State Of The Nation
by Nick Fasulo
With the All-Star break concluded and the second half of the season about to begin, our Sox sit atop all of baseball with the game’s best record. This, however, should not give them the title as The Best Team in all of baseball, as evidenced by last weekend at Comerica Park.
The Detroit Tigers showed the Nation that from top to bottom they are talented enough to retain their American League crown. With the most explosive and consistent line-up and a rotation that is young and fearless, the sweep means that while the AL East race may be a formality, a trip to the World Series isn’t.
After coasting through much of the season with little to worry about in terms of injuries, the bug has caught the Sox. Curt Schilling’s shoulder is probably worse than what is being reported, and now an early August return seems more likely than the original ‘just after the break.’
David Ortiz has a right leg problem (knee, hamstring and quadriceps), which will most likely require surgery at the conclusion of the season. One has to ask if this surgery will take place in the off-season in hopes that Papi, the current face of the franchise, will be able to grind it out and produce in the No. 3 spot deep into the playoffs.
All-Star snub Kevin Youkilis is also not in top shape. The first basemen missed the last five games (with the exception of pinch hitting) with tightness in his quad. The Sox are doing everything they can to avoid placing him on the DL, especially with the inconsistency the offense has had.
In only two weeks the trade deadline will have come and gone, and it appears that Manny Ramirez is content in Boston and another soap opera starring him will not be played out. But…Ramirez is struggling this season and the power numbers just aren’t there. Not to be cynical or anything, but this may be the beginning of the end for one of the most prolific hitters the sport has seen in the last 20 years. With only 19 HR’s until he reaches the illustrious 500 mark, a primed Ramirez could pull that off in the 75 games remaining in the regular season, though that achievement may have to wait until 2008.
Usually when something needs to be fixed at this time of the season, management buys a short-term solution. As of now, there appear to be few players on the market that the Red Sox would consider as the trade deadline looms. A healthy Red Sox team is a complete, competitive baseball team, and Theo Epstein would probably only consider acquiring another utility man or pinch-run specialist. But the aforementioned injuries may make him think otherwise.
There are really no starters available, but Dontrelle Willis is always a possibility. Reports say if the Astros throw out the white flag, Brad Lidge will be dealt—with the Sox already as the front runners.
Yes, reality has caught up to the Red Sox in the past month. But hey, the Yankees are still struggling, it’s a double-digit division lead, and Bucky Dent doesn’t wear pinstripes— so the Sox will make the playoffs. How far into October they play with our emotions is anyone’s guess, but I am ready for the ride.
Stumble it!