When your team is winning ballgames, as a player it just becomes a feeling.  The events of the game just fall into place and the bounces seem to go your way.  But from the outside looking in, we try to break down a team’s strengths and figure out the things that are leading to success on the field.  Obviously a team needs to be effective in a number of areas in order to find success, but I think we can key in on a couple of key locations that have been rock-solid for this team.

Bullpen - Manny Delcarmen and Ramon Ramirez have been outstanding this season, Bowden, Hunter Jones, Masterson have been solid in their limited bullpen roles, and the rest of the staff has performed well situationally.  There has been concern, in the media and in the stands, about Jon Papelbon but I don’t think it’s anything to be overly concerned about, especially given the depth of young pitching on this team and in the minors.  Pap had a dip in velocity in Spring Training, but he was working on different things and he didn’t have to worry about making the ballclub; he’s on the team.  He was trying some new stuff, getting his work in, and saving his strength for the season.  Now that may have caused him to come out the gate a bit rusty, but I don’t think it’s an injury situation.

There has also been concern about Javier Lopez and talk of trading for a new lefty specialist.  That type of a move is unnecessary because of the inconsistency of bullpen pitchers (Scott Sauerbeck).  Hideki Okajima has held lefties to a .118 average this year and might gain confidence in that type of a role.

Small Ball - Going into this season, I said that, given the way this lineup is constructed, the Red Sox were going to need to play small ball and try to get on the scoreboard first.  No one in this lineup is hitting a ton of homeruns (Nelson Cruz and Brandon Inge are among those who have hit more homers than team leader Kevin Youkilis) but the team has been able to do the small things and win ballgames.  The Red Sox don’t need to hit homeruns as long as they keep running and hitting… and pitching.

This offense seems to be coming together as a unit.  The smaller players in the lineup are making a big impact and I’m not talking about Pedroia because he has been big all year.  But at this point, Dustin Pedroia is carrying the club.  Last night it was the big home run and today it was a clutch home run in the seventh inning and a double in the eighth.
The Red Sox are starting to come together and you have to like there chances in the postseason even though the Angels are beating everyone.  They need to get to the playoffs and hope they have their best guys healthy.  Josh Beckett will be back, Lowell will come back, Youkilis will come back.  Throw out your top guys in October and try to get wins early in the series.

Lowrie hit a home run for the Paw Sox last night and, more importantly, performed well in his brief call up to the major leagues. Some people have questioned whether Lowrie projects to be a shortstop long term or whether he will eventually switch to second or third base. It was tough to tell how Lowrie’s skill set will translate in the Major Leagues because his spot starting made it difficult to tell how he was adjusting to top talent.  We really need to see him play everyday against major league caliber pitching

I am not sure where the Red Sox will play Lowrie long term but his versatility works in his favor. What he needs to concentrate on is just getting in the big leagues. His willingness to play whatever position is asked of him will be what makes him catch on with this team - or any other. I remember Jeff Bagwell back when he was in the Red Sox organization as a young third baseman. We had Wade Boggs firmly entrenched at third in those days so Bagwell started taking work at first before he started his career in Houston.

With the millions of dollars committed to Lugo, Pedroia at 2nd base, and two potential third basemen in Lowell and Youkilis, would anyone be suprised to see if the Red Sox shop their prized prospect to other teams?