Looking For Something?

With the Tampa Bay Rays about 15 minutes removed from putting the final nail in the coffin of the Red Sox, you fans out there may be wondering what there is left to root for or keep interest in the team.  I would say young september call-ups, but we've already had a few of them up since the beginning of August.  We don't have any hitters capable of winning the MVP or of leading a significant statistical category (with that said: major props to Miguel Cabrera and Josh Hamilton).  That leaves us with one last thing. The last ray of light in this season.  Clay Buchholz and the Cy Young.  Before I continue, I would like to ask the baseball gods to take mercy on our young right hander, unlike they did with Kevin Youkilis.  Since I'm sure no one noticed or in fact read the post, several hours after I made my post in appreciation of Kevin Youkilis, he was injured for the season.  So please baseball gods, don't go after Buchholz after this post is published.

Now, with that out of the way, let's discuss our boy.  Buchholz has had, perhaps, the best season for an A.L. pitcher this season.  Sure a few pitchers out there have as many or more wins than him and yes he does not have as many starts or innings as the other pitchers in the discussion for the Cy Young, however, he does have the lowest ERA.  The front runner for the award (C.C. Sabathia) has an ERA almost a full run higher than Buchholz's (3.14 to 2.21) and a slightly higher WHIP(1.23 to 1.18).  Sabathia also get great run support.  While he has had a fantastic season, even if he does throw a stinker on the board, the Yankee offense picks up the slack.  Five innings and six runs is still a win.  Buchholz has managed to get 15 wins in 23 starts plus maintain a 2.21 ERA against easily the best division in baseball.  He has been the one consistent pitcher for the Sox all year (I'd include Jon Lester if it wasn't for a rough patch here and there) and is the primary reason they still have a slight chance at the postseason.  Every fifth day Buchholz has been what Beckett and Lackey are supposed to be: a tough competitor who backs down from no hitter and still, most importantly, gets excellent results.

I understand this post has probably cursed the poor guy and he will probably be shelled in September.  However, if this does not happen his season needs more recognition on t.v. by the goons on Baseball Tonight, Sportscenter, and any other sports talk show.  He most likely won't win the Cy Young but he should.

Cliff-hanging With Paps

In 2006 a legend was born in Boston.  Or so we thought.  Jonathan Papelbon broke on the scene with a spectacular transition from touted pitching prospect and starter to everyday major leaguer and closer.  Posting an ERA below 1 for a large portion of the season before the long haul of the season caught up with his arm, Sox fans were left with a feeling they found a star in the making.  The next year Papelbon said he wanted to remain a closer and was one of the main reason the Red Sox won the A.L. East as well as the World Series.  It seemed to many of us, including myself, we had found the next biggest star in Boston, especially with David Ortiz starting to get older (although I don't iihnk enough is said about how great of a season he had in 2007).

Unfortunately Papelbon has turned into somewhat of an enigma.  Over the past week and a half I have witnessed him shut down the Skanks in the bottom of the 9th twice, blow a lead to the Blue Jays (shouldn't it at least be the other way around) and then strike out the side against the Angels.  Papelbon has a career high in blown saves this year and a career high ERA.  A man who was once going to take over Boston as its biggest star, with his epic entrances to perhaps the greatest Boston themed anthem ever, to his intimidating stare at opposing hitters, to his excessively energetic celebrations, has now become a heart attack with a fastball.  We Red Sox fans do not know if we're getting the Papelbon who struck out Mark Teixeira with a nasty splitter or the Papelbon who gave up a bomb to A-Rod (as I spit on the floor in disgust).

Why has Papelbon suddenly become human, you may ask?  That is an answer I would love to find out.  Maybe it's karma for always complaining about his contract, maybe his shoulder has more problems than we thought, maybe the leauge figured him out, but whatever the reason I want the 2007 Paps back.  The guy who when he came in everyone was either cheering or walking to the exits because his entrance music became a cue the game was over.  the man who ran around in spandex after winning the ALCS and mowed down hitters in the playoffs like they were little leaguers.  Will he ever be that guy again?  Only he can answer that for us and I hope it leads to us leaving Fenway Park after the 8th inning again.  For the right reasons.