Papi Joins Teddy Ballgame

Well, looks as if I spoke too soon about the Sox' appearance of returning to the methodology and success that marked last year's wonder season. Since then, they've lost four in a row and are mired deeper than ever in last in the AL East. However, that doesn't mean nothing positive's happening. Papi has in recent days propelled himself into the lead in RBI's not just in the AL, but all of MLB. With last night's rocket into the cheaps, he now has 93. More interesting, that shot was Papi's 30th of the year, leaving him in third in the league. BUT it also allowed him to tie the all time great Sox hero, Ted Williams, for the most seasons of thirty or more homers. The total is eight seasons.  I'm not suggesting that Papi is the equal of Teddy Ballgame--nobody could be--but Ted had 521 career homers in his military shortened career. Papi's blow last night is his 461, and counting. He has averaged 36 homers per year for his career. Last night's shot came as part of a 4-4 evening, which raised his BA into the mid-.260's. Unfortunately, it was the final Sox run in an otherwise disappointing evening and one more loss for the Hose.