Sadly, I Saw This Coming
Very seldom do I have thoughts and intuitions like I had before last nights game. But, ever since Schilling came back up to the team, I haven’t been convinced that he was ready. Even from the bullpen, he never really impressed me or provided a level of comfort with him on the mound— very different from last year. Last night, against a team that’s lossed enough to be in last place for this year and next, he was pitiful. Unfortunately, I’m not sure he will improve that much in the near future.
The Sox needed that series. To lose a series to a last place team that you should be beating up on, has to be a bit demoralizing. Struggling as badly as the Sox did on a 4-6 road trip is going to be tough to turn around. Luckily, we’re headed to the safe confines of Fenway Park and will certainly need to take up several notches. The Yankees are within spitting distance, and it’s our own fault. Schilling is not ready.
In my honest opinion, I’d like to see Papelbon move into the rotation, he has the lowest ERA by far of the starting 5. I know he’s young and inexperienced, but some time that’s the greatest advantage one can have. We didn’t do any big blockbuster trades, and that’s fine. I think we can have a run with the team we have if we use the players correctly. Tito, it’s time to start thinking about how big you want your next contract, and get to work.
Instead of bells and whistles, Schilling mainly heard the crack of the Kansas City bats. He allowed nine hits and six earned runs over five innings as the Red Sox lost 7-4 and headed home with just a 2 1/2-game lead over the Yankees in the American League East.