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Chicago White Sox (76-59) @ Boston Red Sox (79-56) |
GAME NOTES: Ozzie thought he’d never walk a jockey, in his words, and he ended up doing so as D-Ped went 4 for 4 in the cleanup hole. He’s back there again today. If a 21-year old flamethrower didn’t impress him, will a 42-year old knuckleballer?
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Pedroia became normal for a game. But Ellsbury has been doing an Ellsbury. Is September his time of year? If Ellsbury joins Pedroia, Youk, Lowrie, Bay, Kotsay and Papi in hitting for average and power . . . and our rotation and pen keep it up. Wow.
When Mike, JD, Beckett, Aardsma, Bowden, Colon and maybe Buchholz come back. Double Wow. September should be even better than August. 6 vs. the Rays = it’s in our hands, and this team seems ready for a big ending.
The Sox are certainly in good shape, but I don’t know whether they are in line for a big finish. Management’s top priorities are to make the playoffs and get the team ready for the postseason. They don’t care nearly as much about winning the division — having won the World Series as a wild card before.
As long as the Sox maintain a cushion between themselves and their wild card competition, the Yanks and Twins, they’ll be content to coast into October and give everyone as much rest as they need.
Sorry, jv, that was me. Your second paragraph says it all . . . a wild card cushion . . . which can only be sustained in all out win mode, as we will be fighting off either CWS or Twins for the next month . . . so might as well go for the pennant at the same time.
The good news is that Mike, JD, Casey, Beckett, Aardsma, Coco, etc. will be relatively rested for the remaining 3 – 4 weeks of their seasons; that talented Mark Kotsay, VanEvery will share 4th-6th OF roles; that Bailey can spell Youk and Casey, and Thurston, Pedroia; that this rotation for September will not only include rested Beckett, Wake, Colon, but can draw from Bowden, Pauley, Zinc, Buchholz, Masterson (that’s 11 really good pitchers including Daisuke, Lester, and Byrd); with a similar strategy for the bullpen. IMO, all these injuries, and all these AAA All-Stars with Fenway experience who covered the injuries, have us in good shape for the September sprint and October marathon.