We are Boston Red Sox fans, seeing our team in first place in June. Wizened, old sages among us know that very little matters in the major league baseball season until about mid-July. Until then when about ninety games have been played, it’s a long, slow waltz. But there are signs-good signs for our Sox.
Until he injured himself, setting a new team record for stolen bases, Jacoby Ellsbury, was emerging from a long slump, shaking himself free of a malaise that saw his BA sink to the .245 range. We trust the injury is just a tweak and he’ll be back in the line-up soon. Ells’ resurgence is a good sign.
Daniel Nava, the career minor league player, who began the year as a starter in the outfield with some big home runs and steady hitting, continues to hover in the .280-.290 registry. Can he maintain, is he a late bloomer who just needed to be given a chance? It’s June, so it’s okay to wonder what Nava-land will be like in August. But another good sign.
Against the New York Yankees the other night, Felix Doubront, inconsistent Doubront, spun another beauty vs. our rivals to the South. When was it ever not a good sign when a Bosox pitcher has a knack to dominate at the Stadium?
The next night Clay (7-0) Buchholz won a rain-shortened 3-0 duel with the estimable Hiroki Kuroda.
“Buch” had missed a couple starts with a minor ailment, but came back strong vs. the Bronx Bombers. Still lugging an unbeaten slate into the third month of the season. Another good sign.
Looking for Good Signs
ggcbmalzone 