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Late Hits
Over the course of the season, Ed Walsh will be scouring the Web to bring the latest news, polls, and commentary about the Boston Red Sox to these pages.

Blog Index
June 21, 2005
No bull, the pen needs help

David Wells played the part of Freddy Krueger. Or was he that big gigantic marshmallow man from "Ghostbusters?" Either way I was scared. Not only that but Alan Embree played a, err, "supporting" role as Jason. With each pitch, I grimaced, hiding my face in a nearby pillow.

"Tell me when it's over."

I thought it was over when the Sox battled back to take the lead in the fifth. Manny Ramirez lead the way with a three-run blast. Then Jason Varitek took another three-run shot deep.

The Boston Herald writes Red Sox win ugly - 'O' covers up in Cleveland." It is more like covers off.

Manny is one of the best hitters of my lifetime, but I see him actually regressing. No not with his bat (although his average is below expectations), - running the bases. This week alone I've got him waiting in the box to see if the ball is going to land fair. Luckily he's been helped by a bounce into the stands or fan interference guaranteeing him the double.

Manny's not fast; he's been troubled by hamstring woes in the past. He can't sit in the box and wait. But I will not and can't blame Manny nor do I want to.

Regardless, in the fifth I felt comfortable. So comfortable, I started preparing for the next morning's wake-up call. I was dreading that 4 a.m. alarm and could use a head start.

But like a wise electrician told me, "No lead is safe to walk away from evah."

I can't fault Mike Myers. Up until last night's appearance, he's been more than the Sox can ask. But it may be time to rethink the rest of the bullpen.

Is it possible that Jason, I mean, Embree is done? He has very little movement on his fastball to begin with and now it's lost velocity. I only saw him hit 95 on the gun once last night and that pitch ended up in the stands.

Embree's not alone. Keith Foulke just doesn't have it anymore either. Perhaps he is better suited in the set-up role. I like Foulke, but he lacks that closer mentality. He's just not mean. I want mean.

Now there is plenty of servicable closers out there for the Sox to consider as the trading deadline approaches. Tampa Bay's Danys Baez is one that comes to mind. I'm not sure how mean he is, but playing for Lou Piniella will make you angry.

Something has got to change soon.

Although Wells, got the win and as the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports the "Sox snapped Indians streak," I think I won this round. At least my prediction was true - each starter did give up three runs (albeit not all) and a late inning home run did prove to be the difference.

Do I know this game or what?

Good news: The Boston Globe reports that Curt Schilling's simulation game went well. Some say he may return before the All Star break. Yippee!

Posted by Ed Walsh at 10:21 AM

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Comments

Typical Red Sox fan...Lighten up..
Sox just beat hottest team in baseball on the road and will sweep this Tribe series.
Wells has had three great starts since swithing his number, he stunbled last night but still got a win...
You know how you straighten out a struggling bullpen? You keep pitching them!!! Embree has been great since the day he arrived here, all pitchers struggle at times....Bad mouth Tito's handling of staff but one thing he does right is stick with the guys who have been there before....Hell no I'm not worried about Foulke...we are two games out with No Schilling and No Pedro...even Payton has been on a tear and soon Kapler will be back...I accept your apology

Posted by Rico
June 21, 2005 11:58 AM

Haaa! The marshmello guy from Ghostbusters! Dead on with that one, Ed.

What a difference Manny can make, though. Without that bat of late, the Sox would be six back.

Posted by Hatter
June 21, 2005 02:40 PM

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