Two events that are unrelated but maybe shouldn't be

(You can tell football season is sneaking up because of so many posts, right?)

Two unrelated events that maybe should be related:

1) WR David Patton retired today.  You may remember him as one of the 'no-name' wide receivers from the pre-2007 Patriots era -- you know, like back when they won Superbowls.

(This is not saying anything about our new wide receivers.  I love you Randy and Wes.  But bring home the ring!).

2) Wakefield gave up two runs in a relief outing last night.

(How are these connected?  I truly feel like Wakefield is done.  He's contributed a great deal to the Red Sox over the years, but it's time to face facts.  This season he is getting steadily worse instead of better.  It's sad to see, but that's the simple truth of it).

Ignore previous entry. The time has come to panic.

Now I know that I vowed not to panic until the end of June. My logic was sound. My intentions were good. But all that has evaporated with the events of the past week.

First, the Rays swept the Sox at Fenway. At Fenway. In a four-game series. This is normally where we can play. Other parks are generally where we cannot play so well. Plus the weather was cold and the Rays were wearing stupid flappy hats to deal with the cold, including manager Joe Madden. They should get classy tuques, like the Patriots -- although admittedly, they would probably need them maybe once or twice per year.

Now, there was a glimmer of hope in Game 1 against the Rays. Beckett pitched well. It was 1-1 through 8.5, then the game was postponed due to rain. The next day, the game resumed and we went on to lose 3-1. The pitcher to blame was (not surprisingly) Delcarmen, so I guess he hasn't got 'it' back. Sometimes I wonder if he ever had it to begin with. Remember last season when he didn't suck? Did I dream that?

Then everything went pear-shaped. I don't want to think about how badly we lost. But like a good Red Sox fan, I thrive in the face of grimness. So the scores were: 6-5 (we got all of those runs late), 7-1, and 8-2. Yes, really. We were 0-30 with men in scoring position, or something like that (by which I mean we may have been 0-25. It was awful). In fact, we had last scored a man in scoring position on April 15 against the Twins, meaning that we almost went for a week without scoring a man in scoring position.

Now we are playing against the Rangers. They are not very good. In fact, their record is really not that much better than ours (they are 5-7, we are 4-9). But that's not even the bad part. We are in the 5th inning and:

• The Rangers are up 6-2.
• We have allowed 9 stolen bases. That's a record for the Rangers. That ties a record for us going back to 1913.
• Wakefield is a mess --> wasn't he good at some point last year too?
  

So yeah, you know what? It's okay to panic. Go right ahead. Remember last year when I proclaimed that the Red Sox were a freaking disgrace? We have moved into a whole different league of disgrace here. I've even gone so far as to bring out the 'Red Sox annual collapse' tag and it is only April.

'Streaky'

It described the Habs post-all star break, and now, I'm afraid, it is the moniker I have to apply to the Red Sox.

Having looked just fine prior to the current series against the White Sox, I was almost ready to leave PANIC MODE. But no. Then Byrd had a dreadful start (allowing 7 runs in Friday's game) and then Wakefield did not play the way he has been all season yesterday, leading to a 5-1 loss. Again, inconsistent is the best term for our pitching right now.

What's not helping is that suddenly the bats have been silenced as well. The Red Sox (as of the 3rd inning in today's game) have scored 2 runs in the series so far against the White Sox. Pedroia is hitting nothing this week and everyone else seems to be following his lead -- except J.D. Drew who just always has to be contrary.

The Red Sox still have a 2-game lead in the wild card race, but they need to start playing like it's September because in case they don't own calendars, IT'S SEPTEMBER, PEOPLE!

Red Sox keep everything very interesting

Yesterday there was cause for PANIC in Red Sox Nation because Wakefield was scratched from the rotation. Even I was feeling a bit of the panic mode over that one because I feel that we will need him playing well to get us to the post-season.

Then out of nowhere, and I literally mean nowhere, Paul Byrd shows up and shuts out the Blue Jays for 6 innings. Remember him? We signed him last year as a potential add to our pitching staff, then didn't really need him. Apparently he was sitting around until July or something, then got a call and came back, playing some games in the Gulf League (in Fort Myers, FL) and Pawtucket. Suddenly, he goes in for a start and blam. Chalk up a win for him. Oh, and we brought in our new acquisition Billy Wagner as well, who shut them down in the ninth to end the game. Red Sox win 7-0 and sweep the Blue Jays.

I don't really know what to make of the Red Sox pitching situation anymore. Take Tazawa. He shuts down the Yankees - the Yankees! - at Fenway Park. Then gives up 7 runs in two innings to the White Sox in his next start. Beckett, who has been looking very strong all year, begins giving up lousy hits and seems unable to win against power teams. Out of nowhere, Paul Byrd pitches a shutout. I've always said that I like the Red Sox because baseball is rarely boring with them. The pitching over the past week may be a new height of not-boring for this team.

In good news, Wakefield (who has -- strangely enough -- been the most consistent pitcher this season) is getting a cortisone shot tomorrow, so may be back soon.

Much better!

Last night Wakefield had a great outing, allowing only one run in 7 innings. So glad that he is back! And even Daniel Bard did fine (Ramon Ramirez not so much, but okay, we still won). Great night for pitching!

Then Papi got a home run -- his second of the game -- to win it in the bottom of the ninth.

Crazy. Let's hope they can keep it going!

In other news, Gagne of the Year has been released. That's right. No more cringing because it is Brad Penny's night in the rotation. We've also acquired Billy Wagner from the Mets as a semi-closer. Let's hope that he doesn't need a Gagne of the Year nomination...

And for something completely different...

I really must give credit to the Yankees and Red Sox. They rarely make it boring.

In a complete reversal from yesterday's result, today the Red Sox won 14-1. Tazawa was the winning pitcher and allowed no runs in 6 innings. Tomorrow will be Beckett and Sabathia (plus it is on ESPN so I can watch it!).

In the best news of the day, though, Wakefield is scheduled for Wednesday, which was supposed to be Penny's day.

Gagne of the Year

I am hereby inaugurating a new award in baseball. It is called the 'Gagne of the Year.' Awarded to the most recent pitching acquisition who turns out to be a complete disaster. Of course, this award is in honor (?) of Eric Gagne, who was so brutal during the 2007 playoffs that the only safe time to play him was when the Red Sox had a 5-run lead late...that way he would be unable to blow it in the case of a grand slam.

This year's 'Gagne of the Year' goes to Brad Penny. Not only has he pitched quite incompetently late in the season, he capped off his awfulness tonight by conceding 6 runs to the Yankees in the first two innings. Final score: 20-11 (that was 20-11 for the Yankees of course...there was no last-minute comeback here).

Congratulations (?), Brad Penny.

Wakefield pitched tonight in Pawtucket as part of rehab. His comments:

"I feel very comfortable that I can pitch in the big leagues again." He added that he felt well. "Physically, I feel great."

We want -- nay need -- you to come back. Please come back. Please!

Things I didn't think I would say during the baseball season

'That Wakefield is having one great start to his season.'

Seriously, guy is on fire. Tonight against Cleveland he pitched 7 innings and allowed no runs. When did this happen?

'Delcarmen has turned into a reliable middle reliever.'

Also surprising. He is pitching right now and so far looking just fine.

It's all good, don't get me wrong. Just surprising.

Red Sox may have momentum

I stress the 'may.' Because if they do have momentum, then it's a 1-game win streak momentum interrupted by a day off.

However, on Wednesday they faced the As and Wakefield almost had a no-hitter. That is a seriously unexpected development. Tonight they face the Orioles with Brad Penny pitching. Baltimore, unlike us, is red hot so far this season, so let's hope that there is some slight momentum, no matter how slight.