Game 2: Rangers 10, Sox 4
I'm not sure what the Red Sox are trying to prove by having Tim Wakefield be their second starter. This guy is a FIFTH starter on just about any team. He's good for a 10-10 record any year, with a couple gems when the knuckler is on (usually against Tampa Bay), and a couple major blowouts... case in point tonight. Beckett needs to be the No. 2 guy.
Timmy left a lot of knuckle balls up high, and the Rangers crushed him. Especially Phil Nevin, who is now batting like .500 against Tim Wakefield. The game was over in the first inning after Nevin's 3-run home run. What's even more disturbing is that Josh Bard has no idea whatsoever how to catch Tim Wakefield. Doug Mirabelli was Wake's designated catcher last season, but we traded him away to the Padres for Mark Loretta. Granted, Loretta is looking great so far this season at the plate, with some fantastic at-bats, but right now, I'm really missing Doug "Stud who hits bombs" Mirabelli. (If you don't frequent Sons of Sam Horn, you won't get that nickname).
Riske and Seanez look as if their Spring Training suckitude is going to continue into the 2006 season. But after Papelbon's performance in Game One, I'm really not worried about the pen. Julian Tavarez will be back in eight games anyway. And as Bill Simmons pointed out in his always-hilarious Running Game Commentary of Opening Day, Paps is going to be the closer very soon. Look out, Keith Foulke. I feel so proud for telling George to draft Jonathan Papelbon high in his fantasy draft. That kid has "stud" written all over him.
Anyway, I'm pleasantly surprised by the offense thus far. Ortiz is hitting like everyone knew he would, but Loretta and Crisp are looking great too. We have a fantastic 1-2-3-4 punch. The only problem is once you get past Varitek and Nixon and head into the bottom of the lineup, we've got nothing. My dad had a good point during the first game of the season when he said that any hit we get out of Gonzo/Cora/Lowell is just bonus to what we thought they would do. Manny is looking shitty at the plate thus far, but his Aprils always stink. He'll come around... just Manny being Manny.
I'm looking forward to watching Josh Beckett's Red Sox debut tomorrow night. Hopefully it goes smoother than Wakefield's first start tonight. He's such a bum. (But when he wins, we like him... Red Sox fans are as fickle as they come).
In non-MLB news, the Gators won their first NCAA basketball championship last night. I think I read in Andrew's column that we're only the sixth school in NCAA history to win a football and basketball championship. While the party on University was nowhere near as cool as the '96-'97 football championship, it was still pretty fun. Too bad I was watching the celebration live on a television in the 95-degree Sports Desk at The Alligator. I'm proud to say that I've been in Gainesville for both title wins, and I hope to God I'll be in Gainesville for Urban's first championship. I wish the Gator baseball team would take a page from the basketball team and figure out how to gel together and win. Their starters stink-- nobody besides Brian Augenstein can even find the plate these days. Even Mr. Reliable Darren O'Day blew it tonight-- we lost to freaking NORTH FLORIDA 6-5. That is despicable.
All right, enough Gator/Sox ramblings. I am about to update my Opening Day entry w/ quotes from Bill Simmons' column, so check that out.
Timmy left a lot of knuckle balls up high, and the Rangers crushed him. Especially Phil Nevin, who is now batting like .500 against Tim Wakefield. The game was over in the first inning after Nevin's 3-run home run. What's even more disturbing is that Josh Bard has no idea whatsoever how to catch Tim Wakefield. Doug Mirabelli was Wake's designated catcher last season, but we traded him away to the Padres for Mark Loretta. Granted, Loretta is looking great so far this season at the plate, with some fantastic at-bats, but right now, I'm really missing Doug "Stud who hits bombs" Mirabelli. (If you don't frequent Sons of Sam Horn, you won't get that nickname).
Riske and Seanez look as if their Spring Training suckitude is going to continue into the 2006 season. But after Papelbon's performance in Game One, I'm really not worried about the pen. Julian Tavarez will be back in eight games anyway. And as Bill Simmons pointed out in his always-hilarious Running Game Commentary of Opening Day, Paps is going to be the closer very soon. Look out, Keith Foulke. I feel so proud for telling George to draft Jonathan Papelbon high in his fantasy draft. That kid has "stud" written all over him.
Anyway, I'm pleasantly surprised by the offense thus far. Ortiz is hitting like everyone knew he would, but Loretta and Crisp are looking great too. We have a fantastic 1-2-3-4 punch. The only problem is once you get past Varitek and Nixon and head into the bottom of the lineup, we've got nothing. My dad had a good point during the first game of the season when he said that any hit we get out of Gonzo/Cora/Lowell is just bonus to what we thought they would do. Manny is looking shitty at the plate thus far, but his Aprils always stink. He'll come around... just Manny being Manny.
I'm looking forward to watching Josh Beckett's Red Sox debut tomorrow night. Hopefully it goes smoother than Wakefield's first start tonight. He's such a bum. (But when he wins, we like him... Red Sox fans are as fickle as they come).
In non-MLB news, the Gators won their first NCAA basketball championship last night. I think I read in Andrew's column that we're only the sixth school in NCAA history to win a football and basketball championship. While the party on University was nowhere near as cool as the '96-'97 football championship, it was still pretty fun. Too bad I was watching the celebration live on a television in the 95-degree Sports Desk at The Alligator. I'm proud to say that I've been in Gainesville for both title wins, and I hope to God I'll be in Gainesville for Urban's first championship. I wish the Gator baseball team would take a page from the basketball team and figure out how to gel together and win. Their starters stink-- nobody besides Brian Augenstein can even find the plate these days. Even Mr. Reliable Darren O'Day blew it tonight-- we lost to freaking NORTH FLORIDA 6-5. That is despicable.
All right, enough Gator/Sox ramblings. I am about to update my Opening Day entry w/ quotes from Bill Simmons' column, so check that out.
posted by Jennifer at 8:28 PM
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