Red Sox Fever Awaits
Red Sox Fever should be as hot as ever in the 2004 season.
April 3rd, 2004 - Tomorrow the wait for the 2004 season will officially be over at 8:05 P.M. ET. The game will be featured on ESPN2, WEEI 850, and WROL (Sp.). The Red Sox will be playing the Baltimore Orioles with a lot of new faces on both sides. The Red Sox have acquired Curt Schilling, Keith Foulke, and more as the Orioles have signed Javy Lopez, Sidney Ponson, and star shortstop Miguel Tejada. Their offense will be great but it's their pitching that has to hold up. But the Red Sox have acquired better pitching and lose some hitting. With Nixon and Garciaparra out for opening day Pokey Reese will start for Nomar at short, Mark Bellhorn at second and Millar/Kapler in right field for Nixon. The Red Sox currently have 24 players on their roster manager Terry Francona is still looking for that 25th man. However, their have been many question marks. Keith Foulke has pitched unusually strange and their have been many minor injuries limiting certain players for a short period of time. But it all comes together tomorrow when the Sox square off against the Orioles. If they aren't good enough to withstand these injuries then they aren't a championship team. So it's the first game of the season, and the Sox already have an obstacle to cross. This will be a long season and I'm sure the Red Sox Fever will be hot as ever!
Projected Red Sox Starting 9
Starter RH Pedro Martinez
1. Johnny Damon, CF
2. Bill Mueller, 3B
3. Manny Ramirez, LF
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Kevin Millar, 1B
6. Jason Varitek, C
7. Gabe Kapler, RF
8. Mark Bellhorn, 2B
9. Pokey Reese, SS
Projected Orioles Starting 9
Starter RH Sidney Ponson
1. Brian Roberts, 2B
2. Melvin Mora, 3B
3. Miguel Tejada, SS
4. Rafael Palmeiro, 1B
5. Javy Lopez, C
6. Jay Gibbons, RF
7. David Segui, DH
8. Larry Bigbie, LF
9. Luis Matos, CF
The Orioles have a great offense but they forgot about pitching so the Red Sox will have to shut them down with Pedro and their bullpen. My predictions for the 2004 season are to the right as well.
Trottin To May
March 19th, 2004 - Trot Nixon has not played in a Spring Training game yet and he's already injured. He has a mildly herniated disk in his back. The Red Sox hope Garciaparra can play in a game in two weeks, coming very close to Boston's opener in Baltimore on April 4. General Manager Theo Epstein said he was optimistic after hearing favorable test results. "Nomar will be back by Opening Day and Trot will be back some time in early May and we can withstand that," Epstein said. "They're both being treated conservatively." Francona will use Kapler and Millar as right fielders until Nixon returns and if Garciaparra isn't back Pokey Reese will replace him at shortstop.
Thick Notes
Curt Schilling sporting the green St. Patrick's Day uniforms.
March 18th, 2004 - In honor the St. Patrick's Day the Red Sox wore great green uniforms. I liked it because it was a new look on them. Something other than red to look at. Schilling pitched 6 innings allowing two hits with one run as the Sox beat the Indians 3-1. "I felt as strong after the sixth as I did when I started the game today," said Schilling. "I feel good. I feel real good." Schilling hit the strike zone with routine precision in his outing, throwing 74 pitches, 50 of which were strikes. Also Trot Nixon is looking for a second opinion from a doctor on his back and Nomar seems to be fine after his MRI revealed nothing. He only has a sore heal. Kim seems to be getting better. "He's starting his upper body strengthening and he'll stay on that program until the medical staff clears him to start throwing," said Francona. "And that will be when he's pain free. His body will tell us. It's not so much a timetable." Arroyo will replace his spot in the rotation. Lastly, the Boston Red Sox today claimed left-handed pitcher Frank Brooks off waivers from the Oakland Athletics and returned righthander Colter Bean to the New York Yankees per Rule 5 Draft guidelines. Senior Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein made the announcement. Brooks is 35-31 with 19 saves and a 3.46 ERA in 185 career minor league appearances (55 starts). The regular season begins in 21 days. (A countdown on this site will be coming soon.)
Giving To Others
February 28th, 2004 - As most Red Sox fans have heard by now, Curt and Shonda Schilling will be running the SHADE Foundation here in Boston. I strongly urge fans to donate time or money to this foundation. It's to help people with skin cancer. If you have some money to give and you're thinking of how to spend it, stop thinking about what to buy for yourself. There are many people with skin cancer. They developed an illness innocently. They did nothing to deserve such an illness. Yet, you are here wondering what to spend it on for yourself. I find myself with a lot of money just hanging around in my house. I don't even touch it. Why let it sit when it can help? Why keep it when you can give it to help others? You probably have great health. If you ever had skin cancer, you would want as much help as you can get. So what's the difference if you're not the one in that position? There are still innocent people with a life threatening disease. Why take when you can give? And if you can't donate money. Donate your time. Money can't buy happiness. Give others happiness by giving them your time. Help out. Get active. I hope to donate money to the SHADE foundation along with the Jimmy Fund. If I can, I will donate my time. I have money just sitting in my house waiting to be used for myself. Well this year it's going to be used for others. I hope you will do the same and help the less fortunate.
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