Oh what a relief it is

In years past, the news that Mike Timlin was heading to the DL would be enough to send hordes of Sox fans to the window ledge. This year, no such angst occured when the 41 year old Timlin checked out with tendinitis in his shoulder. The reason: Timlin wasn't even in the top five of what is turning into the most effective Red Sox relief corps in recent memory.

About two months ago, I ripped Theo for his awful track record in acquiring pitching "talent." Well after the stellar start of this years bullpen gang, it's time for me to swallow a large helping of crow. The boy genius "done good" this offseason.

A major reason for the upgrade has been the dramatic shift in strategy for Theo and his minions in selecting this year's relievers. He finally abandoned the failed policy of trying to pick up injured or washed up National League pitchers and hope that by some miracle they would be resurrected in the cauldron of the AL East. Alas, the flotsam and jetsam from the AAAA league of the past few years that washed ashore in Boston - think Jermaine Van Buren, Rudy Seanez, Wade Miller, Mike Remlinger, Matt Mantei, Byung Yun Kim, Lenny Dinardo, Jeff Suppan, Scott Sauerback (the list is scary, no?) - predictably crashed and burned once they hit the Hub.

What about this year's relief pitching pickups? Brendan Donnelly, JC Romero, Kyle Snyder (really last year) and Joel Piniero. What do they all have in common? They all pitched for Major League teams (i.e. the American League) last season. They faced real nine man lineups as opposed to the National League seven man faux-batting orders which feature light hitting middle infielders in the eight slot and the exciting futility of the pitcher "hitting" ninth. Epstein also added Hideki "OkieDokie" Okajima, who pitched in Japan last season, which come to think about it, is also probably a step up from the National League.

The difference has been stunning. Let's review after 29 games.

1. Okajima- 14 appearances, 1 run (his first batter of the year in KC) 5 hits, 19 strikeouts, 0.61 ERA and 1 for 1 in save opportunities. If he keeps this up, Oki will prove to be the best Sox pitcher of the year from Japan.

2. Donnelly - 12 appearances, 1 run, 4 hits, 1.04 ERA. The bespectacled one appears to have regained his form from the Angels championship run.

3. Snyder - 8 appearances, 2.25 ERA. This former high draft choice from the Royals, may have finally solved his arm problems and could be another Theo find if he continues throwing the way he has.

4. Piniero - 11 appearances, 2.31 ERA. Up to this point, Tito has wisely used Pinata in situations that didn't mean anything. That changed last night against the Twins and he came up with a pair of scoreless innings. That is a good sign for Piniero who up to now has looked like a $4 million gamble that was going bust. But even with this tiny ERA, tell me you would feel comfortable with him coming in to try and close games.

5. Romero - 12 appearances, 4.00 ERA. The highest ERA on the active staff ( Timlin sported a 6.23 when he was shelved) but the former Twin and Angel has pitched well lately. With Romero and OkieDokie, the Sox finally have a lefthanded antidote to the powerful Yankmee lineup. That's a far cry from the massacre last August when the only lefthander in the Sox dugout was Tito.

All told, the Fab Five has allowed 13 runs in 50 innings for a 2.34 ERA. We don't yet know about Hansack but Papelbon has been lights out (except for one bump) at the back end. It is clear that Theo's decision to go to the AL for reinforcements was a solid one.

And it's showing up in the results.