John did something that he hasn't done since last year. He would bend but not break. He was good in the early going but it got away from him.

I bend but do not break.

I bend and do not break

That is not necessarily a good thing and not necessarily a bad thing at this point of the season. There is a danger of a guy getting cranked up for a competition that is going to be more intense. But I don't feel there is any benefit for it, no.

John wasn't out there and wasn't awful, but he obviously wasn't as crisp as we had seen him and as crisp as he was against the Yankees .

We're going to have to face him (eventually), we don't look at it as catching a break. There is no denying he's a special pitcher, but the last couple nights (Joel) Pineiro and (Ryan) Franklin have pitched as well as anyone.