 Photo I shot of Wake last September in Baltimore. |
Because whatever I’m dealing with kicked my butt again, I was, happily, home to watch Tim Wakefield:
1) Take a no-hitter into the 8th inning
2) Pitch a complete game (and get a much-needed win for the team)
3) Rest a bullpen that could really use the rest
While the first two are more exciting, the third one thrills me as well. A rested bullpen and a happy team returning to Boston is exactly what we need.
The Sox get a day off on Thursday, Wake gets to bask in the glow of flipping off everyone who thinks he’s too old to be a starter in this rotation, and we get to greet the team with positive energy when they return to Fenway to face the Orioles on Friday night. I’d say Mr. Wakefield more than did his job.
One other note about Wake. According to Ian Browne, when his post-game press conference began, he made a point of mentioning the real importance of the day before anything else:
“First of all, it was an honor to wear the No. 42 out there today on Jackie Robinson Day,” Wakefield said after Boston’s 8-2 victory. “The stuff that he did to break the color barrier and to take a stand and say that every man was created equal — it’s just an honor to wear the No. 42 today.”
Tim Wakefield embodies class. Not just as a player but as a person. Having him on our team is our honor.
While the Sox take a day off, I’ll finally be back among the living and in my office. Fortunately, both the PawSox and the Bisons play Thursday afternoon, so I’ll have some baseball to listen to while I’m back at work. Unfortunately, I probably won’t get to hear/see Kyle Snyder pitch since he pitched on Wednesday. (In a game I missed. I’ve missed a lot of baseball this week!) Based on the Bison’s recap of the game, I missed an interesting outing by Kyle (the game is available archived but I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet). In the first of his two innings, he walked the first batter he faced, then threw a wild pitch. With that walked batter then on second, a ground out and a single brought the man home. In his second inning, Kyle gave up two doubles (and another run) but also picked off Angel Berroa trying to steal third! He also had two strike outs in his outing. So a little bad a little good. All in all not a terrible outing for Kyle.
 I think they’re a cute couple! |
I’ll be heading to Pawtucket for a game this weekend. Chances are more than good that we’ll be seeing Charlie Zink pitch. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen Charlie pitch about 17 times…not that I’m complaining. I’m looking forward to the first trip to McCoy. Admittedly, though, I’m sad that I won’t be seeing Kyle there. Also not there: Clay Buchholz and Hunter Jones. One for a good reason, one not so good. Supposedly Clay’s tweaked hammy isn’t anything we should be worried about just yet, so I won’t worry for now. Hunter got the call to the bullpen in Boston when Daisuke went on the 15-day DL. So when I hit Fenway on Patriots Day it’ll be a kick to see Hunter in a Boston uniform!
Ooh and a note of congratulations to Clay. Word is he is engaged to his girlfriend, Deal or No Deal girl 26, Lindsay Clubine and they’ll be married in November. While I usually just roll my eyes when I hear of a ballplayer marrying a model, this just seems kind of cute. Who am I to judge young love, right? And settling down might not be the worst thing to happen to Clay. Best of luck to them both!
Coming off of Wake’s gem, I have a good feeling about the Red Sox. I can’t wait to get back to Fenway and watch, in person, what these guys are going to do!