He's got the Key

"I am willing to be a hero in the dark." -Hideki Okajima

Profound words from the soft-spoken Japanese set-up man. As anyone who saw last weekend's sox-yanks series can attest to this kid has "it". He flat out can pitch. Some might say, who gives a shit about a middle reliever? Well when this middle reliever holds the keys to winning the division and eventually a 2nd world series in 4 years, I give a shit.

The emergence of Okajima coupled with the seemingly ageless Mike Timlin and the re-emergence (god I hope) of '02 Brendan Donnelly gives the Red Sox three high quality set-up men to bridge the gap to Papelbon. How many teams around the league can claim to have ONE quality set-up man, let alone three? Watching the sox come back in each of three games last weekend certainly set the tone for who had the edge in the bullpen. Seeing Joe Torre squirm and panic IN APRIL by going to Mo (god rest his career) in the 8th and then throwing Andy Pettite in relief was ultra-gratifying in a sense that we can finally lay to rest the past ghosts of the stantons, nelsons, wettelands, and riveras of yesteryear that made those yankee teams so incredibly successful. Coming from someone who suffered through the debacle of the '03 red sox "Committee", Id be terribly worried if i was a yankee fan.

Right now, the Red Sox bullpen shuts the door and the yanks pen opens a new one. Its the end of April and already the Yankees pen is overworked. Scott Proctor might need a robotic arm by the time August rolls around.

A quick word on Phil Hughes: I hope we see him in October so the Red Sox can make him pull a Brad Lidge and completely demoralize him to point where he never pitches again. Throw him out there in game 3 of the ALCS and watch Papi and Manny crush his dreams to point where he doubts himself deep in his soul. Hello Rick Ankiel part 2?

Seriously though, he looked alrite last night. You can tell hes got talent (most top rated prospects do) but im not overly wow'ed. Then again my tears from the Mark Prior surgery news might have blinded me.

-Hideki Okajima-san The Lefty Specialist