Rays Embarrass Red Sox Lead 3-1

The supremely confident Rays paralyzed Tim Wakefield and the Red Sox tonight pounding their way to an incredibly easy 13-4 drubbing. The Wake start was just as abysmal as expected given his age and inactivity. The Rays took him deep often then ran the bases at will leaving a dazed and subdued Wake, as he got the necessary early hook from Tito. To add to his misery, Wake wrenched his neck on the botched slow roller by Crawford. Never did he look older than when he remained sprawled on the grass after that play. It looked like the old saw, "I have fallen and can't get up".

Following the barrage of home run blasts, the wheels totally fell off for Boston in the agonizing sixth, where they simply could not get an out for the longest time. The array of dribblers, chinkers, bloopers, and well placed grounders assured even the most ardent RS fan that this was a complete mismatch and there was no hope for this game. The main culprit this time was Manny Delcarmen, and he deserved a far better fate.

The inept RS offense was silenced on only 1 hit through the first seven innings by the immortal Andy Sonnanstine and his assortment of breaking pitches. A miracle HR by Kevin Cash was the only blemish. These hurlers are not the Orioles fearsome staff of McNally, Palmer, Flanagan, Cuellar, Dobson, etc. of yore, but heretofore obscure #2 type starters silencing the RS once-vaunted OBP offense.

Give Francona some credit here for FINALLY making some adjustments to the batting order, but Wake's ineptitude rendered them useless. Except for some much better swings late when the verdict was long since decided, what a feeble attack. Believe it or not, Big Papi finally hit a ball hard. Where has that been ?? Tito made a very nice move by inserting Timlin again after his debacle in Game #2, but he is just not capable any more and got cuffed around again. There was also a Sean Casey AB. The question begs, what are Wake, Timlin, and Casey doing on the roster when the manager clearly has no faith at all in them ?? The answer, as always with Tito, loyalty. Granted this threesome is not the main problem, but they just are not capable major league players any more.

On the brink now, maybe just maybe, the RS hurlers will pitch INSIDE to the carefree Rays and re-take this critical part of the plate back. If some pitches wander a little and some get hit, at least they will know the RS pitchers are out there. Given the last three games where they have given up 9 runs or better, it is time to be counted. Don Drysdale would cringe if he were alive watching these batters lean over the plate with no fear of retribution. After thinking about it though, he would be a lot more concerned with his Dodgers also down 3-1 to the Phillies in the Jayvee series.

I have had about enough of B.J. Upton in CF too. He is as gifted, graceful, and talented as anyone, but quit the "Stylin" and play baseball. Straighten out your hat or your head, whichever is cocked to the side. No wonder why Joe Maddon has sat him numerous times this year for behavioral problems.

We have seen this dire situation before and somehow recovered, but I do not expect a complete turnaround this time with the potential last 2 games in Tampa and Beckett obviously hurting. I would not count on getting back to Lester for redemption, but crazier things have happened around here the last few years. There are just so MANY things wrong now and the RS have shown zero resistance. Miracles don't usually happen so often or they would not be called miracles. Red Sox nation is in mortal danger and the Fat Lady is warming up in the bullpen.