Spring Fever

Oh what a glorious April! Palpitating partisans of Sox nation, trying to maintain their composure, have been innoculating themselves against PPF (Premature Pennant Fever) with heavy doses of "It's only April." The feeble effort isn't working as a giddy fanbase marvels at what the Sox accomplished in the first four weeks of the season and is experiencing feverish delusions of what may follow.

Back on April 11, I posted the following: "We are going to know a heck of lot more about the Sox by the end of April. Starting this Friday, they play 17 more games this month, 15 of them against the Angels, Yankmees and Blue Jays. The other two games are against the revived O's. If the the boys don't start hitting during that stretch, there is going to an awful lot of stress on that pitching staff to shut down some pretty tough lineups."

So what have we learned?


Well we couldn't have hoped for much better. Beginning on the ominous Friday, the 13th, the Sox won 12 of 16 (with one rainout). They took 5 of 6 from the reeling Yankmees and swept the Angels and O's. Only those pesky Blue Jays marred the streak, sweeping the Sox at Fenway during the hangover series following the Yankee visit. The Sox did manage to take 2 of 3 at the Rogers Centre to at least earn a 3-3 split with Toronto in the span.

The Sox started the stretch with a 4-4 mark, in second place a half game back of the 5-4 Blue Jays. When April 30 dawned, the Sox sported a sparkling 16-8 record, best in baseball and good enough for a 3 1/2 game lead in the AL East.

So here then are 16 things (one for each game in the string) we have discovered about the Olde Towne Team in the past two weeks.

1. The Sox starting staff is as good as advertised and the relief corps, despite last night's meltdown against the A's, might be the best in the league.

2. Hideki "OkeDokie" Okijima, has been a revelation and is proving to be a solid bridge to Papelbon.

3. Josh Beckett has learned his lesson and is poised for a monster season. By year end, if not already, he will be the ace of this staff.

4. Dice K can pitch in this league and will post solid numbers once he gets acclimated. The Japanese phenom was 2-1 during the stretch, besting Torre's Walking Cadavers twice. Interesting (and revealing) stat: Matsusaka allowed 12 runs in his three starts, but was unscored on in 13 of the 19 innings he pitched. In two of those games, he allowed runs in only one inning, the fourth. Once he gets used to his surroundings, he will be fine.

5. The Sox can win without Manny hitting. He has popped a few key hits in the stretch, but for the most part, Manny has struggled below the Mendoza line.

6. The Sox can win without Pedroia, Crisp and Pena not hitting as well. All three were flirting with the .200 mark throughout the two weeks, yet the Sox still continued to win.

7. It's the pitching stupid.

8. Last night's hiccup notwithstanding, Paps might be the best closer in the league.

9. Wakefield better start getting some run support or the Sox will be wasting some solid pitching efforts.

10. Drew continues to be solid, hitting right around the .300 mark. Although should we be concerned that he called in sick last night with "virus like symptoms." Let's hope not.

11. Alex Cora is becoming this generations Super Sub a la John Kennedy ( the utility infielder jof the early 70's, not the president of the early 60's). You young tykes can look it up). Cora showed he might be much more than that and Tito may be hardpressed to continue running out the punchless Pedroia with the sizzling Cora sitting next to him on the bench.

12. The captain may not be dead yet after all. Varitek will not be posting the eye popping numbers of earlier in his career, but neither will he be an automatic out. He will show flashes of brilliance which is all that lineup needs.

13. Where is the famous Julio Lugo offense? He started off strong, but has fallen back to the mid .200's. Thankfully his defense has been better than average.

14. Mike Lowell can still hit and might be fine in the six hole.

15. Crisp valiantly tried to fight his way out of his slump and it may be happening. Bunting for basehits is a great idea and the game winner against the Yanks was a huge shot of confidence for the kid. His defense continues to be strong. I think he'll be ok.

16. Tavarez is holding on by a string. Let's get Lester up here fast.

April was gorgeous. May started off with a thud. I hope I'm not coming down with "virus like symptoms." Stay tuned.