Running Rant: Lackey’s Return
Tonight I’ll be doing a sports guy style running diary. I’ll do these for big games, weird games, or games where I am too aggravated with the Sox to cajole some intelligent content loose from my head. I’ll post my thoughts between innings. (It should be noted that these are unfiltered. Anger, happiness, and other emotions may come through… as well as bias)
Angels’ Former Ace Faces Current Ace: John Lackey vs. Jered Weaver
Tonight is an important start for John Lackey in more ways than one.
Lackey spent his first 8 Major League seasons with the Angels, many of them as the ace of the rotation, and tonight marks his first start in Anaheim since signing with Boston in the off-season. He’ll also be pitching opposite Jered Weaver, the man who’s replaced him in the role he occupied for nearly a decade.
To this point, Lackey hasn’t been worth the 5 year, $82.5 million contract he signed before the year, but if there’s anyone the 31-year-old will try to prove wrong, it’s the club that couldn’t afford to keep him.
Victor Martinez Ready To Return
In all likelihood, Victor Martinez will be back in the Red Sox lineup at some point during a 3 game series in Anaheim which begins Monday night. When his name finally appears on Tito’s lineup card, it won’t come a moment too soon.
Without Martinez, fellow All-Star Dustin Pedroia, and fellow catcher Jason Varitek, the Sox’ once potent offense has gone silent in recent weeks. Boston has scored just 34 runs in its 11 games since the All-Star break, an average of just over 3 per game for all you math majors.
Woody Says: Look At The Schedule!
With the Sox 8 games out and looking miserable down the stretch of every single game during the time between the starters and Bard. Lets forget the division now. All that matters is that we snag that wild card spot. There is one team we need to overtake too, the Rays. I don’t care what the standings say, the wild card is coming from the AL East.
Yankees Miss Out On Dan Haren
The Red Sox can’t get the bat off their proverbial shoulder. The Yankees continue to miss, but at least they’re swinging. Talk about a consolation prize for Sox fans.
The Red Sox lose back to back heart-breakers to one the worst teams in the American League, and all Sox fans can do is “celebrate” the Yankees’ failed attempt to acquire Dan Haren. I’m willing to bet that no one in Red Sox Nation is popping any champagne.
On some level, however, it has to be comforting to Theo Epstein and co. that the Yankees were unable to add Haren after missing out on Cliff Lee two weeks ago. The AL East race as it relates to the Sox is likely over. Add Haren to the Yanks’ rotation, and you can remove the word “likely”.
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