Sox On Life Support

After losing a 3 game series, 2-1 to Tampa, the sox are now 6 and a half games out of first place, going into the final month of the season. You never know when a team is going to catch fire, or when a team is going to go completely cold, but its looking like it's going to get chilly early in September.

The bats have been doing there job most of the time, but its the pitching that's getting to us. Buchholz is as solid as a brick wall, but Lester has been shaky lately, as has Beckett. Wakefield, covering for Matsuzaka who's out with a back problem, is 4-10, and Lackey will give plenty of innings, but make it tough on the offense to keep pace.

Its going to be a rough final month, with the Sox facing the Yankees 6 times, and the Rays 3 more times. Is it doable? Hell yes. I do think it's going to be nearly impossible to pull off, but like I said, you never know what a team is capable of, for better or worse, over a couple series in a row. A lot of baseball's top-notch analysts were down on the Rays early, and I don't know if they'll be able to hold it together. Ride or die, Sox Nation.

This Is Terrible

Don't get me wrong, I'm trying to stay positive about the Sox season, but i just don't see how its going to work. They can't hit, their pitching staff is abysmal, Ellsbury and Beckett just are off the disabled list, but should probably go back, and Pedroia and Varitek still aren't ready.

Bill Hall, filling in at second base for Pedroia, made an error early in the game tonight, giving the Yankees their first run, but made up for it with 2 hits including a solo home run. If he's who we're relying on in this game, we're in trouble.

Beckett just got pulled after 4 2/3 innings, giving up 7 runs, even though just 5 were earned...Still.

Scrap this game right now, and focus on the afternoon game tomorrow. If we don't at least split with the way we're playing, kiss it goodbye.

Could A-Rod Be Any More Of A Bitch?

During Yankees batting practice today, hours before Game 2 of the weekend series with the Red Sox, newly acquired 1B Lance Berkman hit a one-hopped into the shin of Alex Rodriguez. Now, that sucks, but you just gotta build a bridge and get over it.

But no, not A-Rod... If you're A-Rod, you hobble around for a few steps, then collapse to the ground like you were just shot. He rolled around the grass, covering his face, until his knights in shining armor, the training staff, came to aid this damsel in distress. A-Rod wasn't feeling up for a game of baseball later on.

Now look, I understand the Sox lost the game, but if you're a Yankee fan, don't try to tell me that makes up for A-Rod being a pussy. If the Sox take 3 out of 4, they'll be 4 games out of first place. If they split the series, their task will be to pick up one game a week for the rest of the season, and they'll have the AL East lead.

Tomorrow's game will be on ESPN at 8pm EST, with Josh Beckett (3-1, 5.70) facing A.J. Burnett (9-9, 4.93).

Go Sox.

Youkilis To Have Season Ending Surgery

Josh Beckett, Victor Martinez, Mike Lowell, and Jacoby Ellsbury came back from the disabled list in the past week, but one more member has been added to the Walking Wounded. Kevin Youkilis went down the other day with a torn abductor muscle in his right thumb.

The Red Sox are 6 games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees going into a 4-game series hosted in the Bronx. If the Sox don't take at least 3 out of 4, they're in some serious trouble. No matter what happens, the AL East is going to be contested by 2 teams, but if the Sox can have a solid weekend, we might be looking at World War III.

First game tonight, with Clay Buchholz against Javier Vazquez, 7:05 from the Bronx. Go Sox.