Back on Track

After getting embarrassed in the series opener by the Mariners, The Sox answered back with an 11-3 blowout win Saturday and a solid 2-1 win over Erik Bedard Sunday.

There can be no more complaints about J.D. Drew. Ever since he hit the grand slam in Game 6 against the Indians last season, all has been forgiven. Now, he is arguably the MVP of the team to this point.

He is crushing the ball, playing excellent defense, and doing everything the team needs, especially with the absence of Ortiz. Saturday, he was a double short of the cycle and Sunday he hit the game-winning home run in the 6th and made a great catch to take away an extra-base hit from Richie Sexson in the 2nd.

BOX SCORE: Red Sox 11, Mariners 3
BOX SCORE: Red Sox 2, Mariners 1

Manny has been tearing the cover off the ball too. His bomb over everything in left in the first inning Saturday set the tone for the game. Not that I want to see Ortiz out of the lineup, but I like Manny at DH with a much better defensive outfield. If there's one guy that can just go up there and mash the ball and not care of he's playing the field or not, its Manny.

Solid starting pitching and good work out the bullpen also contributed to the successful weekend. Wakefield has been much more consistent lately and Justin Masterson is making a case that he may be the top young pitcher in the system despite the success Lester and Buchholz have had. The Sox will have a tough decision to make onece Dice-K comes off the DL, but it's a good problem to have.