51 games into the 2006 MLB season, I think it is safe for Red Sox fan to get their hopes up for another World Series. With a strong and deep pitching staff, an always potent and dangerous lineup, and a front office that is guaranteed to make good moves, the Sox are in contention for the title.Obviously, the most pleasant surprise for the Red Sox has been the emergence of the 25 year-old kid from Baton Rouge, Jonathon Papelbon. The kid has been a savior for the Red Sox, who had bullpen concerns before the year began. On the mound he has posted a league leading 19 saves and has allowed only one run in all of his twenty-seven innings pitched this year, which means he has a paltry 0.33 ERA this year. I think it is safe to say that there is one award already locked up for the 2006 season.
Another surprise for the Red Sox has been the steady and resurgent Mike Lowell. Acquired in the Josh Beckett trade, Mike has been outstanding for the Sox. Bill who? Lowell has been terrific, leading the MLB in doubles, and posting an exceptional .317 average as of June 1st. He has been giving the Sox steady production from the six or seven hole. He was a great pickup, and Boston got him along with one of the best young pitchers in the game, Josh Beckett. Beckett, along with Schilling, has been an anchor to the staff and vital to the Red Sox’ success. Had Theo Epstein not pulled the trigger on the deal for Lowell and Beckett, I am convinced we would be at .500 and in 3rd, right behind New York and Toronto. Beckett has been absolutely phenomenal this season with seven wins and only two losses. He has 4.46 ERA but that will submarine as the season goes on. Beckett has even helped on offense, hitting a home run against Philadelphia.
An additional outstanding, and under the radar, player the Red Sox picked up in the off-season has been Mark Loretta. The man is a career .300 hitter, yet he gets no respect, which I don’t understand. He has been much more productive than last year’s second baseman Mark Bellhorn. He has been consistent all year with a .317 average and durable as well, leading the team with 205 at-bats. He has been clutch as well, hitting a bottom of the 9th, two out, two strike, walk-off home-run on Patriots Day.
David Ortiz, who, like Ted Williams, got snubbed from being the MVP after a monster year, is having another great year with 15 HR’s, 48 RBI’s, and .554 slugging percentage. He continues to prove himself as one of the most feared and clutch hitters in the game of baseball today. It is hard to believe that the Twins let him go for absolutely nothing, which just shows the Twins lack of evaluating talent. Manny is well……. being Manny. He had a slow start but has come back strong, with 6 HR’s in the past ten games. He surprisingly has no errors and has been very solid under the shadow of the Green Monster. All I hope is that Manny and Big Papi stay healthy and continue to produce the numbers they are now.
In addition to their feared lineup, potent rotation, and solid bullpen the Red Sox have a very deep bench. Willy Mo Pena would be a starter on almost every other Major League team, and will contribute immediately when he comes back from the DL. Whenever the Sox need some speed on the bases they can call on the diminutive, yet speedy, Willy Harris. We also have JT Snow and Alex Cora to come in late in the games to sure up the defense.
If and when all these player become and stay healthy the Boston Red Sox have a legitimate chance of hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy come October
7 replies on “Red Sox fans- believe!”
I wouldn’t go that far… They’d have to beat the Chisox, Indians, Yankees, Tigers and A’s just to make it to the World Series…not to mention if they made it to the series, they’d have to beat Pujols…I mean the Cardinals…
The Sox Come on, JD. You know that Boston fans always think their teams are a lock for the title, no matter how misguided they may be.
P.S. I’m a Yankee fan.
i agree… w/all yankee fans talk about counting your chickens before they hatch
cut him some slack he’s barely old enough to remember there was a curse
The Red Sox The A’s are under .500, the Yankees have injuries, Cleveland is just 1 game over .500, so our only real threat is Chicago, and Detroit, if Detroit doesnt flame out. And we beat Pujols in the Series in 04.
Poor fellow.. You do realize that this depleted Yankee squad; beatin, battered, and basically brought to mortal-level skill is still only half a game back from first. Their staff, I mean Mike Mussina, is still finding ways to get the job done (most of the time of course). If I were anything but a Yankee fan, it’d put fear in my heart to see such a torn and tattered club succeed under these circumstances.
P.S. The Detroit Tigers have the best record in baseball. Taking nothing away from the Tigers of course, this should tell just how early it is to be predicting the Sox in the Series. I do understand how quickly y’all tend to get your hopes up though.
typical red sox fan who has no idea what he is talking about.