A New Wrinkle

Team speed has never been a focal point for the Red Sox with the advent of brining big sluggers to populate the middle of the order. In 2001 with LF Manny Ramirez and in 2003 DH/1B with David Ortiz coming on, you knew they weren't going to manufacture too many runs. Former Red Sox CF Johnny Damon was almost an anomaly in his tenure with Boston. Having his speed at just the top of the lineup put virtually no pressure on the infield, something the Sox are actually starting to accomplish this year.

SS Julio Lugo, CF Coco Crisp, and even RF JD Drew have speed that hasn’t really been seen in Boston for quite some time. Players like Trot Nixon, Edgar Renteria, Mark Bellhorn, and even Orlando Cabrera didn’t provide too much get up and go. I’m not saying this team is going to turn into the go-go Sox or something like that, I’m just saying it adds another dimension to the offense. Rather than just lumbering around and plodding their way to a win, it gives the opposing team something else to have to scout.

Lugo seems to be at the apex of this new discovery. Like I said previously, don’t expect Francona to get away from out-slugging teams with the lineup’s considerable power, just expect runners to get in scoring position with fewer outs. Lugo had eight steals in April, the most since Damon had nine in 2002. Another Goddamn ’02 reference. His 10 steals overall will put him on pace for 49 on the year. He’s not an idiot when he’s out thievin’ bags either as he hasn’t been caught yet. The one thing I dislike about Lugo has to do with his batting stance and that's about it. If you've watched him step up to face a pitcher you know what I'm talking about. It's hard to look badass when you weigh in at a buck seventy-five and look like a 12 year old in your uniform.

Crisp is finally utilizing his skills more than he did last year. He started off the year in a bit of a slump and tried to fit in with the majority of the lineup by stepping in and swinging away. Now, he’s bunting and producing hard hit infield shots and using his speed to get on base. He even bunted twice successfully in a game in the past two weeks (can’t think of which one off the top of my head).

Drew is a mildly fast addition to the lineup even though he hasn’t showcased of what he can do on the base paths. Not yet anyway. He may not go out and grab 30 steals on the year, but he can run the bases when the ball is hit in play. I really don’t have much to say about Drew and his running, other than he's faster than Trot (and smarter, but his name isn't as cool) and the fact that he sort of looks like a rejected back up musician from Rascal Flats.

The final and maybe most important tidbit to chew on is that these three are distributed well within the one through nine. When Francona goes with the normal list Lugo leads off, Drew bats fifth behind Big Papi and Manny, and Crisp bats eighth. And when the Sox bat around the order as quickly as they do it makes a one run inning a two run inning, and a two run inning a four run inning. It’s a welcome addition and I hope Francona sticks with it for the duration.

Of course I can’t get out of this entry without bitching about "starter" Julian Tavarez (1-4). What can I say? The clubhouse loves him but he’s just not clicking in the five spot. Pawtucket starter Jon Lester has been working out with the team since last Saturday throwing from 120 feet, and eventually progressed to throwing on level ground to get used to being back in the bigs. Word out of Fenway is he’s been chucking not only fastballs and just playing catch, he’s also been throwing off-speed pitches well again. While Beckett goes for his eighth win tomorrow, Lester will be throwing his first bullpen session. He had some minor cramping in his throwing arm in his last start for the PawSox on May 2nd, but I wouldn’t expect it to be a lingering issue. Tavarez has been out of the AL loop for awhile now, and I think moving him back to the pen might restore some of his lost confidence. It will sort of be a shame since he is such a positive influence in the dugout. Maybe they can keep him as a motivational coach rather than a pitcher.

Schilling (4-1) is on the mound today against Steve Trachsel (1-3) who Boston will be facing for the first time this season. Hopefully Schil’ can keep from making any more idiotic statements and just pitch. I’m sort of sick of having the spotlight on the guy for dumbass discussions. One was his fault, the other wasn’t. Hopefully we can just move on and I can stop watching Sports Center because they are as active on keeping dumb stories alive as PETA is on keeping animals alive.