It seems that ever since my previous post declaring the Red Sox the supreme team in the American League, they have hit into somewhat of a slump while the Yankees are playing like a team with a $200 million payroll. Am I concerned? Well, no. It's a long season and slumps happen. The Sox are still in first and still should be a heavy favorite. That's not to say that the division isn't an extremely tough one, and it will not be a cakewalk. The Yanks are indeed very good, probably the second best team in baseball. Their once beleaguered bullpen is now very solid, especially if they are smart enough to leave Phil Hughes in it. Their lineup is a force that feasts on bad pitching.
Meanwhile John Smoltz has not looked too sharp. Give him time, the guy had major surgery. The Sox offense has also been slumping, especially Kevin Youkilis. Despite these struggles, the team still shows the grit of a champion. After blowing a historically bad 9-1 lead to Baltimore, the Sox found themselves trailing 5-1 in the ninth the next day. They rallied with two outs to tie it and won in extra innings. This is the kind of back-against-the-wall victory that only champions pull off. For many teams such a harsh defeat may have crippled an entire season.
The Odd Season of Jonathan Papelbon: 2009 has seen Jonathan Papelbon struggle like he never has in his entire career, which is strange to say because he has still been one of the best closers in the game. He is 22 of 24 in save opportunities with a 1.89 era and has struck out over a batter per inning. At the same time, he seems to find himself in a jam every time he comes in. This is not the Papelbon of old, who gained cult figure status in Boston by dominating with 1-2-3 ten-pitch ninth innings. Just how strange has his season been? Well just look at his career walk totals. In 2006, his first full season, he walked 13 batters in 68.1 innings pitched. 2007; 15 walks in 58.1 innings pitched. Last year he walked an amazing eight batters in 69.1 innings. Like Mariano before him, the guy just didn't walk anybody, one of the most important factors in a great closers. This year? 18 walks, a career high, in 38 innings so far. Fortunately for Papelbon, his overpowering fastball and ability to get big strikeouts has kept him an elite closer despite the inexplicable control loss. However he has been looking more like K-Rod than Mariano and if he doesn't fix his control issues, this is cause for serious concern. In spring training Papelbon adjusted his delivery in order to put more stress on his legs and less on his arm so he could be more fresh at the end of the year. Could this be the explanation for his control loss? If so it seems to be negating its purpose. He already has a dozen 20+ pitch outings and if it continues, his workload by the end of the season will be greater than ever before. For a pitcher that has always complained of feeling tired at the end of the year, one must worry if Red Sox fans will see the same closer in the post-season that has thrown 25 scoreless playoff innings to start his career.
The Return of Nomar: The way Nomar Garciaparra departed Boston, it is easy to forget how much he meant to the city at one time. In his first four seasons, the guy was as good as anyone in the game. In 1999 the Red Sox went to the ALCS literally because of two players. One was Pedro Martinez, who was the pitching staff, the other was "Nomah", who likewise was the offense. It was very nice to see the ovation he got in his return, the biggest I've ever see at Fenway. Nomar was clearly choked up, and I'm not going to lie, so was I.
Wakefield: "I was telling George (Red Sox catcher Kottaras) behind the plate, 'How do you even catch that ball?' He was like, `I just close my eyes.' And I said, 'OK, I'm going to try that one, I'm going to close my eyes and swing.' And nothing." -- Orlando Cabrera on Tim Wakefield (courtesy of Boston Dirt Dogs)
The word 'unique' is used too often. There is really only one unique player in baseball, his name is Tim Wakefield, and he has started more games than anyone in the 108 year history of the Boston Red Sox. He has done so without ever throwing a pitch above 80 miles per hour. He was won 14 or more games five times in his career, and with 11 wins this year already, is on good pace to perhaps reach or top his career high in victories, which was 17 in 2007 (no coincidence the Red Sox won that year). The first time all-star will be 43 on August 2 and with the knuckleball dancing as much as ever, looks like he could pitch another ten years. Wakefield is not only unique, but is one of the most unappreciated players in the game. When he finally retires, his number deserves to be hung up on the roof in right field just as much as anyone who has played in this golden age of Red Sox baseball.
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