Hit and Run with Dan Roche

Sox ALCS Rotation

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:00:17 GMT

The Red Sox decision to go with a starting rotation of Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and Tim Wakefield in the ALCS against Tampa Bay makes complete sense.

Daisuke Matsuzaka will have six days rest in between his ALDS start against the Angels and Game One Friday night. Granted, he struggled in his usual manner in Game Two against LA(5 IP 3R 8H 3BB 5K 108 pitches), but he still won 18 games this season. He was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts against the Rays this season as well. Plus, you'll have a rested bullpen ready to go behind him.

The Matsuzaka decision was also based on getting enough rest or Josh Beckett and Jon Lester.

Beckett has been dealing with the "oblique strain" and now will get five days rest in between starts. He hadn't pitched since September 22nd when he took the ball in Game Three of the ALDS Sunday night.

As for Lester, he's thrown 14 scoreless innings(1 unearned run) in his two postseason starts. He will now pitch Game Three Monday at Fenway on six days rest. A nice breather.

Also, you now have Beckett and Lester for Games Six and Seven if you need them, which isn't too shabby.

And, Tim Wakefield in Game 4 makes sense. He's pitched well for most of his career against Tampa. Also, you don't have to worry about the catcher situation when Byrd comes in out of the bullpen, which you would have to do with Wake.

The Road Just Got Tougher

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:55:24 GMT

I cringed. When you hear the word "oblique" it's usually not good. For a hitter(like Mike Lowell), it's a few weeks minimum and often times is longer that that.

When I heard Sunday night that Josh Beckett suffered an "oblique strain" in a bullpen session on Friday I was stunned. First Tom Brady now Josh Beckett. This can't be good.

I know Terry Francona had a sleepless night Saturday night into Sunday. He arrived at the office Sunday morning at 6:30 probably just trying to figure out what's the best thing to do.

So let's look at this situtaion....

Best-case scenario? Jon Lester is lights out in Game One Wednesday night and gets the Sox rolling. That is a good possibility. Josh Beckett was 4-0 with a 1.20 ERA last postseason and Lester has grown physically and mentally this season to the point where he can be that stud. Daisuke Matsuzaka was 18-3 this year. He can be a solid number two starter. Maybe Beckett will be ok by Sunday's Game Three. It would have been 8 days since he suffered the injury. Maybe they dull the pain and he pitches through it. Sox win the series and take their chances in the ALCS.

Worst-case scenario? The Angels take one or two games in Anaheim and the Sox turn to Game Three and either have to push back Beckett or Becketts tries to go and struggles.

Common sense just tells me that an oblique takes a long time to heal. I hope that's not the case, because I love watching Beckett pitch in the postseason. He rises up to that next level.

Can the Sox repeat? Absolutely. However, it just got a lot tougher.

Meanwhile, if I said to you this off-season that if the Sox headed into the 2008 postseason with an injured Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, and JD Drew, no Curt Schilling(winningest pitcher in postseason history), and no Manny Ramirez what would you say?

It would be a heckuva ride if they can pull this off though, wouldn't it?

Beckett Scratched

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:03:51 GMT

A tough blow for the Boston Red Sox as they get set to defend their World Series crown this week against the LA Angels of Anaheim. Ace pitcher Josh Beckett, the expected starter for Game One Wednesday in the ALDS, has been scratched from that start after suffering a strained oblique muscle during a bullpen session on Friday night.

Jon Lester will now start Game One while Daisuke Matsuzaka will get the nod in Game Two on Friday in Anaheim. Beckett is slated to start Game Three here in Boston on Sunday if he can. Beckett will have a side session on Thursday in Anaheim.

This could be a potential blow to any hopes the Sox had of repeating. Beckett was 4-0 with a 1.20 ERA last postseason and was named the ALCS MVP.

Congratulations

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:24:48 GMT

I congratulate the defending World Series Champion Boston Red Sox on making it back to the postseason for the 5th time in the last 6 seasons.

I laugh at anyone who says they should have had a "low key" celebration. Why?

You begin your season February 15th. You open your year as defending champs in Japan. You travel all over together. You lose key players to injuries. You trade a Hall of Fame superstar. You bring in new players, young and old. You mold a team together on the field and in the clubhouse.

You are one of only 4 teams in your league to make it to the play-offs. And, you have several new players that have never had a taste of postseason.

Celebrate? Are you kidding me?

Celebreate all you wants guys. You deserve it. We'll see you next week in the postseason.

Congratulations.

Play-offs Are Looming

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:52:29 GMT

The Magic number for the Red Sox to make the postseason for the 5th time in the last six seasons is dwindling. It may very well happen this weekend in Toronto.

Congratulations. So, now what?

How do you feel about this year's edition of your Boston Red Sox?

Boston went 8-10 against Tampa Bay this season. 1-8 vs the LA Angels, and 4-3 vs the Chicao White Sox. The Sox were also 4-3 against the Minnesota Twins, just in case Ron Gardenhire's crew catches the White Sox.

On paper(Theo Epstein's least favorite term), the Red Sox would like to play the White Sox. However, that appears to be a lonsghot. If Boston can rally and win the AL East, they would most likely play the White Sox. However, if they win the WIld Card, it would be on to LA.

The Sox swept the Angels last year thanks to brilliant performances from Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling. Can Boston beat the Angels this year? Sure, why not. I think a rotation of Beckett, Lester, and Matsuzaka matches up well with any combination of John Lackey, Ervin Santana, Jon Garland, Joe Saunders, and Jered Weaver.

The one big difference this season, in my mind, concerning the Angels is the addition of Mark Teixeira. Put him with Vladdy and Torii Hunter and this offense is much tougher to face.

As for Tampa, well, you don't have to worry about the Rays until you get by either the Angels or the White Sox.

Meanwhile, relax and take a deep breath. Get some sleep. Just sit back and watch Theo Epstein, Terry Francona, and John Farrell rest and re-shape the roster so that all the big guns are ready to come out firing in a couple of weeks.

And, congratulations on yet another fun baseball season in New England.

Beckett

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:11:55 GMT

I guess things are just fine with Josh Beckett.

Not only does he look dynamite in his first start since August 17th...as he mows down the Texas Rangers on Friday night. He also throws 80 pitches. He was only supposed to throw 50-60.

You could tell Beckett was more than relieved when he got the good news from Dr James Andrews that he was healthy. And, we saw it Friday. Great location....good velocity....good curveball. Just a great night of pitching.

So, now he's rested and set for the stretch drive and beyond.

Things are coming together quite nicely for this Sox team, eh?

Bowden and Pedroia

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 02:59:02 GMT

It was all about two guys Saturday night at Fenway Park as Boston bested Chicago 8-2.

Michael Bowden and Dustin Pedroia.

The 21-year-old Bowden made his Major League debut on the mound and the hot-shot didn't disappoint. Bowden used his fastball for two innings and then pulled out a curve and chaneg-up. He worked an "effective" five innings and got the win.

The story here? Continues to be the Sox Baseball Ops guys. Director of Amateur Scoutin Jason McLeod and his staff. Director of Player Development Mike Hazen and his staff. Theo Epstein and John Henry. They all deserve a big pat on the back for finding, signing, and developing kids like Bowden, Masterson, Lester, Papelbon, Delcarmen, Buchholz, Matsuzaka, Okajima. And don't forget all the positional players such as Ellsbury, Pedroia, Lowrie, etc....Amazing stuff.

Ah yes, Pedroia. The man that energizes this ballclub on a nightly basis. Hang around him for any amount of time and you can't help but smile. He's infectious. One of the best things I like about him? He shows at 1pm at the park for a 7pm game and he's always full of energy. Ready to "rake" as he would say, or ready to "put on a laser show". He's got a great attitude...and...as we're finding out..he can really hit. He seemingly "squares up" on every ball.

Amazing......

Huge News

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:05:27 GMT

It was the best news you could have ever hoped for if you're a Sox fan...Josh Beckett is fine. As Terry Francona said, the news was "awesome".

Sorry folks, but the chances of doing anything in the postseason weren't tha good if you lost Beckett. And, it was nice to see someone visit Dr James Andrews and get some encouraging news.

I also like Josh Beckett a great deal. He's impressed me with how he's matured as a pitcher and a person while playing for the Boston Red Sox. Always trying to improve....find ways to get better...yet staying humble. Yet., much like the greatest Sox pitcher I've seen in person in Pedro Martinez, Beckett has the "cockiness" about him when he's on the hill.

To see and hear him in the Sox clubhouse Friday night was like watching a man who was just let out of a jail. It was hard not to see how relieved and happy he was that he just had an elbow strain and could pitch next Friday at Texas.

Meanwhile, his teammates were thrilled and relieved.

Good news out of Fenway......

Beckett

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:08:47 GMT

I have one...and only one concern on this Friday of a holiday weekend...Josh Beckett.

It's never good to hear that your ace pitcher is headed for a "second opinion".

Now I know Beckett has a history with Dr James Andrews and that he trusts the man. That's fine. However, we basically have a month left in a season that increasingly looks like the defending World Series Champions will be forced to make the postseason as the AL Wild Card team.

At first glance, from afar, I thought that the Sox may have been simply trying to rest Beckett for the stretch run. Give him two weeks off and hope it sets him up for another awe-inspiring stretc run like he had last year.

However, as we've come to see....this is more than that.

Now I know Theo Epstein, Terry Francona, Dr Gill, and especially Josh, are trying to get a definitive diagnosis. Medical "peace of mind", if you will. That's fine.

And let's hope for the best. In the meantime, Sox fans will be holding their collective breath.

Road Trip

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:00:52 GMT

This is it. The Sox need to put together some good performances over this important nine game road swing through Baltimore, Toronto, and New York.

The Sox enter the swing 4-1/2 games behind the Tampa Rays in the AL East and in a virtual tie with Chicgao/Minnesota in the AL Wild Card chase.

Following this swing the Sox play only nine games away from Fenway Park the rest of the way.

What will be the difference? As David Ortiz told me Sunday...and as Jason Varitek always says..."pitching, pitching, pitching".