and he fails to realize that although rollins had a 20-20-20-20 season, grandy did in the same season. do some fucking research eck.
Ever so slowly will this lead shrink away, whilst the offense fails to capitalize with RISP, and penny continues to pitch.
Wait, you're allowed to let your closer go more than an inning and/or throw more than 20 pitches? I hope we don't break him.
Babysteps, babysteps. Winning makes everything better. I'm happy to seeTazawa- not because I'm convinced he'll even be average but it is pretty much a foregone conclusion that he will be better than Smoltz. A 6 inning, 3 run performance from him would be fine tomorrow, as long as the bats show up.
Another quality start for Penny, too bad the BP screwed him out of a win. Oh well, at least the team won.
Pitching matchup BOS: RHP Junichi Tazawa (0-1, 10.80 ERA) Tazawa will have a little more time for prepare for his second Major League appearance following his debut last Friday at Yankee Stadium. In that game, he was called on to pitch the 14th inning mere hours after being promoted from Pawtucket. After escaping a jam in his first inning of work, Tazawa surrendered a walk-off two-run home run to Rodriguez in the 15th. He now moves into his more natural role of starter, replacing Smoltz in the Boston rotation. In 20 Minor League starts this year, Tazawa went 9-7 with a 2.55 ERA. He never pitched in professional baseball before this season, but registered dazzling numbers in Japan's industrial leagues. DET: RHP Rick Porcello (10-7, 4.30 ERA) A quicker tempo, renewed sinker and improved command of his secondary pitches has Porcello heating up just in time for the stretch run, something the Tigers couldn't have planned any better if they tried. The rookie fired 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball last Thursday against Baltimore, no-hitting the Orioles through four. Porcello will need his best sinker at Fenway Park, where he has never pitched. The 20-year-old right-hander yielded three runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 frames against the Red Sox on June 2 at Comerica Park. Tidbits The Red Sox have won five straight against the Tigers dating back to May 8, 2008. ... Starters Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester and Brad Penny have posted a 2.08 ERA over Boston's past four games, combining for 19 strikeouts and a .228 opponents' batting average. ... With Monday's second-inning stolen base, center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury surpassed his career high of 50 from last season. His 51 swipes is the third highest single-season total in franchise history.
