I’m not worried about what Cliff Lee did to the Red Sox last night … but I am worried that our lineup against left-handed pitchers would have been the B team in spring training.
I know that the Red Sox have the best record in baseball since such and such a date. At least they used to. I don’t have time to look that up. Clearly, they’re one of the best teams in the game since May. This is supposed to make me feel really good. And in certain moments, it does …
But implosions are as common as elite performances on this team. And since I expect them to make the playoffs (anything less would be a monstrous disappointment – and, frankly, a disaster for the organization), this makes me doubly concerned. Especially on the mound.
Obviously, this team can hit. But no team can be expected to hit off of Cliff Lee when he’s going like this. And in the playoffs, you’re going to face pitchers of his caliber more often than not … and I don’t think I have a lot of faith in our rotation to pick the offense up in such a situation. Although if in a playoff series, we only needed 3 men in the rotation, I’ll take Lester, Beckett and a healthy Buchholz against any roster in the game. I just worry about that 4th pitcher. I’ll need a lot of alcohol if Lackey is on the mound in a playoff game. Like Everclear.
What would make me feel better? I don’t see the Red Sox picking up a pitcher better than what they have this season. That’s scary. So then the only improvement that’s reasonably attainable IMO would be a right-handed OF that is younger than … oh … me. I’d love a guy like Josh Willingham (although he’s certainly unproven – I just like him). If that’s not possible, I’ll take a Beltran. If Gammons is right and they can’t add payroll (which makes sense), I’ll take a … um … Francoeur? Fine. Ugh.
It should be pointed out that I am in 2nd-to-last place in every fantasy baseball league I’m participating in right now … so I probably have no idea what I’m talking about.
PS – Please do not put Adrian Gonzalez in right field, even for a night. That’s just stupid and dangerous for everyone involved, particularly Pedroia who now has to play 2B, 1st and RF. I’m definitely right about that one.