Rays Sweep, Sox Bullpen Implodes
Going into the 7th inning with a 4-1 lead I had Boston’s 3 game series with Tampa in perspective. Sure, the Sox would only take 1 of 3 games at Tropicana Field. But the Rays were hot, had the favored pitching match-ups, and the Sox had been miserable on the road in 2008.
Then the bullpen collapsed and the Sox were swept and everything had to be reevaluated. Yet I reached the same conclusion. The Rays were hot, had the favored pitching match-ups, and the Sox had been miserable on the road in 2008. Add to that a Red Sox team not playing well and starting to finally miss Ortiz and the sweep isn’t surprising.
That the Red Sox lost 3 games by a total of 4 runs should be a little consolation, though consolation doesn’t help in the standings.
Two thoughts:
1. If Varitek doesn’t hit and the young bullpen melts under his leadership, of what use is Varitek*?
2. Hansen and Delcarmen have shown moments of brilliance. They’ve also been wildly inconsistent for several years. If they don’t finish the season with signs of improvement and maturity it might be time for the Sox to cut their losses and go a different direction.
On to New York.
* Yes, I know. Blaming Varitek for the bullpen’s incompetence is a stretch. But he receives more than his share of praise when they’re successful. He can’t come off blame free when they implode.
