Byrd not the word. Sox staff could strenghten itself from within

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Paul Byrd was pretty awful last night in Chicago as the Red Sox lost 12-2. Byrd lasting a scant 2 1/2 innings while giving up 7 earned runs on 10 hits. Ouch! Luckily for the BoSox, the calendar said it's September 4th and that means expanded rosters. Still, it wasn't good to see Junichi Tazawa only last 3 2/3 innings himself. To me, the real story is how Byrd fared against a real major league lineup. He impressed last week against the Toronto Blue Jays, but really he faced a team that had given up on the season. The White Sox brass may have given up on the season, but so far the Sox roster hasn't. That was evident last night as Paul Byrd may have made his final, or next to final start for the Sox this season.

Tim Wakefield takes to the bump this afternoon in a very important start for him and the Red Sox. In addition to Wake's return, Dice-k had himself a strong start last night for Pawtucket. If Wake and the Japanese enigma can make a decent return to the rotation, then a recent Red Sox weakness flips itself into a potential strength. With the return of Wakefield and Matzusaka, they round out the rotation after Lester, a struggling Beckett and suddenly consistent Bucholtz.

If Wake and Dice-k can return and be productive, maybe it's time to give Josh Beckett a rest. The Big Texan has been awful over his past 4 starts. He's already eclipsed the 180 innings pitched mark and looks like he needs to rejuvenate himself for the playoff run.

I think the Red Sox may now be poised to create some breathing room in the Wild Card Race. When they do that, they can start getting Beckett, and a few other players some much needed rest.

Beckett gets bombed again

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Another outing like that and Josh Beckett will have pitched his way right out of Cy Young contention.

In fact, over his last two starts, Beckett has looked less like the ace and more like the shell-shocked National League pitcher who came to the Red Sox in 2006.

Before getting rocked in back-to-back outings, Beckett had won eight of his previous thirteen starts dating back to the beginning of June. Over that span he posted a 2.10 ERA and gave up six home runs. Fast forward to his last two outings against Toronto and tonight's debacle against the Yankees. Over those two games alone, Beckett allowed eight home runs and saw his season ERA rise just a shade under half a run.

This is not the time for Beckett to be imploding. Or is it?

Over his career, there is only one month that has been a losing one for Beckett and we just happen to be smack dab in the middle of that month. Going into tonight's game, Beckett had a career record of 14-15 with an ERA over 4.00 and historically, his K/BB ratio takes a dive.

But fear not, Sox fans, for we know more than any that Josh Beckett is no burnout. In fact, in September, he boasts a career 18-8 record and a 2.86 ERA, a 1.32 run difference from month to month. The division is all but decided and was before this series with the Yankees ever came to pass. But do not forget that there is still a month of meaningful baseball left to be played. Thanks to the loss tonight, the Texas Rangers are breathing down the Red Sox' necks at just a game back and Tampa Bay is making a play at the Wild Card after taking two of three from those Rangers.

While the Red Sox don't face Texas at all and will require help keeping them at bay, Boston has two upcoming series in September against the Rays. If the rotation continues in the pattern it should, Beckett will take his good September numbers and his solid numbers against the Rays (6-4, 3.63 ERA, 98 K in 84.1 innings) into what could be some critical games.

You always want your ace to be on, but this is especially the time when you need him to come up big. He failed to do it tonight, but history suggests he could be up to rebound in a big way.

We can only hope.