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Late Hits
Over the course of the season, Ed Walsh will be scouring the Web to bring the latest news, polls, and commentary about the Boston Red Sox to these pages.

Blog Index
May 12, 2004
It's raining cats and dogs
The Sox have returned to the Skydome. In my view, it is the worst ballpark in the majors (at least on TV). Attendance is improving, however. During their last visit only 16,000-plus came out to see the game, while Thursday night 20,876 were in attendance.

It's time to kill two birds with one stone, or baseball. Having lost the first game of the Toronto series, Boston has to win at least two to earn a split. It will be a task.

The Boston Red Sox have become the Bad News Bears. I realize the team doesn't enjoy playing on fake grass, but give me a break. Boston is second in the American League in errors with 33. That is almost one error a game. Horrible. Projo.com reports Mistake-prone Sox stumble. You know things are bad when centerfielder Johnny Damon has an error. Damon has had only one error in each of the last two years. This season, he already has two, including last night's blunder. Maybe it's the hair.

I also do not like Mark Bellhorn playing third base. While he did not make an error last night, he had 14 errors last year playing third. Don't get me wrong. I like his versatility, but he worries me at the hot corner. He and shortstop Pokey Reese had a small miscommunication that cost the Sox big time Thursday night. I know Bill Mueller deserves a break now and again, but maybe not when playing in Toronto.

The Toronto Sun says, "Last night the Red Sox didn't measure up to Jack Dominico's Intercounty League Maple Leafs". An inside joke maybe, but the insult is understood.

The Red Sox defense and offense should improve once Nomar and Nixon return. While you can get this information elsewhere, CalgarySun.com reports Nomar is batting again. I enjoy reading foreign newspapers' coverage of baseball. For a closer to home view of the Red Sox troubles, Projo.com's Art Martone writes many reasons for hit-and-miss offense."

I do not mean to take away some of the accomplishments of the Jays. While they may play under a roof in Toronto, it's raining cats and dogs.

For the first time of the season, the Blue Jays second baseman Orlando Hudson, a.ka. The O-Dog, was moved to the lead-off position Thursday night. The Toronto Star reports "Hudson kickstarts Jays". That he did, going 4-4 and scoring five runs and one RBI. And he did most of his damage vs. Curt Schilling. Hudson is having quite the week. In the Jays' last series, against the Kansas City Royals, he went 6 for 12 with 2 home runs, five RBIs and 5 runs scored. The Toronto Sun reports that "Hudson trying to be top dog". That's a pretty tall order when you have stars like Carlos Delgado and Vernon Wells on the team.

Frank Catalonatto, a.k.a The Cat, who batted second in the lineup, went 4 for 5 with 3 doubles and 4 RBIs and 1 run. Combined, the 1-2 guys produced 10 of the of the Jays 12 runs. Not too shabby for table setters.

With Toronto's offense is starting to come alive, getting a split will be tough.

Tonight Derek Lowe takes the mound. Bronson Arroyo returns on Saturday. But I'm really looking forward to Sunday's matchup. Former Cy Young winners Pedro Martinez and Roy Halladay will face each other. Pedro is entering the zone. In his last two starts, he has a combined ERA of 2.57 and 19Ks. He is still the greatest pitcher on the Red Sox roster, no offense to Curt Schilling.

I'm glad we do not face Cleveland again this year. That team certainly had our number. I guess my theory of winning Wednesday games didn't exactly pan out. The Indians have lots of young talent that is sure to blossom in the near future, especially in the AL Central, a weak division. And while they still need a bullpen, their starting pitching is proving worthy. Since we will not see them in the playoffs, let's put that series behind us.

Can we please let the best rest? ESPN writes the executor of the Ted Williams' estate is now suing No. 9's daughter and her husband. Hmm, imagine that, more lawsuits. I wish all parties would end this finger-pointing. I understand the frustration of both sides, but do they realize my frustration? If this were to continue, the majority of the population will only remember the "Splendid Splinter" as the frozen icon. Obviously I'm a bit young to have seen him play, but no one compares to this legend. I will forever remember the players and fans greeting him at the 1999 All-Star game at Fenway Park. It literally brought a tear to my eyes. It was all about respect, something these lawsuits disregard.

Posted by at 01:20 PM

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