So Far, So Good
Going into tonight’s game against New York Boston’s pitching staff leads the league with a 2.58 earned run average. After a rough first game Schilling (2.84 ERA) has returned to form and seems to be adjusting well to becoming more of finesse pitcher than the strikeout pitcher he’s been in the past. Beckett (1.50 ERA) finally resembles the dominant ace the Sox thought they were getting in 2006. Wakefield (1.35 ERA) looks to have his injury problems of last year behind him, and Dice-K (2.70 ERA) has been everything advertised despite getting very little run support. A successful return by Jon Lester and there’s not a better starting five in the league.
The middle relief is showing potential with Hideki Okajima (1.35 ERA) becoming a pleasant surprise, and Papelbon (0.00 ERA) looking like the lights out closer he was last season before shutting it down with a tired arm.
The Yankees come into tonight’s 3 game series just a game back from the Red Sox and getting a lot of credit for playing well despite a pitching staff decimated with injuries. While it’s true that it’s a little scary how good New York might be when/if their projected staff becomes healthy, it’s also worth noting that Boston is hitting .249 as a team with Manny hitting his first home run during yesterday’s 6-4 win over Toronto. Those numbers will certainly improve, and Boston will also become a more dangerous opponent.
Of course, no one knows how Boston’s staff will look in October. Schilling and Wakefield are both over 40, Beckett has blister problems, Dice-K will be adjusting from a 6 man rotation to 5, Lester is returning from Cancer, and no one knows if Papbelbon’s arm has gained enough strength to last an entire year.
Still, you have to like how the Red Sox look so far. If Boston can continue getting great pitching (don’t hear that line often) they could always pick up a bat or two at the trading deadline. Hitting is always more available than quality pitching. And if the Yankee lineup makes the Boston staff look ordinary? Tip your hat and dominate the rest of the league. It’s nice to beat the Yankees, it would be nicer to win the division.
