Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
April 06, 2008
Games of the Day

Two injured aces return to the mound this afternoon. Josh Beckett makes his 2008 season debut for the Red Sox. It took him a while to get hip to his real problems:

"Everything was day to day," Beckett said. "After the first week, my back really responded to the treatment, and once we got rid of the back spasms, basically what we had to do was just strengthen my hip. That's kind of where the problem lied. I think the back spasms were just more of protecting my hip. Once we got that strong, then it was just kind of a building-up process. We're still kind of in that.

"We kind of realized that after my first intense throwing session. We started getting that because my back wasn't bothering me, then it was the hip. Once we got the hip to where I could throw every day, throw bullpens, then it was just getting into games and building up."

Beckett faces Toronto ace Roy Halladay. Roy pitched well against the Yankees but lost. Halladay stayed healthy the last two seasons, but he's striking out fewer batters. He averaged 6.5 K per 9 through 2005, but 5.5 K per 9 since then.

John Smoltz makes his first start of the season against Johan Santana and the Mets. Smoltz was originally scheduled for Monday, but the cold weather predicted for Colorado induced Bobby Cox to move the start up one day.

Glavine said. "I said, 'I don't care.' I understand. There's the potential for [pitching in Colorado] to kind of set him back a little. If we can avoid that, I'm OK with it. Fine by me."

Smoltz is 3-2 with a 4.20 ERA in 14 games (seven starts) at Coors Field, including 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in three starts since moving back from the closer role in 2005.

"I'm not afraid of any situation," said Smoltz, who'll be 41 on May 15. "But I've got to do what's best. What's best for me is best for the team. If this was July, it wouldn't be an issue. It's the total package of Colorado, my shoulder, making your first start. ...

"As a pitcher I hate talking about it, because it sounds like excuses. But it's the best solution. It has nothing to do with matchups, nothing to do with Johan Santana, the Rockies. ... It has everything to do with the long term."

Santana gave the Mets just what they wanted on opening day, allowing just two runs in seven innings while striking out eight.

The Dodgers and Padres match up two of the best number two starters you'll see as Chris Young host Derek Lowe. It's a great contrast as Young is a pure power hitter who keeps his hits allowed low due to his strikeouts. Lowe's success comes from keeping the balls in play against him on the ground. In a good year, two thirds of fair contact result in a grounder.

The Tigers try to get into the win column tonight as Justin Verlander makes his second start on ESPN2. What were supposed to be the strengths of this team, the offense and the starting pitching, haven't performed well. The hitters are plating less than three runs per game, while the starting pitching's posts a 5.72 ERA. While Verlander looked good in striking out six and walking one in six innings, he still allowed four runs.

Mark Buehrle takes the mound for the White Sox. He did not look good at all as the Indians pounded him for seven hits in 1 2/3 innings. He couldn't even get the lefties out, who went 2 for 4 against him.

Enjoy!

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Posted by David Pinto at 10:57 AM | Matchups | TrackBack (0)
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