Here Come The Sawx!

In what's gone from a pip-squeak of a mouse has turned into a full-fledged roar as the injury battered Red Sox have gone on an ass-kicking mission and slimmed a once 8.5 game deficit to pull within a game of the Yanks and Rays. All this while missing Josh Beckett, Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Cameron, Jeremy Hermida, and Adrian Beltre at points(And signs aren't encouraging with J.D. having left the game with a strained hammy). The Sox were lead to victory on the left-handed arm of Felix Doubront last night and look to keep on the streak tonight against Vincente Padilla. Doubront, called up from AAA, won his first ML game going five innings giving up 3 runs, 2 walks, and 2 K's. With the heart seemingly gone at the beginning of the season, the Sox were streaky at best through the first two months and are seemingly finding their groove now. Why? The bench and David Ortiz.

Darnell McDonald, Daniel Nava (.444, 1HR, 6 RBIs), Bill Hall (.230, 5HR's, 30 RBI's) have all come up big for the Sox on defense and offense. After seeing Nava(what a debut against the Phils!) in some action the past week and McDonald(.277, 3 HRs, 10 RBIs, 5 SB) for about a month, I'm a believer that the Sox can trade Jacoby Ellsbury and get a reliever or middle of the rotation guy seeing as Beckett won't be back for at least another week and Dice-K's time-table is unknown. I know you're wondering why Bill Hall is in the category. Hall had crucial hits in rallies and games that outweigh his low batting average, but look at his OBP. It's his 2nd best. He caters to the small game played with stats. Meanwhile, David Ortiz is making a strong case for the Sox to re-sign him after bopping #15 last night. He's currently batting a .266 with 43 RBIs, a far cry from his sub .190 average to begin the season. Do I see Ortiz coming back? No, the Sox don't have the patience to wait for him to heat up again next season. The offense seems to be clicking much better and Adrian Beltre has been hot at the plate finally validating he's a good fit at Fenway. Pedey's had a average year, but look at him to turn it up and Marco Scutaro has gotten some key hits.

The starting pitching looks like the formidable rotation it was expected to be despite Beckett, Matsuzaka, and Wake's numbers. Clay Buchholz is making a strong bid to appear in his first all-star game with Jon Lester right behind. I've been disappointed with Lackey, but expected the numbers he's put up. Despite the constant circus in the bullpen, it's remained steady and gotten through the innings which it struggled to do in May. Daniel Bard s getting very acclimated to Johnathon Papelbon's role, which could signal a changing of the guards should Paps not become more dominant.

This looks like a good season again for the Sox, but it's going to take a lot more to beat a talent-loaded Yankees team and a consistent Rays club.