To the Naysayers
Doris Burke has not wanted for soundbites in her courtside interviews with Celtics players. Kevin Garnett was the star of Game 5 and of the mic. “The competition, the naysayers, the owners who talk too much. The people who don’t think a 36-year-old can do what I do. I take a lot of pride in my craft, I work really hard at my craft every day, and I’m a true professional.”
The Celtics’ win made up for the deflating extra innings loss to the Orioles. Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s two-run home run tied the game in the ninth, but the blast didn’t ignite his team like Paul Pierce’s three-point shot over LeBron James.
The Red Sox rotation is in temporary disarray after Daniel Bard’s implosion in Toronto. He was sent down to Pawtucket and Darnell McDonald was activated to replace him. Daisuke Matsuzaka is ready to replace Bard in the rotation, so perhaps the seeming failure of the experiment of Bard as starter was well-timed.
Bard confessed what was apparent to most observers. “I allowed something to happen when I switched roles,” he said. “I think it’s just maybe that we just tried to turn me into a starter rather than just take the same pitcher I was out of the pen and move that guy to the rotation, which is probably what should have been done.” Whereas Garnett proved his critics wrong Bard ended up agreeing with his. I think instead of stubbornly trying to mold Bard into a starter it seems like he needs to be allowed to flourish in the role he found the most success.
| Game 55: June 5, 2012 ∙ 10 innings | ||
 Baltimore Orioles31-24 |
8 |
BS: Troy Patton (1) H: Luis Ayala (6), Pedro Strop (10) BS, W: Jim Johnson (1, 1-0) |
| 2B: Matt Wieters (8) 3B: J.J. Hardy (2) | ||
| Boston Red Sox 28-27 |
6 |
BS: Scott Atchison (1) L: Alfredo Aceves (0-3) |
| 2B: Jarrod Saltalamacchia (11) HR: Saltalamacchia (11) | ||
