Red Sox struggles continue, losing streak at five
If prevention really is better than cure, the Boston Red Sox may need another option after just two weeks of the regular season.
It’s no secret that general manager Theo Epstein made a conscious decision to concentrate on pitching and defence in the off-season. Mike Cameron, Marco Scutaro, Adrian Beltre and John Lackey weren’t exactly inconspicuous signings; they were all brought in, in the name of run prevention.
But what happens when the run prevention fails? How do you get out of a slump? And how do you outscore your opponent when you’re not supposed to score many runs?
The run-scoring issue seemed to have been quelled when the Sox beat the Yankees 9-7 in the first game of theseason. But allowing seven runs doesn’t exactly suggest a team which is a defensive power house.
Being swept by the Tampa Bay Rays has left Boston 1-6 at home this season, the first time that has happened since 1932, and are 4-9 overall this season, their worst start in 15 years. Not exactly what the Red Sox front office was expecting.
If you want to be harsh, 1-6 at home for the Red Sox is an embarrassment, a team with a payroll of over $160million shouldn’t be being swept by the Rays who have a payroll of just under $72million.
The Red Sox need key individuals to start performing if they are going to keep up with the pace in the American League East. It starts with the pitching staff who will need to pitch well each and every night.
Currently that isn’t happening with three of the starting five boasting ERAs of over five, and the team ERA stands at 4.58. That in time should improve, but last season the Red Sox were supposed to be deep in pitching and look what happened there.
Josh Beckett is the only starter holding his own but if the Sox are going to compete they’ll need him to be the ace they know he can be and he’ll need to earn that new $17million-a-year contract he signed a day after pitching against the Yankees in the season opener.
If you’re a Red Sox fan it’s not quite time to start panicking yet, after all we are only 13 games into a 164 game season. And once Victor Martinez, David Ortiz and JD Drew start hitting the Sox should be right up there with the Rays and Yankees but what if they don’t start hitting?
Well that is a question the Boston front office probably has to answer to, and just consider this; for a team that’s built to prevent runs the Red Sox currently languish 21st in fielding percentage. It’s time for those Sox to clear the air of uncertainty and starting winning.
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