Although, out of our first three games in this road trip we have only won a single game, we still have one more left in Minnesota. And along with our final game here at the HHH Metrodome, it will constitute my first and last trip here.  If you didn’t know, now you do, that this is the last season for baseball at the Metrodome. They will move to outdoor baseball in what many say is going to be a beautiful prison next year. After the game today we head to Toronto for the second city of our three city trip. 

Our games have been close, but the Twins have gotten just enough in order to get the victory. I was lucky to be apart of a record tying night with 6 wild pitches. I think last year Mike Mussina and I set or tied a record for the most hit batters in a game. And along with that it was unfortunate last night that I came in with the bases loaded and ended up hitting the guy. (Which I apologized to Manny for that.) But then, I was able to get the next guy and try and keep it close for the next few innings, but we just couldn’t tack on any more runs. Have no fear. We have a nice and early game today with Josh Beckett on the mound and he has looked very good of late.

I figure today would be a great time to update on what is going on.

If you have seen us on the field we have put together two great victories here at home.  The road trip wasn’t as successful as we had hoped at least in wins and losses, but we lost a few very close games which is bound to happen at some point and time.  If you saw the game last night you saw the barrage of home runs that our offense put on the board led by the great Captain, Jason Varitek, with his two solo shots.  Brad Penny put together another nice outing and the home crowd finally had a chance to see the flame throwing Daniel Bard.

As for me, with the returning of the Japanese sensation Dice-k, my time as a starter is put on hold as I am now moving back to the amazingly talented bullpen.  Not sure when I’ll get into a ball game, I need to make sure my arm has enough time to recover since my last start.  As I’ve said before and continue to say, the bullpen is doing so great this year and I hope I can contribute to the dominance that they are already showing.

If you have been following, and I’m sure you have, you have seen that the team has been on a nice little win streak for the last couple of series. The offense has come alive and the pitching staff has continued to do very well. The bullpen, especially has been doing an outstanding job with Manny Delcarmen, Ramon Ramirez, and Mr. Papelbon leading the charge. And if you take away the first couple outings of each guy, everyone has come into their own and are pitching very well.

It was a different experience starting again on Monday. It’s the first start during the season I’ve had since some time last year. I’d like to think I had the advantage since the game was so early maybe the Orioles were still a little sleepy, haha. The game worked out great for us and we as a team were able to continue our win streak and I was able to get my first win of the season as a starter. Because not only did the offense come to life as the game went on, but the bullpen did another great performance. But what’s interesting is that the bullpen never gets another love for how well they do. Usually they are only talked about when they are not perfect. So since I am technically a starter for now, I just want to take another line to say how impressed I am with the way that our bullpen has shaped up so far this year. One last thing is our defense has been tremendous. Although every single play hasn’t been made and there have been a few errors our guys are hard nosed and have made some amazing plays to help keep our team in the game.

Just as I thought! Since that last time that I wrote, we have gone a little win streak. It was bound to happen when you have such a talented team that we do. Our offense is really starting to come alive and though it won’t always be that way every game, I have a good feeling this team is going to put some runs on the board. It’s very unfortunate that even this early in the season we have been bit by the injury bug. I hope and pray our guys can get healthy and for those who are healthy that they will continue to have that.

I can’t remember that last time I played in a game that started before noon, but I can tell you when the next time I will do it. That will be on Monday. A good old 11 am start time. I don’t totally understand the whys, something about a marathon that takes place in Boston on Patriot’s Day. Ok, so I’m not from Boston, but everybody has heard of the Boston Marathon. So for that day, it takes precedence. But the really neat thing is that I get my first start of the year on Monday, which I would have to say I am excited about. I don’t like injuries, but I’m happy to try and step in and help the team to continue to win.

Editor’s note: Comcast SportsNet is pleased to announce that Red Sox pitcher Justin Masterson will be blogging exclusively on CSNNE.com throughout the season. Check back throught the year as Justin shares his first full season in the big leagues.

And so it begins. Yet that phrase doesn’t really put forth the true emotion that is there for the start of this 2009 season with the Boston Red Sox. For me there has already been tons of excitement and joy after having been a part of my first major league opening day. Being a part of opening day meant that I am apart of the opening day roster, which means I am playing for the Boston Red Sox, which if you could guess is pretty humbling and honoring experience.

There are always high hopes for a new season no matter what team you are on. But the team that we have this year is very promising and though the first few games have not been all wins good things are happening. If you have been watching, and I’m sure you have, you can see that guys are working to find their rhythm, both on the mound and at the plate. That can always be a difficult thing at the beginning of the season.

The weather is chilly so it nice to have a little west coast visit to warm up but I hear it’s nothing but beautiful weather waiting for us when we return to Boston. Well maybe I heard there were some snow flurries. Either way when we return we know the fans are there to warm things up for us.