Smoke on the Horizon

There are probably very few Sox fans out there who aren’t a little concerned with the team right about now.

With a brutal 15-3 blowout against Cleveland last night, Boston has managed to drop 5 of their last 7 games, losing the past two series against Toronto and Cleveland. Wakefield has suffered two of those losses, again getting no run support from his anemic offense, and Beckett only needed one inning to set a new personal record by giving up his first-ever grand slam.

Fans are probably not so concerned with pitching, though. Even though he gave up nine runs, Beckett still managed to strike out six Indians in his 3.2 innings of work last night. Wakefield has been pitching the ball very well, and its only a matter of time before his new personal catcher Josh Bard figures out how to keep that knuckleball from the backstop every other pitch. Schilling has looked every bit his 2004 self, and then some. Clement helped salvage the series in Toronto with final game win, and with Wells on the DL (and hopefully on his way out of Boston for good), we just may have a better chance of landing Clemens for half a season.

It’s the offense that’s been offensive lately. While everyone knows new shortstop Alex Gonzalez was more a defensive acquisition than offensive one, his .200 batting average so far is making Alex Cora look like a viable option. And believe me, its hard work to make Sox fans yearn to see Cora in the lineup.

There’s been an even bigger black hole of offensive production from the center field spot ever since Crisp went down with a broken finger. Sox have tried platoons of Adam Stern, Dustan Mohr, and more recently, Willie Harris, and gotten a pitiful .143 average between the three of them for their efforts. Coco’s return date of May 15 can’t come soon enough.

Youkilis has done an outstanding job in the leadoff spot in Coco’s absence, but his bat is desperately needed in the bottom of the order. Once pitchers get past Nixon in the 5 spot, they can practically go on cruise control for the next four batters. Only Wily Mo’s recent prowess at the plate has been giving them any pause as they burn through our 6 through 9 hitters.

And that’s not all, folks. Varitek hasn’t looked comfortable at the plate so far this season, and his .250 average is proof positive that he’s not himself yet. Even Loretta, billed as an on-base guy with great bat control, has been slowly sinking closer to the .200 mark, a delineation previously reserved for our shortstops.

That black cloud over Fenway doesn’t overshadow the one on the horizon, either. May brings a tough schedule for Boston, highlighted by eight games against the division rival Yankees. Though plagued with pitching woes of their own, New York has climbed back to pull within one game of the Red Sox. The AL East juggernauts will meet for the first time on Monday, and it’s a total crapshoot as to who will hold the higher ground when that two-game series begins. Boston travels to Tampa Bay for the weekend where they’ll be facing Kazmir, always a thorn in their side, and New York hosts the Blue Jays, where hopefully Halladay can continue his success against the Yankees.

The next two weeks are pivotal for Boston, and will truly test their mettle. If they can hold their ground through five games against New York, a series with Baltimore and one with Texas, Crisp will be back to give this team more leadoff speed, defensive prowess, and a fresh bat.

Speaking of the Yankees, Monday will mark the return of Johnny Damon to Fenway Park. Though I was one of the fans calling for his head on a stick when I first heard he signed with our hated division rivals, I’ve since calmed my opinion and learned to simply appreciate the time he spent on the Red Sox and his contribution to the 2004 World Series Championship. I’d much rather see him in a Boston uniform, but I refuse to boo him now that he’s wearing pinstripes. He accomplished too much in the city, gave his heart and soul to the team (and his head, thanks to Damian Jackson), and deserves nothing less than a standing ovation when he steps to the plate in the top of the first inning.

Hopefully Boston agrees with me. Damon was an icon for the Red Sox, and the poster child for the Band of Idiots that ended the 86-year drought. How can you boo a resume like that?

Cheers to you, Johnny. Its great to see you again.