Although the Sox are getting beat, at least, they haven't been beating themselves. Unlike recent years. If a team is going to beat the Sox, they're not going to get much help from the Sox defense.
Giving credit where credit is due.
It was said a team could win with good pitching and defense. But I think that was before BP's became such a major part of the game. The Sox BP right now negates the good pitching part of the equation.
No post war pitcher had a better season than Gibson in 1968. He started 34 games and completed 28. He pitched a total of 304 innings. His ERA was a microscopic 1.12 with 13 shut outs. He finished the season at 22-9. Oh, his WHIP was .853.
How weak was the Cardinals' line-up? Gibby lost 9 games.
Best RH pitcher I ever saw.
I remember when Gibson pitched for the weak hitting Cards and when the Cards scored a run, Curt Flood would tell Gibby there's your run. Don't screw up.