The Boston Pro Sports Blog

So the Sox have started out a steamy 6-1, winning their last five games to produce their best start so far since 1999. So far everything has gone to plan. At least that’s how Theo, JH, and the rest of the Sox Front Office view it. Great pitching, solid defense(except for a Wily Mo Pena homerun for the Blue Jays in the eighth), and a combination of hitting led the Sox to a 5-3 win over Toronto in their home opener today.

After a 36 pitch 1st inning, Josh Beckett settled down to give up only one run in seven innings to earn his second win in as many games played. Foulke entered the game in the eighth in a set-up role and gave up 2 hits and 2 runs although it was probably more Wily Mo’s fault than Foulke’s.

The game then became a save situation bringing out Papelbon who retired the side in order for his fourth save.

Aside from Pena’s blunder in the eighth, the defense held strong recording a couple double plays and a nifty catch from first-basemen Kevin Youklis in foul territory. The hitters did their part as well notching ten hits for five runs, balancing power with a little small ball. Mike Lowell led the bunch going 4 for 4, while Youk and Ortiz had two hits each, including a Papi solo homerun in the seventh.

It wasn’t all good today in the 2006 Sox Fenway debut unfortunately. Trot Nixon left the game with a groin injury while Coco Crisp hit the 10-day DL with a possible broken finger.

Overall though, today seemed to be the blueprint for this year’s team. Lowell hitting. Papi homering. Beckett one earned through seven and Papelbon lights out. All part of the plan. It sure is fun to watch. Let’s just hope it keeps going. David Wells hits the mound for the first time this year tomorrow night to try to make it six in a row for the Sox. I know its only April but I am still stoked. GO SOX!

Well I would like to extend a warm welcome to Martin Gramatica. Obviously everyone here is wishing that the newly acquired Patriots kicker will return to his previous form that donned him the nickname ‘Automatica’. Considering he sucked in the 2004-05 season with Tampa Bay and sat out for 2005-06, I think this is about as likely as a Krispy Kreme re-opening in Medford. I like Gramatica already because he looks like the field goal kicker in The Simpsons. The Patriots are also looking at other, younger options at kicker, including the possibility of investing a draft pick into the position. The plan, I would imagine, would be to groom a young rookie kicker with high potential with the guidance of a seasoned veteran in Gramatica. If and when the playoffs come, whomever is kicking the best would take on the full time duties. If this indeed is the Patriots’ plan, I am completely fine with that(granted I have been a Belichick juice drinker since 2001), especially considering our schedule for the upcoming season.

The Patriots start off with AFC East Conference play right away, facing the Bills and Jets on September 10 and 17. This should be a good way to start the season off since neither team are big threats to the AFC East title. Conference games are always tough though and equally as important. The next three games will be a tough stretch when we host the Broncos on September 24, then head to Cincinnati on October 1, and then come back home to play the Dolphins on the 8th. If we head into the Week 6 BYE with a 4-1 record(or better) it would be a great start to the season. Even 3-2 would be acceptable although obviously not ideal.

We then face the Bills again followed by the sex party Vikings on Monday Night Football October 30. One of the biggest games of the year for the Pats will come November 5, as we host the Indianapolis Colts in a prime time game. It will be Adam Viniateri’s homecoming, as well as an important game in evaluating just how good the 2006 squad really is. The next two weeks we host the Jets and then travel to Green Bay to play the struggling Packers franchise. We complete our NFC Central opponents by hosting the Bears and Lions. The Bears game November 26 should be a good game considering Chicago’s revival in recent seasons. It may be an important game as well if the Bears are battling for their Conference title or Playoff berth.

December 10 we head to Miami which will likely turn into an important game in determining the winner of the AFC East. We definitely cannot write off the AFC East this year with Miami’s constant improvements(specifically adding Culpepper at QB) and the Jets’ addition of Mangini(the former Belichick assistant last year). After hosting Houston on December 17, we finish the season at Jacksonville and Tennessee. Without getting ourselves too too much(its too late for too much), both those games might end up being important for playoff seedings and (knock on wood then cross your fingers) home-field advantage.

All things considered, this schedule doesn’t seem completely overwhelming, and certainly not as challenging as last year. Granted in the NFL this day and age any team in any season could rise the ranks to be competitive. I am just hoping its not the Jets or Bills. However, if we had to face a schedule like this, I am glad it’s the year after we lose some of our most valuable contributors in recent years. Here’s the 2006 Regular Season schedule mapped out:

Sunday, Sept. 10 – vs. Bills, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 17 – at Jets, 4:15 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 24 – vs. Broncos, 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 1 – at Bengals, 4:15 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 8 – vs. Dolphins, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 15 – BYE
Sunday, Oct. 22 – at Bills, 1 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 30 – at Vikings, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 5 – vs. Colts, 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 12 – vs. Jets, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 19 – at Packers, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 26 – vs. Bears, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 3 – vs. Lions, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 10 – at Dolphins, 1 p.m.
Sunday. Dec. 17 – vs. Texans, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 24 – at Jaguars, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 31 – at Titans, 1 p.m.

GO PATS!!!

theaveragefan@bostonprosports.com

Ugh. Wakefield sucked last night. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Bard sucked even worse. It seemed like he let more balls by than a quadriplegic soccer goalie in his first official game as Wakefield’s personal catcher. He also went 0 for 3. I miss Mirabelli. But I am determined not to quit on Bard yet. Its only one game. Despite how atrocious it was for him. I almost felt really bad for him. It was like a cross between Meet the Parents and a really bad first date.

The game as a whole wasn’t all bad. Coco Crisp had three hits and a stolen base while Wily Mo Pena had a RBI double as a pinch hitter. Speaking of Crisp though, I am really sick of everyone still comparing him to Johnny Damon. “Ooo he did that just like Johnny”, “Oh that was a Johnny play right there”. I am surprised Crisp has kept smiling through all of this. The Boston media and many fans sound like a brokenhearted 19 year old who can’t stop talking about her ex four months after they broke up. Get over it people. I seriously won’t be able to put up with this for very long.

OK hopefully the discouragement left over from last night will only last until Beckett throws his first pitch tonight. Hopefully.

theaveragefan@bostonprosports.com

Ok so I started to think more about yesterday’s win and was overall very happy. Schilling was great and clocked in at 96 mph on his fastball. Papi was great, Lowell showed signs of his bat swing being quicker with his homer, Manny will be Manny so no worries there. Coco played a very good center field and Papelbon was lights out in a 1-2-3 eighth. The only thing that slightly worried me was Foulke.

Foulke definitely has the most to prove this season after the debacle that was 2005. Yes he was one of the heroes of 2004 and yes we all love him for that. But his comments about the media and the fans in Boston didn’t make him a Golden Boy in the eyes of many. Meaning he had even more to prove this year. So giving up a single, then a double, then a well hit ball to center made me a little bit nervous and put the only stain on an otherwise great day in Red Sox Nation. If it wasn’t for a great Coco Crisp catch, that limited Laynce Nix(his parents must have expected him to be a gay pornstar trucker or something) to a sacrifice fly, Foulke would have turned a 7-2 blowout into a 7-5 ballgame.

As far as I am concerned, if Foulke is going to fuck up leads and really suck this year, I would rather have him do it sooner rather than later. I don’t want to get into a tight pennant race in late August only to have Foulkie’s true colors emerge like a bad case of herpes. I would like nothing better than him to return to 2004(or prior) form and be a lights out closer again. That way when one of our starters hits the DL, Papelbon can hit the rotation and one of the kiddie prospects can make their big league debut in relief.

So then, if Foulke sucks right away we can come up with a plan for the season right away. Put Pap at closer and hope that the starters stay healthy. From what I hear, the Red Sox Front Office does not want to bring prospect closer Craig Hansen up too early. It might shatter his delicate baseball psyche to have him blow a 2 run lead in the ninth to put us a game back in the middle of June. Or so I’m told. We are looking at Hansen as the Sox closer of the future, just not right away. Scouting reports actually show that Manny Delcarmen and Jon Lester will probably be ready for the Show before Hansen. And from what I know, Delcarmen would be a better fit as a set-up man than a closer. Which brings me back to my original theory: it would be better to have Foulke screw up earlier rather than later.

Foulke screws up now – we use Papelbon as a closer this year and then he hits the rotation next year when the Old Guys(Wells & Schilling) retire. Delcarmen or Lester get brought up to fill in relief unless we pick someone up or trade. Lester would be the first to hit the rotation if one of the starters then happens to go down.

If Foulke screws up later – Papelbon might have already hit the rotation if one of the starters gets hurt. So now we have to bring up Hansen prematurely causing Terry Francona to rock incessantly back in forth every time we head into the ninth with a save situation(which he might do anyway). OR Timlin is asked to close and Lester/Delcarmen come up as a set up man. This is all assuming Theo & Co. don’t pull the trigger on a trade to bring us a new closer.

So obviously I hope Foulke returns to be that reliable closer that embraced Jason Varitek on that fateful October night. But if our bats or defense didn’t pick us up yesterday and Schilling’s gem was wasted, then yesterday’s post might have been singing a different tune. I will wait for a real save situation to begin my analysis. But Foulke is already on a short leash as it is. Lets hope we don’t have to give him the giant Shepard hook. But if we do, sooner rather than later would be best.

theaveragefan@bostonprosports.com

Well the official 2006 Boston Red Sox season has officially begun today! WOOHOO! I am sure that those of you out in the Red Sox Nation are just as excited as I am. It’s especially nice to finally have the opportunity to see what this team will be like after an off-season of revamps and retooling.

From just a year ago, we have a new leadoff centerfielder(Crisp), our entire infield is new(Lowell, Gonzalez, Loretta, & Youklis), and a few former prospects emerge as expected everyday players(Youk & Papelbon). I think the most bizarre/interesting statistic is the one that admits that the Red Sox in the past 13 Opening Days have started 12 different second basemen. Twelve people in thirteen seasons. It sounds like Larry Johnson’s out-of-wedlock children.

After not being able to say this for the past seven or so years, I certainly hope this Opening Day is a good prediction for what we have in store for this summer. Schilling looked sharp, Big Papi started to make his case for 2006 MVP early, and Crisp made a nice grab off the wall to hold Layne Nix’s hit to only a sacrifice fly. Although I wouldn’t know since the extent of my watching the game was limited to clicking ‘REFRESH’ 3,248 times and a box score. Apparently Ted and John haven’t been getting my letters petitioning to have Opening Day an official State holiday.

I think I am the most excited for this season as I have ever been, although the argument could be made that I say that every Opening Day. At least this Opening Day I am smiling even after the game. I really think this team is one of the most balanced teams that I can remember. We may not be the best in any one category, but we are definitely solid in every area.

Well here’s to the 2006 Red Sox. Sit back, relax, and enjoy our Opening Day ‘W’. Lets hope the wins will keep on coming.

theaveragefan@bostonprosports.com