If the Boston Red Sox even want to make a run towards the 2012 MLB Playoffs, they would need to beat the teams ahead of them in the AL Wildcard standings as well play well against the other teams.
But after another Aaron Cook stinker, it’ll probably take a miracle for it to happen. Cook allowed five runs (four earned) last night as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beat the local nine 5-3.
It’s probably time for the Cook experiment to end. He’s won just one of his last seven starts with one no decision mixed in there as well. And with Daisuke Matsuzaka looking solid in a rehab outing last night what do the Red Sox have to lose.
Neither Dice-K or Cook are under contract with the Red Sox next season and Cook isn’t doing anything special to show he deserves another chance. Dice-K’s tenure in Boston has been a roller coaster ride with lots of ups and downs. I’d also put the chances of him coming back next year at 0%.
But why not give him a chance given the amount of money that was invested him. The Red Sox should try and squeeze every last dollar out of him.
As we’ve come to expect when a starter has a stinkfest on the bump, the bullpen has been there to keep things stable.
Clayton Mortensen was solid in two innings of work while striking out three. Vicente Padilla returned from the disabled list with a clean inning and Alfredo Aceves kept the game close in the 9th.
Against a pitcher in Ervin Santana, who has strugged in his career against the Red Sox, they weren’t able to get much done offensively.
They left Cody Ross at second after his one out double in the 2nd inning. Santana struck out Adrian Gonzalez with runners on first and third in the 3rd inning. They finally got to him in the 6th inning after Ross worked a two out walk and Jarrod Saltalamacchia followed with a two-run homer to cut the deficit to 5-2.
The Red Sox would add another run in the 7th when Scott Podsednik scored off a wild pitch by Jordan Walden. They had runners on first and second in the 8th against Scott Downs only to see Mike Aviles ground out.
The clutch hitting the Red Sox have shown at times this season failed to show up yet again. They left eight men on base and were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. And when you get a craptastic start from your starter and combine that with those statistics, you aren’t going to win ballgames.
In the beginning I said the Red Sox would need to go on a run and beat the teams ahead of them. That was the positive side of thinking. The reality is that this team will not make the playoffs for the third straight year. They last made the playoffs in 2009 when the Angels swept in them in the ALDS.
Something needs to change with this team. I don’t know what that is. But something has to happen. For all the talent this team has, there’s just something missing. And if it doesn’t change over the offseason, we can expect the same thing next year as well.
Yup, we are at that point people.
We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take a look at the overnight links from the media.
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
No traction [boston globe]
Trout’s rookie year goes swimmingly [boston globe]
Pitching change to Niemann is made [boston globe]
A vocal response from Pedroia [boston globe]
Aaron Cook out of sink in loss [boston herald]
Bobby Valentine explains firing [boston herald]
Carl Crawford a sensitive subject [boston herald]
Randy Niemann era off to familiar start as Sox fall to Angels [boston herald]
2012 Sox go against all Johnny Pesky stood for [boston herald]
Holy smokes: Angels beat Sox at Fenway, 5-3 [csn new england]
Cook struggles with Red Sox while Matsuzaka rolls in Pawtucket [csn new england]
Niemann ready to ‘go forward’ with pitching staff [csn new england]
Valentine: Cook’s sinker was working, just wasn’t placed well [csn new england]
First pitch: Time to look ahead in the rotation [csn new england]
Rapid Reaction: Angels 5, Red Sox 3 [espn boston]
Ross: ‘An honor to wear No. 6’ [espn boston]
Who’ll get September call? [espn boston]
Boston Red Sox struggle to figure dismal season out [espn boston]
Bobby Valentine on Randy Niemann: ‘What he brings is what is needed… a stabilizing force’ [full count]
Bobby Valentine is happy Carl Crawford showed fans he’s still ‘a very good player’ [full count]
Closing Time: Red Sox, Aaron Cook have sinking feeling in loss to Angels [full count]
As Felix Doubront, Daisuke Matsuzaka near return, Aaron Cook may lose rotation spot [full count]
Mike Aviles has a pretty good idea when we might see Carl Crawford playing again [full count]
Pedro Ciriaco, Daniel Nava Will Be Relied Upon to Fill Carl Crawford’s Void at Top of Red Sox Lineup [nesn.com]
After latest rehab start, Dice-K nearing return [redsox.com]
‘Rest in peace, No. 6’ — Pesky honored at Fenway [redsox.com]
Ellsbury starts at No. 3 spot for first time in career [redsox.com]
History repeating: Steve Phillips on Bobby Valentine’s ‘familiar’ situation [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 LA Daily News, LA Times and Orange County Register websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother Monkey With a Halo.
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.
photo credit: getty images
