Red Sox Reality Check

The Sox faced a "must win" against Zach Greinke and the Royals, and Clay Buchholz nailed down his seventh win before the 578th consecutive Fenway sellout. 1. Fan Friendly . Here's the 'fan's eye view from my seats, as my daughter Julia, home from California had bought tickets to take the old man. Unlike the last time we went together in 2004, there was no profanity, no loudmouthed drunks nearby, and the whole experience (including a win) was much better. 2. Momentum . The saying about "momentum lasting as long as the next day's pitcher" applied in full, as Buchholz made pitches when he had to, and the bullpen and timely defense kept the Royals off the board. From our seats, judging balls and strikes was impossible, but the strike zone seemed small. Okay, so it wasn't a perfect game like Roy Halladay's today, but when was the last time you were at a 1-0 game at Fenway? I expected you wouldn't remember either. 3. First Timer . The fam...

After entering the Alternate Reality of the 2010: Lost Season, the Sox overwhelmed the Rays and restored order to chaos. Meanwhile, what do the stats say. 1. Belted . What a difference a day makes for Adrian Beltre, who now sits in the top 20 in OPS in the AL, ahead of...Joe Mauer and A-Rod (sans PEDs). Twelve total bases last night didn't hurt AB. Maybe A-Rod has too many extra-curriculars in play. Ty Wigginton? But what this shows is how dominant a hitter that Kevin Youkilis has become. 2. Fielding Bible . The Red Sox chased the "run prevention" theme in the off-season, which sounded good, until it didn't work, at least for the first quarter of the season. Fielding percentage can be a misleading stat, as it doesn't account for other types of defensive misplays, like balls bouncing past you off walls, missing cutoffs, poor range, and so forth. I think Hawk Harrelson had a 1.000 percentage one season, and nobody was handing him a Gold Glove. I'm not real...

The Red Sox shutout the Rays tonight 2-0 to consolidate their recent strength. In the past seven outings (per NESN), the Sox have six quality starts, a 1.69 ERA, and 7.1 innings per start. Jon Lester got his fifth win and lowered his ERA to 3.15 and continues to creep down his WHIP ratio, already in the top 15 in the AL. Lester only lasted six innings between nine strikeouts and five walks, but allowed only a single hit. The pen pals of Delcarmen, Bard, and Papelbon combined to close out the Rays without a hit the rest of the way. Papelbon notched his eleventh save with a fastball up into the mid 90's, including taking B.J. Upton out with heat upstairs to close out the game. Papelbon's strikeout to walk ratio has been continually falling through the past years, and we'll see whether that's a durable trend. As noted before, the Sox believe K/BB ratio predicts future ERA better than current ERA itself. Jacoby Ellsbury continues to have soreness and that gives Darn...

Maybe the pressure was off for the Sox with the Celtics and '24' the headliners. In any event, they came into the Trop led by Clay Buchholz who had a quality start (6 innings, one earned run) en route to his sixth win. Buchholz among the AL ERA leaders, now 6-3 with a 3.07 ERA. Not hard to see why Tampa is in first place...all five starters among the elite. The Sox outhomered the Rays 2-1, with David Ortiz (9) and Kevin Youkilis going grove yard. Additionally, the Sox had another errorless game and have crept up to 5th in the AL in fielding percentage, just one component of good overall defense. Minor Inconvenience . The Sox upper minor league teams struggled, with the PawSox garnering only one hit in a shutout loss, and Portland getting whacked 7-2. Salem was idle.

The Sox took two of three from the Phillies and have clearly played better baseball lately. 1. Yooook . The Sox fans traveling down the coast got rewarded seeing one of the best hitters in MLB today, no not Chase Utley, but Kevin Youkilis. Youkilis slammed a homer off Phils ace Roy Halladay, whom the Sox have handled about as well as anyone. Youkilis' production brought his OPS to 1.071 and has an other-worldly on-base-percentage of .459. 2. Wake up call . Tim Wakefield left his angst in the clubhouse and delivered eight innings of shutout baseball. Wakefield, who has pitched for the Sox since God's dog was eating Puppy Chow, lowered his ERA to 4.44 and got his first victory of the season. 3. Avatar . Mike Cameron will be bringing his major-league avatar back to the Sox any day now, after a three-hit, walk off homer game today. Darnell McDonald did a very serviceable job in Cameron's injury-absence, although Terry Francona must be feeling better about getting his star...

The Sox continue inter-league play facing the Phillies and the Phanatic. Here's my son, Conor, with the Phanatic at a recent Sunday Night Baseball game 1. Good, Better, Best. The Sox continue to struggle against the better teams in baseball, and Philadelphia certainly qualifies. The Philles are the most "American League" team in the NL with a highly potent lineup, including Monster Masher Ryan Howard and arguably the best offensive second baseman in baseball, Chase Utley (no disrespect to Robinson Cano, an AL MVP candidate. 2. Lackey Struggles . In his last three starts (18 innings), Lackey, a control pitcher, has yielded fifteen earned runs (ERA 7.5) and more worrisome, twenty-three hits and twelve walks, with a WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) approaching two. I don't think anyone is worried about Lackey, but he needs to find his release point to get consistent. 3. Ellsbury Do-boy . Jacoby Ellsbury returns after experiencing multiple rib fracture...

The Red Sox rallied from a 5-0 deficit at the new House of Horrors, to split their two game set with the Yankees. The "bridge" Red Sox, with young veterans like Dustin Pedroia and Jon Lester, contends with the older, more often disenchanted, "expendable" Red Sox, the Wakefield, Varitek, Ortiz, and Lowell class... The 'generational' conflict breaks no unique ground. In business, young turks find ways to push old lions aside, and I've seen (in the military) a figurative coup d'etat where a young Navy Captain managed to displace by politics and title an older statesman physician. The 'victim' in this Greek tragedy isn't ownership or Theo Epstein, but one Terry Francona, whose legendary 'closed door scrubbing' has kept the family laundry presentable for years, even with the challenges of Hall of Fame bound prima donas surrounding him. But when the 'family' starts throwing mud pies, then the only rational policy becomes s...

How many times have you said, "that's it, I'm not going to watch these guys anymore." Admit it, you've said it, but then like some crack addict, you're back watching NESN, reading Boston Dirt Dogs, and arguing about it at the water cooler. Is it possible? Can you really give up watching something that you care about but that makes you crazy? I did it for CNBC (Tout TV), the folks trying to sell you that stocks only go up, and that everything is normal, and you can trust Wall Street. Haven't watched them since the end of 2008. But the Sawx? Can I live without watching Dice-K diddle around the strike zone, Tim "Send 'em in" Bogar at third, Marco (I've got a better arm than he does) Scutaro, and the rest? Sure, I'd miss Dustin Pedroia's feisty play and Youkilis cursing himself out for a nonproductive at-bat. And I'd miss J.D. Drew's sweet swing, "Sweet Caroline", and "Dirty Water". I mean, I live b...

We approach the quarter pole mark of the baseball season and harsh reality confronts us: the Red Sox, as currently constructed*, are not a contender in the American League East. *With Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Cameron on the Disabled List. The Sox haven't shown the ability to compete against 'elite' competition. The Bostons lost a series apiece to Detroit and Minnesota, and have an abysmal 2-8 record against their AL East rivals, bringing their record to 4-12 (.250) against the best competition. Even if the Sox beat up on the rest (now 15-7), they (not we) have to start winning against the big dogs. Naturally, it hasn't gotten any easier as they head to Yankee Stadium where the Bronx Bombers are pitch-slapping them (again), with the locals putting up a crooked number (5) against Daisuke Matsuzaka in the opening inning. For the Sox, David Ortiz has produced a bright spot, a solo homer...and the Sox have closed the Yankees lead to 6-5. Almost a quarter of the seas...

The Sox seek to win their second straight in Detroit, with Jon Lester seeking another quality start. 1. #itch Selection . Jon Lester was more or less rolling along into the sixth and up 1-2 on Brennan Boesch. Lester had fanned Boesch twice and Boesch was late on the fastball. The Lester-Martinez battery sped up his bat with a curveball that got too much plate, leading to a two-run triple. Pitch selection! 2. Hall of Fame . Bill Hall went deep for the second consecutive game, with a very respectable 0PS of almost .800 for a reserve. Good acquisition. 3. Casey at the Mound . The Casey Kelly Watch continues with a marquis minor league matchup against Kyle Drabek. So far, it's Drabek, who's gone seven scoreless innings, while Kelly yielded one earned run in 4 2/3, presumably on a pitch count. 4. Give a guy a break . Dustin Pedroia got thrown out from second trying to score on a single to left by David Ortiz. Tim Bogar hasn't exactly distinguished himself so far, but wit...

The Red Sox finished the homestand 7-3, winning two of the three series but not really gaining much ground. 1. " Get away day " I didn't see the game today, but apparently 2:32 wasn't quick enough for Dale Scott. Rumor has it that the strike zone expanded faster than the Gulf of Mexico oil slick, with David Ortiz looking at a third strike as though he was looking through the wrong end of binoculars...as the pitches were so far outside. Terry Francona got tossed for arguing balls and strikes, and Dale Scott called a "soup's on the table" game.   From a Sox fan:  I eyeball about 16 strikes called in favor of Toronto pitchers that were balls (though some are close) and maybe 2 inaccurate calls that favored the Red Sox pitchers.  I'm not a conspiracy theorist, and I honestly don't believe Dale Scott was out to get the Sox today. What you do have here, though, is ample evidence of a really poorly called game by the home plate umpire - which in this ...

The Red Sox try to consolidate their homestand seeking to get a three game series with the Jays off on the right foot. 1. " Walks will kill you ." Brandon Morrow had his own Sam McDowell/Matt Young moment with a plethora of walks that allowed the Red Sox to move the 'bridge year' along. While the Sox were walking around the bases, Casey Kelley surrendered three runs and seven hits in five innings for Portland. 2. Hit parade . The Red Sox offense hasn't been the problem, Jason Bay or no J Bay. The Sox now have three hitters over .300, including Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and Adrian Beltre. 3. Lackeywanna Blues . John Lackey hasn't been able to stand prosperity, a three-run lead, as the Jays have him on the ropes. Lackey had gotten his ERA sub four, but has now ballooned back up to 4.74. But let's hope he can have a Jack 'moment' (either Jack Morris or Jack McDowell) and pitch well enough to win. 4. Run Win Prevention. Plan: Run Preven...

It's not that I've run out of ideas (not possible), but I want to express my thoughts about the Sox in a different format. Doesn't even mean I like the songs. Lady Gaga calls out the Sox. Pray for the Sox. My best days are ahead of me. Let's hope so. Don't go away mad... Something for the pain... And one very, very message for Sox fans, from the heart:

The Red Sox simply didn't get enough rain today, enough to get rid of C.C. Sabathia but not the rest of the Bronx tale. 1. Astrodirt ? I've seen more turf fields with cutouts than grass fields with artificial dirt. I'm guessing that Adrian Beltre didn't just forget how to field, but rather he's struggling with the notorious Fenway infield. Is it impossible to fix this? I've read about Pedroia complaining about the field, too, but it seems like the Yankees are handling it. 2. 2 TD . At least the Sox held the Yankees to a pair of touchdowns today, but unfortunately the Sox could only muster a field goal. C.C. looked like a mere mortal today, and the Sox did get payback after he plunked Pedroia to avenge perceived iniquities. 3. Pen Pals . I have to say, I was conflicted when Scott Schoeneweis came over. Schoeneweis has had a lot of personal tragedy, and he's going to have a job somewhere, because he's lefthanded and breathing. But with an ERA at 8.76...

From my local cable television show, "Let's Talk Sports" - The "Andy Rooney" segment  with Lou Spagnola

The Red Sox swept the Angels, but return to the Real World with the Yankees making their second trip into the Hub. 1. Overconfidence ? The Red Sox cracked the .500 mark yesterday, and fell back into the crack today, with the Yankees taking the locals to the woodshed. Josh Beckett rolled along, with five strikeouts in the first couple of innings, but then Nick Swisher took a hanger into the camera well, and the Sox could never get it going. 2. When the going gets tough . Last year the Sox beat up on the weak sisters en route to the playoffs. But against the good teams, they struggled. It's looking like deja vu all over again, as first the Rays and now the boys from the Big Apple made mincemeat of the Bostons. 3. Better dead than red ? Are they selling a lot of red jerseys with the Friday night Red Sox red softball jerseys? I hope so, because it was Friday night lightweights tonight. Phil Hughes with his strong start now looks like the real deal, while the Yankees sent impostor...

The Red Sox try to extend their mini winning streak, hosting the Angels and leading 2-1 into the bottom of the 7th. 1. Tim-ber . It's Tim Bogar coaching third, right? What the hell is he thinking about? Did he think the Angels had Johnny Damon in left field. A single to left with one out, men on first and second, and Hideki Matsui has the ball in his glove BEFORE Marco Scutaro reaches third, in medium left. It's "Send Him In, Tim" and even with a bad throw, Scutaro is a dead duck. Frankly, we're early in the season, and Bogar's looked horrific coaching third. 2. Friends don't let friends hit . John Lackey worked seven strong innings, allowing only one run and two hits against his former mates. Lackey wasn't his sharpest regarding control, allowing a couple of walks, but he kept the ball down and the Angels in check. Quality start! 3. No-mas . It was Nomar Garciaparra sendoff night, as Sox management remembered Nomar for his contributions. Nomar w...

The Sox return home, optimistic that home cooking will help heal ailing bats. 1. Small Ball . As in small-minded. The easiest 'target' for the Sox miasma becomes...Terry Francona. I'm not going there, as if you don't have the horses, you ain't gonna ride. I'm sure that he didn't expect to be missing a pair of starting outfielders and an anemic start from Victor Martinez. Speaking of the latter, we're not hearing a huge clamor for the Sox to throw big money at V-Mart, who has struggled early in his contract year. 2. Bucking the trend . Clay Buchholz comes in as the Sox most effective starter, year to date. The question with Buchholz has been about harnessing his enormous talent. The Sox have promoted pitching off the fastball as a developmental philosophy. Buchholz has always reminded me of Hall of Famer Jim Palmer who controlled the strike zone in and out, up and down with his fastball. Remaining redundant, I contend Buchholz has the best 'raw st...

Fenway South saw the Red Sox swept away in extra innings by the Orioles, who came into the series as the worst team in Major League Baseball. 1. Worst House . The Sox battled back to .500 and then went into a deep snooze for a three game pitch-slapping at the hands of the Woes. If you get annihilated by the "worst" team in the majors, how does that make you feel? The Sox lost 4-5 (10), 9-12, and 2-3 (10). Two quality starts (Lackey and Beckett) turned into defeats, generally the odds against that are about 6-1 against. But in the 'run prevention' era, who knows? 2. Wigged Out . Ty Wigginton became the Gates Brown, Ichiro, Frank Catalanotto Soxkiller du jour, driving a Papelbon pitch into the left centerfield gap, after Papelbon had yielded a walk and an errant pickoff throw to start the extra-inning fire. Wigginton, filling in for Brian Roberts at second, brought the Orioles closer to the Red Sox than the Sox are to either the Yankees or the Rays. 3. Dis-gruntle...

The Red Sox trail the Orioles 12-9 as they head into the ninth against the Woes. Ouch. 1. Fenway South . The ballgame for the most part sounds like a home game in July, with Sox fans loudly cheering Sox success, and tossing back an Oriole homer. So much for the good news, as the Sox came in with a better road than home record. Are they confused? 2. Rolling the Daisuke . Daisuke Matsuzaka looked like the Daisuke of old, with some 'power nibbling' and even walked Adam Jones to lead off the game. Matsuzaka allowed 6 ER in 4.2 innings, and not to be outdone, Father Time, or Father Tim Wakefield allowed 5 in 2.1 innings. 3. Plus-minus . It feels bad, because it is bad. Good teams have very favorable plus-minus ratings, runs scored versus runs allowed. The Sox just aren't playing very well right now, with the plus minus very solidly in the red. It's not an accidental death when you live in the red...it's bad baseball. 4. Pitching and defense . Well, the defense h...