Burned

If you throw 100 pitches before you hit seven innings of work, odds are you will end up with the big "L" next to your name in the boxscore.

Now, if you happen to be Daisuke Matsuzaka you beat the odds on this more often that not. In 2008, you threw 100+ pitches 14 times in the regular season in less than seven innings of work. In those games you went 10-0 with four no-decisions. You should be on a plane to Vegas with an odds-defying performance like that.

But math is a cold and harsh mistress. It has no give, and one of the rules is that the odds eventually even out.

Now, I am not saying that Daisuke is going to go 5-14 this year. I don't believe that for a second. What I am saying is that he won't be able to dance on that edge this year and get away with it like he did in 2008. Daisuke has to learn better control. Three home runs and three walks in five innings won't get it done this year. And that is why the Sox lost 4-3 last night to Tampa, a result that has a painfully familiar feel to it.

This Sox team is built on pitching and defense. That isn't to say their bats aren't powerful; even without Manny this team can drive in runs. Although if Jed Lowrie doesn't start doing something with his bat I may do the unthinkable and pine for the return of Julio Lugo. But Boston's pitching will determine their finish come September. And if Daisuke doesn't get it going, it will be that much harder for Boston to play baseball in October.

Oddity

If you didn't notice, the Red Sox and Yankees are in the bottom two spots in the AL East. When is the last time the standings looked like that? The early 90s?

First Pitch Strikes

Out of 28 batters faced, Daisuke threw 15 first-pitch strikes or first pitches that resulted in outs. That's a 53.5% success rate, well below what you want to see out of your starting pitcher. But this has always been Daisuke's issue; lack of first-pitch strikes and the problems that come from that.

Next Game

April 10/ Away against LA Angels/ Wakefield vs. Weaver/ 10:05 PM