We currently own the fourth-worst record in the Major Leagues, narrowly beating out the Twins, Royals, and Padres. Recent misadventures include a weekend sweep by the Baltimore Orioles (in Fenway no less), dropping 2 out of 3 to the mediocre-at-best Oakland A's, and, concluded just hours ago, dropping 2 out of 3 to the aforementioned hapless Royals.
This is by far the worst Red Sox team since I've been a fan. They will be nowhere near the playoffs and with good reason. Here are the principal objects of my current ire:
1. Josh Beckett. I'm so tired of this guy and his bullshit. He was completely unapologetic after the Fried Chicken fiasco last year, despite putting on more weight and pitching worse than any other pitcher on staff. Today, it comes out that Beckett played a full round of golf last week despite nursing a tight lateral muscle, and then two days later he misses a start due to the same tightness. "I would say that was less than the best thing to do on that day off," said Bobby V. Ya think so, Bobby?
As a World Series winner, a veteran, and the No. 1 starter last season, you expect a degree of leadership and the Sox couldn't have gotten any less from Beckett over the last 10 months. So disappointing, and I would not be sad to see the two parties part ways in the near future.
2. Clay Buchholz. I'm done waiting for this guy to come around and be the pitcher everybody thinks he can be. It's been six years now, and only one out of six with an ERA under 3. Currently boasting a 9.09 ERA on the season, and Peter Gammons reports that he's now the second pitcher ever -- in the HISTORY OF BASEBALL -- to give up 5 ER in each of his first six starts to a season.
Apparently the Sox are trying to send him down to the minors and they feel "pretty confident" he would clear waivers. They can't move him now, though, because every potential replacement is injured.
3. Jon Lester. Normally I'm a fan, but 4.29 ERA is just not cutting it as an ace. That's a fourth or fifth starter's ERA right there.
4. The entire bullpen. Seriously, where did we get some of these guys? Aceves looked solid last year but has blown a couple of saves already and his ERA is above 6. (Somebody recently called him a double-agent for the Yankees, which I think might be worth investigating). Vicente Padilla has given up 9 ER in 13 innings. Mark Melancon's ERA is pushing fifty.
5. Carl Crawford. No explanation necessary.
Top to bottom, this is easily the worst Red Sox pitching staff of the past 15 years and probably one of the worst in the league right now. Thank God for Ryan Sweeney and Will Middlebrooks or we might have the worst record in baseball. I wouldn't be surprised if we soon do.
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