7/11: Time for Smoltz to unleash the Warrior

Mojo video time, take your pick:

or

BOS 1, KAN 0: Lester delivers

Boston’s bullpen will be thanking Jon Lester.

Is Lyle Overbay a good fit in Boston?

Overbay is currently hitting .251/.375/.461, and again is playing above-average defense at first base. Overbay also has the ability to hit the ball to the opposite field, something that would be a great benefit to him with the Green Monster residing there.
He’s owed $7 million next season, and that is not much at all knowing he is insurance for the aging Lowell. And also knowing that he’s a stopgap until Lars Anderson is ready. Worst case scenario, Overbay becomes a great option off the bench. And with the Jays possibly looking to shed salary to try and alleviate some of the Rios and Wells contracts, they may not mind giving Overbay away for very little.

The Starters at the break.

The starting pitching has been a strength, even if the ERA is 9th in the league.

There have been road-bumps, Smoltz in a few starts, Dice-K as a whole, Brad Penny at the beginning. But the FIP is still third best in the league, and that seems to be much more indicative of future performance, which is great in the case of the Sox.

Jon Lester is fourth in the league in K’s per nine, and has turned himself into a bonafide strikeout pitcher. His 3.32 FIP shows that his ERA is more of a fluke than not. He isn’t walking many batters (2.80) and his BABIP is a ridiculously high .351. Would anyone be surprised if Lester was the best pitcher in the league over the second half of the season? Because I sure wouldn’t.