« Jon Lester sharp in minor league outing
Main
Projo SoxTalk with Art Martone and Sean McAdam »

Baseball Today: Friday, April 6

There's really only one story, locally or otherwise, today, but we've found a couple of more to go with it . . .

HE'S THE REAL DEAL: That's what the headline said over Sean McAdam's story this morning (projo.com), and who can argue? It was Daisuke Matsuzaka's coming-out party, and, boy, he didn't disappoint. Everybody was there, from espn.com to si.com to mlb.com to nbcsports.com (though that was just the Herald's Tony Massarotti doing double duty). The locals included Jeffrey Flanagan of the Kansas City Star. The Boston Globe got reaction from the victims, and even had someone in Japan. (boston.com) The expert opinion comes from Curt Schilling, though it's only part of a state-of-the-team observation and you have to wade through a pretty long post to find it. (38pitches.com)

DOWN TO THE LAST DETAIL: Diamond Daily breaks down the numbers after the fact. (espn.com) But if you want to see something really impressive, go to Matsuzaka Watch. They pretty much nailed his performance before the game. (matsuzaka.blogspot.com)

BIKKURI, YANKEE FANS: Old friend Bill Simmons blogged the game from his home in Los Angeles, and he ended it with "Bikkuri, Yankee fans. Bikkuri. (That means 'be frightened' in Japanese.)" (espn.com) That's the kind of Red Sox fan hubris -- gloating after one start -- that Yankee fans just adore, by the way.

AND FIND SOME NEW PLACES TO PARK WHILE YOU'RE AT IT: With construction of the new Yankee Stadium wiping out parking spots around the old ballpark, residents of the South Bronx are getting angry over fans parking on their streets. (New York Daily News)

MARRIED TO THE MOB? And while we're on the subject, WNBC in New York is reporting that the construction firm helping build the new Yankee Stadium has ties to organized crime. (wnbc.com)

PILING ON A LITTLE MORE: Derek Jeter -- whose defensive abilities spark the greatest debates this side of creationism -- made two errors in the Yankees' 7-6 loss to the Devil Rays last night. (New York Daily News) Which, of course, is one fewer than legitimately outstanding fielder Mike Lowell made Wednesday night in Kansas City.

THIS IS THE CHEATING JIM RICE WAS PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT: MLB is investigating Angels ace reliever Francisco Rodriguez for allegedly doctoring the baseball during his appearances against the Rangers on Monday and Wednesday. (Dallas Morning News) The Cheater's Guide To Baseball Blog presents the visual evidence. (www.zumsteg.net)

THE LID-LIFTER, AS THEY USED TO SAY 50 YEARS AGO: The PawSox won their opener last night (projo.com). Mike Timlin pitched an inning and gave up two hits.

AND FINALLY: Chad Finn, whose Touching All The Bases blog is a cherished bookmark for me, has landed a gig on the baseball page at FoxSports.com. Congratulations, Chad, and good luck.

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 6:59 AM | Permalink