Sox defy expectations

[VAfan]

I started the season without great optimism. I thought we'd be better than last year, and would probably creep back above .500, but I didn't see us having any realistic shot at winning 90 games or competing for a division title or wild card spot.

 

Then we start the year tearing the cover off the ball like it was 2006 again. And with Carlos Quentin and Nick Swisher in for Scott Podsednik and Jerry Owens and our big boppers back on track, I penned a thread that I thought 900 runs was possible. Of course, right about that time, our bats went into a deep freeze and the team went south.

 

So then I penned a post that we need to dump Thome and Konerko before it's too late. Lower salary, get younger, add whatever you can in trade. Of course right about that time Ozzie finally changes the lineup, moving AJ to #2 and Quentin to #3, dropping down Thome and Konerko, and the Sox ride a 7-3 West Coast road trip back into first place!

 

Maybe I should remain pessimistic.

 

On the other hand, here are the lines so far of 4 of our key hitters. Their career OPS numbers follow in brackets.

 

Jim Thome 40 138 19 28 6 0 7 55 23 27 45 1 0 .203 .341 .399 .740 [.969 career]

Paul Konerko 41 143 16 30 6 0 5 51 23 25 29 1 0 .210 .335 .357 .692 [.844 career]

Nick Swisher 42 149 24 31 4 1 4 49 10 29 38 1 2 .208 .339 .329 .668 [.811 career]

O. Cabrera 43 170 25 37 4 0 1 44 8 14 21 5 1 .218 .278 .259 .537 [.719 career]

 

So, there's still room for a lot of improvement. On the negative side, AJ is hitting .100 points above his career OPS, as is Joe Crede. Quentin has no history, nor does Ramirez. But more consistent hitting could make a huge difference. (We're 14th in runs scored, 12th in OBP, 11th in SLG, 12th in OPS, but 26th in BA.)

 

On the pitching side, every starter except Buehrle is way ahead of their career ERA numbers.

 

So what do I expect going forward? Who knows? Odds are we'll see steadily improved offensive numbers offset by more runs surrendered. The key, then, could be the bullpen. Right now, it looks pretty good.

 

With this huge stretch of home games, can the Sox make their move?