LyfLines: Monday Pythagorean

Another outstanding week for the Olde Towne Team, putting up a 5-1, while leading the league in runs/game and runs allowed/game.

For all the talk about the Yankee offense, how it's the best in the game, far and away better than anyone else's, the Yankees have outscored the Red Sox and Tigers by 2 runs through 36 games. The Boston Red Sox lead the AL in OBP, and are second to Detroit in SLG. Ahead of the Yankees in each of those categories. Boston has the best OPS in the league, the only team over .800. Reports of Boston's offensive demise may have been exaggerated...

Last week, I noted that the Red Sox were on pace to score 810 runs, and said that "I'd be willing to bet that they eventually finish with over 870." As of this morning, they're on a pace to score 891 runs.

One of the things I love about an 8 game lead on a Monday morning is this - when I sit down next Monday to do the Pythagorean report, I already know that Boston, whatever happens this week, will still be in first place.

The Josh Beckett thing is disappointing, but if it was going to happen, this isn't an awful time. They've got the offense starting to warm up, and they've got an 8-game lead. If Beckett has to miss one or two starts, they're well-positioned to survive that.

This weekend's Baltimore series ended up being fairly bullpen-dependent. The Orioles' starting pitching was better than Boston's, but the Red Sox bullpen held the Orioles to 4 runs (3 earned) in 12 2/3 IP. The Orioles bullpen, on the other hand, allowed 15 runs (14 earned) in only 8 IP. The Red Sox had more than 3 runners per inning reach base via hit or walk (and a couple more on errors.) Even the Friday night loss featured an effective, grinding offense, one that was just a couple of timely hits (and a couple of good Baltimore defensive plays) from yet another big run-scoring performance. They're really starting to grind and wear down the opposition now. They saw a lot of pitches this week from both the Blue Jay and Oriole pitching staffs.

Big series coming up this week, as the Tigers have been just about as hot as Boston for the past couple of weeks, at least record-wise. Their pitching hasn't been anywhere near as good. But they represent better competition than the Sox saw this week. And neither Schilling nor Beckett will face them.