Stretch-Run 101

When a baseball season starts, the seasoned fan takes detailed notes on his or her expectations, folds them neatly and seals them in a envelope, then tosses them into the fireplace in anticipation of the chaos to come. Some of what we thought would happen likely has, even more likely has not, but as July comes to a close and our nation braces for a tense stretch-run, many questions have been answered as to what we've got, what we need and what it will take to go all the way.

Lots of preseason predictions said the Red Sox wouldn't hit enough to be elite, even though a deep rotation and lights-out bullpen would keep them competitive. Hey, predicting is a tough job. A scorching hot May and June showed the baseball world that a healthy Sox team can slug with the very best, and that the pillars of the starting rotation, though not who many may have expected can indeed be as strong as expected. The bullpen has been exposed for what it is: 2 men deep (also known as being as deep as my ex-wife).

So here is my primer for what is shaping up to be the most exciting Red Sox stretch-run in recent memory:

1. Lean on the starters. It is clear that this team will go no further than these 5 men can carry them, so Terry needs to saddle them up, ride them hard and realize that he can't turn a winnable game over to a bullpen that he doesn't have.

2. Hope for some good luck/karma. No one could have predicted the injury plague to descend on our house this summer, but equally unpredictable was how well this patchwork group would hold up. I know it was a big relief to see Victor's name in the starting line-up and to hear that Ellsbury is doing baseball-like things. If the Sox get half as lucky down the stretch as they have been unlucky to this point, the unfortunate parts of the starting 9 will morph into a nice bench, and we can put the excuses behind us. it's clear that the pieces of a Championship puzzle are here, though not all ready to take their spots yet.

3. Beat the Rays. Obvious, but with 6 remaining games against the Rays and sitting 5 games back, the Sox can either significantly outplay them for the next 2 months against all comers, stick it to them face-to-face or hopefully do both. Regardless, the road to the playoffs goes through Tampa.

4. Get some help from an unexpected source. The Yanks face the Rays 10 more times this season, compared to 7 more contests against the Sox. A small advantage could play a big role in the playoff picture, so don't be surprised to be pulling hard for the pinstripes when they host the Rays for a 4-game set in late September.