19 games

That’s how many times the Red Sox play at home during the last month of the season. Since the Boston Red Sox are presently 20 games over .500 when playing at Fenway Park, you would think all would be well in Red Sox Nation. Think again.

Of the 31 games to end the season, 23 come against American League East opponents. The Sox record against AL East opponents is a less than inspiring 22-26 this year. Making matters worse, the other games come against playoff contenders (LA Angels, Oakland A’s, and Chicago White Sox).

Granted, it’s better to play the majority of these games at home, as the Sox will. Just don’t think it automatically means pennant. Particularly with a bullpen that’s among the worst in the American League and a slow-pitch softball player taking over the body of Curt Schilling.

Sox rank 12th in saves with 27

That the Red Sox rank 12th among American League teams in saves with 27 should come as no surprise. After all, our closer has been on the shelf for most of the season.

It would probably not shock you then to learn that the Boston Red Sox also have a 12-ranking for save opportunities with 42. If you do the math, that’s 15 blown saves.

The shocking part comes when you look at all the contending teams (Chicago White Sox, LA Angels, New York Yankees, and Oakland A’s) and realize that all have blown as many or more save opportunities, with the exception of Chicago. The White Sox don’t trail this group by much with 14.

The Stat Man has never subscribed to the “everybody else stinks so it’s okay if we do” mentality. Still, you can file the correlation of bullpen success to team success in the “Stats are Meaningless” folder. Winning may come down to pitching in the playoffs, but outscoring your opponent so it never gets to a save opportunity seems to work in the regular season.

40 K’s in ’05 for Graffanino

New Boston Red Sox second basemen Tony Graffanino has 40 strikeouts this season in 76 games. A mere 12 of those whiffs have been with the Boston Red Sox.

Let’s compare that with the incumbent Mark Bellhorn, who in 85 games and 286 at-bats has 109. And if you’re wondering, Tony G. (new nickname?) has just 18 fewer AB’s with 268 split between the Boston Red Sox and the Kansas City Royals.

And for all you Bellhorn diehards and teenage girls who think the Statman is piling on here, ask yourself this question. Has there been one play in the field that Tony G. hasn’t made where you said, “Bellhorn would have had it.” If you’re honest, you know the bell has finally tolled for one of the genuine heroes of the Boston Red Sox 2004 world championship.

Mueller made 19 errors in 1998

Although he seems to be possessed by the throwing arm of Chuck Knoblauch, Bill Mueller is far from his season high for errors of 19 committed while playing 145 games in 1998 for the San Francisco Giants. If anything, he’s on pace to have one of his best seasons in the field, with only eight errors through 100 games played.

Still, the impact of errors, like anything else in life, comes down to the timing. Lately, Mueller’s have cost the Red Sox dearly. These things even out over a 162-game schedule.

So, Red Sox Nation, do not call for the head of Bill Mueller on a silver platter. Particularly for a side order of Youkilis. If history has told us anything about Bill Mueller is that if he’s not performing well in a particular area, there’s usually an injury involved. Don’t be surprised to hear of bone chips or sore elbow some time in the near future.