LIFE IS GOOD

Isn't it amazing how things can turn 180 degrees in 168 hours. Last week, on the usual Sunday blog, I found myself searching for answers on how our beloved Bosox could find that consistency, that direction that would immediately entail a long winning streak capped by the offense, not the pitching staff that has carried the good guys safely to first place since April.
Last Sunday, the Sox ended the week by splitting with LAA, putting the lead to just 4 games in the AL East, the closest anyone's been since god knows when. Well, good news, the team looks to have found there stride and position. Even though they've had the best record in baseball since day one, something was missing. Not anymore, and the league should take notice.
The team started the week bashing cy-young-one-day-hopeful Scott Kazmir in Tampa before going on to a road series win in Tampa. Though the club took the first 2 games, they left 14 men on base in a tough 2-1 loss Wed. The team should have swept, bottom line.
On to Chicago to face the White Sox for four, a team in the dumps. In short, the team awoke from their on and off sleep to tale all 4 in easy fashion. How easy? They outscored Chi 11-3 10-1 14-2 11-1! For those poor in math, me included, that totals 46-7. Again 46-7. The team has dealt with terrible numbers from the 7th inning on, but they scored more than half those runs during those last three innings. Amazing figures, even more so when you learn Chi threw out Buehrle, Garland and Vasquez, all three middle to top of the line starters. The way Guillen used his bullpen was pathetic, doing everything wrong.
Guys like Mike Lowell, newcomer Bobby Kielty and David Ortiz put up eye popping numbers, staggering results in just three days. The Sox scored 35 runs in 36 hours! Let's hope they save a few of those runs for the series in the Bronx this week. Speaking of the pinstripes, they lost 3 games in the standings this week. That's what happens when you play tough clubs, as the Sox learned versus Seattle, Detroit and LAA at times this year.
Meanwhile the staff continued to baffle all opponent hitters, Beckett, Wakefield, Schilling , Tavarez and Dice K all threw gems of 3 runs or less this week, but the two from Wake were the best. The Sox did what they were supposed to do; beat the lesser teams on their way to the playoffs. If not for leaving 14 guys on base Wed., the team would have swept all 7 games. Oh well, after a week like this you can overlook a disaster like that.
The bullpen was rested due to the great starting pitching, so much so the Sox used Gagne, Delcarmen and Papelbon during Sunday's 11-1 victory. Papelbon put the icing on the cake as he struck out the side in the 9th, Thome, Konerko and Pierzynski going down. The Sox sit at a stellar 80-51.
Furthermore, the good news continues. While the Yanks have a tired bullpen from this weekend, they Sox are well rested. The Sox are off Monday while the Yanks play in Detroit. And the club has a slew of home games in Sept. nearly all against the sub .500 division. And the reinforcements in Sept. will help, especially Lester, Ellsbury and Clayton. An extra high five goes to Cash, who did everything right filling in this week for Mirabelli.
I'm a diehard fan, who rips thte club when they fail and throws all types of complements when they win. Basically, I'm objective. I won't pander to the Sox when they disappoint, especially since I devote a significant portion of the week to the club. If the announcers and journalist's won't rip them when they need to be ripped, who will. Only true fans who's voice rings the loudest. Congrats on a good week, the 6-1 week puts me on cloud 9. And the Patriots...........well, I'll save that for another week(they may run the table, meaning 16-0 and SB win) as will I my thoughts about Lowell, Kielty and Tavarez (sign them all Theo). Pedroia and Okajima- co rookie of the year? Fair enough.
Look for my 2006 NFL predictions next week, and if you don't yet trust me, look at my MLB predictions earlier in the year, nearly every team will come within a handful of games of my figures. Oh yeah, congrats to Tom terrific, but Jason would've been a better name than John, but that's just one man's opinion.