Lookee Here

In an effort to keep up with Teddy, I'll offer my own hindsight/foresight perspective on the Red Sox: the week behind and the week ahead.

I'll probably stick mainly to my off-the-cuff style, but try to incorporate more of the kind of documentation Teddy offers.

(I'll also offer Kevin Kouzmanoff as this year's Sean Burroughs to Alex Gordon's Hank Blaylock, all the way down to them both playing for the Padres)

I'll start with tonight's game and then work my way backwards.

The Dice-Man Cometh

In his first three starts, Dice-K was 1-2 with a 2.70 ERA. In his next 3 starts his ERA ballooned to 5.45, while his record improved to 3-2.

Tonight he broke through with the kind of start that had been expected of him. Against the team with the 2nd-best record, he pitched a 9-inning, 1-run, 6-hit complete game, walking none and striking out five. I'd like to see more 7-10 K outings (5 so far) but there wasn't a lot not to like about this game. Considering that Dice-K is essentially replacing Matt Clement's contributions from last year (12 GS, 5-5, 38 BB/43 K, 6.61 ERA) I'm still treating everything else as a bonus.

Last Week

From 5/6 - 5/13, the Red Sox were 6-1, outscoring opponents 52-23.

The fact that the Sox gave up so few runs is hardly surprising, but the fact that they scored so many comes as a surprise, as the Sox have David Ortiz (.311/9/26/1.048) hitting as expected, Manny Ramirez (.250/6/23/.770) only just starting to get hot, and J.D. Drew (.257/2/12/.738) not hitting at all lately, including going 7 for his last 38 with 10 Ks.

Suprisingly, the Sox have been getting help from Kevin Youkilis - no longer just the Greek God of Walks (and a guy I can tell an amusing drunk-dial anecdote about), but someone who was 13 for his last 26 going into Sunday. In addition to Youk the Sox can thank the inexplicably productive Alex Cora (.417/2/11/1.170).

If the Sox are getting this kind of help from the guys who aren't supposed to carry the offense at this point, they should have a lot more thunder to rely on when the offense really comes together.

Blistergate

Sunday's 6-5 win over the Orioles (aided by Brian Roberts' decision not to try and turn a game-ending double play and Chris Ray's 2-run error) is exactly the kind of game you want to see your team win. You can't quantify it in a sabermetric sense (though Bill James has always included the element of luck in his calculations), but when your team wins a game it isn't supposed to like that, you have to like the way Fortuna's wheel is spinning.

Of course, the bad news is that while Beckett was able to strike out 7 in 4 innings while giving up only 2 runs, he did have to leave the game with what was characterized as a torn flap of skin on his middle finger.

Was it a blister? Blisters were always Beckett's achilles heel in Florida (to mix metaphors) but he seemed to have left them behind last year.

"Hopefully I'll make my next start. And that's a big 'hopefully'," Beckett said after the game, which leaves me with a deep sense of dread. A Joel -Piniero-on-the-mound-with-the-game-on-the-line-sense of dread.

The Week Ahead

For the rest of the week we have Wakefield facing off against Verlander. Verlander's been good this year (3-1, 2.83 ERA), but Wake is rocking a 1.79 ERA (with an inexplicable 4-3 record) so this could be anyone's game. As will Wednesday's game, when Mike Maroth and Julian Taverez face off. Neither guy is going to win the game on his own, so this stands to be a shootout.

Wednesday brings us Schilling against Chad Durbin, which will be the Red Sox' game to lose.

After this, the Sox begin a 3-game series against Atlanta. If Beckett can't pitch, the Sox may turn to cancer-free Jon Lester (who's had a few side sessions at Fenway).

Of course, this would mean making a roster change. Since the Sox only have a 4-man bench (Mirabelli, Hinske, Cora, and Pena), a pitcher would have to be bounced from the bullpen.

Papelbon, Okajima, Donnelly, and Romero, are out.

So that leaves Lopez, Snyder, and Piniero.

Lopez, a submarining lefty, is out of options, and has pitched well enough (0.00 ERA in 7 appearances), while Kyle Snyder is a reliable middle innings option (2.19 ERA in 11 appearances), who can be used as a spot starter.

With leaves us with Joel Piniero and his 4.40 ERA in 13 appearances. Piniero was supposed to be the next Flash Gordon, and instead has become the next Shawn Chacon. If he has to be the odd man out, I wouldn't shed any tears.

After Lester, Snyder (I'll take my chances) and Piniero (I think I just threw up in my mouth) are the next two options.

The Braves' have nearly equaled the Red Sox' record this year, so there may be another classic The-Red-Sox-get-derailed-by-interleague-play but I'm hoping for the Sox to still be going strong when they start their next series against the Yankees a week from tonight.