Red Sox continue to Impress in June

It's hard to complain about the local 9 this year. They have been in the thick of it from the beginning, and still are atop MLB and their division. A number that I like to keep track of at this point is the run differential - not just the record, but how many runs are you beating the opposition by? The Sox are third in that category, right behind Detroit, but trailing the powerful Cardinals by quite a stretch. The eyeball test reveals little different - this is a good team - and so far they've done a better job at staying healthy then they usually do. Not sure why that is, but so far, it's a welcome change. Here are some of the bigger surprises:

 

 

Good Surprises

  • Daniel Nava - Riding the top of the list has to be Nava. I thought he would be a quality fourth outfielder, but he has been much, much more. The Globe recently wrote that he's been having an All-Star caliber season, and it's pretty likely he'll be a coaches choice. Like Youkilis, his fantastic plate discipline has allowed him to continue improve beyond his projected skill set. And he's not just having a good numerical season, he's coming up in big spots, winning games for the team.
  • Clay Buckholz - Is a close second place. It looks like Clay is putting it all together, as many of us had been hoping for a while. While his health has been an problem in the past, it's been only a minor annoyance this year. He certainly looks like a formidable weapon should the Sox reach the post season.
  • John Lackey - Don't look now, but he has an ERA at 3.14, which is damn good. He's in shape and with his elbow repaired, has a chance to make me take back all the things I said about him. It still won't be remembered as a good contract for the Sox, but pitching like this is a good way to work your way back into the fans good graces.

 

Keeping an eye on....

  • Mike Carp -Carp got off to a quick start in April, but looked terrible in May, and looked like he was not going to be much of a competitor. Looks like he's a streaky player, because as bad as he looked (and he looked AWFUL), he is TEARING IT UP. He's raised his average from .267 to .330 in about two weeks, and smacked 5 homers along the way. That's a groove.
  • Dustin Pedroia - Dustin isn't hitting for power, and that might be due to a troublesome thumb that would have put many players on the DL. But with a .409 OBP, a .325 batting average (team leader), and what I thin will go down as his finest defensive season if he keeps it up, who cares. He has been nothing short of spectacular on both sides of the diamond, while leading all players in games played. If you don't root for Dustin everytime he gets up, go watch something else. He may not have the raw charisma or (eventually) the career length of Derek Jeter, but there are no teams who wouldn't welcome this guy. He's that good. He's put up a .304/.372/.832 slash line CAREER, and no one other than Robinson Cano has been better and more consistent.  (I don't think Cano is as good a defender, but he is a better hitter).
  • Jose Igelias - I have been highly critical of Jose's future as a major league prospect. Highly. Critical. So in the interest of full disclosure, I have really, really enjoyed watching him play. He plays defense with a grace that you rarely get to watch, and he has been a tough out at the plate.  But working off some numbers that Peter Abraham posted in the globe last week, I've calculated that if not for an unusual number of lucky bounces and well placed fly balls, he would be around a .241 batting average with a .304 OBP. YIKES. So I remain critical. But I have not failed to notice that his slugging is almost .600, which I can not explain, but will use this word: Hope. I will be watching intensely - but if he reverts to the mean, it will be UGLY.

 

Disappointments

  • Middlebrooks - Where for art thou Middlebrooks? His slump has been bordering on epic, and although growing pains are to be expected, I'd like to see more of a sustained burst of the potential that we all know is there. When he has been hitting, the raw power continues to be awe inspiring. But Will? Hit the other way once in a while, if you haven't noticed, they are pitching you away.
  • Ellsbury - he historically has tough Mays, but with June here it'd be nice to see a little more power. Not a lot, just some. His current slugging (.384) won't offset his lower than desired OBP (.349).
  • Jonny Gomes - Lack of production noted. He's a gamer though, so here's to a breakout second half.