Sox Return to Fenway

Before the Sox went on the road I wrote that I was worried that the small amount of momentum the Sox had going before the left would be sapped once they flew to the left coast. The Sox have got to be pleased that they finished 6-3 on the trip. Now they face off against the Mariners this evening. That's nice way to get re-acclimated after a long journey.

As I write the Red Sox have taken a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 3rd on two RBI singles by Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz. The pitcher must have been blinded by gleam from Big Papi's Run-D-MC style chain around his neck. That thing looks like it weighs more than my cat.

Colon Relives Past Glories; Puts Yanks On Track

It has been a long time since Bartolo Colon was mentioned among the top echelon of starters in baseball. It has been almost equally as long since Colon pitched eight complete innings.

Colon was masterful tonight, using his two-seamer to freeze hitters while pounding away with his four-seamer that hummed through the strike zone at an average of 93 mph and even touched 96. It doesn't seem likely that Colon will hold up for a full season at age 38, but right now he is giving the Yankees quality and length and doing far more than eating innings out there.

Using a steady stream of fastballs Colon doesn't mess around. He pounded the zone and rarely threw anything off-speed, throwing just nine off-speed pitches out of 99. He never really needed the change up or slider he recorded 17 outs on the ground or via strike out, and all but one of those came from a fastball.

Right now the Yankees need all the pitching they can get. With Rafael Soriano struggling and the bats falling silent the length the starters give the Yankees will become that much more important. Right now they are doing they doing that. The past four games New York starters have thrown quality starts and at least pitched into the seventh (or in Freddy Garcia's case they should have). It is a reassuring trend, but Brian Cashman is sure to continue to keep his ear to the ground in search of another top end starter. There will always be doubt as to whether Colon's or Garcia's shoulder breaks down again or even both.

With the recent disheartening news that Phil Hughes might have thoracic outlet syndrome, every quality start until the tradeline will be that much more vaulable.

CC Sabathia should continue the trend tomorrow night since the White Sox still haven't come close to pulling out of their own hitting funk.

Dice-Konquerer

Sometimes I think I post on Dice-K just to see what kind of play on words in the title of the post. Anyhow... I don't think I have ever seen him this dominant after two awesome starts in a row. Last night he pitched eight shutout innings and gave up just a single hit as Boston has now taken the first three games of this four game series. Usually I'm happy if he can get through four with less that three runs. I'm trying not to get used to it, but if this continues with Jon Lester and Josh Beckett on the rolls that they're on, the Sox will be a force to be reckoned with.

Red Sox: Road Warriors

Usually this west coast road swing is the kiss of death for the Sox. In spite of the team's improved play recently I still had some trepidation as they headed for the bay area to start this trip. So far, so good. The Sox have won three in a row and are getting ever closer to .500.

Josh Beckett continues to be masterful, and I for one am going to enjoy it until he gets a hangnail or goes on the DL after a paper cut disaster. He pitched eight innings allowing only two runs last night against the Angels. The Sox certainly needed him as they stranded 13 runners. Hitting with RISP continues to be an issue, but Boston was able to push runners across when it mattered most in the top of the 11th. Adrian Gonzalez got it done with two run double.

Another thing that is tempering my enthusiasm is the injury to Kevin Youkilis. He fouled a pitch off his shin early in the game and was forced to leave. The severity of the injury has yet to be released, but TV cameras showed an egg plant colored welt.

The Sox still have a long way to go on this trip. They have three more game in Anaheim then they fly back east to the Charm City for a series with the Orioles. I will hold on to my optimism for now, especially with Jon Lester toeing the rubber tonight.

We want a pitcher, not a belly-itcher.

When Bobby Jenks came into the game last night and Don Orcillo pointed out that he had not surrendered a run or even a hit yet this season, I knew the Sox were toast. Clay Buchholz labored through 5+ and left with a one run lead. Alfredo Aceves allowed an inherited runner to score, but that's not where the trouble started. It was Bobby Jenks and his absurd goatee that ruined the Sox this time giving up four runs in the seventh. The Sox rallied within a run to no avail. They went quietly in the ninth, even with the top of the order coming up.

Speaking of the the Sox failed rally, Carl Crawford led off the ninth and I have to say, in the time that I've watched him, he looks utterly clueless at the plate. Adrian Gonzalez hasn't lived up to his billing either, but a least he's put solid wood on the ball. Crawford is swinging like a broken screen door.

Dice-Katastrophe

As good as Beckett was on Sunday. That's how bad Dice-K was yesterday. We'll never be able to trade his ass now. I was amazed at Beckett two nights ago. The curve ball looked filthy. When he's can locate the cutter and fast ball and can snap of the curve ball with regularity, he's one of the best. There's just been no consistency in a couple seasons.

I really have no more words about Dice-K. What a waste. They should just cut him. Beckett gives up two hits, Dice-K meanwhile pitches two innings.

At least we still have Lester. After 2 1/3 tonight he's looking pretty strong and just dealt a nasty fastball over the outside corner to get a backward K. Let's see if he can strike out Johnny Damon.

Yanks Show Desperation; Sign Carlos Silva

Word comes from Jon Heyman that the Yankees have continued collecting washed up pitchers by signing Carlos Silva who was released by the Cubs before the season started. Now it surely says something about Silva's abilities that the Cubs chose to eat $11.5 million for the 2011 season rather than carry the 9-year vet.

It also says something about how worried the Yankees are with Phil Hughes's velocity and performance that they would go out and sign a pitcher that they expressed no interest in two weeks ago.

It will be a bad sign Silva sees anytime in the majors this year. It will mean that Phil Hughes has a serious problem, Ivan Nova couldn't handle the four spot and two of the trio of veterans the Yankees have already couldn't hack it.

I don't like the the signing. It's good for depth, but it's bad if he ever sees New York. Anyway this commercial perked me up after I heard the news so enjoy.