Well, we’re just past the half-way point on this insane season. So far we’ve had a variety of surprises, including the new-look team from Tampa Bay sitting atop the AL East and the powerhouse Tigers sitting under .500. The Yankees have been terrible, more so than even I thought, and the entire NL West could finish the year under .500. So far, the Red Sox have performed admirably in this upside-down pennant race, despite losing star slugger David Ortiz and having Manny Ramirez battling a hamstring injury. Sure, we’re 4 games back of the Rays, but at least we’re not mired in an offense-less quandary like our pals in New York.
The Offense
The offense has performed very well in the first half of the season, considering Ortiz’s absence and Manny’s injury. Much of this can be attributed to J.D. Drew finally earning that paycheck of his, but you cannot forget the contributions of Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell, and Dustin Pedroia. Heck, of those four guys, three are all-stars for the first time this year. Lowell missed making the team (at least so far. We don’t know who will take Big Papi’s spot on the team, but it probably won’t be a Red Sox player, considering there are seven on the team already.), but there is no doubt he deserves to be there.
One man who did make the team has also been one of the worst players on the Red Sox offensively. Jason Varitek, our captain, has been horrendous at the plate thus far, hitting just above .200. While he has been slightly better batting from the right side, V-Tek isn’t about to give up his switch-hitting ways. How he made it onto the all-star team is beyond me. Apparently his peers have more respect for his talents than the fans do. Don’t get me wrong. Varitek is the heart and soul of the Red Sox. He makes every pitcher he works with that much better. But he just can’t hit like he used to. I hope he proves me wrong in the second half, but I wouldn’t count on it. With his contract expiring at the end of this season, the Red Sox need to think long and hard about whether or not to keep him around. I remember what happened in 2006 when Varitek went on the DL. Our entire pitching staff imploded. And it’s not like we have any replacements ready within the organization. Sorry, George Kottaras, I had high hopes for you, but apparently Red Sox management sees it fit to play you second string in Pawtucket to Dusty Brown. Hooray for crappy journeymen!
Speaking of crappy journeymen, there is one player on the Red Sox offense that irks me more than the captain. His name: Julio Lugo. The man can’t hit, he can’t run, and he can’t play defense. He’s the worst defensive shortstop the Red Sox have seen in quite some time, and his batting average is hovering right around Varitek’s. How can the offense be expected to produce when the bottom third is Coco Crisp, Jason Varitek, and Julio Lugo? And, as Julio has absolutely no trade value, it appears we are stuck with him for the foreseeable future. Which is a shame, because I, for one, would be very open to the return of Orlando Cabrera to Fenway Park.
So for highs and lows, but mostly highs, the Red Sox offense gets a B+ for their first half performance.
The Rotation
A wise man once said that pitching wins championships and the Red Sox have used the formula in the past. In 2004 we had Pedro and Schilling. In 2007 we had Beckett (and did we have Beckett), Schilling, and Matsuzaka. This year out pitching has the potential to be better than ever. Despite losing Curt Schilling to a preseason injury, we still have Beckett, who hasn’t been his 2007 self, but has been getting better as of late, a new and improved Daisuke Matsuzaka, who, when he isn’t walking people, is one of the best pitchers in the league this year, and Jon Lester, who very well could be considered the most consistently good pitcher on the team this year. Tim Wakefield has been better than ever, and Justin Masterson, despite his recent move to the bullpen, helped the Red Sox through a time when a lot of pitchers went down with injuries. Clay Buchholz has been dominating Pawtucket, and now that he’s back in the bigs he should continue that trend. Bartolo Colon showed a lot of promise before going on the DL. All-in-all the starting pitching remains this team’s biggest strength.
For the first half, the rotation gets an A
The Bullpen
Now, herein lies the problem. This bullpen has blown more games for the Red Sox than any in recent memory (ignoring the Gagne era). Looking at it, you see a lot of talented names. Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, Mike Timlin, and Craig Hansen. None of those guys would strike you as being bad players. David Aardsma and Javier Lopez, maybe, but they have been among the more consistent players in the ‘pen. Ah, there’s the problem. Consistency. Last night, Okajima came in and worked out of a jam in a game the Red Sox won by a single point. Last year that result would have been a given. This year every time the starter leaves the game, it becomes a nail-biter, regardless of a four-five run cushion. It’s crazy. Delcarmen and Hansen, we know you’re better than this. It’s time to step up guys.
Mike Timlin, on the other hand, is not better than he is playing. He is a washed-up old man who can’t pitch anymore. Yet, the Red Sox keep resigning him, despite the fact that he hasn’t looked like himself in years. That was the one surprise during last year’s free agency period, the resigning of Timlin. What was the point? He should have just faded into the sunset. But, no, now we have to deal with his 7.something ERA. Good job, Theo. You had no problem letting Trot, and Pedro, and Millar, etc. go, but you can’t handle losing Mike Timlin?
One guy I’ve been really proud of this year in the bullpen is David Aardsma. I think he is often overlooked as I guy we can count on for a solid inning. He wasn’t even a lock the make the team out of Spring Training.
Papelbon is Papelbon and Papelbon is a machine. Nuff Ced
Bullpen gets a C
In other news Congratulations Worcester native Keith Landers, of St. Peter-Marian high school, for being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles. I would have drafted him higher.
