Tonight my four-month-old and I (sans daddy) are hunkered down on the couch watching the Sox play Boston College. For me, this is the first pre-season Red Sox game I have ever watched. For her, this is the first baseball game ever, although had circumstances been as Dave imagined, the Sox would have played ball a little later and our daughter would have arrived a little earlier last October. And he would have watched both from the delivery room. (He made sure NESN and Fox were available during the hospital tour.)
Anyway, she fell asleep innings ago, but I am intrigued. This is not the blow-out that had Sox staffer Ino Guerrero at bat twice in this afternoon's game against Northeastern. The Sox beat Northeastern 15-0, but the score against B.C. is only 2-0 in the fourth.
Whatever the score, preseason ball is a blue-hat hopeful's dream. It's basically a pitcher expo with each pitcher taking an inning. With such a huge bullpen this year, seeing half the pitching roster in one game is really helpful. Boof Bonser was the standout (and not because of that fun nickname turned legal name). He didn't pitch in the majors last year because of a shoulder injury and was a bullpen pitcher in Minnesota in 2008.
This year, Bonser is dealing with a blister on his index finger. The run-down on other injured players: Matsuzaka's sore back seems to be doing better and he will throw a side session, which can also be referred to as throwing a bullpen, which should be referred to as a pitcher having a full practice; Mike Cameron, who has had a sore groin, will likely play in Friday's game against the Twins; J.D. Drew, who has eased into training following shoulder surgery, will also likely play on Friday.
Speaking of weird baseball terms that contain the word "side", Casey Kelly retired the side (got three outs thus allowing the other side to take the field) on ten pitches and 7 strikes in the opening inning of Sox game play for the 2010 season. However, the arguable star of the game was Dan Zehr, the pitcher from Northeastern. He threw a scoreless inning against the Sox.
It will be interesting to read tomorrow what the pro's are thinking about likely trades and draft picks and hear their forecasts for the season. For now, Baby's hungry. And my daughter could use a bottle too. (Ha!)
Posts
I am really enjoying your blog. You have a great, entertaining writing style. = )
ReplyDeleteI was born in SoCal, but have been in Boston area for 8 years now, and became quite the enthusiastic Red Sox fan when they won in 2004, Sox mania is rather contagious, haha. But I too am semi pinkhatted, haha, and am learning much from your research. Keep up the great work, looking forward to following you all season. Thank you!
~Angie
I'm a Twins fan, and there's usually no love lost between me and your Sox, but Boof Bonser has been my favorite player since 2006 and I'm going through major withdrawal...so I'll be throwing a little love Boston's way this year as long as he makes the roster!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your transformation to full-on baseball addict this year--Life really is better that way! I'm adding your blog to my blogroll.
I also am looking forward to following your blog during the season. I am a life-long fan of the Sawx and I have converted my wife to (if not a fanatic a fan of) the Red Sox from the Orioles (much to the dismay of her family). I also have a small child who is a "baseball-lover-in-training". We don't live in the Boston area, so I look forward to living vicariously through you and your family. Welcome to the "Nation".
ReplyDelete