Sox Offenders

Not a lot has gone according to the script this season for the Boston Red Sox. “On paper” they looked like they would battle the Yankees for first place in the AL East like Rocky against Apollo Creed. With June quickly slipping into July, the Sox are a handful of games ahead of New York, but they didn’t get there the way most people thought they would.

David Ortiz: Even without Manny in the line-up, you had to pencil Big Papi in for 35-40 homers. When it started getting near Memorial Day and Ortiz still had a big goose egg in the HR column, Red Sox Nation bailed. We heard it all: he was off steroids, he was 70 years old, his wrist was popping. The common theme through it all was to trade away the most prolific clutch hitter Boston has ever seen for some still like Nick Johnson. Then the first homer finally came. Another two-plus weeks went by before he would hit his second. Then three and four came against the dreaded Yanks, and now Ortiz is up to six. Thirty-five might be out of reach but it appears the big man is back.

Tim Wakefield: The elder statesman came back for another year as the constant in the rotation. A fifth starter who would come out every five days without fail and “eat up some innings.” It’s what he’s done for as long as we can remember. When the season started with Beckett struggling, Dice-K on the DL and Lester unable to find the plate, Wake was there to carry the team. Without his nine wins, the Sox would likely be looking up at first place. He has two complete games, took a no-hitter into the 7^th, and has a shot at the All-Star game and 20 wins.

Daisuke Matsuzaka: One win and an 8.23 ERA for the hundred-million-dollar-man. After being named MVP in the WBC for the second time, expectations were high that Dice-K was going to put it all together this year. Just the opposite. He has yet to make it out of the sixth inning and looks like he is completely lost. Thankfully, the Sox did not listen to the cries of the fans to trade away some of their “too much pitching” for a bat or a shortstop. Dice-K is now on the DL for the second time this season. The book says shoulder strain but our eyes tell us it’s a mental health break.

Jason Bay: In 2006 Jason Bay hit 35 homers for a very bad Pittsburg team. He also struck out 156 times. Bay had big shoes to fill coming to play left field after Manny Ramirez. He had a great second half in Boston and picked up right where he left off this season. Bay is on pace to eclipse his career best 35 homers and 109 RBI. He has 18 and 66 already. Like Wake on the pitching side, Bay was one of the players to help carry the offense when Ortiz was struggling.

Of the four players above, the biggest question mark rests on Dice-K. Ortiz has shown us he has something left in the tank. Wake has been as consistent on the mound as Bay has at the plate. Dice-K has shown us nothing, no silver lining. The stint on the DL might get him out of his funk. If not, get used to seeing Smoltz pitching for the Sox. Not a bad guy to have ready to step in.

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