Errors & Lack of Starting Pitching… With Some Things To Be Excited About
Last night’s lost just plain sucks. Wells’ inability to be effective hurt the team out of the stretch. Damon (yes, that should have been caught) and Renteria’s errors compounded the problems and continue to plague a team that is weak defensively (too late to get Cabrera back). The offense scored enough runs, I mean we should beat any team when we have 7 runs up there. Unfortunately, now the Sox are basically in a dead-heat with the Yankees, and there’s no room at all now for slipping up.
I do have to say, however, that watching Hansen throw was extremely encouraging. I can’t really remember the last game I watched of the Sox where they had someone blowing high 90’s regularly… it’s been that long since Pedro was up there. Hopefully Hansen will provide some great performances and help the team get into the play-offs, but right now everyone needs to perform if the team’s to make the post-season.
Papelbon, I thought threw well. He made one-mistake that if Damon hadn’t had the non-chalent error, the game would’ve been tied. I also think, not that I have any scientific proof, that if Damon had caught that pitch Papelbon wouldn’t have given up that home-run. Having been a pitcher, I know unfortunately, that a man on second to lead off an inning changes your approach a bit, and it shouldn’t.
It’s starting to get hazy down the stretch and the team’s lost all wiggle room. The Sox are playing the Devil Rays. Let me say that again, the Sox are playing the Devil Rays, and victory is absolutely necessary.