Stinko

I know, I know. Only 1/23rd of the season has concluded so far.

But another lousy effort all around by the Red Sox on Monday night. They barely showed up and the 2-4 Oakland A's beat them handily, 8-2.

Jon Lester again had nothing, giving up six runs in six innings, including five in the second. Nomar Garciaparra also hit his first home run of the season in his first ever game against the Red Sox.

The Red Sox simply look lethargic, and some of their best hitters (Pedroia, Ortiz, Lowell, Ellsbury) are struggling mightily. And more bad news on Monday as Jed Lowrie is now on the 15-day DL with a sore wrist, the wrist he had surgery on over the winter. Nick Green takes over SS (with Gil Velazquez called up to back him up) until either Lowrie or Julio Lugo return.

The starting pitching has been no great shakes either. They've only had two quality starts in the first seven (Beckett on Opening Day and Brad Penny last Saturday). Once again, there's no reason to panic or make silly moves. But I can't help think of that immortal line from Cher in "Moonstruck" when it comes to the Sox' early season malaise:

Snap out of it!!

BTW, Justin Masterson has a new blog you may like to check out, "A Call to the Bullpen."