21st century MLB is all about the setup man...ya know, the pitcher who gets you through the 7th and 8th innings to your star closer in the 9th. With Julian Tavares gone, Mike Timlin on the DL, & Okijima still burnt out from the 2007 season, the Sox enter the 2nd part of the 2008 season with a huge hole in their bullpen.

Inconsistency of Start Justin Masterson was the problem with last night's loss, with reliever Chris smith also contributing--he walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th. The sox staged one of their best 9th inning rallies, but fell short when Julio Lugo grounded out stranding the tying run 90 feet away from home plate.

The Sox ending interleague play 8-7 this year, going 2-1 against both Cincinnati & Philadelphia and 1-2 against the Cardinals & Diamondbacks. Having Big Papi on the DL most likely helped the Sox adjust early to the lack of the DH at their 9 away games.

Continue reading "THe Setup man...where is he???"

Just what the Sox need headed into a big holiday weekend 4 game series at Yankee Stadium-- a slump! Never was it more odvious that the Sox middle relief is nearly non-existant than during the 7th inning of last night's loss to the Devil Rays when Craig Hansen walked in a run with the bases loaded and nobidy out. Without a doubt the Sox's worst inning of the season saw Delcarmen & Hansen unable to throw a strike or make an out.

The Sox begin a 4 game series at yankee Stadium over the 4th of July weekend; Tonight's game pits Lester 6-3 with a 3.48 ERA against Pettite 9-5 with a 3.98 ERA. Friday afternoon's game pits Darrell Rasner, 4-6, 4.42 against Josh Beckett, 7-5, 3.65; late Saturday afternoon will find Mike Mussina, 10-6, 3.87 pitching against Justin Masterson, 4-2, 3.75. The series wraps up as ESPN's Sunday night game with Joba Chamberlain, 2-2, 2.22 facing the knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, 5-6, 3.72.

Continue reading "A slump headed into Yankee Stadium...."