Craig Hansen Called Back Up to the Bigs

The Red Sox have just made a roster move by sending yesterdays spot starter Pauley to Pawtucket and called up Craig Hansen.

I have always been a believer in Craig Hansen. This guy has all the tools to become a great relief pitcher for the Red Sox. He reminds me a lot like Joe Nathan on the Twins. Hansen was a dominant force in college at St. Johns and a lot of people speculate had he not been with agent Scott Boras he would have been the number one pick in the 2005 draft. He was called up way too early that year and did pitch well at all in 2006. This year he has been dominant in Pawtucket going 12.1 innings and only giving up 3 hits, 0 earned runs, while striking out 13. He credits his turnaround due to surgery this recent off season to help fix a sleeping disorder.

Game 22: Sox Rally To Win 6th Straight

• Sox starter David Pauley struggled, but can you blame him? Picture being in his shoes. It is Monday and you are playing Triple A ball at Pawtucket. Tuesday is an off day so you probably not concerned about getting rest, preparing for a start, etc. Waking up the next day to find out that you have to go to Fenway Park to pitch against the second best hitting team in the MLB (Sox are first). So I can't get too critical of a Triple A call up serving as a last second replacement.
• Never have I seen Papelbon throw as hard as he did last night. Consistent 98-99 mph fastballs. One even hit 100, great sign.
  
• Give credit to the bullpen that only gave up 1 run in 5 innings to lead way to the comeback.
• Don't look now Julio Lugo (2 for 4) is hitting .324. (Bet you didn't see that coming.)

Red Sox Most Valuable Player: Tough call between Pedroia and Ellsbury but you gotta go with Jacoby. Started the game off with a home run then helped the Sox take a 6-5 lead with a home run in the 6th. Huge breakout game for Jacoby having his first 3 hit game of the season raising his average to .308.

Red Sox Least Valuable Player: Tough giving it out to the backup catcher but Kevin Cash not only struggled offensively (like he usually does) but also made a huge throwing error that could have cost them this one. Went 1 for 4 with three strikeouts on offense. Defensively (usually known as a good defensive catcher) he tried to make a play by throwing down to second to pick off Chone Figgons (who can scoot). Throw ended up in center field leaving man on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Cash should serve as Hideki Okajima's servant for the next three weeks for retiring Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson to hold the lead.

Play of the Game: The battle between Okajima and Guerrero was the play of the game. With two in scoring position and less than two outs, Vlady drives a run in more often than not. He looked lost against Okie Doke and his splitter.