Matty D:Warwick, Rhode Island
The Fenway faithful are for the most part just that: Faithful. But let's be honest, we live in a "what have you done for me lately" town. The '09-'10 professional seasons featured all four of Boston's major sports teams making the playoffs. Two of them won their divisions, two of them won a playoff game, and one of them is close to a banner. In Washington, this is a dream come true. In Boston, we can do better. Which is why it wouldn't surprise me if the "Fenway Faithful" have become a little out of touch with the Boston Red Sox during the NBA/NHL playoffs. The Sox were not only flat and boring to watch, but they were below .500 and fighting to stay ahead of the Orioles in last place.
Well buckle your seat belts, because you are in for a treat. Remember when everyone thought our offense would be the weakest aspect of our team? Guess who is leading the AL in runs scored this season? If you guessed the Yankees, shoot yourself. Because it's the Big Bat Boston Red Sox.
Poor pitching WAS costing us games, but now Clay is pitching in Cy Young contention and is tied for the most wins in the AL. Josh Beckett may be injured, but no one knows redemption like Tim Wakefield. Sure he's a dice roll, but who doesn't love seeing him make batters look stupid with that Knuckle?
And let us not forget the most frustrating aspect of last season: Jason Varitek. His performance off the bench this year has been exemplary. He and Martinez combine for 15 homers, most among catchers in the bigs.
Finally, I'd have to say the most fun for me has been watching the new guys produce. Darnell McDonald and Bill Hall have become clutch these last few weeks as the Sox have surged to within reach of first place. Scutaro and Beltre are heating up, and Dice-K seems to be coming in to his own. Mix sacrifice bunts, bombs to left, and some amazing diving plays and you have a ball club that is not only winning games but is actually....fun to watch? Dare I say, the Sox of '07 are back in action.
So come on back to Fenway. And quick...because in 11 days an old friend is back in town. He wears 99, but he will always be 24 to us.
Matt... Lets not call this team the '07 Red Sox... They have to beat the Yankees and Rays... They are the most flawed team of the teams in contention in the AL East
ReplyDeleteAgreed a little premature they got hot right when the yankees got cold
ReplyDeleteI'll give you that the Red Sox this year aren't at the 2007 level yet. But I also wouldn't go off about them being flawed. It's amazing they're still right up at the top with the injuries they have had all year, and the terrible start they had. They're playing great baseball right now. I think Matt was meaning to convey the idea that the Sox ARE PLAYING like the 2007 Red Sox right now, and it would be great to see them keep that up.
ReplyDeleteThey are tied with the Yankees for most runs scored
ReplyDeleteThat is correct. 314 each. Good call. Still, Matt's point is that the Red Sox offense has been more than potent in comparison to what was expected of them.
ReplyDeleteDRob, I'll give you that one... Matt congrats on your post... All I can say is that one team in the AL east is going to be left out of the playoffs and quite possibly unrightfully so... I just hope its not my Yankees... But I think we can all agree on something... The MLB schedule makers need to be fired and the Leagues need to be restructured. Not realigned but restructured so that the best teams make the playoffs.
ReplyDeletewell actually the Sox had played one less game, so now that they're caught up they have 4 more runs than the Yankees. I agree it is pretty unfair one of these teams won't be making the playoffs. They're all playing better than most of the teams in the league.
ReplyDeleteI stand corrected Sox have played a few more games..doesn't take away what their offense has done (albeit adding an asterisk next to their current achievement)
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