Rookies playing vital role on Red Sox
They've got one more shot to flourish, one more chance to make their marks on what could be a glorious 2007 Red Sox season.
Dustin Pedroia, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima are rookes because that's what baseball rules say they are.
But Pedroia has spent the past seven months playing second base for the Red Sox and has earned his way with the veterans. A rookie? Maybe in name, but not by performance.
The same is true Matsuzaka and Okajima. Veterans of Japan's major league, the two came to America this year and quickly established themselves as stars.
And now all three are being counted on as the Sox prepare for their final series of the season.
"It says a lot about the organization, how they brought guys up and the kind of depth we have," said veteran relief pitcher Mike Timlin. "They're not coming up here and filling a role; coming up here and doing something."
Pedroia is a good bet to win the Rookie of the Year award. After hitting just .172 in April, he batted .330 over his last 125 games to finish the year at .317. That's the 10th-best mark in the American League this season and the highest batting average ever for a rookie second baseman.
He also led all major league rookies in doubles (39), was second in on-base percentage (.380) and third in runs (86).
He was second among American League rookies in hits (165), multi-hit games (49) and total bases (230). He was third in extra-base hits (48) and walks (47).
That success has translated to the postseason where, through two series, Pedroia is hitting .286 with an on-base percentage of .348. He has five doubles, one home run and six RBI.
It was in the ALCS, though, where Pedroia regained his stroke. He struggled through the first part of the series but came alive in the final two games in Boston. For the series, he hit .345 with one home run and five RBI. His two-run home run in the seventh inning in Game 7 proved to be the key blow.
"As far as wins and losses and what he means to our team, he means a lot," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "Over the course of the year, this kid's been a mainstay for us. He's brought that energy, not only energy as a young player, but his energy because he is kind of a special young kid. Because of his stature, he's always had to play with somewhat a chip on his shoulder.
"Our veterans have warmed to him. It's kind of like your little brother where you can beat on him, but no one else better. It's good. The guys get a kick out of him and they know he's a good player. He brings a lot of energy to our ballclub."
The Sox paid $103 million to lure Matsuzaka from the Seibu Lions, and there were times this year it's looked like a bargain. He went 15-12 with a 4.40 ERA and ranked sixth in the American League in strikeouts (201), sixth in strikeouts per nine innings (8.84), tied for 11th in wins and 14th in innings pitched (204). He led all American League rookies in wins, strikeouts and innings.
Then, there were times it looked like the Sox overpaid. He went 2-4 with a 7.14 ERA in his last eight starts and walked three or more in seven of his final nine starts. In his last six starts, he allowed five or more runs eight times.
It hasn't gotten better in the playoffs. In his three starts, he went 1-1 with a 5.65 ERA. In Game 7 against the Indians, though, Matsuzaka pitched five quality innings, allowing just two runs.
Okajima, like Matsuzaka, was sensational until mid-August when it appeared he hit the wall. Through Aug. 8, he posted a 1.17 ERA in 46 innings. During that time, he had a 20-inning scoreless streak and another streak where he allowed just two earned runs in 27 innings. He went 172 batters without allowing a home run.
But that suddenly changed. Beginning Aug. 10, he compiled a 7.24 ERA in his final 15 games, including allowing nine earned runs in 5 innings over seven outings from Aug. 30 to Sept. 14.
The Sox shut him down for a two-week stretch near the end of the season after Okajima said he was feeling fatigued. It seems to have worked. In the playoffs, he's made five appearances covering 7 innings and hasn't allowed a run. He's given up five hits, walked three and struck out five. In Game 7, he pitched two scoreless innings of relief.
"I love Dustin, but my first vote (for Rookie of the Year) would go to Oki," said Timlin.
"The personality for Dustin fits in real well, but the two Japanese guys, having interpreters and a Japanese trainer, has helped a lot where we can communicate and rag and tease them," Timlin added. "They're not an isolated part of the team where they hang out by themselves. We've integrated them in as much as we possibly can and I think that's helped in their success. This is not an isolated team."
The fourth rookie on the roster might have the highest upside. Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury had three stints with the Red Sox this year and was impressive each time. Called up for the last time in September, he put together a 13-game hitting streak, during which time he hit .426. He's reached base in 29 of his 32 big league games with a plate appearance. He was also 9-for-9 in stolen base attempts.
Ellsbury was on the playoff roster for the first two series but didn't see much action until starting the final two games of the ALCS. He's 2-for-9 (.222) with one RBI.
"What Jacoby's given us has been huge, but Pedroia has been with us all year, so it is a little bit different," said Francona. "But Ellsbury has been very significant in what he's given us."
The Patriot Ledger