Ross, defeated the White Sox 3-1 on Thursday night to win their series in Chicago by winning 2 out of 3. On Friday John Lackey had a 2nd rough outing & the Baltimore Orioles continue to be a thorn in the Red Sox side by winning their 4-game opener 8-4. The Sox were able to win their opening series of the year in Baltimore, but they will be hard pressed to split this weekend's 4-game set at Fenway with Lester not appearing. Mike Carp looks bad at 1B. 3B has been a revolving circle of Herrera, Brock & Roberts. Roberts was released. And the biggest problem continues to be the lack of offense. The Sox struggle to hit the 5 run mark & that makes every pitch & every out that much more important. The weather has been horrible for the last week, but it's the same weather for both teams. No excuses. Get it done offensively. It may be time to try Garin Cecchini at 3B & see if he can provide some offensive spark. Mike Carp may need to stay in the OF & let Nava play 1B when Nap is out. I'm sure John Farrell will keep tinkering with the lineup. Tough times so far.

A Win Is A Win!

15 walks. 14 innings. Frezing cold. Red Sox beat the White 6-4 by scoring 2 runs in the 14th off of a reserve infielder who came in to pitch for CWS. Who cares? The win by Boston snaps a 3-game losing streak. Jackie Bradley, Jr. got the winning hit with 2 outs in the 14th. Good for JBJ. Another win today with Jon Lester on the mound would give the Sox a series win & a little momentum as they return home to take on the tough O's over the long Patriots Day weekend.

Sox Need to Re-Sign Lester

4 years & $70 million - way too low. If you only want to go 4 years, the Sox should up their ante to $90 million. The Sox should offer 5 years at $100 million. With Peavy & Lackey on their way out & Doubront so-so as a starter, I'd hate to see the Sox lose Jon Lester to free agency & be left with Clay Buchholz as their #1. As Peter Gammons said on MLB Network, the Sox need Lester to mentor several young pitchers coming up through the system - just as Pedroia is mentoring the infielders like Middlebrooks & Bogaerts. Pedroia will end his career in a Red Sox uniform. Jon Lester should be afforded the same opportunity.

Bad Karma Continues

Winter weather. Throwing error by Bogaerts. Carp can't come up with the 1-hop throw. Napoli hurts his finger sliding into 2B. Pedroia out of the lineup. Koji out. Middlebrooks & Victorino still on DL. Red Sox lose to White Sox 2-1 in what might be called a "winter" league game due to bitter cold. Detroit had their game snowed oput earlier in the day. Only bright spots were the pitching of Jake Peavy, a homer by Daniel Nava & a thrown out runner by A.J. Pierzynski. A hundred years ago when I was playing in a regional tournament the league director took us players aside & said it easy to win when you've been winning, but it's darn hard to get out of a losing streak. It seems that everything goes against you. And it usually takes a total team effort to overcome it. I have confidence that the Sox will overcome this 4 out of 5 losing streak. I hope it starts tonight.

Name to Watch - Mookie Betts

Good article on Mookie Betts by Alex Speier of WEEI. At 5'9" 155 pounds Betts is a second-baseman by trade who may get time in the outfield - since Pedroia seems to have 2B covered for the next several years. He is hitting .500+ for Double A Portland, stolen several bags & he is the 6th youngest player in Double A at 21 years old. The Red Sox drafted this kid out of John Overton HS in Brentwood, TN in the 5th round of the 2011 draft. He is listed on different blogs as the #3 prospect for the Sox behind Henry Owens & Garin Cecchini. I saw Betts play in the Arizona Fall League & he seems to "get it" like JBJ & Xander Bogaerts - a baseball IQ smarter than his age. Keep these young kids comin', Ben!

Pedroia's Wrist Not Broken

Good news. Dustin Pedroia's hurtful left wrist is not due to a break. He may rejoin the lineup in the upcoming series in Chicago against the White Sox that begins on Tuesday. With no break to worry about Pedroia should be mentally OK with managing the pain. He is one guy that is invaluable to the Red Sox lineup - whether or not he is producing offensively. He brings the toughness & grit that sets the tone for the rest of the team. Glad that we will see him back on the field & not on the DL.

A Tough Loss in the Bronx

A 3-2 loss to the Yankees in the Sunday night finale is a tough one for this Red Sox team to take. At 5-8 the Sox sit at the bottom of the AL East. The run-scoring machine of last year that averaged 5.6 runs per game has averaged only 3.5 runs per game to date. Last night was no different as the Sox had trouble scoring again. The biggest play of the game was a base-loaded strikeout by Mike Carp in the 8th. When you have so few chances it puts more pressure to perfortm on the few opportunities that you do have. We can complain about the big strike zone given to the Yankees pitchers. Ichiro makes a circus catch on a shot by Ortiz. Sometimes the karma or luck is just not with you. A day off today may be just what the doctor ordered. Meanwhile, Pedroia is getting his wrist re-examined. He may join Victorino & Middlebrooks on the DL. Maybe 3 games against the White Sox is just what the Sox need before returning home against the O's & Yankees. I was hoping that the Sox would finish above .500 & go 4-3 last week, but they only managed a record of 3-4. It's been a tough first 2 weeks, no doubt. But good teams find a way to rise above the adversity & the Red Sox are a good team.

A Tough April Schedule Continues

The Red Sox are 5-7 entering today's game at Yankee Stadium. They have earned series wins against the O's & Rangers while being swept by the Brewers. A win today will earn the Sox a split against the Yankees in their 4th series of the early 2014 season. After today the Sox start a series in Chicago against the White Sox, then return home for a 7 game homestand against the O's & Yankees. Then they are back on the road for 3 in Toronto before return home for the final series of the month against the Rays. Lots of games against AL East opponents. Since the Sox are 5-7 now with 16 left I think a first month of 14-14 would be acceptable, given the level of the competition & given the loss of Victorino & Middlebrooks who may return at the end of this month. What do you think?

Instant Replay - Still Can't Get It Right

First it's pine tar on the pitching hand of Michael Pineda. Now a challenge by John Farrell over a runner off the bag at 2B was not overturned when clearly it should have been. That non-reversal & a few other replays this month show that even the replay umpire in NY is not getting it right. What are you doing, Joe West, eating hot dogs instead of watching? MLB said that the difinitive camera shot was not immediately available to them. It sure was available at Yankee Stadium, so that sounds fishy to me. MLB said the call should have been changed to out. Gee, thanks!

Koji to Test Arm on Sunday

Hey, old guys breakdown. Koji is 39 years old & coming off an incredible year, one as good as any closer ever had in the majors. Stiffness in his throwing shoulder is nothing to dismiss as he sat out 2 months with the Rangers when he experienced similar stiffness. Edward Mujica, unlike Andrew Bailey & Joel Hanrahan, seems up to the task of closing in the interim for now. Let's hope it's not June before we see Koji on the mound again.

Tough Sledding So Far

Any pitcher knows that some days you will not have your best stuff, your best command, & you will not get the ball down. That exact control issue happened to John Lackey today as the Yankees rode 4 homers to a 7-4 victory over the Red Sox. A.J. Pierzynski hit one long ball for the Sox & Mike Carp had a nice 2-run single to bring the Sox within striking distance. But the Yankees limited the damage to 4 runs & went on to win. The Sox are in a win one, lose one phase so far in the early season. A good performance by Felix Doubront & a win on Sunday will give the Sox a split at Yankee Stadium before an off day on Monday. This will be a good challenge for Doubront to see if he can step up & deliver.

Nice Bounce Back Win

Red Sox 4, Yankees 2. Jon Lester pitched another solid game - making his lack of a contract extension more glaring. Jonny Gomes & Grady Sizemore both homered off CC Sabathia, a pitcher who use to own the Red Sox & who is now 4-7 in his last 11 starts. Koji was unavailable due to shoulder stiffness, so Edward Mujica performed a Koji-like 1-2-3 9th to seal the win. You have to admire Grady Sizemore's return & also the pop in his bat. His 3-run shot was the difference last night. An outfield of Sizemore, Bradley & Victorino is looking better once Vic gets back. John Lackey gets the nod today to see if we can get a little win streak going.

Pineda & Pine Tar?

Did Pineda pitch with pine tar in his throwing hand? To some extent, who cares? Like the Buchholz thing last year with sunscreen. Let's not be whiners when we lose a game. Butk, at the same time, it did look pretty bad for Pineda when a picture of his right hand looked full of a brown, sticky substance. This controversy may be the biggest part of a very dull game yesterday. CC & Lester should spice it up today.

A Dull Game, A Dull Loss

Yankee Stadium had many empty seats. There was no emotion from the crowd. The players on the field were going through the motions at times. This was as dull a game between the Red Sox & Yankees as I've seen in years. Making it worse, I had to listen to Bob Costas on MLB. Now that's a dull baseball announcer! MLB kept scrolling - incessantly - stats from prior Red Sox-Yankees meetings throughout the whole game. Can we stick to this game, please! And talk about dull, how about the Red Sox offense. There was none. This is a bad lineup without Middlebrooks & Victorino. Too many easy outs. Sizemore, Pedroia, Napoli, Nava (before the homer), Pierzynski & Herrera all looked dead at the plate. It seemed like a harmless error when Herrera misplayed a roller by Ellsbury to start the 4th, but it turned into 2 runs. Then the #9 batter for the Yankees yanks one down RF line for an excuse-me homer. There was no fire from the Red Sox. Very uncharacteristic. Let's hope the Boston offense wakes up tonight.

Will JBJ Stay When Victorino Returns?

My buddy Steve let me know about how his man, JBJ, was positively impacting the Red Sox lineup. Key hits. 8 for his last 11 plate appearances on-base. I agree. Once Shane Victorino returns from the DL there is talk of a defensive outfield of Bradley, Sizemore & Victorino. That leaves Nava, Gomes & Carp in limbo. JBJ had a terrible spring offensively, but he has been much better at the plate in the big leagues. His improvement offensively comes at a time when the Sox offense has started slowly out of the gate. Competition is a great motivator! Just look at what Sizemore did to earn a spot. And now JBJ is putting the pressure back on the other outfielders. I like the fact that JBJ is weighing on Farrell to keep him in the lineup. OK, Steve, I'm with you!

Breslow Returns, Workman Sent to AAA

Craig Breslow gives the Red Sox a 3rd lefty out of the bullpen while Brandon Workman returns to Pawtucket. It would be my thought that Workman gets extended innings in Pawtucket in case Felix Doubront fails a few more times in September. If so, Workman - who slipped into Buchholz' spot last year, doing a very credible job - could return to the big club as a starter. Even though Doubront reported in shape this spring training, he has struggled, particularly his last start on Tuesday. Like Ryan Lavarnway, I think the Sox are ready to make or break with Doubront since they have so much young pitching ready to move up the pipeline. Felix the Cat's start in New York on Sunday will be an important one.

Sox Win Series With Rangers

If you look at the AL East standing today, you will find that all 5 teams are either 5-4 or 4-5 in the early goings of 2014. No one has caught fire & all teams are dealing with injuries to starters. DL stints by Teixeira, Moore, Reyes, Victorino, Machado, Middlebrooks are all making their teams use extended rosters in April. Big Papi's 8th inning mini-bomb around the right field Pesky pole was enough for a 3-run jack & a 4-2 victory yesterday to win the series. The Sox invade the Bronx now for 4 games & a split would be just fine with me. Stay away from a sweep. No 3-1 series loss either please. 2-2 by the Sox to go 4-3 for this week will be fine. Lester & Lackey are our best shots to win on Friday & Saturday. Red Sox, Yankees, Ellsbury - get ready for the 2014 version!

Championship Hangover After 6 Games?

Wow! I have to say that I was surprised to hear Mad Dog Russo & others sink the good ship Red Sox after only 6 games this year. He & others are not even picking the Sox to land in the playoffs, instead picking Baltimore & Tampa Bay ahead of them. No star power. Can't grind out wins every night like last year. Too hard to win back to back championships. Look at what happened to the San Francisco Giants. Guys, stop already! There's 156 games left. Let's at least get to the end of April before sinking the ship. Wow again!

Sox 5, Rangers 1

3 insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th helped the Sox to get back in the win column, first win at Fenway, & take game 1 from the Texas Rangers 5-1. Remember the 3 phases of the game I talked about yesterday? Well, the Sox had good starting pitching from John Lackey (7 innings, 1 run), 2 innings of scoreless relief from Capuano & Koji & very timely hitting by Jackie Bradley, Jr., Daniel Nava & Dustin Pedroia to score 3 in the 8th. Mike Napoli & JBJ each had 3 hits on the night. It was almost sad to see Prince Fielder try to field a bunt for a hit by JBJ as he fumbled the ball, then threw wildly to 1st base allowing AJ Pierzynski to score the first of 3 runs. Pribe may have PTSD from the Detroit series last year in the ALCS where he didn't show up offensively. Finally, Daniel Nava seems to have issues in LF this year, playing balls off the wall too closely & having the bounce go by him for an extra base. Other than that, a nice team win.

Update on Middlebrooks & Victorino

CBS News reports that Will Middlebrooks suffered a grade 1 calf sprain this past weekend. According to John Farrell, the pain has subsided since the injury & no timeframe has been set for his return. In his place the Sox recalled Brock Holt to fill his roster spot, even though Jonathan Herrera will get most of the playing time at 3B. There was some speculation that young gun Garin Cecchini might get the call up, but the Sox opted to leave Cecchini at triple A. WEEI reports that Shane Victorino is still rehabbing a strained hamstring that occurred during the last game of spring training. Vic's rehab was interrupted by a bout with the flu & no timetable has been set for his return. Jaclkie Bradley, Jr. continues to do a nice job in Victorino's absence. JBJ has played well in the field & has also come up with some big hits lately. Herrera, Holt & JBJ are just early examples of a deep roster put together by Ben.

Sox Swept Away By Brewers

Maybe it was too much 2013 with the ring ceremony, etc. that had the Red Sox out of sync all weekend. On Friday it was bad relief pitching. On Saturday it was bad starting pitching. On Sunday it was no offense. Good teams find a way to keep their pitching, offense & defense consistent from night to night. The Sox missed that this weekend, dropping the finale to the Brewers 4-0. No time to feel sorry for themselves as the Texas Rangers come to town for 3 games at Fenway starting tonight & then the Sox hit the road for 4 against the Bronx bombers before an off day next Monday. I'd like to see the Sox at least go 4-3 this week & find that consistency in all phases of the game.

Brewers 7, Red Sox 6 in 11 Innings

Strange start to the 2014 season. A series win on the road in Camden Yards, a place that the Sox do not play well. And an opening home series loss at Fenway where the Sox play exceptionally well. Not much for the hometown fans to cheer for yet. Clay Buchholz got lit up for 6 runs & could not make it through 5 innings. Lucky for him that the offense bailed him out to tie it up through regulation. Every other starter had limited the opposition to 2, 2, 3 & 2 runs in their initial starts. Add Buck's 6 to the mix & the starters are averaging only 3 runs per start to opponents. The bullpen has lost the last couple of games with a poor performance by Mujica on Friday & an earned run off Badenhop in the 11th last night. If our starters take another turn & limit the opposition to only 3 runs, we should be in great shape as the Sox offense averages 5 to 6 runs a game. Keep the faith! Jon Lester tries to salvage the finale today & prevent an early 3 game losing streak. I'd bet on Lester winning.

Can Buck Hold Up This Year?

Clay Buchholz makes start #1 today of his 2014 season. How many starts can we expect him to make this season? Good luck figuring out the answer to that question! With a history of injuries Buck is the new Jacoby Ellsbury. You just don't know how long he will be on the field. When healthy his 12-1 start last year proves that he is one of the best pitchers in baseball with command of all 4 of his plus pitches. It would be a huge impact on this team for Buck to make 30+ starts & eat up 180 to 200 innings. That would save the bullpen to be fresh during the playoffs. My prediction - 25 starts, time off in June or July for dead arm, & 150 innings. What's your thought?

Brewers 6, Red Sox 2

Ryan Braun found out what type of reception he can count on away from Miller Park. Boo's galor at Fenway for the professed innocent, then found guilty, PED user. And Braun cost one of the MLB testers his job, all-the-while being guilty. What a joke! On the Sox side let's just say that Edward Mujica did not have the kind of 9th inning that he had hoped for - 4 runs scored - as the Brewers broke a 2-2 tie & hung on for the win. Buck & Lester should be able to salvage the final 2 games of this series.

Sox Win Finale in Baltimore, Win Opening Series

What a great win so early in the season! I had a chance to see the whole game on the MLB Network. There were many moments during this hard-fought 4-3 Red Sox win over the O's. To me it was what happened on offense in the 6th that changed the game. Sox were up 3-2. Will Middlebrooks was batting against Chen & had a 3-0 count. Farrell could have given the take sign, but gave Will the green light. Middlebrooks hit the next pitch down the left field line for a double. After a Ross out Jackie Bradley, Jr. came to the plate & had 2 more questionable strikes called on him, the 2nd strike at least 3 inches outside. To JBJ's credit he hung in there lefty-on-lefty & hit a bullet up the middle. Without hesitation Brian Butterfield waived home Middlebrooks against the arm of Adam Jones. Jones made a terrible throw that bounced by the mound & Middlebrooks was safe while Bradley took second. That 4th run by Middlebrooks & Bradley proved to be the game winner. Farrell wasn't kidding when he said he planned to stay aggressive on the bases. Unfortunately, I had to listen to the game with the O's announcers - Gary Thorne & Jim Palmer. Very monotone. All they could say is that the O's had a winning record last year - only team in the East to do so - at 11-8, that the O's had won 11 of the last 14 series against the Sox, & the O's had won 5 straight 1-run games against the Sox. I guess you lost this 1-run game & you lost this series! Make no mistake about it - Baltimore will be tough this year, especially when Machado returns & if they get any pitching. So the Sox will gladly take 2 out of 3 in Camden Yards. Quick turnaround today for the home opener at Fenway & the ring ceremony.

Ortiz & Protection

Remember an early comment this year by Ortiz stating that the Sox lineup did not afford him enough protection. One game doesn't tell all, but it says enough. In front of Ortiz was Dustin Pedroia who went 4 for 5 last night. Behind him was Mike Napoli who drove in 4 of Boston's 6 runs last night. Maybe it's Ortiz who will not be giving these guys enough protection!

Sox Get First Win 6-2

The proverbial "tatter" helped the Red Sox down the O's 8-2 last night. Big shot from David Ortiz early to put the Sox up 2-0. Mike Napoli followed later with a 2-run shot on an 0-2 pitch to put the Sox up 4-2. Later in the game, after intentionally walking Ortiz to load the bases, Nap hammered a crisp single to left, scoring 2 more, to put the nail in the coffin. Don't overlook the contibutions of Daniel Nava & Dustin Pedroia who set the table for the big swingers. John Lackey was very good through 6, giving up just 2 runs on another Nelson Cruz homer. Mujica, Tazawa & Koji took care of the final 3 innings. A web gem was turned in by Pedroia at 2B on a ball up the middle where he dove & made a long, strong throw to 1B to beat Hardy. Spectacular play. Nice team effort & a good team win. Felix the Cat Doubront goes for the series win tonight.

Lackey Needs to Control Davis & Machado

I looked up the career stats of John Lackey versus the Orioles. Offensively, there are 2 guys that have had a lot of success against him -- Chris Davis & Manny Machado. If he can pitch around these guys or get them to swing at pitcher's pitches, he should be fine. Let someone other than these 2 guys beat you. Opposed by new O's pickup Ubaldo Jimenez, you never know which Ubaldo will show up. He has been plagued with wildness since his trade from Colorado to Cleveland, but he did put together a solid 2nd half of the season for the Indians last year. Time will tell if that was a fluke or if he has found his groove again. I like our chances with Lackey tonight.

Sox Invade White House

David Ortiz took a selfie with the President. Jonny Gomes wore a suitcoat of the American flag. This will be one of the final remembrance of their 2013 championship & of the Boston Marathon bombings as the Sox turn the page to the 2014 season. President Obama thanked the Sox for responding with a championship to a city that needed something to cheer for. Patriots Day this year will again feature a ballgame & the marathon. It will be a sad remembrance for those who died & for those were injured last year. But it will also be a testiment to the fact that life goes on, not quite the same, but a sign that terrorism doesn't win.

CC Ruffed Up in Yankees Opener

CC Sabathia gave up 6 runs in the first 2 innings & the Yankees lose their opener 6-2. I happened to be in a restaurant that had the game on TV & could help but watch. The YES Network is all over Jeter, showing clips going back 20 years it seems. I'm glad that we want have to see that. Ellsbury looks odd in a Yankees uniform. He was 0-3 with a walk & run scored. On defense McCann & Teixeira both threw the ball wildly which didn't help CC. And Beltran took an 0-fer at the plate. No pitching, no offense, no defense - it may be a long year for the pinstripers as Jeter makes his farewell tour like Mariano last year.

Tuesday Morning Quarterbacking

JBJ pinch runs for Mike Napoli in the 8th. John Farrell leaves Bradley in to hit in the 9th instead of pinch-hitting for him with Jonny Gomes. Farrell might have done Gomes a favor by not letting him hit against Tommy Hunter who regularly buries righties. But the non-move will be talked about since JBJ struckout to end the game. Any manager knows this truth - you are a hero when a move works & a goat when it doesn't. If you can't live with your decisions, don't be a manager because all the bad results are second guessed - like this one. You make the best decision at the time & live with the outcome. John Farrell will live with this one.

Enough About Jerry Remy!

Since when did sports columnists & sports talk show hosts become Berstein & Woodward? There has been way too much commentary on radio & TV about the sad situation of Jerry Remy's son & his upcoming trial for murder. It's every parent's nightmare to have your kid commit a major crime. But Jarod Remy is no kid & his behavior is his own, not that of his parents. So sports people - report on sports, not on the personal life of a parent trying to deal with this horrific situation. And be glad it's not you in the same situation.