The Boston Red Sox had the right pitcher on the mound last night in Josh Beckett try and put an end to the 3-game losing skid. Unfortunately at the end of the night, it became a 4-game losing streak and one that has put the Red Sox back into second place in the AL East.
I think everyone, including the Red Sox, is at a loss for words right now. For one, they have run into some good pitching lately and aren’t getting too many hits. Of course since they’ve run into this good pitching, the bats have gone cold. They are hitting just .194 since the All-Star break.
So what do the Red Sox need to do? Do they need to go out and get a bat? Or do they need another starting pitcher?
If anything, I think the Red Sox need a bat and one that can play first base. There’s nothing wrong with Youk at all but a bat who can play first will allow Mike Lowell some rest. The starting pitching is just fine even with Wakefield on the DL. If Clay Buchholz can continue to replicate what he did last Friday in Toronto and the combination of John Smoltz/Brad Penny can come back around, they’ll be just fine.
But for now, it’s up to Buchholz to right the ship and pray that the bats get him some run support tonight in the heart of Texas.
Beckett takes the blame [Boston Globe]
Sox’ offense continues to sag [Providence Journal]
Red Sox lose grip on 1st place [Boston Herald]
Silent Sox slip into second [Boston Globe]
Even ‘The Stopper’ can’t halt the Sox’ slide [Providence Journal]
Red Sox staff not so deep now [Boston Herald]
Wakefield placed on DL [Boston Globe]
Red Sox journal: Sox’ chances of acquiring Halladay growing smaller [Providence Journal]
Tim Wakefield back on DL; Clay Buchholz to start [Boston Herald]
Buchholz happy for quick return [Boston Globe]
Wakefield placed on DL because of sore back [Providence Journal]
Shaky first spells doom for Josh Beckett, Red Sox [Boston Herald]
John Henry swings at Yankees Universe [Inside Track]
Buchholz delighted with unexpected call [Providence Journal]
The Jim Rice retrospective — 1975 [Boston Herald]
Buchholz back for a return engagement [RedSox.com]
Epstein, Sox can afford to write off mistakes such as Lugo [Providence Journal]
Fred Lynn happy for old pal [Boston Herald]
Five Things We Learned: The Red Sox’ Division Is Unforgiving of Slumps [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Providence Journal websites.
And if the enemy papers are more your flavor, you can check out the Dallas Morning News and Ft. Worth Star-Telegram websites.
