a week from July...

and the Sawx are +5 on the Ugly Pinstripers. Their PECOTA based playoff odds report is a staggering 92.58/100 after 70 games!!!
YOWZA!

So good, so good....

How good are the Red Sox? They could win a W.S. this year with zero contributions from a pitcher who won 18 last year. As Daisuke goes to the D.L. we don't know how the rest of the season will unfold for him. Tito said today he would need more than two weeks of conditioning to get ready to pitch. But, if Ortiz continues his return from the dead act, Daisuke might be able to take the rest of the year off!
BTW we still aren't sure what to think of the WBC here. It will be 20 years before we are properly able to evaluate the returns from the investment.

Confirmation of our Dominion...

... often lies in defeat more than victory. Last night was a perfect example. The game was suspended, and finally called after 2 1/2 hours as Amalie Benjamin reported the rain was finally letting up. So we lost 2-1. The Marlins found a way to beat us, let's only play five innings! Let's not see any Bullpen pitchers, where the Sox definitely outshine almost every opponent except for those rare times when we see the other teams' best 1-2 relievers in a loss where the opposing manager can line things up just right.
So, we maintain the 3 game lead over the Ugly Pinstripers coming up on a soft underbelly section of our schedule... WE SHALL PREVAIL!

Pick your Poison; Lefty or Righty?

When last we posted 9 days go the Sox were in good shape near the top of the AL East. They were playing 4 straight series versus Division leading teams: Detroit, Texas, Philly and the Ugly Pinstripers.
So bring'em on!
We lost 2-3 to an indeed worthy band of Rangers, with the win being a Lester masterpiece, no hits into the 7th.
We swept the UPs right outta Fenway in 3 delirious games that included Ortiz homers, late rallies and a Beckett start that also was a no-hitter after 6 2/3 IP.
We have 2 wins in Philly with an ace in the hole, Beckett pitching on Sunday at 7-2, 3.55 ERA. Oh yeah and a 3 Game lead in the toughest division.
We are the Dominion.

Josh Beckett

wow... Gott in Himmell. It took the Tigers 7 1/3 innings to scratch out a single Weds night. He left with a 10-0 lead. He came, he saw, he blew them away.

the First Place Tigers...

... didn't see the team that lost back to back games in the Twinkiedome and on the Jays field turf. Rather they played a strange series marked by errors and walks and the shot in the arm of Ellsbury down in the order. Tigers SP Willis pitched a no-hitter but only retired 8 batters... 6 BB/HBP wow. By the way he is one of our favorite non Red Sox players, we are disappointed he didn't pitch better. and with the sweep of the Tigers the Sox finish an acceptable 6-4 road trip and go back to the Fens tied for first.

more thoughts about the road trip

First off, congratulations to Terry F on his 500th victory. He was typically humble when asked about it by writers, but we all know what a great job he does. He has a solid chance to finish the season as the number 2 winningest manager in Red Sox history behind Hall of Famer #4 (yes that's his number next to #8 #9 and #27) Joe Cronin.
Also it is good to see back to back good outings by Lester and Daisuke, each alowing one run although Lester (career high 12Ks) was a dominator while Daisuke was a survivor (9 BR in 5 IP).
And the re-vamped line-up has been successful so far, 8 and 5 RS...
So let's see how the Ace does tonight, get'em Josh!!