The Darkman......

Today the month of May begins, and with it, the second month of this 2007 baseball season. The Boston Red Sox are in first place with a sparkling 16-8 record. The Yankees are in last place with a record of 9-14. In today's Hartford Courant is a breakdown of some of the stats of these two bitter rivals. I'd like to post them here. Thank you Hartford Courant. My comments will be scattered throughout.

Team ERA

Red Sox: 3.28, second in AL. Yankees:5.02, 12th (No suprise here)

Saves

Red Sox: 9, tied for third in AL. Yankees:1, 14th (The bullpen has been astounding)

Opponents
batting average

Red Sox: .228, tied for first in AL. Yankees:.263, 11th (Again, the pitching brilliance)

Different
starters used

Red Sox: 5. Yankees:9 (Injury-free....knock on wood-now!)

Starters with
time on DL

Red Sox: 0. Yankees:4 (see above, and knock on wood again!))

Innings by starters
Red Sox: 149. Yankees:109 (allowed the bullpen to develop into a real weapon)

Average innings
per start
Red Sox: 61/3. Yankees:42/3 (see above)

Starts of at least
7 innings
Red Sox: 11. Yankees:3 (yet again......starters going 7 or 8 innings opens up so many possibilities, all good ones)

Wins by starters

Red Sox: 14. Yankees:4 (all I can say is NICE!)

Total bullpen appearances

Red Sox: 69. Yankees:95 (economical pitching distribution allowed each pitcher's role in the 'pen to develop)

Relievers with 12
or more appearances

Red Sox: 1. Yankees:5 (see above)

Games using
five pitchers

Red Sox: 5. Yankees:17 (again, great use of the bullpen because most of the time the starters went long)

Games using six
or more pitchers

Red Sox: 2. Yankees:10 (sign of a great club)

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Again, thank you Hartford Courant. And to my readers, let's have a bustout May, much like April but maybe a little (or a lot) warmer. After tonight's rain in the northeast, there will be an extended period of dry and warm weather, maybe into the middle of the month! Let's play ball Red Sox style. Winning style.
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Oh, and Darkman fans? Every one of you knows what a great job Hideki Okajima, who I have dubbed "the Darkman," our hero in the shadows who has come out of the bullpen so many times and snuffed out our enemies, the opposing team, whoever they might be, has done so well. Ian, from the fine and popular blog SOX AND DAWGS, has put my idea into full color. Please, right now, click on the title of this post. It'll take you to Ian's blog, and looking back at you from your computer's screen will be our DARKMAN himself. Thank you Ian. For those of you who write blogs, or who write newspaper articles, help us bring Hideki's nickname to life. For he is an important part of RSN '07. It's the least we can do. So click on the title....right now. THE DARKMAN LIVES. Thanks again Ian. And thank you, my readers, one and all.

And this, from another Ian, Ian Browne of mlb.com.....

"At the very beginning when I came over here, I was pretty nervous," said Okajima. "A lot of things were going through my mind. But those thoughts and concerns are all gone now. I am very glad that I came to the United States to play baseball and I'm happy to be here."
Yankees first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz went so far as to dub Okajima the Red Sox MVP for April. Okajima laughed heartily when told of that statement by his translator.
"It's still very early in the season," Okajima said. "If I heard that at the end of the season, I would be very happy to hear that. I will stay humble and I will keep working hard to continue the success."
And the more he achieves, the smaller that shadow becomes. The hero in the dark is coming to light."

Peter here. Well-written Ian Browne. Hideki IS the light of RSN. OUR light. To see him in full color, click on this post's title. And thanks!
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And one more email from Superbowl, from Japan!

Thank you Peter-san
In fact I saw your blog post first and jump to Ian's blog
So It's your comment on Ian's blog that tell me about your sending new mail to me
Darkman accelerates me

With shining darkness
Superbowl
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Peter here..thank you Superbowl. May you be well.

Ian's blog link is easy! Click on this post's title.......the Darkman, Hideki Okajima, will greet you....and all fans of RSN.....