Monthly Report Card: April

Record: 17-12
AL East: Up 1 gm
Longest win streak: 6 games
Longest losing streak: 5 games
Largest win: 11-3 (Tex, 4/18)
Largest loss: 10-2 (Tor, 4/5)
Home rec: 11-4
Road rec: 6-8

Sox stats for the month of April:
(AL rank in parenthesis)
BATTING:
Runs: 136 (3)
Hits: 278 (1)
Walks: 104 (6)
Avg: .282 (1)
HRs: 24 (t5)

PITCHING:
ERA: 4.32 (10)
Ks: 207 (1)
Walks: 121 (3)
Runs: 130 (4)
Saves: 14 (t2)

The first month of the season is over, so it's time to introduce my new, ground-breaking feature here on CBS, my monthly report card/status report for the team.

The first month of the season was full of a lot of ups and downs, too much travel, too many injuries and plenty of memorable moments. But at least the team has weathered the storm of going halfway around the world, losing a top pitcher and hitter to the DL, and spending 19 straight days away from home.

Hoeppfully the second month will be even better.

BTW, no plusses and minuese here, just straight letters, homie.

HITTERS:

A -Manny Ramirez .343/6HR/20BI/
18R/36H/.410OBP/.619SLG
As I predicted in my 2008 MLB Preview post on my other blog, Ramirez was destined to have a big year this season. Why? Because he's got a $20 million team option riding on it. Sure enough Manny came into camp early, in shape, and ready to mash. He's ranked in the Top 10 in the league in all of the above categories, including 3rd in avg & homers and 2nd in hits & slugging. MVP material.

A - Dustin Pedroia .303/14R/36H/11-2B/13RBI/50TB (29 gms)
The Little Big Man has disproved the notion of the sophomore slump by juming out to a scorsching start, both at the plate and in the field. His diving stop of a Vernon Wells grounder the other night, a play in which he says his shoulder came out of its socket, epitomizes what the scrapper brings to this team - heart, desire and hustle. He's tied with Manny for 2nd in the AL in hits, and he's 10th in total bases.

A - Kevin Youkilis .304/16R/31H/15RBI/7-2B/2-3B/2HR/48TB (27 gms)
Although he has tailed off lately, Youk is still one of the most clutch hitters on the team and in the league, and his defense at both 3rd and 1st base is consistently Gold Glove-caliber. Set the ML mark for consecutive errorless games at first (194) earlier this month and had the game-winning hit off Roy Halladay Tuesday night. That's a true 2-way threat.

A - Coco Crisp .293/6R/5-2B/5BI/4SB (19 gms)
Not exactly eye-popping stats, but considering he was relegated to second banana status by the emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury, making him the subject of trade speculation all spring, his numbers and play in center have been a pleasant surprise. Recently missed 8 games with a hammy problem, but has started 5 of last 6 with Ellsbury suffering a groin strain.

A - Sean Casey .346/6R/6-2B/8RBI/.424OBP (17 gms)
The Mayor has turned out to be the key off season acquisiton for the Sox. He's provided excellent defense at first base and timely hits after Lowell went down with his thumb injury and Youk moved to third. Although he just went on the DL with a strained hip, it was more a roster-related move and he should be fine when he gets back.

B - Jason Varitek .243/6R/5-2B/3HR/7BI (23 gms)
The Captain hasn't been great at the plate, but the hits he's had have been big ones. He missed a week recently with the damn flu bug that bit the team, but he still has two game-winning hits this month, including last night's against Toronto. As ususal, his prescense behind the plate is immeasureable.

B - Jacoby Ellsbury .280/20R/3HR/11RBI/ 13BB/8SB/.396OBP (25 gms)
He didn't get off to the sparkling start at the plate the Nation thought he would, but a recent 9-game hit streak (14-38) raised his average from .229 to .296. Still, he was getting on base at a steady clip before being sidelined with this groin problem, putting him 3rd in the AL in runs and steals and 13th in OBP.

B - Kevin Cash .323/3-2B/3BI/.371OBP (11 gms)
Another valuable off season addition, Cash has proved to be a more than adequate replacement for Mirabelli as Wake's personal caddy. Had three hits Friday against the Rays, started 6 straight games while Tek was out, and has only 4 passed balls all year, or one more than Josh Bard in his first game catching Wake in 2006

B - Jed Lowrie .323/4R/3-2B/5BI/3BB/.371OBP (13 gms)
It's a bit too early to judge this kid, but so far the reults have been good. Like Ellsbury and Brandon Moss before him, Lowrie has made a smooth transition from the PawSox to the big club, playing solid D (0 errors at 3 positions) and providing a few big hits along the way.

B - David Ortiz .184/17R/2-2B/5HR/21RBI/15BB
Tough to grade Big Papi because he's been hurt and not hitting like he normally would. But you gotta give a guy who's playing with a bum knee props for being 5th in the league in RBI and tied for 3rd in homers despite all the injuries and low average. We know he'll come around, but at least he's still productive.

C - JD Drew .269/18R/2-2B/3HR/13RBI/14BB/.376OBP (23 gms)
He started out scorsching hot, batting .362 with 3 homers and 12 RBI through April 17th, but then the slumping started, along with the nagging injuries, and suddenly he's in a 4-31 skid (.129) and has just 1 RBI in the last 10 games. Currently sidelined with a bad quad, which also caused him to miss the first 3 games of the season.

C - Julio Lugo .281/7R/3-2B/7RBI/3SB/6E (27 gms)
His defense had been D-worthy (he leads the majors in errors), but his offense has been decent enough to raise his grade to a C. Had a 4-hit game earlier this month, but makes viewers cringe every time he fields a routine ground ball, plus he's only 3-5 in steals after getting caught just 6 times all last year

I- Mike Lowell, Joe Thurston, Brandon Moss, Alex Cora
None of these guys can get a fair grade because they've all played in only a handful of games: Lowell just came back after missing 18 games with a sprained thumb, but he hasn't hit a lick when he's been in there; Cora has only played in 3 games and is on the DL with an elbow injury; Thurston was mainly a pinch runner in his 4 games, played nice defense when he got a start for manny, but was 0-8 before being sent back down; and Moss provided a memorable hit in the opener in Japan, then was sent to Pawtucket before being recalled last week to replace Mayor Casey.

PITCHING:
Starters

A - Daisuke Matsuzaka 4-0/2.52ERA/20H/ 10ER/19BB/32K/1.09WHIP
Dice-K has been shaky at times in his 2nd season in the majors, but the numbers speak for themselves. He's in the Top 10 in the league in all the above categories, including 2nd in wins and 4th in strikeouts, and you get the feeling every time he takes the mound he's gonna give the team a chance to win.

B - Clay Buchholz 1-2/4.08ERA/26H/13ER/ 10BB/27K/1.26WHIP
In his five starts this season he has allowed 2 earned runs or less in three of them. he was shelled once (7ER in 3.2IP on the 16th against NY), but last time out he gave up just 2 hits in 8 innings while fanning 9 vs. the Rays. Showing signs of being a solid member of the rotation.

B - Tim Wakefield 2-0/4.06ERA/29H/14ER /17BB/19K/1.48WHIP
Wake has pitched pretty well in his five starts, allowing 3 ER or less four times, but the multitude of bases on balls have caused him to get into more jams than necessary. Still, the longest tenured Sox and one of the oldest players in the league is still productive at this stage of his career, so he's got that going for him.

B - Josh Beckett 2-2/4.10ERA/18H/12ER/7BB/29K/0.95 WHIP
The numbers are deceiving because the bullpen inflated his stats in two of his starts. He's 7th in the AL in strikeouts and his WHIP is outstanding. Still, injury and illness has limited his effectiveness, and the Nation expects more of the guy who dominated the league last year.

C - Jon Lester 1-2/4.31/38H/19ER/23BB/22K/1.54WHIP
The good news with the lefty is no one talks about him being a cancer survivor anymore. The bad news is now we can focus on what a mediocre pitcher he has become. He has pitched a couple of gems this year, especially his 1-hit, 0 run outing against the Jays on Tuesday, but we need more games like that from a guy who's being counted on to be the future of the staff.

Bullpen

A - Jonathan Papelbon 2-0/2.08ERA/8SV/ 10H/3ER/1BB/20K/0.85WHIP
Not as unhittable as past seasons, but his next best stuff is better than most top shelf closers. Has picked up wins in each of the last two games, and watching him strike out batters, save games and pump his fist when the game is over is one of the most enjoyable experiences in the Nation.

A - Hideki Okajima 1-0/0.87ERA/1SV/3Holds/ 7H/1ER/4BB/11K/1.06 WHIP
He's been nearly unhittable again this season, but Oki has allowed a couple of big hits in situation where we've expected him to get outs (last night's double by Greg Zaun quickly comes to mind.) Still, he's the best the setup man in the pen by far, and he doesn't make you nervous when he comes in the game, unlike the majority of the rest of them.

B - David Aardsma 1-1/3.29ERA/1Hold/ 10H/5ER/11BB/13K/1.54WHIP
Although he's faltered a bit lately (3 ER in his last 2.2IP), the righty has been a pleasant surprise for the team since dealing for him in the offseason.

C - Javier Lopez 1-0/4.50ERA/2Holds/ 10H/5ER/6BB/7K/1.60WHIP
The sidearming lefty has had an up & down season, and he can't get righties out for nothing (.333BAA), which sucks for a lefty, but he's had his decent stretches and overall has done an adequate job

C - Julian Tavarez 0-1/5.23ERA/13H/ 6ER/7BB/5K/1.94WHIP
Julie has actually been a pleasant surprise this season, not because he's pitched terrifically but mainly because he hasn't been awful. Followed up an exceelelnt outing vs. Cleveland (2.2IP, 2H, 0BB, 4K) with a dreadful one agsint the Stanks (3H, 3ER in 1.1IP), but aall in all he's performed pretty much as expected.

D - Manny Delcarmen 0-1/6.17ERA/2Holds/ 13H/8ER/4BB/11K/1.46WHIP
I think Tito summed up the Nation's frustration with the "closer in waiting" when he yanked him last night after one batter, a move that apapreantly irked Delcarmen so much he tossed a container onto the field from the dugout. Hey Manny, if you didn't allow a baserunner almost every time you took the mound, especially in key situations, Francona wouldn't have the early hook waiting for you.

D - Mike Timlin 2-2/13.50ERA/ 14H/9ER/3BB/2K/2.83WHIP
Look, I love what this warrior has done for the club over the years, but let's face it, at this stage his arm is attached to his body with Monkey glue, pine tar and stickum, and he's one blown game and blown shoulder away from the cow pasture.

I - Justin Masterson, David Pauley, Kyle Snyder, Bryan Corey, Craig Hansen
Not enough to go on for these guys: Masterson looked awesome (2H, 1ER in 6IP) in his lone start; Pauley (7H, 5ER, 4.1IP) not so much; Corey has been up and down more than Amy Winehouse; and Snyder was sent packing after 2 horrid outings to begin the season

I think that's about everything. If I left anything out let me know, and if you disagree with any of the grades, feel free to comment about it.

Go Sox!