West Coasta'
Do you realize that after the Red Sox finish this current road trip this Wednesday in Oakland, they return to the West Coast only one other time during the regular season? And that happens May 12-17 with another stint in Anaheim and then to Seattle.
After that? Nothing, no more 10:05pm starts. That's amazing. I guess the MLB schedulers are giving them a break for their 2008 start in Japan.
Either way, the trip back to Anaheim should prove interesting giving Sunday's fireworks.
Week 1 in the books and the Red Sox are in last place in the AL East. Small sample size and nothing to worry about, right? Right. That said, the Red Sox are trending into some worrisome areas.
First off, where's the beef? The Red Sox, through Sunday, have sported a .242/.329/.434 (avg/obp/slg). Where's the filth? Red Sox pitchers have posted a 5.02 ERA and a 1.54 Whip (That's 1.54 hits and/or walks per inning pitched).
Above represents a bad combo.
Not to ring any alarms, but a few thoughts: Jacoby Ellsbury had a somewhat disappointing year in 2008. So far in 2009 he is off to a...dud. Ellsbury has 2 types of swings, the just get my bat on the ball so I can run like crud or the swing for the fences cut.
The latter swing is slow, that is to say it is a more deliberate swing and seems to result in balls being fouled off to the 3rd base side. His former swing is more like a reactionary swing. That's the swing I want to see. Ellsbury should just try to put the ball in play and use his legs to get on base. Keep it simple. If Ellsbury cannot figure out a way on base at least 35 % of the time (so far at 26.9% i n2009), the Red Sox will need to either consider moving him to 9 in the order or finding an alternative.
Pedroia is off to a very slow start, as is Mike Lowell, David Ortiz, Jed Lowrie (1 hit) and JD Drew. The good news is that's only 5/9 of the line-up...um...
As for the arms, let me give them all another turn in the rotation.
But let me rant of a moment. Josh Beckett, the Red Sox opening day starter, has posted a 4.11 ERA since joining Boston. 4.11. The MLB average ERA from 2006-2008 (he joined the Red Sox in 2006) is 4.43. I guess my point is that despite the fact that Beckett has enormous talent, he is frustratingly inconsistent. I don't have too much more to say about Beckett at present other than I expect my #1 starter to not be inconsistent. Be good far more often than not, ok.
Off to Oakland for 2 late night starts and a late afternoon start. In other words, 3 games you'll struggle to watch live.
