April Showers Bring Red Sox Updates

Yesterday was quite the sports-filled Saturday—it was the perfect storm of sports, if you will, with just about every single professional sport active in some way. A virtual buffet of sporting events to choose from on the boob tube, it made my head spin—from MLB action to the NFL Draft, NBA and NHL playoffs, WGC-Cadillac Match Play, the Kentucky Derby and, of course, the over-priced boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Spoiler alert: Mayweather and American Pharoah were winners!

But I'm not going to talk about any of those contests. I'm not even going to talk about the Red Sox series against the Yankees (and if you're a Sox fan, you know why!) I feel the need to recap the first month of the Red Sox season. Yeah... I know it's only April, but no matter how newborn the season may be, it's still important to have some success in these early days so as not to fall too far behind. Playing catch up is hard.

There are so many new faces on this Boston team, I still don't really know everyone—especially the pitchers (take away my fan card if you must.) I'm getting there, but I'm not going to lie, I need a cheat sheet. With new faces come new growing pains while these players get accustomed to Fenway Park and the big Boston stage. And as with every year, some will flourish, and some will flounder.

Let's take a gander at some of what's been happening with our beloved BoSox in the early days of the 2015 season:

The GOOD...

• Brock Holt "The Brock Star" is such a blast to watch. He only appeared in 14 games in April, but he hit .386. 
• Newcomer Pablo Sandoval has been a consistent bat. In 20 games, he has 24 hits, 12 runs scored and 11 RBI with a respectable .312 average.
• Welcome back to Boston, Hanley Ramirez! Hanley smashed 10 homers and drove in 22 in the month of April, tying him for the major league lead in both categories. If that stupid hairdo has anything to do with the home runs, keep it... even if it does make your helmet fall off every...damn...time.
• It appears that the Dustin Pedroia of pre-2014 is back. His average is just a few ticks under .300 and he has four home runs—so he's definitely on pace to beat his 2014 total of seven.
• Relievers Craig Breslow and Junichi Tazawa seem to be the only real bright spots in the bullpen, both posting ERAs of 1.38 and 1.69 respectively.

The BAD...

• Clay Buchholz, Rick Porcello, Justin Masterson and Joe Kelly. This team is so blatantly missing an ace—it makes me feel a little stabby. Kelly is the only starter to have a sub-5.00 ERA and even then, just barely. 
• Big Papi's .236 average is disappointing. Even though he's notoriously bad in April, I still think he needs to spend less time on his hairstyle and beard grooming and more time in the batting cages.
• After destroying the ball in spring training with a .429 average, Mookie Betts has gotten off to a slow start, batting only .230 in April. Maybe he has Big Papi's disease.
• Pablo Sandoval isn't going to win any Gold Gloves at third base with three errors this past month.

The UGLY...

• Wade Miley. Need I say more? This guy pitches like a champ one start and then gives up a hundred runs in his next. His ERA in April was 8.62 and in four starts, he only pitched 15.2 innings. I'll save you from having to do the math... that's not even four innings per start. Geez...
• The pitching staff as a whole. They are currently LAST in the major leagues in ERA. That's slightly embarrassing.
• Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava. Batting .162 and .154 respectively with a combined one home run and 10 RBIs. 
• Shane Victorino is injured again so I won't piss on his stats too much. Even though in 12 starts, he IS hitting only .143. Come on.

So overall April was just meh. The Red Sox went 12-10 while scoring the most runs (119) in the majors which speaks volumes for how bad their pitching is (113 earned runs allowed, also leads majors!) That's a lot of close, high scoring games! They really have some work to do—I'm giving you the side eye, pitching staff—if they're going to make my World Series prediction come true. I don't like to be wrong.

Bombs Away! Red Sox Rout Phillies in Season Opener.

HOT DAMN! Now that's how to kick off a season, boys! Another Opening Day in the books and I'm really liking what I'm seeing—especially considering the dismalness of 2014. This game had it all—stunning offense, some awesome defensive plays and lights out pitching. I don't even know where to start!

It was a beautiful 72˚ day in Philadelphia (major jealousy!) for the official start of the 2015 season for both teams. I'll admit, I was a bit nervous with the ever-dangerous Cole Hamels on the mound, not entirely sure how Clay Buchholz would match up. My worry was all for nothing. Cole sucked, Clay did not. Cole managed to last just five innings and left down 4-0. Clay did not. Buchholz was masterful—in seven innings, he allowed just three hits, no runs and he struck out nine. I'll take that any and every day of the week.

And the Red Sox lineup? Well, they did something the Sox couldn't manage all of last season... blasting FIVE home runs. Yes, FIVE. Lucky for the Phillies' self-esteem, four of those home runs were solo shots. Well, that is until Hanley "the other dreadlocked" Ramirez jacked a grand slam off the left-field foul pole in the top of the ninth to put the game out of reach at 8-0! And just for the record, he hit that slam with a broken freakin' bat. Duuuuuuuuuude!

Dustin Pedroia had much to prove coming into this season. Pedey was not Pedey last year recording his lowest full-season batting average (.278) with just seven home runs. He's nearly a third of the way to that total after just one game after belting two homers and going 3-for-5 in the effort. He also flashed some leather at second base, and yes, got that uniform dirty. Does Pedroia ever finish a game with a clean uniform? Even with a day off, I bet he still finds a way to get that thing dirty.

Mookie Betts rounded out the bomb brigade with a solo shot in the third. This kid has some quick hands—so quick, I barely saw him swing the bat. I've probably said this before, but I see good things for this 22-year-old youngster. I'm happy to see the Sox giving him an Opening Day start—although there probably would've been some seriously raised eyebrows if they didn't after he tore up the spring hitting .429 in 56 at-bats.

I followed the Red Sox and other players on Instagram over the spring and it truly looked like a group of men that enjoy each other's company, love having some fun and try not to take themselves too seriously. I love that. And I love this video more than words can describe! I also think Big Papi and Hanley Ramirez might love each other too (dancing to That's Amore between innings!)

I agree Pete... I love them already too! (video from here)

Oh, it's a good day today. Not only is baseball back but the Red Sox have not left me shaking my head wondering if it's going to be another long and tedious season. I know it's just game one of 162, but I'm determined to keep the glass half full.

One Week and Counting: Opening Day is Almost Here!

Monday, April 6th. It's a day I've been looking forward to all winter—all five months of frigid temperatures and endless snowstorms. But now, even as the temps struggle to make it out of the 30s, I can see baseball season. I can see the real sign that spring is actually here no matter what the thermometer or the snow in my yard says. And I will surely argue with myself that morning of April 6th whether or not I feel well enough to go to work.

My hope for this season? A respectable finish would be nice. You know... sort of like that season they had in 2013 and preferably not the two that flanked it. I don't like last place. I especially don't like last place living with a Yankees fan. There's no greater pain.

I have no idea what the Red Sox starting rotation is going to look like this year—especially with all these new faces. I do know that Clay Buchholz has been named Opening Day starter and after last season's 5.34 ERA, my confidence in the lanky righthander is not high. Former Tiger, Rick Porcello, seems to have the best 2014 resume of the bunch with a 3.43 ERA. And Justin Masterson returns to the Sox after spending time with the Indians and Cardinals, but despite an All-Star appearance in 2013, in 2014 he was worse than Buchholz with a 5.88 ERA. So basically... oy.

The Sox picked up a couple of big offensive threats in the off-season in Hanley Ramirez (who came up through the Red Sox farm system a decade ago) and Pablo Sandoval. Ramirez has had a respectable spring, but Sandoval hasn't impressed me too much. Mike Napoli has been on fire and as usual, Jackie Bradley Jr. is tearing up the spring. What is it about Bradley Jr. and his spring training successes? And will he carry that spark north to Boston? Because last year he was sort of a giant disappointment.

But Mookie Betts, dude. MOOKIE BETTS!! If the Sox don't find a spot for him to play regularly, I'm going to have someone's head. Seriously. (Unless, of course, he has JBJ disease and can't seem to play in the regular season.) This guy has been on hotter than fire. He's been like molten lava. He's logged among the most at bats during the pre-season and boasts a .452 average with 19 hits, seven doubles, two triples and two home runs—one of which was an inside-the-park jobby. He has scored 11 runs and has an OPS of 1.334. DUDE! Mookie for President!

So the jury is still out on how I feel about this team. Can Pedroia bounce back from a very un-Pedroia-like 2014? Can Big Papi still smash the ball without his ever growing ego getting in the way? What will the Sox do to solve their latest complication behind the plate with Christian Vazquez going out for the season? And most importantly, what are they going to do to stay out of the cellar so I can maintain my sanity?

Now I just sit and wait and wring my hands until the final 25-man roster is named and I become that crazed Boston fan who is never satisfied with any decision they make. I will also to continue to hope for a team that respects each other enough to not end up in last place again. A team that plays for the parade. I really liked that team.

Day 222: Lots of Accolades for the 2013 Red Sox

The World Series Champion Boston Red Sox have some more awards headed their way and rightfully so. It would've been odd if no one on this team won any type of individual honors because these guys were just awesome this past season. So in addition to the big shiny World Series trophy and David Ortiz's flashy MVP award, here are some others:

• Dustin Pedroia and Shane Victorino each won Gold Gloves. But I already wrote about that here.

• David Ortiz won a Silver Slugger Award. This is the sixth time Big Papi has collected this honor. The Silver Slugger is an offensive award that goes to the best player at each position and Ortiz took home the prize for designated hitter. He hit .309 with 30 home runs and 109 RBIs during the remarkable 2013 season. And that doesn't even include his postseason numbers. His stats surprised many after an achilles injury kept him sidelined for the first couple weeks of the season. No one knew just what Papi would be capable of once he returned to the lineup. Needless to say, I think both the organization and fans were pleased with his performance!

• Dustin Pedroia gained recognition for his outstanding defense on Thursday as he was named American League's Defensive Player of the Year by Wilson. This coming just a week after he collected his third Gold Glove. Pedroia had his best year yet in the field with a .993 fielding percentage in 159 games. His power numbers were down at the plate, but he still hit .301 for the season—and all this with a bum thumb which he'll be having surgery on next week to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament. Just proves how nails tough this little guy is!!

• David Ortiz finishes third in Boston's mayoral race. No really, he did. Reports have Ortiz receiving enough write-in votes to place him in third place. He was quite far behind both the winner and runner up, but at this point in his career with the Red Sox, and his insane play in the World Series, it's no wonder the people of Boston would pick him to lead them. It makes sense... wasn't it Ortiz that proclaimed: "This is our f#%king city!"

John Farrell is a finalist for AL Manager of the Year, but that award has not been given out yet. If he doesn't win, I'll be shocked! He almost has to win after what he did with this bunch of guys. Plus, Sporting News already named him their Manager of the Year.

Day 213: Red Sox Collect Two Gold Gloves

It's going to be a short post tonight... I'm too excited for the game to focus on anything for very long! I can make short jokes because I'm short. I know the feeling of being in a crowd and smelling only a sea of armpits. It's not fun. So I had to laugh when the Gold Glove Awards were handed out today and the Red Sox collected two—both going to a couple of the more vertically challenged members of the team. GO SHORTIES!

Dustin Pedroia (5'8") picked up his third fielding award for second base. To watch Pedroia patrol the right side of the infield is a thing of beauty...if you find a ridiculously dirty uniform beautiful...which I do. To me, a dirty uniform says I played hard and that's really what it's all about.

Pedey previously won in 2008 and 2011. This season, he played 1,398 innings (career high) with 688 chances and just five errors. His .993 fielding percentage was also the highest of his career. Before Pedroia won in 2008, the last Red Sox second baseman to win was Doug Griffin in 1972—you know it's a loooong time ago when I don't even remember the guy!

Shane Victorino (5'9") collected his fourth Gold Glove—this time for his stellar work in right field. His first three were won with the Philadelphia Phillies. Normally a center fielder, Victorino showed real versatility moving over to the tricky right field of Fenway Park and has played it almost flawlessly. He became the first right fielder to win since Dwight Evans in 1985—pretty big shoes to fill.

Victorino finished with 913.1 innings played and 276 chances. He made nine outfield assists and only three errors for a .989 fielding percentage. He also turned three double plays. Shane's quick hustle on hits to right field keeps most base runners at first base.

Congratulations to Pedroia and Victorino! Short people got all kinds of reasons to live!

Day 115: Red Sox Lock Up Dustin Pedroia For A Long Time

Normally I'm not a fan of long-term deals in baseball. So much can happen to a player over the years to make him no longer worth the big money thrown at him in his prime. Look at Alex Rodriguez. They Yankees still owe him somewhere in the vicinity of $90 million and do you remember the last time you saw him play in a game? And who knows if he ever will again with the recent developments in the PED scandal.

If a player can get the big deal, it's great for them—provides security for the future. It also provides them with a comfort level that often makes them lazy and sucky. It's generally never good for the team.

When I heard the Red Sox offered Dustin Pedroia a contract extension that will keep him in Boston through the 2021 season, I was thrilled. According to ESPN Boston, Dustin Pedroia has officially become the first second baseman in Major League Baseball to cross the $100 million threshold—at least until Robinson Cano hits the free agent market.

Originally, it was reported the deal was seven years for $100 million, but the now it looks as if the Sox reworked the terms for next year which is the final year of his existing contract, making the new deal an eight-year, $110 million agreement.

Not bad for the little guy from northern California who is extremely pleased to be staying in Boston for the long haul.

"It was no-brainer to me. This is the place where they gave me an opportunity to play professional baseball," Pedroia said. "I want to make sure I do all I can to prove those people who took a chance on me right. I'm not here to set markets or do anything like that. I want to make sure the team I'm on wins more games than the other teams' second basemen. That's the way I look at it. Our job is to win games and that's what I play for."

This is a huge move for the Red Sox who have been burned numerous times on these huge multi-year contracts like Carl Crawford and JD Drew and Daisuke Matsuzaka. But Pedroia... he's a special player. The grit and determination this guy plays with each and every game makes him one of the most enjoyable competitors in the league to watch. He rarely finishes a game with a clean uniform and he grows a killer beard.

The 29-year-old has been the Red Sox full-time second baseman since 2007. He's a career .303 hitter, and other than an injury-shortened year in 2010, has been fairly consistent at the plate and in the field every year. Pedroia was voted Rookie of the Year in 2007 and named the AL MVP in 2008. He has also been selected to the All-Star team four times and he won a Gold Glove in 2011.

If you ask me, this is one of the smartest moves the Red Sox have made in a long time. I do love to watch him play!