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.
For all those worried by Daisuke Matsuzaka’s departure from Friday’s game against the Seattle Mariners in the fifth inning with right elbow tightness, the pitcher himself isn’t overly concerned.
“I have an idea what’s going on on my elbow right now, so I’m not worried too much about it,” he said following the Red Sox 5-4 loss.
Matsuzaka estimates he began feeling stiffness in the third inning. He entered the fifth having recorded four strikeouts, three hits, one earned run, and four walks, helping the Red Sox maintain a 4-2 lead.
“When the game started I started to feel stiffness on my elbow and I could have continued throw,” Matsuzaka said. “I didn’t really feel that I needed to pull off from the mound. But I left all the judgments up to Tito’s. So that was his decision to come off from the mound.”
Francona thinks he will be able to make his next start. Just as he did on Friday night, Matsuzaka will listen to the team.
CSNNE - Dice-K not worried by elbow
Another game, another injury scare.
While I'll probably never consider Dice-K to be 'indispensable' we have too many issues with this squad to be worrying about filling a gap in our rotation.
He's also been pitching very well over his last 2 1/2 games, and while I have zero faith that he'd be able to keep it up over the next few starts, I'd hate to have an injury rob him of the chance to prove me wrong.
Lackey's on the mound today. Yay.
Related Links: WEEI - Tito: Think [Daisuke] be OK for next start | Herald - Sox lose Daisuke Matsuzaka, game
Rest of the links:
CSNNE - Game Story April 29, 2011: Mariners 5, Red Sox 4 | Herald - Papi in zone against lefties | Globe - Elbow pain causes early exit | Sox are bunch of lost souls | Atlanta Braves P Derek Lowe charged with DUI | Jenks rocked in a Seattle stumble for Sox | NESN - Jason Vargas, Seattle Mariners Hold Off Red Sox With 5-4 Win
