8-22-08 Red Sox travel north of the border

We aren't north of the border. Not technically I know this is the Rogers Centre and and I know that's the name but this will always be skydome to me -- yeah. If -- it is what I always think of -- think of skydome. I was here last night and I got to tell you -- it got boring watching the Blue Jays spank the Yankees. And yeah acoustic Leon and I left when it got to be ten nothing after about the fifth inning. There was just nothing left for us to watch.

Now it's you know it's it's a sad -- for some people I guess you're watching baseball surprising played the Yankees of phone into and that's. The state of affairs with the Yankees baseball right now it seems odd to see them this far out of it at this point in the season but. When you're when you're sticking a Carl Pavano is one of your shining beacons of hope that's that's pretty desperate act.

Yeah and he's he's what tomorrow's pitcher right -- You know I've now look I watched Sidney Ponson on last night bring nothing to the table he had a Clay Buchholz like outing here last night -- I mean that's how bad it was in. And Buchholz is another issue it then you know it's one of those ironies of life. -- think about the the planning here months and months ago when the yeah when the Portland sea dogs were setting about the pro promotional calendar. Monday was scheduled this Clay Buchholz Bobble head doll. And and many teams many minor league teams do this with you know. For players who played their before a building where opulence that the staff alumni yes so they they plan Clay Buchholz Bobble head doll night for the Portland sea dogs for Monday night. Little did they realized he'd be pitching for them that night.

Dale as as homer Simpson would say the ironing is delicious that is is quite unbelievable -- You know I'm -- never thought he was going to be there but I honestly after seeing that that outing the other night after seeing the body language that. Just the the sense of uncertainty and ended a total lack of confidence he had on the mound not to mention just in the actual pitching. The lack of confidence he has and as fast volley you needed something like this. Deciding kind of start over again you know it was just it was getting late it's it was almost like watching a train wreck our car accident watch him out there pitch you're flinching just. Hoping that that something would happen help them out of it lift him out of the plate because it was really -- comfortable the --

how many Red Sox fans even know the name Mike -- their. And how many Red Sox fans understand how important Mike cap authorised. To their up to their big league future might cap or as the pitching coach for the Portland sea dogs all indications are that. He may know but Colts delivery better than anybody else in the organization he has had Buchholz at two of the minor league stops along the way. They're sending him back to Portland almost entirely I think because -- thirds there. Knows but Colts can work within and it may be might -- whose job it's going to be that straighten this guy out some.

Yeah I'd -- there's actually been a guy that's been a huge influence not only on but calls. Teaching influence on -- but Michael -- I did Daniel Bard he was actually that the pitching coach that went over the Hawaiian winter league this past year with Daniel Bard in. And saw that transition that -- made from starting to relieving he's the guy that really helped put. The final polish on on Oden this year at double -- he's kind of the guided that gets these these rare precious diamonds at double -- pitching prospects and and helped mold them and into something and put the final polish on them. And I think you're right I think he is he understands buckles both his mechanics and his mind I think is as well as anybody does in the entire Red Sox organization. And any knows what he's going to be it would do to help him and and let's face it. In addition in my -- they're being there I think going down to level. Where buckles had a lot of past glory and a lot of the success. And his best success in the in the Sox organizational chain you can argue. -- it's going to be a good thing for him confidence and just mentally to go back to that point.

Well and you get some pitching questions you know throughout the big league team right now you've got the Josh Beckett question. You know is this a simple little. I slept on the shoulder wrong that's why the fingers one now do you that that is I just don't buy that I somebody like that goes away and half an hour and hour now and while it actually has gone away already -- Dubai but it took days for it to go away that's the thing you know what's odd day. It it took a couple days it took more than one. I don't think it did actually I'll I'll disagree with -- there there was still tingling in the fingers that the the following day there was still some lingering effect in one of the fingers and my basic point dale is. That there was some lingering effect of it for a couple days and even that I think is way too long if you sleep on your armor on and have done a -- at times. That that soccer is gone by midway through the -- doesn't linger you know for more than 24 hours yeah and you I don't use our arms the way. You know guy like Josh Beckett does either I that's true but you know I don't I don't know what I don't know what situation is we won't know until. Well I was gonna say Tuesday but will mobile -- that the reason that they pushed him off until Tuesday. Was to allow him his full compliment of work days between starts they thought it was important that he get his four days. That he normally would have to prepare for a start right curious to see this -- out here today throwing at some point in. I think we'll get a pretty good indication maybe as early as this afternoon how he feels and where he thinks he -- and I think everybody you know hopes for the best for Josh Beckett because if if there is something wrong with his mars elbow or any of anything. That's you can pretty much has sent the Red Sox chances of of really doing any damage in the playoffs in order of the World Series goodbye and it's. That the -- they simply can't survive without just like Jonathan Papelbon is right now that pitching staff I think those two guys the most important cogs in the long term season's success.

Moehler gets -- question marks beyond even Beckett and -- buck Colts you've got Wakefield situation. He threw 44 pitches in Baltimore day before yesterday all indications are that that he's probably on track. To be available. And the other guy where you know they hope they catch lightning in a bottle one more time is Bartolo Colon Wright who threw four hitless innings last night in Pawtucket for the -- All indications are reading the quotes from George to terrorists -- catcher. In the Providence journal he had everything working he was working both sides of the plate everything went exactly the way they had hoped it would. I think the Red Sox are hopeful. That he command here and win them four more games the rest of the way in if they do end up with -- eight wins out of Bartolo Colon that was money very well spent.

Well I think it's already been money very well spent just as a mitigating the middle season I think I totally agree if you it no matter what he gives them but I think. They probably look at it's going to be a carbon copy -- of what they he gave them earlier in the season where he gives them handfuls starts. And before the stuff starts to wear down before the back starts to make before they you know the shoulder the elbow starts the throb. I think that's how they viewed him before they signed him as this is a -- it's going to be able that. Go out and have a handful of quality starts force and -- some time if we have injuries if a young guy falters a lot of the things that have that have come to fruition here. Late in the season he's going to be able to step up and fill that role again in and you know and do it with. With only -- of the colorful way that a guy like Bartolo Colon with his dimensions can and I think. That's exactly what they're looking for out of him will they be able to get at though that's another question I mean we've seen one you know pretty solid start out of him -- you know he went. Four innings that's nice and any actually with it was very efficient it and throw that many pitches so it'll be interesting to see. How many innings and how many pitches he throws next time out and how close he'll be actually coming back and helping out.

Yeah I'll be curious to see how many how many more rehab starts. If they're going to try to just sort of tread water here till September 1 roster expansion right and bring him in and which is -- I think they would like to try to do if they can pull off you'll you'll have an interesting start when Paul Byrd goes to the mound tonight. You know I've made it was one of those weird things that you see when you're traveling with the team. There's a park not far from our hotel called -- queen's park beautiful park here in the middle of Toronto. Yesterday well Paul Byrd and Jason -- attack. With their gloves and ball in hand we're headed out to that park. So that -- tech could. -- And get a feel forum -- like something you'd seed out of Fort Myers it's yeah snapshot at a spring training a couple of guys out have a catch national park in Toronto. But it was Paul Byrd and Jason Varitek having to catch yesterday and and you know I I think Ameritech Wannstedt. He wanted to be that guy when bird was throwing yesterday rather than come here in the this place which was unnecessary with the Jays and yanks playing here. Mr. park right nearby and it just went -- played catch together.

Course and and a guy like Albright you've got to think it is the kind of guy we're game -- such a key to him having success and knowing. How to set up the hitters in the right way in what what weapons he has in his arsenal and I think a lot of people. It will be interesting to see which Paul Byrd comes out against the Blue Jays first third consecutive consecutive start against the Jays. Is -- the guy that went out at Fenway Park and gave up ten hits and four runs and kept the Red Sox in the game but simply. Wasn't able to match Roy Halladay I got outshot by -- and I thought I was at the game. Saturday I thought he pitched fine yeah. Yeah he's perfectly serviceable fine or. The start before that he pitched nine full complete innings against the Blue Jays six hits two runs two strikeouts complete game victory 94 pitches so he's. He said to you notes sort of different results against the same team in the last couple weeks.