The Sox come into the weekend series on the upswing, having just swept four from the Angels. But, as Tyler Kepner notes, so far in 2010, it’s not the same old Red Sox:
“You have to have enough time to get into the season, usually a couple of months, before you can draw any conclusions,” General Manager Theo Epstein said. “I don’t think anyone here was drawing any conclusions; we were just acknowledging that we weren’t playing sound baseball. We were beating ourselves. We were making a handful of mistakes a game, basically not doing the little things the right way that collectively put us in a tough position to win ballgames.”
The Red Sox focused last winter on preventing runs, tightening their defense at several positions and spending $82.5 million on a five-year contract for starter John Lackey. But results have been hard to quantify.
Through Wednesday, Boston’s 4.63 earned run average was about a half-run higher than the A.L. average, and their fielders had committed 20 errors, the most in their division. Statistically, errors can be misleading; range is more important. But the first inning Thursday showed why the Red Sox tried to emphasize defense in the first place.
Oh, yeah, and then there’s this: the Rays, who were 32-49 on the road last year, as 12-1 away from home to start the season.
anyone see this? according to espn's rumor section (for some reason my insider subscription from like 2001 still hasn't expired- don't tell anyone):
When it comes to those so-called "unwritten rules," Dallas Braden is not done lecturing Alex Rodriguez.
Call him brazen or call him foolish, Braden is not backing down over A-Rod's decision to cut across the mound on his way back to first base during an April 22 game in Oakland.
In an interview to CSNBayArea.com Wednesday, the Oakland pitcher indicated that there could be a fight the next time the A's and Yankees meet. "There's things that are going to have to happen," said Braden. "Out of respect to my teammates, out of respect to the game."
The Yanks visit Oakland July 5-7 and then the A's come to the Bronx for a four-game series at the end of August.
Not only is Braden, who has just a 17-23 career record, not afraid to lecture A-Rod, he apparently thinks the Yankees' third baseman is listening. "I think he's probably garnered a new respect for the unwritten rules and people who hold them close to their game," Braden said.
[1] out of respect to my teammates, i might have to get them involved in a fight over my ocd
[1] haha i still have insider too and haven't paid for it in years.
the quote you have in the last paragraph is superb - yes, i am quite sure he's garnered a new respect for the unwritten rules.
i'd also love to find out who holds them close to their game - bwahhahahaha.
[1] Seems like he's asking for a 3-game suspension to me.