Ok Dice-K Is Gone, What Now?

As DP reported yesterday Rice-K is gone, so the question is what happens now. Well, the Sox are going to have to hope that Lackey can comeback and be solid. He doesn't have to be great, but solid (ERA under 5 and win 50%), because otherwise the Sox will be filling two spots instead of one.

As for taking Dice-K's spot, for now if will be Wake/Aceves. They can hold on to it for awhile, but I don't see either as a long term solutions for the rest of the season. The guy that is interesting is Felix Doubront. He is finally healthy again and he has a 1.59 ERA and .172 batting average against in five starts for the PawSox.

The only problem I see for Doubront is if Hill is out for the season and the Sox don't find a guy to get lefties out. Dourbount did that pretty well last year against lefties (.189 BA), so they might need him to fill that role. I would rather they find someone else, and see what this kid can do starting, but we will have to wait and see, because the other option other then the 3 I have mentioned it Milwood and none of us feel like dealing with his 82 MPH fastball.

10 White Sox, 7 Red Sox

It was too little too late. When the Red Sox offense awoke, we already had given up on the game and the lead was insurmountable. Phil fucking Humber and Sexy Alexei Ramirez tore through the Red Sox. Alexei was 4-5 and Philip Humber went 7 innings giving up a home run to Jason Queeratek. But then the 8th happened Humber gave up hits to Josh Reddick, Drew Sutton, and Kevin Youkilis. He was relieved by Will Ohman and he gave up a bomb to David Ortiz for a three run bomb. The good luck continued in the ninth as Reddick and Sutton drove in two more runs to inch the Sox closer but Adrian Gonzalez got caught looking at a third strike to squash any hopes of a comeback.

I don't mind this loss though, Alfredo Aceves gave up a fuck ton of runs. He's on borrowed time and should be his last start until....... Lackey returns. Alfredo Aceves got roughed up against this White Sox offense, giving up eight earned runs in just five innings pitched.

They've lost three straight to end what has been a remarkable May and finish the month 19-10.

Red Sox 14 Tigers 1

Boy was I wrong. I thought that Scherzer would be able to slow down the Red Sox offense, instead they lit him up for 7 runs in 2 innings. This game (much the game before) was over before it started.

Ellsbury hit a 3 run HR, and Crawford went 4-5 with 3 RBIs. Speaking of Crawford he is now batting .244, which is just .003 behind Pedroia in batting average. I wonder if a change in the lineup with will happen? I say not yet, but certainly something they will start looking at in a month or so, because right now they are so hot I wouldn't change anything.

Alfredo Aceves was very good once again, which has me thinking if we actually even want Lackey back. Anyways, he was great letting up just 1 runs over 6 innings strikingout out 6 batters.

Boston has won 11 of 13, and are tied for 1st place with the Yankees in the AL East. It's been an incredible turnaround, and if they can figure out their bullpen issues they could be unstoppable.

Opening Day: Yankees @ Red Sox Preview

I wish it was just the opening day to the regular season after having to watch the Red Sox fail in epic fashion, but the fact remains the Sox are 0-6, and there is a good chance they will be 0-7 after today.

We heard all spring about how Lackey looked like a different guy, he was slimmed down, and seemed to have "refound" some of his game. It didn't always produce results, but scouts seemed pretty optimistic to start the season. Then Lackey came out in his first game and let up 9 runs, which led to his grotesque 22.09 ERA. That being said, I guess I can hold out a little hope as Lester got smashed in his first outing only to turn around and throw a gem. But that is Jon Lester, and that was the Cleveland Indians, this is John Lackey, and this is the New York Yankees.

The Yankees are 4-2 on the season, and although they have some worries of their own, one thing they aren't having a problem with is scoring runs. The Yankees have scored 4 runs or more in every game this season, when you compare that to the Red Sox who have who have scored 4 runs just once since the season 3 times, you can see Boston has some offense troubles.

The good news is that Hughes is on the mound for the Yankees and he has to be one of their biggest concerns for this season. His velocity has all but disappeared, and he looked terrible in his first start (I smell a trip to the DL soon). So, if Boston was going to score some runs this could be the guy to do it against. Then again if Josh Tomlin and Mitch Talbot can shut you down I guess anyone can.

The one thing I can stay is that Boston is due, they are too good to be this bad. Maybe they go out and smash the Yankees today, but with Lackey on the hill that night not be enough. Still, I just can't pick the Yankees and then sleep at night...

Red Sox win 9-8
Player of the Game: Adrian Gonzalez
Game starts at 2:05pm


***NOTES***

Just wanted to point out two quick notes for the Red Sox. The Red Sox designated Dennys Reyes (good because if I ever see that fat toad again I might puke), and Matt Albers on the DL. They have called up Alfredo Aceves (should've made the team instead of Wakefield anyways), and Felix Doubront who I trust more then any lefty bullpen guy the Sox have.

Reyes Makes Team, Okajima/Aceves To Minors

"Hideki Okajima will start the season in Triple-A along with fellow reliever Alfredo Aceves, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein announced Monday. Epstein divulged the team's final roster moves in preparation for Friday's season opener at Texas. The assignments of Okajima and Aceves to Pawtucket makes room in the Boston bullpen for left-hander Dennys Reyes and righty Matt Albers. Reyes and Albers are on major league contracts (after the Sox purchased Reyes' contract Saturday) and do not have options (WEEI)."

I guess that means Wakefield won the long reliever spot, which I think is kind of bullshit. Aceves is the better pitcher at this point, and Wakefield will be nothing but a mop up pitcher. Okajima I am not surprised has been sent down, he has struggled this spring, and I am not sure we will ever see him in the majors again. All in all the Sox have been playing terrible lately, and I really hope their pitching can get it going once the games actually mean something.

Baseball News

Here is the latest from around the MLB...

- The Rangers (as noted before) are shopping around Michael Young, who has asked for a trade. The problem is finding a suitor this late in the offseason. The rumors that was going around the most was that he was going to head to the Rockies, but that changed today, as the Rangers were not happy about what they were going to get back in the deal (Eric Young Jr) and the Rockies don't see to want to give anything more. The Angels were also rumored, but all they have to offer is Scott Kamir and the Rangers are said to have no interest in him. Another team was the Astros, but they have also dropped out because of the price of his contract. So right now there isn't much news on where he WILL go, only where he WON'T go. One team that I think should get involved is the Blue Jays. That just makes a lot of sense to me.

- Speaking of the Blue Jays they are looking to unload Juan Rivera. He was really traded for only to get rid of Wells contract. No word yet on who might be interested. My guess is not many.

- CC Sabathia lost 30 pounds, which should help his surgically repaired right knee.

- The Red Sox signed Alfredo Aceves for about $650K, and is basically just some starting rotation depth and he will most likely be sitting in AAA most of the year.