El Guapo's Ghost Rambles on about the Red Sox

If the Sox can make it through the next six games with a spilt, they should be fine until the Fourth of July weekend series in the Bronx. The Phillies are the Sox’s only opponent with a winning record during that time period. The bats should be able to win every other series for the Sox. Hopefully, Theo can acquire more pitching assistance and others can get healthy and on track by the holiday weekend. A test is in July with 14 games against the Yankees and Jays, but August will make or break the Sox’s playoff chances.


I wrote the above on Bambio's Curse last week. As you all know, the Sox sweep the Astros and got one game from the Cards. The club exceeded my expectations and looked good doing it, most notably in the weekend series on the mound. They still may need pitching help and perhaps in the field too, but for now I'll savor the sweep of a playoff contender.

The Sox pitchers performed well against a good club. They gave up only nine runs in three games or in 32 innings. Prior to the series, Houston averaged 5.56 runs per game. The pitching peripherals are even more encouraging. Over the last three games, the staff K-ed 22 batters, walked five and gave up four homers. The most pleasant stat out of the three is only five base on balls. The staff has struggled with yielding free passes this season.

It appears three are emerging in the bullpen as solid choices for Grady "Chicken" Little: Mike Timlin, Brandon "Heart of a" Lyon and Alan Embree. They combined to strike out 10 with only one walk and allowed no homers versus the third most productive lineup in the NL. Embree has been lights out since his return from the DL. Timlin and Lyon have been consistent since the start of the season. Jason Shiell and Hector Almonte have had their moments as well. Hopefully, this is a preview of things to come.

Derek Lowe's last two outings have been reminiscent of his starts last season. DLowe only walked one batter in each game. Before these last two starts, Lowe averaged 3.9 BB/9 innings. Last season, he averaged less than 2 BB per nine. An increase of two walks per nine is tough to overcome as a groundball pitcher. DLowe has had some blister issues, a skin cancer scare, and knowing his defense is not as solid as last year probably all contributed to his earlier problems. DLowe's next scheduled start against the White Sox's could make me a believer again. I want to believe! I want to believe!