Game 4: Where the F' is the offense?

by Randy Booth on Apr 11, 2009 1:10 AM EDT in Game Stories

It's a simple question: where is this team's offense? Honestly, Red Sox Nation is curious.

The Red Sox lost their third straight game tonight, this time to the Angels to a score of 6-3. It dropped the Sox's record to 1-3.

While Tim Wakefield did his usual thing -- walks, hit batsmen, loading the bases -- he still wasn't that bad when it was all said and done. Six innings, three runs -- they call that a quality start in the bigs. If you don't look at the six hits and the five walks, of course. The four strikeouts were nice, though.

Jered Weaver looked like Tom Seaver out on the mound tonight. He made the Sox look foolish with eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work.

So where was the offense? Kevin Youkilis, of course. He had two hits and an RBI. Jacoby Ellsbury broke out of his skid a bit with two hits and two runs of his own. Everyone else? Pretty bad. Dustin Pedroia, Mike Lowell and George Kottaras were the only other Sox with a hit.

Speaking of Kottaras, he wasn't horrible catching Wakefield tonight -- that means he was great. There were a few issues with catching the knuckleball, but there was no point where I screamed at the television to see Kevin Cash escorted to Angel Stadium on a private jet.

It was a tough one to watch tonight, but let's remember it's still early in the season. If this was football, we'd be screwed. But even at 1-3, I'm pretty sure we can win a few before the 158 remaining expire.

On a final note, comment of the game goes to sox-inda-south for this gem after the game:

"That was quick and terrible ... just like my girlfriend."

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Comments

And the bullpen sucked.

By bullpen I mean Justin Masterson. 4 hits, a walk and three runs in one inning. Without those three runs we would have tied it up. I really believe that the bullpen will be a strength this year, but tonight they blew it. Its going to take Tito a little while to figure out who are his guys for the high leverage innings (after Paps) and right now I have no idea who its gonna be, but I know that Masterson has just looked bad so far.

by BTLove on Apr 11, 2009 4:05 AM EDT reply actions

The bullpen has been shaky .. but the key phrase here is .. so far. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if Ramon Ramirez becomes the primary set-up guy to Paps.

by BSturgeon on Apr 11, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

agreed about RamRam

by BTLove on Apr 11, 2009 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions

We need to make a move, no, not a panic move; but a move we needed to make in the off season, and did not. We need a big time bat. Lowrie IMO is acceptable as a utility guy nothing more. We can plug someone into SS, LF, or CF. Bay can be dealt I do not think the Sox will bring him back next season, Ellsbury is not progressing, and Lugo can be held onto or we eat the $$$ since we keep being told the team is under budget. It’s time to trade a pitcher (s), and one of Lowrie, Bay, or Ells to get something done. I am ok with Tek at the bottom of the lineu for 2 more years and that buys us time to find a “catcher of the future”.

by matzushocka45 on Apr 11, 2009 7:13 AM EDT reply actions

Dude

I am glad you are not the Sox GM.

by Buzzy on Apr 11, 2009 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Everything you just said is a panic move

Ellsbury not progressing? What do you expect? He’s not going to take the full time job and look like Grady Sizemore.

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by sox-inda-south on Apr 11, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

keep tek

but get rid of two or three of our promising young players for one guy whoever you think that maybe? no thanks

Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.

by DougieWentDeep on Apr 11, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd be fine with what you are saying...

but be more specific. Who do you think we can get? Who is available? Who is going to be significantly better than Jason Bay?

by BTLove on Apr 11, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Good thing you aren’t overcome by panic.

by ganset on Apr 11, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

deep breath .. count to 10 .. repeat .. the Sox are only 1-3. Take it easy before deciding to blow up the team after a 1-3 start.

by BSturgeon on Apr 11, 2009 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions

looking back it was a panic post :) bad morning.

by matzushocka45 on Apr 11, 2009 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Offense is Offensive

First, Masterson has had one good and one nad outing so go easy on him. He’s young and is a quality pitcher. Secondly, who’s talking about dealing Bay? Are you nuts? Not another crazy Sox fan who’s in panic mode after 4 games and wants to trade the only other player other than Youk in the lineup who’s producing. If anything talk about the huge failures that have been Lugo and Drew. Theo has made many great moves but he saw things in those two no one else did and it appears he struck out big time. The bottom line is the offense has produced 13 runs in 4 games and not more than 5 runs in any one. Once the offense heats up we’ll be fine. If it doesn’t pretty soon, then we could be in trouble. This is the best division in baseball and we can’t fall into a big hole too early.

by jmcn5195 on Apr 11, 2009 7:46 AM EDT reply actions

Masterson has had two bad outings.

It does not show in the stats, but the other game they brought him in with 2 on and 1 out and he immediately gave up a single. Two men scored. These runs were charged to Oki, but I think Masterson should get some of the blame.

by BTLove on Apr 11, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

It's a little early to panic...

… but when one guy (Youk) has 10 of the team’s 34 hits, it’s pretty bad.

by ElSteve on Apr 11, 2009 8:54 AM EDT reply actions

Patience now

Don’t forget we’re starting off against two of the best teams in baseball, bot that it’s OK to lose to anyone, but it looks especially lopsided when your offense isn’t producing against teams that can make you pay for that.

Yeah, the offense hasn’t heated up yet, but I don’t think anybody expects them to hit like this all year. Besides, our starting pitching needs to find its groove too, and when it does we’re gonna win a lot of 4-3 ballgames.

If there was a need to make a move, it isn’t the first week of the season. My prediction: You can count on a move that brings a big bat into Boston mid-season when teams who aren’t competitive try to drop salary in a bad economy. I wouldn’t be surprised if Theo’s already got a list of possible names on his wall. In the meantime, it’s only 3 games.

by Ritzybeanboy on Apr 11, 2009 10:18 AM EDT reply actions

Good point

We are starting off against two 2008 division winners, and it’s only the first week of a long season.
What concerns me is the same thing I was concerned with back in November – older guys who are long past their prime and will not get better…..namely David Ortiz, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek. Big Papi is really living on his past rep; Lowell is coming off a big injury as is in his mid ‘30s and we all know about ’Tek. I’m not sure about Jason Bay, either, and agree with a poster here who believes he won’t be with us next year. As for the rest: Youk, Pedroia, Drew, Ellsbury and Lowrie are fine although the last two are only so-so hitters at this point.

Let’s not kid ourselves; “Tex” stiffing us for the Yankees hurt us. We didn’t offer that idiot huge bucks for nothing.

by ccthemovieman on Apr 11, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

seriously

im just upset i missed sox-inda-south’s zinger at the end of the game

but seriously…its only 4 games it takes some players a whole month before they start getting into the swing of things (pun intended, heeyoh). I think the WBC honestly helped Youk, Dunn as well has a nice start. McCann too. I think once more of our players start getting used to gametime pitching we’ll start hitting again. We’ve also been the victim of some good defensive plays and some shitty strike zones by the umpires. no reason to panic.

Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.

by DougieWentDeep on Apr 11, 2009 10:31 AM EDT reply actions

The "zinger"

was actually a reference to the last inning which took like three minutes.
Bay took 1.5 minutes for the walk.
Lowell took 1 for the GIDP
And Lowrie took .5 for his flyout.

And yes my girl is that bad on some nights

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by sox-inda-south on Apr 11, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope she doesn't read OTM

or it might get even worse.

by BTLove on Apr 11, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't get me wrong.

She is hot…no question
She is funny…no question
She is smart…no question

Were working these “issues” out together. But I’m also fucking afraid of her. Her Dad is like an Air Force colenel (I think that is spelled wrong). But our relationship is solid.

I’m honored Randy used that quote :) Its my first to make quote of the game.

My personal favorite was one from last year “If Tito wants Cora fresh, He should put him on ice”

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by sox-inda-south on Apr 11, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions