New vs traditional

Ok here's the scorecard:

I love the Green Monster seats. Many thought they would take away from the ambiance of Fenway.

I don't mind the advertisements on almost every wall of Fenway. John Henry has to get paid.

I love the home "special" red jerseys. They look sharp.

I'm okay with the away "special" blue jerseys. They don't make me want to throw up.

I do detest the white hats with red brims that the team wore yesterday to commemorate Memorial Day. Terry Francona made mention that they looked like the team was going to sell ice cream.

Weird

So the Sox sweep the best team in baseball (the Rays) at home in impressive fashion. Return home to play the worst team in baseball (the Royals) and drop the first two games???? Wholly bizarro world.

Dice-K was absolutely gross on Monday night. Wakefield was no better last night.

Tough team to figure out.

Bore and snore

I've been thinking about this one for for the last couple of weeks: Are the 2010 Red Sox boring?

Let's look back at the team over the past ten years. Remember the days when Pedro pitched? That was an event. How about Nomah? We know the story didn't end well but he was one of the most beloved players the team has had in my lifetime. Who can forget the self proclaimed "idiots" of 2004? Millar, Damon, Schilling, Ortiz and that crew were certainly good players but were also characters that held our attention. There was no greater character than Manny Ramirez. Say what you want about his high maintenance style and idiot savant tendencies but it made for must see viewing.

Currently, the roster is loaded with solid citizens and talented players. Youkilis, Pedroia, V Mart, Ellsbury, Drew, Clay, Lackey, Lester and Beckett all seem to be "good" guys that play the game the right way. But aside from Pedroia's bravado (we only hear about this from beat writers) where's the interest? Do these guys make us watch?

I exclude Papelbon because to me he is the one guy that to me is must see. He has electric stuff and the persona to match.

Personally, I have only watched one game in its entirety this season. That was the opening night win over the Yankees. In an effort to maintain full disclosure, I must mention two things. Number one, I was at Fenway for the season opener. Number two, I also went to two other games at Fenway and did not stay for the whole game (one was the suspended game). I have yet to make it through watching a game from my couch.

Granted, it has been a busy spring but still. We add Cameron, Lackey, Beltre and some relievers that are uninspiring. I can't believe I miss the "drama" at Fenway. Did Manny really just go into the Monster and miss a pitch? Did Millar have the guys do a shot of Jack before games in the 2004 playoffs? When will Pedro cut those geri-curls? Will the marbles in Johnny Damon's mouth fall out when he is being interviewed? I truly miss the good ole days.

We knew ...

... this match up between Dice K and Phil Hughes would not go well, right? I mean the Yankees own the Sox right now and Dice-K is just awful. Thank god this is only a two game series.

I am seriously having doubts about this year. I am extremely patient person when it comes to the Sox but they have very little going for them right now. The starting pitching has been sub par and the lack of defense has been mind boggling. May be Theo was right that this is a "bridge" year.

Papi Power

David Ortiz has two absolute bombs tonight. The first one went 450 feet. Big stretch of games forthcoming and we need the offense to get hot. Papi, Papi, Papi.

Buchholz looks sharp, too.

We can only hope this a start to bigger and better things.

I no heart Tim MacCarver

Three hour game, Tex hits 3 homers, Van Every has to pitch the ninth, one hour rain delay, a sweep is inevitable!!

To top it all off, during the post game Tim MacCarver says (paraphrasing) "You have to wonder if the Red Sox are as good as either the Rays or Yankees. Five weeks is not a large sampling but ... I don't think they are close to those two teams."

I no heart Tim MacCarver because he is absolutely right.

This is the last season of one of my favorite tv shows of all time. It is ironic that this year is also shaping up to be a LOST season for the Sox.

Here's hoping David Ortiz's stick is as powerful as Mr. Ecko's.
Can Tito give the "we can all live together or we can all die alone" speech to motivate the troops like Jack did?
Papelbon needs to throw some serious "smoke" like the Man in Black/Christian Shepherd/The Loch Ness Montster.
When will Ellsbury return to swipe some bags like Sawyer runs a long con?
John Henry needs to spend some money to get us some players like Widmore has spent trying to rule the island.
Can Mike Cameron have the passion like Michael? "MY SON!!"
Sayid's assassin like stares need to be mastered by Beckett.
Pedroia does have some Benjamin Linius in him. Little guy that needs to prove himself.
Hurley could probably get more outs out of the bull pen right now than Manny Delcarmen (I know it's not true but I needed a Hurley reference).
JD Drew is about as useless as Juliet's fertilization research.
Who appears in more games / episodes Jonathon Van Every or Boone?
Can Dice-K talk to his dead career like Miles does to dead people?
Kate or Heidi Watney? Tough one.
Can Tim Wakefield continue to beat back time Richard Alpert?

"We all everybody" How can I fit that one in?

I hope this ends well.

Sweep away the Angels, here come the Yanks

Looks like the Sox have righted the ship by sweeping the punchless Angels. By here come the Yankees.

I don't get why and how the schedule makers can have the Sox play two 0f their three home Yankee series before May 11th. Nevertheless, this weekend is a great opportunity for the Sox to take a series from the world champs. The last time we saw the New Yorkers, Red Sox Nation was unsure about what to expect from this group. Since those opening three games, the team has been a model of inconsistency. The Sox swept Toronto at the Rogers Centre, got swept at Camden Yards and swept the Angels at the Fens.

This weekend should be fun. Phil Hughes against Josh Beckett looks like the best match up. Hughes has been lights out this year. Becket needs to find his groove. CC Sabbathia vs Clay Buchholz on Saturday seems to favor the visitors. Sunday's hurlers are AJ Burnett and Jon Lester. Gotta like the the Sox here.

Something to look at is how well the Sox can limit the Yankee running game. Jason Varitek and Victor Martinez along with the pitching staff have made great strides.

Swept Away in Baltimore

After evening their overall record on the road in Toronto (and seemingly gaining some much needed momentum), the Sox get swept in Baltimore.

The painful part is the fact that all three games were winnable.

Friday night featured a one run loss where the bull pen (Bard, Ramirez) could not hold the lead.

Saturday night Dice-K was staked a 4-1 lead in his season debut and then imploded (anyone surprised?) in the fifth giving up six runs. Wake then gave up five runs in his two innings. Papi's two home runs wasted.

Today, we waste a very good start from Beckett. The only offense we could muster were solo home runs from Varitek and Drew.

The Angels now come to Boston. We are in desperate need of some kind of winning streak. The Rays and Yanks look like that may run away from the pack.