The Red Sox have played poorly in all facets of the game. As of games through April 22nd, they are ninth in run scored and thirteenth in runs against. Our eyes and the numbers tell us that the Olde Towne Team’s play has been ugly.
Even though most thought the Red Sox offense would suffer (I took a slightly different view), the other side of the ledger would make up for the drop off so professed the optimists of the media and the Nation. Run prevention — pitching and defense — was supposed to the strength of the Local Nine. Through April 22nd, the defense has been strong even with Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Cameron missing multiple games. In the American League, the Sox are second in Ultimate Zone Rating and eighth in Defense Efficiency. Hence, the biggest disappointment has been the pitchers and specifically, the top three starters.
The Opening Night starter, Josh Beckett, has a poor K/BB ratio of 1.70 and only 5.96 K/9. Over a full season, Beckett has never had a K/BB less than 2.14 and 6.95 K/9 — both in his first season in Boston. It has to get better for Beckett, no?
As for the Red Sox big winter acquisition, John Lackey, he has been no better than Beckett with a K/BB of 1.14 and only 4.5 K/9. Over the last two completed seasons, Lackey has been a model of consistency. In 2008, he posted a K/BB of 3.25 and 7.16 K/9 and in 2009, logged a 2.96 K/BB and 7.10 K/9. Lackey was a fantastic No. 2 on a pennant winner. He can be that same pitcher again, right?
The Olde Towne Team’s ace last season, Jon Lester, has started slow again. After four starts, he has a terrible 1.62 K/BB ratio and 8.7 K/9. Even though the strikeouts are down compared to last year, Lester’s command is his problem. The youngest ace is averaging 5.4 BB/9 and in 2009, it was 2.8. Can he find his command or was 2009 at the age of 25, Lester’s career year?
2010 is certainly a small sample but the Red Sox “Big Three” have a lot to prove after this terrible start. If the trio pull it together and end the year with numbers similar to the back of their bubble gum cards, then it will go a long way to October baseball in the Fens. And I don’t even want to think about the other possibilities.