I’m Back, But Same Old Road Sox

Well, It’s been a month since I’ve been in here and it was a much needed respite from things. My last post was about J.D. Drew and how he needed to step up in David Ortiz’ absence from the Red Sox lineup. I’m glad to say that I was wrong about Drew. He really does have a passion for the game. I still don’t like him or his contract but I must admit that he has sacked up big time in June and helped this team immensely. He now looks like someone that can actually help this team win. As for the rest of the team, it’s the same old story: dominant at home and clueless on the road. 19-25 away from Fenway and looking worse each series. I actually thought they were coming out of this road coma on the last road trip through Cincinnati and Philly where they won both series on a 4-2 trip. But now it’s back to the same suck we saw in May and early June. When they pitch they don’t hit, when they hit they don’t pitch. Losing a series this past weekend to the Astros? That ain’t the mark of a team destined for a championship. It is the mark of mediocrity and it is maddening. Right now they are 1-3 on this current 10-game trip (their third 10-gamer in four trips: that’s another blog piece altogether, which I’ll get to) and headed for a disaster the rest of the way. If they lose to Tampa tonight they will get swept here because they never beat Scott Kazmir and then it’s on to New York minus their number one Yankee killer, Ortiz. Can’t see them winning more than 2 there and the way they are playing now they will be lucky to get one. Tampa isn’t going away in this division and the Red Sox look old and slow next to these guys away from Fenway. I fear this Sox team is built like those of the 1970’s in that they are built to hit in Fenway and nowhere else. They are like the Rockies of the 1990’s. All good at home and all crap on the road. Somebody better light a fire under someone’s ass or the silde down the AL East pole will continue. Next up in the blog: My thoughts on MLB scheduling and the disgrace that is interleague play.