John Smoltz, future Hall of Famer, takes the mound in another uniform for the first time in his illustrious career.
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The past faces off vs. the future.
Rocky start…
Yeah. This should certainly put all those Penny trade rumors to rest for a while – Smoltz is making Matsuzaka look good.
Very, very bad start :(
Maybe Buchholz is gonna have his chance sooner than he expected…
Wow, take it easy. The guy’s shaking the rust off but obviously still has very good stuff.
Smoltz honestly doesn’t look that bad. He’s getting the fastball up to 93, and while he’s left a few pitches up and struggled with his control, it certainly looks like he’s got plenty left in the tank.
Let’s see if he can settle in a little before we give up on him.
It looks to me like control is a major issue. I hope you’re right, that it’s just rust, but yikes. This does not inspire confidence.
Seriously, f\he doesn’t look bad at all. This is a guy who hasn’t faced major league hitters in better than a year and he’s getting lots of swings and misses. You’re right, there’s some pop on that fastball. I think he’s earned the benefit of the doubt.
I agree with you guys. He looks fine. Let’s hope that the command comes. But the stuff seems decent enough.
Control issues could mean one of two things: either he’s rusty, or his shoulder still isn’t 100 percent. If it’s the former, it’ll just take time. If it’s the latter, it just might be Clay’s time.
Smoltz’s fastball has great late-breaking action.
much better!
Little better that inning.
Now let’s see if he can get something going against Zimmermann.
Yea, but expecting him to hit too? :)
I’m kidding, he’s like a .160 career hitter … but that was a pretty good AB. Wasn’t expecting Smoltz to be the one to help us run Zimmermann’s pitch count up a bit.
Pedroia has never been the victim of a hat trick in his career, but he really doesn’t seem to be picking up Zimmermann well at all.
Dammit… We need some offense.
It’s okay. I am confident that the Sox can score four. Of course, they need to prevent some in order for that to matter :)
Good thing about that inning is they made Zimmermann work — he’s up to 54 pitches on the night. If Smoltz can hold the Nats there, the Sox should have at least a couple of innings to catch up against Washington’s bullpen, if they can’t get to Zimmermann.
Smoltz is really struggling to command his slider, which is a significant issue because he needs that pitch to put guys away.
Would’ve helped in that AB against Bard.
Great, Papi…just what the doctor ordered there. Wonderful.
I hope none of you have given up. I am not going to, as I was looking forward to watching Smoltz’s first start.
He’s basically alternating bad innings with good innings…not sure what to make of that, but I hope the trend stops in the 5th.
Meanwhile, the offense looks dead, so that may not matter. Zimmermann is throwing great — better knock him out ASAP and see if they can tee off against the pen.
77 pitches through 5 for Zimmermann.
Ah, the slider command comes back, and suddenly they can’t touch Smoltz.
Since the first inning…
4IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 5K
That was impressive
I’m here. But our offense has taken the day off :(
Alright, rally time. Don’t eff this up, Papi.
Come on, Papi, remember your clutch days…
Well, that’s one. Zimmermann’s at 94 pitches thru 6.
I like the move by Tito, yanking Smoltz after 92 pitches and letting him finish on the high note of striking out the side in the 5th. Aside from that 1st inning, it wasn’t a bad debut at all, and if the rough start can be chalked up to rust, there’s reason for optimism.
Hold the line, Bard.
Ok… We are screwed
I’m pretty sure “Hold the line” is not spelled I-M-P-L-O-D-E, Bard.
Well, that pretty much seals it. Some positives to take out of this game, but we’ll have to settle for a series win.
Baldelli’s shot was nice, but there’s just about no other part of that game that didn’t suck.
Smoltz after the first inning did not suck.
True, but by that standard Matsuzaka doesn’t suck, either.
When’s the last time Matsuzaka tossed four innings without walking a batter?
June 7th, while losing to Texas. Pitching well for every inning but one is not the same as pitching well.
Agreed. But when that inning is your first in over a year, it’s forgivable.
Also agreed, and to be clear, I’m saying the game – not Smoltz – sucked. Giving up four runs early, no offense, Papi’s E1, the bullpen spraying kerosene on everything in sight. I am absolutely impressed with how Smoltz eventually settled in, and expect much better from him next time out.
But I’m also glad we still have Penny and Buchholz.