All right. I admit it. I’m amazed the Red Sox have rocketed back into the AL East race.
I did not think this team had it in them to go 24-8 since winning a huge May 19th game vs. the NY Yankees. And the Sox did this without Jacoby Ellsbury, their starting centerfielder and Josh Beckett, one of their frontline starting pitchers, who last pitched May 18th, and has been on the disabled list ever since.
I didn’t imagine that David Ortiz could belt the ball all over the yard in the past 6 weeks. Despite a horrible April, Big Papi now has 15 HRs and 46 RBIs. Talk about a turnaround! I was one of many who mistakenly thought Papi was probably “done.” I didn’t foresee Adrian Beltre seeming to go back in time and become one of the hottest hitters in the American League. He’s batting .337 with 10 HRs and 48 RBIs as of today. Victor Martinez has been on a tear, hitting like he used to in hot streaks on the Indians. Kevin Youkilis has played like the MVP of the team. He’s certainly been the steadiest all-around hitter and fielder. Dustin Pedroia slumped a bit after hurting his knee, but is spraying hits to all fields more recently and has been solid in 2010.
Meanwhile, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz have been terrific. Buchholz just won his 10th game and is being eyed for the AL All-Star team.
There have been an array of pleasant surprises: backup outfielders like Darnell McDonald, Jeremy Hermida and Daniel Nava. Marco Scutaro has hit decently in the leadoff spot in place of Ellsbury. Setup reliever Daniel Bard has been outstanding. (Bard has been overused, however, and if this continues, I really worry he’ll be “gassed” by September and suffer from arm fatigue).
The Red Sox defeted top teams on a tough road trip a few weeks ago, going 9-4. Then, they just went 8-1 on a homestand, sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers in interleague series. After just sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Sox are in a virtual tie with the Tampa Vay Rays for second place in the most competitive American League East.
I still do not believe the Red Sox are talented enough to end up ahead of the Yankees, and, it’ll be very tough to catch the Rays too…….but, the team has proven a lot in the past month and a half. They’ve proven they can find a variety of ways to win games, whether low-scoring types or games requiring major late-inning comebacks. They seem to have at least some mental toughness that has helped them beat the best teams and the worst.
In addition, the Red Sox have hit the ball far, far better than I though possible so far. Their team batting average today was tops in the American League at .278 — two percentage points ahead of the Yankees and 19 points ahead of the Rays. The Sox are among leaders in several hitting categories.
I must say I think these hitting stats are misleading. I think the Sox have put up big hitting numbers against certain mediocre teams while having many low-scoring affairs vs. many teams too. I think the stats would back up my opinion, but, you know what? Even if they don’t, I simply do not believe the Red Sox will remain this good a hitting team. I think a few of their hot hitters like Beltre and Ortiz are likely to cool off. I think their back-up outfielders, while they’ve allowed the team to “get by” so far, will hurt the team the longer they have to play. Will Ellsbury perform after he returns sometime around the All-Star break? I doubt he’ll suddenly catch fire. I think his injured ribs will negatively impact him the rest of the year.
As always, it’ll be fascinating to discover what the team does at the trading deadline. I still think they need another power hitter if they are to really make at least the wild card and go anywhere in the playoffs. Yet, the odds of the team not acquiring a hitter seem just as good as the team getting a hitter. How much does the Red Sox want to invest in trying to win a world championship in 2010? Up until now, it seemed, the team had set limits on what resources they’d be willing to invest this year, but, now, with this undermanned, gritty team scrapping its way back into the AL East race, will that propel GM Theo Epstein into purusing a big-time slugger by July 31st?
It’s hard to say. The health and success of Josh Beckett when he returns in the not-to-distant future might help Epstein make decisions at mid-season. If Beckett is rejuvenated and appears poised to pitch well into September, it would bolster the pitching and the whole team. After all, with Lester and Buchholz performing like aces and John Lackey doing decently, but likely to improve and Daisuke Matsuzaka doing well recently, Beckett’s return could make the Sox more formidable in any series.
Regardless of what happens from now until October, the 2010 Red Sox have demonstrated a feistiness and versatility that many fans – including this blogger – did not think possible back in early May.
I hope in late September, that I won’t be recalling these first-half heroics as the highlights of the season, but, rather, the start of an extraordinary run into the playoffs. Go Sox.
