by: Mark Pagliuca
We are just past the mid-May point and the Sox have just taken hold of first place. Clutch performances by Donnie Sadler and the entire pitching staff have taken us to the top. However first place in May means they are on a roll. We’ve won 9 of the last 11 games, what do they need to stay there?The Red Sox have four three-game sets to finish out the month of May, two against divisional foes. The first set is against Detroit, this time in Boston. The Sox have handled the Tigers, winning 5 out of 6. Schourek is scheduled to pitch and he has dominated the tigers. Rose and Fassero are also scheduled, both had rocky starts with only Fassero getting a win. If our pitching continues to let up fewer than three runs we should nail down 2 of 3 in this series, at least. Remember, they did sweep the Yankees and that does show they can sweep.
The next set is against Blue Jays, who we just visited in Toronto and tonight’s rubber game has Pedro on HIS perch. Toronto has been fairly warm lately also, winning 6 of 9. They have the same win count as the Yankees and only one behind the Sox; it’s those early losses that are hurting them now. This past weekend is the first matchup we’ve had with the Blue Jays and certainly will not be the last. The series with Toronto will see Wakefield, Pedro, and either Ramon or Fassero. I would love to see a sweep, but I think 2 of 3 is more realistic. Chris Carpenter is pitching tonight and also slated to pitch the first game of the following series. The Sox should pick up some pointers tonight. Kerrigan and Bailey will be busy coaches tonight watching for flaws and tendencies from Carpenter. Escobar and probably David Wells, 7-1 David Wells, will round out the series.
Speaking of former Yankees, Mike Stanley will accompany his team to the Bronx toward the end of the month. This weekend set will see a lot of television exposure as Fox has Saturday’s matchup which looks like Clemens vs. either Schourek or Ramon on Saturday, and Pettitte vs. Pedro on ESPN. The Yankees have been the epitome of very hot or very cold. They have lost 5 straight since a postponed Tampa Bay game. Before the postponement they won 11 of 13 games, including 6 straight. The Sox will need to these three games to show their dominance in the East. Fortunate for us New York will be facing the hot White Sox four more games, Cleveland, and the ½ game out Oakland who has also won 6 of 8.
We finish the month back in Fenway hosting the Kansas City Royals, who have struggled recently but are still 2 games over .500. They are likely to stay where they are at by the time we face them since they will be facing Cleveland, Oakland, Anaheim, and Texas. All of those teams are over .500 now and I believe they will remain there after the next two weeks. I think this series at home will give the Red Sox their third sweep of the season.
Baltimore and Tampa Bay have been struggling so much I don’t think they will come into play by the end of the month. Steve Trachsel, for Tampa Bay, has been the only positive thing coming from the gulf coast. Castilla and Canseco haven’t helped the club much at all, with 5 and 7 home runs, and 16 and 17 rbi, respectively, they need to pick it up to help the pitchers. Hopefully for us it will take them a while to figure out what’s wrong. Baltimore…Baltimore is like Uncle Fred, so much money and still can’t win. Looking at the players on this club how can you say it’s rebuilding, but you may have to.
The Red Sox can stay in first the rest of this month if guys like Andy Sheets, Jeff Frye, Manny Alexander, and Wilton Veras produce above and beyond the call of duty. The pitching will hold up. Once in a while a pitcher will have a difficult outing, but overall this pitching staff is arguably the best I’ve seen in years, and with Saberhagen due back, hopefully by mid-June, it will only get better.
I believe the Yankees will finish the rest of the month 6-6 and 29-20 overall, hanging on to second place, I hope I’m wrong and they get swept the rest of the month. Toronto will finish May 6-6 and 28-26 overall, due to a tough schedule in may facing the Red Sox and White Sox a total of eight times. With Baltimore and Tampa Bay facing Texas, Seattle, and Oakland, their records will plummet. Our Boston though, will finish May in first place. Finishing May 8-4 and having an overall record of 31-17.