A Series of Laser Shows Reinforces Red Sox Optimism

The historically uncharacteristic sweep at the hands of the cellar-dwelling Baltimore Orioles last weekend is now merely a set of stale yellow traffic lights reflected in the proverbial rear-view mirror of Red Sox fans everywhere following a statement-making series of sorts this week at Fenway Park. Never has the phrase objects in mirror may be closer than they appear been more applicable -- although in this instance it serves more as a source of optimism rather than a warning, and justifiably so.

Heading into the four-game home stand against the same club that swept them out of last year’s postseason in the American League Divisional Series -- the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim -- Boston was sitting in fourth place with a modest 11-14 record. Two major areas of concern addressed by Theo Epstein and crew this off-season [pitching and defense] had failed to flourish for the most part in the early goings of April -- ultimately culminating in a winless series in Baltimore.

However, following the Red Sox’s 17-8 victory over the Angels in game one of the series, Dustin Pedroia had a special message for Red Sox Nation: "Everybody can be [expletive] happy when you’re [expletive] 30-1, but what is everybody going to do when we’re 12-14? Are you going to show up to work the next day and write an [expletive] story? Hell no. You’re going to write the best story of your life. We’re going to try and play the best [expletive] game of our life tomorrow. That’s what you’ve got to do when you’re 12-14. Don’t put your head down and mope. Grind it out. You believe. That’s what we’re built on."

Dustin Pedroia; more than just a nightly laser show and passionate second amendment advocate -- he’s also the refreshing voice of reason.

Starting pitching of all things was thought to be the last of Boston’s concerns in 2010. After all, the Red Sox came into the season holding a receipt worth over eighty million dollars after purchasing the best available starting pitcher via free agency to fill out a rotation already consisting of more than one certified front-line starter -- and that was even before Josh Beckett’s contract extension.

And yet, of those who comprise what was regarded as one of the strongest starting rotations in all of baseball heading into the year, it was oft-criticized Clay Buchholz and the recently acquired John Lackey who managed to anchor the staff; all while the normally dependable Josh Beckett and Jon Lester struggled with inconsistency -- each to their own degree.

Lester, who heading into the season had garnered a substantial amount of ‘staff ace’ talk yet again following a strong finish to 2009, struggled mightily out of the gates sparking the all too familiar ‘sluggish starter’ accusations. In Lester’s first four starts this season, he compiled a 0-2 record to go along with an ERA of 6.23. Although he did manage to get through six innings once during those first four starts, he gave up seven earned runs (including two home runs) in doing so.

Josh Beckett, the topic of much speculation regarding just exactly how his ego’s reaction to the new surplus of top-tier starters featured alongside him in the rotation would translate on the field, wasn’t anywhere near midseason form initially. Of his five April starts, two lasted less than five innings and just one saw Beckett surrender less than three earned runs. However, as the beneficiary of remarkable run support, the Red Sox won all but one game in which Beckett started, combining for thirty-eight runs in the four wins. Despite that offensive onslaught, the average margin of victory was just over two runs per game in that span -- a good indicator of the effects felt by Beckett‘s early turbulence.

In game two, Jon Lester went a long way in silencing any rumblings regarding his initial slow start to the season. In his third consecutive quality start, Lester went eight strong innings giving up just one earned run on five hits, while striking out five and walking a pair. In out-dueling Angels starter Ervin Santana (who earned a no-decision) in the 5-1 victory, Lester earned his second win of 2010 and lowered his ERA to 3.93.

The third game of the series was significant for a few reasons. For one, John Lackey again showed his ability to take over a game and induce crucial groundballs when needed, hurling seven innings and giving up one run on just two hits in the 3-1 win. More importantly, struggling slugger David Ortiz -- who has always had success against that night’s opposing pitcher Joel Pineiro -- reinforced Dustin Pedroia’s sentiments regarding his ability to get back on track by going 2-3 with a walk and an encouraging opposite field home run in the fourth inning.

Then came Thursday night and the always interesting, but never predictable, Daisuke Matsuzaka start. The night started off disastrous as Matsuzaka walked three Angels hitters on the way to giving up four first inning runs. However, Daisuke would settle in nicely after the shaky first, giving up just one run and walking zero in his final 4 1/3 innings of work -- an extremely encouraging sign for Red Sox fans. The offense again found a way to maneuver its way around shaky pitching, banging out double-digit hits for the fourth straight game en route to a 11-6 win and the series sweep.

Overall, the Red Sox outscored the Angels 36-16 and collected 53 hits during the four game set; averaging over thirteen hits and nine runs per game. More importantly however, their performance helped paint a more visually appealing portrait of not only the progress made to this point, but also the prospects for the remainder of the season.