I don't remember if it was Garciaparra or Boone who jinxed Pap with one of those, "A mistake over the plate could tie the game" comments, but as soon as they said it, I knew the next pitch was going out of the yard.
Pap, you either need to do less commercials and work on restoring your arm strength... -94 mph fastballs just don't cut it against the Yankees- or you need to have that cannon from your commercial surgically attached permanently.
Dice-man... your ERA is now above 7. Do you think you could maybe pitch past the first inning without giving up 4 or 5 runs? Starting you every fifth day is more of a gamble than Wake's knuckleball fluttering or not that day.
I don't know what to say about this team right now. They've got heart. That's obvious. Just the same, they also find new ways to lose every day. When the pitching is good, the offense is attrocious. When the pitching is bad, and the offense picks up the slack, the bull pen goes and completely cuts the line. Every time we think the Sox have figured things out and are hitting their stride, they lose a game they should have won, and proceed to lose the next two or three as if for good measure. That's not good. That's horrible. That's ridiculous. I know its early, but by the end of May the Sox could be Double Digits out of the Wild Card, nevermind 1st place.
The season is 1/4 the way over. Remember the Rays, Yankees, Red Sox mantra I kept repeating? Well now its Rays, Yankees, Blue Jays! Red Sox... I swear to the baseball gods that if the Orioles pass the Sox at any point this season, I will write hate mail to every Sox pitcher with an ERA above 5.00, and every batter with an average below .250
I will write hate novels to Tim Bogar for every runner he waives home. How many runs do we need to lose at the plate this year? I've counted 4 so far.
I know the Sox are missing Ellsbury and Cameron, but that's no excuse. This team has the talent, it just continually allows mental errors to result in losses.
So, sitting at 19-20, in 4th place in the AL East, and looking forward to games with the Twins, Rays, and Phillies... I think we can forget about Adrian Gonzalez at the trade deadline. Hell, his team is actually winning the 3-1 games that the Sox were supposed to be built for. In fact, at the rate this team is going, it wouldn't be a surprise if it ended up being Sellers instead of Buyers at the deadline. Don't ask who the hell we have that anyone else would take the contract of.
So, going forward with the other 3/4 of the season...
Beckett, you better have your head screwed on straight for this game against Sabathia tonight. You're supposed to be the Ace of this staff. You're the stopper in the rotation. Get angry and pitch.
Papelbon, go watch tape of A-Rod crushing your pitch last night so that you remember how awful it feels, becuase apparently you've built a tolerance for the Angel's tape of the ALDS last year. Find your splitter. Use, your splitter. Save your fast ball for the high heat that batters will hopelessly flail under after changing their eye level from splits low in the zone to stinky cheese high and tight. If that doesn't work, find that cannon from your commercial.
Papi, I'm glad you're done being sloppy. Your swings actually have authority again. That is a better sign than your recent home run production. Keep it up.
Beltre, For the love of Sox Nation just wear your glasses every time you bat. You'd probably be batting over .400 if you didn't squint every time you're at the plate.
All things considered, this team can still make a run, but that's only if they survive the end of this month. If we're 10 games back come June, how many days will it be before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training?
God I hope the Celtics make the Finals...
