The Evolution of Sox Schizophrenia

There was a moment during Sunday afternoon's 6-3, Red Sox loss to Oakland where third baseman Mike Lowell watched yet another Oakland runner trot in to third base. Despite his best, sunglassed intentions, there was no hiding the malaise and frustration on the face of the reigning World Series MVP, emotions that clearly were running through the Boston clubhouse after another sweep on the road, and yet another rough start to a Red Sox road trip.


Why Boston can not win on the road is truly a great mystery. Friday night proved the start of tribulations, but that loss could largely be chalked up to a bad outing from Tim Wakefield, as schizophrenic a starter as there is, through no fault of his own. But the following two games, started by ace Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, coming off a no-hitter, were both pitched competently and competitively.

So what are the Red Sox to make of an inauspicious start to their latest West Coast trip? It's hard to say. Lester was far from perfect Sunday, but he settled down nicely after allowing a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth. In fact, after motoring through a 1-2-3 fifth inning, it was more than a bit surprising that he didn't trot back out to start the sixth. His pitch count had only reached 94, and it's likely that his no-hitter on Monday played heavily in keeping him from going further.

Of course, in the end that wouldn't have mattered, because the Sox only mustered three runs. Therein lies the rub, folks: These Sox are just not hitting on the road.

Consider the final scores from the past three days: 8-3, 3-0, 6-3. Six runs in three games. That's a paltry output for a lineup that's truly crushing the ball back home in the friendly confines of Fenway Park.

Oakland's McAfee Coliseum might have something to do with that, given that at least a handful of deep fly outs across the series may have gone out in a smaller park. Despite nearly 20 fly outs on Saturday night against Justin Duscherer, the Sox just didn't put the ball in play on the ground much, and THAT's what may have killed them more than anything else.

That's all fine to note, as is potential lingering distractions after the no-hitter from Lester, a young, charismatic player whose personal struggles with cancer makes such a feat an instant national story. Still, it doesn't justify six runs in three games, and Boston clearly needs a prompt rebound in Seattle or there will be a lot of sleepless nights ahead (Go ahead. It's alright to groan over that one).

STARTING PITCHING: -
Lester couldn't get past four innings because he twittering around the strike zone and, additionally, was victimized by a sloppy defense. If he'd been more efficient, he clearly would have continued through the sixth. Instead, he was done early, and had already allowed four more runs than he did Monday night. The combination makes for a sure straight -, even if another inning alone might have been enough for a small bump up.

MIDDLE RELIEF: -
Craig Hansen did his job, bringing encouragement for the team's middle relief future in the process. The same can't be said for Javier Lopez, whose horrid seventh was the death knell to any serious hopes of a Boston comeback. Mike Timlin wasn't exactly brilliant of his own accord, but - as he always seems to do - he wriggled his way out of danger. Clearly, more outings like Sunday's for Lopez would make clear one of the team's priorities heading deeper into the summer and toward the trade deadline.

SET-UP RELIEF: N/A
Sigh.

CLOSER: N/A
At this point, Jonathan Papelbon has to be getting antsy ...

LINEUP: -
Three runs behind Jon Lester isn't really enough to be safe, nor would it ever be to back up a second-year starter. That being said, this straight - is more a reflection of three consecutive days of abhorrent offense, punctuated only briefly by splashes of power - David Ortiz's 11th home run this afternoon, for instance - and, finally, a decent outing from Manny Ramirez, whose 3-for-4 looked a lot more like the ManRam everyone recognizes. A lot more of those outputs from both men would go a long way toward righting the ship in Seattle.

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