Basically, the Red Sox bullpen has come down to earth while the overall dominance of Josh Beckett and Jon Lester has improved the rotation's numbers (we'll ignore the disasters of Brad Penny, John Smoltz, etc.).
The Phillies, meanwhile, have also seen their bullpen numbers dip to mediocrity, thanks largely to Brad Lidge and all the countless souls who have rotated through the injury-ravaged bullpen, but their starters have shaved more than a full run off their ERA. Perhaps the Phillies should have sold Jamie Moyer on his new assignment by saying it's not a demotion, but an opportunity to help the bullpen stabilize its ERA.
Here are the numbers:
BOS starters
May 18: 5.76 (28th)
June 4: 5.05 (26th)
Today: 4.59 (17th)
PHI starters
May 18: 6.35 (30th)
June 4: 5.58 (29th)
Today: 4.37 (12th)
BOS relievers
May 18: 3.02 (3rd)
June 4: 2.86 (1st)
Today: 3.67 (6th)
PHI relievers
May 18: 3.97 (12th)
June 4: 3.72 (9th)
Today: 3.90 (14th)
BOS total
May 18: 4.77 (21st)
June 4: 3.31 (14th)
Today: 4.28 (14th)
PHI total
May 18: 5.59 (27th)
June 4: 4.88 (27th)
Today: 4.21 (11th)
After looking at the numbers, I once again realize the Phillies fortunes are rising and the Red Sox are sinking.
To quote Mike Lowell after Friday night's embarrassing 20-11 loss:
I think that it was plain and simple that we got our asses kicked pretty good. Those are easier to forget than the ones that you lose, 2-1, because we didn't have a chance today. So we move on, and we'll see if things play out a little differently tomorrow.
They did. I had a feeling that Junichi Tazawa would have a statement game and he did, pitching six scoreless innings against the Yankees in the 14-1 revenge game. Hopefully, Josh Beckett gets the better of CC Sabathia tomorrow night, and this temporary patch of Yankee dominance will soon be over.
After losing a tight one to the Mets on Friday and watching them celebrate 1969 tonight, the Phillies trail the Mets 1-0 in the 6th. Jeez, does J.A. Happ have to pitch a shutout every night?
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