Light At The End Of The Tunnel?

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So what was that sweep last weekend? Was it just another in a long line of ups and downs? Great Opening Day... followed by four straight losses. Take three of four, including one against the Twins to avoid the sweep and two in Toronto, where we never win... only to lose six of the next seven (including a sweep by the lowly Indians).

Is this high just a prelude to a low? Are we going to head down to Texas and watch the balls fly off the Rangers bats? Are we going to limp into NYC and get destroyed on what essentially is the national stage by the Yanks?

Or, were those three wins, all in dramatic fashion, the start of what I've believed this team was capable of this season? I said that even in their horrendous 5-11 start, they'd shown us a few things to hang our hats on. Well, was this past weekend the Sox way of adding a few more hooks to the front hall?

Because it wasn't just three Ws. It wasn't even just three Ws against a solid opponent (the Mariners were an attractive pick in the AL West this year). It was three winners that involved clutch hitting and clutch pitching. Sure, Putz and Jenks made it a bit more dramatic than it had to be, but that did open the door for some much-needed heroics.

The fact is that the Sox not only needed improvement in the standings, they needed some improvement in the confidence department. And the way they were tested all weekend long yet came through every single time had to do wonders for the players involved and the team as a whole.

Friday - Floyd has what should be a strong outing (if the pen does its job), a nice bounce-back from his last meltdown start. Thornton shows that he truly is a superman, the kind of guy Ozzie can turn to in the most desperate times to give them what they need, when he follows up Putz' granny with 2.1 scoreless. Andruw Jones continues to prove he's a legit middle of the order bat, something we desperately need with Quentin scuffling and being such a mental midget (everyone talks about how he is just so hard on himself when he struggles - sorry brother, that's just another way of being a giant puss. Man up and learn how to deal with the inevitable ups and downs of being a baseball player already).

Saturday - Freddy throws a gem, re-establishing some faith that he could be a 15-win type pitcher this year. And Rios, maybe the guy the Sox most needed to get going early, comes up with a huge bomb to bail Jenks out. Sure, Jenks had to feel bad about what he did, but when the team wins, it's hard to get too down on yourself. And that will help Jenks keep his head and confidence, two of the biggest factors to quality relief work.

Sunday - Danks adds another line to his resume as a legit front line ace, going 8 strong. Jenks, while a bit scary, gets some redemption in securing a tough one-run save. And Paulie hits a jack in his third straight game, quietly re-establishing himself as a bat that pitchers have to fear. What really makes Paulie's jacks great - all three were bigtime for the Sox. Friday's comes in the 6th of a 3-2 game. Saturday's comes in the 9th, after Jenks gave up two, to change the whole tenor of the inning. And Sunday's comes in the bottom of the 8th, the score knotted at 8.


So what am I seeing with this Sox at this point? I'm seeing five starters I have faith in, with the most troubling being a guy who won a Cy Young a few years back. My buddy Kramer is real concerned about Jake, having heard an interview where he sounded very unsure about his mechanics and what Coop has been trying to do with him. Supposedly he's just going to go back to what worked for him in 07, proper form be damned. My thought - he's got too much of a track record for it to be a major concern. Especially because he's not looked on as the savior - the Sox have enough other arms so Peavy can struggle for a bit and the team can still win until he rounds into form. And then - look out!

I see a pen with a lot of different arms who can get it done. Don't be overly influenced by a few bad outings here or there. Obviously Thornton is a beast, Santos is a pleasant surprise, but those runs Jenks gave up on Saturday - the first two he's allowed since the second game of the year. Same with Putz' runs on Friday - only the second time all season he's been scored upon. Linebrink is repeating the first half dominance he showed the past two years. Even Randy and Pena are putting up blank frames more often then not.

And I see an offense that's starting to show some bright spots. Obviously Andruw Jones is the most notable - not just for his good numbers, but because few of us (I was leading the charge, for sure) expected this. Given his borderline Hall of Fame resume to this point, the fact that he's producing is a big asset for the Sox. Along with Paulie, it gives opposing pitchers two proven bats they will respect every time through the order. Even if these two don't get a hit, Druw and Pulie are gonna force those pitchers to work hard not only when they're facing them, but when they're facing the guys ahead of them. If they're going solidly, they really are game-changing presences in the lineup.

Teahen and Rios have also established themselves as feel good stories. Rios is hitting well enough, flashing some good power, and definitely moving when he's on the bases. Throw in his good play in center and this guy is the asset we hoped he'd be... and I still believe he can give us more. But I'll be content with what we have, cause Rios has tantalized for too long for me to get greedy here.

As for Teahen, you gotta love what he's given you so far. It's early, but he's walking a bunch to keep his OBA high and hittin the ball for extra bases to get his slugging up. If he finishes in the neighborhood of the AVG, OBA, and SLG he's got now, I'll be eating a lot of crow. Quietly, his OPS is about as good as you'll find out of all but the most elite 3Bs.


So yes, in reading all of that, it's fair to remember that I tend to be Mr. Positive when it comes to my Sox. Don't get me wrong, I take their losses as hard as anyone, but maybe because of that, I'm always trying to find the moral victories, the silver linings. Baseball is SUCH a long season, if you're playing well, you have to figure that eventually you'll get the bounces. If a guy is hitting hard liners that are getting caught, I know he's gonna soon break out. If a starter is putting up quality starts but losing, I know he's on the brink of a string of Ws.

That's how I feel about this Sox team. I think they've shown me more than enough to believe that the bounces will start coming their way (as they did all last weekend) and we'll start winning all these series we've been losing (the sweep was the first series the Sox have won all year).

I do have my concerns - they are making some small mistakes that they can't continue. They still aren't hitting enough in the clutch, earlier they were making costly errors, and the pitchers haven't always attacked hitters when they needed to. And Ozzie, while being more aggressive this year, still hasn't shown the balls necessary to play the type of small ball that his team is capable of, that takes the game to the other team.

Case in point - in a 2-2 tie in the 7th on Sunday, Alexei comes up with Teahen on second and no outs, and doesn't even attempt a bunt. Instead he swings three times, makes contact but doesn't move Teahen over, Pierre follows up with a hard liner that finds a defender, and Beckham flies out deep to end any hope of taking the lead that frame.

What the hell is that? Alexei is hitting like crap. He's not a terrible bunter - not great, but he does attempt them enough that he should be a must-bunt that whole at-bat. Even w/ two strikes - all that matters is getting that guy over, and bunting is the most sure-fire way to do it. Why the hell stop at two strikes? Are the odds of a hit or ball behind the runner really that much better when swinging w/ two strikes after trying to bunt then just trying to bunt again? Why is the threat of an out when bunting w/ two strikes such a big deal, but not swinging with two strikes?

What makes Ozzie's decision that much more unforgiveable is that Pierre and Beckham are both struggling as well - the odds of one of these guys getting a hit to bring in Teahen are minimal right now. However, both are good contact hitters - have Alexei move Teahen over, then see if Pierre can't sneak a ball through a pulled up infield or give it enough of a ride to bring Teahen home.

Or maybe the RP tries to be too fine w/ Pierre and he works a walk. Great, now you've got Beckham, another strong contact hitter with a bit more power sitting up there trying to drive in Teahen from third, with a speedy Pierre on first to distract the pitcher and possibly take away the double play.

And if you don't have faith Alexei can bunt, then bring in Vizquel, a guy who's made a career of it. Sure you might lose a bit of range at short, but he's definitely more sure-handed and whatever, give me the sure-thing of a bunt rather than the maybe of a future hit in that perfect spot that Vizquel can't get to that Alexei would have.

Bit of an aside, but I hate how managers over-value the longterm in a game. If it's a close, low-scoring affair late and you've got a shot to score, take it every single time. Runs are a bitch to come by in those situations, who cares if you have to sacrifice a hint of defense or hitting? Get that good bunter in the lineup. Put that speedier runner on the bases. Get that strong arm into the outfield.

Even if it's early, don't pass on a chance to get one run across as you look for a big inning. One run early gives your offense and your pitcher a bit of confidence and puts the pressure on the other team. Bunt that guy along, try to steal that base. That one early run really can change everything - take it every time.

Especially because when you take the game to the other team in an effort to get one run, a lot of times you end up getting a bunch of runs. That bunt turns into an error on the 3B. The hit and run creates a first and third situation. That runner trying to steal 2nd leads to a walk. The pitcher trying to keep a runner scoring from third gives up an extra base hit.

My Brother was saying the same thing - Ozzie just has to commit to being aggressive in every single situation. Quit picking and choosing your spots - make that team know that if they allow a runner on, Ozzie is gonna bring it to you. Amp up that pressure on the opposition - make them know that they're gonna have to play the perfect game, because the Sox will never sit back and allow the pitcher to work his way out of jams.

It's scary for a pitcher to face a stacked lineup, knowing that allowing even one base-runner might be the start of an onslaught of runs. Well, if you aren't the Yanks or BoSox, you've got to find another way to scare the other team. The Sox should emulate the Twins and Rays, who do it by playing a well-executed aggressive game that looks to capitalize on every single opportunity that comes up.

That creates a pressure-filled situation for a team - pitching, hitting, defense - to not make any mistakes. Teams start trying to be perfect and that actually creates more mistakes. And those mistakes become magnified by your aggressive play, leading to big innings. You can't watch baseball for any significant amount of time without realizing how mental the game is. To be a good manager, you've got to win the mental battle. Sitting back and waiting on your bats and arms is forfeiting the mental edge to the other team. Being aggressive and taking the game to them - now you've given yourself a leg up in one crucial area of the game.


So I've gone off on a bit of a tangent there, but I hadn't yet raged about Ozzie's frustrating, stupid, and cowardly lack of commitment to taking the game to the other team yet this season, so might as well let it out now.

Looking ahead, this Texas team is solid, but beatable. Their pitching isn't bad, but it will give up runs. Their hitting is tough, but not unstoppable. I'm hoping the feel good vibe of those three late-inning wins will be the spark that gets the Sox O going, with the friendly dimensions and weather conditions of Arlington the fuel on the fire.

And that's a fire that can continue straight on into New York. The Yanks are tough, but that stadium is ripe for scoring runs and the pitchers they're throwing out there are very hittable. Pettitte has been tough so far, but at this stage of his career, I don't see that lasting. Why can't the Sox be the one to give him his first whooping? Vazquez? We all could have guessed that he'd be horrible in the Bronx, as he has been. Let's pay him back for costing us an untalked about but very real shot in 2008 at beating the Rays. Phil Hughes is finally living up to his hype and has been nasty this year. But like Pettitte, odds are that he's got a rough outing coming soon - why not Sunday?

These series and really, this Sox team, could go either way, but I'm cautiously optimistic that we'll finish up the week within a game of the .500 mark. And given how things started, I'd take that in a heartbeat.

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