What a difference a year makes. A year ago the Red Sox signed signed Josh Beckett to a 4 year $68 million dollar extension. Most fans and experts liked the deal, I mean locking up you "ace" who is just now turning 30 years old usually seems like a good idea. Since then Beckett has been anything but an "ace", and now there are serious questions about where his career is heading. Not only was Beckett terrible last season (6-6 5.78 ERA), but was terrible all spring as well. The Red Sox have been making excuses like "he is just trying to throw strikes", and "spring doesn't matter", but now the games do matter and you'd be hard pressed to find a Red Sox fan that is confident in Beckett right now.
On top of all that negative Beckett stuff the Sox have looked terrible in their 3 games this year getting swept by the Rangers. There has not been one pitcher that has looked impressive over their first 3 games, and now you have arguably you biggest question mark taking the hill against a team that is hitting .318 right now.
With all that being said, this is the Red Sox and they are the Indians and I fully expect the Red Sox to crush Josh Tomlin and the Indians tonight. Tomlin was 6-4 last year with a 4.56 ERA, but with all the extra left handed bats the Red Sox added this offseason I don't see him making it out of the 4th inning.
As for Beckett, I want to see him pitch not just well, but really well. Do I think he will? No, but I do see him going 6 innings allowing 3-4 runs with 5-6 Ks. Right now, the Red Sox will take that in a heartbeat, as they are just looking to get in the win column.
Red Sox win 8-5
Player of the Game: Gonzalez
Game starts at 7:05pm
On top of all that negative Beckett stuff the Sox have looked terrible in their 3 games this year getting swept by the Rangers. There has not been one pitcher that has looked impressive over their first 3 games, and now you have arguably you biggest question mark taking the hill against a team that is hitting .318 right now.
With all that being said, this is the Red Sox and they are the Indians and I fully expect the Red Sox to crush Josh Tomlin and the Indians tonight. Tomlin was 6-4 last year with a 4.56 ERA, but with all the extra left handed bats the Red Sox added this offseason I don't see him making it out of the 4th inning.
As for Beckett, I want to see him pitch not just well, but really well. Do I think he will? No, but I do see him going 6 innings allowing 3-4 runs with 5-6 Ks. Right now, the Red Sox will take that in a heartbeat, as they are just looking to get in the win column.
Red Sox win 8-5
Player of the Game: Gonzalez
Game starts at 7:05pm
***UPDATE***
Sox Lineup:
Ellsbury CF
Crawford LF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Youkilis 3B
David Ortiz DH
J.D. Drew RF
Saltalamacchia C
Marco Scutaro SS
Love the new lineup, esecpially against a right-hander, but I have to admit I am shocked that Varitek isn't behind the plate tonight.
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