Orioles - 002 010 000 - 3 7 0 Red Sox - 010 001 000 - 2 8 0
Ellsbury, CFRed Sox Runs Allowed, Last 8 Games: 0, 3, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2, 3. ... Team ERA: 1.78.
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Nava, LF
Carp, 1B
Saltalamacchia, C
Drew, SS
Middlebrooks, 3B
Afternoon: Angels 2, Rays 0. Tampa Bay had runners at second and third with one out in the bottom of the ninth and could not score.
At the beginning of the season, after the encouraging start, I don't know how many times I read that the team was going to live and die on the performances of Lester and Buchholz. Clay's been gone two months, and Lester had that bad patch mid-season, not to mention the bullpen chaos earlier, and here we are anyhow. Ben Cherington and John Farrell are looking really smart right now, or really lucky.
ReplyDeletePeteAbe touched on this today:
ReplyDeleteThe key to the Red Sox has been their balance. Before the season ends they could have nine hitters with 50 RBIs but nobody with 100. Outside of third base, every position on the field has provided above-average production (based on OPS+) over the course of the season.
The same is true of the starting pitching. There hasn't necessarily been an ace but there are four starters worthy of trust.
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No eye-popping seasons, but steady production all across the board.
"there are four starters worthy of trust"
ReplyDeleteWho is he leaving out? The undefeated Buchholz? The 113 ERA+ Doubront?
"I don't know how many times I read that the team was going to live and die on the performances of Lester and Buchholz"
It's funny how people say shit and then other people hear it and say it too and before you know it you'd think mere speculation is hard facts.
Who is he leaving out?
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming he trusts Lester + Lackey + Doubront + Peavy and doesn't trust Dempster (88 ERA+, 1.466 WHIP).