3 Up 3 Down
Since the last 3 Up 3 Down column the Boston Red Sox have won 3 of their last four against Western foes Oakland and Houston. Tonight gives the Sox a chance to win their 3rd in a row tonight, against the Astros.
David Ortiz (Kelly O’Conner www.sittingstill.net)
Despite the solid pitching throughout the season it was the hitting that has carried the Sox this week; they have averaged 5 ½ runs per game since Sunday. The lineup that was questioned by many at the beginning of the year has found a consistency unmatched by many offenses around the league. This reliability has resulted in the Sox hitters finding themselves 6th in the entire league in runs scored, 8th in average, 6th in OBP, and 8th in OPS.
Mind you this is incorporating Will Middlebrooks horrendous slump (.169/.195/.386), Dustin Pedroia’s lack of power (.337 SLG), and missing David Ortiz (20 AB) for nearly a month. When Middlebrooks finds his groove, Pedroia finds some more gaps, and Ortiz is regularly in the lineup these guys have the potential to be scary good.
3 Up
Do I have to continue doing this? At this point it becomes superstition; Buchholz is on Fire Brand’s 3 Up, Buchholz pitches gems.
Buchholz has now gone 7 innings or more in every start this season. Um, take note Doubront that is how it is done. Farrell recently said that those 7 plus innings are like “solid gold.” The bullpen might as well take a nap until the 7th inning when Lester and Buchholz toe the rubber. With the exception of Lester’s 5 2/3 last Wednesday, these two have truly been remarkable.
Is there any argument that Buchholz is hands down the best pitcher in baseball right now? Any argument for another pitcher with the exception of maybe Matt Moore is null and void when you look at Buchholz’s numbers: 5-0 in 5 starts, has struck out 39 hitters in 37.2 innings, has a 1.19 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, a 2.1 bWAR, and is hitting 92-93 MPH consistently.
Gordon Edes reported that during last night’s game Buchholz rendered his two-seam fastball useless, adjusted to his four-seamer, and was throwing it near 95 MPH all night. Edes also noted that Buchholz’s two-seamer has been one of his best pitches this season: “He has produced the best results with his two-seamer — opposing hitters are just 6 for 35 (.171) against that pitch.” That makes his performance last night, albeit against the Astros, all the more impressive.
Welcome back, big fellah. Since returning to the lineup Ortiz has been on fire. He is hitting .550/.571/.850 with 1 HR and 5 RBI. While this is certainly a small sample size it is safe to say Big Papi is back to playing at the high level Sox fans are so accustomed to. In addition he has avoided the slow offensive start that has plagued him in years past.
An unrelated note to Ortiz’s offensive prowess — and I am not sure how many people noticed this — was the way that he greeted old friend Daniel Bard after his assuredly emotional scoreless inning last night. The camera was pinned on Ortiz as the Sox were going through their traditional post game high fives and when Ortiz got to Bard he passed on the high five for an Ortiz-esque hug. It was good to see the leader of the Red Sox recognizing an important moment for a fallen, and hopefully rising, star.
Mike Napoli’s average broken down (ESPN)
The April of Mike Napoli continued as he drove in 6 runs against the A’s in the 3 game series. In addition he currently leads the majors in doubles with 11 (he has more doubles than singles) and RBI with 26.
What is the key to Napoli’s success? He is absolutely feasting on pitches low in the strike zone; he is hitting well over .667 on pitches in the lower third. Certainly pitchers will, and probably have, figured this out so Napoli will have to adjust, but if a pitcher makes a mistake low Napoli will make him pay.
There are now three certainties in life: death, taxes, and a demolished baseball if left low in the zone to Mike Napoli.
3 Down
I will be quick since Fire Brand’s Hunter Golden summed up the Aceves situation pretty well last Wednesday.
If you have not heard, everyone’s favorite Red Sox has been sent down and will most likely never pitch for the Red Sox again. This stat line, courtesy of Golden, from Tuesday night will do that to you: “Walk, single, walk, walk, K, single, Balk, Sac Fly, infield Single, Error, Balk, error, groundout.” Wait, two balks in ONE inning by a professional baseball player? Wow, just wow. It would be my educated guess that some pitchers don’t balk twice in an entire season, and, heck, maybe even a career.
Good riddance; I don’t think Aceves deserves anymore of our thoughts. On to the next!
Stephen Drew (Kelly O’Conner www.sittingstill.net)
I’m not worried about Drew, seriously. Despite the fact that I am an Iglesias supporter, I think Drew will be just fine. However, he is hitting a dismal .119 with only 2 extra base hits and 3 RBI in 42 AB.
Here is why I am not too concerned. Professional baseball players don’t just forget how to hit overnight. Drew is a career .265 hitter with the ability to hit near .280. Will he hit .280? Probably not after his slow start, but we should expect a hot steak sometime soon.
Drew has been somewhat unlucky evidenced by his .185 BABIP compared to a career .304 number. And he is actually hitting line drives at a greater percentage in 2013 (22.2%) than his career average (20.5%). Thus, we can expect a progression moving forward.
You all know the story here. I really did not want to put him on this list out of the sheer repetitiveness (he is now 4 for 4 on 3 Down), but I really couldn’t find anyone else. I thought about Salty, but we are getting what we signed up for with him. I thought about Jonny Gomes, but he has not had enough at bats to warrant the placement. Aside from those two, everyone else is playing good baseball.
The Red Sox are playing that well right now, you guys, and I think it is going to continue. It is certainly more fun watching a good baseball team. 2012 seems miles and miles away. I am thankful for that.