Two New Sox make Debut in Boston Win

A couple weeks ago, Paul Byrd was pitching to 13 and under kids for a little league team. Today, he pitched six shutout innings in his first game out of retirement for the Red Sox in their win over Toronto 7-0. "I'm just so excited to be back. I want a World Series ring," he said. "Hopefully I can help this team get there. I'll clean toilets if I have to, and I told them that."

Byrd (1-0), out of baseball after finishing last year with the Red Sox, signed a minor league contract on Aug. 5. He struck out one and walked three.

Also making his Boston debut today was lefty veteran reliever Billy Wagner, pitching one inning of scoreless relief with three strikeouts. Wagner, was acquired in a deal last week with the Mets.

Manny Delcarmen and Takashi Saito rounded out the shutout pitching from the Boston bullpen. Meanwhile, Cy Young candidate Roy Halladay gave up 4 earned runs in 6 innings including a solo homerun from Rhode Island Native Rocco Baldelli his sixth of the year. Halladay has lost his last three decisions.

Byrd was sent up from the minors only a couple days ago in hopes to fill the number five spot in the Sox rotation. A position that has been a merry-go-round of faces in the last couple months.

Beckett, Sox Blow Out Mariners in Fenway Opener 14 - 3

Josh Beckett needed only two runs of support from the Red Sox offense to secure him a victory in yesterday's Fenway Park season opener. Instead, he got 14 runs on 14 hits. The most runs scored in a Boston home opener since 1975.

Coming off a three-game series in Texas where the Sox averaged two runs per game on offense, Boston powered their way to a fourteen run-fourteen hit production against the Mariners on Tuesday. Thirteen of them in the first five innings. Sox scored four in the first inning including a 2-run ground rule double by CF Coco Crisp and a RBI sacrifice fly by Right fielder J.D. Drew. Following a three run second inning which included the game's only home run by Drew and a RBI-Double by Kevin Youkilis. The Sox went on to score six more runs between the third and firth innings. Jason Varitek also contributed with three hits and three RBI's in four plate appearances. "We pulled out the whupping sticks today," said starter Josh Beckett "They've been off for a while. It maybe affected their pitchers being able to throw strikes. You can't go through our order and walk guys. You're going to get burned."

Mariner's starting pitcher and 2006 World Series star Jeff Weaver was dismal in his first start of the 2007 season. Weaver was hammered for seven runs and seven hits with one strikeout on 70 pitches in the first two innings. Long relief pitcher Jake Woods came in to play the mopup role in the third and gave up three runs on four hits in the following two innings. The remainder of the Seattle bullpen featured relievers Brandon Morrow, Julio Mateo, Chris Reitsma, and closer J.J. Putz, giving up the other three runs on three hits.

As for Sox pitching, Josh Beckett pitched his second gem in as many games with eight strikeouts and one run in seven innings pitched. Reliever Brenden Donnelly was ejected in the eighth inning after sparking a verbal fight with outfielder Jose Guillen followed by hitting catcher Kenji Johjima. Donnelly and Guillen were formally teammates together in Anaheim during the 2005 season. It has been noted that the two ex-Angels have "Bad Blood" between them which attributed to Guillen's exit and trade to the Nationals in 2005. Donnelly struck out Guillen in the 8th inning of which Guillen expected to get hit. After the strikeout, Guillen didn't appreciate Donnelly's celebration and exchanged words while walking back to the dugout. The two were seperated by both benchs and Guillen was ejected. Donnelly, would then pitch an inside 0-2 fastball off Kenji Johjima's leg and be immediatly ejected with no argument from manager Terry Francona. Hideki Okajima would retire the remainder of the eighth and Timlin would pitch the ninth while giving up two runs.

The Seattle Mariners had the previous four days off due to a cancellation of the entire three game series against the Indians because of heavy snowfalls in Cleveland. Seattle manager Mike Hargrove attributes the loss due to too many days off. "Yeah, we played like we hadn't played in four days today. We pitched like it. We swung the bats like it. We played defense like it. We should be better tomorrow." says Hargrove. Terry Francona would also comment on the Mariners day off "They were put in a tough situation for the last four days. We had an advantage, and we took advantage. Hopefully that will work for a couple days."

Daisuke Matsuzaka will start today against the Mariners and will face off against Ichiro Suzuki for the first time since 1999 in Japan. Dice-K and Ichiro are the two biggest names in Japan and will be considered a major matchup overseas. Japanese reporter Kaizo Kinero said today on WSKO 790's morning show with Andy Gresh and Scott Zolak "There is no question this will be considered a major matchup over in Japan. Matzusaka and Ichiro are the two biggest icons in Japanese Baseball. There will be not anyone in the next ten years that is like them."

Game will be televised live on ESPN at 7:05 ET.

A-Rod Off to a Much Needed Start

Yankee's third basemen Alex Rodriguez has come off an off-season filled with publicity and speculation. Between his public comments of teammate Derek Jeter, his run-in with the press at his children's book signing, and contract talks about his upcoming extension option with the Yankees for 2008, Rodriguez has not had it easy.

Coming off of a dismal post-season (.071 BA, 4 SOs in 4 games) and a first round playoff exit for the second consecutive year, A-Rod was a nickname not in good graces with Yankee nation this winter. Rodriguez will earn $27 million this season making him the highest paid player in baseball; six million in front of teammate Jason Giambi.

Needless to say, the pressure dial has been turned up on A-Rod this spring. The expectations in Yankee nation are high and thus far Rodriguez has delivered. Throughout the first six games of the season Rodriguez has hit .360 with six homeruns and thirteen RBI's, the most homeruns hit in the first six games of Yankee history. The last of them being a game winning grand slam in the 9th against the Orioles, the second homerun of the game. Without a doubt this is the hottest start of his Alex's 13 year career and it could not have come at a better time.

The question that continues to surround A-Rod is his ability to perform in the clutch. Last season Rodriguez hit .237 with 4 HRs in 76 at bats in late and close game situations, not to mention his lackluster performance during the playoffs in 2005 and 2006. So far this season he has hit two homeruns and six RBI's in three late and close game situations including the walk-off grandslam on Saturday.

Rodriguez has tried to win over the hearts of New York fans for three years now and many people believe three years is long enough. Rodriguez won both the American League MVP and a Silver Slugger Award in 2005, yet he was scrutinized for his performance in the 2005 post-season. New York fans can acknowledge and appreciate A-Rod's yearly Regular Season numbers, but they have 27 million reasons why he should perform in the clutch more consistently. Then again, money grows on trees in YankeeLand.

The other question that must be answered by this season's end is A-Rod's future with the Yankees. Rodriguez may opt out of his contract in November and with the arrival of Lou Pinella in Chicago, Alex may want to revisit his relationship with his first former manager from Seattle. That is, if New York fans do not warm up to him to his liking. If Rodriguez performs at a high level this season(say above .300 with at least 45 HRs) and Yankee fans do not cheer for him more than recently, then expect A-Rod in a Cubs uniform next season. Therefore, my advice to Yankee nation: Cheer on your MVP third basemen next time you're at Yankee Stadium, or else.