Perhaps my pessimism doomed them. Perhaps my lack of faith in the bullpen killed the opportunity to win a truly great game. Perhaps, I'm to blame. Or perhaps Julian Tavarez sucks.

Before Tavarez, threw his first pitch, I rolled my eyes and said aloud, "Here we go again," though no one was in the room to hear me.

As I watched the bases load up, I almost cried. The Sox can't go out like this, can they?

I had just witnessed perhaps the best game of the season. Two former Cy Young Award winners dueling for eight innings (Johan Santana has 12 Ks through the first six; Schilling was painting the corners and a pitching masterpiece).

I saw a spectacular defensive display by both teams led by Kevin Youkilis who protected the corners, stretched the doubleplays and was simply masterful at first. J.T. who? Then there was a great catch by Minnesota's Torii Hunter.

I had seen two of baseball's best closers (Twins' Joe Nathan and Boston's Jon Papelbon) come into the game without a save opportunity for two innings each - Papelbon lowered his ERA to an unthinkable 0.28. MSN has a good article in which they get to the bottom of his entrance tunes.

But I digress...

The Star Tribune summed it up, "All pitching, then bam!"

I had the opportunity to watch two struggling players (Jason Varitek and Minnesota's Michael Cuddyer) hit meaningful home runs, tying the exhibition for 11 innings. I watched Alex Gonzalez, raise his average to an acceptable .240 with three hits and what should have been a decisive rbi single in the 12th.

All this only to have Tavarez blow it. A grand slam no less to Jason Kubel. Give me a break. Grant you, the kid has been on a tear lately - batting .375 in the month of June. The grand slam was painful. How was I going to sleep? I couldn't get the nightmare out of my head.

I tried to think of today's game but that didn't work. If you like offense tonight may be in your favor.

Two less than stellar pitchers take the mound, Boston's Matt Clement and Twins Brad Radke. To say that these two pitchers have been struggling is an understatement. Though Clement's last outing, a win versus Detroit, was a good one, his ERA is still a whopping 6.68; his WHIP 1.71. Radke is no better posting a 6.17 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP.

So I tossed and turned wondering how my team can improve its bullpen. Where's Craig Hansen?

A trade looks to be the best possibility. Anyone need a middle reliever (or two) and a backup first baseman? Anyone? Didn't think so.

The good news: the Sox are still in first. The bad news: they are now tied with the Yankees.

I need to catch up on some sleep.

What else:
The Boston Globe's Chris Snow reports that Keith Foulke has developed a bad case of "tendenitis." Apparently, that's what they are calling bad pitching these days. I wonder if Tavarez has "tendenitis" also.

Speaking of Chris Snow, he has accepted a position as director of operations for the Minnesota Wild. Okay so when do I get my front office job?

As if there weren't enough Red Sox news to cover. Everyone wants to know more about that crazy left fielder Manny Ramirez. So much so, that the Boston Herald gives a third person account of an encounter on a plane. In case you're wondering, he's a very nice guy.

I just realized that I was wrong once, well, twice: Corrections: Foulke will not regain his closer role this year, perhaps ever. And, Youkilis is not a defensive liability, though I never said that directly. At the start of the season, who knew?

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