Dice-K Rocks Bean Town

I predicted at the beginning of the baseball season that Dice-K, Red sox phenom and Japenese icon, would win 35 games and a cy young. So far, he is a little off pace. He is 1-2, with a outstanding 2.70 era and is currently down 2-0 to the Yankees in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Winning 35 games in the modern era is absurd. Pitchers start once every five games, hitters are stronger and more prepared than ever, and there are a growing number of baseball friendly stadiums popping up around the league - most notably the Bank in Philly. The last 35 game winning pitcher was Joe McGinnity in 1904, over a century ago. The league record is held by Old Hoss Radbourn, with 59 wins in 1884 for the Providence Grays. Old Hoss pitched in 75 games that season, nearly half the 162 games season - once every two games!! Old Hoss had a steel arm and ice water running through his veins The modern record is 31 by Denny Mclain, the only modern pitcher to win more than 30.

History is against Dice-K. He would have pitch around 50 to 55 games to assure 35 wins and shorten his rest to between starts to 2 or 3 games. Possible? Absolutely. Dice-K, like all foreign imports, needs to adjust to the current environment and steroid bred superstars in American baseball. He grew accustomed to publicity and hype in Japan and will soon reach Babe Ruth status in the states.

Here are his predicted career stats over 12 seasons: 353 wins, 105 losses, 6 cy youngs, 4500 strikeouts, and an era of 2.34. He will also capture the pitching triple crown (wins, era, strikeouts). After three years, he will move to Philadelphia, where in the national league and away from Johann Santana, he will record these amazing stats. The Phillies will win the world series in 2012 with Dice-K winning 43 games that season and pitching 3 no-hitters and a perfect game. Dice-K is 26 and I am NOT counting his statistics while in Japan. He will pitch into his late 30s, fueled by ginseng and volcano water.

This is a vast overstatement, especially since Dice-K is down 3-0 now in the bottom of the third to minor league pitcher Chase Wright, but it would be too sweet if I was right. Give him one more game to acclimate and then watch his domination. Ramirez just ripped a homerun to left center, wait, wait, back to back homeruns, J-D Drew (world's biggest a-hole, but I will swallow my pride for Dice-K). Wait, holy crap!!! The game is tied!!! Three home runs in a row -- Mike Lowell threw down the hammer. 3-3, Dice-K on his way to 35. I cant believe this. 4 homeruns in a row - Jason Varitek. When has this ever happened? 4-3, guaranteed victory for Dice-K and an impressive omen that amazing things can happen in baseball.

Boston - More than a Feeling