Hitting two game winning home runs and a two run home run against the rival Yankees is something o be proud of. After this impressive week of performances Manny Ramirez remains only four long balls short of a Hall of Fame lock-in of 500 home runs. “I’m a pure hitter,” Ramirez has said. “I could be whatever I wanted to be. If I wanted to hit 50 home runs or 40 home runs every year, I’d do it. But I don’t want to. I want to be a pure hitter and hit it to all fields.” As of Sunday Ramirez leads the majors in nine go-ahead RBIs and six game-winning RBIs. The weekly award is Manny’s sixteenth of his career.
“I wish they would put a fifth umpire in the booth,” said Francona. “I think it would be a great teaching tool. If they want to have some of these younger umpires come into the league and have a rotation, it would give them the built-in day off, but then on that day off, they’re seeing what we’re seeing,” Francona continued. “And they could also interject in the game if they wanted to in a way that would be simple.” This quote is in reponse to the Jason Varitek “homer” that wasnt called such by the ump crew. Although the ball went over the yellow line, indicating a home run, the umpires ruled it a double. After viewing several replays on television is was clear to everyone that it should have been a home run. The idea is noble, but not expected to go anywhere with the suits of MLB.
In 2007 the Sox were second in total payroll behind..who else, but the New York Yankees, at a staggering 209.1 million. Although, in 2008 the Sox fell to fourth in payroll. The Tigers and Mets surpassed them by spending 138.7 and 138.3 million respectivily. Last year the Sox spent 143.026 million and this year it fell to a measly 133.4 million. The average salary in MLB is three million and the Sox have fourteen players of which fall in this category. Manny Ramirez, arguable the best right handed hitter in the American League, makes 18.9 million..a year!! Money well spent because after years and years of suffering the Sox have won two of the past four world series rings.
The Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis, set a brand new record for consecutive games played without committing an error. Youky, as he is so affectionatly called, passed Steve Garvey in playing his 194th consecutive game at first without an error. After the Sox win, each player signed the base and Youkilis will place the base in his home. “I thank the Oakland A’s for giving me the base just as a memory to keep around the house and something cool to have in the collection,” said Youkilis. “It’s a great thing just to have that to put in the house, put it on display. It’s an achievement that you never set out to do, but it happened, and it’s great to have.” Youky hopes to continue the streak Friday when the Sox visit Toronto.
Red Sox won their second of two against the A’s in Oakland Wednesday. David Ortiz entered the game going 0-12 at the plate, but soon broke free of this slow start, hitting a single, then a two run home run off former Sox pitcher Alan Embree. Jason Varitek also went deep to sure up Jon Lester’s win. Lester held the A’s scoreless and now the team heads to Toronto to face the dangerous Blue Jays.
Daisuke Matsuzaka who started the Red Sox opening game in his homeland of Tokyo, pitched the opener again Tuesday night. Although this opener was in the states. The Sox once again squared off against the A’s in Oakland, and Dice-K looked great. He pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up only one run. “It would have been nice to have been able to pitch like this back at the Tokyo Dome,” Matsuzaka told reporters through an interpreter.
Billy Consolo was among baseball’s first “bonus babies.” This simply means that the player made the incredible leap straight from high school to professional diamond. Mr. Consolo died Thursday from an apparent heart attack. Consolo was a graduate of the class of 1953 from Dorsey High in L.A. He then signed with the Sox for a total of $4,000. Billy Consolo was not a great players by any means but was a well liked guy and was known for his outlandish story telling capabilities. He played for many teams besides Boston; including the Twins, Phillies, Angels, and the Kansas City A’s.
The signing of Japanes player Terumasa Matsuo is not nearly as huge as when they nabbed Daisuke Matsuzaka or even Hideki Okajima, but he should help sure up a phenomenal pitching staff in ‘08. Matsuo was MVP of his league for which he played on the Kagawa Olive Guyners. He was 15-3, recorded 159 k’s, and a carried a tiny 1.72 ERA. He will no join the big boys just yet; he is off for an extended spring training program in Florida.
One week after opening the 2008 baseball season is Japan the Boston Red Sox and Oakland A’s will play this opening night here in the states. The teams split the two game series in Tokyo with both teams playing fairly well. After much rest on the long trip back and some jet lag being felt by all, both teams are more than eager to get going once again. When the teams take the field Tuesday night in Oakland, it will be the same pitchers who faced off in the opener: Joe Blanton for Oakland against Daisuke Matsuzaka.
With four solid starting pitchers in place, the fifth and final spot is still up for debate. Bartolo Colon who was picked up by the Sox this off season is bidding for that spot. Colon pitched four innings against the Dodgers and looked promising and is now in the lead to grab the open spot. He struck out four of the first seven batters faced and didn’t relinquish a hit until the third inning. Bartolo will go down to the minors and pitch the opener for Pawtucket and hope for a good outing. If all goes accordingly he will be penciled in as the fifth starter for the defending world champs.
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