If you can figure out Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, please step up to the front of the line. Seriously though, will we ever figure him out? Or do we just sit and watch and pray that he pitches like he did last night, everytime he toes the rubber?
The last time Dice-K and Victor Martinez worked together, there was a little verbal spat between the pair. Since then, the Dice man had worked with el capitan, Jason Varitek. But with VMart returning to Cleveland for the first time since his trade to the Red Sox, there was no keeping him out of the lineup.
Going into last night’s game, Dice-K had an era of over 11 in three starts with VMart as his catcher. On the contrary, he had a 2.39 ERA with Tek behind the dish in four starts.
In his last outing, Dice-K was roughed up for three early runs and then was dominant the rest of the way, earning a standing ovation from the Fenway faithful after being booed in the 1st inning.
Well last night, he kept the momentum going from the end of his last start as he went eight scoreless innings. He scattered four hits and had just two walks while striking out five. His key to success last night was attacking the strike zone and letting his defense do the work. He mixed in all of his pitches and had great command and location with all of them.
If Dice-K continues to pitch like this, there’s no telling how successful he can be this season. And with John Lackey not at the top of his game right now and Josh Beckett out for the forseeable future, a successful Dice-K is beneficial to the Red Sox chances of making the playoffs.
In his return to his former home, VMart had a pretty good night all around. He was 2-for-4 with an RBI including a double and also threw out a runner trying to steal second. Basically, he showed the very few Indians fans who showed up to the game (14,758) what they were missing.
We’ll be back later with news from the day two of the MLB draft as well as tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, any non-draft related news and any links but for now enjoy the overnight links.
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Back to school: Red Sox seek impact college players on day one [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Progressive movement [Boston Globe]
Ellsbury is contemplating another opinion [Boston Globe]
Red Sox select Ball State infielder Vitek with 20th pick [Boston Globe]
Recap: Red Sox 4, Indians 1 [Boston Herald]
Red Sox elated with first three picks [Boston Herald]
No predicting rolls of Dice-K [Boston Herald]
Jonathan Papelbon with family [Boston Herald]
Crafty Matsuzaka masters the Tribe, 4-1 [CSN New England]
Red Sox choose three college players on first day of draft [CSN New England]
A friend feels for Lowell [ESPN Boston]
Papelbon out for next three days [ESPN Boston]
Sox, Daisuke ease on down the road [ESPN Boston]
Vitek (almost) signed, sealed and delivered [ESPN Boston]
Quick hits: Sox 4, Indians 1 [ESPN Boston]
Breaking down Day 1 of the draft [Extra Bases]
Red Sox use first-round pick on Kolbrin Vitek [Full Count]
Red Sox tab Brentz, Ranaudo with sandwich picks [Full Count]
Victor Martinez Reminds Cleveland What It’s Missing [NESN.com]
Kolbrin Vitek Excited to Join Red Sox, Get to Fenway [NESN.com]
What Can Boof Bonser Do for Red Sox? [NESN.com]
Red Sox Prepped for Days 2 and 3 of 2010 MLB Draft [NESN.com]
Weight Lifting a Careful Routine for Bill Hall, Red Sox [NESN.com]
Dice-K, Martinez finally on the same page [Providence Journal]
Sox snare 2nd baseman with first draft pick [Providence Journal]
Red Sox journal: Bonser finally returns to majors [Providence Journal]
V-Mart happy to be back in Cleveland [RedSox.com]
Hermida available, but held out of lineup [RedSox.com]
Red Sox will not rush Beckett’s rehab [RedSox.com]
Bonser joins Boston’s bullpen [RedSox.com]
Ellsbury to get second opinion on ribs [RedSox.com]
Red Sox tab Vitek with first pick in Draft [RedSox.com]
Papelbon put on family medical leave list [RedSox.com]
Red Sox take another slugger in Brentz [RedSox.com]
Boston turns to Ranaudo with final Day 1 pick [RedSox.com]
Has Daisuke actually figured it out this time? [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.
And if you must read the enemy papers, check out the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Akron Beacon Journal websites.
