RedSoxRally

If you feel like it go back and watch the replay of yesterday's game. Valentine is suited up but I'm pretty sure he didn't take the hill. Our bullpen thinks they are pitching slow-pitch softball and are giving up runs like they're going out of style. Aside from players accepting some of the blame, the front office moves are next in line for what they didn't do after the departures of Francona and Epstien.

I have to agree with one person who mentioned there are probably deeper issues within this organization, but on the field, the bullpen is has zero idea about pitching with a lead. This has been a reoccurring theme during their 7-20 stretch to end the season on and actually before that. It's one thing for a team to go on a big run to steal a lead in a game....normally those runs happen on a basketball court which is much faster pace. Today Boston exploded out to a 9-0 lead which was pretty damn good against the Yankees. However the Yankees went on a 15-0 run in route to a laugher late. For major league pitchers, that kind of performance won't escape anybody's memory anytime soon....and that's not a compliment. Bobby V. wears a uniform but it's not him who has to physically compete. Yes he pull Doubront, as many have pointed out, too early. He can't bat, pitch or play the field and help his guys do their jobs. It's a good thing the season is 162 games. We're down to 148 left and ample time to make a move, but blowing 8 run leads with 3 innings left in games won't allow the Red Sox make a serious push for a postseason birth. Injuries have hurt Boston up to this point but this team is going to have to figure something out. Speaking of bullpen issues, remember Boston's run from 2004-2007? The beautiful noise of the Red Sox relievers as they carefully orchestrated their own band for Fenway and TV viewers to hear gave the impression the players then were up for action at anytime. These guys aren't walking back through that door anytime soon or ever but it is fun to think about.

Off to a 4-10 start, Red Sox Nation (myself included) are almost at a loss for words. After today's 9-0 lead turned into a 15-9 loss to the Yankees, reading the posts on where the blame is placed has been worthy of a good read. Boston's 2012 start is consequently is nothing more than a continuation of the the way the 2011 season ended....only with a new manager and GM. Valentine isn't doing himself any favors at all with his public comments about his players. This is a team whose trust is scrambled and uncertain. Ellsbury's separated shoulder hurts a ton and Crawford's injury setback thins out the outfield depth to where it's outfield by committee. Honestly, once last season was underway, I got the impression Crawford really didn't want to be in Boston. The front office has had their chances to make offseason moves and failed to do so. Francona's departure, Paplebon not resigned, Scutaro gone to Colorado, Redick in Oakland, Varitek retiring has left the Red Sox depleted. With key pieces gone, somewhere the organization has to dig deep and move on. Yes Francona lost his player in the clubhouse, but Valentine has questioned and called out select players only hurt this continuation of last season. The batting lineup can go toe to toe with any team in the majors as far as offense is concerned, but unfortunately when winning henges on how far starting pitching can go. When starting pitching can barely last 5 to 6 innings, a bullpen who couldn't play their way out of a wet paper bag have done their best to drown the team. Once the bullpen takes over, it's hard not to cringe on every pitch. Today, Valentine pulled Doubront after allowing a homerun to Texieria in the 6th inning. No wonder many are upset with the current manager, he doesn't know when to allow his pitchers to carry on. Today was hard to watch. At one point I had to ask myself if I was really seeing this. I've never seen a Red Sox team with no leadership from anywhere. When that happens, lack of leadership leads to mistrust. Ultimately as the season goes on, the players will be responsible for future outcomes. Playing in the American League East is a rough gauntlet where sleepwalking starts can have a team canned by the All-Star Break. This isn't 2011 where a 2-12 start is a laugh and giggle gesture. Making a habit of digging deep holes and expecting to come out on top all the time will bit a team later on. Well the biting has started and if things don't turn around soon, we'll be watching consecutive postseasons that don't include the Boston Red Sox.

This is absolutely embarrassing. Our pitching staff has been atrocious from starters to the whole bullpen from the get-go. Boston can slug games out with the best in baseball but my god, at some point pitching has to do their part. It's one thing for Lester, Beckett, Buchholz, Doubront and Bard to do just enough to get through 3, 4 or 5 innings. Once the bullpen is called on, all bets are off. From last year to right now, you could go look in the boxscore of a lot of Red Sox games and see they could put up 14 runs. The problem came when you looked on the opposing team's boxscore and noticed how they scored 15 or more. Now just 13 games in and Red Sox pitching has given up an MLB leading 24 homeruns with an ERA well over 6.00. Today we lead 9-0 until Tex broke through with a homerun. The Yankees struck with 7 more in the 7th and what was once a game well in hand is now a game where Boston is trying tooth and nail just to survive. Still the Sox cling to a 1 run lead and are in position to leave with a win. Exactly where is the problem? Have our pitching completely forgot how to pitch? Is Salty a terrible game manager or is Valentine a flop? Either way if a pitching staff struggles to keep their heads above the water, good hitting alone won't be enough to reach the postseason.