Opening Day

It’s been a long time. I failed to get the last three breakdowns out and I never posted on Spring Training. I was, sadly, either very busy and/or sick. So anyways let’s kick this season off!

There were some things that impressed me with both pitching and hitting from the Red Sox. We opened the night out with Beckett and CC retiring the sides. Beckett got nailed with two homers, CC allowed one run. Beckett got nailed for four more runs, and CC stood strong. It was a classic pitching falters and the hitting was going to not make it happen night we saw last year and what I expected this year. Well if this is what the Sox can do, I was dead wrong.

Youk and Pedey delievered, Youk went 3/4 with two doubles and a triple. He also scored the go-ahead run. On the hitting front, the new trio (Beltre, Cameron, and Scutaro) impressed. Beltre knocked in two runs, Cameron scored the insurance run for Pap, and Scutaro looked good getting on base and doing something the 9 slot for the Sox last year could not do.

 

On the pitching front Beckett got nailed. To be frank, Beckett is a streaky pitcher, when he’s on he just might be in the top 3 of MLB pitchers. When he’s not he gets nailed, which is why his stats are forever mis-leading. Now the bullpen impressed in the 7-9th innings. Okajima looked solid, Bard made it look easy, and Pap looked like he was ready for another great season sealing a great victory for the Sox.

Defense looked good for all but V-Mart’s double steal mistake. Cameron and Ellsbury are going to basically mean from left to center not many balls are coming down and don’t think JD Drew is going to let too many hits on his right side either. Scutaro, Beltre, Pedroia, and Youk impressed in the infield and overall the Sox made me believe defense can help, but I’m still not one to say it’ll get them a ring this year.

Now for the Yankees I’d be scared if I’m a fan of them. I’m not saying their bad or ok, their still the scariest team out there, but what the Yanks fan should be scared of, is that they were not vintage Yankees at the plate. Yeah they scored seven runs, but they looked like the 09 Sox out there! They did not deliever late, they got runners on more then enough to score 10-12 runs, and they just got stopped. They weren’t clutch.

 

On the hitting end the Yankees were wrong, Damon and Matsui will be missed. Those two were great last year, but more importantly, clutch. Now on the pitching end Chan-Ho-Park looked off, just off, Marte was wild (per usual) and Joba’s velocity has dissapeared making him far less dangerous then when he was a year ago. I’m pretty sure this bullpen will be great soon, but Giradi has some work to do to get everything in order.

CC is not an April guy, then again neither is Texiera. I’m going to say for both Beckett and CC is that they are aces of their staffs and they will deliever, just give them time. What I’m scared of is if the Sox back off on the extension because if they do we can kiss Beckett goodbye. I’m pretty sure they won’t, but look at Jason Bay, they agreed and they jumped off the bandwagon.

 

My final thoughts on opening day are this, the Sox have made me optimistic. I’m not saying I think this team is geared for a World Series run, but heck this is something I didn’t see coming. Not only just a win, but a comeback win over the best team in the MLB. It’s good to see the Sox play this way early, and if they keep it up and get A-Gon later in the year or a different power bat, then this team could be ready for a run at a trophy.

Impressive by both teams. Should be another great one on Tuesday. Go Sox!