Pitching, Papi in good form vs. Twinkies

Ty Hampton
Sox Swaggerista

So other than David Ortiz’s continued improvement, hitting a crucial homer Wednesday night for the go ahead run, and both Bucholz and Lester having fantastic back-to-back starts what else does America need to stop doggin’ on the Sox?

How about two big wins against the AL Central dandies, the Minnesota Twins? Maybe. What do ya say to a legitimate 3-game interleague set with none other than the Phillies? Now that’s more like it.

As has been my mantra for the past month: I’ve kept repeating over and over that it was still I indeed “very early.” But no, none of you had any faith. Everybody bailed on the Sox, Big Papi, Jon Papelbon, Tito, Theo and all those involved when the season was still under a quarter of the way complete.

Well, well, well…is that Mr. Ortiz I see coming up around the bend hitting .405 with 5 home runs and 15 RBIs in his last 11 games and .358 for the month of May? Improving his batting average a mere 99 points? Is that the youth of the program in Lester and Bucholz going the distance throwing for 8 or 9 innings and both posting overall ERAs of between 3.2 and 3.5 to this point? Are Youkilis and Pedroia not both having solid all-star/MVP-potential year?

All true, very true. Yes they may be a less than impressive 22-20 on May 21 heading into a weekend in Philly, but I say if the Sox can stand up to a team that is clearly the NL’s best and when a game or two – anything is possible for this club in 2010. This is most certainly a statement series for a hot Red Sox team if there ever was such a thing.

Those of you who are counting my BoSox out in May…think again who you’re talking about. This is the comeback king, down 3-0 to the Yankees, resilient, brut-tough, never quit, never die Boston freakin’ Red Sox (“everybody in the congregation say A’men!”).

Anyways, my sermon will cease for now. Back to some stats.

After not getting back into Boston from New York until Wednesday morning at 4 a.m., Clay Bucholz put on an astonishing 8-inning, 2-run display to hold the Twins at bay, lower his ERA to 3.26 and collect a club-leading 5th win of the year. Daniel Bard came in and slammed the door in the 9th for the save as Paps was unavailable after a couple strenuous outings in the Big Apple.

The following night Jon Lester squared off in a duel of the lefties with Franciso Liriano, getting the upper hand and the win. Not only that, but JL went the full distance and Liriano was pulled in the beginning of the 5th. Lester gave up 6 hits, 1 run and absolutely looked dominant with 9 Ks. Terry Francona (aka “Tito” – I guess they call the man Tito in Boston…found that out this week) said John’s frontside cutter was moving very well Thursday.

Aside from great pitching against the Twins, the Sox also have had great defense with several double plays from the 1-2-punch of Scutaro-Pedroia and a bounty of long balls from Ortiz, Beltre and Youkilis.

Sox record: (22-20)
On the mound tonight: John Lackey (4-2, 4.86 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (4-2, 4.29 ERA)

Yay’s:
- The Sox are about as in-stride as they could be heading into this week with the Yankees, Twins and Phillies and are playing well.

- Plus Jacoby Ellsbury will reportedly be available to play for the BoSox come Saturday night’s game, adding another interesting element to this puzzle – do you throw him back in right away and if so what do you do with Darrel MacDonald? Too many options is never a negative, but I say if anybody has to go back down to Pawtucket make it Van Every or Bill Hall and keep D-Mac swingin’ with the big boys – he’s earned that much.

Nay’s:
- Red Sox GM Theo Epstein skipped the trip to New York this week and stayed at home in Boston. Why? He had backstage passes to meet Pearl Jam at a Boston show. Don’t get me wrong, I looooove me some Pearl Jam (I aint hatin’ on ya EdVed), but when your teams flirting with .500 and playing the Yankees and you’re the head honcho…you show up to the game.

Now if the Royals, A’s, Indians, O’s or Jays are in town – yeah, skip it, give Mike McCreedy a high-five for me. But the Yankees? C’mon man, I know you’re like this Wunderkind 35-year-old but ya gotta make that one, no excuses bud…even if it’s Pearl Jam.