Week in Review: The good, the bad and the ugly
The Guru
Contributing Writer
The first place Red Sox, owners of the best record in the American League (54-36), went 5-2 on the week. The Sox beat the Jays last Sunday 5-4, swept the Padres at Fenway Park, then dropped 2-of-3 to the Los Angeles Angels.
The Red Sox kicked off July with some early fireworks and their sixth walk-off win, continued to show there's something to team chemistry, the trade talks started to heat up, and an old friend returned to Fenway.
There’s never a shortage of drama when it comes to the Olde Towne Team. Let’s take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly for the week.
The Good: Three Red Sox players were named to the American League All-Star team. David Ortiz, Clay Buchholz and Dustin Pedroia will make the trip to Citi Field in New York July 16. There's still a chance closer Koji Uehara could make the team as the final write-in vote.
Jonny Gomes hit .429 with a pinch-hit walk-off home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Jonny "I lost the 'H' in the birth canal" Gomes continues to prove his worth on this Red Sox team. Don't think that nickname will fit on a t-shirt.
Jacoby Ellsbury is showing why a big contract is headed his way at seasons end. Ellsbury hit .360 with a home run and three steals on the week. Ellsbury is now hitting .301, has a 17 game hitting streak and leads the league with 36 stolen bases. Yes, that was proud agent Scott Boras behind home plate in LA talking to anyone that would listen, "Hey everyone, I'm buying the Pyramids!"
The starting pitching of Jon Lester, John Lackey, Ryan Dempster, Felix Doubront and Allen Webster went 3-1 with a collective ERA under 3.00. For the Red Sox to remain real playoff contenders...what's that girl in the commercial say?
The Bad: The bullpen struggled and it's lack of depth has been exposed. Junichi Tazawa, Craig Breslow and Alex Wilson had a combined ERA over 8.50. These are not "The Nasty Boys".
Mike Napoli, despite a mammoth home run Friday night, has been struggling. Napoli went 4-20 on the week with nine strike outs in five games. I hear "trade for a bat" whispers.
The Ugly: Saturday nights extra-inning loss still stings a little. Especially after blowing a 7-3 lead in the bottom of the ninth. The loss was doubly ugly as the Sox also lost reliever Andrew Miller to a foot injury. He's been sent back to Boston for more tests. Please don't let those "tests" be the same ones they performed on Clay Buchholz.
The Red Sox continue their West Coast road trip this week with four games in Seattle before heading off to Oakland to face the A's.
Thoughts on last week? This week? Comment below.
Follow The Guru on Twitter @TheGuruGS
More musings from The Guru.
Contributing Writer
The Red Sox kicked off July with some early fireworks and their sixth walk-off win, continued to show there's something to team chemistry, the trade talks started to heat up, and an old friend returned to Fenway.
There’s never a shortage of drama when it comes to the Olde Towne Team. Let’s take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly for the week.
The Good: Three Red Sox players were named to the American League All-Star team. David Ortiz, Clay Buchholz and Dustin Pedroia will make the trip to Citi Field in New York July 16. There's still a chance closer Koji Uehara could make the team as the final write-in vote.
Jonny Gomes hit .429 with a pinch-hit walk-off home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Jonny "I lost the 'H' in the birth canal" Gomes continues to prove his worth on this Red Sox team. Don't think that nickname will fit on a t-shirt.
Jacoby Ellsbury is showing why a big contract is headed his way at seasons end. Ellsbury hit .360 with a home run and three steals on the week. Ellsbury is now hitting .301, has a 17 game hitting streak and leads the league with 36 stolen bases. Yes, that was proud agent Scott Boras behind home plate in LA talking to anyone that would listen, "Hey everyone, I'm buying the Pyramids!"
The starting pitching of Jon Lester, John Lackey, Ryan Dempster, Felix Doubront and Allen Webster went 3-1 with a collective ERA under 3.00. For the Red Sox to remain real playoff contenders...what's that girl in the commercial say?
The Bad: The bullpen struggled and it's lack of depth has been exposed. Junichi Tazawa, Craig Breslow and Alex Wilson had a combined ERA over 8.50. These are not "The Nasty Boys".
Mike Napoli, despite a mammoth home run Friday night, has been struggling. Napoli went 4-20 on the week with nine strike outs in five games. I hear "trade for a bat" whispers.
The Ugly: Saturday nights extra-inning loss still stings a little. Especially after blowing a 7-3 lead in the bottom of the ninth. The loss was doubly ugly as the Sox also lost reliever Andrew Miller to a foot injury. He's been sent back to Boston for more tests. Please don't let those "tests" be the same ones they performed on Clay Buchholz.
The Red Sox continue their West Coast road trip this week with four games in Seattle before heading off to Oakland to face the A's.
Thoughts on last week? This week? Comment below.
Follow The Guru on Twitter @TheGuruGS
More musings from The Guru.
