RED SOX SWEEP THE YANKS...AGAIN

Remember the 2-10 start and all of Red Sox Nation was in disarray? The Red Sox now sit in first place in the AL East with a 36-26 record. They have swept the Yankees two times this year at Yankee Stadium and have taken an overall eight out of nine. The offense is as advertised, putting football type numbers up on the scoreboard and the pitching has been there, but needs to improve. Adrian Gonzalez is in contention for a triple crown with his ridiculous numbers of 12 home runs, .336 average and 55 RBIs through 62 games. Carl Crawford dismal April is in the past and he is hovering around the .250 mark. Dustin Pedroia dodged a bullet with only a bruised knee cap and will not require surgery. Jacoby Ellsbury is having a fantastic bounce back year while David Ortiz is on absolute fire with 15 homers and batting around .325. The pitching must get better and healthier, but the Red Sox are who we thought they were, a first place team and a powerhouse. Look for this team to keep rolling as they are 18-6 in their last 24 games.

BRUINS TWO WINS AWAY FROM PROMISE LAND

A series does not start until both teams have home ice. The Boston Bruins proved that in the past week by evening the series with the Vancouver Canucks. The Bruins could have easily swept the series, but to know they are even with the Canucks now after two devastating losses is a sigh of relief.

After Nathan Horton received a late hit from Aaron Rome, the Bruins have outscored the Canucks 12-1. Coincidence? I think so. The Bruins are now inside Roberto Luongo's head who has received the nod as game five starter. The physical play of Zdeno Chara, Dennis Seidenberg, Johnny Boychuk and the emergence of tough guy Shawn Thornton have really worn down the Canucks. The Sedin sisters have been a non-factor and Ryan Kesler has not been the same since the big hit by Boychuk in game two. It is a best of three series and the Bs have all the momentum heading back to Vancouver. Mark Recchi has been finding the back of the net, Brad Marchand is getting under the Canucks skin, David Krejci is making a case for the MVP of the Stanley Cup, and oh, Timmy Thomas has been spectacular.

WHAT WILL THE CELTICS DO?

I know the Bruins are in the Stanley Cup for the first time in 21 years and the Red Sox are finally playing the way they should be, but I asked myself the other day, what is in store for the Celtics next season? After coming off a brutal series loss to the Miami Heat, the Celtics have a lot of question marks heading into next season. Shaq has retired, Jermaine is questioning surgery, Krstic is a free agent, Baby is a free agent, and the Big three are only getting older. Sure, Rajon Rondo is here to stay (hopefully) and the team can build around him when the Big Three have retired, but where do they go? Do they try and go after Dwight Howard? Doc Rivers signed a five year deal, well beyond the availability of the Big Three so in my opinion, something must be in store. Will they ship Rondo and Jeff Green to New Orleans for Chris Paul? With Chris Paul, does that bring Dwight Howard is 2012? There is a lot to think about come November. The Celtics are losing a lot of key parts, but the core will still be there and I still think they can make a push for another championship.

RED SOX LOSE DICE-K FOR THE YEAR, WHO FILLS THE VOID?

Word has it that Daisuke Matsuzaka will undergo Tommy John surgery ending his season. Matsuzaka was less than stellar this year owning a 3-3 record with a 5.30 E.R.A. He has been nothing but frustrating since he got here besides his 18-3 campaign. Too many walks, too many hits, not enough strikeouts, and throwing off-speed pitches behind in the count. These were the ingredients for diaster for the young righty. With Dice-K out for a very long time, how will Terry Francona go about handling the situation?
Tim Wakefield and Alfredo Aceves have been doing an okay job at filling the roles of John Lackey and Dice-K, but will they be able to do this on a regular basis? Aceves was roughed up in his last outing versus the White Sox and Tim Wakefield was strong at the start of the game yesterday, but fell apart toward the later innings. Will Kevin Millwood really get a chance? He got shelled yesterday in Pawtucket so I think that is out of the question. When Felix Dubront is healthy, will he get a shot? Only time will tell because the back end of the rotation (as we all knew) is suspect. In order for this team to compete, the pitching needs to be great from top to bottom.
I personally think Aceves is more valuable in the bullpen, but he wants to be a starter. Tim Wakefield is a different look after seeing 95 MPH from Beckett and Lester. It is a tough decision for Tito, but you can never have enough pitching. Why not go out and make a big splash at the deadline for a starter?

BRUINS LOSE HEART BREAKER IN GAME 1 OF STANLEY CUP FINALS

The Bruins did just about everything they could last night to keep the Canucks off the scoreboard until the final 18.5 seconds. Was Torres offsides? Who knows. Was Boychuk out of position? You really can't blame anyone at that point in the game. The Boston Bruins played one hell of a game on Wednesday night. Tim Thomas was spectacular but Roberto Luongo was just better.
The Bruins still had the problem of scoring on their power play, but they resilient Bs shut down Vancouver on the power play all night long. Who would have thought that after the Tampa Bay Lightning scored goal after goal on the power play? There has to be much positivity taken out of this game because I do not think the Canucks can play any better than they did. Timmy Thomas just shut down the powerhouse offense.
Another big component of this game is to see if Alex Burrows will be suspended for a game for biting Patrice Bergeron. Burrows is a major part of the Canucks offense as he plays along side the Sedin brothers. This would be a huge blow for the Canucks and should be looked at carefully by the league. It was a classless move that was uncalled for.
The Bruins will head into Saturday's game feeling good about themselves. They have come back from being down in series on the road all throughout the playoffs. One thing has to continue to get better and that is the power play. It was significantly better on Wednesday night because the Bs were throwing shot after shot on net getting great opportunities, Saturday night if those chances go in, the Bruins will not lose with the way the defense and Timmy Thomas are playing.

STANLEY CUP FEVER & RED HOT SOX

For the first time in 21 years the Boston Bruins punched a ticket to the Stanley Cup finals with a late goal from Nathan Horton on a beautiful feed from David Krejci. The city of Boston was in an uproar. Fans coming together as one chanting "WE WANT THE CUP, WE WANT THE CUP" at North Station last night. The Bruins have finally rewarded its fans after a long wait, but do not sleep on this team. This team has fought all year and just because Vegas has the team as a 2-1 underdog to the lethal Vancouver Canucks, does not mean the B's can't hoist the trophy. Timmy Thomas is unbeaten versus the Canucks and defeated them 3-1 earlier in February. The Hub has Stanley Cup fever and it finally feels good to be watching hockey heading into June. The Boston Bruins are back. Another person who deserves all the credit in the world is Big Z. He has been a monster on the defensive end shutting down the elite scorers in the NHL. Big Z has been playing almost 25 minutes a game. The Bruins do not get where they are this year without the big guy.

The Red Sox are finally a top the standings. Carl Crawford is earning his pay check and everything is starting to click for the Nation. The Sox have scored 34 runs in their past three games while getting quality pitching from spot starters Tim Wakefield and Acedo Aceves. The Sox are 27-12 since their brutal 2-10 start. Red Sox Nation can finally breathe again because the team is on a roll. They are 12-2 in their last 14 games and have won four straight. The Yankees are getting older while the Red Sox are getting younger. The Yanks will be there until the end, but the Sox should hold the spot a top the AL East until the end of the season.

TYLER SEGUIN HAS COMING OUT PARTY

There was much discussion throughout these playoffs, when and if Tyler Seguin will get any ice time and spark this Bruins team. When Patrice Bergeron was concussed, the 19 year-old got his chance. Entering his first NHL playoff game versus the Lightning, Seguin was watching games from the press box not too long ago. Seguin made an immediate impact scoring the Bruins first goal to cut the lead to 3-1 and assisted on the other. Claude Julien must now realize that this kid needs to stay on the ice. His quickness, moves, and hockey IQ are that of a very special player. After all, there was a reason the Bruins drafted him number two overall.
In his second game versus Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference Finals with the Bruins down 2-1, he sparked a second period surge that led the Bruins to five goals on nine shots. Seguin accounted for two goals and two assists. The Garden started the chant "Seguinnnnnnnn, Seguinnnnnnn, Seguinnnnn" but in a good way. The kid proved that he is an elite player and difference maker. Now, we hope Claude can see the same thing.
With Patrice Bergeron due back by Game three on Thursday, it is a good problem to have trying to see where Seguin and Bergeron will fit into the line making. The odd man out looks like Shawn Thornton, but who knows what Mr. Julien will do. He loves his fourth line and the toughness Thornton brings to the team, but Bergeron is the key to this team and now Seguin may be too if he stays on the ice. If you looked at the clock last night with 1:30 remaining, Tyler Seguin was on the ice. Like I said during the Philly series and Montreal Series, he was eating popcorn in the press box with the Bruins camp. This is a serious step in the right direction for once.

RED SOX BACK TO .500

On their fourth try on the year, the Boston Red Sox have finally reached the place they have wanted to be for quite some time. Not first place, .500. The Red Sox sit at 20-20 and they are 18-10 since their dismal 2-10 start, the worst in franchise history. The Nation has a seven game home stand where if they rattle off a 6-1 week or 5-2 week, the rest of the AL East better watch out.
Adrian Gonzalez has been "as advertised" crushing eight home runs thus far in May. He now has nine home runs and 34 RBIS (leading the American League). Carl Crawford is finally starting to come around, which we all knew he would. Kevin Youkilis had a big series versus the Yankees hitting two key home runs to get the Sox back in the game or put it away. Jacoby Ellsbury is finally becoming the true leadoff hitter Terry Francona wants him to be. He is second in the American League in steals as well.
When Francona juggled the pitching rotation for the Yankee series, it was a preview of what the Sox staff can really do, and that is deal. Clay Buchholz got his fourth win of the year holding the Yanks to only two runs through seven innings. Saturday night, Josh Beckett pitched six scoreless innings while striking out nine continuing his dominate streak. Lastly, on the big stage of Sunday Night Baseball, Jon Lester got off to a slow start, but ended up turning in a great outing allowing four runs over six innings while striking out seven Yankee hitters.
The Sox are finally gaining their confidence back and have finally reached the spot they have wanted to all year. It is a new season for them and with Adrian Gonzalez mashing like he is and the staff finally coming together (minus John Lackey), watch out.

ARE THE CELTICS DONE?

After coming off an emotional Game 3 in Boston, the Celtics may have used all their energy Saturday night. Rajon Rondo laid in obvious pain on the ground after Dwayne Wade yanked him down. The Celtics crowd silenced as Rondo went to the locker room grabbing his elbow. Twenty-two minutes later, Rondo appears walking down the run way back on to the court willing the Celtics to a victory with one arm. Monday night, what a different story. Rondo did all that he could. Paul Pierce took the team on his back, but it just wasn't enough as the Heat's big three were just too much for the Celtics. KG had an attrocious game after having one of his best playoff games in recent memory. Ray was held in check for the most part and Shaquille O'Neal barely saw the court. Sixth man of the year contender Glen Davis has been non-existent in this series. The Celtics have dug themselves a huge hole going back to Miami down 3-1. This was a game they let slip away and the Heat capitalized. Pierce missed a buzzer-beater in regulation where KG could not set the high pick and roll for Ray which resulted in an off-balance heave by Pierce. Rondo missed a bunny under two minutes and TURNOVERS down the stretch killed the green. There was a point in the game where the Celts could have expanded their lead multiple times, but ended up turning the ball over time after time. That cannot happen because players such as LeBron James and Dwayne Wade will make you pay.
The Celtics will look to bounce back in Miami on Wednesday night. They have been trailing in a series before and this core group knows what it takes, so we will see Wednesday night, but it is hard to bet on the Celtics after watching them in the late fourth quarter and overtime where they usually execute so well.

BIG BLOW TO THE Bs LOSING BERGY

When Patrice Bergeron got checked and was laying on the ice for a few seconds, Bruins fans held their breath. Bergy is the heart and sole of the Bs offense and losing him for any amount of time is crushing. The Bruins were on a roll. They took care of the Flyers and seeked revenge on the travesty that happened only one year ago. It was all good vibes at the TD Garden as "Dirty Water" played on the PA system, but Bruins fans soon forgot that Bergy did not return to the game and a concussion was likely in order. Bergy was having a great 2011 playoff in all aspects. He was scoring goals, setting up goals, penalty killing, and back checking. This is the guy you do not want to lose at all. Tyler Seguin will get his chance. His first action ever in an NHL playoff game. The kid cannot even drink alcohol legally and the Boston Bruins are giving him a shot to step in and use his athleticism to his advantage. Seguin did not get much playing time down the stretch, but the Bruins camp feels Seguin can answer the bell for a few key minutes here and there. David Krejic will need to continue his dominate play as well as Milan Lucic, who scored two goals in the Game 4 versus the Flyers. There is no doubt Timmy Thomas will bring his Vezina-self to the Eastern Conference Finals, but he has his hands full with a loaded Tampa Bay Lightning offense. Bergy needs to take care of himself and get back as soon as he can because Bergy is the difference maker and it is certainly a huge blow to the black and gold.

CRAWFORD BUSTING OUT?

Every time Carl Crawford gets a hit, there is a sigh from Red Sox Nation. But, when he strikes out, the boo birds come back out at Fenway, which will not help the cause. Crawford is an elite major league baseball player who is having the worst month of his career. This is the guy that use to drive the Red Sox and their fans crazy for nine years. Now, the Sox dish out 142 million dollars and he is batting under .200 with seven RBIs and only one home run.
His walk-off single versus the Mariners on Sunday may be what Crawford needed to bust out and go on a rampage. The weight is off his shoulders. He did what he wanted to do...help the Red Sox win. After, Jed Lowrie got a gift from Ichiro Suzuki who lost a fly ball in the sun resulting in a triple for Lowrie, Crawford ripped a single up the middle for a Red Sox win. His teammates then proceeded to mob him infront of the Fenway faithful. It was the second time Crawford smiled all year. The first being after his only home run. His teammates are sticking with him and know the amount of talent this guy has. He will be fine and he will play an important role down the stretch to get these Red Sox back into their winning ways.
 A new month for Crawford may be just what the doctor ordered. He does not want to hear the word April under next year. It is May now and hopefully he has turned the page as well as Red Sox Nation. Look for Crawford to get hot real soon, as long as he stops dipping his shoulder and he stays back on the baseball.

CELTICS GET THEIR DATE WITH THE HEATLES

What better way to start the second round of the NBA playoffs. The Celtics will travel to Miami Sunday to face the Heat. The Cs won the season series 3-1, but all that is erased because each team has a 0-0 record in the series. It is a very anticipated matchup. Critics say the Celtics are much more physical. It also helps that the Cs have been in this position before with a majority of their core players. An interesting stat is that Dwayne Wade is shooting around 13% from three-point land and is only averaging around 13 points versus the Celtics in the four games.
The bench needs to step up versus the Heat because the Heat bench is not great. The Celtics bench has enough talent for some players to be starters elsewhere. The main key to victory is Rajon Rondo. As Rondo goes, the Celtics go. Celtics fans saw the Rondo of old versus the Knicks just torching any defender who tried to cover him. Key word is try. He was shooting the ball well, attacking the basket, and rebounding the basketball. He also has great passing ability. It will be hard for Mike Bibby or Mario Chalmers to cover him so look for Rondo to have another monster series.
My prediction is the Celtics to prevail in six games. This team is great especially executing down the stretch. The Heat have no inside game. If the Celtics defense forces the Heat to shoot jumpshots, this series could actually be over sooner rather than later. The Perk-less Celtics defense is still solid. Every man is rotating great and every man is there for their teammate.
The Heat's LeBron James guarenteed not four, not give, not six championships in their premature parade in the preseason. The Heat won't even stiff an Eastern Conference championship appearance nevermind hoisting a trophy. Give me a break. Ubuntu.

MICHAEL RYDER DOES HIS BEST J.D. DREW IMPRESSION

If you read the newspaper, listened to sports talk, or watched any sports television show, you heard the name Michael Ryder. It was not a good thing either. Ryder had been a 20 goal scorer for the Bruins and can be one of the best finishers on the team. He entered Game five Thursday night with zero goals, zero assists, zero points, zero hits, and many thought zero confidence. But, with the Bruins down 1-0, Ryder received a cross ice beautiful pass from Tomas Kaberle to beat Carey Price high glove side to get the Bs back in the game. Ryder also showed heart in chasing down a puck down in the Canadiens zone to flip it in front to Chris Kelly who buried the goal to tie the game at four late in the game. Ryder's play in Bruins eyes has changed in one game because he played to his potential. The rest in this game was gravy, but Ryder did the unthinkable. With less than two minutes gone in the overtime, the Bruins also completed a remarkable comeback after being down three different times in the hockey game. Ryder was planted in front of the net when he received a pass after a blown three on one and he made no mistake about it and buried it past Price. The Bruins win and tie the series at two, they head back home to Boston with all the momentum in the world, and may have got their goal scorer back on the third line, Michael Ryder. "I am a real American, fight for the rights of every man." Go Bs.

LOWRIE OR SCUTARO?

It is a good dilemma to have. Marco Scutaro or Jed Lowrie? Lowrie has never stayed healthy but was regarded as one of the Sox top prospects. He is the hottest hitter in baseball right now hitting over .450 in 12 games with two homers and nine RBIs. There is no way Tito can keep Lowrie out of the lineup. Scutaro had a great year last year playing through numerous injuries to help this team compete in the AL East until the final days of September. We cannot overlook that. He is off to a slow start this year and Jed Lowrie is tearing the cover off the ball. There is no other place Lowrie can play when you have two all-star caliber players at the corners and a big powerful DH in Big Papi.
Until Lowrie cools off, he must be on the lineup card everyday. He can DH for Ortiz when there are tough lefties on the bump or play first or third when Youk or A-Gone need a day off. Pedey does not like to come out of games so it would be tough to get Lowrie or Scutaro to play second base. But, Scutaro showed a lot of character last year staying in ball games with a nagging neck injury. It is tough not to reward him on a regular basis this year, but when you have Lowrie swinging the bat like Ted Williams, it is tough to sit him.

PANIC MODE IN RED SOX NATION?

One of the most anticipated baseball seasons for the Boston Red Sox took place last weekend in Texas. Words such as 100 wins were being thrown around the media and fans. Well, the Red Sox got taken care of quite easily by the hands of the World Series runner-up Texas Rangers. Jon Lester who many picked to win this years Cy Young award did not record a strikeout and let up three home runs. John Lackey who many predicted to have a bounce back year let up nine earned runs in less than four innings and Clay Buchholz let up four home runs in the series finale. The Rangers mashed 11 home runs, yes 11. The Red Sox scored 11 runs total.
Many questions are already starting after three games and I am already sick of it. Should we have paid 142 million for Crawford? The guy has not even had 20 at bats yet, relax. The pitching staff cannot hack it. It has been three games. Talk to me when it is the all-star break. Once this team finds its identity, they are one of those teams that can go on a 10-15 game win streak they are that good.
Three games have passed and Red Sox Nation feels like it is crumbling. This team was not going to go 162-0 as much as everyone wanted them to. They have not even made a full round through the pitching rotation and some fans summers are already ruined.
The lineup will be fine. They will score a substantial amount of runs. The pitching will settle in and adjust. Once the hitters get their timing down and they are seeing the ball better, it will be a long day or night for opposing pitchers. I am not worried about this team at all. The Fighting Showwalters are 4-0 and atop the AL East, how long will that last? Come on, man.

IS IT TIME TO PANIC ABOUT THE CELTICS?

The green are 5-6 in their last 11 games and have only scored over 100 points once. That one time last night in a loss to the Pacers. Rajon Rondo and Doc Rivers have been going at it according to some reports. Rondo wants to run fewer plays that they execute better and Rivers believes he is the coach and may do as he pleases. After the loss to Charlotte last Friday night, in the press conference Rivers was caught saying "he" was selfish, "he" would not listen, "he" wants to do what he wants and much of the media is translating that "he" into Rondo. He did not play in Minnesota and many believe it was a benching where Rivers says it is to rest his sprained pinkie.
The offense does not look great. The bench is struggling as of late. The lack of a big man is catching up as well. With Jermaine and Shaq coming back, I believe it is a good thing and a bad thing. They certainly need the bodies, but trying things out and getting your stamina back at the end of March can slow down the entire team. The talent this bench has with names such as Delonte West, Troy Murphy, Jeff Green, Big Baby, Carlos Arroyo- someone has to step it up and hold on to leads so the Celtics starters can get a blow.
In 2010, the Celtics coasted into the playoffs as a four seed and Celtics fans know the rest. The second half of the season they went 25-25, so hopefully it is a repeat performance just this time they hoist the trophy on Causeway Street.

DO CELTICS NEED HOME COURT IN PLAYOFFS?

After much thinking about this subject, I really do think the Celtics need home court.  Sure, they need to be healthy, but I think if they go into Chicago, Miami, or Orlando for a game 7, trouble may ensue especially if it is a back-to-back.  The Celtics have lost their last five games on the back end of a back-to-back sequence.  Right now, they are beat up and are still holding to the one seed, but Chicago and Miami are knocking.  Chicago is for real and may cause match-up problems for the Cs.  Miami, we know their story. 

The Celtics do not worry me at all.  Rondo is slumping and they lost two or three, but as usual when it counts the Celtics will turn it on.  They will also get Shaq back, Jermaine, and Delonte.  I just want the Celtics to get healthy and maintain the one seed because if that holds true, I do not see them losing.  The Lakers will come out of the West because they are playing as good as anyone right now (10-1) since the All-Star break.  They may be too big for the Cs now that Perk is in OKC, but I like the Cs chances with the chemistry of Ray, Rondo, Pierce, KG, and Baby.  Krstic and Green are fitting in nicely as well.

The Celtics will be the team that comes out of the East.  I do believe it and I am still sticking to it.  There is too much depth on that team not to make a push for banner number 18.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS?

It has been over a week since the newly looked Celtics have gotten acquainted.  Since the trade, the Celtics are only 5-1.  That one loss, the day they traded Perkins, Nate, and the rest of the bench leaving the green to dress only eight players.  It was also a very emotional day for the Cs.

Earlier this week, Nate Robinson underwent knee surgery that will keep him out for another 4-6 weeks, Perk is out for another two, Erden hasn't played yet, so what is all the fuss with Danny's move?  Jeff Green and Nednad Krstic are becoming vital parts in this teams move towards banner 18.  Nenad is efficient and fitting into the offense well and Jeff Green versatility is just tough to stop.  With Baby out, Green is filling in nicely.  Two healthy players contributing on a nightly basis and Perk and Nate? Sitting in street clothes for the Oklahoma City Thunder.  There should not be any more questions about this move.  The Celtics still have three seven footers with Nenad and the O'Neals.  Troy Murphy gives them some length as well.

This team can score the basketball now.  Nenad never got looks in OKC because Durant and Westbrook were the first two options.  Jeff Green can beat you from the outside or he can post you down low.  Give Rondo the basketball and he will find anyone for an easy basket. 

The Celtics moved to 46-15 after their gutsy performance in Milwaukee which is good for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference and the second best record in the NBA, questions? I do not think so.  See you in the championship in June.

BECKETT OR LESTER ON OPENING DAY?

There can be an argument for both of these pitchers to take the ball from manager Terry Francona on Opening Day, but Jon Lester deserves the honor for the first time in his career.  He went 19-9 last year sitting down 225 hitters.  He pitched 208 innings and clearly is the new workhorse for this staff.  Lester has been nothing short of remarkable in his short career and Tito should give him the chance on April 1st versus the Texas Rangers.  He may be a slow starter, but numbers do not lie.  This guy has a chance to win over 20 games this year with the lineup the Sox will put out everyday as well as the new and improved bullpen.  In his first 100 starts, Jon Lester is 61-25  with an ERA of 3.55, any questions? I did not think so.

Beckett has been the man for the Sox over the past couple of years, but injuries have plagued him.  He had a career worse ERA of over five last season and finished the season 6-6.  I still have confidence and Beckett and still think he has the ability to win 15 plus games, but I think it is Lester's staff now.  Beckett has that chip on his shoulder after last season which is not a good thing for the American League.  He is healthy and if he uses all of his pitches, he can be just as dangerous as Lester.  Lester is one of-if not the best left-hander in the game and deserves the nod on opening day.

DID THE RED SOX OVERLOOK ENOUGH STARTING PITCHING?

Lester, Buchholz, Beckett, Lackey, Matsuzaka.  A very solid core of pitchers going into the 2011 season.  What about if one of those pitchers tweeks a hamstring? Has an elbow problem? Who will be able to take a spot in the rotation?  Felix Doubront is already experiencing elbow problems at age 23 and the season has not even started yet.  The ageless Tim Wakefield will be there as he always is, but he always ends up on the DL with a back problem or leg problem.  I am a little worried if one of these starting pitchers goes down because there is not much depth for the Sox.  I know those five guys came into camp in the best shape yet, but anything can happen and it could ruin their run to a 2011 Word Series title.

All free agents in the off season made an easy decision because they know the Sox starters 1-5 are set and stone, so why would you want to come to Boston if you were not going to start if you are a starting pitcher? I don't blame them, but I hope Theo and Tito get together and find another person who can start in the future.  Scott Atchison did it once last year and pitched well, but I would rather him in the bullpen.  We'll see what happens, I was kidding...I'm not that worried.