I told you before Pink Gavin Floyd's last start against Seattle last Sunday that he was going to have problems in that start.  Most of those problems can be contributed to the success Floyd has had as a starter, logging seven to eight innings per start.  For a young pitcher, piling up those innings early in the season can lead to what is commonly referred to as a "dead arm period."

While I don't pretend to be Don Cooper, I can tell you that after the near no-no, it seems like Floyd has lost  command of his curveball.  Captain Obvious tells us that when a pitcher like Floyd can't get his curve over and has to rely on his fastball, he's going to get lit up.  It could just be that "dead arm period."  Against Seattle he struggled and couldn't regain his composure.  Against the Giants, he actually hung in there and pitched his way out of it. 

Some of it was Floyd, knowing he didn't have a great curveball, trying to work through it and some of it was the fact that he faced one of the lesser lineups in baseball. The bottom line is, all pitchers do not bring their "A" game to every start.  Those pitchers that learn to pitch without their best stuff become nuimber one and two guys, those that don't become Dave Bush.

What is clear is Don Cooper's coaching is not falling on deaf ears.  You knew from the first hitter that it would be a long night for Floyd or at least a bumpy ride.  In the end, Floyd toughed it out for six plus innings.  Give the kid credit, he did a great job considering he had nothing last night.

Tonight, it's the much anticipated matchup between Mark Buehrle and Barry Zito.  This could turn out to be a 10-9 game if these guys are true to form.  If the Sox can get to Zito early, maybe Buehrle can hold the lead this time.  However, it should be noted that Zito is 8-2 lifetime against the Sox.  Of course, that came as a member of some pretty good Oakland teams.

Lightning Round

• So now there is "scoutgate."  While details are hard to find, this seems to have something to do with illegal payments.  It also seems like Kenny wasn't involved and that the Sox self-reported it to MLB.  No word yet on scholarship reductions or post season play bans.