Quick Hits

Too tired for a coherent post, so here are some random thoughts.

In extra innings, the Sox used six pitchers, the Yankees three. Why is nobody in the Boston bullpen capable of multiple innings (like two or three innings)?

Jonathan Papelbon: 1 1/3 innings, four outs, 16 pitches. The key: he has gone back to his old, effective style of going to the stretch at his belt instead of at his chest. How come it took 2/3 of the season to make the change?

When you play 15 innings and have four hits you usually do not win. The hits were in the first, ninth, tenth and fourteenth innings.

Do you think pitching in Yankee Stadium – excuse me, Magnificent Yankee Stadium – is different from pitching in the Japanese Industrial League?

Boston’s six-through-nine hitters were a combined 0/21. The one-through-five hitters were not much better, a combined 4/25.

The Boston “offense” consisted of Jacoby Ellsbury’s two hits and a stolen base.

For the second time in three games the Sox used their entire bullpen.

In a positive note, the Sox held baseball’s best offense to two runs.

Josh Beckett did his part.

During one of the 30 commercial breaks, I switched over to MLB Network just in time to hear analyst Joe Magrane say that up until a month ago he thought that the Red Sox had the best team in baseball. Now he thinks that the Yankees, Rays, Angels, Phillies and Dodgers are better. He probably could have included the Rangers in that mix.

Speaking of those 30 commercial breaks, I’ve had those Wendy’s boneless hunks of chicken in sauce. About as good as the Sox offense.

Since the All-Star break, the Sox are 3-11 against teams not named the Baltimore Orioles.

Justin Masterson is starting for Cleveland today against the White Sox.

The Red Sox have churned 25% of their roster in the last two days. What does that tell you?