Thoughts on the Rough Weekend and Big Papi

Rough weekend for Sox fans. Sunday was probably some of the most disappointing baseball I have ever watched. Jon Lester pitched masterfully, his only mistake coming in the bottom of the 7th inning (curtain call #1:Aroid). The Sox answered when Victor Martinez hit a 2-run bomb in the 8th, but the Yankees returned the favor by scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th (curtain calls 2 & 3: Damon, Teixiera).

• It was a disappointing end to a dissappointing series. It seems like it has been years since the Red Sox beat the Yankees, even though Boston leads the season series 8-4. I also have to remind myself that it is only early-August. There is a lot of baseball left to be played and 6 1/2 games is not too much to make up.

• I have also been thinking that as much as I hate the Yankees, I am stoked they are in first place instead of the Rays. I know we can beat the Yankees in the playoffs, but I don't know how successful we would be against the Rays.

• Question for Yankees fans: Why is Robinson Cano still batting 7th? Is he not the best pure hitter on the team? Why not bat him 2nd and use Johnny Damon as a source of power at the back of the lineup? (Sidenote: Robinson Cano is my favorite Yankee for sure)

• Big Papi. Call me crazy, but I actually believe this guy. I mean c'mon, can't you picture him taking some dietary supplements to keep from gaining too much weight? I can't picture David Ortiz injecting himself with steroids and then hitting the weights for hours at a time. Ortiz isn't a gym rat, he doesn't work out enough to gain a huge advantage from taking steroids. So why would he take them?
  

PAPI

Big Papi just hit his first HR of the year.










Many more to come for the big 34. Go Sox!

Why the Sox will win the AL East

It is not too surprising that the Boston Red Sox are off to a great start. Besides the offensive outburst from Jason Bay and Tim Wakefield dominating opposing hitters, nothing has gone in the Sox favor.

• Boston's cleanup hitter, and one of the great sluggers of the modern era, David Ortiz is still looking for his first home run of the season.
  
• Dice-K (12.79 ERA) has been ineffective and remains on the disabled list.
  
• Through 7 starts Jon Lester is 2-3 with a 6.31 ERA.
• Josh Beckett (3-2, 6.42 ERA) has not been his usual self.
• Kevin Youkilis started out hot but has missed the last week of action due to a sore back.
• The Sox have been playing with their 3rd shortstop, Nick Green. Not that Green hasn't filled in admirably, he just isn't as consistent in the field or at the plate as Julio Lugo or Jed Lowrie. (Don't think that means I love Lugo--I'd rather have him in the lineup than Nick Green, but I'll take Jed Lowrie over Lugo any day.)

Red Sox fans shouldn't worry though, and here's why.

Youkilis is due back this week, which should bolster the lineup. And although Big Papi isn't the hitter he used to be, he'll find his swing and start being a more reliable source of power. Lester and Beckett are great pitchers and I am confident that they will get it turned around sooner than later. Also Dice-K should be back to normal after being able to rest his arm for a few weeks (stupid WBC). The Red Sox bullpen is deeper than it has ever been. Papelbon, Okajima, Ramierez, Delcarmen, and Saito have all been solid. Also veteran pitcher, John Smoltz, will join the Red Sox rotation in early July after he rehabs his surgically repaired shoulder.

Watch out Yanks--Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, and Smoltz? If they are all at 100% for the playoffs, I don't think there is a team that could them. No way.