Photo by Kelly O’Connor of sittingstill.smugmug.com
The annual Mayor’s Cup competition between the Red Sox and the Twins is now a Spring Training tradition, as much as Spring Training has any real traditions. Amazingly, it’s not even The Mayor’s Cup anymore, because fun and arbitrary trophies are banned in Florida. But this last series against the Twins has some pretty big implications, especially come next week when something finally, mercifully, gloriously comes back to us for yet another year of beating balls with rounded sticks into crowds of somewhat unsuspecting people.
Or as most of us know it and call it, baseball. The greatest sport of all.
For starters, we have John Lackey going up against Kevin Correia. Last year, Correia had one start against the Sox – in Fenway. He went an inefficient 5.1 innings and gave up nine hits and three runs, but those were all the runs Boston would get, as the bullpen bailed out Correia with 3.2 innings of no-hit ball. Lackey, on the other hand, had two starts against the Twins in May, and those two games combined equaled 13 innings pitched, 1 earned run (6 runs total), 13 strikeouts and two walks. Not too shabby from the future winner of the clinching game of the World Series.
John Farrell’s taken his time with announcing the starting center fielder, but on Spring Training production alone, Grady Sizemore should be running away with the job. Jackie Bradley Jr. hasn’t prospered in the absence of Jacoby Ellsbury as well as we thought he would, and may even end up in Pawtucket by the end of the week. Not everyone explodes onto the scene like a certain shortstop, but giving JBJ more seasoning in Triple-A isn’t something bad, just a sign that he needs a little more time getting ready for the big leagues.
With all that in mind, you’re probably wondering where you can see/hear the game. Fear not, for I know all. The game itself won’t be broadcasted, but WEEI will have the call for this first game. And if you have a few extra bucks on you, there’s some opportunities waiting for you. According to Sportbet.com these are the favorite MLB lines and odds for this game.
Just wait, everyone. In less than a week, baseball that counts will return in all of its grassy, gritty glory. The Twins may just be a appetizer to what we’ll see on Monday, but for now, baseball’s baseball. We’ve waited months, and I won’t mind waiting a couple more days.