A Pox On The Sox

DAVID ORTIZ stepped up and took a healthy cut late last Saturday. However, having witnessed the Red Sox surrender 12 or more runs in three straight games for the first time in franchise history, he was taking a swing at the sorry state of the team's pitching. "We need pitching," the Red Sox slugger said after the third of what would become five straight losses to New York. "We're struggling, man.''

Boston, which fell 6 1/2 games behind the Yankees, was 16--22 since the All-Star break through Monday with a major league worst 5.54 ERA. Having entered the series with four rookies on its 12-man staff--starter Jon Lester and relievers Manny Delcarmen, Craig Hansen and Jonathan Papelbon-- Boston discovered the downside of relying so heavily on young pitchers late in the season. Even before the series, that quartet had shown signs of breaking down (chart, below). "We have a lot of young players who because of injuries and lack of depth have been thrust into positions a little prematurely," G.M. Theo Epstein said. "A lot of those guys have responded extremely well, but it's hard to have them do it month after month."

Against New York, the Red Sox used the four rookies and three other pitchers who were dropped from the roster before the series ended ( Jason Johnson, Rudy Seanez and Jermaine Van Buren) for 16 2/3 innings, during which they allowed 26 runs and 47 base runners and contributed mightily to one of the most embarrassing weekends in the history of Fenway Park. Said Ortiz, "We need help soon, man."

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