Johnny V: We'll start with the good stuff, Val made a triumphant return to the starting line-up last night at short stop. At the plate he went 1-2 2B 2RBI and 2BB and was flawless in the field, a pretty good night for anyone if you ask me.

Opportunities: Even though we were held to only four hits we did have chances to score. Chances with no outs, like in the 7th (I believe it was the seventh) when we had the first two runners reach and couldn't get any of them in. There were other spots as well and the O is looking allot like last year lately. Unless a certain #24 comes up to the plate we're just not scoring.

Jimy Williams: I've never really come out on whether I like him or not. I'm still actually trying to figure it out. But one of the things that drives me nuts about him is the refusal to sacrifice, especially when the O is slumping. In the aforementioned inning when we had the first two runners reach, Shea Hillenbrand came up in a perfect sacrifice situation. When the offense is going bad you need to get guys to third base, there's like 80+ ways to score from third as opposed to second. Anyway Shea was allowed to swing away and he promptly struck out. Daubach (pinch hitter) did the same, and DLew, who is never my pick to be up in those situations, couldn't get the job done either.

Tomo Ohka: This is a few starts in a row that Ohka hasn't looked all that good. I know he's proven all he can in AAA, but with something having to give when Pichardo is activated, Ohka could be the give, and Wakefield inserted into his spot.

That's all I have today, as you may have read here last week weekend updates are real tough for me and especially this weekend. So there may be nothing new to come to for the next two days. I say maybe because if I get a second wind at 12:00am I'll get something up here. Otherwise Monday morning will be back to normal.

I'll be there tonight in the bleachers watching Paxton Crawford pull us out of another negative streak.

paul@redsox2000.com