Sox Ace, Josh Beckett (who just signed a 4-yr $68 million deal with the club), struggled in his first outing of the year, and after just 5 short innings - letting up 8 hits and 5 earned runs - was looking to The Brethren for support. Congratulations to Black Pearl newcomer Scott Schoeneweis who was perfect on the mound!
Schoeneweis (#48) had a perfect debut outing with the SoxThe rest of the night served as an unofficial roll call of this year's bullpen - bringing 5 of the 7 renowned pitchers to the mound. Meet the rest of this year's crew...
Ramon Ramirez
If #56 doesn't improve his ERA, we'll be petitioning Farrell to lock him in the brigI'm not sure what to say about a man with an ERA of 54.00 after the season opener. Another outing like this and he best walk the plank!
Hideki Okajima (The Eastern Wizard)
"O! K! A! J! I! M! A!...HE'LL STRIKE YOU OUT!"As a veteran crew member, Oki Doki (#37) has become synonymous with clutch relief play. On Opening Night, he allowed just 1 hit and no runs during his single inning on the mound - which was just enough to capture the season's first Win.
Along with his steadfast pitching, The Eastern Wizard unearths an additional treasure from Davy Jones' locker each time he departs the vessel: the best warm-up song in all of baseball. If ye haven't heard it yet, make sure to check it out, and sing along with the Black Pearl Girls at every game this season!
Daniel Bard
This year, the role of Exceptionally Tall and Good Looking Reliever will be played by Bard (taking over for last year's Masterson)Bard (#51), a right-handed reliever, recorded his first major league win on August 26 of last year, against the Chicago White Sox after pitching a scoreless inning and a third in the eight and ninth followed by a walk off home run by Big Papi.
On Sunday, he allowed no hits and only one walk - resulting in zero runs scored - during his 1 inning of play. I'm excited to see what this Botswain will bring to the bullpen this season - mostly, I'm just excited to watch him.
Jonathan Papelbon (The Lost Boy)
The Lost Boy's antics have become an expected sideshow with every trip to FenwayOh, Pap, where does one even begin? How about with the fact that Boston's colorful wild child clearly wasn't kidding when he said he had been torturing himself with the tape of last season's gut-wrenching ALDS loss this off-season. He looked like he had been held prisoner of an inner war - the fire, intensity, and outright possessed-ness were at an all-time high. But I liked it.
The self-proclaimed Cinco-Ocho (#58) was back to his old ways, allowing just 1 hit and no runs during the 1 inning event known as "The Close."
Manny Delcarmen
Manny wouldn't disclose his pirate nickname to us at a 2008 Christmas at Fenway press conferenceDelcarrrmen's absence from the mound on Opening Night doesn't negate the fact that he is an essential member of the sacred Brethren. In fact, it was #17 - at the urging of former Mike "The Admiral" Timlin - who started the ruckus in the bullpen back in 2007.
Boston's new favorite Manny is currently working on the mechanics of his pitching, including his devastating change-up, which has been inconsistent lately, but he's remaining positive and hoping to be back to normal soon.
Scott Atchison
Atchison called making this season's roster, "A dream come true"One of the two Scotts acquired on the Red Sox's last day in Florida, #48 comes to us from across the seas - returning to the U.S. after a 2 year pitching stint in Japan.
John Farrell & Gary Tuck
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The relievers and closers who make up Boston's bullpen will be pulling out all stops to support starters Josh Beckett (#18), Jon Lester (#31), John Lackey (#40), Daisuke Matsuzaka (#18), Tim Wakefield (#49), and Clay Buchholz (#11).
Fair winds, me buckos, in tonight's game!
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