Boston's problem's cannot be summed up by saying the pitching staff didn't hold up.Same goes with all the injuries.This team could have over come the bad pitching & the injuries.Every team has injuries.If they had consistantly hit as they were touted to do they could have overcame those injuries.Virtually every major publication had them going to the WS based on their lineup, not their pitching.I think the players read all that stuff & it went to their head.When they started 2-10 in April(When everyone was healthy) nobody seemed too concerned.They knew the hitting would come around & it did.They were beating teams 15-3.They were scoring in double digits 2 or 3 or 4 times a week.
Then came the Allstar break.Adrian,Jacoby,Lester, Ortiz & all the stars smiled for pictures, had a home run derby & told each other how great they are.It all went strait to their heads & shortly thereafter the hitting came to a screeching halt.Lesser teams began shutting them out.10-0 twice.
Yesterday, they had a chance to right the ship.Instead their best pitcher laid an egg, the poor hitting continued & they had their bats handed to them 9-1.To Tampa Bay, whose payroll is about a fifth of Bostons.Somewhere around 43M.Boston once paid 51M just to talk to Matuzaka......The irony of it all.....The Rays are playing like they have a goal.Boston's just showing up,especially on pay days.The Red Sox still might go to the playoffs, but if they don't the fans will be far more upset about it than the players.
I've been a Sox fan since '66 & I feel like I've earned the chance to call 'em as I see 'em.TB & the KC Royals(who have lost 80+games)are both playing with more heart & intensity than the "One of the best lineups ever fielded"Once again, we've been had.GO RAYS!!!!!!!!!!!

The Rays now can be a major player. Not only do they have a 4 game set with Boston, but 7 more games with the Yankees. Far fetched, but a division crown is not out of reach for them either. If the sweep of the Sox is a sign of them heating up, then they are in a position to make a big move. Interesting last 2 weeks.

The Sox are in trouble. Injuries have decimated the staff and the Rays have probably the best overall rotation in the AL East. They have the momentum. I hate to see this happening, but it is no longer the forgone conclusion it was just a week ago that both the Sox and Yanks would make the playoffs.

Redsox need to play better

Go Red Sox