Are the Red Sox really winning behind the likes of Billy Hall, Daniel Nava, and Darnell McDonald? I'm not sure how long it will last but Red Sox Nation should not panic.
This team is built on defense and starting pitching. Though both of these parts of the game have their ups and downs, but they are far more consistent than a team's offense. Look at the struggles of the Phillies as a prime example. Offensively, they have yet to be totally healthy and thus have struggled. The Sox are built differently.
Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester and John Lackey are a combined 28-10. Defensively, the team is in the top five among American League teams in most defensive categories.
Offensively, the Red Sox are getting by without its lead off man that lead the league in steals, its middle of the order catcher and its former MVP second baseman. Each guy cannot be replaced but with David Ortiz and Adrian Beltre exceeding expectations, the offense can survive. Marco Scutaro and JD Drew have had their moments. It would be a big lift if Kevin Youkilis could snap out of his recent slump.
From now until the All Star Break the Sox play ten games against the AL East (Rays, Blue Jays, Orioles). This is an important stretch for the team to keep this going.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Enough!!
Enough with the injuries!!
Pedroia goes down. Buchholz goes down. They join Ellsbury (I don't think he is milking it), Beckett, Lowell (he's more important than Lowrie who I am not mentioning), Drew (he pinch hit today) and Hermedia (yeah, he's important) on the unable to perform due to injury.
Dice-K and Cameron have both missed time too.
It is amazing the team is only two games out of the wild card and first place.
Pedroia goes down. Buchholz goes down. They join Ellsbury (I don't think he is milking it), Beckett, Lowell (he's more important than Lowrie who I am not mentioning), Drew (he pinch hit today) and Hermedia (yeah, he's important) on the unable to perform due to injury.
Dice-K and Cameron have both missed time too.
It is amazing the team is only two games out of the wild card and first place.
Bullpen Blues
This road trip in Colorado and San Franisco has been a nightmare for the bullpen. Papelbon's ineffectiveness has been well chronicled. But don't forget the rest of the relief corps (especially Okijima's) struggles.
The more we watch Major League Baseball the more the hard truth becomes painfully obvious, a team's bullpen will make or break a season or playoff series. The key to recent past world series champions (2007 White Sox being the exception) has been having a couple of dominant or reliable arms at the end of games. Starting pitchers are not going to give teams eight innings any more.
The game of baseball has evolved where starters give six or seven innings if you are lucky. Then a combination of one or two middle relievers turn the game over to the closer. The closer is expected to near perfect. Very similar to a kicker in the NFL. People only remember when you don't get it done.
This is what makes Mariano Rivera so incredible. He has been as near perfect as any closer in the history of the game. But what are the two most memorable Mariano moments? Luis Gonzalez's bloop to win game seven in the 2001 World Series and Bill Mueller's game tying single in game four of the 2004 ALDS.
Papelbon has had an amazing career as the Sox closer. We realize he won't be perfect but the last two outings have been hard to stomach. Daniel Bard is clearly the closer of the future but we cannot lose faith in Papelbon because the fortunes of this year's team rest heavily on the entire bullpen's ability to get key outs. This includes Papelbon, Bard and Okijima in particular because they will be getting the majority of the opportunities in the eighth and ninth innings.
Starting pitching, defense and timely offense are certainly important factors in determining the fate of the 2010 Red Sox but we will go only as far as the bullpen carries us.
The more we watch Major League Baseball the more the hard truth becomes painfully obvious, a team's bullpen will make or break a season or playoff series. The key to recent past world series champions (2007 White Sox being the exception) has been having a couple of dominant or reliable arms at the end of games. Starting pitchers are not going to give teams eight innings any more.
The game of baseball has evolved where starters give six or seven innings if you are lucky. Then a combination of one or two middle relievers turn the game over to the closer. The closer is expected to near perfect. Very similar to a kicker in the NFL. People only remember when you don't get it done.
This is what makes Mariano Rivera so incredible. He has been as near perfect as any closer in the history of the game. But what are the two most memorable Mariano moments? Luis Gonzalez's bloop to win game seven in the 2001 World Series and Bill Mueller's game tying single in game four of the 2004 ALDS.
Papelbon has had an amazing career as the Sox closer. We realize he won't be perfect but the last two outings have been hard to stomach. Daniel Bard is clearly the closer of the future but we cannot lose faith in Papelbon because the fortunes of this year's team rest heavily on the entire bullpen's ability to get key outs. This includes Papelbon, Bard and Okijima in particular because they will be getting the majority of the opportunities in the eighth and ninth innings.
Starting pitching, defense and timely offense are certainly important factors in determining the fate of the 2010 Red Sox but we will go only as far as the bullpen carries us.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Mannyworld
Lukewarm reception for Manny last night. I think you gotta cheer for the guy. Two World Series . Pain in the backside but I repeat two World Series.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Sox Love Interleague Play
Is the the National League that bad? The Sox have played very well over the past couple of years in these inter league games. Many remember the days of the 70's and 80's when the NL owned the American League during All Star games. Those days are long gone.
How much better is the "junior" circuit than its "senior" counterparts?
The Phillies have ruled the league over the past two seasons. The reason? The Phillies' offense is built like an American League team. They have a line up that has balance and power.
Right now the Sox, Rays and Yankees are clearly head and shoulders above anyone in the NL.
How much better is the "junior" circuit than its "senior" counterparts?
The Phillies have ruled the league over the past two seasons. The reason? The Phillies' offense is built like an American League team. They have a line up that has balance and power.
Right now the Sox, Rays and Yankees are clearly head and shoulders above anyone in the NL.
Monday, June 7, 2010
State of the Sox
It is early June and the Sox are playing well. The glass is definitely half full.
Lester and Buchholz are the leaders of the pitching staff.
Bard, Delcarmen, Okijima, and Papelbon have been solid out of the bullpen.
Offensively, Papi's emergence has really propelled the club over the last month. Beltre is still hitting for average and mixes in the occasional bomb from one knee. V Mart, Pedroia and Youk have yet to hit their stride. When Ellsbury gets healthy the line up now gets much deeper.
Defensively, it looks like the kinks have been worked out. Run prevention. Run prevention. Run prevention.
The enormous problem is the fact that the Yankees and Rays are playing great too! The Blue Jays will fade like last year. This looks like 2008 all over again. Only two of these three teams will make the playoffs.
There is a great deal of time left in the season and things are going to get interesting!!!
Lester and Buchholz are the leaders of the pitching staff.
Bard, Delcarmen, Okijima, and Papelbon have been solid out of the bullpen.
Offensively, Papi's emergence has really propelled the club over the last month. Beltre is still hitting for average and mixes in the occasional bomb from one knee. V Mart, Pedroia and Youk have yet to hit their stride. When Ellsbury gets healthy the line up now gets much deeper.
Defensively, it looks like the kinks have been worked out. Run prevention. Run prevention. Run prevention.
The enormous problem is the fact that the Yankees and Rays are playing great too! The Blue Jays will fade like last year. This looks like 2008 all over again. Only two of these three teams will make the playoffs.
There is a great deal of time left in the season and things are going to get interesting!!!
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