Final Thoughts

The Red Sox beat the Reds, 9-0. Florida is beating Tampa Bay 9-2 also in the ninth. If that score holds, the Red Sox will have a 2.5 game lead in the AL East. Objectively, I can see only two problems with this team. The first and most obvious is the bullpen. Okajima's no where near as effective as last year. He still has problems with allowing inherited runners to score and now he's also having trouble allowing his own to score, if that makes sense. Papelbon's been good as has David Aardsma. Both Craig Hanson and Manny DelCarmen have shown signs of being reliable setup men, but both have also gone through periods of struggle. Javier Lopez has been ok as the left handed specialist. Timlin's just getting too old. I don't think he has anything left. I would like to see Theo get a middle reliever this year, not a closer. I think they learned that doesn't work with Gagne. Trade for a reliable setup man. I honestly don't know who right now. As I said before, Brandon Morrow would be great...but I don't think that's reasonable.

The other problem they have is winning on the road. The Sox are 16-21 on the road, which actually is getting a lot better. If the Red Sox finish even a game or two above 500 on the road, they'll be all set. They're unstoppable at Fenway with a 28-7 record.

Everything else about the team is awesome. The rotation is phenominal...no matter who is in it. Right now, it's Beckett, Lester, Wakefield, Colon and Masterson. Also expected to come off the DL this year, the Sox have Diasuke, Buchholtz and Schilling. Even with Manny and Ortiz both out today hurt, the Sox lineup was able to score 9 runs (and counting). Manny's bothered by his ham string and would have DHed in an AL park. He'll be back. AM 680 WRKO is reporting that Ortiz wrist feels fine and he should be able to comeback without the surgery. In his absense, J.D. Drew finally figured out how to hit in the American League.

One last thing. In the first inning today, 72 games into the season, Jacoby Ellsbury set a Red Sox rookie record for stolen bases, stealing second for his 32nd steal. He celebrated by stealing third to set a new record, and we're not even halfway through the year yet. According to my uncle Michael, and backed up by Wikipedia, Tommy Harper has the overall Red Sox record with 54 steals. I think it's safe to assume that will be smashed by the time I get back from Alaska.

This is the time for the Red Sox. I don't know that a team's been set up this nicely in history. The team keeps getting both better and younger. And the salaries are cheaper. Papelbon, Pedrioa, Ellsbury, Buchholtz, Masterson. They'll all be around awhile and none of them make over a million. Theo's been brilliant. He's very Belichick-like, in that he's willing to part ways with fan favorites like Johnny Damon and Pedro Martinez-even if it pisses off the fan base-for the good of the team.

In terms of history, I don't know if the Red Sox will ever catch the Yankees...at least not in our life time. The Yankees have 26 World Championships and 39 pennants. The Red Sox have 7 World Championships and 12 pennants. Granted, 27 straight pennants to close the gap isn't very likely, but this is the time to close the gap, one baby step at a time. This millennium, the Red Sox have the only two World Series Titles of the rivalry. Both teams have 2 pennants but I think its safe to say the Red Sox are the better of the two since 2001.

Now that that's done, we can look at things in terms of my life time. Right now, the Yankees lead, 4 world championships to 2. When it comes to pennants, the Yankees have the 6-3 advantage. This 5 year period is the time to strike at that. I think the Red Sox could win 2-3 pennants and 1 or 2 World Series in the next 5 years. It's amazing. I never would have thought when I was 13 or 14 the Red Sox would have a shot at having as many pennants in my life as the Yankees, never mind World Championships. But it's a very real possibility now. Is it going to be easy? Nope. Not at all. But it definitely is possible.