Best of plans

In the afternoon tilt - you know, the SoxandPhils game we could not watch because of work - Cliff Lee pitched another beauty, winning his home debut 3-1 against the Rockies. He went seven innings, giving up one run on six hits and a walk with nine strikeouts.

John Smoltz - in the game we should have been able to watch - did not make it out of the 4th, getting tagged for eight runs in a 13-4 blowout through the 8th, which means the dominance against the Yankees probably ends tonight.

I found this Tony Masarotti tidbit interesting:

According to one baseball source, the Sox had serious discussions with the Indians for both Martinez and starter Cliff Lee, at least until Cleveland wisely broke the tandem apart and effectively sold them off as condos. The point is that the Red Sox wanted a hitter and a pitcher, or, more importantly, they felt they needed both. In the upper corners of Fenway Park, the inhabitants know this team has holes.

Stupid Indians.

Lots of other news today. J.A. Happ is staying in the rotation. Kevin Youkilis started in left field because Jason Bay has a hamstring injury. Josh Reddick is back because Rocco Baldelli was DL'd. David Ortiz was going to talk about steroids this afternoon, but now he's going to do it tomorrow.

I know, kind of a weak post given everything that's going on, but it's been a rough night. I had to teach myself how to change a car battery (took longer than I thought) and then had to prepare the bathroom shower to be recaulked and the rest of the house to get new windows.

At least the chores kept me from having to watch this debacle against the Yankees.

Interesting: They just showed the clip of Pedro Martinez taking out Don Zimmer in the 2003 ALCS. Christine sighed as she realized he's her problem now.

Apple Pie, Mom and a Patriots' Day blowout

I like Patriots' Day. It's not like I get to see the game or anything, but there's just something appealing about checking the score on my lunch break and seeing the Red Sox are halfway to a win.

Today must have been cathartic for the Sox, who have now won five straight after stumbling a bit out of the gate. Justin Masterson, making his first start of the season, pitched into the 6th inning on 84 pitches - one earned, four hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

And the bats gave him plenty of support in the 12-1 win over the Orioles. Half the lineup had a multi-hit game, and every starter except Rocco Baldelli (who left with an injury) and Nick Green had a hit. Several Sox had big games: slumping David Ortiz (2-4 with a stand-up triple!), Jason Varitek (2-5 with a home run), and Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia set the table, going 7-13 with six runs. And there was even a little cherry on top: Hunter Jones, who took Daisuke Matsuzaka's spot on the roster, made his major league debut with an efficient 9th inning, allowing only one man to reach base via error.

Injuries: It wasn't all good news today. As I mentioned, Baldelli left the game with a mild hamstring sprain. Doesn't sound bad, but they're talking about the DL. And I've neglected to mention that we've been without our shortstop for more than a week, and now it's looking like Jed Lowrie is heading for surgery, but may be back midseason. I'm doubtful on that one.

The Phillies and Padres were rained out, and now it's really coming down here. Our movie was also postponed, but because of a scheduling mistake; we'll be attending tomorrow instead.

Nomar could be a SoxandPhil

Yesterday, when Rocco Baldelli held up his new No. 5 Red Sox jersey, we were reminded of Nomar Garciappara's Red Sox past.

Perhaps that was an omen to his Phillies future.

Ken Rosenthal reports the champions are interested in the man who made the great 2004 possible by leaving town. They're also interested in 2004 champion Gabe Kapler, who would make more sense because whoever gets the final Phillies bench slot should be able to play some outfield defense.

Since we're talking about bottom of the roster depth, the Red Sox completed their bench by re-signing Mark Kotsay - who was rumored to be heading to the Phillies before the Red Sox acquired him last season.

But the Sox still don't have a starting catcher. From the Boston Herald:

Still on the to-do list is acquiring another catcher. Epstein said a deal with captain and free agent Jason Varitek has not been ruled out.

"We've still got some unfinished business," said Epstein. "Jason is still out there. As I said at the beginning of the offseason, by no means have we shut the door on him and we’re also in pursuit of a younger catcher in a trade."

Take two: I forgot to mention what Christine will think of whenever we see Rocco enter a game. Her cousin's first hamster was named Rock-O. She was a little girl when she had him, and after he died, she kept writing in letters to Christine's brother, stationed in Iraq at the time, that her hamster had died.

There were several letters, and I imagine if enemies got a hold of them, they'd go nuts trying to figure out what "Rock-O died" was code for.

Sox add depth, but still no starting catcher

The Red Sox responded today to the hundreds of millions spent by the Yankees this winter. While the Yankees dumped boatloads of money on three players who haven't won anything, the Red Sox got proven winners John Smoltz and Rocco Baldelli for less than $20 million.

OK, A.J. Burnett has one ring (same as Smoltz and Baldelli combined), but he pitched in only four games in 2003, when Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell won it for the Marlins.

Point is, the Yankees are buying big names, but the Red Sox are assembling a team - just one without a starting catcher.

A couple notes on Baldelli: He's going to be the first Red Sox to wear No. 5 since Nomar Garciapparra was shipped out so we could win a championship.

I have faith the front office did their due diligence with Baldelli's medical history and that he'll be capable of serving as the fourth outfielder.

I told Christine last night that this is our revenge for the Rays getting Pat Burrell. {I still fail to see his logic in that.}

I'm not expecting much from Smoltz, but between him and Brad Penny, I like the depth of the rotation.

Uniform number addendum: Wow, there have been very few uniform numbers that have gone unused by the Red Sox in recent years. According to Red Sox Diehard, only four unretired numbers (lower than 65) have been out of commission as long as or longer than Nomar's.

• No. 14 since 2000. Hopefully that number gets retired this year when Jim Rice is elected to the Hall of Fame.
• No. 21 since Roger Clemens left to become a disgrace in 1996.
• No. 26. This one is odd. It's Wade Boggs' number, but 11 guys have had it since he left, most recently Ramiro Mendoza in 2004.
• No. 45, last worn by Pedro Martinez in 2004.

[Photo credit: Associated Press]

Comforting words

It's still two weeks from Opening Day (only one for the Red Sox), and the Phillies are already pining for the centerfielder toiling away in San Francisco. Charlie Manual, who recently realized his teams start slow, says the team's awful spring training play could be because Aaron Rowand isn't here:

Rowand has been missed. I believe in players policing themselves if they can. Some guys can't police themselves and they actually don't know how. If that's the case, then somebody has to police them.

Great, what's next, blaming the starting pitching problems on the departure of Curt Schilling? (I'm currently listening to WFAN's Ed Randall talk about going to see Starvin' Marvin Freeman's big-league debut.)

{I'm giving Manuel a little bit of credit here. I think he's trying to embarrass the team. The way they have been playing this spring has been embarrassing, and they need to step it up. Someone in this million-dollar clubhouse should be able to fill the role that Rowand played. And let's face it, this is no time to look back fondly on Rowand. He turned down more money per year and a chance to win for a 5-year contract for less money per year playing for the Giants. When someone willingly signs with the Giants, it kinda makes me wonder about his desire to win in the first place.}

Another Phillie, J.D. Durbin, is looking for a light. Maybe his candle got snuffed out in his cooler pants:

I look in the mirror every day. I try to find myself more than anybody, I think. I lost that fire that burns inside me. I still go out there and compete 100 percent, but I don't have that over-the-top, kick-butt, Brett Myers attitude, and I think that's hurting me.

This is just the mindset you want your team to have when it's supposed to build on last year's surprise win. It could be worse. Imagine if the Phillies had drafted Rocco Baldelli, who's injured again, and fans had to watch Chase Utley starring for the Devil Rays:

"The crystal ball is not always real shiny on draft day," said assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle, recalling the 2000 draft. "If Baldelli would have been available, it would really have been a toss-up between him and Utley. It would have been one of those serious draft-morning discussions."

{Luckily, it's all a moot point, and the Phillies ended up with the player they needed. As for Cooler Pants, well, have fun starting the season in AAA. I've rooted for you, despite the hideous MySpace page and photos. And if you don't have that fire to win right now, let someone who does fill that roster space.}

Better news out of Sox camp this morning: Daddy Daisuke Matsuzaka is likely to start in Japan with Jon Lester going in game two. And Josh Beckett throws today.

Baseball Mogul update: Had a relatively quite offseason. Ryan Howard signed for $8 million a year, so I'll keep him and Prince Fielder for awhile. Signed Pat Neshek to bolster the bullpen and Scott Moore to replace Garrett Atkins at third. I couldn't find a taker to dump Atkins, but probably will next offseason. I'm not happy with the 9-13 start, though.