2008 Red Sox: Midyear-ish Surprises

Not exactly mid-year. Sox are 50-36 at time of writing...

Julio Lugo: 1 HR. Wasn't expecting a ton of power, but even for the light-hitting Lugo, this is well short of what he's capable of. 16 errors won't help us forget his lack of hitting.

J.D. Drew: After a very light 2007, save for a great post-season, did anyone expect Drew to have a .298 average, lead the team in HRs (16), runs (58), OPS (.978) and be named player of the month for a torrid June?

Jason Varitek: Batting .219 with a measly .302 OBP and looking every bit like an aged washed-up-catcher. One of the most common phrases mentioned by broadcasters this year: "Varitek strikes out and the Red Sox strand a pair."

Manny Ramirez: Hitting .281 and an OPS of .878 the year the team needs to decide whether to pick up his 2009 option of ~$20mn = no brainer for management. I doubt we'll see Manny next year, especially considering the dissension he's shown in the dugout this year.

LAVINIUS CHECKING IN WITH HIS SURPRISES:

Dice-K: Bestowed with the nickname "Dice-BB" by L&C, he's inexplicably walked 49 in 75 innings this season. He had 80 walks all of last year, in 205 innings. [Cooch's note: The only person with more Woks than Dice-K is the local Asian restaurant supply guy.]

Lopez: 2.20 ERA and best non-Papelbon reliever on the staff? He's the last guy I thought would emerge with that crown. Unfortunately, it also signifies that the Sox bullpen is in a world of shit. [Cooh's note: And to think J-Lo's sitting in the pen while we watch Oki, Delcarmen, and Hansen serve up runs all night long.]

Okajima: From a peripheral sense, his numbers are respectable-- 3.02 ERA, 35 K's in 35.1 innings against just 11 walks. But what's surprising to me is the # of inherited runners he's allowed to score. Something like 12 of 15, or 13 of 16. [Cooch's note: Hideki's 9.64 ERA in June made L&C vomit many times, and I think it's way too early in the season to claim dead arm. It's time to stop overusing Oki.]

Hansen and Delcarmen: Expected at least one of them to emerge and provide late game stability. The only thing that's emerged are curse words from Lavinius's mouth and keyboard when they take the bump.

Buchholz: Didn't expect the Mancrush sequel to Beckett to get treated like a Mexican pinata. He found his way to the DL with a purported fingernail ailment. He's since been down in Pawtucket tinkering with his release point. The results have been staggering-- a 4-1 record with a 1.63 ERA in 8 starts, including a 4-0 with a 0.40 ERA in his last 4.

Starting Pitchers: Lead the AL in walks. This was not something I expected from this staff, and definitely not something I expected from a John Farrell coached staff.

As for hitters, co-sizzle on all of Cooch's picks, especially Drew. That boy be tearing it up! Varitek is getting to the point where Wakefield or Beckett would be better options--with the bat!

Tito's decision to hit-and-run with Lowell and Tek on 7/2 in the 9th inning: Seriously Tito, WTF? Lowell gets timed in the 40 using days on a calendar and Tek can't hit the broad side of a barn door. You're smarter than that.