BOSOX BLOW IN CHICAGO

This game was simply pathetic. The Sox go up 4-0 early. Then Miller gives up 3 in the 2nd, then 1 in the 4th. Meanwhile, the Red Sox haven't added to their lead. Miller gives up the lead in the 6th. Then the pen comes in after Miller went 7. The bullpen, Mantei really, gives up two more runs. The Red Sox rally in the 9th, kind of, but the 1 run they score isn't enough.

Renteria, Ortiz, and Ramirez went a combined 0 for 10. This team cannot win games with a gaping hole in the middle of the lineup. We simply don't have the pitching or the bottom of the lineup hitting to do so with any consistency.

This article on RedSox.com really pisses me off. How could it not be time to panic? This team cannot win on the road. This team hasn't won three straight games since the 11th of May when they swept the Oakland Pathetics at Fenway. The team is 4.5 behind Baltimore, 1 ahead of Toronto, and only 2 ahead of the struggling Yankees. So what should happen? What moves can the team make to improve itself?

The team has had a few injuries, but it hasn't been as plagued as the Cubs team that has beaten us twice. Losing Schilling hurts, but there are so many other flaws. Our $10M shortstop isn't doing anything. Our $20M left fielder is in a slump and hasn't hit for average all year. Our $13M Ace hasn't pitched a quality game for us. The bullpen, except for Timlin and Myers, has been consistently bad. The bench is nowhere near as good as last season. Bellhorn and Mueller haven't been producing as much as they did last season. And Millar has been a laughable player all year.

The Red Sox could theoretically make some moves. If they traded for Mike Sweeney, I think they would have a solid 5th hitter and a productive first baseman that isn't a defensive liability. Although the move itself would benefit the team, it wouldn't put us into position to win it all. We'd still lack bullpen pitching and a bench. And we'd have to spend alot on Sweeney. The move might also irritate Francona who seems to be in love with Millar.

The Red Sox seem to have a crop of good prospects that are nearly on the verge of breaking into the majors. Youkilis has already proven he can play. Shoppach has been putting up big numbers in AAA. Ramirez and Pedroia are doing well in AA. In a few years, the Red Sox may have a team with young, developed players. I don't think we should abandon this, trade all our prospects, just for a slim chance at winning it all. The players we already have, perhaps with a new reliever added, will have to do it on their own.

The Man of the Game for Saturday's 7-5 loss is Todd Walker who went 3 for 4 with a triple, 3 runs scored and an RBI.

The Bitch-Goat shall be divided thusly:
Miller: 0.3 - 7 IP, 5 ER
Mantei: 0.4 - IP, ER, Inherited runner scored
Renteria: 0.1 - 0 for 3, 3 LOB
Ramirez: 0.1 - 0 for 4, 2 Ks
Ortiz: 0.1 - 0 for 3

Wakefield is set to blow up Sunday and the Red Sox will be swept in their first ever series at Wrigley.

CUBS GET REVENGE FOR 1918 LOSS

The Cardinals won their rematch of the 2005 World Series earlier this week. The Cubs were the losers the last time the Red Sox won the Series and they won Friday afternoon. The Sox beat their 1912 opponents (now the San Francisco Giants) in their first rematch last season. Boston also won their rematch against their 1915 opponents the Philadelphia Phillies in 1997. The Sox also beat the Dodgers in their first meeting since the 1916 Series. In 2003, the Sox and Pirates played for the first time since the 1903 World Series and the Red Sox won. Weirdly enough, all but one of these rematch series have been on the road.

Anyway, this game was not gonna be easy to win against Massux who improved to 5-0 in his career against us. Nevertheless, allowing 14 runs is simply inexcusable. And what the hell has happened to Bronson Arroyo? He started the season and looked like he could be a solid #2 starter. Now he is on the same undependable level of Tim Wakefield.

The bullpen also continued to sruggle. Francona didn't bring in a dependable pitcher in Timlin until the 8th inning when it was 14-3 in favor of Chicago. Theo has got to go out and get something to help the bullpen. Theoretically it might improve once Schilling returns but God knows if Schilling will even be effective. With Schilling returning, there will be more demand for middle releif. We need to get a guy who can pitch alot of innings and have an ERA under 4.70.

The Man of the Game is Greg Maddux who went 6 and two thirds allowing three runs. He also hit a homerun off John Halama.

Here's the Bitch-Goat:
Arroyo: 0.7 - 4 IP, 7 ER
Halama: 0.3 - 2 IP, 4 ER