Red Sox / Blue Jays - Game 14

The Red Sox lost a tough one last night - 4 to 3. I'm not upset by the loss though because its early in the season and these things will happen. I kinda even expected the Sox to lose last night.

Roy Halladay was pitching for the Blue Jays and he's one of the five best starting pitchers in baseball. Him and Johan Santana may just be the best two starters in the American League.

Halladay handled the Red Sox last night with the exception of two pitches - one to Manny Ramirez that someone from MIT will have to work out how far it was hit and one to David Ortiz which came with Manny on first base after a semi-intentional walk. Halladay only gave up three hits all night. It just so happened that two of them were home runs and those home runs cost him 3 runs and almost cost him the game.

Bronson Arroyo pitched a decent game. He only allowed 1 run in seven innings of work. Arroyo left the game with a 3-1 lead but the bullpen couldn't save the game for him. Alan Embree gave up two runs to allow the Jays to tie the game and then closer Keith Foulke gave up a run to lose the game.

Toronto moved back into a tie for first place with the win. Whats really impressive about that is the fact that of the 15 games they have played - only 5 so far have been at home. The Jays are tied with Baltimore right now but unlike Baltimore - Toronto has the starting pitching to compete the entire season. Halladay, Lilly, Bush and Chacin are a decent rotation. It should also be kept in mind that Toronto has a number of prospects in the cupboard available for midseason trades should the Jays need a midseason shot in the arm.

Manny Ramirez continues to be hot and I would like to point back to something I wrote seven days ago:

Manny Ramirez has gotten off to a slow start this year.

Ramirez .214 BA / 0 HR / 4 RBI / .290 OBP / .250 SLG

However, you know that Manny will bust out soon and have a streak of something like 6 HR and 12 RBI in 10 games. Manny is just too good a hitter to keep down.

Since I wrote that Manny has had 5 HR and knocked in 12 runs in just 7 games. Just wanted to point this out.

I know that people will gripe about Francona taking Manny and Kevin Millar out of the game too ealy last night (in the seventh). It is these kinds of moves that led Steven King and Phony Red Sox Fan Stewart O'Nan to knickname Francona "Coma" last year but who had the last laugh? Francona has to manage the game but he also has to manage playing time. McCarty and Payton needs innings too. Lets not start micromanaging Francona's decisions.