Recent history shows that the Boston Red Sox have struggled a good part of the time with rookie pitchers on the mound for the opposing team. The Oakland Athletics started a rookie pitcher in Jarrod Parker.
So you do the math. Done doing it? Judging by the 5-3 final score in the A’s favor, I guess you did.
Parker was a No. 1 draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks and came over to the A’s in the Trevor Cahill trade. Last night he showed why he was a key piece in the trade by Mr. Moneyball Billy Beane.
Parker used his fastball and changeup along with the occasional breaking ball mixed in to keep the Red Sox hitters off balance. He allowed one run on just four hits and two walks while striking out four. It was obvious the cold, rainy conditions didn’t affect him as much as they did Red Sox starter Felix Doubront.
Doubront has been sort of an enigma this season for the Red Sox.
He’s been striking out batters at great frequency. The problem for him is that he hasn’t been able to last in the game as long as he should. Last night was no different.
It looked as though early on that he was having trouble adjusting to pitching in the miserable conditions that were upon Fenway Park. He had terrible command of his fastball and it lacked location as well. Five of the six hits he allowed came on his fastball.
The A’s would get to him for a run in the 1st inning. And with Parker shutting down the Red Sox on the way to his first MLB victory, the A’s added four more runs in the 4th.
With all of his strikeouts along with the fact that he’s generating an inordinate amount of swing and misses, it’s hard to take him out of the rotation at this juncture. As of right now, the Red Sox haven’t made a roster move in regards to Aaron Cook but if I’m Doubront, I still feel good about my rotation spot.
He’s still a rookie and is still learning how to pitch in the big leagues. He needs to make better adjustments as he goes through a lineup three or four times. Maybe it was the cold weather but in five starts this year, he’s averaging just five innings per start. If he wants to make it in the big leagues, he needs to improve that number and quickly.
Obviously we are waiting to see what Ben Cherington decides to do on Cook. One thing we do know is that Lars Anderson was optioned back to Pawtucket after the game so the Red Sox do have an open roster spot. Whether that goes to Cook or someone else remains to be seen.
So now we wait for the roster move and then hope the Red Sox get back to winning baseball games like they did last week.
We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take at look at the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
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Athletics throw wet blanket over Sox [Boston Globe]
With Youkilis out, Iglesias is called up [Boston Globe]
It’s been a little chilly [Boston Globe]
Felix Doubront, Sox cool off [Boston Herald]
Adrian Gonzalez hasn’t clicked in [Boston Herald]
Aaron Cook, Kevin Youkilis pose questions [Boston Herald]
Sox fall short in 9th, lose 5-3 [CSN New England]
Red Sox now wait for Cook’s decison on opt-out [CSN New England]
High pitch count gets best of Doubront once again [CSN New England]
Hill makes most of first Fenway appearance since surgery [CSN New England]
Boyd: Sox knew I smoked crack cocaine every day in ’86 [CSN New England]
Sox rumored to be discussing possible trade for Cook [CSN New England]
Rapid Reaction: A’s 5, Red Sox 3 [ESPN Boston]
Anderson sent down; Cook on way? [ESPN Boston]
Doubront not in it for long haul [ESPN Boston]
BBTN: Are Sox contenders again? [ESPN Boston]
Dennis ‘Oil Can’ Boyd says he used crack entire ’86 season [ESPN Boston]
Left, right and sometimes it’s wrong [Extra Bases]
Clay Buchholz thought he had finally shaken off the rust [Full Count]
Why Daniel Bard might have the best slider in baseball [Full Count]
Closing Time: Felix Doubront falters as Red Sox comeback comes up short vs. A’s [Full Count]
Kevin Youkilis Absence Leaving Noticeable Hole in Middle of Red Sox Lineup [NESN.com]
Lars Anderson Demoted to Triple-A, But No Corresponding Move Announced [NESN.com]
Felix Doubront’s Tough Start Should Be Expected as Young Pitcher Continues to Learn [NESN.com]
Papi not puffing his chest out after hot April [RedSox.com]
Anderson optioned; more moves forthcoming [RedSox.com]
What Aaron Cook and Will Middlebrooks say about the Red Sox rotation [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Middlebrooks could be called up today [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, be sure to head over to the Oakland Tribune and San Francisco Chronicle websites.
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.
photo credit: Getty Images
