Second only to the Trop in ugliness!But more than anything, this team is not what I expected as a fan. Now, hear me out, because this isn't going to be a whiny, "Go out and pay too much for Adrian Gonzalez/Prince Fielder/Hanley Ramirez/MC Hammer" rant, but a story of polite bewilderment.
This team is better than they are playing. Yes, the injuries are hurting them early (a hernia and cracked ribs? Seriously?), but the Sox of years' past made it past those difficulties - hell, last year's version had Nick Green, the third shortstop on the depth chart, starting 74 games (but the man did have a 0.00 ERA).
Think he's available for the 'pen? Something's gotta give. One home run notwithstanding, David Ortiz is struggling, and JD Drew is positively anemic - even his generally rock-solid OBP is under par. The defense is making stupid mistakes, and the bullpen is downright laughable. No offense to Baltimore, but when the Red Sox have provided a third of their wins thus far, we have a problem.
I don't know what the answer is, and I suspect the players and coaches are just as confused; it seems like the Sox are hardly showing up for some games, and that's way more worrisome than a few slumping sluggers. Maybe Daisuke Matsuzaka's impending return to the rotation will help (did I really just write that?), or perhaps Tim Wakefield's veteran presence will jumpstart the bullpen.
Save us! ... Daisuke?And if not? If all is really lost, and the alarmists are right? Well, I'll be able to get into Fenway a lot more this summer... And you know what else? Last time the Red Sox missed the playoffs (2006, for the newbies), they won the World Series the following year. If that's the tradeoff, count me in.
I think it's too early to get painicked but after last nights start from Beckett I'm more worried about this whole,"The Best Starters in Baseball" tagline. They haven't looked it so far and I'm not exactly sure what's going to save it. Out of the bullpen the most consistant ones have been Delcarmen and Bard. The other guys have been straight up disasters. My thoughts were to shuffle it a bit. Option the two Scotts down to Pawtuckett and bring up two pitchers from there, never have Oki pitch after Wake and someone please do something to cheer Wake up. He didn't deserve the move to the bullpen and he has the right to be angry but still. Why not try to make the most of that?
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