Now, the BoSox head into its extended four-day break playing as well as could be expected for this time of year (recent bullpen woes aside), winning five of the last six games and owning a three-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East. They are also a season-high 20 games over .500, and with 54 wins, end the first half with 50+ wins for the fourth straight year.
As David Byrne and the Talking Heads once sang, “How did [they] get here?” The first two names that come to mind are Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay, who are both having MVP-type seasons (though the former is heating up and the latter is slowing down in this regard).
Youk’s candidacy isn’t a surprise as he was a runner-up to teammate and reigning MVP Dustin Pedroia last year. And though his offense is only now starting to pick back up after a little bit of a lull –- 16 HRs, 53 RBIs, including six RBIs in his last four games –- and his OBP is one of the AL’s best at .419, it’s his defense one should not undervalue. When Mike Lowell needs a day off at third or lands on the DL as he has this season, Youk stresses the “value” aspect of MVP with his better than average defense there (just two errors in 209 innings to date), in addition to being one of the best all-around first basemen in the AL (one error in 50 starts). All this, and Youk only makes $6 million.
Speaking of better than average, Jason Bay has been a very reliable left fielder for Boston -– no errors, nine assists -– and made some memorable late-game-saving diving catches. His solid D, and even more so his clutch HRs (usually with runners on), along with his team and AL-leading 72 RBIs make him extremely valuable and crucial to the Sox’s success. Lucky for him, 2009 is Bay’s free agent year and his (hopefully) continued success can only increase his value at the contract negotiations table, whenever that time comes -– more on this at a later date.
Article comments
1 - Tony
I can't think of another team than can field an entire starting lineup and starting pitching rotation of caucasion players (besides Ortiz).
Jason catching, Kevin at first, Dustin at second, Nick at short, Mike at third, and Jacoby, Jason, and J.D. in the outfield. Oh and of course the two Tims, Josh, Brad, and Jonathan pitching. Sounds like the lineup for a large boy band,
No Asians, Latino, or African Americans in the bunch (again except Ortiz and the middle relief). I wonder what the anaylsis on that is because its pretty rare in this day and age. Kind of fits Boston, but still rare.
2 - Tony
Didn't mean the two Tims, that's the two John's, Lester and Smoltz. And I almost forgot Taylor; can't have a goog boy band without a Taylor.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Jacoby Ellsbury: Native American
Kevin Youkilis: Jewish
Mike Lowell: Puerto Rican
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Japanese
So, the minorities get hurt and/or are "white enough" to overlook. Kind of a red herring thing to say.
Would you like them to still have Coco Crisp in center? Or Julio Lugo as their shortstop?
The 2009 Red Sox: Worse But Diverse!
4 - charlie
Hey Matt, (of course I'm joking but ) this may be Ken Rosenthal just posing as some guy named "Tony." His (wrong) assessment of the Sox fits right in with Ken's during the '08 playoffs.
5 - Tony
It was a joke. Didn't know Lowell was Puerto Rican though, you learn something new every day. Youk being Jewish hardly counts though. And Matsuzaka isn't even really on the team anymore.
6 - charlie
Tony, you're not joking (except for the boy band bs). And you did what Rosenthal did last October - take a snapshot in time of the Red Sox instead of looking at the WHOLE roster of players (including those on the DL) to determine how more or less diverse the Sox are.
I bet you didn't know Nick Green was Jewish (but that doesn't count, right?) And as far as Dice-K goes, he's very much a member of the Red Sox due to his long-term big contract. I don't know what's going to happen with the back of the rotation once he comes back (likely in late August), but he will be back pitching for the Sox this year.
So between Green, Youk, Lowell, Dice-K, Okajima, Manny Delcarmen, Lugo (until last week), Javier Lopez (until he cut released), Takashi Saito, Ellsbury, Ramon Ramirez and Ortiz, I'd say the 2009 Sox have a VERY ethnically diverse ball club.