Alex Speier, Red Sox Pregame

Alex first let's talk about this series I mean there couldn't be two games. Exactly the same but entirely different in terms of results for the opposite teams the whistle products that are. What what -- quick reversal that was between Friday and Saturday nights to go from my twenty to eleven and seeing one starting pitcher absolutely shelled for the Red Sox. -- going to fourteen to one. With the Red Sox winning an absolutely destroying AJ Burnett it was say. A pretty startling turn of events but I guess that whiplash is common in series between these teams while twice now in one week we've seen the Red Sox do damage against very good pitchers Roy Halladay. Didn't have his best stuff in Toronto certainly Burnett did not have his best stuff last night. I imagine you could -- it up to say okay two very good pitchers just have off days the same time that has to be an encouraging sign this office yeah I know that Terry Francona downplayed debate just to say about you know it -- it -- most dominant -- most dominant but the fact of the matter -- the Red Sox simply hadn't been doing anything against the elite -- the American -- for a lengthy period -- time. That was you know that that point was hammered home most forcefully in Yankee Stadium when. Three straight Yankee starting pitchers combined for 22 and a third shutout innings and now. The Red Sox are starting to get you know Harrison have the look of buried deep lineup that can afford to give. Rested different guys on different days and still be pretty menacing for opposing pitching staffs in. You know to see what they've done against the holidays and against the Burnett's I think has to be very encouraging. For the Red Sox lineup because you know Jason Bay -- said guy had -- at the end of the last homestand. It there comes a certain point where you have to be able to beat good pitchers especially in the post season. In now for the first time all year the Red Sox have started in recent days to show that they can do that. The lineup looks like it's starting to take shape the rotation is at least to some degree in a state of walks but for the short term. We know how it's going to look at going to be Tim Wakefield on Wednesday Junichi does follow on Thursday and know Brad Penny. Right I think that entering this weekend in the Red Sox really make decisions based on short term reactions but. Entering this weekend and it was entirely possible that any of three guys either Brad Penny to -- Or maybe even Michael -- depending on what happened in front over the weekend. Could have been the guy am Thursday but. Penny got absolutely hammered as we saw on Friday night into that left him as the odd man out and of course -- Nelson got hammered and sent back down to the minors so he's got to play. -- always great I think that he exceeded everyone's expectations the thing that's remarkable to me is how good he is with runners on base especially with runners in scoring position. At this point I think that opponents or something like two for 22 against him with runners in scoring position. You know if you're holding guys and or 91 mark you're playing with fire a little bit because your putting opposing runners in in scoring position but the same time. You know is kind of like Daisuke Lester a little bit into you know and a short sample size. We're seeing a guy who really maintained his composure. Very well at the most crucial moments of the game in who performs and as a result he gets another start on Thursday with Brad Penny. Kind of being the the long relief option for either further Wakefield on Wednesday works out on Thursday if that's necessary if Brett of those guys and if it's not then penny throws a simulated game on Friday. And they figure out what to do with him from there and penny didn't know exactly what that was going to be a select.

Can happen between now and Wednesday when two week that would be activated no roster move would need to be made. But the obvious move would be Enrique Gonzales he would leave the bullpen and he goes in Wakefield goes into the rotation. In just another week or so all of this roster crunch disappears when the rosters expand. On September 1 and and you don't worry about having Brad Penny wherever years. But for now he doesn't seem like the Connick guy that would be an ideal fit for the bullpen at all well and he was asked to.

Federer earlier this year when John Smoltz was getting ready to to return I asked him you know what you except to roles in the bullpen he said now. But because he's never pitched out of it and it's understandable -- I would want to stick with the routine. If he's followed for the course of his career so. You know now there has to be a bit of an adjustment and penny has said that he's willing to make you know to do but the team asks of him. But obviously it's not going to be comfortable while he is pitching out of the bullpen that said you know there's a big wild card which is how does Wakefield come out of Wednesday's start. As he continues to try to recover from this back slash. You know muscle strengthen his ankle issue one other note on Wednesday. Victor Martinez of the guy who's slated to catch Wakefield the looks like they're going to try and hold off on George could terrorists until the rosters expand it. And that makes sense because it's a good thing to to try out and see whether or not victor can catch Wakefield that's a very big question. If you enter the post season and think that your only option assuming the Sox make the playoffs. In assume that your only option to catch Wakefield has toward the terrorists well that you know probably is their third best catching option which is no slight on on to terrorists but. You know that's the reality of the situation so if you find that Victor Martinez is comfortable pitching him. That that's a huge that's a huge boost for the team are Alex thank the volatile -- assume based on.