Red Sox Magic Number - 20

With the Red Sox beating the Orioles and the Yankees losing to the Devil Rays - the Red Sox magic number is now 20 or as Abraham Lincoln would say "a score".

The number 20 is currently worn by 1st baseman Kevin Youkilis. Preseason and even during the season there was much talk that the Red Sox would shift Youkilis back to 3rd base because of a trade for the Rockies' Todd Helton which would have sent Mike Lowell to Colorado (along with Julian Tavarez). Its a good thing for the Red Sox that trade was never made. Never mind the huge contract the Red Sox would have been taking on with Helton (even though Colorado would be paying a large share) - take a look at the production.

Lowell - .329 BA / 63 R / 17 HR / 95 RBI / .891 OPS
Youkilis - .291 BA / 78 R / 15 HR / 75 RBI / .856 OPS
Helton - .306 BA / 66 R / 12 HR / 70 RBI / .888 OPS

There would not have been any appreciable upgrade at the plate and as far as defense is concerned - Kevin Youkilis has not made a single error at 1st this season. How could you improve on that?

I like Todd Helton but I'm liking Mike Lowell better and I really hope the Red Sox re-sign Lowell for another year or two.

Just as an aside on Kevin Youkilis - some people wanted to nickname him "Jelly" because his initials are K-Y but that nickname did not stick. Maybe they should call him "Ribbed (for the Pitcher's Pleasure)" for the way he's always getting hit by a pitch.