Ted's Army: The Voice of Red Sox fans

Your Morning Dump... Where Jenks Stinks

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

“I don’t even know what to say right now,” he said. “I’m going out there, I feel terrific. All my stuff is there, just the results aren’t. I don’t know what to make of it.”

The Boston Red Sox had a 4-3 lead over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night when Jenks entered the game in the seventh inning. They had been 9-0 this season when leading after six innings. The Mariners, on the other hand, were 1-12 when trailing after six. That all changed when the Mariners scored a pair of runs off two doubles, a single, and a walk off Jenks to take a deciding 5-4 lead.

After starting the season with four hitless outings, Jenks (1-2, 8.64 ERA) is left searching for answers that are hard to come by.

“It seems like every time I’m going out there right now, everything’s just seeming to find a hole or flare in somewhere,” he said. “They are good hitters, but the way I’m feeling right now, it shouldn’t be happening.”

CSNNE - Jenks at a loss to explain struggles

Jenks' stat line looks awful - 8.1 IP 12 Hits 9 Runs (8 Earned) with 6 Walks

And when you take away those first 4 hitless innings he pitched to start the year, you get an idea of just how bad he's been lately.  He's treading in Okajima territory here.

Worse yet, if you read that last quote, it sounds like he's got a bit of Lackey in him.  But I still believe in Jenks, and that this bullpen is going to be as fantastic as we thought it was going to be.  If you watched last night's game, Bard was lights out.  Topping out at 99 with his fastball.  His slider was sliding.  It was beautiful to watch.  And we all know how well Papelbon has been throwing (even in non-save situations!).

So I'm not waving the panic flag yet.  Jenks is going to get back on track, Bard appears to already be getting there, and Papelbon hasn't stopped.  I've got another 30 some odd days of "Hope" drum left to bang.

Related Links: WEEI - Jenks, Red Sox can't hold off Mariners | Herald - Talk about your troubled times

On Page 2, Dice-K should be OK.

Recap: Sox lose game, Dice-K

AP

Well, Nick predicts another Sox sweep and the Sox lose the opener. We'll have a little talk with him.  Don't worry.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, who started for the Sox, left in the top of the 5th with "elbow tightness" after throwing 80+ pitches.  Before his departure he was throwing a classic Dice-K gem - laboring on the mound, walking 4 batters, but managing to only give up 1 earned run (3 total runs, thanks to an Albers' throwing error in relief).

With Dice-K's early exit, Tito had to burn through 5 relievers, including Bobby Jenks who was awful.  He entered the game with a 4-3 Sox lead, and by the time he finished his inning of work, Seattle was up by one. 

On the plus side, Cameron homered, Ortiz drove in his 11th run of the year (on a cheesy ground ball that was completely misplayed by Kennedy, but I'll take it), Youk had an RBI, Gonzalez went 2-4 and Ellsbury got a hit to continue his streak.

Unfortunately, the last 12 Sox hitters all went down without a hit to end the game.  Lowrie made some solid contact in the top of the 9th that looked like it just may make it over the center field wall (and on a July night it probably would have), but it was just short.  As was the Sox effort tonight.

There's always tomorrow. 

Box Score

How we see it goin' down: Mariners - Sox series

First Pitch: Friday 7:10, Saturday 7:10, Sunday 1:35

Arms: Friday: Jason Vargas, LHP (0-2, 5.53 ERA) vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka, RHP (2-2, 4.09 ERA)

Saturday: Doug Fister, RHP (1-3, 3.19 ERA) vs. John Lackey, RHP (2-2, 6.35 ERA)

Sunday: Felix Hernandez, RHP (3-2, 3.32 ERA) vs. Clay Buchholz, RHP (1-3, 5.33 ERA)

                        Yard: Fenway Park    Watch it:  NESN   Hear it:  WEEI

Get your tickets here

The Matchup

Record: 11-15 (Last AL West)	Record: 11-13 (4th AL East)
On road: 6-7	At home: 5-4
Streak: Win 3	Streak: Win 1
Leaders at the plate	Leaders at the plate
Average: Suzuki (.313)	Average: Lowrie (.400)
Homers: Smoak (4)	Homers: Youkilis (5)
RBI: Smoak (15)	RBI: Gonzalez (15)
Leaders on the mound	Leaders on the mound
Wins: Pineda (4)	Wins: Lester (3)
ERA: Pineda (2.01) | Wright (0.79)	ERA:  Lester (2.52) | Papelbon (1.93)
K's: Hernandez (35)	K's: Lester (35)

Last time

September 13-15, The Sox swept the Mariners in Seattle. Jon Lester dominated the Mariners in game 1, striking out 12, giving up only 1 run and 3 hits over 8 innings. Buchholz had a similar outing in game 3 of the series, giving up 1 run, 4 hits, and struck out 6 over 7 innings.

This time

Laser Show: Adrian Gonzalez & Jacoby Ellsbury

Our two buys after the Orioles series, they are riding hot streaks into the weekend series. Ellsbury a 7-game streak, and Gonzalez, a 5-game streak. These two are seeing the ball well and with 2 righties going, they should keep the show going.

Pitch Around: Justin Smoak

Switch hitter Justin Smoak, has been explosive over the past 4 games. In that time, Smoak boosted his season stats by hitting 3 home runs, and driving in 9. Before the 4 game series against Detroit, Smoak only had 1 homer and 6 RBI. That's a bat that you don't want to see in a tight situation.

Don't Fall Behind: Felix Hernandez

All I have to say is, reigning Cy Young award winner. Once Hernandez gets comfortable on the mound, he will take over and give the Sox a hard time. The Sox have to get to him early and throw his rhythm off.

How we see it goin' down

I don't care if Seattle is playing good ball and are coming in with a 3-game win streak. The Sox are back home and will beat the crap out of Seattle...translating into a sweep. Boston will put April behind them and impress on this 11-game home stand.

Lester dominates in April. Finally.

Getty Images

Sean McAdam, over at CSNNE, has a nice article up on Lester's usual April struggles, which he's finally bucked this season.

Until this year, Lester's career April record of 3-6 with an ERA of 4.76 was the lone blemish on Lester's first four seasons. The same pitcher with the second-best winning percentage (.709) since 1900 could not for the life of him put it together in the first month.

Each season, Terry Francona would predict that Lester would eventually find his rhythm and go on one of his patented, dominant runs, stretches that would invariably find Lester with 17 or so wins at the end of the season. And each season Lester would, in time, do just that.

After a rough outing on Opening Day, Lester has since allowed six runs over his last 34 innings for a 1.58 ERA.

"I wish I had an answer for why in years past it's been that way and why this year's different. But I don't know. I didn't change anything."

We shouldn't be entirely shocked that he's been so dominating early.  There's a very good reason that many "experts" (be careful using that word around these parts) pick him to not only win the Cy Young, but are calling him the best left-handed pitcher in the majors.

Still, though, based on past performances, there's nothing wrong with taking a moment to give the man some well-deserved praise.  Lester's put together quite a dominating stretch to end the first month of the season.  Here's to hoping for more of the same in May.

Taking Stock: Sox - Orioles series

After each game, we'll be taking stock in each players... and maybe Manager's ... performance.  If we like what we see, we're buyin'.  If we don't, we're sellin'.  Or maybe we'll just hold onto our stock until we see more next game.

Adrian Gonzalez: Gonzo got hot against the Orioles this series and extended his hit streak to 5. He didn't hit any homers, but he did everything else with the bat. In the series Gonzalez hit .462 (6/13), with 4 doubles, 3 RBI, and boosted his batting average to .306 for the season.Gonzo

Jacoby Ellsbury: Jacoby had a monster series, batting .500 (7/14), with 2 doubles, 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored. Jacoby came into the series batting .219 and finished with a .264 average. Ellsbury will be riding a 7-game hit streak into the Seattle series.

Marco Scutaro: I know he didn't play much, but when he is in, he does nothing. 2 hits in his last 17 at-bats and a .189 batting average is a clear explanation why Lowrie has been getting most of the nods at short.

Carl Crawford: 1-for-12 in the series and back down to a .160 batting average...terrible. It is time to shake the dust off and get his act together before it gets ugly in Boston.

David Ortiz: Ortiz hit .416 in the series (5/12) with 5 singles. Ortiz only scored 1 run and didn't have any RBI but is heating up. Ortiz also has a 5-game hit streak and once we are out of April, the power will come back to his swing.

Your Morning Dump... Where Lester can't not beat the Orioles

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

Someday, maybe, the Baltimore Orioles will figure out a way to beat Jon Lester.

Maybe.

For now, Lester is literally unbeatable to the Orioles. He limited them to two runs over eight innings in a 6-2 victory to improve his lifetime mark to 14-0 in 17 career starts against them with a 2.33 ERA. The 14 wins represent the longest winning streak for any active pitcher against one team.

The top three hitters in the Red Sox order -- Ellsbury, Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez -- combined for eight hits and five RBI on the night. Ellsbury enjoyed his second consecutive three-hit game.

CSNNE - Lester dominates as Sox beat Orioles, 6-2

Eventually, at some point this season, this is the Boston Red Sox squad that we're going to see on a consistent basis. 

Jon Lester did his usual Jon Lester things; giving up only 4 hits over 8 innings.  Papelbon came in and not only pitched a 1-2-3 inning, but did so in a non-save situation.  Honestly. Jacoby Ellsbury (3-5 2 RBI) got himself into scoring position twice, and despite not taking Scott's advice about being patient, Adrian Gonzalez (3-5 with 2 RBI) was able to drive him home both times.

Hell, even Carl Crawford hit a double!

And, thankfully, with the win, the Sox avoid being swept by the O's, and we don't have to see or hear from Showalter for another 2+ weeks.

Related Links: WEEI - Lester, Ellsbury lead Red Sox past O's | Herald - Jon Lester owns Baltimore

On Page 2, Kevin Youkilis can't stop nearly getting seriously injured

Recap: Lester stops the bleeding

Getty Images

Jon Lester pitched very well (8 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K) as he lead the Sox to a much needed 6-2 victory over the annoying Orioles. Jon Lester improved to 14-0 in his career against the Orioles. For a while it looked as if Lester might end up with the no-decision with the 2-2 tie going into the 8th. Crawford lead off the 7th inning with a double and was driven home by Pedroia with two outs, giving the Sox the 3-2 lead which proved to be enough.

Adrian Gonzalez looked very good at the plate, going 3-for-5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI. Gonzo's batting average jumped from .290 to .306 after tonight's performance. Jacoby Ellsbury also recorded a 3-for-5 night, with a double and 2 RBI. Ellsbury knocked in the final 2 of the 3 Red Sox runs in the 8th, which gave the Sox a nice cushion for Lester and Papelbon.

The Red Sox flip-floped with Baltimore and moved to 4th in the East at 11-13, 3.5 behind New York. The Sox got their 11th win of the 2010 season against Toronto exactly one year ago today.

The Red Sox will be heading back home to host the 11-15 Seattle Mariners, who will be bringing in a 3-game win streak into Fenway. It will be nice to see the Sox snap that.

Box Score

A way to waste $50K

What an exciting opportunity! For a mere $50,000, anyone can buy a 20 x 20 foot section of grass that was once behind home plate of the old Yankee Stadium. That piece of grass for sale once contained A HUGE PIECE OF SHIT the Yankees logo. The key word is contained. The piece of grass no longer has the logo spray painted on it, but they will give you paint and a stencil to do it yourself. Nice people.

In case you were wondering if the grass is authentic, there are hologram chips embedded in the soil. Ahhh...that should reassure the buyer that this wasn't just some grass taken from the farm that animals walked all over and shit on. Now that I think of it, that is no different than the grass from Yankee Stadium.

Here is a little more about it...

The 20-by-20-foot section of turf behind home plate at the old Yankee Stadium, spray-painted with the interlocking white "NY", was considered so precious by the team and memorabilia partner Steiner Sports that after the stadium was demolished two years ago it was covertly transplanted to the premises of DeLea Sod Farms on Long Island.

"It's kept at a top-secret location separate from the rest of the stadium grass," says Jim DeLea, the company's owner. "Everybody was worried that an overzealous Yankee fan might go looking for it."...

"We do have inventory left, but some of this stuff will become more valuable over time," says AJ Romeo, Steiner Sports' director of team partnerships. "We're still creating new products, mixing and matching."...

As for the 20-by-20 patch that once included the NY logo, if any fan musters up $50,000 of zealotry, Steiner would contact DeLea, who would carefully cut and roll the sod and dispatch it via overnight mail, along with a stencil for the logo and a couple cans of spray paint. Authenticity is assured by hologram chips embedded in the topsoil.

Enemy Chatter: Luke Scott respects Beckett

I often wonder what opposing teams, their beat reporters and bloggers are saying about the Red Sox after playing the Red Sox. Here's a dose of 'enemy chatter' from Baltimore:

Josh Beckett looked like he was ready to throw down after Scott homered onto Eutaw St.

"I didn't notice anything," Scott said. "I was just kind of enjoying the moment and just, as I usually do, I try to just enjoy this opportunity with the Lord as much as I can. I was just kind of thanking him around the bases I caught it, nothing more than what I normally do. I caught it, saw it and tossed my bat off the way and went into my trot. Just enjoying the moment.

"When I got in the dugout, the guys said he was yelling or something like that. Staring. I have all the respect in the world for Josh Beckett. He's one of the best pitchers in the game. And I respect everyone who takes the mound against me. He's a tremendous competitor. You know, I'm an emotional person, as well, so I can understand people getting emotional, getting fired up before a game."

Beckett didn't sound like he wanted to talk about the incident, asking Boston reporters whether this was TMZ.

MASN Sports: School of Roch

Of course these guys are going to get fired up and Josh Beckett will be pissed. He just gave up a monster home run and he didn't get a new ball from the home plate ump Fieldin Culbreth right away. I think those are grounds for an ass kickin' in Beckett's book.

Your Morning Dump...where Pudge isn't coming to Boston

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

Despite numerous reports of the Red Sox' interest in Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez as a possible solution to their catching problems, several industry sources suggest otherwise.

The Washington Nationals have indeed let it be known that Rodriguez can be had, but the Red Sox don't believe Rodriguez, 39, is a viable option behind the plate.

In his prime, Rodriguez had a terrific arm but had a habit of calling fastballs to help himself throw out baserunners. Pitchers didn't regard him as much of a game-caller and his receiving skills, once average, have since slipped considerably.

CSNNE: Sox not interested in Pudge

Pudge is a great name, one of the better offensive catchers of this generation, but he wouldn't answer any of the issues. He would bat higher than Jason Varitek's anemic .100 batting average, but pitcher's ERA will also rise. There's just no need for another 39 year old catcher, even if it would be a joy to watch Pudge as he attempts to become the first full time catcher to get 3,000 hits.

There's a few catchers that are in their final year and could be around for the right price. Yadier Molina, Kelly Shoppach, and Ryan Doumit are all possibilities but is really fair to give up on Saltalamacchia 23 games into the season? It's a growing experience for him and this rotation isn't the most friendly bunch around. Just give him some more time before you give up on him.

On Page 2, Francona believes he has a "once in a lifetime player" in Pedroia