Sox lose another series to the Yankees

A very schizophrenic weekend for the Boston Red Sox one of those weird wacky Red Sox Yankee weekends where. Friday night. You get killed you give up twenty runs and only -- by nine however. Saturday you come back and you'd just knock AJ Burnett around the park and win fourteen to one. And then Sunday night the rubber match of the three game series you've got the aces you get CC sabathia for the Yankees. Against Josh Beckett for the Red Sox Beckett coming off his worst start of the year. We have five days ago when you're kind of wondering how things are gonna play out forum. And they didn't play out well -- all and yes Jason Varitek was catching Josh -- I understand that. -- Michael Berger one of -- to show producers has put together some interesting notes about Beckett and his performance or lack thereof last night. Last night was the second time since 1954. That a pitcher has gone eight plus innings. Given up eight plus earned runs and five plus home runs the only other time it ever -- June 25 1997 when pat -- condemn it. You might also want to know that in that -- and start in the back its start last night. Neither pitcher walked a batter illustrated one of those weird thing I saw actually you know what it's -- the other stat right in front of me because Alex has it in his story today. I don't know EI dot com it's orders at Jim Palmer. Well -- is five dollars or 34 okay only two other pitchers have ever allowed five or more home runs. Over at least -- and as we mentioned back it last night in Jim Palmer against the Red Sox interestingly enough back in 99 now in 1977. The eight combined home runs allowed in the past two games is the most Beckett has ever allowed in back to back starts the previous I was six he's on that. Three different times. And that ten combined home runs in his last three starts is the most he's ever allowed in back to back to back starts previous I was eight. Now think about this in his first 22 starts this year 150 innings pitched. Beckett allowed ten home runs. In his last three starts twenty in the third innings. He's allowed ten moments. And not many cheap ones in the bunch that -- you know there's a bunch -- lasers leaving the park at least there there was that the five last night against the Yankees. Velocity didn't seem to be an issue seem to be throwing the ball about as hard as he usually does obviously the catcher. Was not an issue. Jason Varitek was back behind the plate I should point out again. I -- expressing this because I don't want people get the wrong idea. Josh Beckett said Victor Martinez was no factor when it is bad start Toronto he kept saying east cut back to back Cy Young award winners he had nothing to do -- I wish I was as good as Victor Martinez. It's us meet other people talking about it not Josh Beckett talking about it but catcher was not the issue last night. He has looked really bad yen in back to back starts he's looked very mortal. And for the ace of the staff as -- said velocity wasn't the issue you'll wonder if fatigue is an issue at this time a year. Is there something wrong we don't know about because his curve ball was just nonexistent last night he hung on. No snapped. -- kind of while rolling lazy type curve ball batting practice curve balls it's like does the Yankees were -- off.

They're too good to go home runs it he gave up for an curve balls the 12. The Iraq which was a laser which I think of the stands were apparently to the monster seats where there would still be traveling -- onward and upward in the moment ago. Was acumen curve ball as well look this one notable that -- one of the tool of the bullpen this team is gonna go as far as Josh Beckett and Jon Lester can take them. And if Josh Beckett does not yet. Worked out whatever is bugging him whatever is dogging him whether it's an injury thing whether to catcher thing whatever -- whatever the case may be. VC was not gonna go too far if he's able to get worked out by October. Then I think the Red Sox have a shot down the road to make some noise in the post season but if he can't. You know why I I don't know how I don't I would -- very optimistic from reds are expected to dip their real though that the biggest part of seasons -- and operate these six games but they -- the last month of the season with Tampa Bay is gonna tell the tale.

If you wanna look for positives and you just dropped to a degree over the weekend the Yankees say you're big in here if if you're looking for positives. You gotta say that the offense. Is looking pretty darn good and now they are back at Fenway. And they've been a real Jekyll and Hyde team this year they are just a totally different team away from home than they are at Fenway. They scored runs in bunches -- they scored eleven and lost by nine on Friday night but. The offense at least as looking like you that kinda plan for a look and that really started in Toronto last you scored.

When he nine runs in three games I had -- yeah it might thinking if you need to take at least two out of every. No he noted some of those runs wearing kind of garbage time -- did communal blog but that offense is really started shall we are my favorite moment of the weekend. Team on the or -- home run on Saturday when fox zoomed in on AJ Burnett -- right after the home run. In the why why why did I'd throw that -- why did I do that. There's a lot to like about this office against going when and then runs in three games even though you lose to a three you've got to feel pretty good about your chances against one of the better pitching staffs. But on paper anyway. In Major League Baseball but then again. I'm not so sure on that all that optimistic of from a yankees today. You know you you got after a pretty good your number two starter on Saturday got -- around pretty good sabathia. Looked fairly sharply at times although price probably wasn't one of his better outings it is at least -- last month herself so it if by the Yankees in that I'm not that optimistic going into a short series against the Red Sox against the angels -- moment.

Well the only -- and I said there weren't many positives over the weekend the other positive here is that the Yankees had their pitching set up pretty much the way they want it. Red Sox did not in fact. They could have set it up differently they could of with a day off last week -- their pitching so that Lester would have pitched Friday night instead of Brad banning. The Red Sox went into the weekend with Brad Penny -- to his ally and Josh Beckett you felt real good about one of those starts. And it wasn't the one is the -- Junichi does Al elect. I I won't say great because he was on a high wire all afternoon long Saturday afternoon. Buddy you know what he's got somethin' inside where he's not afraid. He'll roll hall and he'll throw home at any point in the count and no matter what situation is at and there's a little -- that there are now. Penny is is bumped from the rotation at least for the time being which -- absolutely does his spot will be taken by Tim Wakefield on Wednesday still questions about Wakefield. Fielding the position throwing the ball is not an issue but Wakefield will start. I said this last night on Comcast sports net when when I was on. Thank you very much my gut feeling is you get to the middle of September through the end of the month and hopefully in early October. I have a feeling your five man rotation in whatever order you wanna put them is going to be Beckett Lester Wakefield Buchholz. And Daisuke Matsuzaka. -- and I think what's gonna happen is that the rotation. That you started the season -- And the rotation that I think -- end the season with the only difference is -- going to be out and -- is going to be.

Will you -- gifted them the middle of September I think you bring out of September 8 is when I think you'll see Daisuke make his his debut his re debut for the Red Sox it's set up. So that that game against Baltimore on September rate is the one that I think you'll see him return for there you have a few games in September you have a three game series. On -- eleventh twelfth and thirteenth. With a raised in -- three game series with the Yankees toward the end of the month. But there's a whole lot of Baltimore Toronto Kansas City in there which are pink or Red Sox -- after. Yeah have to think optimistically if you're looking at that schedule in September. Even whip the pitching staff in the state that it's in right now. I would like to see into the start from the dollar in I would like to see you happy yeah -- probably a couple more yeah just a -- with a one earlier whatever. The earliest I think you can see Daisuke back in here is September he could return September 1 rosters expand and all that stuff. He won't be ready to pitch here until September rate and that's assuming everything goes. The way it's supposed to Gulf Coast League start today a start in Portland to start in Pawtucket sets him up to to return on September rate. I have no problem with says now he's gonna pitch Thursday he should. I I don't know that I trust. Major gains in a pennant race in September to a kid who was pitching in the Japanese industrial league a year ago. He's looked great at times that and get analysts say that he's looked good at times. He's looked shaky at times. And he was on the high wire all day on on Saturday but still got the job one of the things that impressed me the most about it as he didn't seem intimidated by all around not at all seem intimidated. National TV audience New York Yankees Fenway Park of of a game of of of some importance. To come in an input in the performance that he did I think was very very impressive I would also like to see Wakefield -- I think if you could get him back to you reasonable level. As though where he was before the All-Star break -- I think you would have something there's well I think the pitching does down the stretch its. Apparent fall together very nicely for the Red Sox but again -- six games. It's September 1 second and third. And September 1112 and thirteen those six games against Tampa Bay for me you're gonna tell the tale of the season.

Now you've got possibility that there will be in addition to this team. Tomorrow and the Red Sox put a waiver claim in on Billy Wagner the yeah Mets reliever coming off Tommy John surgery they were awarded. Billy Wagner in that waiver claim. I he has a full no trade clause his agent has as indicated very clearly he'd be happy to -- that no trade clause. For the opportunity to pitch for the Red Sox and the possibility. Of a playoff run and end and a world championship. They have to conditions that they want the Red Sox to meet before they agreed to the deal the Red Sox will not agreed they want. Condition number one is he has an eight million dollar option for next year. They want the Red Sox to drop the option just -- forget the option we're not gonna pick it up -- a million dollar buyout earn eight million dollar option. They want the Red Sox to drop the option. Possible they consider that they also want the Red Sox to agree that they will not offer. Billy Wagner salary arbitration the reason that that's important is that if they do offer him arbitration he -- of course will decline at. But the team that signs him will have to give up draft picks as compensation. They're afraid that that'll hurt his marketability on the free agent market their right it well. Why with the Red Sox agreed of those two conditions.

I would say if you if you make in this deal I think you're making -- by you know not only with -- toward this season but an eye toward long term I think you can still look acts. Billy Wagner as a long term contributed to this team even though he's thirty even though he's coming off Tommy John surgery I think. I think you can make a real -- for him to be not to be your closer down the road but to be to be a guy a lead inning guy who could pick up some garbage saves -- either barred or -- ago.

Now. If the Red Sox agreed to those two conditions and they world but if they did it means you're getting Billy Wagner for six weeks. For three point seven million dollars. And whatever you have to give to the Mets in return in in some sort of a trade here they won't do that okay. Now the question is gonna become at what point those Wagner and his agent realize that they're better off coming here. Getting a playoff run seeing what happens play at that way. They've got to change the Red Sox won't. If if they don't move off of their two conditions for agreeing to the deal -- the deal get done. And I don't blame -- I wouldn't do it under those conditions I would also have to CO would love to be in the room when Billy Wagner walks and an interest to chickens were joked about well and Papelbon went out of his way yesterday to try to. Clarify there's the word I'm looking for he wanted to clarify some of his comments. I was I was reading Mike -- rally on WEEI dot com. Mike wrote Jonathan Papelbon wanted to make it very clear that if the Red Sox bring 38 year old Billy Wagner on board he'll be at the head of the welcoming party. There were some comments that he made earlier in the weekend. In which what I was talking about really was was that. The bullpen has pretty clearly defined roles at this point people kind of know where they slot this is what you do this is what you do. You know it's the sixth inning -- comments coming again. You know Okajima is coming it to the -- inning you might see Daniel Bard at that point Papelbon closes things out for the most part. He's concerned that the addition of a guy like Wagner. Disrupts that you know now the roles artist clearly defined. He pointed out that when Eric Gagne was brought on -- forget about how bad Eric on that day in and he was awful but forget that for a moment. It disrupted the roles in the bullpen and it it that the clearly defined roles that you had set up suddenly got thrown cocked hat and he was awful to boot. His comments over the weekend and of course the New York press just couldn't wait to blow them up into 38 point -- type. You know we're different I think than what he meant he tried clarified yesterday it won't matter people will say if the Red Sox get Wagner Papelbon doesn't --

Yet candidates is it's it's gonna be an awkward situation but it's gonna be interesting to see -- like -- that is still think Billy Wagner has something left in the tank I think Billy Wagner could be real contributed to the team. Whether or not the Red Sox -- to those deals with you know do agree those conditions about it.