Harden in mid-season form, Lester is not

Rich Harden showcased mid-season form while Jon Lester looked like he had just reported to spring training. Harden flashed an overpowering fast ball and kept Boston hitters off-balance while Lester rarely threw a first pitch strike and accumulated too many three-ball counts. That is the story of yesterday's 5-1 Oakland victory over the Sox in Japan.

Harden's career record improved to 32-18 over five seasons. If he could stay healthy, the A's would have one of the best right-handers in Major League Baseball. He was nasty yesterday, allowing a run and three hits and striking out nine in six innings. His lone blemish was a towering home run by Manny Ramirez, who departed Japan with five RBI.

Lester was the opposite of Harden. Of the left-hander's 83 pitches, 47 were strikes. When a pitcher consistently gets behind in the count against Major League hitters, he tends to get pounded when he finally throws a strike. In the bottom of the second inning, Lester surrendered an RBI single to Chris Denorfia, plating Bobby Crosby, who doubled. An inning later, Lester walked Mark Ellis to open the frame, allowed a one-out single by Mike Sweeney and then a three-run home run to Emil Brown, whose baserunning blunder cost Oakland the game on Tuesday.

Overall, Lester permitted four runs, five hits and three walks in four innings. Lester's inability to throw first pitch strikes and the frequent deep counts are correctable, but they are concerns nonetheless. The Sox need their No. 3 starter to eat innings and post productive numbers, and that will not happen when he throws 80-plus pitches in four frames.

What we must remember is that the Sox are still in spring training. True, the two games against Oakland count in the standings, yet it is still March. Pitchers are tinkering with mechanics and working to build endurance. Hitters are perfecting their swing and their timing. Some players are ahead of others. Harden and Ramirez are undoubtedly ready for the regular season. Lester and Jason Varitek (at least at the plate) are not. Varitek struck out six times in two games and looked helpless in the process.

Now that the Japan trip is over, Boston's first challenge is complete. The next one is playing three exhibition games in Los Angeles after gearing up for two regular season contests. The Sox open their North American regular season on Tuesday at Oakland, play a Wednesday afternoon game against the A's and then depart for Toronto for a three-game set next weekend. They will likely be weary when they return to Boston and prepare for their home opener against Detroit on Tuesday, April 8. The schedule is certainly not a breeze. The Sox have three games against the Tigers and three against the Yankees at Fenway Park and then two at Detroit and two at Yankee Stadium. Welcome to the 2008 regular season.

Notes and observations

• After lining an RBI single against Joe Blanton and later belting a game-tying home run off Huston Street in the ninth inning of Tuesday's Boston win, Brandon Moss struck out three times on Wednesday before he was lifted for pinch-hitter Sean Casey in the ninth. After the game, Moss was optioned to Pawtucket. At some point this season, Moss will be back, and he will contribute. I have a feeling that he will be Boston's starting right fielder (not this year, but in the future) even before J.D. Drew's contract expires. That would involve the Sox trading Drew and eating some of his contract, but Moss is that good. Moss will be a productive Major Leaguer, hopefully in a Red Sox uniform.
• David Aardsma was dominant in his relief appearance yesterday. The power right-hander pitched 1.2 scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing one hit. If Mike Timlin is healthy, and the Sox keep Kyle Snyder and Julian Tavarez, then there is no room for Aardsma or Bryan Corey. However, Timlin could start the season on the disabled list as his cut right ring finger heals, and either Snyder or Tavarez could be traded. If Timlin is on the DL and Snyder or Tavarez is dealt, that opens the door for Aardsma and Corey to make the April 1 roster. If there is just one spot, chances are it will go to Aardsma, who is 26 and throws heat. The Sox could use another power right-hander in the bullpen. I would like to see Aardsma and Corey for the long term, but unless Snyder and Tavarez are both traded, that will not happen. Corey, by the way, allowed a run and two hits in one inning yesterday.
• Since the beginning of last season, I have written several times about my favorite darkhorses in the Sox farm system. Last year, it was Kason Gabbard, Devern Hansack, Bryan Corey and Craig Breslow. Now, Hansack and Corey are the only two left. If you haven't heard, Breslow was released by Boston and was picked up by Cleveland. He will serve as the Indians' left-handed specialist, a role he should have in Boston. Of course, Breslow did himself no favors by having an atrocious spring training while Javier Lopez posted respectable numbers. Hopefully, Lopez finally starts retiring left-handed hitters on a consistent basis.