MIAMI . Throughout the history of organized baseball there have been players whose unquestioned abilities have made them untouchable. They were the clutch performers who you most wanted to be playing in those critical situations. The first hundred years of the American League are replete with those historic moments. Generations have delighted in recanting their heroics.

My question then is this. When did Troy O'Leary become a clutch performer? After a less than stellar performance defensively, and being 1 for 4 at the plate, Jimy (I believe in miracles) Williams allows him to go to the plate in the bottom of the 10th inning with two outs.

The Red Sox were one out away from a win after Beck retired the first two Twins in the ninth. Then Jones lifted a double to left field that Troy O'Leary just missed catching. Pierzynski's double off the left-field wall tied the game.

I grant you that the blame for this loss doesn't land solely on O'Leary's shoulders, but surely there are better ways to try to stretch out an inning. Does the name Dante Bichette ring a bell? Giving up three runs in the top of the 10th inning doesn't help, but, when you have a runner at third, two outs, and the tying run coming to the plate, do you send Troy O'Leary to try his luck one more time?

It is still very early in the season. Many people have been saying "nobody has won a pennant in April, but quite a few teams have lost a pennant in April." There is a definite trend developing.

Run production naturally drops when Pedro pitches, because he usually pitches against the opponent's ace. The offense spotted him two runs in the first, and they didn't lose the lead until the 10th inning. Sure there were missed opportunities. Does the phrase "one strike away" ring a bell?

With the best ERA in baseball, the pitching staff is doing an exceptional job. The addition of Manny Ramirez to the lineup has seemed to spark some other players to step it up a notch. Daubach, Offerman, and lately Varitek are very good examples.

Jimy likes to play musical lineups and will use any excuse in the book to "keep players fresh and active". There is something to be said for establishing a routine as well. If Chris Stynes had such a great game in Game 1, it must therefore make sense to stop him from developing a streak by sitting him down the next day. Break his rhythm. Don't let him back into the groove too quick.

By my humble count, this is the third loss that I would attribute to Jimy's reluctance to show a lack of confidence in such "clutch" players as Darren Lewis and Troy O'Leary. I actually was expecting him to put the overstressed Derek Lowe into the game if the game was tied up again. He was, after all, the only pitcher left in the bullpen.

We shall see if this trend continues to develop. If it does, then Jimy deserves some very tough questions. He has the best starting pitcher in baseball with a 2-0 record, but look at the no decisions. Three of our seven losses were games started by the best starter in baseball. Something has got to give.

© Copyright 2001 Red Sox Planet

mhennebery@mindspring.com