The last time the Boston Red Sox were in the Emerald City things were looking up for them. They were 42-37, 6.5 games out of first place and 1/2 game out of the wild card at the time.
In the two months since, they’ve completely gone downhill. Since the last time they were there, they’ve gone 20-37, are 15 games out of first place and 14 games out of the wild card.
And after their latest loss to the Seattle Mariners, 4-1 this time around, the Red Sox continue to find new ways to lose.
This time around, we can’t blame the starting pitching. Clay Buchholz was good, but he just wasn’t good enough. He was hurt by the defense behind him in the 4th inning when the Mariners got all of their runs.
But before we get to that, let’s look at one thing. The Red Sox actually had a lead after the first inning. The last time the Red Sox had a lead in a game, it was the 9th inning of the first game of the road trip against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Of course that lead was given up when the Angels rallied for two runs in the 9th off of former closer Alfredo Aceves.
They would get their only lead and run of the game in the 1st when Dustin Pedroia reached on a ground rule double with two outs in the inning. Cody Ross followed that with a single and just like that they were in the lead.
In the meantime, Buchholz had allowed one hit over the first three innings, retiring seven straight batters before the 4th. Then things took a turn for the worse.
Franklin Gutierrez started the 4th with an infield single. Buchholz then hit Kyle Seager with a pitch. After two run scoring singles by John Jaso and Justin Smoak, the Red Sox found themselves in a familiar position, trailing in the game. The next batter, Eric Thames, made the first out of the inning when he flew out to Jacoby Ellsbury.
Jaso tagged up on the play and scored on an Ellsbury throwing error that got by catcher Ryan Lavarnway. The error really should have gone to Lavarnway as he let the ball play him instead of going out and getting the ball. A rookie mistake, something he’ll learn from as he gets more time behind the dish.
After a Miguel Olivio single, it looked as though Buchholz would escape the inning on a double play grounder off the bat of Carlos Peguero. Instead, Jose Iglesias booted it and Smoak scored from third to make it 4-1. Iglesias did redeem himself on the next batter making a great play to induce a double play off the bat of Brendan Ryan.
But the rest of the way, the Red Sox wouldn’t get a man past second base. And when you can’t do that, you can’t win ballgames.
Bobby Valentine essentially got a reprieve before the game with owner John Henry and GM Ben Cherington out in Seattle. They both said he’d finish out the season. But honestly what’s the point.
It really seems more and more that one, he doesn’t want to be here anymore. Whether it be his demeanor or smug comments to the media, Valentine looks like he’s already dreaming of being back on the ESPN Baseball Tonight set.
I said this yesterday and I’ll say it again.
If Valentine is not in the plans for 2013, just let him go now. Let Tim Bogar manage out the season while the baseball operations department puts together a list of candidates to manage the team going forward starting next year.
Other than that, there’s not much else to say. This team isn’t fun to watch. And with football in full swing, no one really cares about them anymore anyways.
We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take at look at the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
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No change: Red Sox fall again to Mariners [boston globe]
Buchholz’s effort goes to waste [boston globe]
The gang’s all here [boston globe]
Road debacle continues [boston herald]
Rookies drop the ball [boston herald]
Henry won’t endorse Valentine beyond this season [boston herald]
Valentine still alive, but signs say not for long [boston herald]
Road-killed: Sox drop seventh straight after 4-1 loss to M’s [csn new england]
Atchison goes 1-2-3 in first rehab appearance with PawSox [csn new england]
Fourth inning gets best of Buchholz in otherwise solid outing [csn new england]
Pedroia records 1,000th career hit in loss to Mariners [csn new england]
Carpenter makes Red Sox debut in relief [csn new england]
State of the Sox notebook: September 4, 2012 [csn new england]
Red Sox brass on ‘fact-finding’ mission [espn boston]
Rapid Reaction: Mariners 4, Red Sox 1 [espn boston]
Sox get closer, but still find way to lose [espn boston]
Schilling: ‘Something is horribly broken’ [espn boston]
Physical, Mental Fatigue From Losing Beginning to Wear on Red Sox’ Play During Road Trip [nesn.com]
Shoulder Care Remains Important for Red Sox Pitchers, Hitters Alike During Long Baseball Season [nesn.com]
Is 2013 still realistic for Red Sox to contend? [alex speier – weei.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Everett Herald, Seattle Times and Tacoma News Tribune websites.
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.
photo credit: getty images
