The Cream Of The Crop and the Cream of The Not

After last night’s 21-hit 18-3 shattering of the Sox by the Texas Rangers, it’s clear to see why MLB’s power rankings count. Entering week three of the season the Rangers moved into the number one spot while Boston languished at number 15, dead in the middle of the MLB pack. The rankings are justified.

Sure it was a good run, at least for three games, to beat up on AL East rival Tampa Bay. The Rangers, however, are the real deal. The Rangers are the 2007 Red Sox. They’ve got starting pitching, a solid bullpen, good defense and hitting up and down the lineup.

Coming into Fenway Park Texas boasted the best record and run differential in baseball. Last night did nothing but pad those statistics. Ranger batters did what Boston batters used to do; they worked Jon Lester deep in counts and to death. Lester was lifted after exactly 2 innings. During the two-inning torture chamber of horrors he threw 80 pitches, just 46 for strikes. At the end of his early night Lester had given up eight hits, seven earned runs, walked four and exited with a bloated 5.82 ERA. After Lester, five more Boston pitchers gave up 11 runs, six by Mark Melancon. I’ll leave it to my fellow writers to break down the Melancon mess. I’ll only say two things. 1. Melancon’s ERA is 49.50; 2. Ick. Pass the Pepto.

The Rangers  completely dominated Boston in all phases of the game. Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run homer in the first inning to put Boston up 2-0. Texas then proceeded to score 18 unanswered runs until Adrian Gonzalez hit a so what solo homer in the eighth for Boston’s third and final run. Last night was a disheartening look into the reality mirror.

Mark tonight’s game on your calendar. The emperor has no clothes.

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