Red Sox Report: Another Texas Blowout!

Monday, September 05, 2011

Scott Cordischi, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

65 to 57 - that was the final tally between the Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox in their 10-game regular season series this year. Texas scored 65 runs to Boston’s 57. The Rangers also won the season series 6 games to 4.

Given the fact that the season series was that close, you would think that there must have been a lot of close ballgames between the two teams. You would be wrong if that were your line of thought. Ten games, ten blowouts.

To give you an idea of how lopsided all ten games were, in the Rangers’ 6 victories, they outscored the Sox 51-15. That’s an average score of 8.5 to 2.5.

In Boston’s 4 wins over Texas, they outscored the Rangers 42-14. That’s an average score of 10.5 to 3.5.

So what, if anything, do we take from this? One thing is that both teams have great line-ups. Statistically speaking, both offenses rank at or near the top of every statistical category along with the New York Yankees.

Big bats are nice, but come playoff time it is pitching that takes center stage. This is why both teams should be concerned.

Yes, Boston has Josh Beckett and Jon Lester and the Rangers have CJ Wilson. After that, however, both teams rotations are shaky. Yes, they have starters who, at times, can pitch well. But they are too inconsistent.

Ironically, the New York Yankees also find themselves in the same boat as Texas and Boston. A great line-up with one stud starting pitcher in CC Sabathia. After that? Who knows?

There’s a great chance that one of the three aforementioned teams will be representing the American League in this year’s World Series. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that none of them seem to have what it takes to beat a team like the Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia has 3 stud starters in Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee. And that gives them a big advantage over whatever the American League has to offer.

-If the playoffs were to start today, the Red Sox and Rangers would meet in the ALDS with Texas having the home field advantage in the best-of-five series. The Yankees would host the Detroit Tigers in the other ALDS.

-It was a tough day for newcomer Conor Jackson. The Red Sox outfielder took a beating when he crashed into the right field wall chasing an Ian Kinsler drive in the top of the third. He suffered a bruised right knee and also injured his right wrist, arm and his ribcage. He said after the game that the knee was his biggest concern but thought that he would be back after a few days of treatment. Jackson was acquired from Oakland on Wednesday.

-It appears that the battle for the third spot in Boston’s postseason rotation may go down to the final week of the season. If this weekend’s performances are any indication, Erik Bedard may have closed the gap on John Lackey. Bedard picked up his first win in a Boston uniform on Saturday and has pitched good (but not great) since being acquired from the Seattle Mariners at the end of July.

-Congratulations to the Pawtucket Red Sox! The Pawsox won the International League’s North Division over the weekend and will be heading to the postseason. It’s their first playoff berth since 2008. It has been said many times before and is worth repeating, the Pawsox are a class organization and deserve all of the good things that come their way.

-Unfortunately for Pawtucket, they will not have their best bat in the line-up when the I.L. playoffs begin. Ryan Lavarnway is being recalled by the Boston Red Sox today to help the parent club in their pennant drive. Boston manager Terry Francona indicated, however, that the organization had no plans on calling up any other members of the Pawsox (unless injury necessitates) until Pawtucket’s playoff run is over with.

-The Red Sox play a matinee game in Toronto today with Josh Beckett (12-5, 2.54 ERA) going to the mound for Boston. Henderson Alvarez (1-2, 3.52 ERA) counters for the Blue Jays. First pitch is scheduled for 1:07pm.