Tim Wakefield - early spring
Here’s the thing about Wakefield that Red Sox idiots don’t get. Every single year he starts off getting shelled. A knuckleball pitcher does not do well with the cold dry air of spring. It’s not until the hot heavy deep summer humidity that the ball really starts to jump. I see it every year. I like Wakefield because he reminds of a normal guy who by a stroke of luck and good timing found himself in a decent baseball career in a huge baseball town. But he gets shelled this time of year. I am a little curious as to why Josh Bard had such a hard time seeing the ball. I know it’s a killer to try to catch a knuckleballer, but the hitters seemed to have no problem. Anyway, at least they made it interesting in the 9th.
As for the Yanks, why did they do that to Proctor? I have kids. I could barely talk on the phone after the latest scare with our 2 month old. His newborn had serious surgery and Torre put him out there. I know he didn’t want to risk Wright but it was a tough spot for Proctor to pitch in. Either way, they should have won it long before. They left 10 men on and had only 2 hits with runners in scoring position.
With the Sox and Yanks having the exact same record last year, every game DOES count.