Boston Bonanza
Tonight represents one of the most exciting sports nights Boston has seen in quite some time. The Boston Celtics are playing game 3 of their playoff series, the Boston Bruins are playing game 4 of their playoff series and the Red Sox host the New York Yankees.
I don't have picture in picture technology so I am going to be forced into much channel changing. My left thumb should be pretty well worn out by the time the night is over.
Because this isn't CelticsCavaliers.com nor is it BruinsFlyers.com, I'll stick with some YankeesRedSox.com commentary.
The Red Sox are a game over .500 and trail first-place Tampa by 6.5 games and second-place NY by 5 games. The bad news is that that is really not how you want to start a season. The good news is that there are 133 games left.
Red Sox starting pitching has turned a corner led by Jon Lester. And the new additions, Adrian Beltre and Marco Scutaro have bit reasonably well too. Beltre hasn't been the defensive whiz we expected however and it just seems wrong to have him in the line-up, what with his free swinging ways.
When Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Cameron return, this team will be more complete offensively. Darnell McDonald and Bill Hall has been a capable fill-ins, but they'd be better suited for the bench.
If Mike Cameron cannot find his swing here, then a platoon with Jeremy Hermida (split aren't so hot in 2010, but have been in his career) might be in order.
Victor Martinez has really gotten off to a lousy start in 2010, not great timing for a player whose value is in his bat and who is in his walk year. If he cannot hit, he certainly can't fall back on his defense, so time to kick it in gear Victor.
Then we arrive at David Ortiz. He has 4 more home runs than he did at this time last year, but has been otherwise terrible. On my April 14th post, I suggested Terry Francona give him until May 1. If no results, platoon him with Lowell. And that seems to be exactly what he has done. If by June 1, Ortiz doesn't have healthy splits against righties, well then it might be time to send him packing.
Like all Red Sox vs. Yankees match-ups, this one is important. A sweep by the Red Sox means they are right back in the wild-card hunt, while a sweep by New York means things just got much harder. I'll be watching tonight, but I'll be watching 2 other games too.
