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The best word to describe Erik Bedard’s first start in a Red Sox uniform: encouraging.
That’s certainly a good jumping off point for both the individual and for the collective.
Bedard needed 70 pitches to get through five innings of work, but fanned five Indians hitters and exited Thursday night’s game with a 3-3 tie before the Sox bullpen dropped the ball in a 7-3 loss to Cleveland at Fenway Park.
“It’s hard to sit up here after a loss and say we’re excited, but I thought he pitched pretty well,” Terry Francona said of Bedard. “I thought his [pitching] line was certainly worse than he pitched. I thought he pitched a really professional game. He cuts his fastball, good feel for his breaking ball, good change up, he holds runners and throws strikes. I think that will all improve as he gets a few innings under his belt.”
CSNNE - Bedard's Red Sox debut a solid one
Let's all just assume for a moment that Bedard is going to remain healthy for the rest of the year. It's a big leap I'm asking you to take, I know, but let's just take it together. We believe (because Tito told us to, and, well, it's common sense) that Bedard is going to only improve as he gets a few starts under his belt and gets comfortable on the mound. If that's true - if this 5 inning, 3 run, 6 K, 0 BB outing, against a solid Cleveland lineup is the first building block for Bedard - then I think Theo's hit a home run.
Before you pounce, I don't mean that this guy is going to go on a tear a la CC in Milwaukee back in '08. But if we now have a legit #3 starter -- someone other than Lackey and Beckett that we can count on every 5 days to give us a chance to win -- that's going to be the difference between making a deep playoff run and getting bounced in the first round.
And if he does give us that production, the meager price we paid for him starts to look like a steal.
On Page 2, there's kind of a big series this weekend
Not only are the Yankees back, but if you stop and think about it, it’s a little creepy how they won’t go away.
The Bronx lurkers have set up camp in a swanky downtown hotel this weekend, breathing down the Red Sox [team stats]’ necks with even more heat than usual. They’re right on the Sox’ backs, like some straphanger on the T who’s standing just a little too close and staring just a little too hard.
After all, we know how the Red Sox earned their personal space atop the AL East.
They began their journey back from that awful 0-6 start by beating the Yankees in their home opener. They’ve taken 8-of-9 against New York overall this season, outscoring them 60-37.
The games have been laughers, an opportunity for the Sox to flex their deep and well-balanced attack at the expense of their rivals.
Red Sox cleat marks, after all, always have looked sharp on pinstripes.
Herald - Yankees throw Red Sox a curve
Last night's loss, coupled with the Yankees win over the White Sox, and we're tied for 1st place in the division again.
The Sox are 8-1 against New York this season, but haven't faced the Bombers since June 9th. Despite all the chest pounding going on in the above quoted text, a lot has changed since then. The Yankees pitching staff, which looked laughable on paper, is somehow not only competitive, but by using a cocktail of stem cells, 5 hour energy drinks and HGH*, they've managed to not only beat expectations, but be pretty damn good.
The Sox rotation, on the other hand, which looked unbeatable on paper, are mostly hanging out in the doctor's office or stinking it up on the mound. To our credit, despite all the woes, we still lay claim for first place.
And if you look at all the runs we've scored in those 9 games (60), the Yankees staff may be having a solid season, but they're not having it when they face us. I don't think we're going to sweep them for the 3rd straight series (I can't envision any scenario where Lackey outpitches CC that doesn't involve aliens, government conspiracies and an overturned semi stocked with Cap'n Crunch), but I like our chances the other two games.
Here's to being in sole possesion of first come Monday. Again.
*probably
Rest of the links:
CSNNE - Game Story: August 4: Indians 7, Red Sox 3 | Bullpen falls flat, rested for Yankees series | Herald - Jonathan Papelbon back to his old self | Red Sox bullpen left at a loss | Erik Bedard does A-OK, but Red Sox fall to Indians | Globe - Masterson a hit when they miss | At arm’s length | WEEI - Drew (shoulder) has yet to swing bat | Bullpen, not Bedard, blows it for Sox | NESN - David Ortiz Knows How Much People Overvalue Round Numbers When It Comes to Stats
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