Baseball Post: 3 Picks - From The Chief to a Rumble at RFK

April 10
Freddy Garcia (0-1) (CHW) vs. Jeremy Bonderman (1-0) (DET)
Garcia impressed me back during his Seattle days. His last start on April 4 was just terrible and a far cry from his performance in game 4 of the World Series this past October. Bonderman put together his first winning season of his career last year (14-13) after debuting with that miserable '03 Tigers club with a 6-19 record.
update: final score - CHW 5, DET 3 -- W - Freddy Garcia, L - Jeremy Bonderman, SV - Bobby Jenks
Garcia managed to get the velocity on his fastball back for this one and the win pushed him into triple digits with career win number 100. I hope this is the Freddy Garcia that will show up for every fifth start for the White Sox. Comerica Park sounds like a big, spacious field where hitters really have to earn their home runs.
Freddy Garcia: 6.0IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 5SO, 1HR - W
Jeremy Bonderman: 7.0IP, 6R, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 8SO, 1HR - L

April 11
Bronson Arroyo (1-0) (CIN) vs. Glendon Rusch (0-1) (CHC)
This is a rematch from the April 5 game that featured these same starters. This time played at Wriggley Field -- another hitter friendly park so Arroyo will have a shot to hit his second career homerun in as many games.
update: final score - CIN 9, CHC 2 -- W - Bronson Arroyo, L - Glendon Rusch
I was kidding when I suggested that Arroyo would belt another homer. But he went ahead and knocked another one. Glendon Rusch is probably looking forward to matching up against somebody else next week (so he can quit being Arroyo's batting practice pitcher). If Arroyo manages to keep pace with his teammate Ken Griffey Jr. (also with 2 home runs so far this year, but a lot more plate appearances) like this or starts hitting them out of big parks like Petco Park or Dodger Stadium then I'll go ahead and pronounce this the worst trade by the Boston Red Sox since they traded the Bambino to New York. Even more impressive than his hitting (and the great run support capped off by a grand slam from Edwin Encarnacion) is Arroyo's work from the mound. 7 scoreless innings against a good hitting club. Impressive.
Bronson Arroyo: 7.0IP, 6H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 4SO, 0HR - W
Glendon Rusch: 5.0IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 1BB, 4SO, 4HR - L

April 12
Pedro Martinez (1-0) (NYM) vs. Tony Armas (0-1) (WSN)
After all the fireworks from Martinez's last start against these Nationals last April 6 who wouldn't want to see the sequel played out at RFK Stadium? There's also the chance to see if Pedro's control is any sharper this time around or if he'll have to continue to rely on pure intimidation.
update: final score - NYM 3, WAS 1 -- W - Pedro Martinez, L - Tony Armas, SV - Billy Wagner
The "rumble at RFK" never came to fruition. Perhaps all that negative energy was spent on the boo's lavished upon the ceremonial first pitch a couple of days ago. Martinez seems to have his control back . Though 3 strikeouts seems low by Pedro standards. But he did pitch deep into this one and wiggle out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth inning. This was a low scoring duel - just the way I like 'em.
Pedro Martinez: 7.0IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 3SO, 1HR - W
Tony Armas: 6.0IP, 8H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 4SO, 0HR - L