The Red Sox kept the winning streak alive last night with an identical 10-3 win in the second of four games against Chicago. Along the way the Sox answered a few questions, at least for now. Daniel Bard will stay the fifth starter for now, tossing seven innings with just two earned runs coming home. Once again he looked really good in the starters role and his stuff is just working. People really underestimate how difficult it is to go from being a setup man or closer to a starter and he has gone back and forth just this week. Things are going to get pretty complicated when Aaron Cook’s contract is up and Dice-K is back from rehab, but for the moment the rotation is going to stay as it is.
The Sox offense continues to shine scoring ten runs again, they must be leading the league in most games with double digit runs. The unlikely hero last night was Darnell McDonald, perhaps my least favorite Red Sox. He hit a bases clearing double in the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie giving the Red Sox a lead they would never again let up. McDonald is a hard worker and all, but I just don’t think he should be on the Sox major league roster. I would much rather see one of the young speedy kids in the farm system get a chance while Ellsbury and Crawford are out. His 2 for 4 night with four runs batted in skyrocketed his batting average to .147. Any guy in the majors without a great track record should not be playing with any consistency if they are hitting that low. He has a decent glove and moderate speed, but neither are so stunning that they alone should keep him up here. I would much rather see a prospect that can come in to run in the ninth and steal second or come in to shut down center field. For a guy with little power and moderate speed, batting with a career average under .250 just isn’t working for me, especially given that he is thirty-three years old and on the downside of a lousy career.
Well I kind of do feel bad for slamming Darnell after he had a great night for the Sox and I fully expect him to be the utility man for the Sox while Ellsbury and Crawford are injured, but I just don’t think it’s the best man for the Sox. What I do like about him is he cares and works very hard to try and keep his spot so as long as he can sprinkle in a night like this once a month than I will keep my mouth shut for now. Tomorrow each teams ace take the hill in what could be the first time the Red Sox reach .500 this season. When I said they need to go on a tear to reach .500 before May I didn’t think it was possible, but Lester and Sox will have a chance tomorrow against Jake Peavy.
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