Comments on: Lester and Beckett have been truly great, of late. http://firebrandal.com/2009/06/27/lester-and-beckett-have-been-truly-great-of-late.html Analyzing the Boston Red Sox since 2003 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 01:55:46 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Gerry http://firebrandal.com/2009/06/27/lester-and-beckett-have-been-truly-great-of-late.html/comment-page-1#comment-41711 Gerry Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:33:52 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/newblog/2009/06/27/lester-and-beckett-have-been-truly-great-of-late/#comment-41711 As an aside: Smoltz fits in anywhere and has much in common with Wake, who is the Dean of the Dugout. Buchholz and Bowden would fit into this mix as the promising new kids on the block. I wonder if Daisuke feels excluded by language and custom from this cameraderie, and if this is ultimately effecting his game. He may be learning English, but his grasp of the language wouldn't allow him to "talk pitching" with Penny, Lester, Beckett. Sure he has an interpreter, and Oki and Takashi are out in the bullpen, but it's not the same. If you have travelled extensively in very different cultures, you will know how tough and isolating it can be. For the first time I realize how difficult it is for players coming straight from Japan, China, Korea, and how it may impact their level of performance. As an aside: Smoltz fits in anywhere and has much in common with Wake, who is the Dean of the Dugout. Buchholz and Bowden would fit into this mix as the promising new kids on the block.
I wonder if Daisuke feels excluded by language and custom from this cameraderie, and if this is ultimately effecting his game. He may be learning English, but his grasp of the language wouldn’t allow him to “talk pitching” with Penny, Lester, Beckett.
Sure he has an interpreter, and Oki and Takashi are out in the bullpen, but it’s not the same. If you have travelled extensively in very different cultures, you will know how tough and isolating it can be. For the first time I realize how difficult it is for players coming straight from Japan, China, Korea, and how it may impact their level of performance.

]]> By: Gerry http://firebrandal.com/2009/06/27/lester-and-beckett-have-been-truly-great-of-late.html/comment-page-1#comment-41710 Gerry Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:23:34 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/newblog/2009/06/27/lester-and-beckett-have-been-truly-great-of-late/#comment-41710 Awesome information. And these would appear to be sustainable numbers, as each of them have already been through their painful ST and April warmup which, barring injury, won't recur this season. Also, early in the season this normally solid defense was wracked with uncharacteristic errors and miscues, not just from Julio and Nick but from almost everywhere. I remember several which cost runs and games. That too has improved. An interesting aside. Watching the dynamics in the dugout it appears Beckett, Penny and Lester are very tight, not in an exclusive way, as the entire team seems tight, but in a way pitchers share information. They are each fanatic about their game, and I wonder how much data and support is being shared, and how much this is contributing to their success. What an education for Lester. What an education about the AL East for Penny. What an education re: NL batters for Beckett & Lester. It is obvious Penny is also benefiting from this mutual support, as he appears to be healthy and regaining his 2006 - 2007 Ace/All-Star form. Add in Wake, Smoltz, Daisuke, Buchholz. Phew! Awesome information. And these would appear to be sustainable numbers, as each of them have already been through their painful ST and April warmup which, barring injury, won’t recur this season.
Also, early in the season this normally solid defense was wracked with uncharacteristic errors and miscues, not just from Julio and Nick but from almost everywhere. I remember several which cost runs and games. That too has improved.
An interesting aside. Watching the dynamics in the dugout it appears Beckett, Penny and Lester are very tight, not in an exclusive way, as the entire team seems tight, but in a way pitchers share information. They are each fanatic about their game, and I wonder how much data and support is being shared, and how much this is contributing to their success. What an education for Lester. What an education about the AL East for Penny. What an education re: NL batters for Beckett & Lester.
It is obvious Penny is also benefiting from this mutual support, as he appears to be healthy and regaining his 2006 – 2007 Ace/All-Star form. Add in Wake, Smoltz, Daisuke, Buchholz. Phew!

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