Here we are at the All Star break with the Sox holding a three game lead over the Evil Empire. On the one hand it is rather surprising when you consider the 40 plus games that Coco Crisp missed with injury as well as the pitching staff without David Wells, Matt Clement and Keith Foulke. On the other hand, the Yanks have lost Matsui and Sheffield and Randy Johnson is pitching like your sister so it is somewhat understandable that the Sox have a lead.
A lead by the way that is crucial that it be turned into a division win. Detroit and Chicago show no signs of cooling off and currently second place Chicago has a 2 and 1/2 game lead over the Sox for the wild card spot. If things end this way the wild card entry would come from the Central division for the first time in many years.
There is not much to complain about at this check point. The team has been solid in a variety of different categories. Most importantly has been the complete turn around of the infield defense. This time last year the entire team had made 54 errors as compared to 30 this year. In a completely stunning development this team set the major league record for errorless games at 17. What member of the Fenway faithful every dreamed of such an event?
With a new face at each position it didn't take long for these guys to jell. Lowell and Gonzales are a joy to watch just handling a routine 1 hopper. Loretta is a very heady player and Youkilis has grabbed hold of the first base position with a death grip.
The offense is both powerful and flexible. They have hit three run home runs as well as bunted and stolen some runs the old school way. The heart of the order has produced with power as David Ortiz has put on a hitting clinic over the last month. Prior to the break he had homered in 8 straight games and now leads the majors with 31. Manny Ramirez just keeps hitting.
The starting pitching has been solid with a few question marks. One concern happened in the Chicago series when Schilling was hit by a line drive off the elbow. X-rays were negative but the Nation is holding it's breath. Another major concern is that Josh Beckett is leading the majors in giving up gopher balls. Young Josh needs to understand that 96 mile an hour fastballs out over the middle of the plate just leave the park quicker than a 90 mile an hour one.
Wakefield has been steady but suffered early in the season with a lack of run support and now with a bit of a cranky back. Jon Lester has been the major surprise in the starting rotation. He has nice stuff and control and an uncanny ability to get out of tight spots. It will be interesting if he is able to continue to live on the edge during the period in which clubs are seeing him for the second time.
The fifth starter is up for grabs and at this point it is safe to say the Jay Johnson experiment has been a disaster. The young kids Delcarmen and Hansen have both been getting more time in bull pen relief and it is not unlikely that one of them will get a start soon. Seanez and Tavares have been mediocre but with a lot of experience they possess they are likely to be major factors at some point during the second half.
The end of the game has been neatly disposed of with Timlin and the impossible to hit Papelbon. He exhibits all the traits of a closer. He has that stare of death when he takes the sign and he comes in throwing strikes. If your in the box against Papelbon you better be swinging.
So it will be a very interesting second half. Wily Mo Pena is due back as is perhaps Clement. It may be that both Wells and Foulke are finished. It would be a shame for Wells to go out this way. It would be great drama to see him in more Yankee games.
In addition the Sox have some money to try and counter any inevitable late season Yankee acquisitions. All in all a very exciting first half with very good prospects headed for October. I like this club's chances.
