Sweep!

Now that the sweep of the Yankees in round one of the season series, lets look at what we've learned.

1) Jacoby is every bit as fast as we thought he was. In case you missed it, Ellsbury stole home in the fifth inning of tonight's game against Andy Petite. Petite wasn't checking Ellsbury on third and Angel Barroa was playing way off third allowing Ellsbury to take a huge lead. Petite threw a breaking pitch, keeping Posada in a low squat, which made it very hard for him to make a play on Jacoby. Of course, I doubt that Francona was happy to see the steal, as it was a pretty silly risk (evidenced by the fact that J.D. drew hit a double the very next pitch). But all's well that ends well, and perhaps it helped the Sox put a foot on the neck of the squiffy Yanks.

2) It's just as fun to beat the Yankees when A-Rod is gone as it is when he is there.

3) Red Sox pitching is deep! We have seen in the last five years that, as the bullpen goes, so go the Red Sox. In 2003, the Sox had good starting pitching but a shallow bullpen. They lost to the Yanks in the ALCS after having to bring in Wakefield (a starter) in game seven. In 2004, the bullpen was fixed and the Sox won their first World Series in 86 years. In '07, great bullpen, World Series win. Last year, shallow pen, loss in game seven of the ALCS.

So, this series has given us much to be excited about. Tonight's game features three Red Sox minor league prospects. Masterson got the start and allowed only one run in 5.1. Then Hunter Jones made his second ever major league appearance, followed by Michael Bowden's major league debut (he pitched two innings, one of which featured Teixeira, Swisher, and Cano who went out one-two-three). These two pitchers retired eleven Yankee batters in a row. Saito, who closed for the Dodgers for three seasons, finished the game out, allowing one hit in the Sox's tidy 4-1 win. In a night that featured three minor league call-ups (jersey numbers: 63,62, and 64), Sox pitching was dominant! This is happening in a year in which the Yankee bullpen is thin as Amy Winehouse.

It's important to keep in mind that the Yankees WILL make moves as they always do. If they can't get their bullpen in order, they will buy a new one. But the strength and depth of the Sox pen, and the tight market for pitching, which will make it hard for anyone, even the Yanks, to buy a bullpen in mid season, should make us cautiously but truly optimistic.

Now, if we can just keep the Jays from becoming the new Rays. . .