The Sox have reached bottom. Not only are they 2.5 games behind the New York Yankees, they are also a game back in the wild card behind Chicago and the surprisingly strong Twins.

Losing to the Royals was just about the last straw. The Hartford Courant story which I found via the International News Service in Australia asks if it gets aby worse? Like the rest of the world, I think not.

The Royals are the worst team in baseball, perenially rebuilding for the future. So low in fact, that they could win the remainder of their games and still fail to make the playoffs.

Yet, they can put six runs on the board vs. a potential title contender. Amazing. George Brett must be proud.

If K.C. could find some pitching they could get themselves out of the cellar. The home field is still pretty deep, so it is a little surprising that they have allowed more runs score than any other team in baseball. In fact, the second team on the list (Baltimore) allowed 40 fewer runs.

The hitting isn't that much better. K.C. does get on base more than nine other clubs, but they have no power. Only two players on the roster have double-digit home runs (Mark Teahen and Reggie Sanders). To put it in better perspective: The Royals have a team total of 84 HRs (15 hitters). Manny, Big Papi and Mike Lowell have 85.

Some positives:

Most Valuable Papi continues to crush the ball. If the season were to end today he is the MVP. No one else comes close. DH or not he's the man! ESPN reports Papi's 41st HR, 1,000 career hit can't help BoSox win.

At 30, he still has plenty of time to do damage in the American League, though a Hall of Fame career is doubtful. He'd have to play at least 10 more years and rack up another 200 homers.

Manny Ramirez a true Hall of Famer continues his hitting streak. It now up to 23 games. He has a way to go to beat DiMaggio's long-standing record - a record I believe will never be broken.

And if anyone saw the home run that Wily Mo hit last night, the "dreaded trade" is paying off big time. The Union Leader says "fans get glimpse of awesome potential." Jerry Remy was blown away by that blast. He said he's been coming to that ball park since 1975 and has never seen a ball hit that distance. I believe the tape read 451 ft. Whoa.

Mr. Remy may not have seen them but the Boston Globe says there were 12 home runs hit longer.

All that offense is surely a good thing. But the best thing that happened Tuesday was the return of Dave Wallace to the coaching staff.

What does this mean for Al Nipper? Who cares? Not that I've sat in the dugout, but I have not been impressed with Nipper.

Though we didn't see it last evening, Wallace's return will be a boost to this pitching staff, if not physically then certainly mentally. The biggest benefactor will be Jon Lester.

Lester needs a little help. He can pitchh. There is no doubt. However he continues to pitch around hitters hoping that they'll bite on an outside pitch. In the majors, the hitters are too smart for that. He's got to go after hitters more. He's got to have confidence in his fielders. Heck, he has the benefit of having the best defense in the league behind him. Use it.

Tonight, things should be a little better. Josh Beckett will challenge every hitter with his fastball. This could work against him, but I'd much rather him give up a home run than a walk, weird isn't it?

The stadium's dimensions should work to his favor as well. Unless you are Big Papi or Wily Mo, it's tough to hit a ball out of that park, just ask the Royals.

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