fear of the unknown

see, here's the thing. i thought we knew what to expect from The Commander last night. and... well... that went straight to hell in a handbasket. that performance from Beckett was no more predictable than a strike zone called by Laz Diaz (or Angel Martinez, for that matter) or the fact that, once again, the Tampa Bay Sunbeams sit atop the AL East.

but just like said Willy Wonka K-zones, up is down, in is out, it all changes with each new pitch, and somehow, Papi gets ejected when he tries to duck out of the way of a pitch but gets called out on strikes. (true, his bat did go around, technically, but is there some sort of rule that allows for getting out of the way of getting hit by a pitch? something along the lines of that other obscure rule that says when a ball gets away from the catcher on a called third strike, the runner can, in fact, safely reach first base if he hustles, and the pitcher gets credit for a K but the batter doesn't rack up an actual out for his team?) whatever.

it's no wonder Coco felt sick to his stomach last night.

which left us exactly two outfielders for today's game, what with JD Drew listed as day-to-day with a sprained wrist.

oh & Lestah pitches today, speaking of the unknown. who will we see standing on the hill this afternoon? he of the only one run and five hits allowed in 14 innings or the guy who showed up in the Metrodome and gave up five runs. who knows? it's a freaking mystery til he throws his first pitch.

to cover the open spot in the outfield, apparently we put Clay on the DL -- broken fingernail, which kinda sorta makes me want to laugh, except that i know fingernails are a crucial part of pitching --and we called up Jonathan Van Every to play center, while Ellsbury (who i have started testing out the new nickname 'Runs Like Hell' courtesy of Bickley -- yeah, i know, i said it even if you couldn't LOL! -- which just seems more, shall we say, appropriate than Speedy McEllsbury) will be playing in right. that's all fine & dandy but the unknown that scares me there is the answer to the question 'who will replace Clay in the rotation?' because surely we won't be proceeding with only four starting pitchers until the fingernail situation is remedied. and [insert horror movie music of your choice] Bartolo Colon has come up in conversation just a few more times than i am comfortable with hearing over the last ten days...

i wish i could tell you which way i felt today's contest would go but... i just don't know.