Sweep And Be Swept

So we pick up with our boys after sweeping the Brew Crew (yeah, yeah...I know, that's like a week ago...I'm catching up, ok?)...momentum your name is Interleague Play, and with the not-so-terrible KC Royals coming to town we'll actually take it however we can get it...since there is no suspense at this late date about game 1 of this series, I'll just get on with it and I'll save the "ado" for the game itself...

Game 1 featured Jon Lester against some KC pitcher, and well, who cares exactly who he was, because all we'll remember is that Jonny Lester tossed a no-no at the Fens on Monday, 5/19/2008. Does this kid have a flare for the dramatic, or what? I'm not sure what kind of long-term pitcher he'll be...he still has all the upside in the world, but is also wildly inconsistent from start to start, but one thing I will see, I won't be scared if he ends up on the mound in a big game (caveat - at least as long as Tek is catching...that was his record-setting 4th no-no caught...this blog is Lester's but Tek has a biggie coming someday) . Not when he's capable of winning game 4 of a WS sweep and when he has the stuff and concentration to no-hit a decent-hitting club in the middle of May. This Lester is the Lester we've been anticipating since the hype began several seasons ago...he's the kid we wouldn't trade with Manny to make the A-Rod trade work out and he's the one that we'd have been nuts to include in a Santana deal...he's the kid that can go out there and allow only 2 walks in 9 innings while striking out 9...who can throw a mid 90s heater and a knee-buckling curve with accuracy pitch-to-pitch...he's the kid that should throw 130 pitches if and only if he's tossing a complete game...and he's a special pitcher, even if he never wins another game. We all know the story, Sox fans and non Sox fans at this point...diagnosed with cancer at an age that most of us are as carefree as we ever will be, he fought and beat it, returning to help the Sox to a title and now beyond...because of his plight the old adage about this start only meaning something if he builds on it is irrelevant...this start means something to anyone battling something over which they have no control...it means that people can overcome their greatest fears and challenges, and it means that there is such a thing as hope for those who may not dare to believe it...

Games 2-4: So, did anyone think the Royals would win a game after that? I mean, I guess they had to play the games, league rules and all, but there really wasn't a chance...yes, hindsight is 20-20 and I have the benefit of that thanks to my blogging tardiness but it just makes sense that the Sox swept, right?

Game 2 was another pitchers' duel with Justin Masterson deciding that he needed to congratulate Lester by tossing a gem of his own...1 ER over 6.1 innings did the trick and the pen was tight, only 2 runs scored (both in the 2nd, Lugo and Crisp with the RBI) but 4 relievers made them hold up, with Pap getting 3 Ks out of his 4 outs, recording his 13th save of the season...

Game 3 was significant since it was Bartolo Colon's 1st start with the Sox, a highly anticipated debut since we're all wondering what we have here...did we steal a big-time pitcher for peanuts or did we get an over-the-hill, gasless former ace for more than we'd spend on a Fenway Frank? So what's the verdict? Way too early to say of course, but his first start could only be described as a success...5 innings, 2 ER (scattered singletons) and a 2-1 K to BB ratio...me likey...he left with a 5-2 lead and got the W as the two offenses could only trade solo runs after the 5th...Craig Hansen pitched a perfect inning...worth mentioning since it lowered his ERA to 6.14, and Delcarmen also pitched a lockdown inning...Timlin gave up a harmless run in the 9th but that raised his ERA to 8+...we all know Tito will stick with him but this is starting to get a little worrisome...all in all, solid game and nice to see Bartolo getting a W first time out...if this keeps up we can get Schill really right before making a decision on him, and as we all know, you can never have too much starting pitching (Arroyo for Wily Mo Pena = awesome!)...

Game 4 was a slugfest that the Sox pulled out 11-8...this was a pretty fun one since there was not one but two Sox grand slams...JD hit the first and Mikey Lowell the second...everybody was getting on base and doing their things, and unfortunately the bullpen maestros did their things as well...this was an 11-3 game heading into the 7th, but then Tito decided to get the Craig-ster a little more work after his perfect inning the other day...now, in Tito's defense, the formula's corrolary would have said it was safe to throw him - as you may recall, the Hansen Formula states the following:

Innings Remaining in Game + Runs Ahead - (Planned Hansen Innings * Hansen's Current ERA) - Desired Lead in 9th (3 constant) = Safe to Pitch Hansen (if result is > 0)

In this game, that would be: 3 + 8 - (2 * 6.14) - 3 = -4.14

BUT, there is the 6 run lead exception...allowing him to pitch this game...and of course he gave up 2 ER in his inning of work...a HR surrendered to Jose Guillen who basically only hits obvious and super straight fastballs, so can we all guess what he crushed? Tough call eh? Aaaaaaaaaaardsma did WORSE than that...3 ER in his inning, including another bomb, and suddenly we're in a Save situation...this bullpen thing is getting less funny...a few more outings like this and I may stop joking and start getting mad...luckily we have Pap and a 3-run lead, which means, game over...2 hits, no Ks so it wasn't vintage Pap but a W is a W...time to head to Oakland with a 7-game win steak in tow...

And you just had to know that all of that good juju would get lost on the way to Oakland...it's a long friggin' flight out there...and along the way we lost ALL of the momentum, as the offense was barely awake in the 3 game set out there...we scored 6 runs in 3 GAMES...ouch...Wake got shelled in game 1, an 8-3 loss, Beckett pitched ok but we almost had the no-hit favor returned to us, with Papi's legit single being our only hit over 9 innings...Justin Duchscherer was lights-out and Manny hasn't found a groove since his mini-break last week, so the boys just didn't get anything going...we did hit some balls hard for what that's worth, but it's not worth much...finally Lester took the mound again and pitched ok, giving up 3 ER (4 overall) in 5 innings, and frankly after tossing 130 pitches last time out I'm ok with that...I'm not ok with the bats staying asleep against Joe Blanton, he of the 3-6 record and 4+ ERA (before this game)...I'm not even sure what this guy has that gets people out, but he got us out enough to win...and it was nice to have both Alan Embree and Keith Foulke pitch against us in this one...hi 2004 boys, hope you're enjoying the West Coast...so, blah blah blah, Sox get swept and for some reason I'm not that upset about it...maybe because I think we were due for a little letdown after the win streak and Lester's work...I won't be psyched if we continue this crappy road play...a bunch more in a row on the road too, starting with Seattle...not sure I'll be able to stay up to see all of these with my 6 month-old around, but I'll be checking in for sure and if we don't take 2 of 3 out there I'm going to be a little perturbed...

Game 1 out there is underway with Bartolo on the hill and so far he's out-dueling King Felix...1-0 Sox in the 5th with the run coming on Papi's solo shot (oh, one thing I didn't mention, can't blame Papi for Oakland, he kept up his ways...still on fire)...only 52 pitches through 5 for Colon too, which I like...nice and efficient, and that includes 3 Ks...maybe we DO have something here...

GO SAWX!!!