My review after 36 games

So what is going on with the Sox starting pitchers this year. All 5 starters seem to be struggling. This past off seasaon there were alot of talks that the Sox rotation was going to be one of the best in the majors. Currently including Matsuzaka who is on the DL. The ERA average of the 6 starters the Sox have used Beckett, Lester, Masterson, Penny, Wakefield and Dice-K is 6.89. If you take Dice K out of the equation it drops the 5 starters ERA average to 5.71. It seems to be the Sox offensively for the most part are giving the Starters plenty run support it seems early. For example last night in game 1 of a 3 game series with Seattle. Jon Lester was on the mound and had a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the 4th and things just fell apart. I am not worried! I am keeping the faith and still a believer. But to me it just seems like all the starters this year are having 1 inning that is killing them. Yes I know its baseball and thats how it works. It just from start to start we do not know what we are going to see. No one really has been dominant and consistant yet to date.

Moving on... What about Jason Bay? This guy to me is a walk quietly carry big stick kind of guy. I know his numbers were decent when playing for the Pirates. But I will be the first to admit that when the trade went down to send Manny and his drama out of beantown didn't think that Jason Bay would be able to replace offensively what Manny did when he felt like playing and giving the Sox 100%. Bay has been to me so far to date the "clutch" performer for the Sox. His numbers are in the top 10 in most of the offensive categories. With Youk being out with a left oblique problem and being put on the 15 day DL, Bay in my opinion has done a terrific job filling the clean up spot in the order. The biggest disappointment so far in the season offensively and I am sure he is to most of you of Red Sox Nation is David Ortiz. For awhile there I thought he was coming through and starting to see and hit the ball well. He was getting on base and pushing the runners around. Still without a HR 36 games into the season, Sox Manager Terry Francona has finally decided to sit Ortiz with a inability and inconsistancy at the plate. Seems like Big Papi has recovered completely from his hand injury last season. He just hasn't been the same. I have been down to 4 games so far this season and during batting practice Ortiz is having a hard time hitting the ball over the fence. I know in the past even last year after returning from his injury he looked to be hitting more balls over the wall during BP.

So what are the Sox going to do when Dice K and John Smoltz come of the DL? We know the Justin Masterson will return to his reliever role when Dice K comes back. Right now I am guessing when Smoltz begins playin that we will see Brad Penny used in some sort of trade. Whether its to bring in a left hander reliever or to bring in another power bat. What are your thoughts?