To say that Boston can now return to normal would be wrong. Even after yesterday’s apprehension of both suspects—one dead, one in custody—in last Monday’s Marathon tragedy, it’s still a city in mourning. Things have not returned to normal—especially for the families of the deceased, and the victims still recovering in the area hospitals. For the victims, normal will never be the same.

The Boston Red Sox left Boston in the midst of the melee, heading out to Cleveland for a three game series. Each and every player worried about the city they left behind, the city they call home—at least this year. A Red Sox away jersey with the number 617 and the battle cry of Boston Strong hung in support in the dugout. And when the city needed a little pick-me-up in the midst of all trauma, the Red Sox came through for their fans with a sweep of the Indians.

It was their first meeting with former manager Terry Francona and boy did they show him just how strong Boston’s spirit is (as if he didn’t know.) After winning handily on Tuesday night behind Felix Doubront, you had to wonder how they could keep it up with the weight of a city on their shoulders. But they did.

Wednesday’s game 2 of the series saw the Sox quickly going up 3-0 in the first, staking Alfredo Aceves to a lead before he even took the mound. They pounded out 15 hits on route to their 6-3 win with 3-hit games from Jacoby Ellsbury and Shane Victorino—both also scoring two runs each. More importantly, they were able to prove Indians’ pitcher Justin Masterson is human. Click here for the box score.

The series finale on Thursday ended with the same score, 6-3 on the back of another stellar performance from Jon Lester for this third win. The game was a real nail biter until the Sox broke it open in the 7th inning with single by Jacoby Ellsbury and an error allowing Shane Victorino to reach. After a fly out by Dustin Pedroia, Mike Napoli singled to right field to drive Ellsbury home, and Daniel Nava plated Victorino with a sac fly. Pinch-hitter Mike Carp singled to right to score Napoli and give the Sox a safe lead they would never give up. Click here for the box score, courtesy of the Red Sox.

After yesterday’s madness and the Red Sox and Royals getting postponed, they’re back in action this afternoon with Clay Buchholz looking for his AL leading 4th win.

Let’s go Red Sox, let’s go!!

First, a personal note: thank you, everyone, for reading my post on the Boston Marathon.  I never expected that so many people would see that post, and I feel honored that so many of you read it, shared it, and found something in it.  Things are still very raw in Boston, but the city’s also starting to pick itself up, dust itself off, and get back to business.

Speaking of getting back to business, we have a few Red Sox games to catch up on.  The Sox beat Tampa Bay on Monday in a true Patriots Day classic, and then proved their mettle against Terry Francona’s Indians for the first time yesterday.

The Patriots Day game is fun and unique, because it starts at 11:00 a.m.  You literally wake up, get dressed, and go straight to Fenway.  But, the fact that Patriots Day is always the third Monday in April portends a mixed bag on two fronts: weather, and early-season shaking the rust off.  Monday’s weather was beautiful, but I went to a Patriots Day game a few years ago (I don’t know which year – Josh Beckett pitching, playing the Angels, Manny was in the lineup) wearing my snowboarding gear, including a hat and gloves.  I had thought about bringing my goggles, decided not to, and then regretted it – good times!

Along with the weather, Monday’s game was also one of the good ones.  Ryan Dempster – RYAN DEMPSTER, folks – spun a gem, holding the Rays to one run and two hits through seven innings of work.  The former National Leaguer (I point that out because National League pitchers are not known for adjusting well to the American League, so this is an interesting and heartening development) struck out ten batters and only walked two.

Andrew Bailey picked up closing duties for the injured Joel Hanrahan, but he promptly blew the one-run save when he let Desmond Jennings on, and then let him steal second, and then let Ben Zobrist drive him home with a line drive to left field.  Oops.  It’s sad that this doesn’t surprise me – Bailey had such a clunker of a debut in Boston, that you can’t help but think that maybe his closer mentality’s gone.

Anyway, bottom of the ninth, Dustin Pedroia on first, tie game: Mike Napoli’s swing was horrible, but he managed to ding the ball off the Monster to score Pedroia and win the game for the Sox.  Pedroia and Napoli, Napoli and Pedroia: I picture them getting together after the game to be gritty and unshaven and clutchy together.

Tuesday’s game was more somber – the Sox traveled to Cleveland to oppose Francona for the first time since he left Boston.  Cleveland played “Sweet Caroline” during warmups (New York, which nobody ever accused of not having class, played it in the third inning).  Cleveland also held a moment of silence, after which the Red Sox bats made some noise.  Boston scored seven runs in the second inning (double, three walks, sac fly, single, walk, walk), putting the game out of reach.

It’s nice to think that the Sox are playing with the city on their minds – that they’re somehow playing for us, that they’re thinking of us when they dig in.  Boston needs something happy and joyous, and when baseball’s played right, in that ethereal, balletic way, it’s the very personification of joy, of the human capacity to be perfect for a brief moment in time.  But while the city needs the joy that comes from the perfect double play, the lope across the outfield grass, the uncoiling of a bat against a ball (PS: Mike Napoli’s double on Monday – you’re doing it wrong), the city also needs to not have that joy be a condition of grief.

Joy as a condition of grief: what I mean by that is, baseball will help this city heal.  The Red Sox can – and should, and do – acknowledge the city’s grief.  But instead of focusing on the tears, and the hurt and the uneasiness you feel when you notice a SWAT team on the corner of your street or when you step off the T to a phalanx of soldiers with assault rifles, the Sox are in the unique position of being able to help the city find joy again.  Very few things, we’ve learned, unite this city like an attack on one of its institutions.  Another one of its institutions has a chance to unite this city in joy, not in grief.  It sounds so simple: that baseball, the same simple game that’s always been there, can suddenly help us all handle this monumental obstacle that’s been put, unwillingly and unwelcomed, in front of us.  But, it can.

The Sox are winning games because they’re playing good baseball that, for short bursts, is perfect baseball.  That’s enough to help the city start to heal – play well, let spring turn into summer, let nights at Fenway be the place to be again, and smile in the dugout.  Let’s be happy about something as pure as baseball.  Let’s enjoy those small, sweet moments of perfection while they last.

After the rainout on Friday night, the Boston Red Sox took a take no prisoners approach to the rest of the weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays. So far, I am loving this team. Check in with me again around the All-Star break to see if my feelings have changed, but there’s a spark here I haven’t seen in a long time. Maybe since 2004.

Saturday afternoon we saw Sox ace Jon Lester matching up against the Ray’s ace, David Price. And just as presumed, a pitchers’ duel ensued. Both starters gave up just a single run in their outings but the Sox came out on top in extra frames. Following a Jarod Saltalamacchia strikeout to open the bottom of the 10th, Jacoby Ellsbury singled to center. With Shane Victorino at the plate, Ellsbury stole second and took third on a crappy throw by the Rays’ catcher.

Rays’ manager Joe Maddon then pulled in an outfielder to give them five guys covering the infield. Is this the baseball version of pulling the goalie? Even with nearly every inch of the dirt covered, Victorino was able to ground the ball to a spot where the shortstop had to dive for it. Ellsbury scored on the play giving the Sox the 2-1 victory! Click here for the box.

Sunday afternoon’s game saw starting pitcher, Clay Buchholz, flirt with a no-hitter, stymying the Rays batters through seven innings. Buchholz pitched masterfully, giving up just two hits in eight innings and striking out 11. He has improved to 3-0 with a stingy 0.41 ERA. I would’ve figured these numbers would sit him alone atop the AL in the pitching category. I was wrong. He shared the same record and ERA with old Sox friend, Justin Masterson.

The Red Sox scored most of their runs in the third inning when Ellsbury, Victorino and Dustin Pedroia all singled to load the bases. Mike Napoli smashed a double to the triangle in center to score the first two runs. Two more scored on a ground out by Stephen Drew and a throwing error. Click here for the box—courtesy of the Red Sox.

Next up for the Red Sox, they attempt to close out a sweep of the Rays with the annual Patriots Day 11:05am start. Ryan Dempster (0-1, 3.60), still searching for his first win in a Sox uniform, will take on Jeremy Hellickson (0-1, 6.35). Tomorrow is also Jackie Robinson Day—when everyone wears #42!

Committing to going to a baseball game in April is a lot like playing weather roulette. It could either be 40 degrees with a 30 mph wind like it was this past Saturday… or it could be 65 degrees with bright, sunshine-y blue skies like it was today. A perfect scenario for my very first Opening Day at Fenway Park.

Me… in my happy place!

Fans were asked to be in their seats by 1:30 for some special pre-game ceremonies that began by honoring a 60 year partnership between the Red Sox and the Jimmy Fund with a performance by the Jimmy Fund chorus. Following the introductions of the two teams, there was a brief remembrance for both Johnny Pesky and former Baltimore manager Earl Weaver—who both passed away last year.

An American flag, covering the entire Green Monster was unfurled for the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner by the Jimmy Fund chorus. And what Opening Day would be complete without a flyover—this year by two vintage P-51 Mustangs from the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation. From behind the giant flag emerged players and patients from the last several decades who made their way from the outfield in to the pitcher’s mound to throw out the first pitches… Tim Wakefield, Jason Varitek and Jim Rice were among those players. Of course, it made me teary. They always know how to make me cry.

The only thing that could make the day better was a win, which the Red Sox served up in dramatic fashion. The pitchers dueled for the first 6.5 innings—Clay Buchholz for the good guys and Wei-Yin Chen for the Orioles. At this point, I figured the first team to score would win the game. Luckily, the Sox struck first.

You just knew good things were going to happen when Dustin Pedroia led off the bottom of the 7th with an infield single. Mike Napoli quickly followed with a line shot to the center field wall for double. The fans got a bit restless when Pedroia was held up at third, especially when Will Middlebrooks whiffed for the first out. Not to fear though, Daniel Nava smashed a 91 mph fastball over everything into a dumpster on Landsdowne Street.

Clay Buchholz was masterful, pitching seven innings of three-hit shutout ball, while striking out eight Orioles. He joins Jon Lester at 2-0 on this young season with an ERA of 0.64. Joel Hanrahan earned his third save, but it was not without drama. He gave up two hits in the top of the ninth, one a home run to Adam Jones to make us all hold our breath just a little bit.

The Sox take on the Orioles again for game two of the series on Wednesday night with Ryan Dempster taking the mound, trying for his first win with his new team. Click here for the exciting box score, courtesy of the Red Sox.

The Red Sox won again last night, bumping their early-season record to 2-0 and knocking the battered Yankees down a peg.  The score was 7-4, behind a strong outing from Clay Buchholz.  Buchholz held the Yankee bats to one run over seven innings of work.  The New York pitching staff wasn’t as lucky: starter Hiroki Kuroda took a Shane Victorino single off his pitching hand in the second inning and had to leave the game with what turned out to be a bruise.  Pinstriped old-timer Vernon Wells hit a three-run home run in the New York eighth, and Travis Hafner hit a single shot in the fourth, but that was all the offense the Yankees could muster (it’s almost symbolic that this creaky old Titanic of an offense only scored off of home runs hit by two of the creakiest men in the majors).

The Red Sox, meanwhile – screw small sample sizes.  The Sox are going to go undefeated, win the division, sweep the postseason, and win the World Series AND the 2016 Democratic primary (Massachusetts is a blue state, after all).  Look at these lines:

Daniel Nava – .667/.800/1.000

Jose Iglesias (yes, Jose Iglesias) – .556/.556/.667

Jonny Gomes – .500/.600/.500

Jarrod Saltalamacchia – .429/.600/.571

Jacoby Ellsbury – .400/.455/.600

Dustin Pedroia – .364/.364/.364 (4 for 11, all singles – how often do you see a line that matches up across the columns?)

Now granted, the only one of those players I think can actually stay near those early marks is Pedroia – he could hit .360 if he had a great year, and obviously he’ll also hit something more than a single eventually – as we know, all he does in the off-season is straight bodybuilding, so, there’s that to look forward to.  And Jackie Bradley, Jr., the king of the spring, has only hit .167/.500/.167 in the early going (three walks and one single in six official at-bats, giving us the low average and slugging percentage but the eyebrow-raising on-base percentage).  Will Middlebrooks has a .000 batting average – (hopefully) that won’t stick, either.  But, these lines are fun.  Daniel Nava will be 80 years old one day, sitting in a rocking chair and talking to his grandkids about the week he had a .660 average in the major leagues.  Early statistics are basically worthless, but they sure do make for good “listen up sonny, and I’ll tell you about back when I was a major-leaguer” story.

Red Sox-Yankees again, tonight.  Ryan Dempster makes his debut against Andy Pettitte, who still hasn’t retired (again).  Let’s see if the Yankees can make something of this series behind one of their greats, or if the Sox can open up with a series sweep on the road.

Here’s the box score from last night, courtesy of the Red Sox.

The Red Sox won! The Red Sox won! I’ve been waiting a couple years to say that on Opening Day, and today I can. The Red Sox beat the New York Yankees handily in the Bronx, 8-2. Part of me was dreading this game, mostly because after last season’s horridness. It made me feel a little like Charlie Brown trusting Lucy not to pull the ball away. I didn’t want to get fooled again.

But that’s not what happened. Quite the contrary actually. It was almost as if these guys enjoyed playing with each other. Like there was, dare I say, chemistry? John Farrell is the complete opposite of Bobby Valentine… and by that I mean he’s normal and has a real handle on what makes a team work as a team. See what happens when everyone gets along!

The top third of the lineup—Jacoby Ellsbury, Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia—shined this afternoon, combining for six of the eight runs batted in on seven hits. Rookie Jackie Bradley Jr. showed veteran-like patience at the plate, walking three times in his 0-for-2 performance. He drove in his first career major league run in the top of the seventh on a fielder’s choice. Jose Iglesias, who has never been known for his stellar offense, went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Looks like someone was a little embarrassed by his .118 average last fall.

Jon Lester pitched five innings, looking sharp for four of those five—his only problem coming in the fourth where he got a little wild and gave up the two lone runs of the game. He struck out seven and walked two. The bullpen pitched lights out the rest of the way to secure Lester’s first win, only allowing one hit through the final four frames.

The Sox scored four runs in the second inning. Jarod Saltalamacchia took a one-out walk, followed by a Jonny Gomes line drive single and the first of three walks to Bradley Jr. Iglesias drove in the first run on a single to the shortstop. Ellsbury grounded into a fielder’s choice and Victorino followed with single to left scoring two. Pedroia singled to right field scoring Ellsbury for the fourth run on the inning.

The only thing that makes me happier than the Sox winning on Opening Day? The Sox beating the Yankees on Opening Day. So needless to say, I’m wicked happy! The teams have an off day tomorrow because holy crap, Opening Day must be sooooo exhausting. They’ll meet again on Wednesday with Clay Buchholz facing off against Hiroki Kuroda for a 7:05pm start.

Clicky here if you would like to view more of the amazing game #1 recap, courtesy of the Red Sox.

Of course no one will actually confirm that this 2013 Red Sox roster is official, but if you ask me, it looks pretty solid so I’m going with it. There was no ceremonial announcement that Jackie Bradley Jr. was a definite to be in New York on Opening Day but word on the street is he is headed to NY with the club. [Yay!] After finishing up the spring with impressive numbers — .419 average and a 1.120 OPS — it would’ve have been a damn shame if he found himself in Pawtucket.

So without further ado…

Starting pitchers:
Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Ryan Dempster, Felix Doubront, John Lackey
No surprises here, although I thought Felix might grab the #3 spot.

Bullpen:
Joel Hanrahan, Andrew Bailey, Andrew Miller, Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa, Alfredo Aceves, Clayton Mortensen
Daniel Bard, who the Sox broke last season, will start the season in Portland! Sounds like a rebuilding year for Bard. And I wonder what the over/under is on when Aceves has his first whiny meltdown.

Catchers: 
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, David Ross
And once again, Ryan Lavarnway is sent to Pawtucket. He’s like the high school senior that can’t seem to make the varsity club. *sigh*

Infielders:
Mike Napoli, Dustin Pedroia, Jose Iglesias, Will Middlebrooks, Pedro Ciriaco, Mike Carp
With Stephen Drew on the DL (WHAT? a Drew on the DL?), Jose Iglesias will get a shot to show us his moves and his greatly improved offense. He did hit a respectable .294 this spring.

Outfielders:
Shane Victorino, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jonny Gomes, Daniel Nava
I’m most excited about the outfield this season — Bradley, Ellsbury and Victorino could make up one of the best defensive outfield we’ve seen in a loooong time!

Tomorrow’s the day, Sox fans. The Red Sox visit the New York Yankees for an Opening Day matinee with Jon Lester taking on CC Sabathia. Game time is 1:05pm. Where will you be?

Middle infielders are weird.  Shortstops and second basement share a no-mans land in the field, positioned between bases in the hopes of fielding a ground ball up the middle.  They both tend to be (at least until recently, see Chase Utley, Robinson Cano, and A-Rod in his younger days) light-hitting speedsters who are more able to get on base and advance runners than they are able to mash home runs.  They both cover second base, and have to make and then communicate split-second decisions on double plays.

Baseball people will talk a lot about the bond between pitchers and catchers: the pitcher needs to trust that the catcher can handle any pitch and hold runners on, and the catcher has to understand the pitcher’ capabilities and limits, and also be an on-field psychologist for the pitcher.  The bond between middle infielders is less-touted but definitely there: the defense would fall apart if there wasn’t some kind of connection.

Which brings us to last night’s Red Sox spring training game against Puerto Rico’s WBC team.  The Sox won, John Lackey had a good night, and Will Middlebrooks and Mike Napoli each launched home runs.  But, this is spring training: Napoli’s home run and a Charlie Card will get him on the T.

I thought Pete Abraham’s twitter feed was much more interesting.  Abraham, a reporter for the Boston Globe, captured an awesome reunion between Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia an Mike Aviles, Boston’s former shortstop who had suited up for Puerto Rico.  Apparently, their reunion was a happy one, punctuated with some predictable Pedroia height jokes:

What I really wanted to title this blog — Boston Red Sox: Weekly Wookie Woundup. Because really, try to say Weekly Rookie Roundup fast. Over the past week, a couple rookies have looked rather impressive—Jackie Bradley and Jeremy Hazelbaker. (And now I just want to call them wookies and picture them all really tall and furry.) Yes, it’s just spring training and yes, I know there’s not much of a chance of them living in Boston on April 1, but holy hell, the numbers from this week are preeeeeetty awesome!

Jackie Bradley
This kid is on fire (sing it… like Alicia!) The youngster has been putting up some sweet digits in spring training. In five games, he’s batting .571 with eight hits in 14 at bats. Bradley is poised to take over in center when Jacoby Ellsbury hops the train to Money-ville after this season and I’m going to guess Bradley is a tad more durable than the current center fielder. Bradley played in just 61 games with AA Portland which most certainly means at least one more year in the minors. BaseballProspectus.com says this about the #2 prospect’s strengths:

Special baseball instincts; plus glove; strong arm; average speed, but preternatural feel for position; moves before ball is put in play; precise routes and angles; plus-plus overall profile at premium position; advanced approach at the plate; good pitch-recognition skills; knows his pitch pocket and attacks; solid-average hit tool; tough out.

Jeremy Hazelbaker
The 25-year-old outfielder is swinging a big stick this spring. In his first four games, he batted .600. Granted that’s only five at bats but whatevs, .600 is pretty impressive, especially when you have some everyday players *cough* Shane Victorino *cough* that have put up a big fat goose egg thus far. As of today, his average has dropped to .429 but still respectable. Last year, Hazelbaker spent most of the season in Portland with the AA Sea Dogs. In 114 games, he averaged .273 with 19 homeruns and 119 hits.

So when are the Red Sox going to take a chance on one of these rookies? When are they going to throw caution to the wind and give one of these kids a roster spot and see where it goes? Who knows, they could have another Mike Trout or Bryce Harper on their hands. But they’ll never know unless they try.

In other news, Jon Lester spun three innings of shut out ball against the Pittsburgh Pirates last night, walking one and striking out two. Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-2 and Mike Napoli went 1-for-2 in his spring debut. My parents were at the game—they’re in Naples, FL on vacation. Lucky for them they didn’t send me too many gloating texts.

The Boston Red Sox split a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays today.  Dustin Pedroia jacked a home run, and knuckleballer Daniel Webster put up a good showing in his Sox debut.

But, that’s not what I was thinking about today.  See, I got my hands on a copy of Baseball Prospectus today.  BP loves Xander Bogaerts, but sees him long-term as a third baseman.  This revelation got me thinking about Boston’s perennial shortstop problem.  Why can’t Boston make a shortstop stick?  The shortstop position in Boston is a black hole, a vortex, the MLB job where job security goes to die.

Mike Aviles, one of many

Scene: it’s early 2004, Nomar Garciaparra’s the Boston shortstop, and despite persistent Magglio Ordonez trade rumors, everything’s groovy – everything, that is, except for the team’s not having won the World Series in 86 years.  But, the fans like their team, they love their shortstop, they have faith.

Then, the doldrums set in, Derek Jeter runs headlong into the stands in New York, and Nomar gets traded in a trade-deadline deal to Chicago.  The Sox win the World Series, but without their star shortstop.

Since then, we’ve seen a bevy of shortstops come and go, but none of them seem to quite fit.  Let me just clear my throat a second here: Orlando Cabrera; Edgar Renteria (hey, let’s trade Hanley Ramirez while we’re at it, he’ll never amount to anything); Alex Gonzalez; Alex Cora; Julio Lugo; Jed Lowrie; Nick Green (?); Marco Scutaro; Mike Aviles; and, the flavor of the month, Stephen Drew, with Jose Iglesias, a man who simply CANNOT HIT, close behind.

The heck?  What is happening here?  It’s just weird that none of these players could stick in Boston.  I don’t know if it’s something about the pressure of playing in Boston, I don’t know if it’s something about ridiculous contracts given out to mediocre shortstops (looking at you, Lugo), I don’t know if there’s some kind of divot at the edge of the grass that makes it impossible to field routine grounders.  But for whatever reason, the Sox can’t make a shortstop stick.  It’s weird, it’s disconcerting, and I don’t like it.

Dustin Pedroia wants a consistent double-play partner.  He doesn’t even have to say so for me to know it’s true.  Give Dustin what he wants – a shortstop that will last more than one year, earn a reasonable paycheck, and maybe fling himself headlong into the stands at Yankee Stadium once or twice.