The Rants are Back!

I know ya its been a while...not much; how 'bout you? 

 Okay, corny song lyrics I know but what did you expect?  I have finally given in to the pressure from my "fans"  (all 3 of them) and I have decided to once again grace the world with my wit and insight on my beloved Boston Red Sox...and whatever else might cross my mind....are you ready for a wild ride?

Every season starts the same way.....MY TEAM IS IN FIRST PLACE!!  And then they play a game.  The Red Sox started the season with very mixed expectations.  A new manager, our Captain had retired, chicken-gate, a new GM, an outfield that looked very different and a starting rotation that had us biting our nails before the season even began!  Really.....our heir-apparent closer was now a starter?  And WHO is our closer?  Sigh....but we had hope!  The season couldn't start off any worse then last year - could it?  Well no, it isn't worse then last year...but truthfully, it feels worse.....



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Bobby Valentine was brought into town to restore order to the team.  To bring the discipline that the team - or at least some on the team - seemed to be lacking.  He is a no nonsense sort of guy who has no trouble calling out players in the media.  Just what Boston needed...right?  Well maybe.  The team did seem to lack motivation and discipline as we watched the horrendous slide in September on 2011...an epic collapse rarely seen in Boston these days.  But when Bobby V took to the media and questioned the motivation and heart of one Kevin Youkilis, fans held their collective breath as they waited for the fallout.  Was Bobby misunderstood?  Perhaps.  But unlike when he was coaching the Mets, it would do Bobby V well to take a page out of the book of Youk's future father-in-law, the ever tight-lipped head coach of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick.  Talk all you want to the local media, but never EVER say anything.  Loose lips sink ships AND the morale on a team.

Bobby also seemed to get off to a rocky start with the new GM of the Red Sox, Ben Cherington.  There have been reports that Valentine didn't want Daniel Bard as a starter and that he was forced to accept him in that role by the GM.  Who knows what the truth is?  Though the reports that Valentine might skip Bard's start on Sunday against the Yankees in favor of Jon Lester does raise a few eyebrows.  Is there an internal power struggle?  I suspect there is on every team in the league; but with two new-guys running the show in Boston, a unified front would do wonders for the team and the fans.  Because right now, the pitching on the team isn't giving the fans anything to cheer about.



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The Red Sox pitchers are dead last in the American League with a collective ERA of  6.20.  (I will save you the pain of looking at individual stats.)  They have given up 121 hits (including 18 home runs) and 73 earned runs.  The team is currently on a three game losing streak and much of that is attributed to our pitchers....starters not having quality starts or else our pen implodes.  Last season we looked at our pitchers and we could say "Well on paper at least this is the best rotation of any in the league", but this season?  I don't think anyone is saying that, nor SHOULD they be saying that.  Many of the concerns that we saw at the end of last season have carried over into this one.  Josh Beckett has not come out strong, Lester's last start was very much out of character and Buchholz has the rust that you would expect from someone who missed the end of last season due to injury.  And our fourth and fifth starters?  A guy who was SUPPOSE to be the next greatest closer in the game and a pitcher who had started only a handful of games in his whole career.  Not exactly the news that has one dancing in the streets.  And of course don't forget our closer situation.  With Andrew Bailey going on the DL before the season even began,  Alfredo Aceves - the guy who was fighting for one of those starting spots - became our closer.  And while he MIGHT make a believer out of me yet, I worry about having a closer who also has a bad habit of HITTING batters.  Hardly the guy you want on the mound when the game is close. 

I would be remiss if I didn't note the other guy we have on the DL.  Jacoby Ellsbury had his shoulder injured in a freak accident as he was sliding into second base in an attempt to break up a double play.  He has partially separated his shoulder and while it won't require surgery, he most likely will be out 6-8 weeks at least.  Watching him get hurt reminded me of the 2010 season...when Ells broke a LOT of ribs and much was made about his "toughness".  I certainly hope that no one is questioning him now.  Ells was one of the few bright spots last year - he was stellar throughout the ENTIRE season - and I want nothing more then for him to come back and pick right back up where he left off last September.



So twelve games into the season finds us where?  In last place in the AL East with a sad record of 4-8  (Is Baltimore really still in first place?) and we have our bitter rivals coming into Boston for not only the first series of the season, but also to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the first game at Fenway Park.  A joyous occasion, that more then ever has a 'must win" feel to it...but that is a story for another day.  My Red Sox have the day off to rest, and reflect and to GET THEIR ACTS TOGETHER!!!  I hate to say it only 12 games in but I need the break; there have too many painful games to watch so far.  But a break today only means one thing, it gives me the opportunity to watch.....

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Boston Bruins playoff hockey!!

GO B'S - BEAT THE CAPS!!!