Lester Comes Through

This was one of those performances where you like to say "Today my son, you are a man!" But since Lester has a World Series-clinching win under his belt, I'd say he already passed the manhood threshhold. So instead, let's just tip our metaphorical caps to a gutsy, well-pitched game by Lester in the Parthenon of Greed. It formed the base of Boston's 6-4 win over the Yankees.

Lester walked into the Bronx and gave up three runs over six innings while striking out 10 batters. All three of those runs came in the fifth when Lester decided to channel his inner Mike Torrez and give up back-to-back homers. But to his credit, he came out in the sixth, got in another jam and was able to get out of it without surrendering the tying run.

The same cannot be said of his opposing number. The Yanks are hoping that Hughes will be their version of Lester and back a big splash at a young age. So far, he hasn't quite turned out that way; Hughes is 6-8 with a 4.94 ERA over the three years of his career. I don't think it is a stretch to say Hughes got rocked last night; four runs (three earned) and seven hits in just four innings. He walked four and struck out two, the inverse of what you want to see from your pitcher. Frankly, he looked a little overwhelmed last night. Maybe he should start next against a...lesser opponent?

Back to the Sox...with the game in the balance, the hero once again was Jason Bay. I showed before how his production in 2009 is almost equal to Manny's production over the same time in 2008. And it is clutch performances like the one last night that prove the point. Bay's three-run blast off the right foul pole gave the Sox the cushion they needed to win. Especially with a third of the lineup putting up 0-fers across the board last night.

And one of those guys was NOT David Ortiz! Miracles of miracles, Papi found his swing last night. He went 2-3 with two walks and a RBI and looked more like the Papi of old. Still no home runs yet, but I'll take a pair of doubles over multiple strikeouts any day of the week.

On a sad note, Ramon Ramirez gave up a run last night. The dream of a 0.00 ERA has died. However, he did earn his fourth hold of the year and will have to make do with a .59 ERA and a .78 WHIP. Those are still the kind of numbers that gets someone a visit to the mid-season shindig. So keep your chin up, kid!

And then we come to Papelbon. Now, I am thrilled he got the save and the five outs and didn't blow the game. The kid loves high-pressure situations, which is obvious since he created a doozy last night before striking out Cano to finish the game. However...

I hate it when managers use their closers in the eighth inning. It almost always leads to disaster. Last night, against a better team, Paps could have easily lost that game. Using a closer for five outs is just nuts and it drives me crazy when Tito does it. Not only because he should know better but since he has two titles under his belt, I feel compelled to give him the benefit of the doubt at the same time I'm going ballistic. It hurts my head.

I think my dislike for this move began in 1998 when I was a Fenway for Game Four of the divisional playoffs with Cleveland. The Sox were down 2-1 and were leading the game 1-0 going into the eighth. Pete Schourek went a little over five innings and held the Tribe, then Lowe came in and just shut them down. So going into the eighth, you would figure Jimy Williams would stay with Lowe and save his closer, Tom Gordon, for the ninth.

You silly, silly person. Williams brings in Gordon to start the eighth. He wants his closer to get six outs, like he's a middle-reliever or something. And what happens? Gordon gives up a pair of singles to Lofton and Visquel, Lofton steals third and then David "Fists of Fury" Justice hit a two-run double to center. Didn't freaking matter than Gordon was fine the rest of the way; he gave up two runs, the Sox lost the game 2-1 and the series to boot, and everyone left cursing Williams' name.

It's a different game now that decades ago and closers should be used for only that purpose. That means three outs, maybe four in a rare situation. But five or more and the manager is playing with fire. Tito got lucky last night, but he shouldn't count on that happening all the time.

Anyway, I guess the bottom line is that is worked out for the Sox and now they're 3.5 ahead of the Yanks. And that is always a good thing.

So tonight we have Beckett facing Joba. Now, I will swear to my grave that Joba is being misused. He could be the bridge to Rivera in the ninth with Coke in the seventh. But right now, if you look at the last couple of games, Joba is outpitching Beckett. Sounds crass to say but it's the truth.

So what's wrong with Beckett? Good question. To me, it looks like he isn't trusting his fastball. And when he can't use that pitch effectively, it impacts his other pitches. He's throwing too many curves and off-speed stuff and hitters are teeing off on him. He has to get his head straight and start humming that heater more often. Once that happens, his other stuff will improve as well. Until that happens...it won't be smooth sailing for Beckett or the Sox.