These Red Sox Are Idiot-Proof

Those who watch the Red Sox from the outside think this season has gone well because the back end of the Boston bullpen has been spectacular, with Mike Timlin (1.08 ERA), a rejuvenated Keith Foulke (three walks to 18 strikeouts) and the dominant, confident Papelbon (one run in 21 1/3 innings) slamming the door whenever Boston has a lead after six innings.

Actually, another kind of door has mattered, too. "We're learning to get to know each other," Varitek said. "You have to reach a point where those doors of communication have been granted."

Not opened, but granted. No, these definitely aren't Idiots. In recent years, the Red Sox, even with changing personnel, have tried to develop a culture where everybody has each other's back. It's subtle. Mention Manny Ramirez, often seen as the ultimate absentminded free spirit, and Varitek says: "Manny gets scrutinized. He plays that Fenway wall better than anybody. He's a way better base runner and outfielder than he was when he came here from Cleveland. He wants to be a total player."

The Red Sox clearly have learned that one of their advantages over the Yankees of recent times has been superior cohesion. Varitek speaks with respect of the eternal New York foes. "Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams were always up the middle of those teams," he says. "They bred success by the way they carried themselves and went about their business."

Yet, perhaps unintentionally, Varitek uses the past tense for those teams. The close-knit, less-talented, more-successful Yankees clubs from 1996 through 2000 with team-first types like Paul O'Neill, Scott Brosius and Chuck Knoblauch are just historical artifacts.

The Red Sox will need their culture of camaraderie -- maybe that's the new nickname, the Comrades -- because much of their baseball identity of '04 is gone. Curt Schilling (6-2, 4.17) is having a fine season but isn't as overpowering as he once was. Beckett may have to share that role in October. However, the biggest change is that the Red Sox have hit fewer homers than their foes this season. They're not the offensive war wagon of recent seasons.

The Red Sox' 4-3 loss to the Orioles on Wednesday night was an illustration. On one hand, Baltimore was merely snapping a streak of 13 straight losses to Boston. But on the other, Baltimore's Erik Bedard showed that Boston can be shut down, holding the Sox to two hits through seven innings. After Ortiz's two-run homer in the ninth made the game close, there was no more Red Sox thunder. The final Boston out was made when a pinch runner was thrown out stealing.

The Idiots, deep in power, might have waited for an extra-base hit to tie the game. This new Boston bunch still has a lot to figure out about its baseball identity. At least they'll have plenty to talk about at dinner tomorrow night.