Monday Red Sox Mediocrity – 9/3

Boston Red Sox's Daisuke Matsuzaka, center, of Japan, waits to be relieved by Andrew Miller after being removed by manager Bobby Valentine in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. Matsuzaka gave up six runs in 4 2/3 innings.

At this point, there’s not much we can say about the 2012 Boston Red Sox. Right now they stink worse than when your dog farts and then looks around like nothing happened only for you to tell “that’s gross”.

Part of the problem for the Red Sox has been the starting pitching as of late. They’ve been putting the team in holes that they haven’t been able to climb out of.

That was the case yesterday afternoon in Oakland as Daisuke Matsuzaka was roughed early as the Oakland A’s went on to a 6-2 win.

Matsuzaka was tagged for six runs on seven hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings. At that point, it was a little too late for the Red Sox against Brett Anderson.

The bullpen was solid after Dice-K’s suckage.

Andrew Miller, Craig Breslow, Junichi Tazawa and Mark Melancon combined to throw 4 1/3 shutout innings. They allowed one hit (Melancon), walked one (Miller) and struck out six (Miller had 2, Breslow had 2 and Tazawa had 2).

The lone bright on offense was Dustin Pedroia who had three of Boston’s six hits on the night. Cody Ross and Mauro Gomez knocked in the only runs of the game.

It’s obvious the trade has taken a toll on this team. They look so lost that even an updated GPS might not get them back on the right track.

To me, their needs to be a change in leadership. And by that, I mean Bobby Valentine.

He looks like he’s been defeated and while we all may not like him, it’s tough to see. The Red Sox would be better served letting someone else manage this debacle and let Valentine go on his merry way. If he’s not in the cards for the 2013 season, it’s the right thing to do.

They should give Tim Bogar a chance to show what he can do. He’ll probably be on the short list of teams in the offseason so why not give him a chance here in Boston.

At this point, it can’t hurt.

Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the overnight and day if you’re on the home page.

Clay Buchholz (L), Jason Vargas (R)

After being swept for the second straight series, this time by the Oakland A’s, the Boston Red Sox finish their nine-game west coast road trip. They’ll look to get back on track this afternoon in the first game of a three-set with the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Mariners television market, you can catch the game on ROOT Sports. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Clay Buchholz looks to put an end to the slide in his 24th start of 2012. In his previous 23 starts, Buchholz is 11-4 with a 4.50 ERA. He hasn’t faced the Mariners since 2010 when he picked up the win after allowing one run in seven innings of work. His two career starts against the Mariners have come at Safeco Field where he is 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA (4 ER/12.1 IP).

Jason Vargas makes his 29th start of 2012 for the suddenly improved Mariners. In his 28 previous starts, Vargas is 13-9 with a 3.90 ERA. He’s made two starts against the visiting nine this season and is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA (6 ER/14 IP). Vargas has made five career starts against the Red Sox and is 1-2 with a 3.51 ERA.

Here are today’s lineups:

62-73		65-70
1. Pedro Ciriaco	3B	1. Dustin Ackley	2B
2. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	2. Franklin Gutierrez	CF
3. Dustin Pedroia	2B	3. Kyle Seager	3B
4. Cody Ross	RF	4. John Jaso	DH
5. Mauro Gomez	1B	5. Justin Smoak	1B
6. Ryan Lavarnway	C	6. Eric Thames	RF
7. Mike Aviles	DH	7. Miguel Olivo	C
8. Ryan Kalish	LF	8. Carlos Peguero	LF
9. Jose Iglesias	SS	9. Brendan Ryan	SS
Clay Buchholz	SP	Jason Vargas	SP