DIAMONDS AND CARBON MAY 11, 2010

This weekend’s Yankees – BoSox series revealed the flaws in the diamond work of the all too hospitable hosts. Saturday afternoon Clay Buchholz struggled against the Bronx Bombers, who like to take walks. Buchholz gave up 9 hits and 5 bases on balls in his 5 innings (NY had 10 walks in the game!). Not a recipe for a winner going against CC Sabathia.

Friday night Josh Beckett also gave up 9 hits in 5 innings (5 1/3). Oh and 3 walks. Can’t win that way. The Bad Beckett hasn’t given way yet to the Good Josh. He will.

The one good pitching performance was by Jon Lester who saved Sox fans from serious stress had the Yanks swept. Lester’s recipe was 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks in 7 innings, a quality start. Those starts by young Buchholz and Jacked Up Josh were not quality starts and added coal to the barbequing done by the Yankees.

Other carbon performances so far have been: Victor Martinez, who can’t throw out anyone faster than Ty Wigginton. Vic is in a contract year and is hitting .250. He’s up to 17 RBI (and 3 HR)

David Ortiz, who’s batting .185 (4 HRs and 11 RBI). Ortiz has gone from Big Papi to Big Puppy, leashed by opposing pitchers and defensive schemes. I’d give Ortiz until the end of May and hope the weather and his swing improve. Tough to see a star burn out.

The Boston bullpen not named Papelbon, DelCarmen and Okajima. While Daniel Bard has a very good ERA of 3.00, Saturday he allowed 3 inherited runners to score. Bard has blown 3 saves and given up 3 homers, showing he is not ready to be the heir apparent to Pap’s closer role just yet.

Scott Schoeneweis isn’t long for this team with an 8.76 ERA. Ramon S. Ramirez appears to have a minor arm injury but a major problem with his 5.93 ERA. Scott Atchison 6.10 ERA is in Pawtucket (1.59 ERA) as are relievers Joe Nelson (2-1, 1.93), Dustin Richardson (1-0, 2.20) and Robert Manuel 2-0, 2.04). Richardson is the only lefty amongst them, which may be the only reason that LHP Schoeneweis still is on the roster. Oh and Wakefield is in the bullpen because Boston had no where else to stash him. Wake can be the long man but the situation is hardly ideal. Right now Saito and Wagner (both with Atlanta) would look good.

Red Sox should soon benefit from the returns of Mike Cameron (rehabbing in Pawtucket) and Jacoby Ellsbury. The Sox could still use a big stick in the cleanup spot. Is it too soon to get Adrian Gonzalez? Will San Diego part with him given that they are in first place? I noticed that Peter Gammons mentioned the Astros’ Lance Berkman.

Personally I’d like to see the Sox hornswoggle the Mets out of Jason Bay, who hasn’t taken off yet. It would take Reddick, and a couple others but I’d try to do it.

The Red Sox might want to obtain another veteran reliever who can get a couple crucial outs. Preferably left-handed. Where’s Jesse Orosco?

There have been a few early jewels for the Red Sox. Jeremy Hermida shines brightest Hermida has gotten more playing time because of the Cam and Jacoby injuries and has delivered 4 HRs and 19 RBI. That’s as many RBI as JD and Beltre and more than Youk (16). Only Pedroia (23) has more. Darnell McDonald’s 3 HRS and 10 RBI is runner-up

BULLETS • Monday I got to see the PawSox play the Gwinnett Braves. Atlanta Braves fan Ted Bates of Section 8 was loudly rooting for the Braves, who won 3-2 in Mike Cameron’s PawSox debut (1hit, 1 walk). Daniel Nava made a great diving catch in left but got picked off 1B at a crucial time. Learning the game.

• According to Steve Hyder’s blog at Pawsox.com Daniel Nava left tickets for ESPN’s Erin Andrews when the team played in Charlotte. Nava said he was emulating Tony Romo who left tix for Jessica Simpson before he knew her.

• Ivan ‘Pudge’ Rodriguez is catching for the Washington Nationals now. Pudge is batting .393, has 13 RBI, and just stole his second base of the season (against the Mets’ Rod Barajas).

• Speaking of catchers, George Kottaras, who was Pawtucket’s catcher and then got some face time in the Bigs after injuries, is now the starting catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers and manager (and ex-PawSox skipper) Ken Macha.

• Rookie sensation SS Starlin Castro got off to a blast offensively with the Cubs in his debut Friday. Starlin hit a 3-run homer in his first at bat and had 6 RBI for the game. However, on Monday Starlin made 3 errors in the game and now has 4 on the season.

• Lars Anderson has been promoted to Pawtucket. Lars is batting .294 with 8 RBI. In 11 games. That’s pretty good production. He dropped a pop up off 1B Monday night.

E-MAIL

Jim: 1959 — yanks finished third — traded for roger maris — won the next five pennants in a row. it was tough to be a yankees fan in those days, coming off five pennants in a row and settling for third. it was a long summer. also, losing the world series every other year really sucked. nowadays the kids call it an “outlier.” sox are due for one of those. tell theo to trade for gonzo, the next roger maris. – Terry N.

Terry: Then in 1960 the Yanks won the AL and I rooted for them vs. the Pirates, the one and only time I did that.

You Yankee fans got spoiled over those years.

An ‘outlier’? Sounds like some creature in the Outback.

The Red Sox are bouncing back (w/out Jacoby and Cam). Their relief staff still needs work and Adrian Gonzalez would be a welcome addition. - Z

Sox are coming together, and will flourish when Ellsbury returns. I worry about the Yanks’ bullpen. Robertson might have been a mirage last year. Park is still nursing his hammy. They got nothing out there if a starter goes 5 innings tonight or over the weekend.

“It’s best to worry about stuff than to bask in overconfidence.” — Alvin Dark

Terry N.

Hello Jim,
I feel the Red Sox lost a few games they should have won. I think the
defense will be fine. David Ortiz does not belong on the Red Sox or any
major league team, he can’t even catch up to fast balls right down the
middle and he strikes out swinging at pitches that no major leaguer would
swing at. If he is still with Boston in two weeks he will start to be booed
at Fenway and if he is still here in August he will be booed as much as
some of the Yankee’s players. What Ortiz did in 2004 no one else could
have, don’t forget Manny did not have one single RBI in the ALCS but that
was then and this is now. Thank you and goodbye David, you should retire
before you become the laughing stock of baseball.
Thanks
David A.

David, Big Papi may not be all done yet. Give him to the end of May so that he has
the warm weather to relax those muscles. For all David Ortiz has done for the BoSox, he deserves that. - Z

To the sportswriter: Is Asheville, NC, the town where people walk around with
kegs strapped to their backs, with a iv tube running down into their veins?
That sound like your kind of place! GO HABS! Pucky

Yes it is. Pucky. And they bang on drums on Friday nights.
You realize it could be Bruins - Habs for the shot at the Stanley Cup. - Z

QUOTES “Moments after getting an autograph from Phil Mickelson, a young boy took a shot at Tiger Woods as the beleaguered golfer walked by, dropping some serious snark by saying, “Tiger, say so long to No. 1. Kiss it goodbye.” ”

(Kids say the darndest things: Tot heckles Tiger at The Players Championship NBCsports.com Sat May 08, 2010 9:00 PM ET By Weed Against Speed)

Sportzine is also available at jimdawsonsports.com (Thanks Buffalo Steve)