Pitching

This year the Sox were supposedly rebuilt around the pitching. Instead of having to bash home runs over the monster, they were redesigned to keep opponents off the scoreboard. And with six potential starters, the team had a margin for error. Which they needed immediately, when Dice-K promptly found himself first on one of the disabled list, and then in Pawtucket, throwing to minor leaguers. But these restructuring plans went all awry when the starters began the season in inconsistent fashion, and the bullpen, although rather consistent, was consistently bad. April was a disaster.

Things have been looking up of late, however, even with Josh Beckett replacing Dice-K on the DL. Lester seems to have settled down, and has replaced Beckett as the team’s ace. He’s 3-0 in May with an ERA of around 2.3. Pretty good numbers. Buckholz has been the most consistent starter all year long, seemingly regaining the form he displayed when he first came up in 2007. Lackey has been hot and cold, but I’m hoping that as the rest of the staff improves, that will become contagious, and will rub off on Lackey, who, after all, used to give us fits when he pitched for the Angels. But the best turnaround has been engineered by Dice-K, who had almost been written off by team and fans alike. Dice had fallen so far on the depth chart, and had seemed to have lost favor among the Nation, ever since he wore himself out pitching for Japan in the WBC. Dice took a no-hitter into the eighth last night, but that start wasn’t as good as a couple games ago against Toronto, when he went seven shutout innings, with nine Ks, and no walks. He’s still apt to give up big innings; his ERA is still close to 6. But if Dice settles down, and pitches like he did in 2008 (when he went 18-3, with an ERA under 3), the Sox really have another ace on the staff. (Assuming, of course, that he can go seven or eight, and not tax this bullpen.) And today, Wakefield baffled the Phils with his knuckler, tossing eight shutout innings, and yes, resting the bullpen.

Which brings us to the real weakness in this year’s staff: the pen. I have no idea what has happened, and I’m sure Tito and Farrell don’t either. With pretty much the same staff they had the past couple years -- a bullpen staff that often seemed unhittable -- suddenly no lead is safe. In the first game against the Yankees last week, the Sox came from 5 down, and handed Pap a two run lead. Last year-- automatic. This year -- two home runs and the Yankees walk off with the win. Even today, Ramon Ramirez was given an eight run cushion, but still managed to give up three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Fortunately, eight is more than three, and Ramirez was unable to blow the save. Of course it wasn’t a save, but you get the point. I watched last weekend, as he walked two batters in the bottom of the twelfth, the last with the bases loaded, on only four pitches, giving the Tigers a come from behind win.

So now that the starters seem to have righted their ship, the pen has to do the same. Pap, Oki, Bard, Manny Delcarmen, even Ramirez, all of them need to settle down, to stop serving up late inning home runs, and to get back to protecting leads. Put that together with a resurgent Papi, eighteen RBIs in sixteen games this month; and with Ellsbury back to stealing bases; and maybe the Sox can make up some ground on the Rays and Yankees. If that’s the case, there’s still some hope for a post-season. But right now, I’m happy to settle for two out of three on the road against the Phils.

Bladnoch 15, Single cask

It’s been a month. My excuse is that I’ve been busy, but really I think the problem has been that there is no reason to write about the baseball season. The Sox are off to such a bad start -- struggling to play five hundred ball against lousy teams --while the Rays and the Yankees are trouncing everyone in the path. Who wants to write about that? Or should I catalogue the many ways in which our bullpen has surrendered leads this year -- blowing saves; giving up late-inning home runs; how about walking in the winning run on four pitches?

I could write about the C’s, who have been playing like 2008 once again, giving us the only good news on the sports page since Cuse beat Villanova in front of 34,616, shortly before AO busted up his knee, dooming the Orange to an unfortunate premature exit from the tournament. But I’d rather wait a couple weeks on that topic; let’s see how they continue to fare against the Magic.

So instead of all that, let’s talk whisky. After all, there is rarely any bad news when one talks whisky. And it’s a subject on which pretty much everyone can agree. And I have a spectacular whisky to discuss this evening, courtesy of my son, John, and his good friend and purveyor, the inestimable Joe Howell from Federal Wine and Spirits in Boston.

The story begins several weeks ago, when John attended a tasting at Federal featuring, among other single malts, Bladnoch, the last great surviving lowland distillery. I have previously extolled the virtues of Bladnoch, having found right here in Rochester a very nice 16 year old Signatory bottling. Bladnoch is recognizable for its great floral nose, as nice a bouquet as any malt whisky, and its light easy-drinking character. Bladnoch may be the perfect five o’clock scotch. Because the distillery was closed for about a decade, it’s not easy to find, and in fact, I’ve only seen it previously in private bottlings --the aforementioned Signatory, and a very nice Connoisseur’s Choice,which John located last year from, where else, Federal.

So in recognition of my sixtieth birthday, John showed up in Syracuse recently with a bottle of 15 year old, cask-strength, single cask Bladnoch. 55.8%. According to the label, this cask was chosen by John McDougall, who serves as the master distiller for the reopened Bladnoch. He supposedly hand picks the cask, and bottles the whisky under his name. And I’m pleased to say that Mr. McDougall has outdone himself with this particular selection. The color is darker than the usual pale yellow; the gold color foretells the richness of this unique lowland malt. And the nose is still as light and floral as any other Bladnoch. But that’s where the comparison ends. Once this malt gets on the tongue, it leaves all other lowlands behind, including Rosebank, which had been our most beloved malt of all, ever since we drank an eighteen on a cruise ship sailing aimlessly through the Caribbean a few years ago.

What sets this Bladnoch apart is not just the flavor, but the texture as well. But before we get to that texture, it’s worth noting that this whisky has a richer, stronger flavor than any other lowland we’ve tasted. I think it’s even richer than the twenty-year old we’ve had at Keen’s. My notes from that tasting mention the flowery spice, shades of Rosebank, and the big flavor. I recall it being a knockout. What’s different about this Bladnoch is its richness. Its flavor is deeper and stronger than other lowlands, without overshadowing the floral notes. A touch of caramel gives the whisky an added depth. But the real treat is the texture. You know that we love malts with a rich buttery texture. Think of Bunnahabhain 18, for example. This Bladnoch seems to coat the palate, like syrup, imparting a luxurious character to the caramel taste, and providing for a long long finish. I have to say this whisky is among the very best I have ever tasted, a rather remarkable observation considering that it’s only a fifteen year old, and not unreasonably priced. (I should point out, however, that despite the price, it’s probably not easy to find anywhere in the states.)

John and I loved this malt so much that we returned to Federal last weekend, when Susan and I paid a visit to Boston. Joe was his usual hospitable self, offering us a taste of some previously unknown ten-year old, despite the fact that it was only an hour after breakfast. And after a couple tastings, and a half-hour of talking whisky, we inquired about the Bladnoch, and learned that Joe had one remaining bottle, which I bought for John, to return the favor. Joe was so appreciative, that he gave us each a taste of a twenty-one year old Highland Park, some commemorative bottling that was no longer available anywhere. We took the Bladnoch back to John’s place, had a little taste for ourselves, and then secreted it at the back of the liquor shelf, where it would remain unseen and unselected, except on those occasions when lovers of lowland malts pay a visit to John’s place in Fort Point. If you happen to do that, and you’re favored enough to share a dram of this malt, you’ll agree that it was well worth the trip. I for one, am already looking forward to my next visit.