Game 52: Dice-K looking sharp

by Randy Booth on Jun 3, 2009 12:08 AM EDT in Open Thread Comment 15 comments

Final - 6.2.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Boston Red Sox	1	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	5	9	0
Detroit Tigers	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	9	1
WP: Daisuke Matsuzaka (1 - 3) LP: Rick Porcello (6 - 4)

Complete Coverage >

I'll tell you this: if Daisuke Matsuzaka pitches well this season, the Red Sox are going to the World Series.

Dice-K started off the season rough, which included a trip to the disabled list, but Tuesday's start is certainly encouraging. Dice-K went five innings and surrendered just one run on six hits, walking three and striking out six. It's not the best start the Sox have seen this season, but this is definitely a good start.

The offense was provided from the top of the lineup -- the new lineup. Jason Bay hit a two-run home run and Dustin Pedroia, J.D. Drew and Kevin Youkilis each scored. Drew, Jason Varitek and Jacoby Ellsbury each had two hits.

The bullpen, once again, was great. Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima and Ramon Ramirez combined for three hitless innings. Jonathan Papelbon worked the ninth and gave up three hits -- but also struck out three. That's been Paps' rap this season.

This is a really good win for the Sox. They had a great outing from their starter, the bullpen was good -- like always, the defense was errorless and the offense showed up for the most part. While the Sox didn't mash the cover off the ball, I'll take five runs, for sure.

Series continues Wednesday with Josh Beckett v. Armando Galarraga.

0 recs | Comment 15 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

DH?

Still no production at DH for the Sox … time to add some ?

by Old Fan on Jun 3, 2009 6:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It hurts me to watch Ortiz.

I wish they would sit him down so I just don’t have to go through this torture anymore. Can you imagine what it must be like for HIM?

by NG on Jun 3, 2009 7:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dice-K was adequate, not great

He threw 96 pitches in 5 innings.
His WHIP was 1.80.
We had to use four of our top relievers to bring home the win.
I don’t see how you can consider that a great start.

The fact that this is only his third start since coming off the DL means that I cut him some slack, but this performance looks similar to last year’s Dice-K, though actually a bit worse (the WHIP and an even-shorter-than-his-average outing).

by argo0 on Jun 3, 2009 6:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 3, 2009 7:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

too, only I am nost sure that is even adequate. It might be less than that.

by Buzzy on Jun 3, 2009 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's so frustrating to watch.

I was watching the Detroit feed. One of their announcer was talkig about in the recent WBC, how just pounded the strike zone (I never saw him pitch their, I’ll take his word for it), but in the US he’s always nibbling. Maybe he’s not as confident against MLB pitchers, or maybe he doesn’t get the same movement with the MLB baseball.

But I wish he’d just try to pound the zone sometime, and see if it works.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jun 3, 2009 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My god.

That’s my worst grammar episode I’ve had since the 4th grade. Working too much.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jun 3, 2009 8:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Says Travolta.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jun 4, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correct

But this was most definitely his best start of the season. It was a “great” start for DK in the sense he only allowed one run, three walks…

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Jun 3, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just like last year

He was incredibly lucky last year — when you average less than six innings a start and walk five guys per nine innings pitched, you’re incredibly lucky to have an ERA of 2.90 and 18 wins. Just look at his BABIP — the only difference between Dice-K last year and this year is that he had a BABIP of .267 last year — incredibly lucky — and .434 so far this year — very unlucky.

He’s not the #1 starter were though we were getting three years ago. He’s a solid 3/4. But until Beckett and Lester start pitching like aces, that’s not good enough for this team to win the World Series.

by RSNexile on Jun 3, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree totally

Dice-K is a decent #3. But I’d rather see him as the #4.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 3, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rotation spots

mean nothing during the season DD, Porcello is the #4 starter on Detroit. Very rarely to the numbers match up after the first week.

He definately belongs in the rotation, so he pitches every 5 days who he matches up with is a lottery.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 3, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

18-3

I think that is way above adequate. You know, people keep riding Dice-K on his innings, but this is the current baseball culture. Dice-K once threw 200 pitches and complains about being taken out of games early, but baseball has morphed into this “Pitch Count” crazy era.

Also, more pitchers only go 5 or 6 innings than go 7+ so stop making Dice-K the only player with this problem.

New MLB is 5+6 out of you starters.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 3, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair

it is a big problem. It really taxes the pen. It also affects the starter the next day, who has to go deep because your 4 best arms were used out of the pen (and with Paps this year and his 35 pitch innings, I would be fearful of using him in back to back games too much). Plus, please don’t quote things like WL record. It is just as easy to look behind it and see that that would never happen again. He was much worse last year than the WL or ERA show.

by Buzzy on Jun 3, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OF course

im going to quote WL records, I am not trying to sign him as a FA, I want him in the rotation.

Fact: Teams win when he pitches. You cannot dispute his pedigree. The Red Sox got 18 wins from him last season which makes him far more than adequate. Just like Brad Penny is valuable bc the Red Sox got 6 wins from a guy who nobody wanted.

Times have changed in MLB starters do not go 7, 8, and 9 inning regularly, there is too much money involved. To say that Dice-K is adequate in an age where starters go 6 innings and get a pat on the back for a good game, or a league that looks stunned at Halliday going 9 innings each time out, is not doing him any credit.

What you are basically arguing is that the Red Sox could of won all 18 games without Dice-K as a pitcher or won yesterday’s game with any starter they have at there disposal.

This just is not being fair to Dice-K.

by SoxAcumen on Jun 3, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

but the problem with your point is that Dice does not go 6. He averaged significantly less last year, and I don’t see that changing. If all your pitcher’s did what Dice did, you pen would be shot.

Also, I am not arguing that anyone could have gone 18-3 last year. I am arguing that he was remarkably lucky. His FIP was marginal last year, so he was just not that good, despite the WL and ERA. Do you know the difference? What this means is he will never repeat this level of outcome again. That is what I mean.

by Buzzy on Jun 3, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs