Red Sox Report: Surging Sox For Real?

Red Sox Report: Surging Sox For Real?

They were subjected to our criticism in the first few weeks of the season. Now, they deserve our praise.

The 2012 Boston Red Sox have picked themselves up off of the proverbial mat after an atrocious start to the season which saw them win just 4 of their first 14 games. 7 wins and 1 loss later, the Sox are a .500 team at (11-11) and appear to be a team on the rise in the American League.

As we stated last week, an easier schedule has a lot to do with Boston’s resurgence as of late. Games against the Twins, White Sox and A’s have allowed the Sox to win 7 of their last 8 games after what was a brutally tough schedule to start the year. Boston should be able to rack up many more wins over the next couple of weeks with Baltimore, Kansas City, Cleveland and Seattle all on their upcoming schedule.

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But the team’s turnaround is also a product of what is happening on the field as well. Boston’s bats have come to life as they are getting production from virtually every spot in the batting order. Lead-off hitter by default - Mike Aviles has been super at the top of the order hitting for both average and power. Against the A’s on Monday, Aviles belted his 5th homerun of the season and picked up 4 RBI giving him 17 on the year.

David Ortiz has been unworldly thus far hitting over .400 while belting 6 homeruns and knocking in 20. Ortiz hot two solo blasts last night against the A’s.

Even the newly acquired Marlon Byrd has been hitting well since being acquired from the Cubs where he was not putting the bat on the ball. Byrd has had base hits in 7 of his 8 games as a member of the Red Sox adding production to the bottom of the order.

And the pitching has improved as well.

Daniel Bard and Felix Doubront have been Boston’s best and most consistent starters since the start of the season. Josh Beckett has been solid. And both Jon Lester’s start in Chicago a few days ago and Clay Buchholz’s start last night were significant improvements from where they had been earlier in the year.

The bullpen has also settled down, particularly the back end. The quartet of Matt Albers, Vincente Padilla, Franklin Morales and Alfredo Aceves has given manager Bobby Valentine some good innings in close wins over Minnesota and Chicago allowing the Red Sox skipper to define rolls for a bullpen that was in complete chaos after the first couple of weeks.

The question is: can Boston sustain this type of play once they do play the better teams again? The answer will likely determine if the Sox can be considered a contender in 2012.

NOTES:

-Last night’s win will not go down as a quality start for Clay Buchholz who gave up 6 earned runs in his 6 2/3 innings of work. But, the Red Sox pitcher was very solid in his first 6 innings of work where he gave up just 1 run to the A’s. By his own admission, Buchholz’s biggest problem this season has been keeping the ball down in the strike zone which he did a better job of last night.

-Kevin Youkils missed his second straight game due to back issues. He was initially listed as being in the line-up both Sunday in Chicago and Monday night at home against the A’s. However, back issues forced Valentine to scratch him from the line-up both days. Cody Ross hit clean-up in his place while Nick Punto played third base.

-With Tuesday being May 1st, the Red Sox are expected to call-up pitcher Aaron Cook from Pawtucket to join the parent club. Cook could opt out of his minor league deal with the club if not called up by May 1st. Despite being (3-0) with a 1.89 ERA in five starts for the Pawsox, the intent is to use Cook out of the bullpen to start. Despite being a starter for most of his career, Cook has said that he would be more than willing to accept that bullpen role with Boston.

-Bobby Valentine also said Monday that rehabbing starting pitcher Diasuke Matsuzaka will likely make his next rehab start Friday for the Pawtucket Red Sox when they visit the Toledo Mudhens.

-In one of the more interesting moments of the day, Valentine was very candid with the media that covers the team when talking about the rough start to the season by the bullpen and the injury to Jacoby Ellsbury. Valentine admitted that he didn’t really have back-up plans for the bullpen when Bailey was injured and Melancon struggled and for the outfield when Ellsbury got hurt. Valentine admitted that he has been making adjustments on the fly in both instances trying to come up with the best solutions to both problems even though that’s not the way you should handle it. “I think you have to have plans,” he said. “ I'm kicking myself a little that I didn't have a great plan. But it's coming to fruition now. On the fly, the plan seems to be working.''

-Old friend Josh Reddick returned to Fenway for the first time since being traded to the A’s by Boston in the deal which brought closer Andrew Bailey to Boston. Reddick had an eventful night by belting a 3-run homerun into the bullpen in right in the 7th inning. Earlier in the game, he fell into the bullpen in right trying to catch one of David Ortiz’s two homeruns of the night.  In the 8th, Reddick had a chance to put a scare into Boston when he came up with the bases loaded and 1-out.  Facing Franklin Morales, Reddick hit a spinning grounder to second which Dustin Pedroia scooped up and tagged second before throwing to first for the nifty 4-u-3 double-play.

-Felix Doubront (1-0, 4.09 ERA) gets the start for Boston Tuesday night against the A’s.