Wake to the Rescue!

Well, after the seven game streak went to the dump in yesterday's 8th inning, Sox losing 9-3, today was a new day. Nationally televised ESPN Sunday Game of the Week and Wake replacing one of the DL'd starters. Aceves did a great job yesterday, but the pen failed the team. Tonight Wake came on and was absolutely masterful for six innings plus. In the 'plus' he began to get hit and gave up the Cubbie's sole run, but, overall, he'd completely dumbfounded the Cubs lineup with his knuckler. Throwing it 95% of the time tonight, he rarely got up to 69 mph. In fact, on a few occasions, the gun showed 59 as the velocity. This has two advantages. First, assuming the knuckler has its usual go anywhere characteristics, the speed is well below what most big league batters have gotten used to seeing since grammar school. It's like no-one knows when to swing because they're not used to waiting half an hour for the ball to reach the plate! The second good thing about this 'velocity' is that when a reliever finally comes in and takes the ball, it's usually going to be at a substantially higher rate of speed. In the case of the Hose, getting Bard and then Papelbon is like going from waiting for the bus to arrive to 'don't blink or you'll miss it'--all in the twinkling of an eye! Batters, if they ever get used to the floating, wait til next week, motion of the ball coming from a pitcher like Wake, have no opportunity to readjust to someone with near century heat such as that by the Sox setup and closer. It's almost cruel that they have to try!
Anyway, Wake allowed just four hits and walked no-one in 6 2/3 innings. What's even more amazing is that he only threw 75 pitches! In fact, he was under 60 entering the 6th inning! He's now in his mid-40's and hoping to pitch in the Bigs for at least another 4-5 years. If that flutterball stays effective, there's no reason why he won't. Late 40's pitching by knuckler pitchers is the rule rather than the exception. Just ask Hoyt Wilhelm, Charlie Hough and the few others who had heavy reliance on the pitch. All threw in MLB until just shy of their 50th B-day.

Once Wake left the game, Bard came on to sear Cubs bats with 98 mph heat for a perfect 1 1/3 innings and then The Laser followed in an effort that justified his above name. Other than a defensive swing double with one out, he was dominating, finishing the game with two K's.
Offensively, Yooouuk extended his hitting streak to ten games, while Gonzo went 4-4 and raised his BA to .342. The Dustman and Papi also each had a pair of hits. As a result, the Sox are now a half game out of first behind the Rays and the Stripes, and off to the MLB-leading Tribe for a series starting tomorrow night.