2008 April: As good as advertised

Another season, another Month to Month! The Red Sox got off to a pretty good start. There’s been a ton of storylines so far this month, but for the most part, the team has come hot out of the gates, proving that perhaps they weren’t overrated after all. Noticeably absent from the following table because they were not active at the end of April are Sean Casey and Alex Cora. Casey filled in admirably for Mike Lowell while Lowell was hurt and not to begrudge Cora, but Lowrie has outproduced Cora offensively. In addition, Craig Hansen was just recalled to take the place of Brandon Moss, a recall that will not be permanent because Cora is close to returning. To the Fire Branders: who on this table do you think will not be on the May month to month, and why? Who will be on the May table? Why? I’m going to say that Hansen will be on the roster in place of Mike Timlin (whether that’s a phantom injury or release), Alex Cora the place of Jed Lowrie and Sean Casey will return. Click “read more” to check out the Month to Month…

Boston Red Sox 2008
Month to Month: April
Batters Key: Average/On-Base Percentage/Slugging/Other Stat.
Pitchers Key: W-L or Saves/IP/ERA/WHIP.
Only includes players currently on the 25-man roster at the end of month.
DOES NOT INCLUDE MARCH NUMBERS

PLAYER

2007

JUNE

NOTES

2008 April: As good as advertised
David Aardsma

 

32.1/6.40/1.73

 

12.0/3.75/1.67

Aardsma certainly has a live arm, whiffing 13… but he’s also walked 12. That can’t keep happening.

2008 April: As good as advertised
Josh Beckett

 

20-7
200.2/3.27/1.15

 

2-2
26.1/4.10/0.95

Beckett missed the beginning of the season but has come back strong. Can he win the Cy?

2008 April: As good as advertised
Clay Buchholz

 

3-1
22.2/1.59/1.06

 

1-2
28.2/4.08/1.26

Buchholz has been a solid pitcher for us, especially since we weren’t supposed to count on him until later in the year.

2008 April: As good as advertised
Kevin Cash

 

.111/.242/.148

 

.323/.371/.419

Don’t be fooled. He can’t still hit. He’s only here to catch Wake.

2008 April: As good as advertised
Coco Crisp

 

.268/.330/.382

 

.291/.310/.354

He’s hitting for average again, but not much else. He did swipe four bags in the month, though.

2008 April: As good as advertised
Manny Delcarmen

44.0/2.05/1.02

10.2/6.75/1.50

Slow start for Manny, but he’s still got strong K numbers (11) and his talent is undeniable. Give him time.

2008 April: As good as advertised
J.D. Drew

.270/.373/.423

.269/.376/.410

Doesn’t seem like he’s much improved, does it?

2008 April: As good as advertised
Jacoby Ellsbury

.353/.394/.509

.282/.402/.451

Off to a scintillating start with 8 SB, when can we give Jacoby the keys to the full-time job?

2008 April: As good as advertised
Jon Lester

4-0
63.0/4.57/1.46

1-1
35.2/3.79/.1.49

For all the gnashing of teeth about him, he has a 4.31 ERA on the season excluding yesterday. Isn’t that… good?

2008 April: As good as advertised
Javier Lopez

40.2/3.10/1.33

9.0/5.00/1.67

Lopez isn’t particularly good, but I don’t think you can say he’s particularly bad, either. He has a 3.75 ERA on the year.

2008 April: As good as advertised
Mike Lowell

.324/.378/.501

.138/.219/.172

Slow start for Lowell… we’ll see if he’s really cooked or not. I’m betting on the not part.

2008 April: As good as advertised
Jed Lowrie

 

ROOKIE

 

.323/.371/.419

Lowrie’s pretty impressive and given Lugo’s inability to separate himself from the field, might J-Lo be the starting SS in ’09?

2008 April: As good as advertised
Julio Lugo

.237/.294/.349

.267/.305/.300

J-Lu ain’t no J-Lo. Nine errors on the year following yesterday. No power. Not worth his contract.

2008 April: As good as advertised
Daisuke Matsuzaka

15-12
204.2/2.52/1.09

4-0

30.2/2.35/1.04

Dice-K seems to be taking the leap towards Ace status.

2008 April: As good as advertised
Brandon Moss

.280/.379/.440

.333/.333/.333

Before an emergency appendectomy shelved him, Moss was proving to be a great backup. With two homers on the year, he already has more than Lugo and Crisp combined.

2008 April: As good as advertised
Hideki Okajima

69.0/2.22/0.97

9.1/0.96/1.07

Could Oki-Doki keep it up in his second year? So far, so good… actually, so far, so better.

2008 April: As good as advertised
David Ortiz

.332/.445/.621

.198/.300/.375

Off to a slow start, but what’s that May average? Oh, .462. Anyone who wrote him off is about to be shown how much of a mistake that is.

2008 April: As good as advertised
Jonathan Papelbon

37 SV
58.1/1.85/0.77

7 SV
12.0/1.50/0.58

Up to his old tricks, Paps is the best pitcher in major league history statistically with at least 50 career IP (he has 174.2).

2008 April: As good as advertised
Dustin Pedroia

.317/.380/.442

.306/.352/.423

No April slump this time, he’s right back to his old tricks.

2008 April: As good as advertised

Manny Ramirez

20 HR
.296/.388/.493

5 HR
.344/.417/.594

I don’t think he’ll have a problem surpassing 20 HR this year.

2008 April: As good as advertised
Julian Tavarez

7-11
134.2/5.15/1.50

10.1/5.23/1.94

Do we really need him if he won’t pitch?

2008 April: As good as advertised
Mike Timlin

55.1/3.42/1.08

6.0/13.50/2.83

He’s certainly been off to a concerning start and we should monitor him closely. He’s done a lot for us, but like Tavarez, if he doesn’t serve a need, why is he here?

2008 April: As good as advertised
Jason Varitek

.255/.367/.421

.273/.324/.485

A pretty resurgent April, yes? Entering the last year of his contract, I think if he can maintain 2007 levels, we’ll be fine with that.

2008 April: As good as advertised
Tim Wakefield

17-12
189.0/4.76/1.35

2-0

31.0/4.06/1.48

Could have had 20 last year if he didn’t get hurt. On his way to another fine Wake season.

2008 April: As good as advertised
Kevin Youkilis

 

.288/.390/.453

 

.316/.391/.495

What I’m most interested in is if he can keep up this level of production the WHOLE year.

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