Beckett

There’s not much to be excited about this April. As of this Monday, even after their huge three game win streak, the first winning streak of more than one game in 2011, the Sox are still in the cellar of the AL East, with about the worst record in the American League. But despite all the team’s problems, there has been one bright spot – Josh Beckett looks as good as he’s looked since his overpowering post-season in 2007. Remember how he single-handedly kept the Indians at bay until Boston’s bats came alive in Game Five of the ALCS? And how no one, not the Angels, not the Indians, not the Rockies, could get anything going in the post-season against him? Back then, when Beckett started, you could mark it down as a W.

The best indication that Beckett is on his game is the strikeout-walk ratio. Last two games he has 19 Ks, and only three walks. As a result, in his last two starts, he’s gone fifteen innings with a single earned run. And he kept the Sox from opening 2001 with a dozen losses.

Sunday, Lester got his first win. He’s actually pitched pretty well, and just didn’t get run support. But if Lester remains consistent, it looks like the Sox have at least a two-man rotation. And if John is right that the good pitching is contagious, then maybe we’ll see Buckholz, who really was their best pitcher last year, return to form, and then they’ll have three decent starters. I still think Wake can contribute – can step back into the starting rotation and win games for the Sox. And I was about to say that I don’t hold out much hope for Lackey and Dice-K. But then, on Patriots’ Day, when the Sox usually play well, Dice went seven shutout innings, one hit, only 89 pitches. It would be an understatement to say I was surprised. Shocked would be closer to the mark. Still, three consistent starters, if they can stay healthy, one inconsistent starter who occasionally throws a dominant game, along an occasional strong outing from Wake, can perhaps get Boston back into the race for the AL East. (By the way, has anyone noticed what Masterson is doing for the Indians? What would this rotation look like with Masterson instead of Lackey?

But hold on, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. As I said earlier, even with their three-game winning streak, Boston still finds itself in the cellar. So first off, let’s just win a few games, then maybe win a couple series, and also try to avoid any more four and six game losing streaks. And then we can begin to think about who’s ahead in the AL East. Go Sox.