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Almost before the ball had landed in the rightfield stands, many of Red Sox Nation was doing just as I was, cursing Derek Lowe.
Lowe had just served up the second of two 10th inning gopher balls to the Yankees during Sunday’s series finale in the lair of the Evil Empire. It was frustrating for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, because it’s the Yankees. Like the smell of gas, they’re either loved or hated. If you’re a Sox fan, they reek.
But this particular loss was made more unpalatable with the knowledge that our beloved Beantown heroes had stolen the lead from New York’s top closer, Mariano Rivera.
Rivera’s like Swiss time- stylish, coolly efficient and dependable. When the Pinstripes have the lead late in the game he rarely allows a baserunner, much less surrenders a tying run.
He’s had a particularly easy time of it with Boston. In fact, over the past few seasons a Red Sox win against the Yanks was contingent upon owning the lead late in the game. Going through Rivera left victory out of the equation.
Rivera had also owned our newest savior, Manny Ramirez. The ex-Indian slugger came into the season with only a couple of hits against Rivera, no runs batted in and a locker full of strikeouts.
But something happened. Two weeks ago Ramirez came to the plate to face Rivera with two on and the Evil Empire protecting a one-run lead at Fenway. A passed ball put both runners in scoring position and Manny delivered a game-winning single. The moment seemed symbolic. Our Jobu was workin’.
On Sunday afternoon, a similar event occurred. Tied at two in the tenth, Ramirez delivered a two-out single off Ramirez. This started a rally that led to the Sox regaining the lead that Lowe would surrender in the bottom half of the inning.
In nine days, the Sox had gotten to a pitcher that had previously owned them twice. Before Lowe’s self-immolation, I was tempted to consult with Mistress Cleo (the cards, dem, dey neva lie!).
There’s been little debate about Lowe’s pitching during the early season -he’s awful. This from a guy who was one of baseball’s top closers last season and our version of Rivera.
Boston has Rod Beck in their bullpen. Beck was a former Rolaid’s Relief Man of the Year in the National League. A quality stopper until arm trouble derailed the Master Mullet Man. He’s back and appears in old form. The Sox have also experimented with former starter Rolando Ayrojjo in role of closer. The former Colorado Rocky has a live fastball and changes speeds well. He seems suited to the role. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield recorded 15 saves last season and can pitch as a closer or starter. Most Little Leaguers throw harder than Wake, but his ball dances like a squirrel on steroids. Any of these guys could step in for Lowe.
But that doesn’t seem right. Boston has used the better part of the last two seasons cultivating Lowe for the role of the closer. The final lesson is at hand. Lowe must learn to put failure behind him. It’s a lesson Rivera has learned and benefited from.
The Sox would be wise to give Lowe the chance to recover his old form at least until the All-Star break. If he’s still throwing batting practice change-ups then banish him to a mop-up role and go with someone else as the stopper.
If Lowe begins pitching the way he can the Bosox will have a daunting bullpen to go with a quality staff of starters. Without Lowe the pen gets shuffled, along with some egos and September insanity may once again reign on Fenway.
Bangor Daily News