There is no reason not to buy in to this Red Sox team. They’ve been at the top of the AL East virtually all season long, and have never had a losing streak longer than four games.

This is the Red Sox’ division to lose, as their lead over the Rays has been extended to five and a half games. It’s obvious this is a legitimate playoff team, and after this week’s series win over the vaunted Tigers, it is clear this is a legitimate World Series contender as well.

If You’re Not Watching, It’s Your Loss

Both Nick Cafardo and John Tomase penned articles last week about the Red Sox’ lagging attendance numbers after they failed to sellout a late summer series against the Orioles.

The focus on declining attendance numbers has continued into this week, as many fans who attended Tuesday night’s thrilling 2-1 win over the Tigers chose to leave early instead of catch a glimpse of Koji Uehara, the man who is arguably on the greatest run a Red Sox closer has ever been on:

It should come as no surprise that attendance numbers are down following a 69 win season. But it should come as a surprise that folks who claim to be baseball fans still say they can’t watch this team.

The Red Sox lead the American League in runs scored, and have 30 come from behind wins. They all have mountain man beards and shaved heads. Uehara, after working a seemingly three minute ninth inning, high fives everyone in sight.

This team is fun, and they’re good. Like, really good. If you can’t bring yourself to turn the TV on, or make the trek into Fenway Park to see this year’s club bulldoze its way to the postseason, then you’re not a baseball fan. Which is fine, a lot of people are no longer baseball fans. But don’t blame the Red Sox for your disinterest. Still referencing “chicken and beer” is lame, especially because some of the most sinful figures in the collapse of September 2011 are some of the most important figures in the surge of September 2013.

Jon Lester Hasn’t Looked This Good In Years

Lester, following a nine strikeout, no walk performance on Tuesday night, has cemented himself back at the top of the rotation. Since the All Star Break, Lester has a 2.41 ERA, 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings and a 1.17 WHIP.

Though Clay Buchholz is scheduled to return to the rotation next Tuesday, it is uncertain whether he will be the ace he was through the first two months of the season. The Red Sox need an ace if they are to make a run in the postseason, and Lester has answered the call over the past six weeks. He’s back to being a stopper, as the team is 11-2 in Lester starts following a loss.

If John Lackey Could Get Run Support, People Would Think He Was An Ace Too

I never thought I’d write the words, “poor Lackey,” but … “poor Lackey.” Despite the fact that he admirably refuses to criticize his teammates for the lack of run support, this stretch has to be maddening for him.

Lackey is having one of the best seasons he’s ever had, and the fact that it’s happening just one year after Tommy John surgery is all the more amazing. Lackey’s 3.22 ERA is the second best of his career, and he’s already struck out 31 more batters this season than he did in all of 2011.

Despite pitching into at least the seventh inning in 15 consecutive starts, Lackey still only has eight wins to show for his efforts this season. One has to wonder what he was thinking last night when he saw his team put more runs on the board in one game than they have in his last 11 starts combined:

When Koji Uehara Enters The Game, All Sox Fans Are Thinking Is “Game Over”

Uehara is on a historically good run. Since July 2, he’s thrown 28.1 innings, struck out 36 batters while only walking two and has allowed 0 EARNED RUNS.

Dennis Eckerlsey, in his 1992 season in which he won both the MVP and Cy Young awards, had a 93/11 strikeout to walk ratio. Uehara, for comparison’s sake, has an 85/9 strikeout to walk ratio this season.

With the season Miguel Cabrera is having, Uehara isn’t going to win the MVP. But he should receive votes. This team would be sunk without him. He is the second best free agent signing the Red Sox had over the past 10 years, behind, of course, David Ortiz.

Give It Up For Big Papi

Ortiz doubled to left-center field for his 2,000th career hit last night, and struck two home runs as well. Ortiz, at 37 years old, is putting forth arguably his best statistical season since 2007.

He is fourth in the AL in OPS, and tied for fifth in home runs despite missing the first 15 games of the season. Ortiz has been a stalwart in the middle of the lineup this year, and is more than earning his two-year, $26 million contract. Not bad for a guy who started his Red Sox career as Jeremy Giambi’s platoon partner.

Stephen Drew And Will Middlebrooks Are Not Platoon Players, Damnit!

USA Today Sports may have named Xander Bogaerts its minor league player of the year, but it’s been awfully tough for Bogaerts to break into the lineup with the way Drew and Middlebrooks have been playing on the left side of the infield.

With a home run last night, Drew now has five since August 1 and a .533 slugging percentage over the past month. Though his struggles against left-handed pitching have continued, Drew deserves to play every day at shortstop.

Middlebrooks has reestablished himself as an everyday third baseman, hitting .343 with a .941 OPS since being recalled on August 10. The Red Sox would love nothing more than to comfortably enter next season with Middlebrooks slotted in at third base, as it would allow them to play Bogaerts at shortstop, his natural position.

Where Does Brandon Workman Fit In The Bullpen?

John Farrell needs to figure out if Workman is a set-up man or a mop-up man.

Workman was summoned to pitch to Cabrera, the best hitter on the planet, with a one-run lead in the eighth inning on Tuesday night. Then, he was inserted into the seventh inning of last night’s 16-run win.

With a four game series against the Yankees set to begin tonight, it would be a shame if Workman weren’t available to pitch in a high-leverage situation because Farrell used to him in a blowout. It wouldn’t be the first time this has happened, as Farrell used Workman to close out a seven-run win over the Giants on August 19, only to have him unavailable for the following night’s one-run loss.

Oh, NESN

Have you been wondering what the “pizza tosser” has been up to? You know, the dude who threw the pizza at that fan six years ago?

 

Well, NESN decided to run an interview with him in the middle of the eighth inning on Tuesday night, just as Workman was preparing to face Cabrera for the most important at-bat of the season to date. Good thing I already texted in my opinion of how good Don Orsillo looks in a powder blue suit, or I would’ve missed the get-of-the-century.

Photos via TheBostonJam and Jared Wickerham/Gettys.

 

 

 

 

 

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