GREAT Numbers--Peter

In contrast to yesterday, Jenn, today's game was the kind of game you can relax and enjoy to its fullest. Beckett was pitching for the Hose and 'PITCH' is exactly what he did. A three hit complete game shutout, no walks, another seven K's and his 100th career win. He was so in control that his game WHIP was 0.33 (1.0 is considered good), and he had his first five K's by the 3d inning. Adding to the Sox big numbers was Jake's 40th stolen base of the year. This makes him just the second player in Sox history to get 40 or more in consecutive years. You ask who the other was, Jenn? Just some guy named Speaker, as in Tris, from 1912-14. If you've never heard the name, he's only one of the inaugural class into the Hall of Fame. Hell of a center fielder, too! All Jake needs to do to start matching up totally with Tris is get his batting average up a bit. Ol' Tris had a lifetime B.A. of .345, along with over 3500 hits and 1500+ ribbies. He also holds the marks for most doubles and most outfield assists in a career, as well as being in the top ten in many other categories. He also was a team member of the man who this blog is named for, Duffy Lewis. Duffy, Speaker and Harry Hooper comprised what was known as the "Million Dollar Outfield" in the second decade of the 20th century. He even has a similar history to Babe Ruth, another early Sox hero, in that the team owner made a horrible trade and sent Tris to Cleveland--over a salary dispute. While he never hit .400, he did have four separate seasons in the .380's and another in the .370's--not too shabby.

I say matching up for Jake. At this stage in his career, the Speed Racer is actually ahead of Speaker for career B.A., as Tris suffered two of his very few sub-.300 seasons in his first two years with the Hose.

Anyway, congrats to today's two heroes--and the rest of the Sox who helped get the win--AND a three game lead over Mr. Hankie's Yankees, who were swept by the Halos down in la-la land.