Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Recalling last year's 9-7 season-opening win over New York, Kevin Youkilis was summoned to the media interview room. A TV interviewer, perhaps trying to pry some emotion out of Youk, asked how thrilling it was to beat the Yankees in the opener.
Youkilis' response:
"Its one game."
Just a reminder after Boston's 9-5 loss to Texas. Some other thoughts.
If Jonathan Papelbon had the meltdown in relief, Red Sox fans could be truly worried. Daniel Bard gave up four runs. Fastball command was not there, and his slider was everywhere. Bard has shown he can turn it around.
Likewise, if Josh Beckett was tagged for five runs, there would be concern that he is in for another long year. But Jon Lester, slow starter that he is, should come back to ace form.
In our look back at Adrian Gonzalez's time in Portland, in Friday's paper, one statistic stood out: 96 RBI. He loves to hit with runners on base and showed it against Friday (2-for-4, 3 RBI). Pictured left is a 19-year-old Gonzalez with his Sea Dogs cap
Carl Crawford struggled (0-for-4, 3 K's). Setting aside the fact that every batter has such problems during a season, Crawford might have been pressing, and he was facing one tough lefty in C.J. Wilson.
Nice to cheer for the David's - David Ortiz for hitting a homer (off a lefty) in his first game) and David Murphy, one of the best human beings to play the game, with his game-winning hit. Murphy's smile graced Hadlock Field for one-plus seasons, before being promoted, and eventually traded to Texas.
Today's game: John Lackey against hard-throwing right-hander Colby Lewis. Lewis was 1-1 in three starts against Boston last year, striking out 21.
As for today's Press Herald, we have a quick look at two new outfielders, Mitch Dening and Alex Hassan. Dening told me that he has never seen snow. I smiled. There is also the daily notebook.
It is going to hit 87 here in Fort Myers so, whether players have been in cold weather before or not, it is going to be an adjustment when they are stung by the temps in Portland.
TweetKevin Thomas covers baseball and basketball for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He wisely moved to Maine in 1994 after working for the St. Petersburg Times. He is married to Nancy and they have nine children.
Follow his thoughts on the Boston Red Sox and Portland Sea Dogs on Clearing the Bases
Follow his thoughts on the Boston Celtics and Maine Red Claws on Holding Court
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