Boston Red Sox pitchers tied a MLB record with 6 wild pitches in their 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night. Last night’s starter Daisuke Matsuzaka had 4 of them which tied a Red Sox record.
For whatever reason, the Red Sox starting pitchers seem to have one bad inning. We all know Dice-K likes to live on the seat of pants but the act is starting to grow old. He likes to nibble on the corners too much and doesn’t really throw a lot of strikes. He’s been here long enough to know that if you throw 102 pitches in 5 innings, you’re going to be done for the night. In Japan, he’d more than likely have been halfway through his outing.
Somebody really needs to light a fire under them to get them going now that they find themselves in a tie for first place with the hated rivals to the south in the New York Yankees.
It may be time for the David Ortiz era in Boston to end (blasphemous I know but I’m a realist). Even with being dropped down in the lineup, he’s once again struggling. I will admit he did hit one ball good last night but Twins starter Kevin Slowey was able to throw a 89 MPH fastball right by him to strike him out.
Don’t get me wrong, Ortiz has meant the world to this franchise. But when he’s paid to produce and he’s not doing it and not doing it almost 2 months into the season, a change needs to be made. While I’d rather not see the Red Sox trade away some of their young pitching talent, it may be time to use one or two pieces should a slugger to take over for Ortiz become available. Look what happened when they traded Nomar Garciaparra in 2004.
I know a lot of people out there disagree with me on this and that’s okay with me. We all have different opinions of what needs to be done and I’m just throwing my two cents out there.
And one more thing, Jason Bay will be making a lot of money next season no matter where he ends up.
Lastly before the links, former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling will be holding a chat over at 38 Pitches at noon today.
Sox walk on wild side [Boston Globe]
A wild and crazy night for the Sox [Providence Journal]
Dice-K rough again as Sox fall to Twins [Boston Herald]
Kottaras caught off guard by own pitchers [Boston Globe]
Kottaras-Matsuzaka battery sets records it would rather avoid [Providence Journal]
Jason Bay solo shot ends run [Boston Herald]
Bay is ready to rest case [Boston Globe]
Ellsbury making quick work of his hitting streak [Providence Journal]
Jon Lester’s struggles a going concern [Boston Herald]
Catching Dice-K is a challenge for Kottaras [Providence Journal]
Ellsbury riding impressive hit streak [RedSox.com]
Ortiz’ efforts to get it going are growing old [Providence Journal]
Schedule sets up nicely for Kottaras [RedSox.com]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Providence Journal websites.
And if you must check out the enemy papers, head over to the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Pioneer Press websites.
