Sox Celebrate Third Championship in 10 years in Home Sweet Home

 

Well, that was some baseball team. Nice to know we'll be talking about them for more than one off season. By grinding it out, they have established themselves as a very interesting model for other teams to follow.

 

With the season in the books, I reviewed my past Sox posts (not too many this year!) to see where my head was at as we went through the season. Since I'm writing the blog, I try to go out on as many limbs as possible. Not much point in being a fence sitter if you're going to do it for posterity. I'm going to close this section with some closing thoughts on the playoffs, and then reflect back on the season that was - and see if I can convince myself to keep typing in 2014.

 

In my last Sox post, I expressed real concern that if the Sox didn't start hitting the series was going to go the other way. Well they certainly smacked around Wacha in game six. They didn't need the bats in game 5, as Lester folded them up like an origami swan. The turning point - for the Cardinals - was around the 5th or 6th inning of Lester's game. They realized they couldn't hit him, and his pitch count was so low they weren't going to get him out of the game either. They were right on both counts, and once the Fenway Faithful shook Wacha's confidence - even if it was only a little - they were toast.

 

These teams were still very, very close. At the end though, the Sox got the big hit when it mattered, and the Cardinals didn't. A couple of stats that encapsulate that are that St. Louis actually had more hits than Boston in this series, but scoring was a Boston advantage, by almost 2-1. When the ducks were on the pond, the

That's right Yankee Fans, The BoSox are champs.

Get used to it.

Sox took advantage, plain and simple. This was how they beat Detroit too, and what's more interesting, is that they did it up and down the lineup. Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Napoli, Gomes, Victorino, Ross (Ross!!), and Boegarts all had key at bats in the playoffs that won games. Basically, everyone but Drew. As surprising as that is, what's more stunning is that it shouldn't have been surprising at all: That was how they won all season. Even Drew contributed during the season, with a hot month in there. As did Middlebrooks, Mike Carp (who carried the team for a month). Anyone could - and did - win a game, but most of these guys won more than their track records would have suggested. It was like the other teams were so focused on whoever might hurt them, that they didn't focus on the one guy who ended up hurting them. Who can blame them? I still can't believe Shane V. hit a grand slam after going 2 for 22. And an UGLY 2-22. But he did, and that was the Sox in a nutshell.

 

Matt's Year in Review

 

I had some good calls this year. Some, not so good. Let's see!

 

Lineups:

I did pretty well with the lineups predictions, which I made in Spring Training. Victorino ended up hitting himself into the 2 spot, instead of the 9 spot, with a fantastic year, although he was injured for half of it. Nava came out of nowhere to steal most of Gomes playing time (I actually noted that was possible), so that messed me up a bit, and Middlebrooks was sent down, and we had a some fellow named Iglesias fill in for a while. But I got the basic shape right. I'll give myself a B, on what is a tough exercise.

 

What was really interesting in reading that post though was that I had the "injury" lineup. It never happened - Napoli and Ortiz were healthy throughout the season. Pedroia was hurt but could still play at a high level. Want to know why the Sox scored so many runs in the regular season and won the whole thing? Lack of injuries to their key players in the lineup was a huge part of it. Ellsbury was hurt a little, and Shane as noted was out, but the thump in the middle stayed intact, and without it I'm not sure where they would have been.

 

The pitchers, of course, were not as lucky, as we lost two closers before the all-star break. But that lead to "finding" 38 year-old Uehara, your MVP of the ALCS. So maybe they were lucky afterall.

 

I really hit the nail on the head with my column in June.

 

Some notable quotes:

 

I wrote last year that the Sox had their work cut out for them to fix the pitching. I thought it highly improbable that they would be able to reduce their ERA enough from a woeful 4.7 to something that would help them win. So far? A 3.49, a full run plus reduction in ERA. Cherrington adopted (smartly) the Baltimore model - load up with power arms in the bullpen, and then you don't have to worry about getting 7 from your starters. Will they continue to pitch this well? I have my doubts -some regression to the mean should be expected - but the depth at AAA is encouraging in case their are the inevitable injuries

 

What happened: The Sox lost Buckholz, but filled in until they signed Peavy, and everyone else stayed healthy. They did regress to the mean, but still were very good.  The one thing I did miss was Lackey was the most important starter all year. His rebound year was completely unforeseen, and was a big part of how they won the division (and even at some level, the World Series). Happy to eat all the bad things I wrote about him. Turnarounds like his are why you watch sports, too bad you have to hit bottom to climb up the mountain peak!

 

I've enjoyed watching the Sox this season not just because they are winning, but how they are winning. Offensively, that has been because everyone has been capable of a big hit (even Drew). Napoli, Ortiz, Pedroia, of course, but also Victarino, Nava, Gomes, Middlebrooks. In a close game, they are sneaky hard to pitch to.

 

What happened: The same thing happened all year. I NAILED that one. In June!

 

 

I'm starting to call Middlebrooks' at bats "must see AB's". He's heating up, and the ball just comes off his bat different.

 

What happened: Well, he stunk up the joint, probably because he refused to hit singles when being pitched away. But he went down to AAA and came back a better player. He'll be back, and I think 2014 looks very bright for Will. (I refuse to get off his bandwagon! I refuse!).

 

 

While key injuries could make the lineup suspect, the team has a chance to get into - and compete in - the playoffs.

- June

 

What happened: Well they won the World Series, so I guess I get an A for that too.

 

Can the Sox Win the Pennant? Yes, if Buckholz comes back healthy. Extra Bonus if Will Middlebrooks commits to fixing the hole in his swing.

- August.

 

What happened: Both things happened, and the Sox won the pennant easily. Very few people were as optimistic as me at that point!

 

My biggest miss was probably the impact that Victorino had on the lineup. They were scary good when he was healthy, and I'm very excited to see him play next year. Who doesn't like a player who wants to get on base so bad they lean over the plate like the tower of Pisa? Who? Don't say you don't - not if you're a Derek Jeter fan - and I know you are.

 

OK, OK - I'll be back in December and February for 2014. One last prediction though: Goodbye Ellsbury! It was fun watching you. Have fun hitting where ever you end up - but it won't be here.