I'm in a state of melancholy. My team's stock has certainly dropped. Like Kevin Millar, I've got to complain about the lineup changes too. Who in the world would hit Millar third? He offers no protection and his hitting below .300. Typically this spot goes to your best hitter. If Millar is the Red Sox' best hitter we have bigger problems than I thought.

Regardless of batting order and other "controversies," the team should have been 8-3 during the roadtrip. The Sox lost two of those games by one run.

Could it be te lack of a bullpen? Not necessarily. Lack of confidence? Maybe.

Terry Francona seems to fear calling the bullpen for help. As a result, the Sox have used 25 pitchers so far this year. The team just added one more. According to the Boston Herald, the Red Sox recently acquired lefty Mike Myers, not the comedian, though this could be a comedy of errors. He's supposed to help out of the bullpen. Why? Because Alan Embree doesn't cut it. They needed a "specialist." Myers did fine in his first outing Saturday, pitching one scoreless inning.

Is Myers truly the answer? He is but a very small piece in the giant jigsaw that is the Boston Red Sox. It's not the pitchers' fault. The bullpen has been poorly managed. Not one player on the team knows his role. Terry Francona has got to find some consistency in the bullpen and the lineup. Boston.com takes a look at some of the manager's decisions.

I'll concede first place. There is no way this team can win the division. With only nine more weeks to go, it would take a virtual miracle to make up the 10 1/2 games separating the Sox and New York.

What about the wild card? There are at least three other teams contending for that spot (Texas, Oakland and Anaheim). One of those teams will win the AL West. The end of August and the first week of September will decide Boston's fate. Anaheim, Texas and Oakland, it will be interesting.

I'm getting too far ahead of myself. Boston needs to win lots more before those matchups take place.

It been a whole five days since we last faced Tampa Bay. Has anything changed? Not really. The team is performing much the same as it was. According to TBO.com Piniella discusses his expectations with the team. The St. Petersburg Times also writes about the team meeting.

The meeting seems to have energized the team. Maybe next year, I'll fear them. Today they are just another sub-.500 team ruining Boston's chances. Foxsports previews today's game.

A plea: Now that the Red Sox have returned home, I would ask fans not to blame the recent trading decisions on the new players. Show your disdain towards the manager, Terry Francona or Theo Epstein, if anyone. Bostondirtdogs.com thinks the skipper has lost control of the ship. There is also speculation that New York's GM, Brian Cashman may be interested in Boston's position at the end of his tenure with the Yankees, according to the New York Post.

Hmm, I'll stick with Theo.

Reader comments: Do you feel the Red Sox can still make it to the playoffs?

E-mail this entry to a friend