Longtime fans giddy as special Sox team shines

Is it premature to get giddy about the Red Sox? They entered Tuesday’s play with the best record in baseball at 30-11 following yet another brilliant outing by converted reliever Derek Lowe, who has the American League’s lowest earned run average at 1.90.

AL hitters are hitting a league-low .158 against Lowe.

Yes, it’s OK to get giddy about the Red Sox.

Red Sox fans are physically unable to attain total giddiness because there is an automatic shutoff valve that prohibits complete unadulterated immersion into giddiness.

There is only one cure: a World Series championship.

New England Patriots fans were cured by the Super Bowl triumph over St. Louis.

This Red Sox team is special.

First of all, it has depth in the starting rotation. Pedro Martinez, Lowe and John Burkett are a combined 18-1 with a 2.37 ERA.

And Pedro seems to get stronger with every outing after his arm problems of a year ago.

When healthy, Martinez is the best pitcher in baseball. There are very few pitchers who have three dominant pitches like he does [fastball, curve and changeup].

Burkett is the consummate pro who has rejuvenated his career with a nasty changeup and some additional movement on his fastball.

Lefty Darren Oliver has been a big surprise from the left side and is a nice weapon to have particularly against teams laden with left-handed power.

Remember, off-season acquisition Dustin Hermanson hasn’t thrown a pitch yet due to his arm problems but he could return next month.

Frank Castillo can be effective if his curve is working. He must have good stuff to be successful because he’s not the kind of pitcher who can nibble corners. His fastball is too straight and hittable.

The middle relief has been good with Tim Wakefield, Rolando Arrojo and Casey Fossum being the most effective of the lot.

Closer Ugueth Urbina is 14-for-14 in save conversions and appears to be getting more consistent. He has replaced his tightrope act that left Sox fans squirming in their seats with some easy innings of late.

Urbina, with his medical history, is still a concern. But he is slowly making believers out of us.

The offense has a diversity it hasn’t had in decades thanks to the speed and base-running prowess of Johnny Damon and Rickey Henderson.

Plus, their base-running instincts are passed along to their teammates to make them better base-runners also.

The Red Sox don’t have to play station-to-station baseball any more.

And if they go through a power drought, they’ll still be able to manufacture runs.

Third baseman Shea Hillenbrand and his nine homers, 35 RBIs and .329 average and second baseman Rey Sanchez and his .313 average have really fortified the lineup. And Sanchez finally gives them a second baseman who can turn the double play and win games with his glove.

Tony Clark has given them a first-rate first baseman. He is slowly working his way out of a slump and expect his power numbers to surge when the warm weather arrives.

Manny Ramirez will hopefully bounce back from his broken finger in a month and pick up where he left off (.372, 9 homers, 35 RBIs).

The team chemistry is much better now that ex-GM Dan Duquette and the troubled Carl Everett are gone. The addition of classy veterans like Burkett, Clark, Sanchez, Damon and Carlos Baerga has seemingly created a much better clubhouse environment.

When the general manager and manager are at odds, it can divide a team and lead to underachieve-ment. Duquette made that mistake and it cost him his job.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 1-800-310-8600, 990-8231 or e-mail at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.