Victor Martinez and his clutch quotient is rising with each passing day. (AP Photo)
I've emerged from the sadness that Labor Day Weekend always seems to present in a calm state of mind after taking a few days of Sawxblog rest. Labor Day is always nice because it presents a long weekend which is obviously great - however, it's also a farewell party to a summer already gone, and serves as a bookend to my preferred holiday, Memorial Day. With the summer now past us, baseball begins to turn a heavier shade of serious with each game played - carrying a weight that the free-loving months of May, June, and July can't quite possess. It also seems to be a great time for reflection as Autumn has always served as a prime-time for me to wax nostalgic. In many ways the entire 2009 Red Sox campaign has been one in constant comparison to the past, and the question I'm asking is why?
Tony Massarotti's piece on Boston.com yesterday seemed to echo sentiments that I've been feeling for quite some time now, and that's maybe our beloved Boston Red Sox are not be as good as we'd hope them to be. This is cast in an even stronger light with Josh Beckett morphing from the Cy Young favorite in the AL to the number two starter in his rotation in what's seemed to be just the bat of an eye. That was always our strength heading into the post-season, possessing the two-headed hydra known as Lesteckett. A feared beast that puts the Wild in Card and was supposed to have opposing hitters bats wilt beneath the flame of their behemoth pitches. Now that 1-2 punch isn'T strong question. While Lester seems to be getting stronger, Beckett seems to be getting shakier. Which leads me back to the comparison of the 2009 Boston Red Sox to teams of years past, and I wonder - have we been reaching for something all along?
The comparisons have ranged from 2005, 2006, 2007, and even briefly 1978 lurked into conversations for a hot minute, however, the one year people seemed to never compare this years team with was last years team of 2008. Now with just 23 games left on the regular season schedule I'd say it's about time for that comparison. I briefly skimmed through SawxBlog's posts from last August and September and strangely enough, there's some odd comparisons present.
2008 |
2009 |
|
Key Additions |
Mark Kotsay, Jason Bay, Paul Byrd | Billy Wagner, Victor Martinez, Paul Byrd |
Eliminating a Rival |
Take two of three from Yankees in August efficiently ending their playoff hopes. | Take two of three from Rays in August efficiently ending their playoff hopes. |
AL East |
Rays pull away from the Sox win AL East. | Yanks pull away from the Sox win AL East. |
Numbers |
Sox retire Pesky's number 6. | Sox retire Rice's number 14. |
Beckett |
Beckett seemingly getting worse as the season wears on. | Beckett seemingly getting worse as the season wears on. |
Dice-K |
Matsuzaka a key part to the Red Sox rotation. | Matsuzaka pitching in A ball games Sox crossing fingers for a miracle from him |
OK, so the Dice-K isn't very comparable to last season (where he won 20 games) but I think you get the point. People often forget how dominant Lester was in the post-season last year as he truly did play the role of ace, as he's again resumed this year. I've heard people say that the Sox post-season chances lie in the hands of Big Papi, but I say no there. We have a healthier, deeper, and better offense than we had last year, which leaves more chance for the Sox to step up and fill the void Papi may present in the line-up. With Josh Beckett however there is no replacement. Clay is amazingly our number three starter heading into the playoffs, and it'll depend on Wake's back and Dice-K's comeback on who's our number four. Paul Byrd's help has been admirable, however I only want to see him in long relief come playoff time.
Also in the 2009 team's favor is the strength of our bullpen. No one can match the back end of our rotation with Wagner, Bard, and Paps. If the Sox can just get to them, that's the big question there. Good lord, look at me getting ahead of myself, serves me right for taking a few days off I guess. Still - I have no doubt the Sox will be one of eight standing come early October, from there, their fate very well lie in Beckett, and right now, that scares the hell out of me.
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