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.

Indians 8, Red Sox 4

I really thought Daisuke was going to turn the Sox' fortunes around last night. He's always done well against Cleveland. And they tend to be free swingers. I was wrong.

He wasn't awful. But in typical Daisuke fashion, even when he does well, he fails to do well for long enough. And while it was the bullpen that ultimately lost this game, Daisuke gave the bullpen a chance to lose it, by only going 5 innings.

And during those 5 innings, he nibbled. And he nibbled. He threw a joke of a 90 MPH fastball right down the middle to Choo, and it was crushed. He nibbled some more. He walked batters. He hit a batter. He allowed 10 baserunners in 5 innings.

But he didn't lose this game by himself. Not by a longshot. Ellsbury struck out 3 times and went 0 for 5. We're still waiting for him to hit. Youkilis went 0 for 4, continuing his struggles. And Varitek messed up a defensive play, turning what should have been an out into a Cleveland run. His mistake of not tagging Buck at the plate was inexcusable for a veteran and a "Captain."

Then the bullpen. That's worrying me more than anything else right now. The starting pitching is what it is. The offense will inevitably improve. Guys like Ellsbury and Youkilis are not sub-.200 hitters. They'll come around. The bullpen, however, has been nothing but a disaster so far. Dan Wheeler was supposed to be the 2nd set-up man alongside Bard. He's allowed 2 homeruns already. And Reyes was supposed to add depth. He's only added mass, and a heavy ERA.

A few bright notes from last night: Gonzalez hit his first homerun with the team. And Crawford got on base, then ran, stealing his first 2 bases of the season.

The rotoation starts all over again, and maybe that's what this club needs. Lester faces Fausto Carmona, who allowed 10 runs in 3 innings against Chicago. First pitch at 12:05 this afternoon.

-The Commodore

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.