Fenway Bound

Which Scoreboard Are YOU Watching?

There's no doubt in my mind that Sox fans are torn between reeling in the Rays and holding off the White Sox/Twins in the wild card chase. But yesterday's loss, paired with the Guppies unlikely win in Chi-town, makes me think the AL East is just about over.

Frankly speaking, the Guppies, and they'll stay that until they win something in October, are defying all the conventional wisdom, beating good teams like California/LA/Anahiem and the Ozzies.

Not that the Sox have folded the tent. We haven't. We've hit well, we've dealt with injuries as best we can, and we've gone 3-2 so far this trip.

But realistically, we need to go 6-3 on this trip -- that's three out of the next four -- in order to have any kind of a chance at the East.

So my question is this: Do we root for the Gupies to finish off the White Sox? Do we root for California/LA/Anahiem to finish off the Twins? Do we hope that the AL Central folds? Or do we just go out and take care of business?

We've got Chicago on our radar screen later this week. We've got them at home. There's no better chance to put them away, but we can't overlook the Hankees either. In short, Sox fans need to forget about watching other scoreboards and pay attention to their own.

Resist the urge to turn on the XM and flip between White Sox and Twins broadcasts. Forget about the DirecTV. Forget about ESPN, Fox Sports or all that other online stuff until your Sox are done playing for the night. Don't even peek...

In the end, it's our choice whether we go to the playoffs or not. Do the Sox need help? Yes! But they also need self help. And a win against the Jays today would be a nice start.

Francona Not to Blame for Sherill Injury

This little snippet from the Extra Bases blog really irritated me when I read it a few minutes ago:

"Terry Francona said he phoned Orioles' closer George Sherrill today to talk to him about going on the DL. Sherrill, you'll remember, had to pitch 2-1/3 innings in the All-Star game and now he's on the DL with shoulder inflammation. Nobody, including Sherrill, has pointed fingers at Francona, who was running out of pitchers at the All-Star game and needed Sherrill to pitch longer than he had hoped."

Now it's good of Francona to call Sherill, and it just goes to show what kind of a statesman the guy is, but Francona is not to blame, I repeat, NOT, to blame for Sherill's popping up on the DL just because the guy pitched a ton in the All Star Game.

First off, the All Star Game was a month ago. Sherill didn't go on the DL till a few days ago. Unless Francona's got a voodoo doll in his back pocket that we don't know about, how is he to blame for something that just happened recently.

Secondly, people are a bit two faced on the All Star Game. If you recall a few years back, there was a game in Milwaukee that ended in a tie and fans, the media, and anyone who had a voice screamed bloody murder.

Then, when baseball lets the games go and go, and go, fans and the media complain that the games go too long, that pitchers could get hurt, that it really shouldn't matter this much.

So what's Francona to do beyond manage the game to the best of his ability. Oh, wait! Everybody has to play. Everybody has to pitch. Everybody has to feel good. Well, it doesn't work that way in real baseball, and Francona shouldn't have to work that way in the All Star Game unless they want to send guys that haven't pitched in a week.

And while I'm on a good rant, why not forget about sending so many relievers, or dropping the "every team must be represented" hogwash?

It's not like these guys are in a bubble folks, they talk to the players and teams all through the selection process. It's time to man up and play ball.

There, I feel good, and I hope Terry does too!

Time to Fish (Rays) or Cut Bait

This weekend's abysmal showing against the Blue Jays comes at the worst possible time for Francona's boys.

Boston just finished their worst homestand of the season, giving up 40 runs in 5 games. You do the math: that's 10 a game not counting the shutout against Texas.

Secondly, we're a horrible road team. Hoooorible! 28-35, .267 batting average -- 28 points lower than at home -- and 75 fewer runs scored in basically an equal number of home and away starts.

Thirdly, we're going up against one of the AL's hottest hitting clubs in the Os, then we're going to face off against the one-two-three tandem of Halladay, Marcum and Burnett in Toronto, and then we're headed to the rotten apple for a trifecta.

Having said all that, we are the World champs. We need to fish -- and by that I mean win, win, win while the Devil Guppies struggle to keep it together -- or cut bait.

I know we're playing them and the Yanks in September, but September's a couple of weeks away yet. If we don't go at least 6-3 this trip we may as well forget about the East, and there's a very real possibility that the wild card won't be there for the taking either.

Not saying we can't or won't start winning on the road, but this trip is the season. It's our last chance to control our own destiny -- and we'd better come out with a net gain of two to four games in either/both races. That means 6-3 fellas, 6-3.