Opening Moments

1st part consists of updates on your Red Sox thus far. The 2nd part has happenings and debuts from around Major League Baseball.

All eleven players that batted have at least one strikeout with Big Papi comprising of six in fifteen at bats. He hasn’t even played in Cleveland where they continue to fight the outdoor elements and maintain trying to swing at a pitch that you can’t tell if it may be a big fluffy snowflake. Cleveland and Seattle have been postponed and look to play a doubleheader in their upcoming match up weather permitting as there had been numerous delays. They had a monster crew of snow blowers cleaning the field at every chance they received and they were one pitch away from a complete game being completed before it was halted for good. Seattle was losing 4-0 top of the fifth I believe and had a full count and bases loaded and two outs and Byrd (Indians pitcher) was in the windup and the batter stepped away from the plate with a snowflake in his eye. Truly a remarkable result, so if you sports bettors took the Indians or Mariners consider this a void bet and feel extremely fortunate if you selected Seattle.

Dustin Pedroia and JD Drew are hitting well over .300 and Kevin Youkilis is the only one to hit one deep this year. Ramirez, Lugo and maybe even Lowell have been hitting at least respectable as it comes down to the numbers. As I had feared the lineup featuring Big Papi and Man-Ram would not be able to pull its weight. Though it is truly early you may see some reshuffling of that lineup since no substitutions have really been made as only in the instance of a few pinch hits for Wily Mo and the guaranteed at bats for Tim Wakefield’s personal catcher Doug Mirabelli.

Eric Hinske has not seen any at bats so far this year and things may change for Kevin Youkilis as you can’t have numbers like his and win as the first baseman is batting less than .200 but does have the only homerun on the team. I still believe that Hinske will get more chances to hit than Wily Mo Pena as the manager Terry Francona was quoted as to say Pena will backup all outfield spots, which I believe to be a stretch especially in center. So he will have to look to spell Drew and Ramirez. Who don’t look to miss too many games as the Red Sox look to rely upon them heavily throughout the year and hopefully into the playoffs?

The defense isn’t bad, though predicted to be better than anticipated by myself in a previous article (you all still with me? Good) I have seen Manny Ramirez make reluctant runs for balls he normally doesn’t catch. Besides a tough game for Mike Lowell, giving him a quick three errors on the year Pedroia has the only other error.

The Boston Red Sox seem to just need to keep the game tight and close to keep their guys revved up for a quick impervious comeback. With the “game winner” Big Papi winning a bunch of games last year expect more of the same as it will truly be a rare occurrence for the BoSox to blast a team to take them out they will continue to be efficient picking their spots, which should garner them an adequate record if the pitching staff touted as one of the best in the major leagues just accomplishes what is to be expected, while seeing Papelbon shut her down in the end.(Which isn’t always that easy as can’t miss big BJ Ryan found losing in the ninth to the lowly underrated never appreciated Devil Rays).

Ranked starters go like this, Matsuzaka had a strong 7 innings pitched with ten strikeouts, it came at a good time as they needed a strong outing by one of their pitchers and it took till game three to get a dominant performance. Tim Wakefield gave a good performance but ended with the loss 2-0 anytime you don’t have to hit a monster number of runs when Tim’s on the mound you should win, as at this point he is hit or miss. Beckett had an average performance as expected from last year, Sox fans are still looking for Josh to take the rains and give Boston their next ace. Schilling was energized for opening day, though he struggled with his command and was out pitched by the newly signed Gil Meche, look for him to bounce back as he wouldn’t throw himself out there if he still didn’t have it, that I believe. From what I have seen the bullpen is solid and if and when they move another pitcher into the fifth spot or drop it altogether having Julian Tavarez in the pen would make it the best in baseball no contest in my eyes. Stealing Joel Pineiro out from under the Seattle Mariners was genius and JC Romero has impressed me as a solid lefty who isn’t just a lefty who is a situation type guy this guy can throw.

For the second part of my article, I will delve into the happenings on around the MLB. Plus I will be starting discussions in the dugout that I would to get some feedback on.

The Orioles stealing one from the Yankees only helps the Red Sox as they will keep cheering for the Orioles and Devil Rays to take out the Blue Jays and the Yanks all year.
Baltimore and Tampa Bay will continue to be cellar dwellers until they prove they belong.

Sammy Sosa returning puts a smile on my face as a fan of baseball. It may be the fact that second chances are fun to watch and the way he plays and the approach he has is infectious, as he rounds the bases and salutes the air with his signature chest peace-pounds/ kisses. Is their a name for that? So here is hoping he can overcome the steroid allegations and the corked bat incident and the fact that he left the Cubbies for the Orioles.

I am calling it now Brad Penny and I are related somehow, through some measly crack it is true maybe a third cousin twice removed as I am of the last name Penny and he has the look of half my family especially the guys (lol). The only difference is he is a monster at 6’4” 265 lbs, just putting it out there.

In a nice twist Jackie Robinson has many MLB supporters who will wear is infamously retired league wide number 42. Ken Griffey Jr. approached Commissioner Bud Selig with the idea to wear #42 on April 15 this year. Which will be the 60th anniversary of that historic day, Selig liked the idea so much that he extended the offer to all Major League players. Expect to see numerous players wearing it on the 15th and also I have heard that their may not just be one player, their respective team reps are asking others to partake. Jackie Robinson debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. A truly historic day to remember and thus we will.

Here at SoxNest we have added a new archives section where you can look up all the content we have put up throughout the off-season and in the early season. So continue to let us inform you about your Red Sox and welcome to our Nest.

Written by Contributing Editor Scott Penny