Don't look now, but the Sox may have finally tapped into that long-rumored treasure of starting pitching we've heard so much about.

For possibly the first time since the All Star break, the Sox five vaunted but underachieving starters put together quality starts for an entire turn through the rotation. By my count, this was the most impressive turn through the rotation since April 18-22 vs. the Royals and Twins at the Cell.

That April stretch featured a one-hitter by Jose Contreras and a near no-hitter by Javy Vazquez (first hit came in the 7th) as the Sox starters allowed a combined 4 runs en route to 5 straight wins. At that time, we thought we were seeing a glimpse of things to come in 2006. But for the next 4+ months, the fatigued starters lost their edge and never put together anything quite as impressive.

Sure, there were nice games here and there–a couple shutouts by Garcia (vs. the Cubs and Cardinals), a complete game, 3-hit shut out by Jose Contreras against the Tigers last month, a few dominating Jon Garland performances–but none were really strung together (as previously mentioned, momentum really hasn't been the Sox 'thing' this season).

Now with their backs snugly against the wall (and a bunch of other cliches as well), the starting pitchers have responded with a dominating week that makes fans wonder what could have been, and if its not too late.

Garland, the Sox most consistently quality starter since June, got the ball rolling vs. the Indians on Saturday with 6 innings of one-run ball. Then Vazquez (quietly posting a 2.36 ERA over his last four starts, 4.15 ERA in the second half), Contreras, Buehrle and Garcia followed suit.

The numbers over the five games stretches for the starters:

April 18-22: 5-0, 1.25 ERA, 20 hits, 25 Ks September 9-13: 3-0, 1.75 ERA, 24 hits, 29 Ks

Of course, the Sox won all five games in April but won only three this past week. Why? The biggest difference between these two streaks is in April the Sox had a bullpen. And an offense. In September, not so much.

During the April stretch, the bullpen combined to allow nothing over the 5 games: 0 runs and 7 hits over 9 innings. During this last one they allowed 12 runs over 10.2 innings (that's a 10.13 ERA folks), 16 hits and absorbed two losses. Boone Logan, Brandon McCarthy and Dustin Hermanson pulled a collective Jose Paniagua, allowing a whopping 7 garbage-time runs that forced Ozzie Guillen to use his best relievers, Mike Macdougal and Matt Thornton, on a day they could have rested. Consequently, Macdougal and Thornton were not available the next day when they were truly needed. So in a 3-3 tie Ozzie nauseatingly turned to five relievers, McCarthy, Neal Cotts, David Riske, Logan and Sean Tracey, each worse than the last, in a ninth inning of horrors that put the Indians up for good.

As much as the bullpen has struggled, the offense deserves just as much blame for not getting wins for Vazquez and Buehrle. During the April stretch the Sox pounded out 33 runs, spread evenly over the 5 games. During this September stretch the bats amassed a misleading 27 runs, but didn't seem to get them when they were needed. Sandwiched between a 10- and 9-run game are three games in which the offense made a brief one-inning appearance then went into total hibernation.

Until yesterday's outburst against Joe Saunders, the Sox scored in only 3 of their last 28 innings. With all the talent up and down the line up, it's hard to believe they only scored in 10% of their trips to the plate. Aside from the Tim McCarver adage 'you have to score more than the other guy,' putting runs on the board really boosts the efforts of Sox starting pitchers.

I've noticed these pitchers like to pitch with a lead. They appear more comfortable, put up bunches of goose eggs and cruise to pitch-efficient outings (and less pitches means less bullpen usage) when the Sox offense give them a first or second inning lead.

Last year first inning runs were a predominant theme of the Sox economical offense. This year has been more in the 2003 vein: a lot one day, nothing the next. That's not a good trend as we head into the final two weeks of the season.

Twenty-seven runs over five games should be enough for five wins, but the Sox only cam away with three. Last year close late inning games always went to the Sox thanks to a rock solid bullpen and second nature ability to manufacture important runs. This year, you just get that 'bad feeling' during late- and extra-inning games–the bullpen can't keep 'em off the board and the offense can't scratch out a run without a homer.

The starting pitching is finally coming around. But the wins won't come unless the offense and bullpen come around as well.

mike_d@chitowndailynews.org