So I guess there was a brawl last night. I'm not sure I'm going to actually call it a brawl. Do you guys remember that pseudo fight from Me Myself & Irene, in the parking lot of the gas station? That's closer to what it was like, than a "brawl."
Rick Porcello, a 20 year old, toed the slab at Fenway for the first time. In the top of the first, the Superstar of his lineup (Cabrera) got plunked CLEARLY not on purpose, with 2 runners on in his first start of his major league career. In the bottom frame, he took it upon himself to go up and in on Victor Martinez after getting two quick outs. While it did stand V-Mart up, and induced a stare down, he eventually got him to strike out. The point was made, he threw some chin music, made it known that he wanted to protect his slugger and that was honorable. Even had he have hit Victor I would have been OK with it.
What I did have a problem with was that first pitch coming high, and in on Kevin Youkilis. For a man that has had only hit one batter ALL YEAR to that point, he clearly has a surgeons' precision on the mound. Youkilis also getting dotted the night before had enough. He looked towards the dugout quickly and then charged the mound. At first Porcello had the dear in the headlights look, and then did a "flying Luchador" like move to spin throw Youkilis onto the ground.
I have however come to a revelation. Mike Lowell needs to play. It does stem somewhat from the 2 dingers he hit last night. That being said here is what needs to happen going forward. Martinez needs to catch Penny, Buchholz, Wakefield, Tazawa, insert every pitcher OTHER THAN Lester and Beckett. Varitek only plays when the aces pitch. Youkilis slides back to his Gold Glove winning position and Lowell plays third. On the days that Varitek catches then Lowell platoons with Papi, not necessarily righty/lefty, but based on career numbers if someone hits well against a pitcher whether it's a right OR a lefty that person plays. But Varitek's bat is inducing an automatic out in the 7/8 hole and our best lineup most days is without him in it.
The verdict on Junichi Tazawa? I LOVE HIM! Had Nick "Stone Hands" Green have been able to start the front end of an inning ending double play twice, he could have gotten out of the inning unscathed and saved himself about 20 pitches, in turn pitched deeper into the ball game. I like this kid, he brings a LOT to the table, and I look forward to seeing him dissect that Texas Ranger Lineup that Smoltz couldn't finish the deal on. DOMO ARIGATO JUNICHI-SAN.
To show all you BOTNers that I'm not oblivious to the rest of the baseball world, and that I know a thing or two about other teams/players in Major League Baseball. Here's something to wet your whistle.
If I can say one thing about the White Sox GM Kenny Williams, He has BALLS. Apparently so does Lady Gaga. He trades 4 minor leaguers for Jake Peavy who despite being on the DL till the end of August is one of the top 10 pitchers in baseball to join a rotation with Mark Buehrle, and now he has put in a waiver claim AND won the rights to the contract heavy Alex Rios.
Alex Rios, despite underperforming with a gargantuan contract, is a huge pick up for the White Sox and I am recognizing them now as the AL Central powerhouse. Enough about the Tigers. Yes, they have Verlander and Cabrera and Edwin Jackson has over performed. But Magglio Ordonez is a shell of his self, Brandon Inge is NOT a home run threat I don't care what Karl Ravech tells me, and Clete Thomas is not a major league ball player (remnants of Benny Agbayani come to mind.)
Kenny Williams is building a machine for an offense with a middle of the order comprised of Carlos Quentin, Alexei Ramirez, Jim Thome, Gordon Beckham, Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, and now Alex Rios. Rios has not yet peaked as a ballplayer and is going to be one of the most underrated waiver claims in recent years. Is it a risk? Of course it's a risk but he's still just 28 and has PLENTY of good baseball years left.
This team while being very equipped for a "win now" season is also setting themselves up nicely with ONLY 61 million in committed salary next year. Jake Peavy gives them the back end of a 1-2 punch to combat with the likes of Beckett-Lester, Sabathia-Burnett, Garza-Shields, Lincecum-Cain, Billingsley-Kershaw, and Hamels-Lee. Peavy, when healthy, is a Roy Halladay-esque pitcher. He wants to win first and foremost, can throw upwards of 130 pitches every time he's out there and still shut down good offenses with 4+ pitches.
The Red Sox have not yet played the White Sox this year and all I know is that Rios is a notorious Boston Killer. These two moves could make them a VERY formidable opponent in the playoffs.
Stay Tuned
Ryan
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