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?
  

What the heck, Eck?

Did I hear Dennis Eckersley correctly tonight. Youk gets hit by a pitch and after the replay Eck reads his lips for the viewers. I half expected a big hook to come out and relieve us of our new color analyst. It will be interesting to see if NESN does anything.

BTW -- Lugo's inability to ATTEMPT to complete the back end of a double play in the fourth led to three runs. Unbelievable! All he needed to do was sidestep the bag and make a throw. Instead he stands flat footed and tosses a lazy ball to first that the runner barely beats. What was he thinking? Arrgghhhhh.

Nick Green, really?

Are you kidding me? I find it hard to believe that the Red Sox do not have a better option at shortstop than Nick Green. Green is a journeyman utility infielder. Shortstop is the position that he struggles with the most. How can the franchise not have a major league ready defensive shortstop in the minor league system? To me, that throw today sealed his fate.

Julio Lugo is not the answer either. Defensively, he is also a liability. The recent leg injury has taken his most desirable asset -- his speed and quickness.

The timetable for Jed Lowrie's return is still questionable. Can the Sox wait this out?

Here's a thought. Toronto comes to town on Tuesday. They have one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball that is currently buried behind the middle infield of Marco Scutaro and Aaron Hill. John MacDonald will make plays. Exactly what the Sox need. I understand Toronto will be reluctant to trade within the division especially if it helps the team that it is being chased by.

I was a big fan of Alex Gonzalez. The offense can suffer with a solid defensive shortstop. I know this much; Green and Lugo are not the answer, Lowrie is a question mark and we need help.

BayWatch

The good news is Jason Bay's production this year has come at the most opportune time for the Sox. With Ortiz struggling and Youkilis out, Bay has carried the Sox. However, this production will come at a price.

Bay's contract is up at the end of this year. Each timely three run homer adds to his asking price. I am pleading to Theo and his bosses to sign this guy ASAP. Bay seems to be the consummate teammate and professional athlete; unassuming, hard working, selfless and willing to play every day. After our former left fielder's drama filled departure last year and suspension announcement this week, I have an even greater appreciation for our current left fielder.

The longer we wait to sign this guy the more it may cost. Give Bay his contract now. He has proven to be a great fit in Boston.

#34 after 25 games

David Ortiz: Stats after 25 games = .208 batting average (20 hits in 96 at bats), 7 doubles, 1 triple, 10 runs scored, 12 runs batted in and 0 home runs.

This is the longest home run drought in Papi's career. The cause for these struggles can be any number of different factors; old age, wrist, no Manny, trying too hard. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that Big Papi is not the hitter he once was. Take a look at his strikeout to walk ratio. This year he has walked 12 times and strikeout nearly twice as many (23). In past years with the Sox Ortiz has managed this ratio far better.

2008 -- 70 BB/ 74K

2007 -- 111/103

2006 -- 119/117

2005 -- 102/124

2004 -- 75/133

2003 -- 58/83

These numbers make it clear that he is not comfortable in the batter's box. A big part of this is the fact that Ortiz is not catching up to fastballs. The inability to hit a pitcher's fastball causes a player to try and gear up for that pitch. When the pitcher throws something off speed, Ortiz is so out in front and off balance he has no chance in driving the baseball.

Terry Francona recently stated that the Sox line up is set. With the way Youkilis and Bay are swinging the bat a change makes sense. Francona is known as a loyal manager to his veteran players. At this pace, sooner or later a change will have to come.