LyfLines: Monday Pythagorean, 8/19/2013

If winning 2-of-3 is a recipe for success in Major League baseball, logic would suggest that losing 2-of-3 is a recipe for failure.

With three straight series losses, the Sox are in their second real down-stretch of the season. And, after playing their last four series in four difference cities, they're following a late night dispiriting loss with a trip out to the West coast for the next two series.

With the exception of Monday, when both teams had the night off, the size of the Sox' lead over the Rays in the AL East changed every day this week. The teams had the opposite result every night - when Boston lost, Tampa won; when Boston won, Tampa lost. Unfortunately, there were four of the former and only two of the latter.

They lost games this week with decent pitching but poor offense (4-3, 2-1). They lost a game this week with good offense and poor pitching (9-6).

10th in the AL in runs scored. 10th in runs allowed. Makes it seem like the offense and pitching were equally culpable. But poor offensive performances are easier to hide in an average than poor pitching performances. On a game-by-game basis, they had two poor pitching performances, allowing 10 and nine, and three poor offensive performances, scoring three twice and one. They allowed more than four twice, and scored fewer than five four times. On the whole, the pitching staff was better than the offense.

Ellsbury, Victorino, Pedroia, the 1-2-3 hitters, combined to hit .230/.264/.264/.528, with 6.37 runs created (2.34 RC/25 outs). That's like trying to pull on to the highway with the emergency brake on.

They certanly weren't the only culprits. Throw in Gomes, Napoli, Carp, Lavarnway and Drew, and you've got 2/3 of your at-bats going to a group that hits .213/.259/.273/.533 with 11.19 runs created (2.29 RC/25 outs).

Red Sox Player of the Week - It's far, far too early to proclaim the Middlebrooks return from the minors a triumphant success. But he's sure been more effective since returning than he was before going down, and the Player of the Week this week is William Middlebrooks (.474/.565/.789/1.355, 7.25 runs created, 18.13 RC/25 outs).

Red Sox Pitcher of the Week - After struggling in his last few outings, John Lackey was outstanding on Saturday, allowing only one run in 6 2/3 innings and setting the Red Sox up to win the series against NY and come out of the week at .500. (They didn't, of course, but...)