The World Is Not Ending

Of course it had to happen this way. The Red Sox start the season 0-6 and come home to open the 2011 season at Fenway Park against the Yankees. The stage was set for the Red Sox to shake off the demons of a horrid start by beating the Yankees. And that is exactly what they did, 9-6. Seriously, didn't we kind of expect this? Wasn't this inevitable? The Red Sox kicked off the 2011 season at home with a touching tribute to Lou Gorman followed by the National Anthem played by the Navy band and an F-16 flyover. It was all nicely done and I knew there was no way the Red Sox were going to lose this game. It was their home opener and the last six times the Yankees have opened in Fenway Park have all resulted in the same thing, a loss. Why should today have been any different? If the Red Sox weren't going to come to play today, against their arch rival, in front of their home crowd who have waited through a long winter for the return of baseball and their beloved Red Sox, and after all the pomp and circumstance then the dirt should have been thrown on their grave right then and there.

At first it looked like the Yankees were going to do just that, getting out to an early 2-1 lead. The Red Sox got one back after Mighty Mite Dustin Pedroia crushed a Phil Hughes pitch over the Green Monster. On a side note, I don't think I have ever seen someone so small swing so hard in my life. He reminded me of Bam Bam from the Flintstones swinging his club. Anyway, the Yankees got one back in the second to extend the lead to 3-1 but the Red Sox just wouldn't roll over and die. Not today. Ultimately they left the field with a 9-6 victory to earn their first win of the season.

However, this Red Sox juggernaut that everyone, including me, picked to win the World Series, definitely has its flaws. Most glaring is behind the plate. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is just awful. I find it hard to believe he was ever a top tier prospect. He seems overwhelmed back there and seemed to be stuck in quick sand. He made an errant throw on a Brett Gardner stolen base that was just baffling. He never seemed confident back there and it appears he is too timid to handle this Red Sox pitching staff. Dustin Pedroia took it upon himself to come in from second base to calm John Lackey down after Lackey had some issues with the home plate umpire. This is the catchers job. If he doesn't get his act together the Red Sox will have to find a replacement. The Red Sox pitching staff also looks like a possible Achilles heel. Lackey looked flustered and was not that good. Hardly the same pitcher that faced down the Yankees only a couple of years ago in the playoffs. If he doesn't get it together soon the Red Sox will suffer. Terry Francona named him the #2 starter and so far he is having trouble locating his stuff and then comes over the plate.

All in all, the Red Sox didn't play that well today. Phil Hughes was just that bad. Hughes has seen a significant decrease in velocity to start the year. His fastball, which was getting up around 94 MPH last season has flattened out around 89-90. He has since resorted to using his cutter most of the time. In fact, out of 47 pitches he used his cutter an astounding 30 times trying to get movement on a fastball that had no zip. It is still early for Phil and the velocity should return as his arm strength builds. Let's not forget he pitched 176.1 innings last season after only pitching 86 innings the year before. It could be some arm fatigue that has cost Hughes to get off to a slow start. I expect him to get his ship above water soon. If he doesn't the Yankees are going to be in a world of trouble. Either way, I wouldn't pull the kid from the rotation just yet, that would be a little premature after only 2 starts.

As soon as Hughes was pulled from the game the Red Sox offense stuttered a bit as Bartolo Colon was able to keep the Yankees in the game. He got the loss but pitched pretty well which is encouraging.

Don't jump off the Yankee bandwagon and don't jump on the Red Sox bandwagon yet. The Red Sox didn't really fix much of what has plagued them early this season. Overall they didn't pitch that well, didn't play stellar defense, and really managed to hit up Phil Hughes for 6 runs. A Little League team could have done the same thing with what Hughes was throwing out there today. I'd be willing to bet Ivan Nova puts the holes back in the Red Sox bats tomorrow once the thrill of playing Opening Day wears off.