SRYD's Notebook

July 1, 2000

I'm back with another article. Since I am heading to the Cape for my vacation, this will be my last article until the All Star Game. I'd like to share some thoughts about the past week, the past month, and the current state of the Red Sox.

Thankfully, the month of June has finally come to an end. The Sox were looking good heading into June and had posted a 29-19 record in the first two months of the year. When the Sox opened the month with a hideous 13-11 loss to KC (a game in which the bullpen imploded and the Sox blew an 8-2 lead, aided by some shoddy D), little did we know that the whole month would be that ugly. With Friday's 10-4 bashing at the hands of the A.L.'s top team, the surprising Chicago White Sox, the Sox finished the month with a very ugly 9-18 record, dropping their record to 38-37. Fortunately, for Boston, they only find themselves 3.5 games back of Toronto (1 in the loss column) in the division and 6 back of Oakland for the wildcard.

These past 2 weeks have pretty much summed up the month. After salvaging a 4 game series at home vs. NY (after a 22-1 rout in the 1st game), the Sox headed to Toronto with a .5 game lead on NY and Toronto. Toronto went on to sweep the Sox and the injuries on the team started to pile up. In the 5 games so far this week, the Sox went 1-4 and lost 3 games that they really should have won (Sunday in Toronto, Tuesday and Wednesday vs. Baltimore). Appropriately, the Sox ended the month by getting thumped by the White Sox.

Currently, the Sox are a mess, with Pedro, Fassero, Nixon, and O'Leary all on the DL and the roster filled out by Pawtucket. Thankfully, all these guys should be back when the Sox return from the All Star Break. Unfortunately, the Sox still have 2 in Chicago, 4 in Minnesota, and 3 at home vs. Atlanta before the break. If the Sox can stay within the 2.5 games out that they were when returning from Toronto, I will be extremely happy. As we all know, the Yankees are playing nearly as poorly as the Sox, and Toronto has started a 13 game road trip with a 2-2 record in the first 4 games.

July starts with Dan Duquette finally doing something to help out with the gaping whole at third base, by acquiring Ed Sprague who should be in the line-up on Saturday. Pawtucket call up, Paxton Crawford will likely get the call in Saturday's game. Fassero is due off the DL this week (as early as Tuesday ), O'Leary is also due off the DL (although a short rehab at Pawtucket is likely). Pedro and Trot should both be back right after the break. Recent call-up and new fan favorite Morgan Burkhart looks like he may help after starting his Major League career with 2 hits in each of his first four games. With June finally over, things can only get better in July, especially after watching those three tough losses on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

It would appear that the Sox will get 2 starts each, from Schourek, Ramon, and Wakefield, and the other three should be filled by Fassero and Crawford. Sprague's arrival should send Wilton Veras back to AAA and it would appear that Burkhart will get a real good look in these next 10. Hopefully, the Sox can win 6 or 7 (very optimistically!) of these next 10 and can at least maintain their current position. Hopefully, the Sox can have a good second half similar to last season.

As a final note, I would like to post the Sox record on June 30th last year, at the All Star Break and look at some statistics for the Sox primary starting nine from last season as of June 30th.

Last year, Boston was 45-32 on June 30th, 2 games behind NY. At the break, Boston was 49-39, 4 games back of NY. They went 45-29 in the second half last season. Now for a look at those stats for the Sox starting nine on the morning of July 1, 1999. I will let everyone do their own comparisons with last season. I did this a while ago, so I do not have the pitching info, so batter info will have to do.

At the end of June in 99, the Sox had 72 HR and 321 RBI from the primary 9 guys. As of now the Sox have 74 HR and 302 RBI from the primary 9. Draw your own conclusions.

I'm off on vacation, so hopefully, things will look all right when I next return. Go Sox!!! SRYD out.

SoxRuleYanksDrool@go.com