It was hard not to notice that Ian Kennedy stooped down low on the mound like Moose when he pitched out of the stretch today.  Seriously, it was eerie.  He wasn’t overpowering, but found a way to keep the D-Rays off balance for one earned run in seven innings…sound like someone we know?

The performance was solid enough to earn the 22-year old another start in five days, but there was one downside.  He was SLOW!  Particularly after he gave up two runs (one unearned) in the second inning.  Now, I took this one in from the stands today and let’s just say the crowd around me was starting to draw comparisons to former Met Steve Trachsel…personally, I’d also point at David Cone in his final year as a point of comparison.  The crowd even tried starting the wave to stay entertained…fortunately, Kennedy picked up the pace once he had a comfortable lead.

Yes, it’s too early to be so hard on the kid who helped keep us in the ballpark for over three-and-a-half hours.  And it’s also too soon praise a kid too much after one day (although check out the papers in Boston tomorrow and see what they’ll do for a kid after TWO starts).  It was his first day in the Bigs…congrats, kid.  Let’s just hope he keeps things moving a little quicker next time.

Five games behind the Sox who had their kid pitch a no-hitter with a pronounced breaking ball.

Two ahead of Seattle who lost in Toronto.

Getting fun, eh?