I was afraid this was going to happen.
How does it feel, Theo? You’ve now assembled a roster that features three first basemen, three starters that can’t pitch out of the fifth, and a bullpen that is totally worn out. You have a DH (David Ortiz) who hasn’t had so much as a hit in the last 16 at bats and looks lost once again at the plate, a third baseman (Mike Lowell) who can still hit and field but cannot run, and a catcher (Jason Varitek) who looks like he’s done as well.
Maybe Casey Kotchman has some value, but why on God’s green earth you acquired yet another first baseman at the trading deadline to take up a valuable roster spot is beyond me.
I saw this all coming. Sure, they beat up on the Baltimore Orioles last weekend, but heck, the O’s have one of the worst pitching staffs in all of baseball. Against Tampa Bay earlier this week, the Red Sox looked tired, old, and lifeless next to the spunky, athletic, and exciting Rays.
So it’s no surprise they got the tar kicked out of them tonight by the Bronx Bombers. And, as I said earlier this week, it wouldn’t surprise me if come Sunday they’re behind those damned Rays in the A.L. East and the A.L. Wild Card standings.
Make no mistake about it – this is a team in deep trouble. With only two dependable starters you can’t be rolling your bullpen in August and September as you’ve been doing since April – they just can’t handle the load. Ortiz, Varitek, and Kotchman are going to have to start spending some significant time on the pine. Put Victor Martinez full-time at first, Kevin Youkilis full-time at third, and let Lowell and Ortiz platoon at DH.
And, for gawdsakes, get some young pitchers up who can at least go six innings until Tim Wakefield and Daisuke Matsuzaka are well enough to pitch again.
Sigh. This is going to be one long weekend.
Dude…check your email. I sent photos of the tree that came down on the deck and news about Willy. Be sure to let Tracey know.
Comment by Jana — August 7, 2009 @ 3:32 am
I think you may be a little too pessimistic, GWS, particularly because there’s a decent chance the Sox could leave NY with a split. I won’t dispute they’re not playing well or that they’re old, though.
Comment by Rob — August 7, 2009 @ 7:42 am
I agree shank,
Victor Martinez was a good trade.
I think smoltzi’s all done.
Cubby
Comment by Ronald Myerow — August 7, 2009 @ 5:28 pm
Quite the Nostradamus I am, eh? I never thought the Rays would drop 2 of 3 to the Mariners over the weekend – otherwise the Sox would have been behind in the Wild card race. That was as pathetic a perforance as I’ve seen from the BoSox in a long time. They looked and played like crap, and that goes for everyone – including Terry Fran-coma who looked as lost as his team did last week.
Comment by The Great White Shank — August 10, 2009 @ 9:46 pm