With Wakefield we wonder ...

How the heck does this guy do it? His next start will mark the most by any pitcher in Red Sox history. Three hundred and eighty-three (think about this number - 383) times he has been given the ball and I sincerely think he has been as prepared as he possibly could be each and every time. Obviously, there have been times when he has been pretty bad but it was not because he did not do what he was supposed to in between starts. Can you say that about Pedro (leaving early at the All Star break to go home), Clemens (if you take steroids you still have to actually workout -- the Duke's "twilight" comment motivated him to break the law)or any other starting pitcher in Sox history?

Wake has always been the consumate professional and great teammate. In 1999, he was asked to be the closer and did not complain. He was left off the World Series roster in 2007 and did not complain when a young Jon Lester took his start in the clinching game. He has also been heavily involved in charity work during his fifeteen seasons in Boston.

Personally, my favorite Wake moment was during the 2004 ALCS versus the Yankees. With the Sox down two games to none and the Bombers absolutely crushing the Sox on their way to a seemingly insurmountable three games to none lead, Wakefield volunteered to eat up some innings so the bull pen could get some much needed rest. He was the first guy to believe the team could come back. Wake went out there and pitched four innings in a 19-8 ALCS game so guys like Curtis Leskanic, Mike Timlin, Alan Embree, Bronson Arroyo and Keith Foulke could pitch meaningful innings in games four, five, six and seven. It does not matter that the one game he started in the World Series he got crushed (Sox still won), his contributions may have been bigger than Pedro's game four performance, the bloody sock and Derek Lowe's game seven masterpiece on two days rest. Imagine the dug out or locker room during and after Game 3. I guarantee you at least a half dozen teammates either said it to themselves or out loud -- "Tim Wakefield is sacrificing his own interests for those of the team" or --- "Wake is out there taking blows so we have a shot at this thing". Talk about inspirational.

Congratulations to Tim Wakefield on his durability, talent and determination in reaching this team record. You have certainly paid your dues and are most deserving for being a great teammate and competitor.

Road worthy and waiting for Smoltz

Great start to the nine game road trip. Both games in D.C. have featured some timely hitting and the steady bull pen doing its job. The team is on a definite roll. Good to see the road record climb above .500 Of course the Nationals have relinquished their home field advantage to the throngs of Sox fans that have invaded D.C.

Tomorrow night is the debut of John Smoltz in a Red Sox uniform. NESN has been over hyping this "event" for the past couple of weeks. While I am excited to see the man who is not Dice-K toe the rubber, I cannot help but remain realistic. Smoltz has not pitched in the majors in over a year. Let us not expect too much. I'll take five innings, two runs and then turn it over to the pen. The reason the guy signed with the Sox is to pitch in October and make us not miss Curt Schilling in those spots.

The Off day

Am I a little off on this off day or ...

... is Heidi Watney better than Hazel Mae? There is something about her.

... is Eck better than Remy in the booth? I know RemDawg is going through some serious health issues but I do enjoy watching a game and not hearing about his web site, hot dogs and presidency of Red Sox Nation.

... is Big Papi looking like he is getting out of his doldrums? That two run opposite field bomb through a stiff wind versus Atlanta was impressive.

... does Ramon Ramirez look like he needs a little time away from "hold" opportunities? Opposing hitters have been teeing off on him of late.

... is Terry Francona the perfect manager for this team? He has handled the team well during crisis (Manny, Papi's slump, etc.), he seems to always say the right thing and he hardly ever gets out managed during a game.

... are the Red Sox almost unbeatable during home stands? The Friendly Fenway advantage is certainly hard to beat.

... do those road gray uniform tops need to burned in favor of the alternate blue tops? Those things look too much like the Yankee road jerseys.

... do the Boston Red Sox look like the favorites to win the 2009 World Series?

Sayonara

There has been a lot of talk recently throughout Red Sox Nation concerning what to do with six healthy starting pitchers. As John Smoltz joins the rotation next week, Terry Francona and John Farrell have to decide what to do. Here's the obvious; Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and Tim Wakefield are not going anywhere. Brad Penny has been mentioned in trade talks but has responded by being spectacular in his last two starts. He answered many people's questions.

Dice-K has not responded well. Last night, he attacked the strike zone early and got rocked. Then he decided to try and in Farrell's words became too "fine". Even last year's 18-3 mark was not without its high wire act; pitching in and out of trouble. Dice-K has not provided the answers the Nation is looking for. Not to digress but one needs to ask how was it that he was so dominant in the World Baseball Classic for his home country of Japan?

Options? As part of the Scott Boras negotiated contract, Dice-K cannot be sent to the minors without the player's approval. He also possesses the only no trade clause on the team. Francona mentioned this nugget in a recent interview, it takes He Who Is Not Fooling Anyone up to 45 minutes to get ready to pitch. I guess the bull pen is out of the question. A six man rotation would limit Beckett and Lester to roughly six or seven less starts this year. Do we really want Dice-K to start (Sox are 2-5 when he does) 12 games that would normally go to Beckett and Lester? As Whitney Houston once said; "Hell to the no!!"

So what can be done? It comes down to effectiveness. The other 25 guys on the roster, management, coaches and fans deserve to from the team to be given the best opportunity to make the playoffs. Right now, this guy is not it. Maybe, someone comes up with an oblique/shoulder/elbow/buttocks strain and could use a skip in the rotation. Maybe the 42 year old Smoltz breaks down. Even if any of this happens, wouldn't Clay Buchholz be a better option? He has been tearing up the Triple A International League.

Dice-K does not deserve another start. The Red Sox have better options presently on the roster and in the minors. My guess is the team throws him on the DL with some sort of mystery ailment for two weeks. After that, is anyone's guess.

That's eight!

Eight straight versus the Yanks. The New Yorkers look helpless right now against the Sox. The biggest difference between the two teams is the bull pen. Girardi has few options getting to Rivera while the Sox have at least five reliable guys to hand the ball to Papelbon.

A couple of observations:

• Penny threw very well tonight, as did CC.
• Papi looks more comfortable.
• Nick Green's play on Jeter's grounder in the 9th was huge. Lugo is sinking deeper and deeper.
• The Sox seem far more athletic than the Yanks
• The Rays seem far more athletic than the Sox
• Teixiera is a very good player.
• I admit it now -- Baldelli was a good signing
• I'm not sure Girardi knows what he is doing all the time
• Who is out of the rotation if Smoltz is pitching next week? Certainly not Beckett or Lester. Wakefield has been great this year. We have too many invested in Dice-K. Penny is starting throw well. Six man rotation?