Jason Varitek Gives Credit to Dice-K

Red Sox Are Going Streaking!!!

Well the Red Sox are finally on a streak winning their past three in a row. Today was the annual Patroits Day game for the Sox and it was a big one as they went on to defeats the Blue Jays 9-1.

The heroes of the day were Daisuke Matsuzaka and Superman Jed Lowrie. Dice-K pitched a gem tossing seven innings of shutout baseball only allowing one hit and one walk. While Lowrie continues his hot streak going 4-for-5 today with four RBI and a homerun. Lowrie is considered the hottest hitter in the MLB with a .516 average.

"I understand [how hot I am]," said the hot Jed Lowrie. "Who cares? It's April 18, long season. I'm just going to keep my head down and keep grinding."

There were several other great performances from guys who needed a lot of confidence. Kevin Youkilis who came in batting less than .200 had a big day at the plate. Youkilis knocked a double off the bullpen fence that if it was a half inch farther would have been a home run and came up again later in the game and actually hit a home run. On the day Youkilis went 2-for-5 with a strike out. Carl Crawford also had something to be proud of as he got a double off the monster. This was the first hit he had received in over a week so hopefully this will get things going for the sox.

"At this point, I didn't feel [any] hits coming," Crawford said. "I definitely felt better about my at-bat."

"Everybody in the dugout [was thrilled]," said Terry Francona. "I was happy to see the ball he hit before, because it's a good approach, but then you certainly want to see somebody rewarded for it."

Jacoby Ellsbury also had a good day hitting his second home run in two days. Ellsbury leads the team in home runs which is a surprise because coming into the season the Red Sox expected him to be the leadoff man. Looks like that could be part of Ellsbury struggles this season with a .200 batting average. I’m starting to think he is Willie Mays Hayes in the Major Leagues because he isn’t supposed to be swinging for the fences.

Speaking of leadoff men, I believe the Red Sox may have found their guy. Francona put J.D. Drew in the leadoff spot today trying to give Carl Crawford some help. This may have been the best decision of the game. Drew went 5-for-2 with a walk and scored a run in the first inning. This is something I never thought of but Drew makes perfect since as he has such a high career OBS and OPS which is perfect for the lead off. If the Red Sox continue winning I can see Drew in the leadoff spot for games to come.

Today results from today is what many Red Sox fans was expecting out of them since the signing of Crawford and trade for Adrain Gonzalez. If the Red Sox offence continues to play this way they could save the pitching staff several games. The Red Sox are streaking now so watch out because here we come.

Red Sox Line UP Against Blue Jays 4/18/2011

It's Patriots Day in Boston, which means they are running the Boston Marathon. It also means an extremely early start with more people outside of Fenway then normal. The Red Sox have won two straight and looking to keep the streak going but Daisuke Matsuzaka is on the mound for the Red Sox. Dice-K is off to an awful 0-2 start only lasting two innings in his last start against the rays giving up seven runs and making his ERA 12.86 on the year. They are hoping today will be a bounce back day as they have Jason Varitek catching him hoping to get him back in rythem after he got shell shocked. His counter part for the Blue Jays is Ricky Romero who has a record of 1-1 in

three starts with a 1.66 ERA in 21.2 innings of work.

Red Sox

RF Drew
2B Pedroia
1B Gonzalez
3B Youkilis
DH Ortiz
SS Lowrie
LF Crawford
C Varitek
CF Ellsbury

Blue Jays

SS Escobar
CF Patterson
RF Bautista
1B Lind
C Arencibia
LF Snider
DH Encaracion
3B Nix

Red Sox Lineup Against Rays 4/11/2011

Tonight the Red Sox continue their home stand with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Sox will have Daisuke Matsuzaka on the mound for the Sox. Dice-K has made one start this season and it didn't go so hot. He went five innings giving up six hits and three runs. Dice-K is known to be a pitcher who gives up walks so his three walks wasn't that surprising and he did strike out two batters. He will go up against Jeremy Hellickson for the Rays. Hellickson has a 0-1 record with a 4.76 ERA in 5.2 innings pitched. Both the Red Sox and the Rays have had a slow start but this could be just what the Red Sox need to get this season going

Lineups

Red Sox

LF Crawford
2B Pedroia
1B Gonzalez
2B Youkilis
DH Ortiz
RF Drew
C Saltalamacchia
CF Ellsbury
SS Scutaro

Dice-K Comes In For Relief of Japan

As we all know Japan has suffered a horrible disaster on March 11, 2011 and the game of baseball has took a hit as well. Not only has it delayed the start to the Japanese baseball seasons but it affected the Japanese players in the United States. Several players felt it was their place to help out their native land including Red Sox RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka who donated $1 Million to the Red Sox Foundation.100% of the money that was donated will be given to the Japanese Red Cross Society’s relief efforts.

Daisuke and the rest of the Japanese pitchers on the Red Sox have been standing outside of spring training games to raise funds for the relief effort. “To date, the Red Sox Foundation has rasised more than $1.3 million from fans, team partners and sponsors, and Red Sox players and staff, including Matsuzaka’s gift and a $50,000 donation from the Red Sox Foundation. The donations will go to support the Japanese Red Cross Society’s relief efforts.” That statement came from the Red Sox press release.

I am a little surprised it took so long for Daisuke to pitch into help the relief efforts as he is set to make $10 million dollars this year alone. Better late than never is the way to think about this though it is a great donation and will help the people of Japan.

Red Sox players are not the only major leaguers helping out the efforts in Japan. Ichiro Suzuki has donated $1.2 million dollars back on March 18^th. Ichiro plays for the Seattle Mariners which have an extremely large Japanese fan base since Ichiro joined the team in 2001 and feel it is there place to help out and are matching the donation of their fans. Another player that has pitched in to help out is former Yankee and current Oakland A Hideki Matsui game $600,000.

The people in America may not know anyone personally involved with the tragedy in Japan but I believe Tom Werner says best how our connection is with the people of Japan. "Red Sox fans share a common language with the people of Japan through our shared love of baseball,”

If you would like to do your part to help out you can do it in one of two ways you can donate straight to the Red Cross or you can donate through the Red Sox Foundation.

2011 Red Sox Rotation Set

Terry Francona put out the starting rotations and it was not how any of the fans expected it to be. Most fans expected a line up something like this going John Lester, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka. But boy were they wrong. Last week Tito put out the rotation and it will begin with John Lester as many believed but it just goes wild from there. The number two starter of the staff will be John Lackey followed by Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Lackey in the number two spot makes people ask questions and needs an explanation from Francona.

"I think we feel like Lack has a way of matching up with whoever he’s pitching against, whether a guy is a No. 1 or No. 5, you look up in the seventh and you have a chance to win, which we really like. Buck did so good [in 2010], I think we feel like having Buck come out third just enhances our chances to win a little bit. Buck’s numbers would say he can pitch anywhere. I just think Lack’s a veteran, he’s done it. I just think spacing him and Lester, there’s something to be said for that, too. Lack showed up in great shape and looks like he’s ready to go. Ultimately, if they pitch like they should, it’s not going to matter and if they don’t pitch like they should, it’s not going to matter."

The fact of the matter is there is no such thing as a true five man rotation this early in the season. Reason being there will be rain outs and injuries that will change starts throughout the season. Players will miss starts and that will change it for the rest of the season.

The thing that surprised me the most is how last season Josh Beckett was considered the ace of the staff and has moved down so low. Out of a sign of respect the last couple of seasons he has been the opening day starter and some thought that may happen again this season. Last season Beckett had an off year and suffered several injuries. He even got paid big time and that shows favoritism was no play putting him in the fourth spot.

When ask how Beckett felt he said, "Those are his decisions. Just like I would always feel like he would back me up, I back him up on his decision, as well. It is what it is. I don't get paid to make those decisions. Tito makes those decisions. I don't want that job. I never want that job. I'll let him make those decisions and I'll go out and do the best I can to put us in the best position to win."

Let’s hope Beckett has a bounce back year and doesn’t let this effect the way he is pitching since he has a long term deal with the Red Sox.