There isn't anything subtle about Hideki Okajima anymore.
The numbers are too good, the buzz from the opposition is growing too loud, and the scoreless-inning streak continues to grow quietly, steadily, convincingly.
He has slipped so seamlessly into his role as a reliable setup man that he has done the unthinkable: He has made veteran Mike Timlin's frustrating and disheartening injuries a moot point, for now.
Think about that. Timlin has long been this staff's relief workhorse. In other years, a prolonged stint for him on the disabled list would have been a daily cause for angst, or at least some serious hand-wringing. But Okajima has provided the Red Sox -- and Timlin -- with a worry-free alternative. He has been close to untouchable since that fateful Opening Day debut when his first major league pitch was banged out of the park by Kansas City's John Buck. He has been a critical link that has held this pitching staff together, in perfect unison from starter to reliever to closer.
Okajima hasn't given up a run in 20 2/3 innings, has retired 56 of the last 65 batters he's faced, and has submitted a Papelbonesque ERA of 0.44.
His two appearances against the Tigers yesterday comprised his most impressive outings. He came on in the eighth inning of the opening game of the doubleheader with the task of protecting Julian Tavarez's hard-earned 2-1 advantage. He faced, in order, the dangerous Placido Polanco, who leads the American League in multi-hit games, the positively frightening Gary Sheffield, and the productive Magglio Ordonez.
Here's how it went. Polanco flied out harmlessly to right field. Sheffield, the guy with the vicious swing who looks amazing even when he whiffs, struck out swinging, and looked really bad. Ordonez didn't fare much better, popping out to Kevin Youkilis to end yet another uneventful inning for Japan's prized lefthander.
You know the rest. Jonathan Papelbon came on in the ninth and snuffed out any chance the Tigers had of conjuring a rally. Together, Oki and Pap, which sounds like some kind of corny kids' show involving puppets and overalls, were lethal.
The Tigers know all about Boston's young closer. They saw Papelbon weave his magic last season. But this new guy, who is 31 years old and cruised into town well under the Dice-K radar, has left them shaking their heads.
Just listen.
"He's good -- real good," Sheffield gushed. "The way he pulls up his leg, it looks like he's going to tilt to the side, but then he comes over the top with the curveball. Then he comes back and throws the fastball in there, and it's nasty. Then he comes at you with his forkball, which is even nastier.
"He's one of the most impressive lefties I've ever seen."
