The Return of The Fortune 500?

These are the days I'm glad I have a blog. It allows me to vent.

It's time to go on a rant here.

Like many of you who support the Boston Red Sox, you're probably as fed up and as sick and tired of seeing putrid and lousy efforts as the one we witnessed on Tuesday night at Fenway Park. This was absolutely one of the worst games of the year.

Tim Wakefield got off to a good start, but gave up two runs in the fourth. He pitched six decent innings until the roof caved in in the seventh. The pitching has not been the biggest problem lately. There has been a few games where the starter has gotten knocked around, but it's the offense that's a real worry. The Red Sox right now are absolutely horrific in the clutch, and just can't that hit when it matters. Sunday was a perfect example. They got 11 hits, but could get only one run and wasted a great effort by Josh Beckett and lost 2-1. (He was pissed after the game and I don't blame him at all.)

They hit into WAY too many double plays, leave too many men on base, and too many rallies have died with men in scoring position. Tonight was just a terrible effort from the offense. Mike Lowell and Dustin Pedroia both killed rallies on the bases, and the Sox were 0-7 with men in scoring position in the first six innings (when it really counted). They got two men on in the fifth when it was 3-0 with none out, and neither moved an inch. And the worst part about this is that this happened against the Kansas City Royals at home. (They have been playing better ball over the last month and are no longer the doormats they once were, but that's no excuse.) Kansas City had a pitcher (Leo Nunez) going making his first major league start, and in just over four innings, the Red Sox couldn't manage to get a run off him. Embarrassing.

And thank you so much to the Toronto Blue Jays tonight, for rolling over like dogs to the Yankees in the Bronx, giving the game away in the ninth and tenth innings.

There are too many players who simply not getting the job done in the clutch right now (Drew and Crisp jump to mind immediately). Tonight the Red Sox looked like a team playing out the string in late September. They had 12 hits, and left 10 more men on base. It was absolutely awful, and they should apologize to their fans for such a travesty. You can't lose games to Kansas City at home in July, especially since the Yankees are playing better ball now, and have a favorable schedule this month. It's like inviting the Yankees back into the AL East race.

Hey, there's still a long way to go in this season, and the Red Sox still play the Yankees six times later this year. The Sox still lead by eight, which is still a huge lead any way you look at it.

But this spate of mediocre baseball has got to come to an end. They are 20-20 since June 1. It's reminding me way too much of the middle of the 2004 season, when the Red Sox played so-so ball for three solid months, and drove their loyal supporters like me nuts. The Red Sox need a jump start right now, and need to make the bench stronger by adding a veteran bat to the outfield. (I mentioned Eric Byrnes the other day, as I think he'd be a perfect type of player to add.) And, please, please, put us all out of our misery by dumping Wily Mo Pena off on someone by July 31. He's a total waste.

I also remember back in 2004 when a Boston scribe (can't remember who) came up with the perfect name for the Sox when they were playing such miserable ball that summer: "The Fortune 500." Simply explained: "The Red Sox cost a fortune, and are playing .500."

It's time to light a fire under this club. Somehow, some way. New blood would be a good start, and getting rid of the deadwood. Putrid efforts like the one on Tuesday have to end.

My rant is now complete. Thank you for your attention.