Well after thinking the Sox had finally figured everything out and thinking they had all the confidence in the world they lose their final five games of the home stand. After scoring at will with thirty-one runs in just three games against the Rays. They managed to cross the plate just seven times in the next four games. I don’t care if your pitching is awful or unreal that isn’t going to get the job done. Then when the bats finally come alive for the Sox and Dubrount shuts down the Yankees the bullpen comes in and allows back to back touchdowns in the seventh and eighth inning to blow a 9-0 lead. Fortunately for the Red Sox their Sunday night showdown with the Yankees was postponed so they get a much needed day of rest and avoid a game against the Yankees when they are clearly not playing well.
I have said before that I am not panicked and I am sticking to my word, but I am stunned at what has happened to the Red Sox. They just don’t look like a team right now. The fans don’t have a lick of trust in manager Bobby Valentine, the bullpen has no confidence what so ever and quite frankly it looks like the Sox are still hungover from what blew up in the clubhouse last season. Granted it isn’t an easy thing to put past you, but it’s a new season guys show us you are pissed off about game 162.
The real problem is this team just doesn’t have as many “true” Red Sox players as past years. They still have Lester, Beckett, Ortiz, Pedroia and Youk, but they don’t have the chemistry of prior Sox ball clubs. They don’t have the fire at the end of games that Papelbon brought they don’t have a cowboy up guy in Kevin Millar. Watching the Red Sox celebrate the 100 year anniversary made me realize these Red Sox aren’t like those guys. There is no more Varitek ,no more Wakefield, no more Nomar or Pedro. Not even Manny being Manny. And sadly no more Terry Francona (though it was very nice to see him show up to the anniversary).
This is a new era of Red Sox and I don’t think fans are ready to accept that and they shouldn’t. Guys like Ortiz are trying to lead the new guys, but there is just to much controversy getting in the way. The Sox needed a hot start this season to put away the media concerning a new manager and the great collapse from last season, but they have just created more by starting 4-10. And by the fashion in which they have done so, blowing game after game in the bullpen in heartbreaking fashion.
The Sox have made an interesting decision to skip Bard’s start and go with Lester today in Minnesota. I assume Valentine just wanted to make sure Lester and Beckett stay on schedule so they can get into a groove, but what is to come of Bard now. Is he available for the bullpen? When will he make his next start? These are all questions that Bobby V has to answer and I just don’t feel comfortable with him making the right call. The Sox need to shut everyone up and end this losing streak. They may be heading on the road, but their schedule is much more favorable than the one they just got done with. They have some good pitching match-ups lined up in their favor and they need to exploit them.
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