Alex Speier, Red Sox Pregame

It may be a difficult sell to some corners of Red Sox Nation Alex but yesterday was a productive day in one respect for the Red Sox because. They got another strong performance from Daisuke Matsuzaka. Against what we talked about before the game is a very strong Yankee lineup. Absolutely. It reminded me a lot of club when Clay Buchholz or earlier this year went against so it went toe to toe with CC sabathia on the day when sabathia had no hit stuff and -- more hot zone that was kind of an important point for establishing him as someone who was a reliable presence in the rotation. I think that Daisuke did a very similar thing yesterday he was brilliant it's he gave up six hits. Four of those were were right there. Infield singles or balls that were misplayed by by -- set by the Red Sox on pop ups and so really you're talking about two legitimate hits. That he gave up over the course of seven innings. He appear strong in pitches 100 -- 115 when he went back out for the seventh inning. He showed his ability to to throw any pitch at any time so used mixing up his pitch patterns. His velocity and life were both pretty good. In you know and he did that he did the -- thing again and as Terry Francona said you know that he's back when he loaded the bases and gets out of it -- that's what he did in the fifth inning. When he did that you know loaded the bases no outs in found a way to get out by using just an interest in pitch -- and taking advantage of overly aggressive hitters. So to my mind it was you know it was a very promising sign for the Red Sox who. You know if if Matsuzaka in time and Buchholz or what they've appeared to be. Over the last couple of over the last couple months while in in dice -- case the last couple games that's as good a playoff rotation as there is in the majors.

I will Sammy I suppose the Daisuke thing includes five walks which it did yesterday but what. Impress me was -- good velocity he was consistently low 10993. But it was the movement on his pitches in the location of his pitches which really seem to differentiate. The what he looked like earlier in the season and how effective he was yesterday.

Absolutely you know at five those change ups aren't kind of sliding off the plate then not and they end up getting hit but. Yeah if he had a really good feel for pitching in to right the the movement on the on the pitches. Meant that there just wasn't a lot of hard contact you know the only thought that was really well struck. Was -- knows home run in you know that was Martin Victor Martinez says if that was the one mistake of the days that he made. It was a fastball that was supposed to be in the off the plate. Instead -- ended up being middle away but you know wouldn't talking about one mistake over the course of a 115 pitches that's pretty darn good.

Billy Wagner was all over the place yesterday with his control -- nearly got out of a difficult inning which included an error which cost him to water runs. It was Johnny Damon fighting off that pitch which turned out to be the two out two run single and a Terry Francona said after the game Damon just -- a good pitch but really Wagner wasn't buying it.

Yeah he wasn't and rightly so I mean his his command was a real issue he walked a couple of guys -- hit another one he could have gotten out of the inning short but. You know the fact of the matter is his command has been a little bit suspect which is common for guys coming back back from Tommy John but. You know Wagner is a guy who throughout his career has been an excellent command guy he's done a -- in order to get back to where is. With with you know with a fastball velocity in the slider movement he has both of which are clearly you know plus pitches. That said you know I think that he has six walks in five innings at this point plus that hit batter. And he's he seems to be a little bit frustrated with his mechanics and him and he feels that he's kind of trying to do a bit too much on the mound which is resulting. In not in court command at times in you know that something that you knew that he needs to correct but. What wasn't working for the Red Sox yesterday from his outing was that he threw 35 pitches in with strong through the end. That's probably you know more pitches -- they would ever want him they probably imagine having him throw at any point this season but he he remains strong while doing so. Jason Varitek returns to the lineup this afternoon which was the plan going into the weekend even after his very difficult night on Friday night. Victor Martinez. Gets the afternoon off and that's also part of the plan to keep Martinez fresh down the stretch are ready to go next week. It it is part of the plan although it's also worth noting that this guy has been in the lineup pretty constantly the workload that he's assumed it's been. Huge by virtue of the fact that he is a guy who plays both catcher and first base. You know he hasn't had that once every five days for either they've got that catches ordinarily get he's been a constant in the lineup. And has managed to remain productive while doing so. Terry Francona said before today's game that. Meant that there have been times when it's looked like he's you know kind of wearing down like he's tired because you know not only does you some huge workload but -- a ton of energy. In the dugout in and on the field during the game. But that he's -- good enough hitter that he's able to kind of adjust and figure out what he needs to do. In late game situations. So that he now has this pretty extraordinary 25 game hitting streak. At a time of year when most catchers are kind of cooked. I Alex thanks as always talked is so they -- John.