The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Red Sox Recap April 21-27
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How soon will it be before John Farrell gives Chris Capuano a shot at the starting rotation? (AP photo Gerald Herbert) |
Jan-Christian Sorensen
Contributing Writer
It’s not quite time to hit the Panic Button, Red Sox Nation. Uncoil that fist. Everyone take a deep breath, relax and realize that one month does not an MLB season make.
Thank the baseball gods for that much — the 2014 edition of the Boston Red Sox has sputtered to a sluggish start and continues to look more like the Houston Astros than the defending World Series Champions as April mercifully draws to a close.
In Week Four of the season, more inconsistency from the offence again left the Sox on the wrong side of the scoreboard as Boston hitters left 52 men on base and were only 15-for-63 with runners in scoring position over seven games.
Here’s a look back at the Good, the Bad and the Ugly from Week Four:
Overall record: 12-14, 4th place in AL East
Past week: 3-4 (Patriots Day loss to Orioles; series loss to Yankees; series win against Blue Jays) Runs Scored: 35
Runs Allowed: 45
Team BA: .241 (17th in MLB)
Team ERA: 3.90 (17th in MLB)
Top 3 Defenders of the Nation:
2. John Lackey, SP: Lackey shook off a bad outing against Baltimore on April 18 and rebounded with an eight-inning gem against the Yankees on April 23, allowing only one run on seven hits while striking out 11 and walking none to earn the win and lower his ERA to 4.22 on the year.
3. Jackie Bradley, Jr., CF: Jackie Bradley, Jr. looked more at home on the big-league roster this past week, as the youngster stole a base and batted .250 with three doubles, a triple, two walks and three RBI in seven games.
Honourable Mention: Jake Peavy, SP: Peavy finally recorded his first decision of the season on April 25, outdueling Mark Buehrle as Boston beat Toronto 8-1 at Rogers Center. Peavy went seven strong innings and only allowed one run on five hits while striking out seven to move to 1-0 on the year and a 2.87 ERA.
Top 3 Offenders of the Nation:
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Daniel Nava's continuing struggles with Boston earned him a trip back down to the farm in Pawtucket this week (Matthew J. Lee photo/Boston Globe) |
3. Felix Doubront, SP: The Venezuelan lefty’s struggles continued unabated on April 24 against the Yankees as Doubront only made it 2.2 innings, surrendering seven runs (three earned) on six hits while walking two and only striking out one to fall to 1-3 on the year with a 6.00 ERA.
Dishonourable mention: Grady Sizemore, CF: Sizemore’s feelgood comeback story had a bit of a hiccup this week as the former Indians phenom went 2-for-15 in four games for Boston with seven strikeouts and saw his batting average dip to .208.
High Point of the Week:
Low Point of the Week:
Low Point Of the Week Runner-up: Outfielder Mike Carp comes into the same game and tosses an inning of “relief”, allowing one run and walking five to pump his ERA to 9.00.
Highlight Line of the Week:
Lowlight Line of the Week:
Injury Updates:
On Tap This Week:
Keep the Faith. Drink the Dirty Water. Connect with me on Twitter: @jan_doh