A young man once walked into a doctor’s office after sprouting up six inches in a summer. “Doc, I’m confused.” He paused. “I’m having these new, strange feelings. Sometimes I can’t control my emotions.”

“Well Jonny, you know at a certain point in a boys life things start to…change.”

“Its not just that stuff, Doc. So much has changed in the last two years, I’m not the same person.”

“Yeah, you’ve had to deal with a lot. You’ve shown tremendous strength. Someday, I might even see you taking over for me, here at the Clinic.”

“Really? Gee, you think so?”

“Well, you’ve got a lot to learn. You’re still making a lot of mistakes, but I think you’ve got the ability. Now its just time you buckle down and show it, consistently.”

“Thanks, Doc. You know how much that means to kids like me. Everyone in this town looks up to you.”

The two strolled into the waiting room, all smiles. The young man’s long strides outpaced the grizzled old doctor and his three day beard. The doctor glanced up at the boy’s mother, an old flame from high school. He winked; she still looked as good as she did thirty years ago.

“Jonny, as far as I’m concerned, you’ve just made a giant step in the right direction.”
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In what was the best game of the young 2008 season, the Red Sox were somehow able to nip Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays behind a stellar performance by Jon Lester. He walked four, but only gave up one hit in his 8 IP, 97 pitch performance.  His fastballs were on the black and he moved from inside to outside corner routinely.  In the face of a dominant Halladay, The kid stepped up in a game that could have easily been 3-0 Blue Jays, good night, thanks for coming, losing streak continues.

From the “anti-gamer” department, J.D. Drew left early with a “tight hamstring.” When my hamstring is tight, I STRETCH IT OUT. Bam, ready to go. I’ve been unbelievably patient with J.D., but to leave a game your team desperately wants to win due to a precautionary hamstring concern demonstrates a critical difference in philosophy. Would Dustin Pedroia have left that game early? Nope, he was in there, flashin’ the leather and swingin’ for the fences like usual. I’ll eat my words if there’s a serious concern, but if he’s back in there tonight I’ll roll my eyes and chalk it up to the perils of signing a player known more for his demeanor than talent.

Tonight, Dustin McGowan faces Daisuke Matsuzaka. Expectations are high for McGowan, and he’s been a disappointment thus far, walking 16 and allowing 32 hits in 28 innings. He’s got the high nineties fastball and more importantly, the best/worst facial hair in the game. Who knew Chester A. Arthur threw gas?

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