All I have to say is that if every Red Sox game in 2008 is like this game, then we're going to be in for a long season! What an opening morning for the Red Sox as they came back from the dead more then once to barely overtake the Oakland Athletics in extra innings 6-5. The game started off very shaky for the Red Sox as Daisuke Matsuzaka looked ineffective and lost on a familiar mound, and in a familiar land.
I was up and at them early with my father (who's visiting for a few days) and we both agreed that either Dice-K was too nervous in the start, or wasn't warmed up enough. He reminds me a lot of Pedro in his final year with the Sox who always had a rough first couple of innings but would settle down, but often a little too late. I'll give Matsuzaka credit for only allowing two runs in his rough five innings pitched. I'll also say he looked pretty darn good his last couple of innings, but his pitch count was already up (he went 30/30 the first two innings) and he effectively pitched himself out of the game.
I wrote earlier this morning that I was surprised to see Brandon Moss get the start, and boy am I glad he got that start! Moss went 2/5 with 2 RBI and 1 run to help lead the charge of the Red Sox morning comeback. His ninth inning homerun (the first of his career) completely, and finally changed the momentum for the game and set things into motion for the Sox. It was only a few weeks ago that I was saying that Brandon Moss was a player to watch this season, and man did that ring true today.
And how about Manny Ramirez? His 4 RBI day truly helped catapult the Sox this morning. And in true Manny fashion, he did with his unique brand of style in extra innings to help drive in the go-ahead runs. I'm telling you, I'm really liking API Manny, and really hope we hear his name in the MVP circles of '08.
The only true black cloud on the day was Jonathan Papelbon's performance which was very Un-Papelbon. But I'm not worrying about anything too much because this is one day, and one game, and our middle relief did an unheralded excellent job. Great way to start the year, 161 more to go!
Comments