Dice-Crap................

 Well if you had plans yesterday, the Red Sox and Dice-K made it easy to watch the game, and go ahead with those plans.  Thats because the game was over early, thanks to Dice-K being completely ineffective in his first start back from the D.L.  Dice's line for yesterday, was one inning pitched , seven earned runs, six hits, and three walks on 48 pitches thrown.  Dice K faced 12 Cardinals in his outing yesterday, nine reach base, seven scored, and only three were fool enough not to reach base. 

  A questionable move by Terry Francona in the second inning.  He brought in rookie pitcher Chris Smith to face his first major league batter with bases loaded and no outs.  Smith did strikeout that batter, but allowed a grand slam to his second batter after that, his second batter was Troy Glaus.  Overall the Sox bullpen did a good job, allowing only two runs on eight innings pitched.  Chris Smith was able to go four innings and hold the Cards to just three hits and one run.  Smith struck out three and walked no one, so after his rough start he really settled down and held the Cards in check.

  What can you say about the Sox offense yesterday, they were dead man walking from the start of the game.  When it was still a game, Jacoby Ellsbury reached on a lead-off double, only to stand there and watch Pedroia, and Drew, and Manny all fail in thier attempts to move a runner over.  That was as close as the game would ever be.  J.D. Drew is his attempt to be more like A-Rod, did hit a meaningless homerun in the 6th.  Drew is starting to make a habit of racking up stats in games the Sox lose, but coming up small when the really need him.

  Weather looks to be a factor today, but I'm sure they will get the game in at some point.  The Sox will face last years cast-off Joel Pineiro, and he will faced by the red hot Jon Lester.  Yesterday's loss has assured the Sox of losing the series, lets hope they can avoid being swept at home for the first time all season.